Conformity of the ecclesiastical discipline of the Reformed churches of France with that of the primitive Christians written by M. La Rocque ... ; render'd into English by Jos. Walker.

CHAP. VIII. Of PROVINCIAL SYNODS.

ARTICLE I.

IN each Province, the Pastors of each Church shall as∣semble once a Year, or twice, as they may, which is re∣ferred to the Prudence and Discretion of the Synod.

CONFORMITY.

Christians have ever esteemed Synods so necessary, that they have been very careful to assemble them when the good of the Church required it; for as Eusebius saith in the 51 chap. of the Book of the Life of Constan∣tine, Great Controversies cannot be determin'd but by Sy∣nods: At the beginning, and even during the heat of Persecution, when there arrived any trouble in a parti∣cular Church, all the others concern'd themselves in it, and the Ministers by a meer movement of Charity, and without any form of Convocation, assembled of them∣selves, to make Peace, and to compose Differences: And in these Assemblies Humane Passions being bani∣shed, and Jesus Christ there presiding by his Holy Spi∣rit, they consulted together, and resolv'd without Ce∣remonies and Formalities, what was expedient. It is much after this Method they proceeded against Paul of Samosatia Bishop of Antioch, when he had published his Impiety, * 1.1 the Pastors of Churches as Eusebius saith, being run thither from all parts, as against an Enemy, which destroy'd the Flock of Christ. And I can't tell if the Synod of Iconia in Phrygia mentioned by Fer∣millian Bishop of Caesaria in Cappadocia, was not of the same kind of those held against Paul of Samosatia in the same Century; * 1.2 for he saith, they were assembled in that place, from Gallacia, Cilicia, and other adjacent Provinces, to confirm what had already been concluded touching the reiteration of the Baptism of Hereticks.

But what Bishops did at first by a principle of Chari∣ty, they were in time obliged to do also by Duty, the Cannons requiring it of them: In effect the V. Cannon of the First Council of Nice, appoints to hold Synods

twice a year in each Province. The Twentieth of the Council of Antioch renews the same Decree, and thence it is undoubtedly that him which forged the Cannons of the Apostles, borrowed the 37, which contains the same Establishment. The Nineteenth of Chalcedon ha∣ving complained that in the Provinces was not celebra∣ted the Synods prescribed by the Cannons, it appoints they be held twice a year, conformable to the Decrees of the Holy Fathers. There's a number of other Can∣nons which prescribe the same thing, and which I for∣bear to alleage, to observe two things which concern the matter which we examine; the first, that Auitus Bi∣shop of Vienna in Dauphine, which flourished about the end of the V. Century, and at the beginning of the VI, endeavour'd to restore the Antient Custom which in∣sensibly was left off, as he doth testifie in his 80 Letter. It may be thought that the Synod of Ries in Province had given some slight endeavour to the first practice, * 1.3 in the year 439, when it confirms it in the Eighth Can∣non, but under condition, that times were quiet: That of Orange explains it self fuller in the year 441, Cannon 29, saying, it was difficult to assemble twice a year, by reason of sad and difficult times. The Second thing I mean to observe is, * 1.4 That the Synod of Agde in Langue∣dock made a Decree in the 71 Cannon, by which it re∣duces these Synodal Assemblies to hold once a year, and it declares in the same Cannon, which is of the year 506, that it does so according to the constitution of the Fathers; having respect it may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the Cannons of Orange and Ries, but just now cite▪ The 37 of the 4 of Orleans of the year 541, the 23 an•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the year 549 on the same with that of Agde. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••he 18 of the 3 of Tolledo, alleges for a reason in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 589, the length of the way, and poverty of the Churches. To. 4, Conc. pa. 505, 506.

II.

Ministers shall bring along with them one or two Elders at the most, chosen by the Consistory, and the said Mini∣sters and Elders shall shew their Deputations. If a Mini∣ster comes alone, no heed shall be taken of the Certificates he brings along with him, no more than there shall be of those an Elder shall produce if he comes alone without a Pastor; which Rule shall be of force in all Ecclesiastical Assemblies: If they cannot come, they shall make their excuse by Let∣ters, of the which the Brethren there present shall be Judges, and shall send their Memoirs signed by a Pastor, and an Elder. Those who shall fail of being present at Colloques, and at Provincial Synods without lawful Excuse, shall be sensur'd, and the said Colloques and Provincial Synods, may finally judge their Cause, and dispose of their Persons.

CONFORMITY.

There are in this Establishment several things to be consider'd, in the first place, the deputing of our Elders with the Pastors to Synods, which is very agreeable to the practice of the Antient Church, which admitted the Layity into their Synods after the Example of the Apo∣stles, who in the Synod of Jerusalem make mention of the Church, in distinguishing it not only from them∣selves, but also from ordinary Persons, which they de∣sign by the term of Elders, Acts 15.22. to shew, that by the Church they meant the faithful People which assisted at that Holy Assembly, according to which, the Fathers in the Council of Antioch, distinguishes also the Churches of God, * 1.5 from Bishops, Priests and Deacons, in the Letter wrote to Dennis Bishop of Rome, to Maxi∣mus

Bishop of Alexandria, and to all the Churches to in∣form them of the deposing of this Arch Heretick; not that 'tis necessary to think that the intire Churches as∣sisted at this Council which was assembled from sundry Provinces, but they assisted by some of their Body which represented them, that is, by some of the Body of the People. But to say something more to the pur∣pose, I have shewn on the First Article of the Third chap. by Authority of Fermillian, and of the African Code, that the Elders, such as ours, were deputed to Synods with the Pastors, against whom they some∣times pleaded the right of the People which deputed them.

The Second thing I observe on this Article is, that the Deputies to Synods are obliged to be present there, or to excuse themselves by Letter; And if their Excuse be not sufficient, they are sensur'd as shall be thought fit in the Colloques, and in the Provincial Synods, which have power to judge definitively of their Excuses, and to dispose of their Persons, which also is according to the practice of the Primitive Christians, the Fortieth Cannon of the Council of Laodicea is conceiv'd in these terms, The Bishops which are called to a Synod must not neglect to go thither, and if any one does neglect, he will condemn himself, unless some Sickness doth hinder him: The 19th of Calcedon requires that one should reprove in a brotherly way those which fail of coming, although they are in good health, and that they are hindred by any extraordinary business which might not be deferr'd. In France no other Excuse will be admitted, but that of Sickness, as appears by a great many Cannons, and amongst others by that of the First of Epaume, by the 1 of the 2 of Orleans, by the 80 Letter of Auitus Bishop of Vienna, and by several other Decrees which I forbear

to cite. The Council of Agde in the 35 Cannon joyns to Sickness, some command of the King, next to which, it deprives from the Communion of the Church till the next Synod, those which have failed to be present at the former, and as it deprives them for that time from the Communion of the Church, it also deprives them from the Charity of their Brethren, that is, from the other Bishops, to which the Council of Tarragona in the year 517, reduces in the VI. Cannon all the punishment of those Bishops which neglect to be present at the Synods where they have been called by the Metropolitans, and excuses none but them which are hindred by Sickness. The 15 of the 11 of Toledo assembled Anno 575, Ex∣communicates them for one year, if they are not hin∣der'd by some Sickness, or by some inevitable necessity, the 76 of the African Code wills, That they should be content with the Communion of their Church, the V. Cannon of the Council of Merrida, of which I will speak on the 10 Article of the IX. chap. excuses those who are hindred by Sickness, or by Order of the Prince.

As to what our Discipline arrow_forward saith, That if the Pastor comes alone, no heed shall be taken of the Memorials he shall bring, nor of those the Elder brings if he comes without the Minister, it agrees not ill with what we read in the 100 Cannon of the African Code, where a Bishop complains of his Church, but because the El∣ders the Church had deputed, to defend its cause against the Bishop, did not appear, the Council referr'd the Judgment of this Affair to a certain Number of Bi∣shops, whereof some were nominated by the Bishop which was dissatisfied with his Flock, and the rest were left to be named by the Elders, although absent. As for the Memorials whereof mention is made in this Article, more may be seen of it in what I shall say on the Third Article of the Ninth Chapter.

III.

Those Churches which have several Ministers. shall de∣pute them by turns to Colloques, and Synods.

CONFORMITY.

This Article is grounded on that, That Ministers may not pretend any Authority one over the other, as I have made appear on the Sixteenth Article of the First Chapter, and having no Power one over another, it is absolutely necessary that to maintain this equality, that when there are several in one and the same Church, they should alternatively be deputed to Synods and Collo∣ques.

IV.

Ministers and Elders Deputed to Colloques, and Provin∣cial Synods, shall come thither at the common charges of their Churches.

CONFORMITY.

I do not find that in the First Centuries, conductors of Christian Churches did observe much formality when they assembled for the deciding of any difference, all things were done with so much simplicity, Humane Passions being excluded, that every one spake as he was inspired of God: Read what Eusebius relates of the Two Synods which were held in the Third Century against Paul of Samosatia; * 1.6 and I am certain the marks of the simplicity I have now mentioned, will be found in them; but in process of time Humane Passions being

mingled with Charity, 'twas necessary to Establish some Methods in these Assemblies, and choose some one amongst the Bishops, to propose the matter which was to be deliberated, to gather the Voices, and moderate the whole Action, an Honour which was commonly conferr'd either to promotion, that is to say, to him that was the Eldest Minister, or to Personal Merit, by reason of ones great Learning, and sometimes also for the greatness and eminency of the City whereof one was Bishop. Palmas as the Eldest of the Bishops of Pontus, * 1.7 presided in a Synod which was there held, upon occasion of celebrating Easter, as Eusebius relates in the 23 chap. of the Fifth Book of his History. To this Example may be added what was done by Leo I. in the V. Century, in favour of Leoncius Bishop of Frejus in the upper Narbonnes, had not the Passion which he ex∣pressed against Hillary, Bishop of Arles, made him vio∣late the Laws of Justice and Equity, in depriving him the right whereof he was justly in possession, of assem∣bling Synods, and which according to the arrow_back Discipline arrow_forward of those times belonged to his See, to invest Leoncius with it, because he was the Eldest Bishop of the Province; and about the year 397, the First Council of Turin be∣stowed on Proclus Bishop of Marsellis, the precedence over the Bishops of the Second Narbonnes, * 1.8 not so much in consideration of the City whereof he was Bishop, as in consideration of his Age and Merit. In fine, the Ecclesiastical Government being wholly fram'd after the Model of the Civil, and Politick, this right of prece∣dence was joyn'd in the out Provinces, to Metropolitan Bishops, except the Churches of Africa, where this priviledge was conferr'd on Primates, and in that Coun∣trey was called Primat, which had been first promoted to be Bishop; for 'twas not to Age alone this I reroga∣tive

was attributed, but to the time of promotion. Our arrow_back Discipline arrow_forward which refers this to Election, does nothing differ from what was practis'd in the Antient Church before the Establishing of Hierarchy, especially when precedency was conferred on Persons for their Merit, which could not be done but by plurality of Voices, be∣cause for the most part, one Judges differently of the Merit of Men; and so 'tis St. Athanasius expresses it in his First Apology, that Hosius was commonly the chief and President of Synods, an Honour conferred on him for his great Merit, and perhaps to for his Age, as it was in the latter regard bestow'd on.

For the understanding of this Article it is necessary to read what I have said on the Fifth of the Sixth chap. to which may be added, that Synods having been insti∣tuted for the good and Edification of the Churches, it is more than reasonable they should be charged with the Expences needful to assist at those Assemblies, especially seeing the maintenance they allow to their Ministers is so small, that 'tis not sufficient for their subsistance, as it often happens amongst us.

V.

The Churches which shall refuse to allow their Ministers conveniencies for repairing to Colloques and Synods, shall be advertis'd to do what is fit, and in default thereof, so that Ministers are constrain'd to go at their own charges, after two or three Admonitions, they shall be deprived of the Mi∣nistry, and the Expences made by the said Ministers, shall be repaid by the Churches to whom they were sent, Liberty being given to have recourse to the Ingrateful Church accor∣ding to the Judgment which shall be given by the Provincial Synod.

CONFORMITY.

This Establishment being a continuance of the for∣mer, what I have observed on that, may serve for a Commentary on this.

VI.

If there should happen a difference betwixt a Church and the Pastor, and that to compose it, the Church shall have been advertis'd two several times of the time and place of the Colloque, and Synod, and refuses to attend, the said Collo∣que, or Synod, notwithstanding absence of one of the Par∣ties, may proceed on to Judgment.

CONFORMITY.

The Hundred Cannon of the African Code which I cited on the Second Article, do's Authorise this Esta∣blishment, and justifies the Conformity of our Disci∣pline with the Primitive.

VII.

In each Synod as well Provincial as National, shall be Elected with a slow Voice, by full consent, one of the Pastors to preside, with one or two to write. His business shall be to govern and moderate the whole Session, to advise of the Pla∣ces, Dayes, and Hours, on which the Assembling and Sitting of the Synod shall hold, to propose and offer things that shall be in deliberation, to take, every ones Voice in particular, to declare the major part, and pronounce the Con∣clusion: Also to take care that every one speaks by Order,

and not confusedly; to impose Silence on such as are conten∣tious, and if they will not obey, to make them go out, to consider of their Sensure and Correction; to make Remon∣strances and Answers to those which desire Counsel, or that send Letters to the Synod. Moreover to preside at the Sen∣sures which shall be made at the end of the sitting, the whole according to the advice of all the Assembly, and no other∣wise. And he himself also shall be subject to Sensure, his Office shall expire at the end of the Synod, and it shall be at the choice of the following Synod, to Elect him or another. The Moderators also of Colloques, shall be govern'd after the same manner.

CONFORMITY.

The Great Council of Nice in the Sixth Cannon re∣serves to each Province its Rights and Priviledges, that one might not intermeddle in the Affairs of the other, nor usurp its Power, and Authority: To this Establish∣ment may be apply'd the Second and Sixth Cannons of the First Oecumenical Council of Constantinople, the VIII. of Ephesus, the 9 and 17 of Calcedon, the 12 and 15 of Antioch, the 19, 28, and 125 of the African Code, with the Letter of the Council of Africa to Pope Cellestin, in the same Code, in Number 138. St. Cyprian taught almost the same thing about 170 years before, as ap∣pears by his 55 Letter. Theodoret speaks the same in his 86 Epistle in the Third Volumne of his Works, and 'tis on this practice the Eastern Bishops grounded their complaints in the IV. Century against Pope Julius I. in that he had received St. Athanasius into his Commu∣nion, and some others whom they had Excommunica∣ted, Read what is related by Zozomen in the VIII. Chapter of the Third Book of his Ecclesiastical Histo∣ry;

Socrates II. Book, chap. 15. and Julius his Answer in St. Athanasius his Second Apology, to be perswaded of the truth hereof; for the Letter writ by the Eastern Bishops to Julius is not now Extant; that at present found in the first Volumne of the Councils being forg'd: and contains but a Collection ill put together of what the Authors I but now mention'd have writ.

It's true, our arrow_back Discipline arrow_forward does except some cases of which one may appeal to the National Synod, after Judgment given by Provincial Synods, but 'tis even therein appears its Conformity with the Ancient, provided the time be carefully distinguished; before the Christian World, which was bounded in the Roman Empire, had been di∣vided after the Example of the Empire, into several Ec∣clesiastical Diocesses, each of which comprehended seve∣ral Provinces, the whole extent of a Bishops Jurisdicti∣on, how great soever it was, made but one Ecclesiasti∣cal Province; For Example, In St. Cyprians time, all Africa made no more but the Ecclesiastical Province of the Bishop of Carthage: And in the time of the First Council of Nice, Libia, and Pentapolis, made up that of the Bishop of Alexandria, and then 'twas requisite Affairs should be determin'd in the Provincial Synod without being permitted to appeal to the Synod of any other Province; It is what is depos'd by the Sixth Can∣non of Nice, which confirms to the Bishop of Alexan∣dria what Custom had given him Possession of, that is to say, the Metropolitical Rights only, although the Patriarchal Rights also may be inferr'd from the same Cannon, by lawful consequence, when he shall be in a state to exercise them, that is to say, when his Pro∣vince shall be divided into several Ecclesiastical Provinces, and that he shall have under him several Metropolitans, over which the chief of the Diocess,

and the Patriarchs had the same power, as Metropoli∣tans had over the Bishop•• of their Brovinces.

But after this Division into Diocesses, and of Diocesses into several Feclesiastical Provinces, each of which had a Metropolitan, had been made, which the first Uni∣versal Council of Constantinople began to Establish, or it may be but to One Muso••••••s in the Council of Rimini, as St. Jerom testifies in his Dialogue against the Lucife∣rians, chap. 7. where he observes this Musonius was of the Byzantine Province, but instead of Byzantine it should be Byzancene, which was a Province of Africa, wherein was the Diocess of this Prelate.

As for the care the President or Moderator of the Synod should take, to the end all things should be done in the Assembly regularly and in Order, the XI. Coun∣cil of Toledo, in the year 675 ordained in the First Can∣non, * 1.9 the same Observations which the Authors of our arrow_back Discipline arrow_forward here prescribes, not forgetting those which derogate from the Laws.

VIII.

Elders which are Deputies of Churches, shall have Votes as Ministers, and the Elders of the place where the Synod is assembled may also be present, and propose any thing in their Order; Nevertheless but two of them shall have Vote, to avoid confusion.

CONFORMITY.

After what I have writ on the First Article of the Third Chapter, there's no difficulty in understanding of this; for the Deacon Hillary hath assur'd us nothing was done in the Church without the Counsel and Ad∣vice

of the Elders; and Firmi••lian Bishop of Cappadocia, that the Prelates and Elders assembled once every year to order matters committed to their care, and with common consent to treat of the greatest and most im∣portant Affairs.

IX.

What shall be concluded upon by Provincial Synods for ordering the Churches of their Province, shall be communi∣cated to the National Synod.

CONFORMITY.

The 95th Cannon of the Code of Africa, has a Con∣stitution much like this, for it Ordains, that private Affairs shall be determin'd in the Provinces, but as for the common and general, they referr the Knowledge and Decision of it to the General Council of Africa: Now 'tis most certain that what regards all the Churches of a Province, ought to be put in the Rank of General Affairs, the Decision whereof apper∣tains to a National Synod.

X.

Because several Persons, to the end to decline or delay the sensure of their faults, appeal from one Ecclesiastical Assem∣bly to another, even to a National Synod, which by this means is more perplexed in clearing their Case than any other, for the time to come, all differences within the same Province; shall be definitively judged without appeal to the Provincial Synod of the Province, except what shall con∣cern the suspending and deposing as well of Pastors, as of

Elders, and Deacons, and the changing of Pastors from one Province to another; also the changing of a Church from one Colloque to another, and also that which concerns Doctrin, the Sacraments, and the whole arrow_back Discipline arrow_forward ; all which cases may gradually move even to the Nationall Synod, to receive the last and definitive Judgment.

CONFORMITY.

To Authorise what Custom had done in several Countreys since the Council of Nice, at least it may seem to be so inferr'd from the Cannons of the Synod of Antioch in the year 341, Forty years before that of Con∣stantinople. Afterwards I say, it is certain, Appeal was made from Judgment of Provincial Synods to Councils of the whole Diocess, for the greater part of the heads contain'd in our arrow_back Discipline arrow_forward , as is verified by most of the Cannons I have but now cited, particularly by those of Constantinople, of Calcedonia, and of the African Code, with the 95th of the same Code, to which may be joyned the Third Cannon of the Fourth Council of Toledo, assembled in the year 633. To. 4. Conc. pag. 582.

XI.

If there should happen a difference betwixt two Provincial Synods, they must pitch on a third to reconcile them.

CONFORMITY.

This Establishment don't disagree with the 14 Cannon of the Synod of Antioch, which is conceiv'd in these terms, If after Judgment be given against a Bishop accused of certain Crimes, it so falls out that the Bishops of the

Province are upon this score in different minds, some de∣claring him Innocent, and others guilty; the Synod to put an end to their Contests is of Opinion that the Metropolitan shall call other Judges of the next Province to decide the difference; and that he confirms what they shall have conclu∣ded upon, with the Bishops of the Province. It's true, this Cannon don't speak of differences which two Provin∣cial Synods might have together: But seeing the Coun∣cil allows to call Neighbouring Bishops, when those of the Province are at variance about a business, wherefore should it not permit two Provincial Synods to choose a third to judge of their differences, the First and Second Cannon of the Council of Turin in the Year 397, are yet more positive in this matter.

XII.

The Synods in each Province shall represent the Widows and Children of Ministers which died in the Service of their Church, to be supported and maintained at the com∣mon charge of each Province, as necessity shall require. And where the Province shall be Ingrateful, the Deputy thereof shall report it to the National Synod to take care therein.

CONFORMITY.

This Article is not only grounded on Christian Cha∣rity, but also on the acknowledgment which the Chur∣ches owe to Ministers dead in their Service, whereof they should shew the marks to their Families, especi∣ally when there is occasion for it.

XIII.

Deputies of Churches shall not be gone from Synods with∣out leave, and till they carry along with them the Decisions which shall there be made.

CONFORMITY.

There are two things to be consider'd in this Article, First, That Deputies are not suffer'd to depart from the Synod without leave; The Second Council of Arles made this Decree in its 19 Cannon, Anno Dom. 452, If any one thinks he may abandon the Assembly of his Brethren before the dissolution of the Council, * 1.10 let him know that he is deprived of the Communion of his Brethren, and that he cannot be thereunto received, until he be first of all absolv'd in the following Synod: There may be seen in the Fourth Tome of Councils, certain Fragments attributed to a Council of Sevil in Spain, assembled about the time of Pope Gregory the I. in the X. of which is to be found word for word the Decree of the Synod of Arles; which makes me believe, that Burchardus, * 1.11 from whom Garsias has taken this Cannon, was mistaken when he attribu∣ted it to the Council of Sevil, and I the rather believe it, when I consider that the compilation of Cannons made by this Writer, are full of this kind of mistakes. The Fourth Council of Toledo assembled in the year 633, does defend also in the Fourth Cannon, to depart from the Council until all things are decided by the ma∣jor Votes, and Signed by all the Bishops; * 1.12 The Sixteenth of that of Worms of the year 868, prescribes the same thing. To. 6. Conc. pag. 695.

The Second thing our arrow_back Discipline prescribes those which are Deputies to Synods, is to carry along with them the Decisions which shall be made; I find the same thing practic'd in the Antient Church; in Effect, it may be seen by the 29th Cannon of the First Council of Orange in the year 451, that each Bishop carried away with him a Copy of the Acts and Resolutions made in the Assembly, and that the like was sent even to those as were absent, to advertise them of their Du∣ty by the Ministry of the Metropolitan; and in the year 431, the First Oecumenical Council of Ephesus permit∣ted each Metropolitan to take a Copy of the Acts, whereof his Brother Bishops might have Communica∣tion by his means. The Eighth Cannon where this power is granted to Metropolitans, saying expresly that it is for their own surety, that is to say, for Conserva∣tion of the Rights of their Provinces, and by conse∣quence the Rights of all the Suffragan Bishops. See what shall be said on the Tenth Article of the following Chapter.

XIV.

The Authority of Provincial Synods, is inferiour to that of National Synods.

CONFORMITY.

There is no difficulty at all in this Constitution, espe∣cially after what we have observed on the Tenth Arti∣cle, where I have prov'd by the Authority of several Cannons of Constantinople, of Calcedon, and the African Code, that Appeals were made from Provincial Synods to those of the whole Diocess, to which our National ones at this time do agree.

XV.

Colloques, and Provincial Synods shall be regulated ac∣cording to the several Governments, so that one may not pretend to be greater than another; and for the present, this shall be the Distribution of Provincial Synods.

• 1 The Isle of France, Country of Chartrain, Piccardy, Champagne, and Brie.
• 2 Normandy,
• 3 Brittany,
• 4 Orleans, Blesois, Dunois, Nivernois, Berry, Bour∣bonnois, and La Marche.
• 5 Tourain, Anjou, Loudunois, Le Maine, Vandomois, and le Perche.
• 6 Ʋpper and Lower Poictou.
• 7 Zantonge, Aunis, City and Government of Rochell, Angoulmois.
• 8 Lower Guyen, Perrigord, Gascogne, and Limosin.
• 9 Ʋpper and Lower Vivarez, with the Uclay and Forest.
• 10 Lower Languedock, viz, Nimes, Usez, Montpelier, to Beziers inclusively.
• 11 The rest of Languedock, Ʋpper Guyen, Tholouse, Carcassona, Quercy, Rouergue, Armagnack, Ʋp∣per Auvergne.
• 12 Bourgundy, Lyonnois, Beaujolois, Bresse, Low Auvergne, Gex.
• 13 Provence.
• 14 Dauphine, and the Principality of Orange.
• 15 The Churches of the Soveraignty of Bearn.
• 16 The Sevennes and Givaudan.

If it so falls cut for the convenience of Churches that one or two should be parted, or to unite several in one, it may be done in the Provincial Synod, whereof notice shall be given to the National Synods.

CONFORMITY.

Those who please to read the Second Cannon of the First Universal Council of Constantinople, and the Eighth of that of Ephesus, will easily perceive our Disci∣pline agrees exactly with the practice of the Primitive Christians. And as for the dividing one Church into two, or joyning several into one, when necessity re∣quires, there is Examples to be seen in Antient Records; As for joyning several into one, * 1.13 the Eighth Letter of the Second Book of Gregory the Great, gives us an Example, and the Fathers of the Sixteenth Council of Toledo, An. 693, in the V. Cannon, Authorises the joyning, and dividing, and declares also in what manner it must be done. The Emperour Charles the Bald in his Capi∣tularies, Anno 844, gives power to the Bishops to di∣vide a Church into two, when the Necessity and Edifi∣cation of the People require it, and if it gives them po∣wer to divide Churches, * 1.14 there's no question to be made but it gives them power also to join several in one, for good and lawful causes. In process of time the Popes have assumed to themselves this power of Joyning and Dividing Churches, although in France they are not per∣mitted to exercise it without the consent of our Kings, as the late Mr. de Marca has well observed in the Thir∣teenth chap. of the Fourth Book of the Liberties of the Gallcian Church, where he treats of these matters.

XVI.

A Minister deputed by a Provincial Synod to go to a Synod, or Colloque, of another Province for some publick Affairs, may have a deliberative Vote, and that not only for the business he is come about, but also during the whole sitting, if his particular Affair be not in agitation.

CONFORMITY.

I do not think any need question but the same thing was practis'd in the Primitive Church, * 1.15 at least it may be collected from the Synod of Turin assembled Anno Dom. 397, at the request of the Bishops of France; be∣sides that the Synods which are the Masters of these things, may dispose them as they please.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Euseb. Hist. lib. 7. c. 27, 28, 29.
• * 1.2

  Apud Cypr. contr. Ep. Steph. p. 146.
• * 1.3

  Tom conc. Gal. p. 69. Ibid. p. 74.
• * 1.4

  Ibid. p. 173. Ib. p. 268, 284.
• * 1.5

  A••d. Euseb. l. ••. c. 30.
• * 1.6

  Hist. l. 7. cap. 27, 28, 29.
• * 1.7

  Ep ad E∣p••••. Pri∣vine. Vi∣ennees Tom. 1. Conc. Gall. p. 85.
• * 1.8

  P••••d. p. 27, 28.
• * 1.9

  Tom. 4. Conc. p. 820.
• * 1.10

  Tom. 1. Conc. Gall. p. 105.
• * 1.11

  pag. 521.
• * 1.12

  Tom. 4. Conc. p. 583.
• * 1.13

  Tom. 5. Conc. p. 430.
• * 1.14

  Tom. 2. capit c. 7. p. 23. Edit. Ba∣lux. 1677
• * 1.15

  Tom. 1. Conc. Gall. p. 27.