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. XXII. Discipline Exercised upon a Delinquent Minister.

44 THE Acts and Memoirs produc't against Monsieur Peyroll, as also his Declinatory Letters written unto this Assembly on design to elude his citation and appearance being all read; and the Sieurs Astier, Carlincas, and the Provincial Deputies of Lower Lan∣guedoc being heard, it was judged that the Provincial Synod and Con∣sistory of Montpellier had been too indulgent to the said Peyroll, and borne with him too long considering that the suspension threatned bore no proportion to the greatness of his Crime, and that the Consistory should not have payd any respect unto his Appeal, when it was done on purpose to obstruct the Execution of the Synodical Decree, nor should they have connived at those Defaults observed in his Sermons, which have occasioned so many Persons to complain of him. Moreo∣ver it was ordained, that the said Peyroll for his Contentiousness at Law, and frequent failures in his promises, should be suspended from the Sa∣cred Ministry until the next Synod of Lower Languedoc, during which time the Colloquy shall take care that the Church be provided of ano∣ther Pastor; and the Synod being informed by the Consistory of Mont∣pellier of the verity and reality of these Offences taken at his Sermons, and of the other defaults whereof he is accused shall aggravate his cen∣sure even unto a Deposition from the Ministry, in case the said Peyroll refuse to testifie his Repentance by informing his promises, and by gi∣ving plenary satisfaction unto the Church, which he hath so grievously scandalized through his violations of them.

45. The Sieurs Taby and Longuett Commissioners appointed by this Council to pass over unto the City of Ʋsez, and to cite Monsieur Noguier Pastor of that Church before them, having heard him, and the Witnesses brought forth unto them, returned, and made Report of all the Acts produced both for and against Monsieur Astier. After which the said Astier, and the Sieurs Noguier, and Espagnac, and the Provin∣cial Deputies of Lower Languedoc were all suffered to speak in order; whereupon the Council Confirmed the Judgment of the said Province in all its Articles, and immediately absolved the said Monsieur Espag∣nac of the Crimes brought in against him by the said Astier, and cen∣suring the said Astier for his animosity and passion, ordaineth that he be reconciled with his adverse Party, and that the Papers produced in this cause shall be supprest; which being done, and the said Monsieur Astier having intreated Monsieur Aspagnac to forget what is past, The Council consents that the Censures denounc't against him by the Synod of Lower Languedoc be repealed, and taken off the File.

46. The Synod heard the Sieur Mercurin Pastor of the Church of Grace declare his particular grievances of which he complained in his Appeal from the Provincial Synod of Provence; and judging that the said Province ought not to refuse their assistance to him against the Per∣secution suffered by him from the Adversaries of the Gospel, it decreed

that Monsieur Cuper shall immediately pay him out of the Common Stock of Moneys belonging to the Churches of Provence the Summ of an Hundred and Fifty Livres, for which the Receiver of that Pro∣vince shall be accountable, and that henceforward an half Portion shall be setled upon him for his encouragement over and above what the Church of Grace hath hitherto injoyed.

47. The Council doing right unto Monsieur Berauld upon his Ap∣peals, and disanulling all former proceedings against him, except those of the Committees, which it had particularly ordained and constituted about his Affair, and having examined all those Accusations, Deposi∣tions of Witnesses, Denyals and Defences relating to it, did unaui∣mously and without the least disagreement declare, as it now declareth the said Monsieur Berauld absolved and justified from all crimes impo∣sed on him, and that there may be a real and hearty reconciliation of the said Monsieur Berauld with those who were transported against him; and that the peace and edifying of the Church of Montauban may be settled and promoted, the Reverend Mr. Charles and Delon Pastors of the said Church were commanded to come into this Assembly, and pre∣senting themselves before it, they were acquainted with its Holy De∣sires and Intentions, and were all of them joyntly and severally exhor∣ted unto Concord, Union, and Brotherly Love, that so the Church in which they officiate may be edified and comforted by their Ministry, and that all sence of injuries and bitter animosities may be for ever bu∣ried in the Grave of Oblivion.

48. Those Acts brought into the Colloquy of Albigeois by the Com∣missioners Nominated in the Synod of Realmont to make inquiry into the crime imposed on Monsieur Fabry Pastor of the Church de la Caune were all examined: And the said Fabry was heard as to those grievan∣ces of which he complained in his Appeal, as also was the Sieur de Maroule Pastor of the Church of Pont de Larq one of the Commissio∣ners, and the Provincial Deputies of Higher Languedoc. Whereupon the Council condemned the supine connivency of the said Province, which for many years together had never called their Pastors to an ac∣count for sundry Accusations laid unto their charge; and passing by the reasons inducing that Colloquy to give Judgment as it did, it ratifieth the Sentence of suspension denounc't against the said Fabry, and having sharply reproved him according as the Nature of his Offence required, it did farther decree, that when the time of his suspension should ex∣pire, he should be restored unto his Office, and to the Exercise thereof, but in another Church, and not in that of La Caune; from which the Colloquy hath already determined that he should be discharged.

49. That Appeal brought by the Elder of the Church of Vic-fezensac from a Decree of the Synod of Lower Guyenne in favour of Monsieur Bragerac its Pastor, that the Churches of Montreal and Vic-fezansac should pay him his Sallary, was declared null.

50. Monsieur Gravier neither appearing in Person, nor sending any Memoirs to defend his Appeal formed by him against a Decree of the Province of Lower Guyenne, the Contents of which was a Declaration that Monsieur Potet a Minister having past his word unto Mrs. Gravier

to acquit her of a certain Summ of Money, Mr. Gravier demanded its performance; but this Appeal was declared null and void.

Notes

• 1626. The 25th. Synod.