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

XXIII. THis following Order shall be observed in the calling of our Na∣tional Synods for the future:

In the first place, as was usual, there shall be one certain Church chosen which shall have power of signifying unto the Provinces the Day and Place of Meeting. Whatever Matters are to be debated in this Assembly, shall be sent by the several Provinces unto that Church. The said Church shall call the National Synod within the Year, in convenient Time and Place, and give notice thereof three Months before to all the Provinces; and shall send a Duplicate of the difficult Matters which are to be debated, unto the said Pro∣vinces, to be considered by them. And that such as are charged with the Power of calling the said Assembly, may know how to direct their Letters, it's fitting that one particular Church be nominated in every Province to receive those Letters, and according to their Tenor to Assemble the Provincial Synod within three Months, where the transmitted Difficulties shall be maturely ex∣amined, and the Arguments on both sides urged being fair and carefully writ∣ten down, shall be sent unto the National Synod. And forasmuch as our pre∣sent Circumstances will not admit any great Number of Ministers and El∣ders in this National Synod, we are of Opinion, that for this time only, and during these Difficulties, that the Brethren assembled in each Provincial Sy∣nod should choose from among them one or two Ministers, and as many Elders, of the ablest and most expert in Church-Affairs, to be sent in the Name of the whole Province, who shall come furnished with good Memori∣als and premeditated Thoughts upon those Difficulties which had been com∣municated to them. The Provinces shall not prescribe any set time or term unto these their Deputies for returning, but shall let them tarry in the said Synod as long as there may be need of them; and the Charges of the said De∣puties shall be defrayed by their respective Provinces. And that the National Synod may be no more imployed in Matters already decided by former Sy∣nods, the Provinces shall be advised to read over carefully the Acts of the past Synods before they prepare their Memorials, and to send nothing but what is general ••n•• of common concern to all the Churches, or else that which merits the Resolution of the said National Synod. And the Churches of

Poictiers which is charged with the calling of the next National Synod, shall be informed of all this, that they may intend their Duty.

Notes

• The Method to be kept in convocating National Sy∣nods.