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. XXXV. Remarks upon the Deputies.

1. MR. John Mestrezat, Moderator in this Synod, was born of an emi∣nent Family in Geneva, which were originally seated at Verona, a great and ancient City in Italy, but forsaken by them for Religion. This famous Divine came young as a Traveller into France, about twenty two Years of Age, in the Quality of a Proposan or Student of Divinity, to visit the Protestant Universities; which having done, he came to Paris; and the Reformed Church there having heard him make a Proposition, imme∣diately demanded him for their Minister, unto which he consented with this Proviso, that they would let him reside two Years at Saumur to com∣pleat his Studies. And that term being expired, he returned back to Paris, and served the Church of God there with a great deal of Pains and Fidelity forty two Years, and departed this Life in the Year 1657, being sixty six Years old. He had a Conference with a Jusuit of great Reputa∣tion, call'd Regourd, by express Order of the Court, and in its Presence, to the Confusion of the Jesuit, and the great Advantage and Honour of

our Holy Reformed Religion: I have seen a piece of his concerning the Church: what other Works were published by him, I am sorry that I cannot inform my Reader of them.

2. Monsieur Michael le Faucheur was also born of godly Parents in the same City of Geneva, and recieved into the Holy Ministry in the Pro∣vincial Synod of Vivaretz, and presented by that grave Assembly to the Pastoral Office in the Church of Annonay, though he was then but eighteen Years of Age; and Annonay was a Church of no mean Consideration; but what he wanted in Years, he made up in Merit. In the Year 1612, he was removed to the Church of Montpellier, in which he served full twenty Years: He was one of the Scribes in the National Synod held the first time at Charenton, 1623. The Parliament of Tholouse having made a Decree, that no Foreigner should be a Minister, or preach within their Jurisdiction, in the Year 1632. he came to Paris, and sollicited the Court for his Restoration: He had in that City a Brother very rich, and one who followed the Law. Whilst he resided here, the University of Lan∣sanna in Switzerland, earnestly invited him to be Professor of Theology in it, but he very civilly declined that Motion, though he was a most ac∣complish'd Scholar and Divine. In the Year 1636, a Franciscan Friar, who was the great Favourite of Cardinal Richelieu, and of his Cabinet-Council, meeting him in an Apothecary's Shop in St. James's Street, de∣manded his Name, and he telling him who he was, and the Reason for which he was driven away from Montpellier, he bespoke him; Monsieur Faucheur, do you tarry here, and preach at Charenton, and I will ingage my Word for it, that the King shall never trouble you. He communi∣cating this Relation to his Brother, his Brother communicated it unto the Elders of that Church, who discoursing with him, intreated him to preach the next Lord's Day in their Temple, which he did, to their and the Churches very great Satisfaction: And here he continued in their Service, preaching and dispensing the Word and Sacraments among them unto the Day of his Death.

3. Monsieur Amyraut, of him I shall speak in the Catalogue of the Churches and Ministers hung upon the File in the last National Synod, where my Reader will meet with a Multitude of Remarks upon the Pa∣stors that were then actually imployed in the Service of those-once flourish∣ing Churches.