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. VI. Particular MATTERS.

* 1.1I. OUr Brother of Poictiers propounded this Case, Whether a Person having Abjured the Gospel before a Judge and his Clerk, he be not bound to publick Pennance? To which it was answered, That inasmuch as the Magistrate is a publick Person, the Abjuration done before him was publick, and therefore it must be repaired by a publick Repentance.

* 1.2II. Whether plain and sincere Promises of Marriage made by word de fu∣turo, may by consent of the Parties be dissolved? We answer, That such Promises whether by words de proesenti or futuro, ought inviolably to be per∣formed: for although by those words de futuro, the Accomplishment be de∣laid, yet the Parties are nevertheless bound and obliged before God to fulfil them.

* 1.3III. The Children of Popish Parents shall not be admitted unto Baptism in our Reformed Churches, although they were presented by a believing Sure∣ty, unless the Father or Mother will devest themselves of their Authority, and devolve it upon the Surety, yeilding up and releasing to him their Right, and solemnly ingage that they will allow their Child to be Educated in the true Religion.

IV. Whether for Warning unto others such Persons may not be debarred the Lord's Supper, whose Repentance is only Exteriour? That may be order∣ed according to the Grievousness of the Fact.

* 1.4V. Whether a Monk who hath quitted his Monastery, may make use of the Pope's Dispensation, that so he may enter again upon his Estate? We an∣swer, That the Monk hath done very ill in using such unjust Means whereby to recover his Estate.

* 1.5VI. Upon mature Deliberation it is decreed, That whoso professeth a Trade of Dancing, and hath been divers times admonished, and doth not quit it, shall be excommunicated, and principally because of his Obstinacy and Re∣bellion.

VII. It being demanded, What Course should be taken with such who ha∣ving been a long time Members of the Church, yet do not Communicate at

the Lord's Table, lest they should be obliged to a total Renunciation of Idola∣try. We answer, That if after some convenient Time and Admonitions gi∣ven them, they do not reform this their neglect, they shall be ••nt off from all Communion with the Church.* 1.6

VIII. As to that Question, Whether Baptism may be lawfully administred extraordinarily where the Child is ready to die? It was resolved, That in those places where the Word of God is ordinarily preached, the established Order shall be observed; but in such places where Sermons are had only ex∣traordinarily, at an undue Hour, it is left to the Minister's Discretion to ac∣commodate themselves to the Infirmities of Parents, yet to be very careful that they do not nourish them up in Superstition.

* 1.7IX. May a Man lawfully Espouse the Sister of his deceased Wife, who hath left him Children begotten on her Body by him? To which was an∣swered, That this is in no wise lawful nor expedient, and the Church must see to it, that no such Marriages be solemnized in it.

X. May a Woman kept by a Priest as his Concubine, although she pro∣test he is her Husband, and the Priest also secretly owns her for his Wife, yet before Witnesses denies it, may she be continued in, or cut off from the Communion of the Church? We answer, That she ought to use all Diligence in summoning the Priest to get their Marriage celebrated, and blessed in the face of the Church; and in case of refusal by the Priest, she shall separate herself from him; and having given satisfactory Proofs of her Repentance, she shall be received into the Fellowship of the Church.

* 1.8XI. What is to be done in case a Child has been baptized by a private Per∣son? It's answer'd, That to avoid the Scandal given and taken, there shall be Sermons preached for the better Information of the People, who shall al∣so be acquainted with the Nullity of such Baptism; and that this may be im∣printed upon their Hearts, the Child shall be brought publickly into the Church there to receive the true Baptism.

XII. In a Church already constituted, may he be chosen for an Elder, who through weakness hath defiled himself with Idolatry, since his Admission into Church-fellowship? It's answered, In case his Fall has been lately commit∣ted, and is fresh in memory, he ought not to be chosen.

* 1.9XIII. May the Lord's Supper be received from a learned Popish Priest, since the Baptism administred by him is not repeated? It's answered, The Case is greatly differing; for he that Communicates is of Age, come to Years of Discretion, and capable of rejecting all the Impurities of his Ministration; whereas this cannot be done by the baptized Infant: wherefore it is in no∣wise lawful to receive the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper from the Hands of such a Man.

* 1.10XIV. Ought they to be rebaptized who were baptized by Monks? We an∣swer, That Baptism administred by one destitute of Commission and Calling is altogether Null: wherefore inasmuch as Monks have no Call, neither from the Reformed Churches nor elsewhere, such as have been baptized by them ought to be rebaptized, unless the Monk have been received by a People to preach the Gospel to them, in which case there is the appearance of a Call.

XV. Should a Minister pay so much Deference to his Consistory as to re∣fuse Preaching the Gospel to another People, when he can do it without pre∣judicing his own Church? We answer, He ought to consider what is most expedient for the Glory of God, and apply himself thereunto, and indeavour with his utmost power to keep Peace and good Understanding with his Con∣sistory.* 1.11

XVI. May the Faithful turn Informers against such Church-Members as are guilty of Crimes punishable by the Laws? We answer, That as for scan∣dalous Sins, and dangerous to the Commonwealth, the Faithful ought to assist the Magistrate in his Proceedings against the Impenitent, that persist in their

Wickedness: but w reiterated, the Censure of the Church shall be sufficient.

XVII. May Priests and beneficed Persons, yet now become Members of the Church, and serving in the Ministry, receive the Revenue of their Cures?* 1.12 We answer, No; by no means.

XVIII. A Man having made promise of Marriage to a certain Maid; up∣on Discontent given him by her Parents, and to despight them, utters these words, You shall not see me in three Years time; and accordingly he leaves the Country for that time: Being returned at three Years end, he finds her mar∣ried, Is he bound in Conscience to re-demand her, or may he marry himself unto another? It was answered, That if it appear unto the Consistory, that she had re-married herself lightly, without having just and sufficient cause to believe her Husband dead, because she hath falsified her Faith plighted to him by joyning herself unto another, he is not bound to re-demand her: But it shall be sufficient for him to desire the Magistrate, that he would declare him Discharged of his Promise. But if through false Reports she had occasion to believe him dead, and she would not have plaid the Harlot, nor have violated her Faith given him, he must demand her, and be importunate that she be re∣stored to him.

* 1.13XIX. As to that Case, whether a Judge may together with his Judicial Office exercise the Ministry; it's answered, This is tolerated for a time, but not approved, because the Ministry requires the whole Man, and therefore he ought to lay down his Judicial Office.

* 1.14XX. Advocates of the Reformed Religion shall neither postulate nor plead in the Officials Court, unless it be in such Cases where Right only is to be had and obtained from them.

* 1.15XXI. A Priest having sold his Benefice, though he hath not received the Monies, shall not be received unto the Lord's Table, unless he will protest never to touch or take a Farthing of that Sum, and for the Fault commit∣ted by him in selling his Benefice, he shall do Pennance before the Consisto∣ry.

XXII. An Elder is accused of Adultery, which yet is denied by him: and although there be no sufficient proof of his Crimes, yet because of the great noise about it, and that the Woman protests the truth of it, that he hath had carnal Knowledge of her, and a Child by her, it is demanded, What Course is to be taken with him? It was answered, That he should be su∣spended his Office, and the Cognisance of the Fact should be referred to the Provincial Synod, to whose Jurisdiction this Business doth properly belong, and from whence there shall be no Appeal.

* 1.16XXIII. A Man having promised Marriage to the Cousin-Geman of his de∣ceased Wife, before his Marriage with her has carnally known her, and had a Child by her; but now ho desires to be received into Communion with, and married in the Church. It was answered, That forasmuch as the Mar∣riage of Cousin-Germans is not prohibited by the Word of God, although it be by our Magistrates, it is advised, That they shall separate for some time, and make publick Confession of their Fault before the Church; and then the Mi∣nister reproving it, and admonishing that none offend for the future in this manner, they shall be then married.

* 1.17XXIV. The Question being started, Whether Women might present Chil∣dren unto Baptism? It was answered, That this Custom should not be intro∣duced. Yet nothing hindred but that for some considerable Reasons it might be upon times admitted.

XXV. It was thought meet to Advise the Churches, that in Matters of ge∣neral concern to them, they should send from every Province, upon a com∣mon Purse, some particular Person, who follows the Court, to solicite the Af∣fars of the Churches in that Province, at Court: and all these Soliciters are

to communicate their Counsels together, that so they may be found unani∣mously agreeing in those Suits which they prosecute. They shall also carry with them the Confession of Faith, and consult of some means how to Pre∣sent it unto the King in the Name of all the Churches. Yet none of them shall pretend unto any Superiority over another: Moreover, every of them shall be admonished by the Province, who dispatched him with its Memoirs and Instructions, that in Matters of importance they decline not in the least from them, without first imparting it unto their Province, or in case of great and urgent Necessity, without having took Advice from such Ministers as are then in Court, and the nearest Church: Yet all these together shall have no Command nor Power over any Church, but only send their Advice unto their respective Provinces; and the Provinces upon those Advices shall take that care and course which they shall judge most expedient.

XXVI. An Elder having collected Monies to be given unto Priests or o∣thers, that may sing Masses for the Dead, is he to be deposed from his Of∣fice? We answer, Let him be first heard in the Consistory speak for him∣self, before they proceed unto his Deposal.

XXVII. It was demanded, Whether the Word of God might be preach∣ed publickly, without Authority from the Civil Magistrate? Answer was gi∣ven, That there should be special care had of the Time, and Publick Peace, and above all that there be no Tumults nor Sedition.

XXVIII. The Churches of Paris, Orleance, and Rouan are deputed by this present Synod, to Protest against the Popish Council now held at Trent, and of the Nullity of all its Decisions and Decrees; and their Protestation shall be done either by Printed Books, or Oral Remonstrances unto the King's Maje∣sty, or by any other way, as they shall judge needful.

XXIX. It is now Decreed, That the Deputies of the Provinces when they go to Court, shall take with them our Confession of Faith; and consult a∣mong themselves how to present it unto His Majesty, together with the Pe∣titions of our Churches; and to this purpose they shall make Application un∣to those Lords, who they know to be Favourers of our Cause and Religion.

XXX. Whereas divers Persons do solicite this National Synod to supply the Congregations, who have sent them hither, with Pastors; they are all an∣swered, That at present we are utterly unable to gratifie them; and that there∣fore they be advised to set up Propositions of the Word of God, and to take spe∣cial care of Educating hopeful young Men in Learning, in the Arts, Languages, and Divinity, who may hereafter be imployed in the Sacred Ministry; and they are most humbly to Petition the Lord of the Harvest to send Labour∣ers who may get it in.

XXXI. May he be admitted to communicate in the Bread only at the Lord's Table, who hath an Antipathy against Wine? Yes, he may, provided that he do his utmost to drink of the Cup; but in case he cannot, he shall make a Protestation of his Antipathy.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An Abjurati∣on before the Magistrate must be re∣paired pub∣lickly.
• * 1.2

  Promises of Marriage by words de prae∣senti or de fu∣futuro, ought to be kept in∣violate.
• * 1.3

  Touching the Baptising of Papists Chil∣dren, see Par∣tie. Matters, c. 3. of the first Synod at Pa∣ris.
• * 1.4

  Whether we may lawfully serve ourselves of Papal Di∣spensations.
• * 1.5

  Whoso makes a Trade of Dancing, af∣ter divers Ad∣monitions, shall be ex∣communica∣ted.
• * 1.6

  They are to be Excommuni∣cate who re∣fuse to par∣take with the Church at the Lord's Table. Whether a dying Child may be bapti∣sed.
• * 1.7

  I••s not lawful to marry the Sister of the deceased Wise.
• * 1.8

  Baptism by a private Per∣son is null.
• * 1.9

  May a Popish Priest admi∣nister the Lord's Sup∣per, since we do not disan∣nul his Ba∣ptism.
• * 1.10

  Whether they ought be re∣baptized who had been ba∣ptized by a Monk.
• * 1.11

  Whether they may be in∣form'd against who have been guilty of a Crime pu∣nishable by the Laws.
• * 1.12

  Priests tho' Converts, and in the Mini∣stry, may not receive a Pen∣ny of Revenue from their Be∣nefices. Whether a Man having espoused a Maid, and ab∣sents himself from her three Years, upon his return her finds married, ought re-de∣mand her.
• * 1.13

  May a Judge together with his Office ex∣ercise the Mi∣nistry.
• * 1.14

  Advocates may not plead in the Offici∣als Court.
• * 1.15

  A Priest ha∣ving sold his Cure, can't be admitted to the Lord's Supper with∣out a Recog∣nition. Proceedings against an El∣der for Un∣cleanness.
• * 1.16

  How he is to be dealt with, who hath had a Child by his Cousin-Ger∣man.
• * 1.17

  Whether Wo∣men may pre∣sent Children to Baptism.