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.

Sect. 11. The next thing which was done by this first National Synod was a Draught of their Church-Discipline. The Canons of which at first were but a few; yet they did in three and twenty Synods alter, add, amend, augment and meliorate their first Plat-form, 'till they had brought it to that compleat Form and System of Articles, which was the established Order for the Conduct and Government of all their Churches. I have heard very many of their most grave, learned and judicious Divines magnifie it as a Master-Piece. In truth their pious Reformers saw a great necessity of reviving and restoring the ancient Discipline; and therefore at the same time that sound Doctrine, and pure Scripture-Worship was introduc'd into their Churches, they did also set up Discipline; and that it might be effe∣ctually practised, they did, in the Synod of Orleans (the sixteenth Article of General Matters) ordain, That the Canons of Church-Discipline should be read in the Consistories of the Reformed Churches in France. on those Days when as the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administred; and all Pastors, Elders and Deacons, all Moderators, Assessors, Scribes and Deputies of their Synods National and Provincial, and all Members of Col∣loquies, were expresly injoined, according to their solemn Promises when they were first received into their respective Offices, to see that it was dili∣gently, faithfully and vigorously executed. And O! that the Generation which succeeded the first Reformers had not lax'd the Reins, how happy might they have been! In the Morning of the Reformation, they were fair as the Moon, clear as the Sun, and terrible as an Army with Banners. The greatest Princes of France submitted their necks to this golden Yoke of Christ. A National Synod was formidable to the most daring Sinner. Their Discipline duly and prudently managed, preserved the Purity of Do∣ctrine, Worship and Morals among them. And now I shall present it to me Reader.