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. Observations upon the Church-Discipline.

The Discipline of our Church was read, and all the Deputies approved it, and sware to see it carefully observed.

I. THE Provinces are advised to see that the Sixth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Articles of the first Chapter, especially the Twelfth, be punctually observed, according to the Decree of the Synod of Montau∣ban.

II. The One and twentieth Article in the Second Chapter, beginning with these words, Forasmuch as, shall be wholly removed from the Body of our Discipline.

III. The First Article in the Third Chapter of Elders shall be strictly ob∣served. And the word Especially in the Sixth Article of this same Chapter shall remain.

IV. The Provinces are exhorted to maintain as great a number of Pro∣posans as possibly they can, and Princes, Lords, Gentlemen, Corporations, and such as to whom God hath given fair Estates in the World, and espe∣cially such as enjoy Impropriations, are bound in Conscience to employ a considerable part of their Revenues in so pious a work.

V. In reading the Chapter of Schools, it was decreed, That the Provinces should be advised to do their utmost, that a Colledge be erected in each of them, and that by them all joyntly, at least two Academies, the places of the Colledges and Academies shall be named by the Provinces. And the present Synod judgeth this City of Saumur a most convenient place for a Colledge, and whenever God shall bless us with ability, for an Academy al∣so; and entreateth the Lord du Plessis Governour of this place, to continue the Tokens of his good-will and kindness to this Noble and most Godly De∣sign, which he hath so much affected, and the Deputies of this Assembly are intreated to excite their respective Provinces to promote it vigorously.

VI. The 8th Article in the Chapter of Elders and Deacons shall remain as it is, leaving the Consistories at liberty to make what changes they in their prudence may judge to be most expedient.

VII. The 8th Article in the Chapter of Consistories, recommending the reading of the Discipline, shall be better observed.

VIII. On the 22d Article of the same Chapter it was decreed, That in Publick Confessions made by Penitents before the whole Church, those Crimes which would expose them unto Death, or brand them with Infamy, shall not be specified.

IX. The Provinces are advised to see that the last Article of the same Cha∣pter be most exactly observed.

X. The Fifth and Last Article of the Sixth Chapter. The Provincial De∣puties of Guyenne, Xaintonge, and Normandy craved, That this Article might be moderated, because of its very great rigour. Whereupon it was advised, that after those words, Continued and maintained, there shall be these added, And in case any Churches or particular Persons refuse to contribute to the defray∣ing of their Expences, who are to meet in those Ecclesiastical Assemblies, they shall be severely censur'd, as Deserters of that holy Ʋnion, which ought to be upheld among us, for our mutual preservation. And Ministers neglecting this Ordinance shall be liable unto the sharpest Censures.

XI. On reading the first Article of the Eighth Chapter, those Churches which have divers Pastors, are advised to send as many of them as they can alternatively unto their Provincial Synods.

XII. The Second Article of the same Chapter shall be most strictly obser∣ved. In the last Article of the said Chapter, the Deputy of Champagne de∣clared unto the Synod, That the Church of Chaloons is the only one in that Province. Wherefore it was decreed, That the Church of Chaloons for the present shall be annexed unto the Isle of France, and there being left in the Province of Brittany, none other than the Church of Vitré, that also shall be joyned unto Normandy.

XIII. The Deputy of Higher Languedoc demanding, That other Ministers present in our National Synods, though not deputed, might have their Votes in Consultations, unless in those Matters wherein they were personally con∣cerned; it was decreed, that the third Article of this eighth Chapter should not be changed in the least tittle.

XIV. The fifth Article of the tenth Chapter. The Deputy of Normandy read the Memoirs of the Colloquy of Constantine, moving, that Exhortati∣ons might be permitted at the Interring of the Dead. The Synod past this Decree, That there should be nothing innovated in that Article.

XV. On reading the fifth Article of the eleventh Chapter, about bapti∣zing of Gypsies Children, it was decreed, That the said Article should remain in its full force, only with the addition of these words, That the Surety do bind himself to maintain and educate the said Child in the fear of God.

XVI. It was decreed, That the sixth Article of the same Chapter shall a∣bide unaltered, to wit, That no Baptisms shall be performed but in those places, and at those hours, when and where the Churches do ordinarily meet together for God's Publick Worship. However, in Churches where there is no Sermon, this Sacrament may be administred according to their conveni∣ency, but yet not without some kind of Exhortation. And in case a Parent should through infirmity urge the baptizing of his Child before Sermon, the Pastors shall advise what will make most for the edification of the People, and inform the Parent of it. And where Churches have their Meetings only on the Lord's Day, they are exhorted also to appoint some other Day of the Week for Publick Christenings. On the eighth Article of the same Chapter, Parents shall be advised to choose such Sureties for their Children, as are Persons of Understanding, and capable of making good their Promises.

XVII. On the 13th Article of the same Chapter, the Deputies of Poictou demanded, Whether two Names might be given a Child at Baptism? To which it was replied, The thing was indifferent; however, Parents were ad∣vised to observe herein Christian simplicity.

XVIII. On the 5th Article of the 13th Chapter, it was decreed, That in all Espousals the Promises of Marriage shall be made in words de futuro, ac∣cording to His Majesties Ordinance; and that of Right they be indissolvable, unless some lawful impediment do interpose; and thus that Article shall be amended.

XIX. On the 6th and 7th Articles of the same Chapter, about degrees of Consanguinity, it was demanded, Whether in degrees not forbidden of God, and for which the King's. Grant may be obtained (as is promised us by the secret Articles of the Edict) in the third and fourth degree only, Pastors may proceed to the Celebration of such Marriages, without demanding a view of His Majesties License? To which this Synod made answer, That they ought to solemnize the said Marriages without any scruple or difficulty, provided they met with no opposition at the time of their Celebration.

XX. On the 12th Article of the same Chapter, it was resolved, That the said Article should remain,* 1.1 only those words were to be left out of it, Because there is a secret affinity between the Parties, for that the Husband and Wife are reckoned but one Body.

XXI. From the 13th Article of the same Chapter, these words shall be re∣moved, Not without cognisance had of the cause, and mature deliberation of the Consistory.

XXII. The 22d Article of the same Chapter. The Provinces are ap∣pointed to come prepared unto the next National Synod, that this Case may be then resolved, Whether it be not expedient that Widows should abide lon∣ger in their Widow-hood, before they be admitted unto a Second Marri∣age.

XXIII. The Twenty third Article of the same Chapter shall remain as it is.

XXIV. The Second Article of the Fourteenth Chapter shall be left as it is, and the Additions by the Synod of Montauban shall be observed.

XXV. These words, Nevertheless such shall not be condemned; and those which follow to the end of that Article, shall be cut off from the Twenty third Article, and instead of them these shall be inserted, And all of them shall be governed by the King's Law, and that of Charity.

XXVI. The Twenty fourth Article concerning the Sale of Offices shall be totally razed, and removed from the Body of our Discipline.

The above-mentioned Articles of Discipline having been read, and exami∣ned by all the Deputies of the respective Provinces were approved and con∣firmed by unanimous consent.

Notes

• * 1.1

  See the 2d Synod o•• Ra∣ccel. arc. 4••.