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. XIV. Of GENERAL MATTERS.

1 THE Sieurs de Chambrun and Mestrezat Ministers of the Gospel, de Jarlan and Rabboteau Elders, who together with our General Deputies had been commanded by this Synod to wait upon His Majesty, being now returned, made report, that they delivered unto the Lord Chancellor unto the Lord de la Vieuville, and to the Lords Principal Secretaries of State the Letters of this Assembly, of whom they had a very gracious and kind Reception, and every one of those Lords assured them of the Kings sincere intentions to conserve the peace of the King∣dom, and particularly for His Subjects of the Reformed Religion, provi∣ded that they persisted in their Duty and Obedience, and farther they ad∣vised the Pastors and Elders of this Synod upon their return unto their respective Provinces, who had sent them, that they would deal effectu∣ally with them to continue in their due Obedience. After this they were introduced into His Majesties Presence, who was then attended with My Lord Chancellor, and the other Lords of the Privy Council, to whom they delivered the Letter of this Assembly, and assured His Majesty in the Name of this Assembly and of all the Reformed Churches of this King∣dom, whom they represented, of their Loyalty, Submission, and Obe∣dience, whereunto they were obliged by their Birth, Religion, and Bene∣fits conferred upon them by His Majesty. And farther, they returned their most humble thanks unto His Majesty for that Peace he was plea∣sed to vouchsafe unto his Subjects of the Reformed Religion, and did with a most profound Humility petition His Majesty, that they might through his Royal Goodness and Justice evermore enjoy and possess it. Whereupon His Majesty did with his own Mouth give us this Answer, That if his Subjects of the Reformed Religion did carry themselves well, and lived in that Duty and Obedience which God and Nature required of them, he would continue to them the Priviledges of his Edicts, and that My Lord Chancellor should tell us his mind more amply and at large.

After which My Lord Chancellor bespake them in these words, That His Majesty having been well informed of the Actions and Deportments of the Synod till now was exceedingly satisfied. But that His Majesty would discover unto them his mind upon two points, the first whereof concerned Foreign Pastors, That it was His Majesties Will, That the Churches should not serve themselves in the Ministry of any other Persons than such as were born in the Kingdom, and were his Natural Subjects, for some private reasons which he needed not to tell them, but one of them was very evident, because his Natural Subjects, who are such by their Birth, would be more tied unto his Service than any Foreigners. The other related to the last Synod held at Alez, yet was it not in the least intended by His Majesty to impair or alter the Liberty of the Chur∣ches with reference to their Faith, or the Exercises of their Religion, either in Doctrine or Discipline; but it was very displeasing unto His Ma∣jesty that the National Council of the Reformed Churches in this King∣dom held at Alez should oblige all Pastors by their Corporal Oath to ap∣prove a Doctrine defined in a Foreign State. And that though His Ma∣jesty giveth protection to the Religion, yet you must not mistake him, he intends it not for a Novel and Exotick Faith. When as his Lordship

had finished his Discourse, The said Deputies did most humbly petition His Majesty graciously to hear them upon those two points, which His Majesty having favourably granted; They declared as to the first, That it was true, That now as for a long time ago the Churches of this King∣dom had made use of some Foreign Ministers, but that they ever had this honour to have kept themselves within the limits of all Duty and Ser∣vice to His Majesty, and that during the War His Majesty had left unto the Churches their Pastors, without informing himself of their Country or Nation. But since His Majesty did us the favour as to acquaint us with his Will and Pleasure in a time or Peace, that we must have no Strangers to officiate in our Churches, it would be so far from preserving our Chur∣ches, that it would leave some of them destitute, and some others desolate, and allay very much of the tast and sweets of that {quod}eace we now enjoyed. Moreover that among those of the Church of Rome in this Kingdom there were a multitude of Ecclesiasticks of other Nations, which enjoyed the most honourable and profitable Benefices and Dignities of the Gallican Church, wherefore His Majesty was most humbly petitioned, that he would be pleated not to make this severe distinction between his Subjects, so as to permit those of one Religion to use Strangers, and to deny it unto the other. And as for the Second Point, It was a truth, that the Synod of Dort, made up of the Deputies of divers Reformed Churches had decided some certain points of Doctrine, whereby to oppose the Errors which troubled the Churches of the Netherlands. But that this Decision did most harmoniously agree with the Confession of Faith in the Churches of this Kingdom, and which had been presented to His Majesties Pre∣decessors. So that the substance of the Doctrine asserted arid maintained by that Synod was not new, and that there was nothing novel in it, ex∣cepting its Formality and Application as a Fence and Boundary to keep out divers Errors that were then rising and breaking in upon us. So that His Most Excellent Majesty was most humbly intreated not to believe that his Subjects had any such design as to make him the Patron and Protector of a Novel and Foreign Doctrine. After that the Deputies had finished their Discourse, they were commanded to withdraw, that His Majesty might consider and deliberate about what had been said by them; and being a while after called in again, My Lord Chancellor told them as to the first head, that His Majesty having heard the Matters that were propounded by them, would not remove the Foreign Pastors from their Flocks in this Kingdom, who were now in Office, and at present actually imployed: But it was his pleasure that for the future no more should be received. Whereupon His Majesty taking the words out of the Lord Chancellors Mouth, repeated it himself, I will not that one of them that is now in the Ministry of their Churches be turned out. Afterward My Lord Chancellor continuing his Discourse told them, That as for the second point that His Majesty left us wholly at liberty to judge of our Doctrine, and would not himself have the cognisance of it; but only gave us to understand, that no Man should be obliged to pin his Faith upon anothers Sleeve, or to swear unto the Faith of a Stranger, but that every one should believe as he would. Whereupon these Deputies judging and believing that this Answer did not m the least prejudice them nor our Churches, because no Person in the Reformed Churches swears unto anothers Faith, after they had once again returned Thanks unto His Majesty for all His Favours, and protested afresh of their most humble Obedience and inviolable Affection to His Majesties Service, they departed. And having before their return hither waited upon the Chancellor privately, and rendred him thanks, as also to the Lords de Pisieux and d' Herbant for that Audience

and very kind reception they had by their means from His Majesty, they were informed by them that His Majesty was very well pleased with them, and that he retained his Intentions of keeping the Peace, provided his Subjects of the Reformed Religion continued in their Obedience.

2. When as the Deputies had ended their Report the Lord Galland Commissioner and Deputy for the King in this Assembly related what was given▪ him in charge by His Majesty upon these two aforesaid points: This Synod yielding all Obedience to His Majesties Will in what concerns the admission of Strangers for the future, doth yet resolve to take all op∣portunities of petitioning His Majesty that our Churches may enjoy the same liberty they ever had in this matter. And as for the second point concerning the Oath, The Synod declareth that the Intention of that of Alez was not in the least to wound His majesties Authority, of which they will be alwaies most tender and sollicitous, nor did that National Synod design to bring into this Kingdom any Foreign Customs, or Strange Doctrines, or New Opinions, but only to testifie the Union of the Re∣formed Churches of this Kingdom with those of the Low Countries in certain points of Doctrine, which have been in all times entertained and embraced by them, and for their substance are comprehended in our Con∣fession of Faith, but upon which there fell out some Controversies in the Netherlands. However that they may give all possible contentment and satisfaction unto His Majesty, This present Synod considering that the City of Dort is a Dependance and Member of a Foreign Common∣wealth, it doth ordain that the Reference had in the said Oath unto that City shall be taken away, nor shall it for the future be administred in the Churches and Universities of this Kingdom. And the said Oath shall be hereafter taken in that form as is exprest in the close of the Canons decreed in this present Synod, which by, its special Order were printed and in∣serted into these present Acts.

3. The Province of Normandy moved that a Canon might be ordained to oblige all Pastors to visit once a year the respect Families of their Churches, and to take notice of their progress in Piety, and to press them to it by the most quickning motives. Although this Synod doth not judge it necessary to make any New Canons on this occasion, yet never∣theless doth it exhort all Pastors and Consistories carefully to oversee the Flocks committed to their charge, according to the Rule of Gods Word, and the Example of those Worthy Ministers who have been noted and re∣nowned for their diligence and faithfulness in the House of God.

4. That same Province also requested that the Moneys given us by His Majesties liberality might not for the future be distributed by the number of Pastors but of Churches. This National Synod as that of Privas be∣fore it, decreeth, That the former course and practice shall stand, and that the said Portions shall be distributed according to the number of our Mini∣sters; but withal, it exhorteth the Provinces in their particular distribu∣tion of the said Moneys to have a special regard and compassion for the poor and weaker Churches.

5. The Province of Anjou petitioned the Synod, that some expedient might be found out for setling of a certain Maintenance upon our Univer∣sities. But there could not be at present any thing done in it.

6. The Province of Lower Guyenne moved, whether it might not be expedient to add some Marginal Notes unto those Texts in our French

Bibles, and to be published in the next Impression of the Holy Bible, which our Adversaries accuse us to have falsified and corrupted. This Assembly did not judge it needful, because our Translation of the Sacred Scriptures hath been sufficiently defended by our own Divines, as will ap∣pear to any one that will but take the pains to consult their Learned and Orthodox Writings upon this Subject.

7. The Province or Lower Languedoc demanding License for our Pastors to continue their receiving of Moneys belonging to the Colloquies: This Assembly did very sharply reprove and censure the said Province for acting contrary to that Canon made at Alex, and forbiddeth all Ministers so much as to intermeddle with that Receipt, and the Deputies of the said Province immediately upon their return home are charged to give notice of this present Ordinance unto them; and if any one of them for the fu∣ture dare violate it, this Assembly declareth him from this very instant suspended the Sacred Ministry, which suspension shall continue upon him till the sitting of the next National Synod, before which he shall appear in Person to give an account of his Actions. And the Moderators of Colloquies and Synods are commanded to exert all their Power that this Canon be observed, or else they shall answer for it in their own pri∣vate Capacities.

8. The Province of Burgundy moved, that for the future no Church nor Minister might be admitted to bring in any Proposal or Petition unto the National Synod but by the way of the Provincial Synods, and the Deputies of their Provinces. This Assembly accepted and approved of the motion, as agreeing with the Sentiments and Canons of former Sy∣nods, and made it into a Canon.

9. The Province of Dolphiny requesting of this Synod that some certain Persons might be selected to collect out of the Writings of the Fathers such passages as will be of use in that Controversie of Church-History. This Synod because there have been published a vast number of Books on this Subject, and a multitude of Collections already made by divers of our Orthodox Divines doth not judge it needful to imploy any one particularly on such a Task: But yet withal it exhorts all them to whom God hath given those Abilities, that they would improve them so as to frame and compose a faithful Church-History, wherein we may have the rise, growth, and progress of all Controversies, and their confutation by the Sacred Scriptures for the greater Edification of Gods Church.

10. The same Province demanded, Whether Consistories might com∣pel an Advocate by Ecclesiastical Censures to depose against his Client such matters as had been secretly communicated to him. This Assembly considering that Advocates are intrusted with many Secrets, and obliged by the Duties of their Office and Calling to conceal Matters confided to them by their Clients, judgeth that no Consistories ought to urge them to it unless in cases of High Treason, or things of such great importance.

11. The Provincial Deputies Commissionated to our National Synods shall not be suffered to plead for any Church, or private Person who appeals from the Judgment of their Province. But it shall be lawful for them to bring with them the Memoirs and Instructions of the said Churches and particular Appellants, and tender them unto the National Synods, who may leave them in the hands of Commissioners to make report of them.

12. This Synod ratifying the Decrees of former Synods, forbiddeth all Colloquies and Provincial Synods to divert the Moneys given us by the King in any manner whatsoever from their primary use and intendment whereunto they were appointed; and ordaineth that they shall be only employed towards the maintenance of our Ministers, and the upholding of the Sacred Ministry, of the maintenance of our Universities, Colledges, Proposans, the Widows of Pastors, and they shall be expended in defraying the necessary Charges of our National Synods, according to the Will and Pleasure of His Majesty.

13. Monsieur d' Huisseau appearing in this Assembly as he and Monsieur Guydon had been ordered to give an account of their prosecuting Monsieur Palot, for the recovery of those great Summs of Money he was indebted unto the Churches. He declared that both himself and the said Monsieur Guidon now absent, since the last National Synod held at Alez (which they had acquainted with the process commenc't by them against the said Palot,) could not make any great progress therein, because of the Wars which a little while after brake out, and for that the Commissioners ap∣pointed by the King to audit the said Palots Accounts were all out of the way. But yet notwithstanding they had not been altogether idle, nor lost their time: For though this Affair were exceedingly imbroyl'd, yet had they got such light into it, as would be very beneficial unto the Churches, and not only to some of them which were more particularly concern'd above other, but would be very useful to the Exchequer it self, and to the said Monsieur Palot. That the difficulty formerly experienc't in getting Commissioners who might examin the Accompts of the said Palot, had made them conclude, that to bring this Affair to an happy pe∣riod, it were best to carry and leave it with the Sedentary Judges, as those are, in the Sovereign Courts. And since the opening of this Synod the Lord Malat Secretary to His Majesty, a Man of great Probity, Capa∣city, and Intelligence, and very well known, did by a third Person make this offer, That in case he would give him a quarter of what Moneys might be gotten in from this Affair, he would undertake the prosecution of it without ever demanding any thing else from the Churches for de∣fraying his Costs and Expences. If therefore it would please this Synod to continue and prorogue for Six Moneths longer unto the said Lords Guidon and d' Huysseau the faculties and powers granted and confirmed to them by the last Synod of Alez, and give them leave to associate with them the said Lord of Mallat, and to prosecute this Affair in such Courts and Jurisdictions as they should think good, on condition, that one quar∣ter of what might be recovered, should be given them in lieu of all their Charges and Recompence, they hoped that within the term of Six Moneths the Churches should be well contented with their pains and un∣dertakings, and reap the fruit and injoy the benefit of them. And that an estimate might be made of their progress in this Law-Suit within that time, This Assembly is desired to Authorize the Synod of the Isle of France to take cognisance thereof, that so according to the success and profit had and obtained, they may either order it to be continued, or surceased. Moreover this Assembly is requested to charge the Lords our General Deputies to come in and assist the said Lords, Guidon, Mallat, and d' Huisseau upon such occasions as do occur, and when as they shall be desired by them. But the Synod thought it more convenient before they proceeded any farther to conferr in the first place with the Sieur Palot, because we had now an easie opportunity for so doing, and there∣fore

voted that the Seur Palot should be intreated to come unto this Assembly, which accordingly he did, and upon discourse he offered, that if this Assembly would be pleased to nominate a Committee of their own Members, he would very willingly confer with them about this Affair. Whereupon the Lords of Montmartyn one of our General Deputies, Basnage a Pastor, Du Port, du Four, and de Launay Elders together with Monsieur d' Huisseau were appointed to confer with the said Palot, and see if they could bring him to put a fair and amicable end unto it. Who having discour∣sed with him, informed this Assembly that he was so far from compounding with the Churches, and refunding any thing unto them of the great Summs demanded by us, that on the contrary he avowed they were very much in∣debted to him. The Synod hereupon Commissionated the Lords, Durant and Mestrezat Pastors, Marbau, Massoners, Biggot and de L' Aunay Elders of the Church of Paris to act joyntly together with the Lords of Mont∣martyn and Manialt our General Deputies, or with any one of them in the absence of the other, and to resolve and conclude in the Name and behalf of our Churches whatsoever they should conceive meet in this Affair, and to treat and agree with one or more Sollicitors, and to give full Powers unto him or them to prosecute it on such Articles and Con∣ditions as in their Wisdoms would most contribute to the Weal, Benefit, and Advantage of our Churches. And to this purpose a special Letter of Attorney was Sealed to them, and Delivered by all the Provincial Depu∣ties of the Churches in this Synod, but on this Condition, that he or they with whom they agreed should not demand nor pretend unto any Mo∣neys of right from the said Churches for their Pains, Costs, Losses or Sallaries in the pursuit and sollicitation of this Affair.

14. The Lord of Candal came into this Assembly, and assured it of the continuance of his sincere Affections and Service unto the Churches, and did farther declare and notifie with how much diligence and importunity he and the Lords General Deputies for Five Moneths together in this pre∣sent year had sollicited both His Majesty, and the Lords of his Council, that the Moneys granted by his Bounty unto the Churches might be assigned on some particular Tally for this year. That a long time was spent before he could find any success of his endeavours. But at last they would give him Orders and Assignations, which in truth he refused to accept, because he knew them to be naught and worth nothing. And that finally about the end of the last April they had given him others, which he was constrained to take, because he saw the Lords of the Coun∣cil fixed in their resolutions of giving him none other. That indeed these latter Assignations were a little better than the former, but it would be a very great while before any payment were made, that it would be at least Six or Eight Moneths before the first Summ would become due, that the whole Assembly knew they would not grant him any Order or Tally for the last year 1622, yea, and His Majesty had revoked his former grant of Moneys to the Churches for the year 1621, and employed them else∣where to some other purposes: And as for the Arrears due unto us in the foregoing years, he had took all care possible, and used the utmost diligence to recover them, but with very little or no success, that he had brought in his Accompts, and prayed the Assembly to constitute a Com∣mittee to audit and close them. The Assembly having most heartily thanked the said Lord of Candal for his singular care, respects and kind∣nesses upon all occasions expressed unto the Churches, and desired the continuance of his Love, did nominate Messieurs de Basnage and Le Clark Pastors, du Port and du Four Elders to peruse and examine his Accompts.

And whereas a world of inconveniencies will befal our Churches by so long delay of paying in the Moneys granted us by His Majesty for this year now current, the Synod deputed the Sieurs de L' Angle, a Pastor, and du Port an Elder, and the Lords of Montmartyn and Candal to wait upon His Majesty, and on the behalf of this Assembly most humbly to beseech him to grant some other Assignations and Orders for the more speedy paying in of His Majesties Great Bounty unto our Churches, and that as a Token of His Royal Goodness and Liberality he would be pleased to add some other Summs to us instead of those which have been taken from us in the last foregoing years, we having received not so much as one farthing or doibt for them.

15. A few dayes after the said Deputies being returned from the King, they made Report in this Assembly how Graciously they had been received by His Majesty, who assured them that in case his said Subjects of the Reformed Religion continued in their Duty and Obedi∣ence, he would alwayes give them all possible content. And the same Expressions of kindness they received also from the Lords of His most Ho∣nourable Privy Council, who ordered out of hand Forty Thousand Livres to be payed in unto them, they yielding up unto their Lordships the old Warrants for the like Summ; but as for what was requested about re∣imbursing us the years past by fixing those Summs due unto us on some other Tallies and Assignations, their Honours were pleased to say, There was no reason why they should promise it.

16. The Province of Anjou requested that the University of Saumur might not any longer be left destitute of Professors in Divinity, but that some speedy care and course might be taken to send Monsieur Cameron to be Professor of that faculty in it. The Lord Commissioner and Depu∣ty for His Majesty unto this Synod, declared that it was the Will and Plea∣sure of His Majesty that those two Gentlemen, Mr. Gilbert Primrose, and Mr. John Cameron should not be preferred neither of them to any Publick Office either of Pastors in the Churches or of Pastors and Professors in the Churches and Universities of this Kingdom, not because of their Birth as being Foreigners, but for some private Reasons of State, relating to his Service. And the said Lord of Galland presented us His Majesties Letters Written and Signed with His Own Hand Lewes, and a little lower de L' Omeny: Dated the Twenty Fifth day of this present Moneth. The Assembly understanding this to be His Majesties pleasure, would not put it to the Vote, Whether they should be continued or not in their Ministry, but deputed the Sieurs Cottiby Minister of the Gospel, and du Bois, and St. Martyn Elders together with the Lord of Montmartyn General Deputy to carry unto His Majesty a Petition from this Assembly, where∣in this Assembly did most humbly beseech His Majesty, that as he had lately with his own Mouth most graciously promised, so His Majesty would be pleased to give Order that all our Ministers might as fully injoy the fruit and benefit of his promise.