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 Particular Matters.

* 1.11. IT is ordained for time coming that particular Acts of Appeals, Cen∣sures, and things of the like nature, shall not be delivered, but unto the parties concerned in them.

2. This Assembly declareth that the Act of the Synod of Montpellier, not permitting any Certificate to be given them who through fear of Witch∣craft would solemnize their Marriage in other Churches besides their own, shall remain in full force, as not being contrary to that of the Discipline, which concerneth attestations in the Chapter of Marriages.

* 1.23. For as much as the necessities of our poor Brethren of the Marquisate Saluces are exceeding great, they being banished and persecuted for the true Religion, as is evident by the Relations of their Deputies Charles Gar∣nier and Constans Vivyan; This Assembly exhorts all the Churches in the Pro∣vinces of this Kingdom to assist them by extraordinary Alms; and 'tis left to the prudence of every Provincial Synod, to take that course for Collecting the Charities for them as they shall judge most proper and convenient to the state of their respective Churches. And whereas in divers Churches there have been Moneys already gathered for them, it is ordained, that in no wise those summs be diverted from their designed use, but be out of hand sent unto them; And that they may be reputed Natural French men, our De∣puties which shall be sent unto Court, are expresly charged to procure the Declaration from his Majesty for their being naturalized.

4. Henceforward the Deputies of the Provinces shall bring with them unto the National Synods an exact Catalogue of the number of Churches, Ministers, and Proposans in their respective Provinces, together with an ac∣count of their particular Stipends, annually paid them by the Receiver of the Province, as also the Testimonials of the Universities concerning our young Students in them, if possibly it may be done.

* 1.35. Proposans may be admitted into the National Synod, when as gene∣ral Matters of Doctrine and Discipline are debated, provided they bring with them good Testimonials. But as for other Persons, which are not Ecclesiastick, whatsoever their quality or condition may be, it hath been al∣ready judged inexpedient, because of divers ill Consequences, to grant them this priviledge.

* 1.46. If in case of difference about the Call of Professors and Regents in our Universities, one of the contending parties should seek for relief and assistance any where else than in our Ecclesiastical Assemblies, he shall be prosecuted by all the Censures of the Church, and if he continue obstinate and rebellious, he shall then be Excommunicated; and if he be already seized of a Profes∣sorship, this Synod Decreeth, that no Wages shall be paid him, and declareth him a Person utterly uncapable of any Academical Office.

7. To prevent for the future that evil custom crept into the Churches,

and which hath caused a great deal of trouble unto this Synod, by reading and examining an infinite number of Acts passed before secular Judges, which may finally bring in upon us that base Chicanery, so much practised by crafty Lawyers, and utterly unworthy the Gravity of these Assemblies: Wherefore all such manner of proceedings are most expresly forbidden, and all persons are commanded to keep themselves to a native plainness and sim∣plicity, as best suiting with Church affairs; on pain of having their papers and propositions rejected, who shall do otherwise.

* 1.58. In case a person complain of His being overcharged in pecuniary matters by the Provincial Synod, in which the Synod is a Party, he may demand a hearing before the next Provincial Synod, which shall have power to judge finally in that affair, without bringing such matters before the National Synods.

9. When as the publick Fast shall be celebrated in the Churches of France, those of Bearn shall be acquainted with the time and causes of it, by the Province of Lower Guyenne; and those Churches shall be comprised in all matters relating to our Union, yea and in those Complaints and Petitions which shall be presented unto his Majesty by the means of our General Deputies.

10. Monsieur Baldran Deputy for Bearn, moved, that whereas the Churches of Soulle and Bigorre lying within the bounds of France, were yet notwithstanding unto this day annexed to the Churches of Bearn, and support∣ed by them both with the grant of Pastors, and Moneys for their subsistence; wherefore he requested that they might be enrolled among those, who sha∣red in the Moneys of his Majesties bounty; and withal he left them to the sole disposal of the Churches of this Kingdom either to be Incorporated with them, or implanted into any other Synod besides that of Bearn, as they should con∣ceive most expedient. This Assembly ordaineth that for the present two portions of the said moneys shall be assigned out of the Dividend of Lower Guyenne unto those two before mentioned Churches, and they have full pow∣er to declare in the first Provincial Synod of Bearn to which of the Provin∣cial Synods of France they will adjoin themselves, consulting therein their own conveniency and edification, and shall produce their Memoirs concern∣ing it before the next National Synod.

11. For as much as great contentions have arisen in the Churches because that their Ministers stipulated with them only for a certain term of time, and at their reception into the Pastoral Office among them did reserve unto them∣selves a pretended right and power of leaving them, when that term was ex∣pired: The Provinces are exhorted to keep inviolably the ninth Article in the first Chapter of our Church-discipline, and never to receive a Minister into that Sacred Office without consigning him to some particular flock, among whom he shall have his fixed residence.

* 1.612. In case of contentions falling out among Church-Members, or between two Churches for time to come they shall neither of them send more than two Deputies either to the National or Provincial Synods, nor shall a great∣er number, tho they come, be admitted unto a hearing.

13. If one professing of the Reformed Marry a Woman of the Popish Re∣ligion, he shall not only not be admitted unto Offices in the Church which are purely Ecclesiastical, but be also excluded from those of another nature, such Syndics and Proctors, who have the management of the civil affairs of our Churches: and in case such an one be already invested with those charges, he shall be immediately and actually deposed.

14. Churches having Universities erected in them, their Pastors by the advice of the Academical Counsel may on extraordinary occasions read Lectures of Divinity, that so they may be qualified in case of necessity for the Professors Office in them.

15. Monks and Priests having once professed the Truth of the Gospel, and afterward with the Dog returned unto their vomit, though they should once again abjure the Popish Religion, and desire leave to preach a Pro∣bation-Sermon in order to their Reception into the Ministry, shall not in the least be admitted unto any Theological Exercise among us,* 1.7 till we have had ten years Tryal of their Repentance; nor shall they, when that time also is expired, be admitted without the previous Advice of a National Synod.

16. Monks forsaking Popery shall not be received into Church-fellow∣ship, till they be found well instructed in the grounds of the Reformed Religion; and they shall be sent back unto the Provinces whereof they are Natives, with Certificates attesting for what Imployment they be best qualified.

17. Consistories may not deliver unto Parties their Bonds, though they be reconciled, and do demand them.

18. The Deputies of Lower Languedoc moved this Case, Whether per∣sons having a long time professed the true Religion, and coming to under∣stand they were baptized only by a Midwife, ought to be rebaptized: This Assembly judgeth that they ought to be publickly baptized in the Church of Christ, according to the Institution of our Lord by a Lawful Minister. Their former Baptism being wholly null and void, because done by one who had no Call unto that Office.

19. It was demanded what censure they deserved, who live in an Ince∣stous Marriage, though they have the Pope's Dispensation? This Synod or∣dains that the 25th Article of the General Matters in that of Saumur, be punctually observed, and judgeth those persons unfit for Communion in our Churches, till such time as they be separated one from the other.

20. Women whose Husbands are absent from them, by reason of heinous crimes, cannot with a safe Conscience contract Marriage with any other as long as their Husbands be alive.

* 1.821. This Assembly concurring with the foregoing Synods of Lion and Vitré, declareth their Marriages Null and void, who had contracted them selves unto others, their parties yet living, although they were separated up∣on the account of Leprosie.

22. All Printers are admonished, that when they print our Form of Bap∣tism, they take care to express that sentence of St. Paul, 1 Cor. 7.14. in its express and proper words, That the Children of Believers are holy.

23. No Attestations shall for the future be given unto Governours or Lieutenants of our Cautionary Towns, by that Colloquy wherein he or they reside, without calling in one or more Colloquies of that same Pro∣vince, nor without hearing the Inhabitants of the Towns concerned, in case the Recommended Officers be Natives of the same Province. And this Rule shall be observed with respect unto those who demand Attestations to ca∣pacitate them for an Office in the Chambers, e. i. the Courts of the Edict.

* 1.924. Scholars, Students in Divinity, especially such as are maintained at the Charges of the Provinces, or of particular Churches, shall finish their course in the Universities of this Kingdom, in which we comprise those of Bearn, Sedan and Geneva; and they shall not be permitted to travel unto Forreign Universities without leave first granted them by their Provincial Synods, who shall prescribe them the place and time of their abode.

25. Monsieur Chamier having in writing given us an Account of that Book entituled, Elenchus Novae Doctrinae, we do order its suppression.

26. The Deputies of Lower Languedoc demanding whether something in the 52d Section of our Catechism might not be conveniently changed parti∣cularly in what relates to our Communion with Jesus Christ in the preach∣ing

of the Gospel, in Baptism and the Lord's Supper. This Assembly is of Opinion that nothing should be added or diminished, because the terms in which that Section is couch'd, do very plainly express the different degrees of Faith, by which we receive Christ.

27. The Province of Lower Guyenne desired, that that passage concern∣ing Judas his being received into Communion by our Lord at his holy Table, in the last Section of the Catechism might be changed. This Assem∣bly judging the Question problematical, and not a point of Faith, thought it inconvenient to make any alteration, because also the main Doctrine for which this Example was urged, is generally believed to be true, and on this all Ministers in their explications of it ought principally to insist.

28. The Province of Anjou having tender'd their Accounts by the Lord de Bruges, one of their Deputies, of the Moneys assigned them by the Synod of Montpellier, for the Erection and Maintenance of an University in the Ci∣ty of Saumur, and received by them from the Sieurs Palot, and du Caudal, from the first grant of the said Moneys unto the last day of December last past: This Assembly commissionated Monsieur Vignier Minister of the Gospel, and Monsieur des Fontaines, Texier and le Fevrier Elders, to examine and close up those Accounts; which being done, and report made by them, it appeared that Monsieur Phillip Pinaut, Receiver of the said Moneys, stood indebted to them in the sum of 4292 Livers, 15 Sous, and 8 Deniers, upon the whole; which said Audit, and final Reckoning, is approved and ratified by this Synod; and it's further ordered, that the said sum of 4292 Livers, 15 Sous, and 8 Deniers, shall remain in the hands of the said Pinault, to be employed in the Maintenance of the said University, and about nothing else, as we shall hereafter take care for. And in so doing the said Receiver and Province shall be acquitted and discharged of the said Moneys. And the Originals of the Accounts aforesaid shall be kept in the Consistory of Rochell, and the Duplicates and Copies evidencing the whole, shall be lodg'd in the hands of the said Pinault, with the consent of the Deputies of that Province.

29. The Province of Xaintonge moving whether it were not needful to make a compleat Answer to the Works of Bellarmine: This Synod charged the Deputies of Dolphiny to intreat Monsieur Chamier to prosecute his wor∣thy Labours, begun by him upon this Subject.

30. Every Province shall chuse one particular Church in it, where the Original Acts of their Synods shall be conserved, that in case of necessity they may have recourse unto them.

31. The Professors of Divinity in the Universities of this Kingdom, shall be advised so to contrive their Lectures and Common-places, that they may be compleatly finished in three years time.

32. The Province of Orleans and Berry demanding that the time for Pro∣posans, tendering themselves unto Synods and Colloquies with their Propo∣sitions might be fixed equally: This Assembly judged that it were best and most convenient to leave it as before unto the liberty and prudence of those Meetings.

33. Moreover at the request of the same Province it was ordained, That Churches which had Ability should be desired to Erect Libraries for the service of their Ministers.

34. Monsieur Perrin is intreated to finish his begun History of the True Estate of the Albingenses and Waldenses; and to help him in it, all persons ha∣ving Memoirs by them, either of the Doctrine, Discipline, or Persecutions of those poor Saints of Christ, are charged to transmit them to him with all possible care and diligence.

35. Into whose hands there may fall a little Treatise about the dispossession of the Devil out of a Demoniack in Soreze, they are required to suppress it.

36. No Scholars for the future shall be received by the Provinces as Pen∣sioners, and who be now maintained at the trivial Schools by the Moneys of his Majesties bounty, till such times as they shall have finished their Stu∣dies of Humanity, and have begun their course of Philosophy, and shall give in good Security for repaying the sums received by them, and expend∣ed on them, in case that through their default they do not serve the Church in the Ministry of the Gospel.

37. This Case was propounded by the Deputies of Higher Languedoc and Guyenne, How they should deal with them, who being accused of Crimes, were absolved by the Magistrates, and yet afterward new evidence appeared against them, and the scandal continued. The Synod leaves it wholly to the prudence of Consistories, who shall comport themselves herein accord∣ing to circumstances, and take special care that the Lives and Reputation of the Brethren be not exposed to needless dangers.

38. The Deputies of Normandy requiring that the proper Hebrew names of the Old Testament, according as they be printed in this last Edition of our Bibles, might be refined, and pronounced as in the former Antient Im∣pressions. This Synod judgeth it more convenient that they remain as they are, and that nothing be changed by our Printers in any of their After-Impressions.

39. Monsieur Beraud propounded this Case, Whether an Elder of the Church accused of some enormous Crime, and justified by an Inferiour Judge, and yet drawn by his adverse Party to a Superiour Tribunal, may, whilst this Appeal stands in force against him, exercise his Office in the Church? The Synod judgeth that he ought to refrain until such time as he be finally acquitted and discharged by due course of Law.

* 1.1040. The Provinces are exhorted to assist the poor Churches, especially in their distribution of his Majesties Bounty conferred upon us.

41. The General Deputies are charged not only to manage the general Affairs of all our Churches, but the particular ones of every single Church, especially when as a difficulty is started about the Erection and Conserva∣tion of it, according to the Edict. And this Order shall bind the Provinces to seek out diligently a Legal Title for the Erection of our Churches, and to associate themselves with the Deputies in all Prosecutions at Law necessarily required, that so their Erection may be obtained and confirmed.

* 1.1142. Whereas since the last Resolution taken by us concerning that Article Antichrist, and its insertion into the body of our Confession of Faith, and in consequence thereof its being printed, his Majesty hath notified unto us by our Deputies, as also by Monsieur de Montmartyn, that the publishing of this Article would exceedingly displease him: This Assembly ordaineth, That the Printing thereof shall be superseded, unless any Member of our Church be molested for it, or be brought before the Magistrate for his confession of it, or any Minister, for Preaching, Teaching, or Writing about it; and his Majesty shall be humbly intreated to interpose his Au∣thority that no one be disquieted for the Impression which is already past, or for being possessed of any Copies, received from the Press.

43. The Deputies of Higher Languedoc crav'd the Advice of this Synod, what should be done in that case of Moneys received by their Deputies sent unto the Assembly of Chastelleraut, in the year 1605. and which had been given them to defray the Charges of their Journey and Abode there, by the Churches, and by his Majesties Liberality. This Synod ordaineth, That the Receivers and Detainers of the said Moneys, not having given in their Ac∣counts for them unto their respective Provinces, nor having received from them good and vallid Acquittances and Discharges, shall be bound to do it, and in case of defailure, they shall be prosecuted with all Church-cen∣sures, and other due courses of Law, if that the Provinces and Churches do so require it.

44. In reading the Synod of Gap about Censures inflicted on the Viola∣tors of Marriage-promises without just cause, several difficulties were rela∣ted to have arisen in divers places upon this Subject. Wherefore this Synod decreeth, That neither private persons, nor Consistories have any Authority to dissolve such promises, but shall remand them back unto the Cognizance, Order and Legal Judgment of the Civil Magistrate; and in case any refuse obedience hereunto, they shall be prosecuted by all Church-censures.

45. Some moved, how expedient it would be that our Academies were regulated according to the number of our Provinces, and that the summs now demanded for augmentation of the Regents and Professors Sallaries, was too great, and particularly for that of Saumur. But this Synod not having time enough at present to debate this matter, doth require all the Provinces to consider of it against the meeting of the next National Synod. And that our weaker and poorer Churches may be more comfortably relieved and supplied: Those Churches who are better able to maintain a Colledge without any as∣sistance from others, or the publick, are desired to bring in an Account of what can be done by them; That so we may make the best estimate we can, how to compleat and perfect our Universities. And the Provinces next adjoining to our Universities, are requested to have a most careful eye over them, and to be responsable for them unto the next National Synod, and of the dili∣gence or neglects of duty by its Officers and Professors. And till that time we do not judge meet to grant any augmentation to that of Saumur.

46. The Deputies of divers Provinces, moving that there might be par∣ticular Colledges erected in their respective Provinces for the educating of Youth in Humanity before they were sent unto our Universities: This As∣sembly granteth them their request, and that the eleven Provinces, which have no Academy, shall have each of them the summ of 100 Crowns for this very purpose. And these Provinces are charged to bring in an Account un∣to the next National Synod, how they have employed the said Moneys.

47. Monsieur Vignier is intreated to study well that controversie about the great Antichrist, and to bring in his work unto the next National Synod.

Notes

• * 1.1

  St. Maixant, Art. 1. of ob∣servat. on this Synod.
• * 1.2

  Charities or∣dered the poor Saints of Saluces.
• * 1.3

  Proposans may be pre∣sent as silent Learners in National Sy∣nods.
• * 1.4

  A remedy against con∣tentions for the Professors place in an University.
• * 1.5

  Pecuniary matters may be dismissed from one Pro∣vince to ano∣ther.
• * 1.6

  No more than two De∣puties can be sent from contending Churches. Such as mar∣ry Popish Wives cannot be imployed neither in the Civil nor Re∣ligious Offices of the Church.
• * 1.7

  Apostates Monks or Priests not to be received into the Mi∣nistry, till ten years Tryal of their Repen∣tance, and not then neither, without the Advice of a Nat. Synod. Monks quit∣ting their Cloisters shall be sent back to their Na∣tive Coun∣treys with at∣testations. See Synod of St. Maixant observat. up∣on this Synod. Art. 4. Midwives Baptism null, because they had no calling from Christ to administer it.
• * 1.8

  Leprosie dot not dissolve•• Matrimony.
• * 1.9

  Orders about Scholars in Pension of the Provinces.
• * 1.10

  See the Sy∣nod of Ger∣geau, p. m. 39.
• * 1.11

  A conditional Supersede as to the Article of Antichrist.