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.

XXII. IT being desired that the 3d Article of the Synod of Figeac might be ex∣plained; the Assembly voted, that towards the close of it, there should be this Addition, viz. That it was left wholly to the Prudence of the Consistory, whether they would mention by name or not, those who had a long time since re∣volted; but as for them who were but of late Apostates, Censures shall be pro∣nounc'd against them according to the Tenor of that Canon, unless that by such a Personal Denunciation of those Sinners the Consistory might foresee some great and notable Danger like to betide the Church: In which case nothing shall be done without the Advice of the Provincial Synod.

XXIII. If the Members of one Church fallen into Idolatry happen to take up their abode in another, where their Crime is not known, they shall on∣ly testify their Repentance privately before the Consistory, but with this Condition, that in case they return to that former Church, whereunto they belonged, they shall then and there also make a publick Acknowledgment of their Offence.

XXIV. Publick Penances shall be undergone personally, and by those only who have publickly offended; the Sinner openly and sincerely with his Mouth from his Heart testifying his Repentance.

XXV. Whoredoms when committed, and come to publick ••••owledge shall by their Actors be publickly acknowledged with evident Tokens of Repentance.

XXVI. This Clause, by the greater part, shall be razed out from the end of the 17th. Article of Figeac, and there shall be this only inserted, known by the greater part.

XXVII. Both those Canons of the Tenth National Synod, and of our ancient Discipline concerning the time of meeting for Colloquies and Provincial Sy∣nods shall remain in full force, so that they be wholly left unto their Liberty to do therein as they may most conveniently.

XXVIII. Forasmuch as Provincial Synods depend upon the National, Col∣loquies also shall for the same Reasons be subject unto the Provincial Synods, and Consistories unto Colloquies.

XXIX. The National Synod of the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom assembled in this City of Rochel, under the Authority of the King's Edicts, having seen a certain Book Intituled, The History of France, printed in this City, upon divers complaints made unto us from all parts of the Kingdom against it, and having took Cognisance of the proceedings of the Consisto∣ry of this Church against the find Book, hath found that in many places the Author speaks exceeding irreverently and irreligiously of divine Things, and that it is a heap of idle, vain and prophane Matters, full of Falshoods, Lies and Calumnies, to the great prejudice of God's glorious Power, to the disadvantage and dishonour of our Holy Doctrine and Reformed Religion, to the Dissamation of divers godly Persons dead and living. And therefore hath thought good to advertise all the Churches, that they beware of the said Book, and inasmuch as in them lieth to disapprove it. And this Synod doth judicially declare the Author of the said Book (if he own himself a Prote∣stant) unworthy of our Holy Communion, and not to be admitted to the participation of the Sacraments, until such time as he shall have acknow∣ledged his offence, and by convenient means, such as the Suppression of his History, shall have repaired the Scandal that he hath given unto the Churches.

XXX. The Synod also having seen and examined another Book written in Latin upon Genesis, by a certain Fellow, called. James Brocan of Piedmont, printed in this City, hath declared, and doth declare it to be fraught with Impieties, and horrible Profanations of the Sacred Scriptures, and pernicious

Errors, especially in Matters of Revelation of Revelation Prophecy, and therefore exhorts all the Faithful to keep themselves carefully from being seduced by it.

XXXI. The first Article of Provincial Synods being read, it was decreed, That all Ministers should attend in Person at their Provincial Synods, or should excuse themselves by Letters in case of absence, the causes whereof should be judged valid, or otherwise, by those Assemblies.

XXXII. The third Article concerning National Synods shall abide in its full power. But for the benefit of all our Churches, there shall be this clause added: That for time to come, if possible it may be done, there shall be two Mini∣sters, and two Elders deputed from every Province unto them.

XXXIII. Forasmuch as Dancings and other Dissolutions do sprout up and increase every where, yea, and in these our Reformed Churches, it was thought good to exhort the Consistories, that for God's sake they would conscientiously observe the Six and twentieth Article of particular Orders decreed in the Sy∣nod of Figeac, and in the Name of God, and by the Authority of this present Assembly, that it be read publickly in the Churches, and all Colloquies and Synods are hereby expresly charged to censure those Consistories that neglect their Duty in this particular.

XXXIV. All those who by unlawful means, as by Papal Bulls, or ready Money shall purchase or hold Benefices, and such as cause Idolatry to be up∣held and maintained, either directly or indirectly, shall be excluded Com∣munion at the Lord's Table.

XXXV. As to what concerns Impropriators and Farmers of Benefices, the ancient Canons of our Discipline shall hold good, and be in full force, power, and vertue against them. Yet nevertheless the Deputies shall bring with them from their respective Provinces, whatever Difficulties have occurr'd about those matters, that so they may be debated in the next National Synod. And whereas our Brethren of Languedoc, Gascony and Perigord, have desired have for the welfare of their Churches to censure such Farmers, the business is left unto the prudence of their Provincial Synods.

XXXVI. That Churches may not hereafter upon the death or removal of their Pastors be dissolved, the Ministers who preside in the Colloquy for a new Election, shall first of all enquire of every Elder in other Churches of the Col∣loquy, what, and how much Maintenance they exhibit unto their Pastors, and what care they take for paying in unto them their promised Stipends, that so provision may be made for them by the Authority of the Colloquies.

XXXVII. These words, The most eminent, shall be blotted out from the 33d Article of Figeac.

XXXVIII. Synods and Colloquies shall consult how to six the Limits and Ex∣tent of that Church, wherein a Minister shall exercise his ordinary Calling.

XXXIX. Ministers belonging to the Churches of France, and now living a∣broad without the Kingdom, shall be recalled by their respective Provinces.

XL. Forasmuch as there is a notorious contempt of Religion visible in all places, yea also in our Religious Meetings, we advise that Notice be given unto all Persons, to bring with them their Psalm-Books into the Churches, and that such as contemptuously neglect the doing of it, shall be severely cen∣sur'd; and all Protestant Printers are advised not to sunder in their Impressi∣ons the Prayers and Catechism from the Psalm-Books.

XLI. The 17th Article of particular Orders concerning Habits was thus explained: This Synod declareth, That such Habits are not to be allowed in com∣mon wearing, which carry with them evident marks of lasciviousness, dissolution, and excessive new-fangled Fashions, such as painting, slashing, cutting in pieces, trimming with Locks and Tassels, or any other that may discover our Nakedness, or naked Breasts, or Fardingales, or the like sort of Garments, with which both Men and Women do wickedly cloath and adorn themselves. And Consistories shall do their utmost endeavour to suppress such Dissolutions by their Censures, and in

case the Delinquents are contumacious and rebellious, they shall proceed against them even to Excommunication.

XLII. As to the 14th Canon concerning Marriages, this Synod doth not judge it contrary to the 24th Article enacted by the Assembly of Estates at Blois; for in that Orders only were given unto Notaries and Scriveners, how they should carry and behave themselves; wherefore leaving unto Notaries to follow their ordinary business in the way and manner prescribed to them, nothing hinders but that the Church may make Espousals by words de proesenti.

XLIII. All excessive and scandalous Usuries shall be severely forbidden and condemned.* 1.1

XLIV. After these words, The Superstition of the Romish Church, in the se∣cond Article of particular Orders, there shall be these added: And the said Printers and Booksellers are exhorted not to sell any scandalous Books relating to Idolatry, or Impudicity, or such at have a tendency to corrupt good manners.

* 1.2XLV. As to that Case propounded, Whether a Man might lawfully marry the Widow of his Wife's Brother? we judge, That over and above what has been determin'd by others formerly in this matter, that there is a secret affi∣nity between such Parties, because in the sight of God, the Man and Wife are accounted but one flesh, and therefore decency and civility will not permit it.

* 1.3XLVI. It is in no wise lawful for any Member of our Churches to address themselves unto the Pope for Dispensations to marry within the degrees pro∣hibited, and to remove any present or after Impediments, which may or do occur in that holy Estate; because in so doing there is an owning and subje∣ction to his Tyrannical Authority. But yet in degrees not forbidden by the Word of God, which are now forbidden by our Civil Magistrate, we may lawfully address ourselves unto the King tor his License.

XLVII. The Faithful shall be admonished both in Sermons and private Conferences not to defer Baptizing their Children, unless there be some very great cause inducing them thereunto.

XLVIII. None of our Members in Communion with us, shall assist at their Weddings or Wedding-Feasts, who that they may marry a Popish Wife, do revolt from the Reformed Religion. But as for those who have a long while ago left the Profession of our Religion, or have been ever Papists, it's left to the prudence of the Faithful to consider what will be most expedient for them; and if they go, let them take heed of approving the Evil in those Meetings, and that they bear no part in the Dances, and other Dissolutions which are commonly found and committed at them.

XLIX. For time to come, neither Ministers, nor any other of the Faithful shall print or publish any of their Writings, or private Works, without having first obtained the express leave and approbation of their respective Colloquies.

L. There shall be this clause added to the 12th Article of Figeac: And the said Fathers shall make it appear unto the Consistory, that they have been diligent in their Duty, to hinder as much as in them lay the said Marriages.

LI. The Province of Brittany is ordered to convoke the next National Sy∣nod, and shall give Notice thereof three Months before unto all the Provinces, as also to the Ministers of Bearn, Metz, and Sedan, and to the Ministers of Princes, professing the Reformed Religion.

The Original of the Acts of this Synod was lodged up in the Archives of the City of Rochel, out of which this present Copy was extracted, and it was thus signed,

• De Nort, Moderator.
• De L'Estang, and Scribes, chosen and deputed, thereunto by the Synod.
• Chauveton Scribes, chosen and deputed, thereunto by the Synod.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Usuries for∣bidden.
• * 1.2

  Not lawful to marry the Wi∣dow of the Wise's Bro∣ther.
• * 1.3

  Licenses to marry may be taken from the King, thô not from the Pope.