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. X. Observations made on Reading the National Synod of Alenson, held in the Year 1637.

1. IN compliance with that Petition of the Deputies of Vivaretz, and of the Church of St. Stephen in Forest, which had agreed in a particu∣lar Treaty made with the Church of Bonlieu, and by Consent of the Province of Burgundy, that the said Church should be united as it hath been for divers Years last past with it; this Assembly doth approve both of their Reunion with the said Province of Vivaretz, and of its being incor∣porated with that of Bonlieu.

2. In Confirmation of the promises made by the National Synods of Charenton, held in the Year 1631, the Second time at that Place; and of Alenson, in the Year 1637, unto Monsieur Chamier, this Assembly resolveth stedfastly as soon as God shall have inabled the Churches, that they shall be punctually performed.

3. A Decree past, that the Sieurs Constant and Bellot should be effectu∣ally paid what had been promised them by the foregoing Synods, as soon as ever the Churches may recover a Fund for it; and it shall be returned unto the Province of Xaintonge, who had advanced before-hands the said Monies.

4. For as much as the whole written Will and Testament of Mon∣sieur Scoffier, the Father produced in this Assembly, hath not been in the least fulfilled, although the National Synod of Alanson had strictly injoyned his Executors to perform it; the Consistory of the Church of Nismes is ordered once again to call before them the Widow of Mr. John Scoffier Deceased, who had applied to his own private uses, the Monies belonging to Jaquemine his Sister, tho she was by their own Father made Joint-heir with him, that so she may make Restitution of what she had unjustly taken to her self, and that by a false Information brought in by her unto the National Synod of Castres: And in case she refuse to Discharge her Conscience in this particular, then shall the said Con∣sistory prosecute her with all the Censures of the Church according to the Discipline.

5. Monsieur du Fresne producing Testimonials from the Province of Higher Languedoc, of his Godly Life, and most exemplary Conversation ever since the last National Synod, and out of respect to his most Humble

and Importunate Petition, this Assembly granteth him his Desire, and restoreth him to the Honour and Exercise of his Ministry, of which he had been deprived these Fourteen Years. And it was farther Decreed, that the Act of the National Synod of Alanson relating to him, shall be Rased; and whereas his Name was enrolled among the Deposed, it shall be now taken off the File, and he shall be sent unto the Churches of Issoire, Paillac, Chazelle, and Gazelle, to serve them as their Ordinary Pastor. All which shall be signified unto him by Letters.

6. Complaints being brought in against Monsieur Amyraud, Pastor and Professor in Theology, at Saumur, for Violating the Canons of the National Synod of Alanson, by Printing his Book of Reprobation, and some other of his Works; and the Province of Anjou, and the said Monsieur Amyraud, who was deputed by the said Church and University of Saumur, and charged with the Delivery of their Letters, having remonstrated unto this Synod many and sundry Transgressions of those very Canons, by several Provinces. And the Provincial Deputies of Poictou being heard, and also the said Amyraud, both as to the Publishing of his Books, and the Doctrin contained in them, this Assembly being very well satisfied with his Explications and Sense given of his Doctrin agreeable to that of the Synod of Alanson; and judging it best to bury in the Grave of Oblivion all those reciprocal Complaints brought in from all Parties, hath, as formerly, dismissed the said Sieur Amyraud, with honour to the Exercise of his Professorship, wherein he is exhorted to employ himself with Courage and Chearfulness. Moreover this Synod desirous for the future to settle a good arid lasting Peace in all the Churches, and to satis∣fy the Requests of all the Provinces, which have unanimously demanded the strict and punctual Confirmation and Observation of the Canons of the National Synod of Alanson, doth most expressly forbid on pain of all Church Censures, yea, and of being deposed from their Offices all Pastors and Professors to go beyond those bounds in Writing, Preaching or Disputing one against another upon those points declared and explained in the said Synod of Alanson, or to publish any Books on those Subjects. Moreover the said Professors shall be responsible for all their Lectures, Theses and Disputations; and their Provincial Synods shall be accomp∣table for them onto the National. And all Students in Divinity are most expresly injoyned, upon pain of being declared unworthy of e∣ver serving in the Sacred Ministry, to raise any Stirs or Debates about unnecessary Questions, as concerning the Order of God's Decrees, of U∣niversal Grace by the Preaching of Nature, which may lead and bring Men unto Salvation, Points only propounded and advanced by pure Curiosity, and for the Exercise of Mens Wits. And all Examiners of our Proposans in order to the Ministry, shall proceed in that business with very much Charity, exacting from them nothing but what is demanded by the Canons of our Discipline; and provided they give that Satisfaction which is requisite, by signing the Confession of Faith, the Liturgy of our Churches, and the Canons of Alez, Charenton, and Alenson, and this pre∣sent Act, they shall be approved and admitted.

7. After Reading of this Canon, which Monsieur Amyraud promised to observe and obey, he petitioned the Synod, that in case his Works might be opposed by Books printed in Foreign Parts, without the Kingdom, to the blasting of his Reputation, License might be given him to defend his own Innocency, and to make use of his Natural right in repelling injury, and purging himself from all Blame and Reproach. An Order passed, that if any such thing fell out, he should demand leave to vindicate himself from the Provincial Synod of Anjou, who shall consider whether it will be expedient for his Consolation, and the Churches Edification.

8. Monsieur Grace producing his Accompts of Monies received, and distributed to the Churches of Rochel, Montauban and Castres, shall carry them to the next Provincial Synod of Burgundy, where upon his Bring∣ing forth of the Acquittances, this Accompt shall be concluded and past by the Authority of this Assembly.