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. IX. The Form and Manner of Baptizing Pagans, Jews, Mahometans and Anabaptists Converted to the Christian Faith; Composed by the National Synod of the Reformed Churches of France, Assembled at Charenton, in the Year 1645.

10. THE Catechumen having been sufficiently instructed in the Chri∣stian Religion, and able to give an Account of his Faith and Hope in God, and the Lord Jesus, to the good Contentment and Sa∣tisfaction of the Church, and they being very well satisfied of the Pu∣rity and Integrity of his Life and Conversation by Credible Witnesses, he shall by those self-same Witnesses be presented publickly to the whole Assembly of the Faithful to be Baptized; and the Minister before all the Congregation shall thus bespeak him.

Quest. 1. Do you not acknowledge your self by Nature to be a Child of Wrath, worthy of Death, and Everlasting Malediction?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 2. Are you not Sorry and Displeased for all the Sins of which you are Guilty ever since you were Born; and do you not promise that you will forsake them for ever more?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 3. Do you not from your very Heart, renounce all inter∣medling with the Temptations and Seducements of the Devil and of his Angels, all the Pomps and Vanities of this present World, and all the Affections and Concupiscences of the Flesh?

Answ. Yes.

If he be a Pagan, the Minister shall thus bespeak him.

Quest. 4. Do not you believe that there is but one God only, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, who by the Word of his Power sustaineth all things, and in whom we Live, Move, and have our Being?

Answ. Yes.

After this, they shall proceed unto the next Question, which shall be common to them all. And here the Reader must be admonished, that all those Questions which are in the Small Roman Character, are to be propounded to all the Chatechumens indifferently; but those in the Italian Character, do either belong distinctly and severally to the Jews or Pa∣gans, to the Mahometans or Anabaptists, according as their respective Titles do demonstrate. And then they return unto their General Que∣stions in the Lesser Character, which are to be made in this Ensuing Order.

Quest. 5. Do not you believe that this great God who hath Created Hea∣ven and Earth, is one in Essence, though distinguished into Three Persons Equal and Coeternal; The Father, the Son begotten of the Father from all Eternity; and the Holy Ghost proceeding Everlasting from the Father and the Son?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 6. Do not you believe that this Great God who never left himself without Witness, hath manifested himself unto Men, not only by his Works, which ever since their first Production, do uncessantly declare his Praise and Glory, but also by the Revelation of his Counsel, for the Salvation of Man∣kind, contained in the Holy Scriptures, called the Old and New Testa∣ment?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 7. Do not you believe that all those Holy Scriptures are of Divine Inspiration, and contain the perfect Rule of our Faith and Life.?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. Do not you profess, that you will even to the last Moment of your Life, resist the Devil, whom you have hitherto adored, serving Idols made with hands, or the Host of Heaven, or those which by Nature are no Gods?

Answ. Yes.

If the Catechumen be a Jew, these Five following Questions shall be propounded to him, omitting those Four above mentioned, as properly belonging to the Heathen.

Quest. 1. Do you not detest the Rebellion and Obdurateness of the Jews, and do you not most humbly beg Pardon of God, that you have been so long a time detained under it?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 2. Do not you believe that the whole of God's Will, which it hath pleased him graciously to reveal unto us, is not only contained in the Books of the Old Testament, but also in those of the new?

Answ. Yes.

Quest 3. Do not you believe that Jesus the Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was Conceived in her by the uneffable Power of the Holy Ghost, and af∣terward Condemned to the Death of the Cross, upon the malicious Accusation of the Jews, by the Ʋnrighteous Sentence of Pontius Pilate, and Raised from the Dead the Third Day, and now exalted in Glory, is God mani∣fested in the Flesh, the Eternal word of the Father, by whom he Created and Sustaineth the whole World, that blessed Seed promised unto Adam imme∣diately upon his Fall, by whose Power and Vertue the Head of that Old Ser∣pent was Bruised, whose coming in the Flesh all the Patriarchs believed and hoped for; that great Prophet, and true Messiah foretold by Moses and all the Prophets that lived after him?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 4. Do not you believe that the Lord Jesus is the end of the Law for Righteousness unto all Believers, the Truth and Substance of all his Types and Shadows, the true Lamb of God, who taketh away the Sins of the whole World, and in whom all the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 5. Do not you believe that the Observation of the Ceremonial Law is now not only needless and Superfluous, but also every way pernicious unto Conscience?

Ans. Yes.

If the Catechumen be a Mahometan, the Minister shall propound un∣to him these Six following Questions, omitting those above mentioned, which properly belong unto the Jews and Pagans.

Quest. 1. Do you not believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testa∣ment be inspired of God, and contain his whole Counsel for the Salvation of Men, and are the only perfect Rule of Faith and Life?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 2. Do not you believe that Jesus the Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was Conceived in her by the Vertue of the Holy Ghost, and Form∣ed as to the Flesh out of her own Substance, is God and Man, Blessed for e∣vermore, perfect God, and perfect Man; Man born of a Woman in due fulness of time, and God begotten of the Father from Everlasting?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 3. Do not you believe that the Lord Jesus, from his first Concep∣tion after the Flesh, was Holy, Innocent, without Blemish, and separate from Sinners; and that he did not suffer Death for his own Sins, but for ours only?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 4. Do not you believe that his Death is the Propitiation for our Sins, yea, and for the Sins of the whole World; and that this Propitiation is in∣finitely Meritorious, through which Everlasting Glory and Salvation were pur∣chased for us?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 5. Do not you believe that Mahomet was an Impostor, and that his Alcoran is a Sacrilegious Heap of Idle Fancies, full of Absurdities, broach'd on design to set up a False and Abominable Religion?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 6. Do not you believe that the Gospel of our Lord Jesus is the power of God unto Salvation, to every one that believeth; and that in the Christian Religion, only God the Father hath revealed his good Will and Pleasure for the Salvation of Men, until the End of the World, and that since its Reve∣lation, there is not any new Religion to be expired, for that the Lord Christ is the only great Prophet promised unto the Faithful of the Old Testament; and that God having formerly spoken at sundry times, and in divers manners un∣to Men, before the Law, and under the Law, hath spoken to the Church of the New Testament, by the Mouth of his only Son the Lord Jesus?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. Give an Account of your Creed.

Answ. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of, &c.

In case the Catechumen be an Anabaptist, the Minister having made all those Demands Printed in the Roman Character, and omitted those in the Italian, which more particularly belong either to Pagans, Jews, or Mahometans, he shall thus proceed.

Quest. 1. Do not you believe that the Lord Jesus is and shall be true God, and true Man in those Two Natures everlastingly; that he was according to his Human Nature like in all thing unto other Men, Sin only excepted, inso∣much that he was the true Son of Abraham, of David, and of the Blessed Virgin, descended from their Seed and Blood, and that the Substance of his Body was not only formed in the Virgin, but also out of the very Substance of the Virgin, conformably to that Saying of the Apostle, that he was of the Seed of David, according to the Scriptures, that he was born of a Woman, and partaker of Flesh and Blood, as all other Children?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 2. Do you not believe that Infant-Baptism is grounded on the Scrip∣tures, and the perpetual Practice of the Christian Church?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 3. Do not you renounce with your whole Heart their Error, who reject Baptism? And are you not penitent for your so long refusal of it?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 4. Do not you believe the Authority of Magistrates to be an Ordi∣nance of God, unto which whoso will not yield Subjection, do bring upon them∣selves Condemnation, and that all kind of Obedience is due unto them?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. Do not you believe that this good God, who calleth all of us by the Ministry of his Word unto Life and Salvation, hath appointed certain Signs and Sacraments in his Church, which do Seal and confirm the Covenant of Grace, propounded to us in the Gospel Mini∣stry?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. How many Sacraments do you believe that there be in the Christian Church?

Answ. Two, Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

Quest. Do you desire to be instructed in the Nature and Use of Baptism, which you now demand of this Church of Christ?

Answ. Yes.

Then the Minister shall say,

Our Lord sheweth us in what Poverty and Misery we are all born, when he telleth us, that we must be born again. For if our Nature must be renewed, that it may enter into the Kingdom of God, then 'tis evident that it is universally depraved and accursed, whereof he admo∣nisheth us, that we may be humbled and displeased with oar selves; and by this means doth he prepare us earnestly to petition for his Grace, by which all that Corruption and Malediction of our first Nature may be abolished. And we are not capable of receiving it, till we be first emptied of all Confidence in our own Vertue, Wisdom and Righteous∣ness, that so we may pass Sentence of Condemnation upon all that is in us.

And look as he remonstrateth unto us our miserable Estate, so also doth he comfort us with his Mercy, promising to regenerate us by his Holy Spirit unto newness of Life, which will be the earnest of our entrance into his Kingdom. This Regeneration consisteth of two Parts: First, that we deny our selves, not following our own Judgment, Will and Pleasure, but resigning our Hearts and Understandings to be led Cap∣tive by the Wisdom and Righteousness of God, and so mortifying our selves and all our fleshly Members here below, we do then follow the Divine Light, and take up our Complacency in Obedience unto his good Will and Pleasure revealed to us in his Holy Word, and subject our selves to the Guidance and Government of his Holy Spirit.

Now the Accomplishment of both these is in our Lord Jesus, whose Death and Passion is of such Vertue, that by communicating in it, we are as it were dead to Sin, that so our carnal Affections, and the Desires of our Flesh may be mortified. In like manner by the Vertue of Christs Resurrection, we rise up unto newness of Live, which is of God; in∣••smuch as his Holy Spirit doth guide and govern us, and work in us those Works which are well-pleasing to him. Yet the first and chiefest Point of our Salvation is, that by his Mercy he freely pardons all our Sins, not imputing them unto us; and blotteth out the remembrance

of them, that so they may not be brought in Judgment against us. All these Benefits are conferred upon us, when he is pleased graciously to incorporate us into his Church by Baptism; for in this Sacrament he te∣stifieth unto us the Forgiveness of our Sins. And to this purpose hath he ordained the Sign of Water, thereby to signifie unto us, That as this E∣lement cleanseth away the Filth of the Body, even so will he wash and purifie our Souls, that there may not appear the least Spot upon them.

In the next place it holdeth forth unto us our Renovation, which standeth, as was said before, in the Mortification of our Flesh, and in that Spiritual Life which he effecteth in us.

So that we receive a double Grace and Benefit from God in our Bap∣tism, provided we do not disannul the Vertue of this Sacrament by our Ingratitude. First, That we have a most certain Token and Testimony, that God will be a propitious Father to us, not imputing our Sins and Offences to us. Secondly, That he will assist us by his Holy Spirit, that we may be enabled to combat with the Devil, Sin, and the Desires of our Flesh, until we have won the Victory; and so enjoy the Liberty of his Kingdom, which is a Kingdom of Righteousness.

For as much then as these two things be accomplished in us by the Grace of our Lord Jesus, it followeth that the Vertue and Substance of Baptism is treasured up in him. And indeed we have no other Laver but that of his Blood; nor any other Renovation, but what is in his Death and Resurrection, which, as he communicateth his Riches and Benedictions to us by his Word, so also doth he distribute them abroad among us by his Sacraments.

And in this appeareth the wonderful Love of God towards us, that these Graces bestowed on us, having (before the Incarnation of our Lord Redeemer) been as it were, locked up among the Jewish People, and the Partition-Wall, which separated between Jews and Gentiles, being broken down by his Death, he hath and doth shed abroad up∣on Mankind the saving Waters of his Grace in such abundance, that now there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither Male nor Female, neither Circumcision nor Uncircumcision, nor any outward Condition of Men, that can exclude them from that great Salvation, which is in him, and which the Lord Jesus will have preached unto all Nations: And the Co∣venant of his Peace is now ratified by Baptism, according to the Com∣mission, which he hath given unto his Apostles, saying, Go ye and preach unto all Nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Quest. And is it not true, my Brother, that you desire to be Partaker of this Grace by Baptism?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. But forasmuch as he that entreth into the House of God must look unto his ways, lest he should prophane the Sanctuary, and pre∣sume, according to that Saying of the wise Preacher, to offer the Sa∣crifice of Fools and ungodly Persons, and that he ought to be clean purged from all Leaven of Error and Malice, do you not detest from your Heart all Errors contrary to that sound Doctrin taught in our Churches?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. Forasmuch as we are now about to administer the Sacrament of Baptism unto you, do you not protest to live and die in the Faith of our Lord Jesus, which you have now confessed before us, and to adorn it with an Holy Life and Conversation, and to direct all your Thoughts. Words and Actions to the Glory of God, and the Edification of your

Neighbour, and to submit your self to the Order and Discipline of our Church, in Conformity whereunto this Holy Ordinance must be invio∣lably maintained?

Answ. Yes.

This being done, the Minister shall add, Let us call upon God, that he may be entreated to give his Blessing to this present Holy Ministration.

O Lord our God! The most wise and merciful God! We praise and bless thy Holy Name for that Grace, which thy good Hand hath deigned to bestow upon this thy Servant, who lay in the profound Darkness of the Shadow of Death, but is now enlightned by thee, thou having cau∣sed the Day-Spring from on high with his quickening and saving Bright∣ness to arise and shine in upon him, drawing him from a most deplorable hardness of a stony Heart to mollifie and soften him, delivering him from the Bonds of Death, and restoring Life unto him. Lord! as thou hast took away the Veil that was upon his Face, and called him to the Knowledg of thy self the only True God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent, and animated him with a Spiritual Courage to make a publick Confession this Day of thy Holy Faith, and that Hope which thou hast begotten in his Soul, and granted him this Grace to offer him∣self in thy Presence unto this Holy Sacrament of Baptism, the Seal of thy Covenant, the Pledg of the Remission of our Sins, and the Token of our Admission into thy House by a Supernatural New Birth: So, most blessed God, we beseech thee, to dart in upon him more and more the Beams of thy Mercy, to forgive him all his Sins, to purge his Conscience with the precious Blood of the Lamb without Spot, who taketh away the Sins of the World. O cause him, Lord, to feel the Almighty Ver∣tue of his Propitiation. Let thy Holy Spirit sanctifie him, and make him a new Creature, that he dying unto Sin may live unto Righteous∣ness, and putting off the Old Man with his Works, he may put on the New Man, who is renewed in Righteousness and true Holiness. And as we are now pouring upon his Head the Waters of thy Sacrament, so we beseech thee more especially to pour down upon him the Gifts and Graces of thy Holy Spirit. Receive him into the Number of thy Domesticks, and honour him with the Adoption of thy Children. Give him Grace, that during his whole Life he may devote himself entirely unto thy Ser∣vice, and yield that Obedience and Religious Worship to thee, which is thy Due and his Duty. And let him persevere faithfully in thy Holy Covenant for ever-more; that as we do now receive him in thy Name into the Communion of thy Church Militant, so thou mayest another Day exalt him into the Bosom of thy Church Triumphant, and gather him at his Death unto that general Assembly of the First-born, whose Names are written in Heaven. Hear us, O merciful Father, that this Baptism, which we do now administer to him according to thy Sacred Ordinance, may produce its Fruit and Vertue in him, as thou hast de∣clared in thy Holy Gospel to us, for the sake of thy dear Son, in whom thou art well-pleased, even our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath command∣ed us to call upon thee, saying, Our Father which art in Heaven, &c.

Then the Minister addressing himself to the Sureties, who present the Ca∣techumen, shall say,

My Brethren, As you have charitably employed your selves in the In∣struction and Edification of this our Brother, and are Witnesses of tha Baptism, which he shall now receive through our Ministry; so, do you

not promise before God and this Sacred Assembly to continue more and more to strengthen and confirm him in the Faith, and to stir him up unto all good Works?

Answ. Yes.

This done, the Minister speaking unto the Catechumen, who upon his Knees waiteth for Baptism, shall say,

Forasmuch as we have received these Evidences of your Faith, [pouring Water upon him] N. I Baptize thee in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

The Conclusion of the Form of Baptizing Strangers from the Cove∣nant of God, whether Pagans, Jews, Mahometans, Anabaptists, or any other Infidels, who had not been before baptized.

11. If in Churches served by divers Pastors, any one of them be disabled either through Age, or some other Infirmity, from administring the Cup, yet shall he always distribute the Bread in the Lord's Supper unto the Communicants, and this Canon shall be observed in all the Provinces without exception.

12. Whereas in many of the greater Churches of this Kingdom it hath been found requisite for their more general edifying, to handle the Sunday's Catechisms by way of Common-Places in Divinity, and not by familiar Questions and Answers: And to promote their Instructi∣on, who are well grown in years, they have substituted extraordinary Catechisings on certain Days immediately preceding the Lords Supper, we approving their Practice, do notwithstanding exhort the rest of the Churches to conform themselves unto the Order prescribed by the Dis∣cipline as much as possibly they can. And in case they cannot eve∣ry Lords Day Catechise their Children, yet shall they chuse out some days of the Week peculiarly for this Exercise, especially before the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is to be administred, and the Pro∣vincial Synods are ordred to see this punctually observed in every Church of their Jurisdiction, and to give an Account thereof unto the next National Synod.

13. To explain that Canon of our Discipline, which bindeth Pastors in their ordinary Course of Preaching to expound some one particular Book of Holy Scripture from the beginning to the end thereof, this As∣sembly declareth, that the Intention of the National Synod, which de∣creed that Canon, was not thereby to debar or hinder any Pastors from edifying their Churches by expounding of any Books or Texts of Scrip∣ture particularly chosen on extraordinary occasions, as of the Lords Supper, &c. nor to impose upon them any necessity of prosecuting the Exposition of the same Book, which was the Subject of their Lord's Day Sermon upon the Week Days, in which the far greatest Part of the People are taken up with the Occupations of their Secular Callings and Families, that they cannot attend upon such Sermons, and so would be deprived of their chiefest Edification, but in this respect to leave all Pastors to their Liberty.

14. Henceforward the Moderators in Synodical Assemblies, and the Deputies which shall be sent from the Provinces in their Name to assist in National Synods shall be chosen, as the Canons of our Discipline have determined, not by the Churches, but by Plurality of Suffrages of the Provinces. And in case any absent Person should be elected, yet this shall not abridge the Pastors of their Liberty in Voting.

15. For the better Understanding the Third Canon of the Ninth Chap∣ter of the Discipline, This Assembly declareth, that the Memoirs where∣with every Province intrusteth their respective Deputies, ought to be resolv'd in their Provincial Synods by plurality of Votes, and signed in the said Assemblies by the Moderators; and in case this be omitted, there shall be no more regard had unto them, than unto Motions made by Private Persons who had no Order nor Commission, and propounded such matters of their own Head.

16. Upon the Eighth Canon of the Ninth Chapter of the Discipline, it was decreed, that the Moderator of the Synod having propounded the Matters of Discipline, which are to be debated, shall defer the giving of his Suffrage till all the Deputies have given theirs; and he having gathered their Votes, shall then at last have the Casting Voice.