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.

THE Synod of Orleance.* 1.1 (Book 3 (Orleans))

SYNOD III. (Book 3 (Orleans))

Articles of the National Synod held at Orleance, the Twenty fifth Day of April, in the Year One thousand five hundred sixty and two, after Easter, in the Second Year of K. Charles IX.

CHAP. I.

* 1.2ANthony de Chandieu, Minister in the Church of Paris, chosen Pre∣sident. Robert le Macon, Lord La Fountaine, Minister in the Church of Orleance, and Peter Sevin Deacon of the Church of Paris, cho∣sen Scribes by General Consent of the Deputies.

CHAP. II. General MATTERS.

* 1.3I. THE Ministers and Elders Convocated in this Assembly of Orleance, for the General Council of France, following the Determination of the last Synod held at Poictiers, are of Opinion, That the present Assem∣bly should have, and bear the Name and Authority of the Council General of the Deputies of this Kingdom, notwithstanding that several Deputies are absent, who shall be sufficiently informed of Matters debated and resolved in this Council, together with the Reasons for which, notwithstanding their absence, we were constrained to proceed without them; all which shall be more largely declared in the next General Council; where also shall be heard the Reasons of those absent Deputies, for their Non-attendance, and their Ar∣guments, if need be, against the Decisions of the present Council.

* 1.4II. The Princes, and other great Lords following the Court, in case they would have Churches instituted in their Houses, shall be desired to take such for their Pastors, as are Ministers in Churches truly Reformed, bringing with them sufficient Testimonials of their Lawful Call unto the Ministry;

who shall before their Admission, subscribe the Confession of Faith of the Churches in this Kingdom, and our Church-Discipline. And that the Preach∣ing of the Gospel may be more successful, the said Protestant Lords shall be requested, every one of them, to erect a Consistory,* 1.5 composed of the Mi∣nisters and other Persons most eminent for Piety in their said Family; by which Consistory all Scandals and Vices shall be supprest, and the Rules of Discipline observed. Moreover, those Ministers shall be present at Provin∣cial Synods, if it may possibly consist with their occasions: And that this may be effected, the Council hath ordained, That the Province in which the Synod shall be assembled, shall be obliged to call them to it: And those Ministers especially, or a part of them shall be there present, being deputed by the rest unto the General Synods together with their Elders, who may inform the said General or Provincial Synods, of their Lives and Conver∣sation. And in case the said Lords and Princes have divers Houses, they shall be advertis'd,* 1.6 that none of their Ministers may pretend domination or preheminence over another; according to that Article of our Church-Disci∣pline in this case expresly provided. And when as the said Lords and Prin∣ces shall reside in those Houses of theirs, where there is a Church already formed, we desire for the preventing of all Divisions, that the Church in their Family would joyn itself unto the Church of that place, and for that time to make but one Assembly.

III. Whenas the Lord's Supper shall be celebrated in the close of every Sy∣nod, according to the Fourth Article of our Church-Discipline, in the Acts of the First National Synod: The said Sacrament shall not be administred privately to the Ministers and Elders only deputed unto these Synods, but in publick, and to the whole Church, in which they be assembled.

* 1.7IV. If it happen that a Bishop or Curate, desire to be promoted unto the Ministry of the Gospel, they may not be received, till such time as they are first admitted Members of the Church, renouncing all their Benefices, and other Rights depending on the Church of Rome, professing also publickly Repentance for their past sins, as they shall be ordered by the Consistory; and after long tryal and proof had of their Repentance, and Godly Con∣versation, they may be chosen into the Ministry of the Gospel, according to the Canons of our Church-Discipline, 6 & 8. of the Synod of Paris, and 3. of Poictiers.

* 1.8V. Ministers shall not be ordained without assigning them to some parti∣cular Flock. If they be sent any where for a certain time, that time being expired, they shall return unto the Church from whence they parted, and be under her power: And in case they were not accepted by the Church, unto which they were sent, they shall be at liberty to return unto the Church from which they parted, or else to wait the Determination of a Provincial Synod concerning them; during which time they may not Preach, but by the Advice of two or three Neighbour-Ministers. And this also shall be observed by them, who having leave do depart their Churches, without ever being sent elsewhere, that so no Ministers may be Vagrants, nor by their own Authority intrude themselves where best liketh them.

VI. Ministers shall preside by Turns in their Consistories and Synods, that so none may presume to any superiority over another.

VII. The Division of Provinces, as they relate unto Provincial Synods, shall remain in their first Estate: And in case the said Provinces have too great a number of Churches, they may be divided according to the Advice of those Provincial Synods, which shall consider the conveniency of those Churches, complaining of their too great distance, and recommend them to another Province nearer to them, and more commodious for them; and gi∣ving them to this purpose Letters of Dismission unto that Province, into which they shall be incorporated. And as for Churches erected since the

last Provincial Synods, and others that may be hereafter constituted, they shall be obliged to joyn themselves unto the nearest Province.

VIII. The Faithful shall be exhorted not to Scandalize the Papists by work∣ing upon Holy-days.* 1.9 And as concerning that which they call Spiritual Kin∣red, this Council is of Opinion, That it is not comprised nor understood by the words of Affinity and Consanguinity in the last Edict of January: How∣ever, it adviseth, That the Deputies of the Churches do, upon the first oc∣casion presented to them, endeavour to obtain the King's Declaration as to this and other matters.

IX. And as for Marriages dissolved for Adultery, it is now Ordained, That the Churches may not marry those Persons without observing this Or∣der: The wronged Person, who hath not offended, shall be bound to Prose∣cute at Law before the Magistrate its offending Party, so long till that by his final Sentence he be convicted;* 1.10 which said Sentence he shall produce before the Consistory, demanding leave and permission to marry. Which Consi∣story having called the Parties concerned before them, may grant them Li∣cense to marry. But the offending Party shall not be permitted Marriage till such time as the Offended be first married; and then this Offender ha∣ving done publick Pennance according to the Prudence of the Consistory, may have License to marry. And this Canon shall be in force till the Churches have greater Liberty. This shall hold also in the case of Fornica∣tion after Promises of Marriage, where the Whoredom was not known unto the espoused Party.

* 1.11X. Whoso shall have cohabited together as Man and Wife without having been first lawfully and solemnly married, and now demand to be married, shall do publick Penance, or at least before the Consistory, according to its Discretion: and then the Marriage may be celebrated, all requisite Solemni∣ties being first observed; excepting such Persons who shall have cohabited together during the time of their Ignorance, and not despised contemptuous∣ly the Orders of our Churches. And it shall hold also in their Case who have cohabited together, where there was no Church constituted in the places of their abode: These shall only be called into the Consistory, that their Marriage may be ratified.

* 1.12XI. It being expresly forbidden us by the Kings to purchase any Estate or Office of Judicature; no Church shall advise the doing of it.

XII. The Churches shall admonish the Faithful of both Sexes to be very Modest in their Apparel, and to retrench all Excesses and Superfluities, which are originally committed in and about it: However, the Churches shall make no Decrees concerning it, because 'tis a matter belonging to the Ci∣vil Magistrate; but they shall cause the King's Ordinances relating hereun∣to diligently to be observed. Nor may the Churches excommunicate any Man or Woman for using such Habits and Fashions as are common and cu∣stomary in this Kingdom.

* 1.13XIII. The Faisthful cannot with a good Conscience purchase any Benefices, nor part of their Revenue, least by this means they should be intangled with some kind of Idolatry, or in the least sort be Favourers of it.

XIV. Whereas some Ministers have been deputed by certain Provincial Synods to visit the Churches; this Council doth advise, That the Order formerly used to discover Scandals, arising in the Churches being sufficient for that purpose, is now again ratified and approved by this Council, and this new-found Office is condemned, because of its dangerous Consequence.

* 1.14XV. That all Superstition may be avoided, Ministers shall not use any Prayers at the Interment of our Dead.

* 1.15XVI. The Articles of our Ecclesiastical Discipline shall be read in the Con∣sistories of the Reformed Churches, at such times at least when as the Sacra∣ment of the Lord's Supper is administred.

XVII. The Churches shall suppress Usuries, and all manner of Extortions, as much as lieth in their Power: yet they may not condemn those who re∣ceive a moderate Profit for the Loan of their Monies, provided it be con∣formable to the King's Ordinance, and the Rule of Charity.* 1.16

XVIII. Priests, Monks, and other Ecclesiasticks of the Romish Church, be∣fore they be received unto Communion with us at the Lord's Supper, shall manifest their Repentance before the Consistory, and for some particular cau∣ses, if the Consistory do judge it requisite, they shall testifie it before the whole Assembly.

* 1.17XIX. The Faithful may not take out Admonitions, or execute Excommu∣nications from the Church of Rome, nor obtain a Dispensation for Swearing from the Official, or any other belonging unto that Church; and though there hath been a Recompense given, the Oath cannot hinder the Rescission of the Contract.

XX. Printers, Booksellers, Painters, and in general all the Faithful, espe∣cially such as bear Office in the Church, shall be admonished, not to exer∣cise their Arts, Office, or Calling in or about the Superstitions of the Romish Church, or their Dependencies, nor in the least to savour them: and the Cog∣nisance of particular Matters, that may happen hereupon, and their Corre∣ction and Reformation shall belong unto the Consistories.

* 1.18XXI. Concerning Names, imposed upon Children, Ministers shall reject those which yet remain of old Paganism; nor shall they give unto Infants such as are attributed unto God in Holy Scripture; nor Names of Office, as Baptist, Angel, Archangel: moreover, Parents and Sureties shall be admo∣nished, as much as in them lieth, to take those which are approved by God's sacred Word.

XXII. Although a Church having lent a Minister for a time, and that expired, may re-demand him back unto its Service; yet ought it to have re∣spect unto the Necessities of that Church where the said Minister hath been sent, and shall ordain herein what will make most for the Glory of God, and the Edification of his Church.

XXIII. No Church shall marry any Persons without having first received ample Information and Approbation of and about them.

XXIV. The Inconveniencies which have already risen, and may in time to come arise from the usual publick Catechisings by Deacons having been heard and consider'd, the Council hath remitted the intire Decision of this Matter unto the next National Synod; and in the mean while Exhorts those Churches which have not received that Custom, never to admit it; and in other places where it is practised, the Churches are likewise exhorted to deal with their Deacons in case they be fitted for it, to enter into the Mi∣nistry as soon as possible they can.

* 1.19XXV. The Faithful may by their Consistories be adjured to declare the Truth, because this doth not in the least derogate from the Authority of the Civil Magistrate.

XXVI. Churches having Printers and Booksellers, shall carefully advise them to print no Books concerning Religion, or the Discipline of the Church, before they have communicated them unto their Consistories, because of the Inconveniencies that have arriv'd: Nor may many Booksellers or Hawkers sell scandalous Books, nor may they in the sale of their Books take unto themselves immoderate Gains.

CHAP. III. Discipline exercised upon Delinquents.

Particular Matters.

THe Council having heard and considered the Proceedings against James le Fevre, his Excommunication, and the publick Penance imposed on him by the Authority of the last Provincial Synod held at Gien, and the De∣portment of the said Le Fevre in undergoing publick Penance, together with its Consequences; and having understood the whole of that Affair partly from the Relation of the Brethren, and partly from his own Confession; the Council is of Opinion, That the said James le Fevre hath not well nor due∣ly made that publick Confession which was injoyned him, nor given Testi∣mony of his Repentance; and for this cause the Excommunication denoun∣ced against him, shall abide in its full power and vigour: and therefore the Council hath declared, and doth now again declare him a Man uncapable of serving the Church of God until such time as he shall have first undergone publick Penance in the Church of Bourges; in which Penance shall be de∣clared the Facts contained in the Article of the said Synod of Gien touching this matter: And moreover, this shall be added, That by his Replies and Murmurings he had shewn himself Refractory and Disobedient to the Dis∣pline of the Church: And whenas there shall be good Evidences of his Repentance, he may be received into the Communion of the Lord's Sup∣per.

II. As to those matters concerning David de Brosses, who calling himself Minister of the Church of Melun; after hearing the Charge brought in a∣gainst him by the Deputies of the Church of Paris, who had opposed his Election, because of the wicked Doctrine formerly broach'd by the said Da∣vid, and because of the Troubles and Schisms excited by him, particularly in the Church of Melun, and because of his wicked and debauched Life, which hath occasion'd a Process of Enormous Crimes to be commenced against him, and from which he hath not purged himself before the Consistory; the proofs of all these matters having been laid down in Writing, read and dili∣gently considered, divers Brethren, Ministers of God's Holy Word, having been heard also, both as to the Doctrine published by the said David, and his Life and Conversation: The Council judgeth the Opposition founded by the Church of Paris against him, to be good and valid; the Election of the said David made by the Church of Melun to be null, void, and of no force nor ef∣fect: And farthermore, the said Council hath declared, and doth delare the said David uncapable of the Ministry of the Gospel, until such time as he shall have manifested his Innocency before a National Synod of the Reform∣ed Churches in this Kingdom: Yea, moreover, the said Council hath ex∣communicated him out of the Church, until such time as he shall have testi∣fied publickly his Repentance, by confessing publickly his Sin, and that in the Church of Melun, which he hath troubled by his Schism, in case he re∣turn unto it, or in any Church unto which he would hereafter joyn himself; and that Church having good Evidences and Testimonials of his Repentance, may receive him unto Communion with it in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. But and if the said David despising the present Decree of this Council, shall hereafter intrude himself into any Church, and cause new Troubles and Divisions in it; then this Council commands that Province, in which the said David shall be, and reside, to Formalize itself against him: and upon this account the Church of Paris shall be obliged to furnish the said Pro∣vince

with Proofs which it hath now, or may have had heretofore lying by against the said David; that so he may be proceeded against in such a man∣ner as shall be thought most advisable for the Repose of the Church.

III. Touching the matter propounded by the Minister of Paris, the Coun∣cil is of Opinion, That the Marriage pretended to be broken by reason of Spiritual Kinred, doth remain firm, and in its full power: and therefore the second Marriage which hath since intervened is null, and these second married Persons are excommunicated because of their Adulteries, until such time as they have done publick Penance, and shall have duely evidenced their Re∣pentance.

IV. Whereas our Brother the Minister of Varennes, in Picardy, doth usu∣ally administer the Lord's Supper every Month, the Council doth advise, That our Brother of Mont-mejor do admonish him in the Council's Name, to follow the general Practice of our Churches, that so there may be no Diver∣sity among us, and our Uniformity may be preserved.

V. The Churches are advertised, to take notice of a Fellow called Frede∣rick Thierry, formerly an Augustin Fryar; as also of another called Marmande, as being Vagrants.

VI. 'Tis the Judgment of this Council, That a Minister being imployed in the Church, may not ordinarily exercise any other Calling, nor receive Wages for it. Our Brother of Britain moved this Question.

VII. As to that Book entituled, A Treatise of Christian Discipline and Po∣lity; composed and published by John Morelly, the Council judges, That as to the Points concerning the Discipline of the Church, by which he pretends to condemn and subvert the Order received in our Churches, sounded upon the Word of God, that the said Book contains wicked Doctrine, and tends to the Confusion and Dissipation of the Church; and therefore the said Council cautions the Faithful to take heed of the aforesaid Doctrine.

VIII. A Remonstrance being made by the Church of Poictiers, about an Appeal brought by the People of the City of Loudun, from a Decree of the Provincial Synod of Poictou, held at Niort, concerning the Fact of Maturin Sibileau, the said Appeal having been signified to the Church of Poictiers, on behalf of the said People of Loudun; the Decrees both of the Pro∣vincial Synod held at Partinay, and of the Synod of Niort, were read and considered. Whereupon this present Council hath, and doth send back the Knowledge of the said Cause unto the next Provincial Synod of Touraine, which by the Authority of this Council, shall pass a Definitive Judgment upon these Persons, although they were absent, provided their Absence be not out of Contumacy, and they had been duely informed of the meeting of that Synod. And in the mean while it is ordained, That both the said Sibileau, and the said People of Loudun, shall yeild Obedience to the Sy∣nod of Niort: And to this purpose the Church of Poictiers is required to signifie this present Sentence; and the Church of Tours is to Assemble the said Provincial Synod.

IX. A Petition being presented by Madam Margaret de la Voirie, con∣cerning a Marriage pretended to have been contracted between her and the Noble William de Schilhant: The Council has approved, and doth approve of that Sentence given by the Provincial Synod of Touraine, held at Mans the last October, by which the said Marriage was declared Incestuous, be∣cause the said De Schilhant had formerly espoused the Sister of the said Petiti∣oner, whereunto it does injoyn the said Lady quietly to submit, and to ob∣serve it with Repose and Tranquility of Conscience; moreover, the Council exhorts her to return unto her own Church, there to make such Acknow∣ledgment of her Fault, as the Consistory shall think meet.

X. Having heard the Remonstrance made by our Brother the Deputy of Poictou, concerning Peter Boulay, who had intruded himself into the Ministry

of the Church of Niort: The Council ratifies and approves the Determina∣tion of the Provincial Synod held at Niort, by which the said Boulay was declared uncapable and insufficient to be chosen into the Ministry of the Gospel, until such time as he had given proofs of his Sufficiency be∣fore the Provincial Synod of Poictou. Moreover, this present Council hath ordained, That this very Advice shall be signified both unto the said Boulay, and to all those who do abett him, by our Brethren La Fo∣rest and De Thire, who making report unto the next approaching Sy∣nod of Poictou, of the Obedience or Rebellion of the said Boulay, and his Abettors; a final Period shall be put unto this Affair according to the Rules of our Church-Discipline. And the Council leaves it to the Wisdom of the next ••ynod, whether it be expedient for the common Edification, of the Church, that our brother De la Fayole be not also removed from Niort.

XII. There shall be no Alteration made in that Article of our Disci∣pline touching the Choice of Ministers: and the Council hath ordain∣ed, That* 1.20 Mr. John Rebitt do sign the Confession of Faith, and Articles of Discipline; and moreover, doth expresly forbid him so Teach in his Le∣ctures Doctrine contrary unto them; that so there may be no Disunion in the Church: and if he should refuse Submission to this Advise of the Coun∣cil, he shall be sent back to the Consistory of that City, to be dealt withal according to the Canons of our Church-Discipline.

XII. As to that Question moved by our Brother of Orleance, the Coun∣cil hath, and doth leave it to the liberty of the respective Consistories, to judge of those who may be sit to assist at the Examination of Candidates for the Ministry, as may be most expedient for their Edification, yet so as they shall not suffer any besides the Members of the said Consistory to ex∣amine them.

XIII. The Council judgeth it inconvenient to publish from the Pulpit, the Articles of our Discipline; yet they may be given unto such as desire them by the Consistories.

XIV. Whereas the Letters sent unto this present General Council of the Reformed Churches of France, assembled at Orleance, by* 1.21 Maurice Joe∣quin, are fraught with heavy Complaints against David Vivian, Mini∣ster of Bourges, and divers others of the Consistory of the said Church; and because both Parties are absent, the said Council remands them un∣to the next approaching Provincial Synod Berry, that there the said Vi∣vian, and the other Members of the Consistory may be dealt withal as is just and sitting. In the mean while, considering the outragious and pro∣phane Words mentioned in the said Letters, and the Contumacy of the said Joequin, disdaining to come unto this present Council, after he had been law∣fully summoned, and the Threatnings contained in his Answer; divers of our Brethren having been heard on this Affair, reporting his continual Re∣bellions against the Consistory of the said Church, for near six Months toge∣ther: The Council doth injoyn the Consistory to call the said Joequin be∣fore them, and to give him a very severe Reproof for the sorementioned Crimes; and in case of his Contempt and continued Rebellion, to depose him from his Office of Deacon without delay, as also to cut him off from the Communion of the Church, and to denounce him publickly Excommu∣nicate, until such time as he shall have given publick satisfactory Evidences of his Repentance.

The End of the Synod of Orleance.

Thus Subscribed in the Original, Chandieu, Lord of La Roche, President of the Council. Le Masson, Lord of La Fountaine, Scribe of the Council.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1562. Synod III.
• * 1.2

  Monsieur De Chandieu, was a very learned French Divine: His Works are, 1. The Marks of the True Church. 2. De L'Ʋnique Sacrifice. 3. Contra les Traditions, &c. in Follo. He was Lord of Chandieu, and Baron of Cha∣bot, chosen by the Church of Paris to be their Pastor at Twenty Years of Age, and Moderator of this National Synod at Twenty three: A Gentleman of eminent Piety and Gravity. He was desired by the King of Navary to be his Pa∣stor; and upon his Death removed to Geneva, where he was called to the Pastoral Office in that City, and discharged it with very great fidelity. He never took any Wages for his Work in the Ministry. He wrote himself, Sadeel; which is the Hebrew of Chandieu, The Field of GOD. He died of an Hectick Fever, in the 57th Year of his Age, saith Mr. Du Thou; but he was mistaken, for it was in the 63d, Anno 1591. Melchior Adams hath writ his Life, among his Theolog. Exteri.
• * 1.3

  This Synod bears the Name, and has the Au∣thority of a General Coun∣cil, by the Advice of the Assembly.
• * 1.4

  Ministers of Princes and great Lords shall sign the Confession of Faith.
• * 1.5

  There shall be a Consistory in their Houses.
• * 1.6

  None to have preheminence over another.
• * 1.7

  A Bishop or Curate may not be recei∣ved into the Ministry, till they have first renoun∣ced all their Benefices, and long tryal had of them.
• * 1.8

  A Minister must be or∣dained to a particular Flock. Ministers may not quit their Churches, nor joyn them∣selves unto a∣ny other, without the Authority of the Provincial Synod, or without the Consent of the Neighbour-Ministers, or of that Church unto which they were sent. Ministers pre∣side by Turns. Provinces may not be divi∣ded without the Advice of Synods.
• * 1.9

  Works may not be done on Festivas. Spiritual Kin∣red not com∣prised in the words of Affi∣nity and Con∣sanguinity. Rule for Mar∣riages dissol∣ved by Adul∣tery.
• * 1.10

  See the 53d Article of the Synod at Ver∣t••til.
• * 1.11

  Such as coha∣bit before Marriage shall do publick Penance, or before the Consistory.
• * 1.12

  None may with a good Conscience advise the buying of an Office Judi∣cial. Care must be had about Mo∣desty in Gar∣ments.
• * 1.13

  Benefices may not be pur∣chased for fear of countenan∣cing Idolatry. No Pastor may be depu∣ted to Visit the Churches.
• * 1.14

  No Prayers at the Grave.
• * 1.15

  When the Dis∣cipline is to be read in the Consistories.
• * 1.16

  All Usury is sharply to be reproved. See the Synod of Lyons, p. 9.
• * 1.17

  Concerning Monitories. See the Synod of Montpeil∣lier, Observa∣tions on the Discipline, Art. 24. The Faithful may do no∣thing that may favour Idola∣try.
• * 1.18

  What Names may be given or rejected in Baptism.
• * 1.19

  One may be adjured in Consistory to declare the Truth. Booksellers may not print any thing a∣gainst Religi∣on, nor may the Hawkers vent any scan∣dalous ones.
• * 1.20

  In the Book of Niort he is called M John Vi••ier.
• * 1.21

  The Book of Niort calls him Jod••••.