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. XXIII. Particular Matters.

• Article 1. MR.* 1.1 Laurence, heretofore Pastor in the Province of Bearn, pre∣senting himself in this Assembly with an Attestation of his Life, Carriage and Conversation, for these two Years now last past, and most humbly and importunately petitioning to be restored unto the Holy Mi∣nistry. This Assembly did not judg his Request meet to be granted, but advised him to apply himself to some other Calling than the Ministry of the Gospel, and to use such means for a Livelihood, as the Providence of God may trace out and direct him to.
• Article 2. Forasmuch as Monsieur Eymard abusing the Leave granted him by his Church of Ʋeyne in Dolphiny, hath for several Months withdrawn himself into the Province of Lower Guyenne, and is there since imployed in the

• Holy Ministry: This Assembly censuring the Church of Berbignieres for calling him unto their Service, and condemning the said Province for their too great Facility in admitting and supporting him, doth injoin the said Eymard to appear before the Synod of Dolphiny, which if the good Providence of God do permit, will be assembled the next Year; and he shall give an Account unto them of all his Actions and Deportments: and in case he refuse Obedience and Submission unto their Judgment, he shall be then, as he is now at this Instant, denounced suspended from the sacred Ministry.
• Article 3. Mr. Harvey, Deputy from the Church of Bourdeaux, presented himself to this Assembly with Letters and Memoirs from the said Church, peti∣tioning that Monsieur Vignier might be conferred upon them for their Pastor, There was read also an Act of Opposition made against this Call, by several Heads of Families of the said Church, and divers Letters also of the said Mr. Vignier, and Letters from the Church of Nerac. There were heard also the Lords of Aulous and of Massilieres, petitioning on be∣half of the Church of Nerac, that the said Mr. Vignier might be bestow∣ed on them for their Minister; and the Lord Berdolin also spake in behalf of the Province. Whereupon, the Assembly bestowed Monsieur Vignier upon the Church of Nerac to be their peculiar Pastor, and ordered the Church of Nerac to reimburse that of Bourdeaux of those just and reasona∣ble Expences they had been at in their Endeavours for the getting of the said Mr. Vignier; and the Church of Bourdeaux hath leave given it to provide for it self either within or without the Province, according to the Forms prescribed by the Discipline; and in case the said Church should meet with any Pastor at Liberty, and one who may contribute be∣neficially to their Edification, the said Church is now impowered to treat with him.
• Article 4. The Church of Valance shall carry its Declaration unto the Synod of Lower Languedoc, which shall judg whether the said Church ought to be rejoined to that of Soyon and the Province of Vivaretz.
• Article 5. For the future the Church of Sr. Estienne in Forest, shall be reputed a Member of the Synod of Vivaretz.
• Article 6. Mr. Constantin, Pastor of the Church of Rochefoucauld, presented himself unto this Assembly, with Letters from his Mother, petitioning that he might be discharged the Service of the said Church, and drawn out of the Province of Xaintonge; and a Letter also was read from the Consistory of the Church of Nismes unto the said Province, to the same purpose; and the Act of Dismission granted the said Constantin by the Church of Rochefoucauld. After hearing of the Deputies of Xaintonge, and a mature Debate of all Arguments pro and con, this Assembly did consent that the said Mr. Constantin should be set at Liberty, but did ex∣hort him to make Conscience of keeping to his Calling, and readily to embrace all Opportunities of serving the Church of God.
• Article 7. The Deputies of the Province of Bearn having moved that their Right unto divers Scholars, whom they at their own Charges had edu∣cated for the Ministry, and were now imployed in the Pastoral Office in Churches of this Kingdom, might be conserved: This Assembly did assure them, that the Interest of the said Province should be equally re∣garded with that of the other Provinces, and that the Churches of this Kingdom should be always ready upon all Occasions to communicate unto them the sensible Effects of their Charity and Affection to their Preser∣vation.

  ☞ The Commissioners nominated by the Synod to examine that Book made by Monsieur d'Aubus, intitled, Bellarmin Reformed, having made

• ...

  their Report of it, the Assembly considering that it would do good Ser∣vice, and contribute greatly to the Edification of the Readers, approved the printing of its first Part, and exhorteth the said Monsieur d'Aubus to imploy those excellent Gifts which God hath so abundantly poured out upon him, to the Advancement of his Kingdom; and promised that if God did enable the Churches with a Supply of Monies, they would be at the Charges of the first Impression.

  But this Act, as Monsieur Bollenat, one of the Deputies unto this Sy∣nod, relateth in his Copy of its Acts, was afterwards razed out; and that also by Order of the very Synod.

• Article 8. Because of the great Importance of the Church of Nismes, and its present urgent Necessities, and for that the Provincial Deputies of Lower Languedoc have yielded their Consent unto their Petition: This Assembly permits the Lord Cheyron, Elder of the said Church, to discover to it any Pastor by whose Ministry the said Church may be edified, that so it it be possible they may be provided of a third Pastor during the Session of this Synod; and in case he cannot find one, Leave is given unto the said Church to get it self a Pastor any where, either within or without the Province.
• Article 9. Because of the Inability of the Colloquy of Rovergue, and of the small Numbers of its Pastors, the Colloquy of Albigeois is ordered to take care that the Church of St. Affrique be supplied till the Meeting of the next Provincial Synod of Higher Languedoc.
• Article 10. Leave is given by this Assembly to Mr. Bastide, a Minister, freed from his Service in the Church of St. Affrique, and Province of Higher Languedoc, to address himself unto any other Church or Province in this Kingdom, in which he may exercise his Ministry, and make his Abode, as may be best for his Advantage.
• Article 11. The Synod being informed of the Innocency of Monsieur de Monbreueil; and touched with a deep Sense of his many and great Sufferings, doth order the Lords General Deputies to take a most especial Care of his Concern, and to sollicit the expediting and ratifying of those Attestati∣ons given him by the Churches of Paris, Nantes and Rennes, who have had a perfect Knowledg of his Life and Deportments, that so he may be fully justified and discharged.
• Article 12. The Sieur Cottiere having presented a Summary of Books com∣posed by him, and of one especially treating of the ancient Faith of the Churches in the three first Centuries: This Assembly being fully inform∣ed of those many excellent Gifts with which God had indowed him, and applauding his Zeal and great Affection for the Advancement of Christ's Kingdom, doth exhort him to continue the devoting of himself and La∣bours to the Defence of God's Truth, and to carry his Writing unto the Synod of Anjou, which is expresly ordered to peruse them, and having approved of them, to take care about their Impression, and the Churches shall defray the Charges thereof.
• Article 13. Mr. Perrier, formerly Receiever of the Monies given by his Majesty's Liberality unto the Churches in the Province of Vivaretz, making Re∣port that the said Province was indebted to him the Sum of two thousand one hundred Livers paid by him before-hand unto the Churches for the Relief of their Pastors, as is manifest from the Finito of his Account rendred unto the Synod held at Mirabel in the Year 1625. This Assem∣bly, to do him Justice upon his Complaint, decreed, That if he will be pleased to quit his Expences, Damages and Interest, for Forbearance claimed by him, and the Province of Vivaretz restoring him to his Office of Receiver, upon the same Conditions that were accorded unto the pre∣sent Possessor of it, that then he shall pay himself the whole Principal in

• the two next ensuing Years; and as for the Arrearages due unto him, pro∣vided he do make them appear to be real Debts, and that he hath not been satisfied for them out of the Obligation given him by the said Pro∣vince upon the Lands of Toulant and Baffre, they also shall be put upon Account in Order to his Satisfaction.
• Article 14. The Province of Higher Languedoc, and Monsieur Berauld one of its Deputies, were censured for violating the Canons, which had taken Care that the Pastors of particular Churches should be deputed unto Sy∣nods alternatively, and that none should be received into Provincial Sy∣nods without Letters of Commission, and that no Professors of Divinity should appear in Synods, although they were Pastors, without being sent thither by their Churches, or called by the Synods, whenas Matters re∣lating to their Universities, or important Points of Doctrine, were handled and debated.
• Article 15. The Lords General Deputies are ordered to assist the Churches of Bearn in their Petition presented unto his Majesty for the re-establishing of their Colledg.
• Article 16. Mr. Robertson, Principal of the Colledg of Rochefoucauld, report∣ing the considerable Sums he had advanced out of his own Pocket, to∣wards the Maintenance of the said Colledg: This Assembly ordained, That out of the Monies belonging to the Province of Xaintonge, upon the Account of that Colledg, the Lord of Candall shall keep in his own Hands so much as shall be found due unto the said Mr. Robertson, who was praised for his Angular Affection unto the publick Weal of the Churches, and is intreated to continue his Affection, good Service, and Faithfulness therein as formerly.
• Article 17. This Assembly ratifying what was done by the Consistory of Mont∣pellier, in the Cause of Monsieur Ginmoux, which had been turned over to them by the Synod of Castres, in the Year 1626, judgeth that the Complaints of the said Ginmoux were groundless; and this shall be signi∣fied to him by Letters.
• Article 18. The Deputies of Normandy and Xaintonge petitioning, that some certain Sum of Monies taken out of the Churches Stock, might be im∣ployed towards the Redemption of many poor Protestants kept in hard Captivity by the Turks: This Assembly having no Power to grant them their Request, because of that small Stock which is at its Disposal, doth advise them to petition all the Churches in those and the Neighbour-Provinces, to contribute their Alms liberally for the Comfort and Deli∣verance of those poor afflicted Christians, whole Misery is extream, and cries aloud for the Bowels of our Compassion.
• Article 19. The Lady Dutchess of Tremouille having by Letters recommended Mr. Jouars unto the Care of this Assembly, and demanded that the Call she had given him to be her Pastor, might be ratified by our Authority: A Vote passed, that the said Lady should be commended for her Piety, and exhorted by Letters more and more to continue her Zeal for the Glory of God, and the Advancement of his Kingdom.
• Article 20. Mr. Godfroy, the Civilian Professor of the Laws in the University of Geneva, having writ unto this Assembly, that he would compose a Body of Church-History, which would discover the Untruths in the five first Vo∣lumes of Cardinal Baronius, and this in Compliance with that Motion made him by the National Synod of Castres, in the Year 1626. A Vote passed, that the Thanks of this Assembly should be returned him by Letters, and that he should be intreated to bless the Churches with the Fruits of his Promises as soon as possible.
• Article 21. Report being made in this Assembly of the grievous Persecutions undergone by Monsieur de Surville, Pastor of the Church of Vigan; the

• Sum of three hundred Livers was immediately voted him for his present Subsistence, and to be paid in to him by the Lord of Candall out of the best and clearest Monies in his Hands, and out of the rest, which we hope to recover, another Sum of three hundred Livers more, and that one supernumerary Portion out of the Dividend for the Province of Sevennes, shall be offered to him free of all Taxes and Charges.
• Article 22. This Assembly considering the Expences that Mr. Chambauld hath been necessitated unto by means of the Accusation brought against Mr. Louis du Bois, Order was given unto the Province of Vivaretz, to inquire into the Truth of his Complaints, that in case they be made good and ve∣rified, the said Province shall betwixt this and the next National Synod, give him one free Portion more to be added unto those supernumerary ones already assigned to him.
• Article 23. The Lord of Candall having freely remitted the Sum of eight hun∣dred Livers, which were his proper Right, and due unto him from the Sous in a Liver, out of the Sum of sixteen thousand Livers granted by his Majesty unto the Churches for defraying the Expences of this Assembly; and he having also quitted out of the Reprisals, which he might have taken in his Accompt, the Sum of fifteen hundred Livers: This Assembly did unanimously render his Lordship their most hearty Thanks for his ge∣nerous and Christian Charities to our poor Churches: And there was voted out of the said Sum of fifteen hundred Livers, three hundred Li∣vers to be given unto Monsieur de Tremblay, Pastor in the Church of Pau∣lin; and three hundred Livers more were to be delivered unto Monsieur de la Fon, Pastor of the Church of Glenat and Calvinat, in Considera∣tion of their pressing Wants; and fifty Livers to Daniel Chabord for his Assistance, who came on purpose to this Synod, to implore our Help to∣wards the Redemption of his Son, who hath been ever since the last Troubles kept in Slavery aboard the Gallies: and the other eight hun∣dred Livers remaining of the said fifteen hundred, shall be paid in to the Lord Ramboullet, Elder of the Church of Paris, to be imployed by his Agent at Marseilles, for the Comfort and Deliverance of the Faithful, who for Religion, and a good Conscience Kept by them, have been there detained in Chains ever since the last Commotions.
• Article 24. Forasmuch as Mr. Duncan hath served in the Profession of the Greek Tongue in the University of Saumur, by Order of the Provincial Synod of Anjou, which had divided the said Profession betwixt him and Mr. Benoist, who did formerly enjoy it: This Assembly ordainineth, that one half of the Wages belonging unto, the Professors of the said Lan∣guage, shall be paid him in Consideration of the Service actually per∣formed by him.
• Article 25. Mr. Savoix, Pastor of the Church of Castres, having complained by Letters unto this Assembly, of his being interdicted the Ministry: and that Act of the Consistory of the Church of Castres being read, attest∣ing, That he had preached none other Doctrine but what was agreeable to our Confession of Faith and Church-Discipline: This Assembly or∣dered the Lords General Deputies to prosecute in his Majesties most ho∣nourable Privy Council, for the disannulling of the Decree of Interdiction past against him in the Court of Castres, and to bestir themselves in this Affair with that Vigour as becomes them, it being a Case of great and general Importance to all the Churches.
• Article 26. Those free Portions which were granted the Churches of Auvergne by the 24th National Synod of Charenton, in the Year 1623, shall be detained in the hands of the Lord of Candall's Deputy, and be distributed by him among all the Pastors, which have been sent by the Province of Sevennes, proportionably to the Service per∣formed

• by them, of which they shall bring good and valid Attestati∣ons.
• Article 27. Out of the first Monies that shall be distributed to our Univer∣sities, the Lord of Candall shall pay in four hundred Livers unto Mr. Robertson, Principal of the Colledg of Rochefoucauld, to reimburse him in part of his own Monies advanced by him towards the Maintenance of the said Colledg, but with this Condition, that he do give them satisfa∣ction, who have had reciprocal Promises from him.
• Article 28. The Synods of Lower Guyenne are most strictly charged to call unto an Account Mr. Bustanoby, for the Sum of three hundred Livers delivered unto his deceased Father, and to deduct from the said Sum the Charges of his Impression of the Catechism in the Biscayan Language, according to that Promise made by the said Mr. Bustanoby some time be∣fore his Death, unto the former National Synods.
• Article 29. Mr. Froger presenting Letters from the Church of Pammiers, and declaring the deplorable Condition whereunto that poor Church is now reduced: This Assembly did, in a more especial manner, recom∣mend the Concerns of that afflicted Church of Christ, unto our Lords the General-Deputies; and to help defray the Charges of the said Froger, there was order'd the Sum of one hundred Livers to be paid unto him immediately by the Lord of Candall.
• Article 30. The Portion of Monies accruing from the Composition made with Mr. Palot, and appertaining to the Province of, Sevennes, shall be deposited into the hand of Mr. Blachan, one of the Deputies of the said Province, who having paid himself what he had advanced before-hand for the Churches of Auvergne, shall be accountable for the Remainder unto the next Provincial Synod.

Notes

• * 1.1

  He is called in another Copy Lavent, in a third La∣vand.