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. IX. On the Chapter of GENERAL MATTERS.

8 THAT Canon concerning Attestations given unto Proposans shall be read in Consistories, Colloquies, and in all University Councils, and the Provincial Synods shall so exert their Power that it be most strictly observed.

9. That Canon about Means and Maintenance for our Ministers, and the keeping up of the Holy Ministry shall be read in all Consistories, which are exhorted to procure its Execution and Observation as much as in them lyeth.

10. On those words in the form of Excommunication, In the Name and by the Authority of our ••ord Jesus, and by the Authority of the Pastors and Elders assembled in Colloquy, and of the Consistory of this Church. The Provinces of Anjou and Poictou demanded whether a particular Consi∣story might not proceed to Excommunication without the advice and con∣sent of the Colloquy. This Synod judged according to our Church Dis∣cipline that Consistories might warrantably do it, provided there were no Appeal. Yet nevertheless because of the great importance of this Action the Consistories are exhorted to get it strengthened by and with the Ap∣probation of the Colloquy, at least with the advice of the Neighbour-Pa∣stors if it may be had.

11. The Province of Berry requesting that the said Forme might be inserted into the Body of our Discipline, and that another Forme might be drawn up to be joyned with it for the Restauration of a Penitent Ex∣communicate. The Synod leaving it to the prudence of Ministers and Consistories to use such a Form in the Reception of Penitent Excommu∣nicates as they shall judge most convenient for Places and Persons; ordain∣eth that the aforesaid Form of Excommunication shall be incorporated with our Discipline, and placed immediately after the Seventeenth Canon of the Fifth Chapter, and those words which before concluded it shall be razed out, viz. Ʋsing this or any other Form as shall be advised by the Con∣sistory. Instead whereof shall be inserted these, My Brethren this is the Fourth time, &c.