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.

Errors Rejected. The Orthodox Doctrine having been Explained, the Synod Rejecteth their Errors.

• CANON I. WHO teach that God the Father destinated his Son unto the cursed Death of the Cross, without any certain or determined Counsel to save any one particular Sinner; so that the Necessity, Utili∣ty and Dignity of the Impetration of Christ Jesus his Death might have been wholly saved, and continued in its perfect being, in all its parts complete and intire, although the Redemption impetrated should never have been actually applyed either to, or by any one particular Person. But this Doctrine is injurious to the Wisdom of God the Fa∣ther, and to the merit of Jesus Christ, and is contrary to the very Let∣ter and express terms of the Scripture; for doe but hear what our Lord speaketh, John 10.15, 17. I lay down my Life for my Sheep, and I know them. And the Prophet Esay saith of our Saviour, Cap. 53.10. When as he shall have made his Soul an Offering for Sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the good pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. In short this Doctrine subverts that Article of our Creed, I believe the Holy Catholick Church.
• CANON II. Who teach that the design of Christ Jesus in his Death was not effectually to ratifie the New Covenant of Grace by his Blood, but only to acquire for his Father a right of contracting anew with Men another Covenant, whether of Grace or Works it was not material. But this is repugnant unto Scripture, which teacheth Heb. 7.22. That Jesus Christ was, a Surety, and Mediator of a better, that is to say, of the New Covenant, and Heb. 9.15, 17. That a Testament is not in force till the Death of the Testator.
• CANON III. Who teach that Jesus Christ by his satisfaction hath not merited for any one assuredly Salvation it self, or that Faith whereby his sa∣tisfaction may be applyed effectually to Salvation: But that he hath only acquired unto the Father the Power or plenary Will of treating anew with Men, and prescribing to them new Conditions such as please him, and whose accomplishment dependeth on the free Will of Man: And so it might have fallen out that either no Man, or all Men might have accomplisht them. For these have too mean and abject thoughts of the Death of Christ Jesus, not owning nor acknowledging the principal fruit or benefit acquired by it. This Doctrine would redeem from Hell that Ancient and condemned Heresie of the Pelagians.
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• ... CANON IV. Who teach that this New Covenant of Grace which God the Father hath contracted with Men through the interposal of Christs Death, doth not consist in this, that we are justified before God, and saved by Faith, as it lays hold of Christs Death, but in this, that whereas the Law required perfect Obedience, it is now abolished, and God reckons Faith it self, and the imperfect Obedience of Faith for a perfect and complete Obedience unto the Law, and out of his mere and pure Grace, doth esteem it worthy to be recompensed with Eternal Life. For these Fellovvs contradict in express terms the Sacred Scripture, Rom. 3.23, 24. Being justified freely by his Grace, through the Redemption which is in Jesus Christ, vvhom God hath ordained before all time to be a Propitiation by Faith in his Blood. And thus introduce vvith profane Socinus a Novel and unheard of Justification before God against the Unanimous and common Consent of the vvhole Church.
• CANON V. Who teach that all Men are received into a State of Reconciliation, and to the Grace of the Covenant, so that none is obnoxious unto Con∣demnation, nor shall be condemned for Original Sin, but that they be exempted from all the guilt vvhich is in that Sin. For this Opinion crosseth the Scripture, vvhich affirmeth, Ephes. 2.3. That vve are by Nature Children of Wrath.
• CANON VI. Who serve themselves of that distinction, of the Impetration and Application, that they may instil into the minds of simple and ignorant Souls this Opinion, That God would equally impart unto all Men the benefits purchased by the Death of Jesus Christ; and whereas some are made Partakers sooner than others of the Remission of Sins, and of Eternal Life, that this difference came from, and depends, chiefly on their free Will, applying unto themselves that Grace, which is indiffe∣rently offered unto all. But this hath no dependency at all upon the gift of special Mercy, working efficaciously within them, that they may apply it rather than others unto themselves. For making semb∣lance as if they propounded this Doctrine in a good Sence, they indea∣vour slily to insinuate into Souls the most pernicious Poyson of Pelagia∣nisme.
• CANON VII. Who teach that Jesus Christ needed not to have died, nor indeed did he die for them, who were the Objects of Gods Sovereign Love, and Elected unto Everlasting Life, as if these needed not the Death of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is a notorious contradiction unto the Apostle, Gal. 2.20. Christ hath loved me, and given himself to the Death for me. Rom. 8.32. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect? God is he that justifieth, who will condemne? Christ is he that hath dyed for us. They also contradict our very Saviour himself, John 10.15. I lay down my Life for my Sheep, and chap. 15.12, 13. This is my Commandment that ye love one another even as I have loved you.

• There is no greater love than this, that one should lay down his Life for his Friends.