Synodicon in Gallia reformata, or, The acts, decisions, decrees, and canons of those famous national councils of the reformed churches in France being I. a most faithful and impartial history of the rise, growth, perfection and decay of the reformation in that kingdom, with its fatal catastrophe upon the revocation of the Edict of Nants in the year 1685 : II. the confession of faith and discipline of those churches : III. a collection of speeches, letters, sacred politicks, cases of conscience, and controversies in divinity, determined and resolved by those grave assemblies : IV. many excellent expedients for preventing and healing schisms in the churches and for re-uniting the dismembred body of divided Protestants : V. the laws, government, and maintenance of their colleges, universities and ministers, together with their exercise of discipline upon delinquent ministers and church-members : VI. a record of very many illustrious events of divine providence relating to those churches : the whole collected and composed out of original manuscript acts of those renowned synods : a work never be extant in any language.

CHAP. VI. Observations made on Reading the Acts of the last National Synod held at Vitre.

1. THAT Article enjoyning Monsieur Rivett to compose an History of those Remarkable Providences which had befallen our Churches,* 1.1 being read, together with his Excuses by Letters for non-performance, the Provinces not having communicated to him their Memorials as they were ordered; This Assembly commands that Letters shall be dispatcht to Mon∣sieur Buffon Lieutenant General of Casteljaloux exhorting him to prosecute this great Work undertaken by him of writing the History of our times, and that he would be pleased before it go unto the Press to impart it unto the Synod of his Province; and all the other Provinces be charged to send unto him their Memoirs.

* 1.22. In reading that Canon of Tonneins inserted into the last Synod of Vitre, which gave leave unto Elders in Consistory, the Pastor being excep∣ted against, to suspend a Scandalous Person from the Lords Table: The Provinces of Berry and Sevennes remonstrating that many and great incon∣veniencies might fall out by the Execution of such an Ordinance. This Assembly Decreed, That although for good and just causes the Pastor had been excepted against, yet the Elders only by themselves might not pro∣ceed to suspend any Person from the Lords Table, without the Presence and Approbation of a Neighbour Pastor.

3. On that Article concerning Monsieur de Beauchamp,* 1.3 which injoyned the Province of Britain to give him satisfaction for his Pension due unto him for his Four Years Service, Minister in the House of the Lord Duke of Rohan; and the rather, because the said Province had for that whole time received the Portion of the said Monsieur Boauchamp out of the Monies given us by His Majesties liberality: And the Letter of the said Minister were read, in which he complained of the Injustice of the said Province, and requested that a particular Church of Anjou might be appointed by the Authority of this National Synod to adjudge unto him the Summ of Eight Hundred Ninety and Eight Livres, Ten Sous, and Nine Deniers which are Owing him, and be detained in the hands of Monsieur Boitereul Receiver of the said Province of Britain. This Assembly decreeth that Monsieur de Beauchamp and Monsieur de Pestere for the Province (the De∣puties of Britain declaring that all Writings concerning this Affair are lodged with him) shall appear before the Consistory of Saumur on the First day of April next, that so their Accounts being Audited the Consistory of the said Church of Saumur may by the Authority of this Assembly finally determine this Matter. And in the mean while the said Summ of Eight Hundred Ninety and Eight Livres, Ten Sous and Nine Deniers shall be stopt in the Hands of the said Receiver of the Province of Britain, to be restored unto the said Monsieur de Beauchamp in case it be found due unto him.

* 1.44. Whereas the Provinces had been Exhorted by the Synod of Vitre to consult by what means our Universities might be provided of Professors in Divinity. This Assembly having heard the Opinion of sundry Provinces here tendered by their Deputies, decreed, That for this purpose there should be chosen out a certain number of Pastors in the Actual Service of these Reformed Churches, without burdening our selves with a new Fund, or choosing Scholars, who by reason of their sew years and inexperience are less fit to govern the Youth in our Universities.

5. Monsieur Boucherau having been heard about those complaints made in the Synod of Vitre, concerning the Excessive Rates paid by our Students at Saumur for their Lodging and Diet, This Assembly was fully sa∣tisfied of the groundlessness of those complaints.

* 1.56. That Canon forbidding Ministers to preach their own private Sen∣timents on State Affairs being read, and Report made unto this Synod that several Ministers had acted contrary to it in the last political Assembly held at Loudun. This National Synod desirous to stifle all Seeds of Division for∣bore looking into what is past; but for the future it did straitly forbid all Ministers to treat of State-Matters in their Sermons or Pulpit Discourses, on pain of being suspended the Holy Ministry, because the only Subject of their Sermons and publick Preaching should be the Holy Word of God; and the venting of State-Matters by them exposeth the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus unto contempt, and the Provinces shall take special care that an Account hereof be given by their Deputies when they return from the General Politick Assembly, as also of what may be foisted in of this nature into their Writings and Printed Works.

7. These words, as much as may be, shall be razed out of that Canon which had enjoyned the Churches to sing full parts of Psalms,* 1.6 and so con∣form themselves into that Antient Custom in use with us ever since the Reformation.

8. The last Synod of Vitre had injoyned sundry Ministers of the higher Languedoc residing in the City of Montauban,* 1.7 and not in their own Chur∣ches, to depart thence, and to live actually they and their Families in those places where they be fixed Pastors, and that within Three Moneths after Notice given them of this Decree, and in case of disobedience it was ex∣presly declared to them that they should be suspended, yea, and they were then denounced to be Suspended from the Holy Ministry. But now the Letters and Excuses of the Sieurs Richard Pastor of the Church of Muzac and Islemade, of Benoist Pastor of Albai and Realville, and of du Mas Pastor of Verlai, dwelling at Montauban being read, and the Provincial Deputyes of higher Languedoc having been heard speak about them: This Assembly besides their Suspension judgeth those Ministers to be guilty of open Re∣bellion against our Order and Church-Discipline, and to have despised ve∣ry many of our National Synods, and to have abandoned their Flocks, and therefore it declareth them to be Usurpers of the Sacred Ministry; and farther it doth very severely censure that Province of higher Languedoc for suffering such great Disorders so long a time unpunished, and the Consi∣story of the Church of Montauban for permitting them to preach after the Declaration made of their Suspension at Vitre; and farther confirming the aforesaid Sentence, it declareth the said Benoist and Richard to be suspen∣ded the Holy Ministry for Three Moneths to Commence from that very day when as this present Act shall be signified to them, and if in case with∣in Three Moneths time they do not obey the Canons of our National Sy∣nods, and reside personally among their People, they are from this very instant deposed. And as for the Sieur du Mas this Assembly doth as yet grant him one Moneth more after that this Decree shall be notified to him, and in case he be not then Obedient, and reside on his Church, he is, de∣clared suspended from the Holy Ministry, which said Suspension shall con∣tinue upon him till he do conform; and the Portions or Moneys arising from His Majesties Bounty that might accrew unto them as unto other conformable Ministers shall be detained by the Lord du Candal in his own hands until such time as they have intirely satisfied this present Synod and this its Ordinance. But notwithstanding all that's imported in this Cen∣sure Monsieur Gardesy is Excepted, he having a lawful Excuse for his Abode at Montauban, by reason of his great Age, and for his laudable

Travels undertook and sustained by him for the Service of Gods Church in the Flower and Vigour of his Youth: And this present Act shall be Sinned and Authenticated by the Manual Subscriptions of the Moderator, Assessor, and both the Scribes of this Synod, and shall be read and signi∣sied both in the Consistory of the Church of Montauban, and in the re∣spective Consistories of the Churches of those fore-mentioned Ministers by the Deputies of the Province of Lower Guyenne, at the Charges of the Province of Higher Languedoc, and they shall be allowed Six and Thirty Livres to defray their Charges, which shall be payd them in by the Lord of Candal out of the Moneys belonging to the Province of Higher Languedoc. And that Province is commanded to see the Discipline more exactly obser∣ved, especially in the point of Pastors Residence in their Churches.

9. Samuel du Fresne Student in Divinity in obedience to the Order of the last Synod held at Vit••e presented himself before this Assembly, bring∣ing with him Testimonials from the Consistory of the Church of Saumur, certifying of his Piety, Religious Conversation, Soundness in Doctrine, diligence in visiting and comforting the Sick, and of his Silence when admitted to assist at their Consistorial Sessions, and the Rector and Pro••••ssors of the University attesting the same things also, and that on all occasions whether by Theses publickly defended, or private Conferences and Discourses, and by Propositions from the Word of God he hath ma∣nifested his good Learning and Proficiency in the Languages and Divinity: This Assembly giving Credence to his Attestations hath granted to the said Samuel du Fresne the Summ of One Hundred Livres for his Journey hither, and Two Hundred Livres more for his maintenance for One Year, in which time he may be called out unto the Ministry in some one of our Churches.

10. The Sieur Chauveton having been condemned by the Synod of Vitre to pay the Summ of Three Hundred Livres to the Province of the Isle of France,* 1.8 which had maintained him in his Studies, or in case of his de∣fault the Provinces of Lower Guyenne in which he is now Minister was to make satisfaction for him. The Letters of the said Chauveton were read by which he humbly requesteth to be discharged from paying that great Summ, because it was not long of himself, that he returned not within the time prescribed unto his Church of Claye, where he once served, but be∣cause of the many heavy Domestick Burdens that lay sore upon him. And the Province of Lower Guyenne being heard in their Remonstrances made by them upon this Account: The Assembly confirmed the Decree of the former National Synod, and that it might be Executed, the Lord of Candal is ordered to keep the said Summ of Three Hundred Livres in his own hand, out of the Moneys belonging to the Lower Guyeune from the Kings Liberality, that so they may be restored unto the Province of the Isle of France, and Monsieur de Chauveton may be acquitted from all Payment, because of his great Poverty, which was fully notified unto this National Synod.

11. On that Affair of the Sieur d' Anglade concerning Arrearages of Sallary pretended to be due unto him by the Province of Lower Languedoc for his possession of the Hebrew Tongue in the University of Nismes,* 1.9 his Let∣ters having been read, and the Judgment of the Province of Seventies on the Accompt produced by him: This Assembly decreeth Four Hundred Livres unto the said Sieur d' Angtade, to witt, Three Hundred Livres to be paid him out of the Moneys appropriated to the University of Nismes, and owing to him as Professor of the Hebrew Tongue there; and an Hun∣dred Livres more out of the Common Stock of the Province of Lower Languedoc, and these Monies arising from both these Funds shall be paid in unto him by the Lord of Candal.

12. Whereas the Province of Berry hath yielded that the Church of Moulins should be incorporated with the Province of Burgundy, this Act of theirs is confirmed by the Authority of this National Synod: And as to that difference between the said Church of Moulins, and the Province of Berry, about Moneys due unto it from the Province,* 1.10 as Monsieur John Durand their Pastor had made report thereof unto this Assembly: They shall accompt with the Deputy of the said Province at their next Synod, who shall come into Burgundy on purpose to terminate this Affair. And in case they should not agree, the Province of Anjou shall put a final pe∣riod to it by the Authority of this Assembly.

13. Reading that Article concerning the Sieur Guerin Pastor of the Church of Baugencey, who together with divers other Persons of the Pro∣vince of Orleans and Berry stand bound in a very great Summ of Money.* 1.11 The Deputies of the said Province having remonstrated that notwith∣standing all their Urgencies and Importunities with the Marquis of Rosny, and the repeated instances of our General Deputies at Court with the said Lord, they could never get from him so much as one Farthing; by reason whereof the said Monsieur Guerin and his Sureties are in great trouble, and threatned that they shall be compelled will they nill they to make pay∣ment, or else to lie and die in Prison. Wherefore they most humbly pe∣tition this Assembly to have compassion on the said Guerin and his Suretyes, and to continue unto him that self-same Charitable Assistance until the next National Synod, which was granted him in the last. This Assem∣bly would most cordially have complyed with their Desires: But being bound up by His Majesties Order, It cannot divert the Moneys given our Ministers for their Ministerial Labours unto any other Uses.

14. Upon that complaint of John le Febure Bookseller and Citizen of Geneva against the Sieur Menuielle, the younger,* 1.12 at present Minister and Pastor of the Church of Orthez, whose Judgment had bin dismissed to the Synod of Bearn, which also was advised to injoyn him to go unto Geneva, and there to justifie himself from the Crime imputed to him before the Ma∣gistrates of that City, and in default thereof that Synod was to suspend him from the Ministry. Now after hearing the Relation of all passages done at Geneva both before the Magistrate and Consistory at the instance of the said le Febre, and the Mediation of the said Menuielle's Friends to com∣pound the matter with him, and the Letters written by the said le Febure unto the Synod of Bearn, the Shifts and Subterfuges of the said Menueille, and the Reasons inducing the Synod of Bearn not to suspend him being all urged by their Deputies. This Assembly not brooking that a Man blasted in his Reputation, and accused of the Crime of Fornication, should be Countenanced in his Sin, and incouraged in the Functions of the Sacred Ministry to the great Dishonour and Reproach of so High and Holy a Calling, doth once more Exhort the Synod or Colloquie of Bearn to in∣terdict the said Menuielle the Exercise of the Ministry, until such time as he shall have fully cleared himself from the Crime imputed to him. And notice hereof shall be given by Letters in our name unto the Synod of Bearn, as also of some other matters, which we have judged fitting to acquaint them with, according to that Communion which is betwixt us and them, and these matters shall be notified to them by their De∣puties.

15. The Synod of Vitre ordained the Summ of Four Hundred Livres should be delivered unto the Lords our General Deputies for the defraying of several Expences that they should be necessitated to make at Court about Dispatches,* 1.13 Expeditions, and other Extraordinary Charges for the Service of our Churches: And the Lord of Bertreville formerly our Depu∣ty General having sent unto this Assembly an account of the disbursement

of the said Summ made both by himself and the Lord Maniald his Colleague in the Exercise of their Office, as also that they had deposited in the hands of Monsieur de la Riviere Pastor of the Church of Ronen an Hundred Sixty and Eight Livres, being the remainder of the said Summ of Four Hundred Livres. This Assembly returns their most hearty thanks unto the said Lord of Bertreville for his great care and faithfulness, and ordains that the Summ aforesaid of an Hundred Sixty and Eight Livres should be put into the Common Treasury of the Church, and that the like Summ of Four Hundred Livres shall be paid in to the Lords de Favas and Chalais our General Deputies to be used by them on the like occasions, according as the necessity of our Affairs may demand it; and for which they shall be accountable unto the next National Synod.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 observ. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 upo•• the 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.2

  2 P•••••• Ob••arv. 2. upon the Synod of ••••••••ins.
• * 1.3

  2. Vitre. Ap∣peal. 2.
• * 1.4

  2. Vitre g•• m. 6 Below of Univers. 12.
• * 1.5

  2. Vitre. g.m. 17. 2 Vitre. g. m. 21.
• * 1.6

  2. Vitre. g. m. 31.
• * 1.7

  2. Vitre. g. m. 38.
• * 1.8

  2. Vitre. p. m. 17.
• * 1.9

  2 Vitre. p. m. 18.
• * 1.10

  2. Vitre. p. m. 22.
• * 1.11

  2. Vitre. p. m. 26.
• * 1.12

  2. Vitre. p. m. 21.
• * 1.13

  2. Vitre. g. m. 41.