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. XI. Particular MATTERS.

I. TO the Deputies of Lionois, demanding what course we should take in censuring of Revolters in times of Persecution. It was answer∣ed in he Words of St. Augustine, concerning a numerous Church of Drun∣kards, That it were much better to have a vitious Church than none at all. And it seems necessary, that we should heed the Quality and Condition of the Persons than the Aggravations of their Faults. For there be somes who have greatly and grievously offended, and do repent most bitterly; others have failed more highly, or but in appearance, who yet are indifferent whe∣ther they should return unto the Church, and settle in it or no. Wherefore all Circumstances should be well poized, and above all we ought to be most especially sollicitous how to reunite and cement together such as are stray'd and wander from the Church, that so the House of God may be replenished and re-established.

II. As for those who call themselves Papists, and have cut themselves off from our Churches, partly because of the King's Edicts, and partly because they could not meet with any Edification; whereunto all things done in the Church should have their Tendency, and because we are not to judge of them who are without: Some are of opinion, that we should quite aban∣don such Persons; and acquiesce in that Judgment the Lord himself will exe∣cute upon them. And therefore it were good in this Case, if after some time of patience and forbearance, and having done our Duty in reminding them of theirs, to inform the People, that such Persons are no longer Members of the Church, and that they would intreat God for them, that if they be∣long to him, he would be pleased to convert them. Otherwise we have good cause to bless God he hath purged them out from among us, and further we should declare, that inasmuch as these do not any longer relate unto us, we leave them unto the Judgment of God.

Lord's-day, the Eighth of the same Month.
* Divers Deputies demanding what Course is to be used in censuring Apo∣states from the Gospel-Doctrine and Worship: We answered, That such as are troubled in their Consciences, for this their heinous Crime shall be com∣forted, and admonished in the Consistory, who shall judge of the Nature of their Offences, and after what manner these Delinquents are to be readmit∣ted into the Church. But in case of Obstinacy and Impenitency, we de∣clare in general, That such as have thus left us, are no longer Members of our Body, and the Crimes committed by them ought not in justice be im∣puted to, nor charged on us, and there shall be no farther Proceedings a∣gainst

them, in those places where there is evident appearance of danger to the Church. In short, this was advised by the whose Assembly, to remit the whole Business unto the Consistories, who shall act herein, in such a manner as will best contribute to the Weal and Edifying of the Church.

Notes

• What course is to be taken with Revolters by reason of perscution.