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.

I. THE Second Article in the First Chapter, concerning Ministers, being read, That instead of these words, In a Provincial Synod, these shall be inserted, By and with Advice of the Provincial or National Synods.

II. The Churches shall be exhorted to observe exactly the 4, 5, 11, and 13 Articles of this First Chapter, together with that Ceremony of Imposing Hands in Ordination, and the Refractory shall be censured.

III. The last clause of the Article concerning Printers shall be struck out, because it is comprised in the fifteenth Article of Particular Orders.

IV. The Churches of the Isle of France desiring an Explanation of the 38th Article of the first Chapter of the Discipline, the Synod adviseth, That difference be made between Ingratitude and Inability, and that where the In∣gratitude on the Churches part is visible, the Article shall be observed, but not otherwise.

V. And that the 45th Article of the first Chapter, and the eleventh Article in that of Provincial Synods may be more carefully observed, this Assembly injoyneth the Provincial Synods to bring with them unto the National, an Attestation of their Duty performed unto their Pastors, who through Sickness are disabled from Exercising their Ministry, as also of what hath been done by them for the Widows and Orphans of such as are deceased, that in case a Church-Colloquy or Province have not wherewithal to relieve them, Provi∣sion may be made for them by the National Synod.

VI. After these words in the* 1.1 43d Article, Great and small, there shall be these subjoyned, Of whatsoever Condition or Quality they may be.

VII. For the better keeping of the fourth Article in the second Chapter, and that all Obstructions may be removed▪ the Synod enjoyneth all Deacons to bring unto their Colloquy or Provincial Synod, the Accounts given by them of the Poors Money, that we may know whether the Fifth Penny hath been defaulked, and laid by for tho maintenance of our Proposans.

VIII. Instead of these words in the fourth Article of the second Chapter, It were good, shall be inserted, It is necessary.

IX. To prevent those Disorders which daily happen from Attestations gi∣ven unto the Poor, the Synod decreeth, That all Churches do their endea∣vour to maintain their own Poor, and in case any one through necessity be obliged to travel from home, the Ministers shall carefully examine the grounds thereof, whether just and valid, and so shall give them Letters Recommen∣datory unto the next Church, leading directly unto that place whether their Affairs call them, specifying the Name, Age, Stature, and Hair of the Dearer, and the Place whereunto they be going, and the Cause of their Travel, and the Relief that hath been given them, which said Certificate the Ministers to whom they apply themselves shall keep by them, and give them another di∣rected also unto the next Church; and whatever Attestations have been gi∣ven formerly, or may be in time to come any otherwise than as now prescri∣bed, shall be null, and torn in pieces.

X. To those words in the 16th Article of the fifth Chapter, And which giveth great scandal to the whole Church, there shall be subjoyned, And those also who contrary to the godly Counsels given them, do marry according to the Popish manner, and Parents who consent unto such Marriages of their Children, and they likewise who carry their Children unto Popish Priests to be baptized by them, or become Sureties for those Children so baptized.

XI. The Church of Castres moved this Case, Whether an Extract of some few, or more Articles of our Discipline might lawfully be communicated unto the Magistrates of both Religions, for their better Conduct in the Exercise of Justice? This Synod resolveth affirmatively; yea, and that the whole Bo∣dy of our Discipline may be presented them; there being nothing in it, but what ministreth unto edifying.

XII. Because of the present Distress and Poverty of bur Churches, and till such times as the Lord shall have blessed us with greater abilities, it is or∣dained by this present Synod, That the National Synods shall be convened only once in three Years, unless it be in case of very great necessity, as of Heresie and Schism, whereof the Province charged, to convene it, shall take special Cognisance, and on this Condition, that every Province do send their full number of Pastors and Elders, as they be obliged by that Article of our Discipline, otherwise they shall have no power of Voting in that Synod.

XIII. In explaining the fifth Article of the tenth Chapter of our Discipline concerning Funerals, it was decreed, That Ministers should hinder the distri∣bution of the Deceased's Alms at their Interrments, that so those inconveni∣ences, which would otherwise fall out, may be prevented.

XIV. That Article of the Synod of Saumur, concerning the Administrati∣on of Baptism, after Singing the last Psalm, before the Blessing shall be inserted into the eleventh Chapter of our Discipline.

XV. Having read, and carefully examined the Memoirs sent from the Pro∣vinces, concerning the fifth Article of the thirteenth Chapter of our Disci∣pline, about the Form in which Promises of Marriage are to be conceived and uttered, this Assembly ordereth, That both that Article of the Discipline, and of the last Synod of Saumur shall be amended, and that the Churches be left to their own liberty and discretion, either to use the words de praesenti or de futuro.

XVI. In explaining the tenth Article of the same Chapter, this case was propounded by the Colloquy of Foix: A Man espoused the Widow of the Deceased, who was married to his own Sister in a former Marriage: The Synod judgeth, That such a Marriage is not incestuous, nor comprised in the said Article, forasmuch as Affinity ceaseth by Death, and proceedeth not be∣yond the Persons conjoyned by that said Affinity.

XVII. A Question was moved upon reading the 16th Article of the 13th Chapter, Whether it were lawful to give them a Certificate to be married out of their own Churches, Who desired it for this reason only, that they might avoid Bewitching and Impotency procured by tying the Point? This Assembly ordaineth, That it shall not in the least be granted them, and advi∣seth them not to give way unto such fears, proceeding from their weakness and unbelief, and the Faithful are exhorted to arm themselves against such Attempts by an entire confidence in God's Holy Word, and by fervent Pray∣ers to vanquish such Illusions; and to come unto the Ordinance of Marriage, when blessed in our Churches, with more Reverence, Attention, and Devo∣tion than is usual.

XVIII. The Assembly decreed about the 23d Article of the same Chapter, concerning Widows Marriages, That they shall not be admitted to contract Marriage, till seven Months, and fourteen days be fully expired after their Husbands Death.

XIX. The 21st* 1.2 Article of the same Chapter being examined, the Church in the House of her Highness the King's Sister, craved Advice for their Con∣duct in that great Concern of her Royal Highness's Marriage with the Prince of Lorrain; because, althô she had employed the Authority of the Provincial Synod, and of divers famous Persons both within and without the Kingdom, yet she cannot any longer hinder it. This Synod approving their Duty judgeth this Marriage utterly unlawful, nor shall it be permitted in any of our Churches, and Letters to this purpose shall be written to her, and all Ministers are enjoyned carefully to observe this Article, otherwise they shall be suspended and deposed from their Ministry. And this Injunction shall be annexed to the Articles of our Discipline. N.B.

She would not be married after the Popish way, and could not after the Protestants: Henry IV. her Brother, found out a temper, got the Archbishop of Roven, his Natural Brother, to pronounce only the formal words of Marriage in his Cabinet, the King him∣self joyning their Hands, and the Duke of Barr went immediately to Mass, and she to a Sermon at Court.

* 1.3XX. A Case was propounded upon the Article of Incests: A Maid was married in her Nonage to one who in his first Marriage had espoused her Aunt, by Papal Dispensation, and had Children by her, now she is since come to the knowledge of the Truth, embraceth and makes open profession there∣of, but not her Husband, she also hath born him Children; may this Woman

be received into Communion with our Churches. This Assembly distinguish∣ing between Affinity and Consanguinity, and considering the time wherein the said Marriage was contracted, and that the Dispensation, such as it was, is reputed a Law in this Kingdom, and because the Husband is of the con∣trary Religion, adviseth, That without approving the said Marriage, she be received unto Communion with us in the Sacraments. And this shall be published unto the People.

XXI. On the Article of Publick Penance for Scandals, the Province of Higher Languedoc moved, Whether a Man convicted and condemned by the Civil Magistrate for a certain Crime, which yet he pertinaciously denieth, may be received to the Peace and Fellowship of the Church, without under∣going Publick Penance? This Assembly judgeth, That in the first place, the past Life of this condemned Person be revised and examined, and then the Accusations brought in against him, the Witnesses attesting them, and the Judges passing Sentence on him, and then to ponder all Circumstances and Proofs over and above what were produced before the Magistrate: and if alter the greatest diligence used herein, and Adjurations made him in the Name of God to confess the Truth, he still persists in his denyals, he may be received unto the Lord's Table, provided that the Church be publickly acquainted in his presence, that the Judgment of the whole Process lieth be∣tween God and his own Conscience.

XXII. Instead of those words in the beginning of the* 1.4 26th Article of the same Chapter, Who shall have dwelt, there shall be inserted, Who being espou∣sed shall have dwelt together.

XXIII. A Case being moved, Whether Lands might be purchased on these Terms, That you keep up Divine Service, as 'tis called in the Church of Rome? This Assembly is of Opinion, That we should make a difference be∣tween those who purchase upon Terms of paying such and such Suits and Service unto a Bishop, Abbot, or Curate, and those who in downright Terms scruple the causing Mass to be said or sung: the former of these be not lia∣ble to Church Censures; but the latter must be informed, that they cannot with a safe Conscience neither possess nor acquire such Lands or Leases.

XXIV. Proctors and Advocates, i. e. Attorneys and Counsellors profes∣sing the Reformed Religion, may not take of their own accord Monitories out of the Popish Ecclesiastical Courts: But Judges being Publick Persons, and having Authority to declare what is Law, and ought to be done, may order what they shall do in such Cases.

XXV. The last clause of the 13th Article in the Chapter of Ministers shall be struck out, because 'tis comprised in the 15th Article of the last Chapter of our Discipline, concerning Particular Orders.

XXVI. Divers Provinces complaining of the Licentiousness of Printers in publishing all sorts of Books: Cities and Churches having Printers in them, are advised to suffer no Book to get into the Press, till it hath been first of all seen and approved by the Church.

XXVII. To that Article of Players and Mummers, shall be added Juglets, Players of Hocus-pocus, Tricks of Goblets, Puppet-playing, Morrice-dances, and all Christian Magistrates are advised not in the least to suffer them, because it feeds foolish Curiosity, puts upon unnecessary Expences, and wasts Time.

XXVIII. A Lottery ordained by the Magistrates Authority for the Relief of Minors, Debtors, and poor Merchants, shall not be condemned; but o∣thers of a different nature, such as that called The Wheel of Fortune, and the like, are peremptorily forbidden.

XXIX. The Faithful ought not to Feast at those Banquets made by Priests when they first sing Mass.

XXX. Forasmuch as Whoredom, especially in Women, brings with it a brand of Infamy; this Assembly explaining the 21st Article of the fifth Cha∣pter

of our Discipline, doth decree, That the Penance of such Persons as have been guilty of those scandalous Crimes, shall be left unto the discretion of the Consistory.

Notes

• * 1.1

  It is now the 44th.
• * 1.2

  It's the 20th Article.
• * 1.3

  See the 28th Artic. of Part. Matters of the Nation Synod of G••rg••a••.
• * 1.4

  It is now the 23th Art.