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.

HEADS of AGREEMENT.

These following Heads of Agreement have been resolved upon by the United Ministers in and about London, formerly cal∣led Presbyterian and Congregational; not as a Measure for any National Constitution, but for the Preservation of Order in our Congregations, that cannot come up to the common Rule by Law Established.

1. Of Churches and Church-Members.

1. We acknowledg our Lord Jesus Christ to have one Catholick Church or Kingdom, comprehending all that are united to him, whether in Hea∣ven or Earth: And do conceive the whole Multitude of Visible Belie∣ers, and their Infant Seed (commonly called the Catholick Visible Church) to belong to Christ's Spiritual Kingdom in this World. But for the notion of a Catholick Visible Church here, as it signifies its ha∣ving been collected into any formed Society, under a visible human Head on Earth, whether one Person singly, or many collectively, we with the rest of Protestants unanimously disclaim it.

2. We agree that particular Societies of Visible Saints, who under Christ their Head, are statedly joyned together for ordinary Commu∣nion with one another in all the Ordinances of Christ, are particular Churches, and are to be owned by each other as Instituted Churches of Christ, tho differing in apprehensions and practice in some lesser things.

3. That none shall be admitted as Members in Order to Communion in all the special Ordinances of the Gospel, but such Persons as are knowing and sound in the Fundamental Doctrins of the Christian Religion,

without scandal in their Lives, and have a Judgment regulated by the Word of God, and are Persons of visible Godliness and Honesty, cre∣dibly professing cordial Subjection to Jesus Christ.

4. A competent number of such visible Saints (as before described) do become the capable Subjects of stated Communion in all the special Ordinances of Christ, upon their mutual declared Consent and Agree∣ment to walk together therein according to Gospel Rule: In which Declara∣tion, different degrees of Explicitness shall no way hinder such Churches from owning each other as Instituted Churches.

5. Tho parochial bounds be not of Divine Right, yet for common Edi∣fication, the Members of a particular Church ought (as much as conve∣niently may be) to live near one another.

6. That each particular Church hath right to chuse their own Officers; and being furnished with such as are duly qualified and ordained, accor∣ding to the Gospel Rule, hath authority from Christ for exercising Go∣vernment, and of enjoying all the Ordinances of Worship within it self.

7. In the Administration of Church Power, it belongs to the Pastors and other Elders of every particular Church (if such there be) to rule and govern; and to the Brotherhood to consent, according to the Rule of the Gospel.

8. That all Professors as before described, are bound in duty, as they have opportunity to joyn themselves as fixed Members of some particular Church; their thus joyning being part of their professed Subjection to the Gospel of Christ, and are instituted means of their Establishment and Edification, whereby they are under the Pastoral Care; and in case of Scandalous or Offensive Walking, may be authoritatively admonish∣ed or censured for their Recovery, and for vindication of the Truth, and the Church professing it.

9. That a Visible Professor thus joyned to a particular Church, ought to continue stedfastly with the said Church; and not forsake the Mini∣stry and Ordinances there dispensed, without an orderly seeking a Re∣commendation unto another Church; which ought to be given when the case of the Person apparently requires it.

2. Of the Ministry.

1. We agree, that the Ministerial Office is instituted by Jesus Christ, for the gathering, guiding, edifying, and governing of his Church; and to continue to the end of the World.

2. They who are called to this Office, ought to be endued with com∣petent Learning, and ministerial Gifts, as also with the Grace of God found in Judgment, not Novices in the Faith and Knowledg of the Gospel; without Scandal of Holy Conversation, and such as devote themselves to the Work and Service thereof.

3. That ordinarily none shall be ordained to the work of this Mini∣stery, but such as are called and chosen thereunto by a particular Church.

4. That in so great and weighty a matter as the calling and chu∣sing a Pastor, we judge it ordinarily requisite, that every such Church consult and advise with the Pastors of Neighbouring Congre∣gations.

5. That after such advice, the Person consulted about, being chosen by the Brotherhood of that particular Church over which he is to be set, and he accepting, be duly ordained, and set apart to his Office; wherein 'tis ordinarily requisite that the Pastors of Neighbouring Con∣gregations

concur with the Preaching Elder or Elders, if such there be.

6. That whereas such Ordination is only intended for such as never before had been ordained to the Ministerial Office; if any judge, that in the Case also of the removal of one formerly ordained, to a new Station or Pastoral Charge, there ought to be a like solemn recommend∣ing him and his Labours to the Grace and Blessing of God; no diffe∣rent Sentiments or Practice herein, shall be any occasion of Contention or breach of Communion with us.

7. It is expedient, that they who enter on the work of Preaching the Gospel, be not only qualified for Communion of Saints, but also that except in Cases extraordinary, they give proof of their Gifts and fitness for the said Work, unto the Pastors of Churches of known abilities, to discern and judge of their Qualifications; that they may be sent forth with solemn Approbation and Prayer, which we judge needful, that no doubt may remain concerning their being called to the Work; and for preventing (as much as in us lieth) Ignorant and Rash Intru∣ders.

3. Of Censures.

1. As it cannot be avoided, but that in the purest Churches on Earth, there will sometimes Offences and Scandals arise by reason of Hypo∣crisie and prevailing Corruption; so Christ hath made it the duty of every Church to reform it self by Spiritual Remedies, appointed by him, to be applied in all such Cases; viz. Admonition and Excommuni∣cation.

2. Admonition being the Rebuking of an Offending Member in Or∣der to Conviction, is in case of private Offences to be performed accor∣ding to the Rule in Matth. 18. ver. 15, 16, 17. and in case of Publick Offences openly before the Church, as the Honour of the Gospel, and nature of the Scandal shall require: And if either of the Admonitions take place for the Recovery of the fallen Person, all farther proceedings in a way of Censure are thereon to cease, and Satisfaction to be declared accordingly.

3. When all due means are used, according to the Order of the Gospel, for the restoring an Offending and Scandalous Brother, and he not∣withstanding remains impenitent, the Censure of Excommunication is to be proceeded unto; wherein the Pastor and other Elders (if there be such) are to lead, and go before the Church; and the Brotherhood to give their consent, in a way of Obedience unto Christ, and unto the El∣ders, as over them in the Lord.

4. It may sometimes come to pass, that a Church Member not other∣wise Scandalous, may sinfully withdraw, and divide himself from the Communion of the Church to which he belongeth: In which case when all due means for the reducing him prove ineffectual, he having hereby cut himself off from that Churches Communion, the Church may justly esteem and declare it self discharged of any further inspection over him.

4. Of Communion of Churches.

1. We agree that Particular Churches ought not to walk so distinct and separate each from other, as not to have care and tenderness towards one another. But their Pastors ought to have frequent Meetings toge∣ther,

that by mutual Advice, Support, Encouragement and Brotherly Intercourse, they may strengthen the Hearts and Hands of each other in the ways of the Lord.

2. That none of our particular Churches shall be subordinate to one another, each being endued with Equality of Power from Jesus Christ. And that none of the said particular Churches, their Officer or Officer, shall exercise any Power, or have any Superiority over any other Church, or their Officers.

3. That known Members of particular Churches, constituted as a∣foresaid may have occasional Communion with one another in the Or∣dinances of the Gospel, viz. the Word, Prayer, Sacraments, Singing Psalms, dispensed according to the Mind of Christ; unless that Church with which they desire Communion, hath any just Exception against them.

4. That we ought not to admit any one to be a Member of our re∣spective Congregations, that hath joyned himself to another, without endeavours of mutual Satisfaction of the Congregations concern∣ed.

5. That one Church ought not to blame the Proceedings of another, untill it hath heard what that Church charged, its Elders or Messengers can say in Vindication of themselves from any Charge of irregular or injurious Proceedings.

6. That we are most willing and ready to give an Account of our Church-Proceedings to each other, when desired, for preventing or re∣moving any Offences that may arise among us. Likewise we shall be ready to give the Right Hand of Fellowship, and walk together ac∣cording to the Gospel Rules of Communion of Churches.

5. Of Deacons and Ruling Elders.

We agree, the Office of a Deacon is of Divine Appointment, and that it belongs to their Office to receive, lay our, and distribute the Church's Stock to its proper Ʋses, by the Direction of the Pastor, and the Bre∣thren if need be. And whereas divers are of Opinion, that there is also the Office of Ruling Elders, who labour not in Word and Doctrin; and others think otherwise: We agree, That this difference make no Breach among us.

6. Of Occasional Meetings of Ministers.

1. We agree that in order to Concord, and in any other weighty and difficult Cases, it is needful, and according to the Mind of Christ, that the Ministers of several Churches be consulted and advised with about such matters.

2. That such Meetings may consist of smaller or greater Numbers, as the matter shall require.

3. That particular Churches, their respective Elders and Members ought to have a reverential regard to their Judgment so given, and not dissent therefrom, without apparent Grounds from the Word of God.

7. Of our Demeaner towards the Civil Magistrate.

1. We do reckon our selves obliged continually to pray for God's Protection, Guidance and Blessing upon the Rulers set over us.

2. That we ought to yield unto them not only Subjection in the Lord, but support according to our Station and Abilities.

3. That if at any time it shall be their pleasure to call together any Number of us, or require any account of our Affairs, and the state of our Congregations, we shall most readily express all dutiful regard to them herein.

8. Of a Confession of Faith.

As to what appertains to soundness of Judgment in matters of Faith, we esteem it sufficient, That a Church acknowledg The Scriptures to be the Word of God, the perfect and only Rule of Faith and Practice; and own either the Doctrinal Part of those commonly called the Articles of the Church of England: Or, The Confession, or Catechisms, Shorter or Larger, compiled by the Assembly at Westminster, or the Confession agreed on at the Savoy, to be agreeable to the said Rule.

9. Of our Duty and Deportment towards them that are not in Com∣munion with us.

1. We judge it our Duty to bear a Christian Respect to all Christians, according to their several Ranks and Stations, that are not of our Per∣swasion or Communion.

2. As for such as may be ignorant of the Principles of the Christian Religion, or of Vicious Conversation, we shall in our respective places, as they give us opportunity, endeavour to explain to them the Doctrin of Life and Salvation, and to our utmost perswade them to be recon∣ciled to God.

3. That such who appear to have the Essential Requistes to Church-Communion, we shall willingly receive them in the Lord, not troubling them with Disputes about Lesser Matters.

As we assent to the forementioned Heads of Agreement, so we unani∣mously resolve, as the Lord shall enable us, to practise according to them.