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. III. Of CONSISTORIES.

• ARTICLE. VI. ALtho' it may be convenient in weighty and important Business of the Church, to call into gether with the Consistory, some of the most discreet and judicious Members of the Church, though they be not in actual Office in the Consistory; yet nevertheless there ought not to be any other ordinary Assembly, or Form of Council for Church-Matters, excepting the Body of the Consistory, which hath been chosen and settled by the Church to these very ends and purposes, who be Persons in publick Offices, which the others are not.
• ARTICLE. VII. A Civil Magistrate may be a Member of the Consistory, provided it do not hinder him in the Exercise of his publick Office, nor be prejudicial to the Church.
• VIII. Professors of Divinity may be admitted Members of Consistories, and deputed unto Synods.
• ARTICLE. IX. Consistories are left at liberty to receive as Members into them, both Father and Son, and two Brothers at the same time, unless there be some∣thing which may hinder it; of which the Provincial Synod shall take Cog∣nisance.
• ARTICLE. X. Although the Body of the Consistory may advise, and admonish dis∣agreeing Persons to terminate their Controversies and Suits at Law; yet that very Consistory shall never consent to be the Judge or Arbitrator of those Controversies betwixt Persons at Variance about worldly Goods and Estates: but in case any Members of the Church, not of the Consistory, shall be em∣ployed as Arbitrators in those Differences, then the Members of the Consi∣story may assist them with their particular Advice, but always in their pri∣vate Capacities.