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. V. Of General MATTERS.

I. BY reason of the great Difference in the Copies of our Discipline, of the Emendations and Additions by the Synods of Montauban, Saumur, and this now sitting at Montpellier, that it may be reduced into an exact Order, couched in plain and significant expressions, this Assembly ordaineth, That two Pastors out of each Province, whose Names are here mentioned, shall un∣dertake and finish this Work. Viz.

• Messieurs De Beaulieu, and de Montigny for the Isle of France.
• Messieurs Picheron, and Cartaut for Normandy.
• Messieurs D'Orival, and Fontanez for Orleans.
• Messieurs Mermett, and St. Hillary for Lower Guyenne.
• Messieurs Gardesy, and Olivier for Higher Languedoc.
• Messieurs Valeton, and du Croix for Vivaretz.
• Messieurs Gasquetz, and Villette for Lower Languedoc.
• Messieurs Du Mont, and Merlin, for Xaintonge.
• Messieurs Des Agues, and Macifer for Anjou.
• Messieurs Chamier, and Vinay for Dolphiny.
• Messieurs Eynard, and Moureau for Poictou.

And having performed this their Task, they shall communicate it unto their Synods, that so they may come prepared unto the next National Synod to compleat and perfect it.

II. Forasmuch as 'tis the Duty of all the Faithful, heartily to desire the Re∣union of all the Subjects of this Kingdom in the Unity of Faith, for the greater Glory of God, the Salvation of Millions of Souls, and the singular Repose of the Commonweal; yet because of our Sins, this being rather a Matter of our Prayers, than of our Hopes, and that under this pretext di∣vers profane Persons attempt openly to blend and mingle both Religions, all Ministers shall admonish seriously their Flocks, not in the least to hearken un∣to any such motions; it being utterly impossible, that the Temple of God should hold Communion with Idols; as also, for that such Wretches design only by this Trick to debauch easie credulous Souls from the belief and pro∣fession of the Gospel. And whoever attempts such a Reconciliation, either by Word or Writing, shall be most severely censured.

III. This Assembly having read the Letters sent it from the Church of Ge∣neva, and considered the Arguments contained in them, and others offered to us, doth decree, That nothing shall be innovated in the Liturgy of our Churches, in the Singing of Psalms, and Form of Catechising. And where∣as Monsieur de Beza did, at the Request of divers of. our last Synods, translate into Metre the Scripture-Songs, they shall be received and sung in Families, thereby to dispose and fit the People for the Publick Usage of them in the Churches, until the next National Synod.

IV. The Churches of Geneva, Bearn, Basil, the Palatinate, and many o∣thers from divers parts of this Kingdom, complaining of several Writings published on design of Re-uniting the two Religions in one Doctrine, to the apparent prejudice of God's Truth, and in particular, of a certain Book, En∣tituled, Apparatus ad fidem Catholicum: and another bearing this Inscription, Avis pour la paix de L'Eglise & Royaume de France: This Synod having read and examined those aforesaid Writings, and received the Judgment of

the Colloquy of Nismes, and of the Deputies from the other Colloquies in that Province, as also the Censures of the above-mentioned Churches, doth con∣demn them, as containing divers Erroneous Propositions, to wit, That the true Doctrine was kept entire and sound among all that are called Christians: That those of the Church of Rome having the self-same Articles of Faith with us, the same Commandments of God, Forms of Prayer, Baptism, and the same Means and Ordinances to attain everlasting Salvation as we have, are consequently the true Church, and that the Difference betwixt us is only verbal, not real: That they would have the Ancient Councils and Writings of the Fathers to be Judges of the Points in Controversie between us; and that because they quote the Canons of Gratian under the Name of the Catho∣lick Church, therefore we are made the Authors of that Schism, and of those Civil Wars which have happen'd in this Kingdom; and several other such∣like Matters: And all the Churches are enjoyned to beware of them. And whereas there is a Manuscript handed up and down with this specious Title, Elenchus Novae Doctrinae; the Colloquies of Montpellier and Nismes are char∣ged to peruse it, and in case they find nothing in it contrary to the Doctrine receiv'd and taught in our Churches, they may, giving it a Preface, give it also a License to be Printed.

V. This Case of Conscience was propounded, Whether a Soveraign Prince for certain Causes moving him thereunto, may not grant a Pardon unto a Person guilty of those Crimes which had deserved Death, or change his Pu∣nishment into a less, or delay Execution of the Sentence past upon him. This Assembly having carefully examined the Circumstances of this Case doth judge, That by the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we be not bound unto the Poli∣tical Laws of Moses, but that all Punishments are now arbitrary, and that from Scripture-Instances the Soveraign Magistrate may very well do it, when the Publick Interest is concerned.

VI. Another Case also was moved, Whether a Parent or Special Friend (whatever his Condition or Quality be, tho' it were that of a Minister of the Gospel) might lawfully petition the Soveraign for his Relation or Friend's Pardon? The Synod answereth, That this Case is decided by the former; for if it be lawful for the Soveraign to give, it is lawful also for a private Person to take out a Pardon, provided it be not by any indirect or sinful means.

VII. Whoever hath maimed another unjustly, so that he is thereby disa∣bled from gaining his Livelihood, or that of his poor Family, if so be the Maimer be a Man of Estate, he shall be urged by Church-Censures to allot him a Pension for his Subsistence, altho' he be not condemned to it by the Civil Magistrate, because he cannot better express the sincerity of his Re∣pentance, than by this Act of Charity.

VIII. Promises of Marriage made by Persons of competent Age to be mar∣ried, and those Promises past with consent of Parents, Tutors, and Guardi∣ans, and by words de praesenti, are indissolvable.

IX. It is not contrary to Christian decency, for espoused Persons to lodge under the same Roof before Marriage.

X. That Obligation laid on Sureties in Baptism doth not only import their Education of the Children in Godliness, but this also, that in case of need, they provide for their maintenance.

XI. Churches having at their own Charges bred up Schollars to the Mini∣stry, and do now enjoy their Labours in the Word and Sacraments, if they carry themselves unworthily towards them, as in not giving them equal Sti∣pends with their Colleagues shall be censured, and in case they do not reform, the Colloquy or Provincial Synod may grant a License unto those Ministers to forsake them, and also to provide them of some other Church, according to the Discipline.

XII. The Deputies of the National Synods shall within one Month alter their Return, advertise the Colloquies of their Provinces to take Copies of the Acts of these National Synods, and this at the sole Expence of the said Col∣loquies.

XIII. When a Province desireth some considerable alteration to be made in the Articles of our Discipline, it shall give Notice thereof unto that which is charged to convene the next National Synod, that by it the other Provinces being informed, their Deputies may come prepared for the Debate. How∣ever, we do not hereby mean, that the National Synods should be over-ruled by the Provincial.

XIV. Master Chamier and Brunier having brought Letters from the As∣sembly of the Churches at Chastel-heraut, together with the Edict granted us by His Majesty, and understanding by them, that had it not been for that good Union and Correspondence which is among us, we had never got the Liberty of our Consciences in the Publick Profession of the Gospel and Ser∣vice for our God, nor Justice to be administred to us, nor other needful Secu∣rities for our Lives. This Synod considering former defects in this matter, doth now protest and resolve, That for the future that Union subscribed and sworn at Mants, shall be better and more strictly kept and observed than e∣ver, that so the Articles of this Edict may be performed to us, and all other things needful for our preservation, in our Obedience to his Majesty, and his Edicts: and we will also take care that the Provinces do the same, and that if any Person should in the least transgress them, or prove disobedient to our Remonstrances herein, they shall be prosecuted by all the Censures of the Church.

XV. The Provinces also shall be exhorted to receive and observe the Or∣ders sent them from the Assembly at Chastelheraut, and to defray the Char∣ges of the Deputies, they being necessitated to reside there to see to the Exe∣cution of the Edict, unless His Majesty shall of His Royal Bounty provide for them.

XVI. This Synod proceeding to distribute the 43333 Crowns, and of the one third of them Granted by His Majesty towards the Relief of our Chur∣dies, hath and doth ordain that 3333 Crowns, and one third shall be employed in the erecting of two Universi∣ties, one of which shall be at Saumur, and the other at Moutauban,† and towards the Maintenance of each of them, it doth assign 1111 Crowns, 6 Sous, and 8 Deniers, and to the erecting of two Academies in Theology, the one at Montpellier, the other at Nismes, for Montpellier 500 Crowns, and the rest for Nismes. And the remain∣ing 40000 Crowns shall be distributed among the Chur∣ches, as well those which are already, as those which may be hereafter constituted. And a Catalogue was read of the Churches now in being, whose Number was found 760, to wit, in the Isle of France, Picardy, Champagne, and Brie, 88. Normandy 59. Brittany 14. Burgun∣dy 12. Lyonnois 4. Forest, Dolphiny, and Provence 94. Vivarets 32. Lower Languedoc 116. Higher Languedoc, and Higher Gnyenne 96. Lower Guyenne 83. Poictou. 50. Xaintonge 51. Anjou. 21. Orleans 39. Which is for each of them 52 Crowns, 37 Sous, and 10 Deniers.

	Cr.	s.	d.
For the Isle of France	4631	34	10
For Normandy	3105	15	09
For Brittany	0736	50	08
For Burgundy	0538	56	10
For Lyonnois	0210	31	06
For Forest	0105	15	10
For Dolphiny and Provence	4997	22	7
For Vivaretz	1664	12	08
For Lower Languedoc	6105	15	09
For Higher Languedoc	5052	37	6
For Lower Guyenne	4368	22	3
For Poictou	2631	34	08
For Xaintonge	2684	12	07
For Anjou	1105	15	09
For Orleans	2052	38	00

And all the Churches shall be obliged to send their Accounts of Moneys paid by them unto their Pastors, who have actually served them, and the said Accounts shall be then accepted, if the Acquittances be signed by those Mi∣nisters ow••n hands, who received the Moneys, and the over-plus of this Mo∣ney remaining, shall be returned unto the Synod, to be disposed of accord∣ing to their Orders, and by the Ministers to be relieved we understand such also, who through Age or Sickness are uncapable of discharging the Duties of their Calling; and farther, we leave it to the Prudence of the Provinces what Allowances to make unto their Proposans, and to the Widow sand Or∣phans of their deceased Ministers, and to maintain as many of them as they shall judge expedient, whose Names and Number also shall be inserted in these Accounts aforesaid, and their Acquittances subscribed with their own hands, shall be brought unto the National Synod. And the Provinces shall give a demonstration of their care in erecting Academics, and yield up their Ac∣compts in like manner as was before ordained. The Receivers of this Mo∣ney shall be nominated by the Provinces. And the Assembly of Chastelheraut shall be intreated to give us their Advice, for the best and speediest course of getting the said Moneys. And this Order shall hold good until the next National Synod, which shall be called by the Province of Normandy in the Month of June three Years hence, and the Synod next after that shall be held in Dolphiny.

XVII. Letters shall be sent in the Name of this Synod, unto all French Ministers abroad out of the Kingdom, requiring them to return unto the Service of their Churches upon the first Summons, who shall furnish them with necessary Supplies for their Journeys: and whereas divers have depart∣ed without leave first obtained from their Provinces, because of the Troubles and Persecutions, the Synod orders, that they return forthwith, as in Duty they are bound, unto their respective Churches, God having now blessed us with Peace. And hereupon the Church of Paris, according to this Article, required Monsieur D'amours to return back unto his Province.

XVIII. As soon as the Edict shall be published, those extraordinary Times of Prayer ordained in the Churches shall cease; and the Churches are re∣quested, particularly to remember in their Prayers unto the Throne of Grace, those of the Low Countries.

Notes

• 1598 Synod XV.
• Pountaine.
• In the Copy from which this was translated, the mark over the Sums was,
• †

  W
• Which I have rendered Crowns, because a Livre consisting but of twenty Sous, and the French reckoning be Crowns as ••••ll as Livres. I have rendred Crowns rat••er than Livres.
• 3
• 10
• 25