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.

SECT. XXI.

'Twill be a difficult matter to give in an exact account of those various methods used for their destruction. For the malice of their Enemies was exceeding fruitful in plotting and contriving of mischiefs. Every day pro∣duced a superfetation of them for twenty Years together. I will instance but in a few, for it would be an endless work to enumerate all. These were some of the chiefest.

First, Law-Suits in Courts of Justice. Secondly, Deprivations of all kinds of Offices and Employments, and in general of all manner of ways

for subsistence. Thirdly, The Infractions of the Edicts, under the plau∣sible gloss of explaining them. Fourthly, New Laws and Orders. Fifth∣ly, Juggles and amusing Tricks. Sixthly, The animating and exaspera∣ting of the Rabble with Hatred and Rage against them, and barbarous Cruelties and Torments.

These were some of the most considerable Machins which the Persecu∣tors employed for the attaining their ends several Years together. It being no easie matter presently to accomplish their designs, they needed time for the sharpning of their Tools, and the better ordering of their Engins; to pass by the many Traverses and Interruptions they had by foreign Wars, yet that great success they had in them did mightily inflame their courage and hopes, and confirm them in their grand design of a total extirpation of the Reformed.