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. XVIII. Expedients for reuniting the Christian Churches, which have shook off the Papa Yoak, and for composing the differences, which are already risen, or may hereaf∣ter rise up amongst them offered and propounded to them.

1. WE must lay down this as a foundation-principle, that to endeavour an Union and Agreement between the Churches is a most useful, pious and necessary work, and very feasible. As to its possibility, we say, that such an Union cannot be effected without the concurrence, aid, assistance, and conduct of those Soveraign Princes, who have withdrawn themselves from the obedience of the Pope: among whom his Majesty of Great Britain, as being the Chiefest, and most Potent Monarch, of a most clear anti piercing Judgment, and most affectionately inclined hereunto, can most effectually promote and advance it.

2. This being presupposed, we conceive that some certain place should be chosen of safe and convenient access, whereunto two Divines shall be sent by his Majesty, and two from the Churches of France, and two from the Low Countries, two from the Cantons of Switzerland, and one or two from each of the German Princes embracing and professing our Faith.

3. Zealand in our opinion would be the most commodious place for such a Treaty, which is as it were the fore-door of England, and easily to be aborded by the Messengers of the respective Princes and Churches.

4. And when they meet at this place, let there be no disputes about Religi∣on: for when once the Spirits are inflamed, there will be no yielding on any side, and all parties will return homeward with the imaginary Triumphs of their own Victories. Wherefore it were better to lay before them on the Table the several Confessions of the Reformed Churches of England, Scotland, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the Palatinate, &c. And that out of all these Con∣fessions there might be framed one in common to them all, in which divers Points may be omitted, the knowledge whereof is not needful to our everlast∣ing happiness. Among which the controversie moved by Piscator, and several sub∣til opinions lately broached by Van-Armin, about free Will, the Saints Perseve∣rance, and Predestination, may be reckoned: It being a most certain Truth that all the Errors in Religion have sprung hence, that men would either know too much, or have too much, that is to say, either out of curiosity, or from their avarice and ambition. 'Tis this last Sin that hath corrupted and ruined the Church of Rome. But yet Satan doth use his utmost endeavours by the first to corrupt ours. However could we but gain that authority and power over our selves so as to ignore divers matters, and to rest contented with points only necessary to Salvation, we should have gone a great and good part of the way, and made a considerable progress in our WORK of UNION.

5. This Confession being once prepared, it must be subscribed not only by the Deputies then and there present, but also by the several Princes, and by our National Synod. And let this Canon be enacted, that if any controversie should hereafter be moved either in England, France or Germany, in the Low Countreys or Switzerland, nothing shall be concluded or decided, much less innovated in or about it, without the general consent and concurrence of all the Provinces, that have signed this Agreement.

6. 'Tis probable that thus far we shall meet with little or no opposition. The Parties treating being the Reformed Churches, agreeing in the funda∣mental Articles of Faith, only dissenting from one another in the quillets of Ceremonies, and Church-Government.

7. Concerning which Ceremonies and Church-Discipline a mutual Decla∣ration should be made, and added unto the said Confession, by which the said Deputies, in the names of their Principa's, do declare, that the Churches shall not judge nor condemn one another for this difference; it not hindering our mutual Agreement in the same true Faith and Doctrine, and that for all this we may cordially embrace each other as true Believers, and Joynt-Mem∣bers of one and the same Body.

8. It were fitting that after this Conference had, as a pledge of their mu∣tual Concord the Lords Supper were celebrated, wherein the Pastors from England, and the other Nations should all mutually communicate together, and that Sacred Feast should commence with a most Religious Fast, not only to be observed by those Deputies, but also by that particular Church, where this Synod shall be assembled, that so the assistance and blessing of God may be prayed down upon this holy and important work.

9. Let such Deputies be chosen whose tempers lead and bend them unto this noble design; that is to say, let them be such as are peaceable, grave, and men fearing God, prudent, and not contentious; let them come furnish∣ed with full power, and with ample Letters of Authority to proceed in this great and good work, and let this be couched in the same Letters of Com∣mission, that their Principals who send them do sincerely promise to receive with all possible respect the Conclusions of this Assembly, and that they will by all just and lawful ways see them observed. And during the Session of this Synod, let there be unanimously published in all the Provinces a Gene∣ral Fast, in order to the deriving down the blessing of God Upon it, und to touch the hearts of the people with respect and reverence for it.

10. During the sitting of this Assembly, it were sit that Messengers should go and come from His Majesty of Great Britain, that so nothing might be concluded in it without his Advice and Authority; and that as soon as the Conference shall be ended, the whole body of this Assembly should pass over into England, to make tender of their Duty to His Majesty, and to thank him, and receive his sage Advice about the means of reducing into practice their Synodical and Pacisick Counsels and Conclusions.

11. It will be necessary that before the breaking up of this Assembly, they would assign a certain day within the year, of meeting again at the same place, and make report then and there of what has been done it their re∣spective Provinces to effect and execute it, and what obstructions they met with in their prosecution of it. For it will be a most difficult matter in one Assembly to provide all Expedients for Peace and Union: And there may be those Provinces, who may not approve of every point concerted and agreed on, or they may happen to pitch on some better means, than were at first seen and contrived.

12. In the interval of these two Assemblies His Majesty of England, and the Provinces of our Confession may so order it, that some Pastors and Doctors of the Lutheran way, may be sent from the Lutheran Princes and Churches unto this second Assembly to travail in this excellent work of Reuniting them with us, and us with them. If this can be obtained, the means of Agree∣ment are likely to be such as these following.

13. The Points in difference betwixt us and the Lutheran Churches are of two sorts. There be some wherein our Agreement is very easie; of this na∣ture are the Ceremonies of the Lutheran Churches, which may be excused and tolerated, because they be matters rather of decency than of necessity. As al∣so some certain Opinions about Predestination, concerning which a special

Article may be framed in our common Confession, which all without any difficulty would approve of, provided always that curiosity might be avoided. And this was done in the Confession of Ausburg, which speaks exceeding so∣berly, and expresly declineth that Question. There is also some difference betwixt us about the necessity of Baptism, which in a good sense may be af∣firmed necessary to Salvation; that is to say, that Baptism should be cele∣brated in the Christian Church, and necessary that it be not despised, but observed by every particular Member, without pushing on the Question of necessity any farther.

14. There is in the next place that Article of the Lord's Supper, wherein we shall meet with more difficulty; for it hath two main brandies, 1. That of the Ubiquity of Christ's Body; 2. Another about our Receiving of, and Communion with the Body of Christ in the Sacrament.

15. As to the first of these Points, we may well agree in these things, 1. That Jesus Christ took in the Womb of the Virgin Mary a true Humane Body like unto ours in all things, sin only excepted. 2. That his Body hath true flesh, and its quantity and dimensions. 3. That when his Body was lodged in the Womb of the blessed Virgin, and hung upon the Cross, and lay buried in the Grave, it was not at that time elsewhere, nor in di∣vers other places at once. 4. That the Eternal Son of God is every where present in all places. 5. That he is ascended up into Heaven, that he fitteth at the right Hand of God; that the Father hath given him all Power in Hea∣ven and in Earth. 6. That Glorification hath removed from him the infirmity, but not abolished the Verity of his Humane Nature. 7. That in the last day he shall come in that self same flesh, which he took from the Virgin Mary, to judge both the quick and the dead. If besides these, there be some differ∣rent Opinions, about which we cannot agree, this must be obtained from both Parties, that they do not thereupon condemn and damn each other, and that no more Books about this Controversie be hereafter written, nor any Invectives thrown out in Sermons from the Pulpit, but that we live in bro∣therly Love, waiting upon God for more Light, who will not refuse it unto them, that in Faith beg it of him.

16. Touching the Sacrament; and our participation of the Body of Christ, we may harmoniously agree in these Points; 1. That the Sacramental Ele∣ments are not bare and empty Signs, nor only meer naked Symbols, and simple Instituted Figures of the Truth. 2. That in the Lord's Supper we do really and in very deed partake of the Body of Christ Jesus. 3. That the Bread is not transubstantiated, nor ceaseth to be Bread after the Consecration. Whence it follows, 4. That the Sacrament ought not to be adored, but our hearts must be lifted up unto Jesus Christ in Heaven. As for the manner of our participation of the Body of Christ in his Holy Supper, we need not be scrupulously inquisitive about it, only to joyn Issue with the Apostle, who saith in the 3d to the Ephesians, that Jesus Christ dwelleth in our hearts by Faith; whence it inevitably follows, that he is a meer stranger unto the hearts of all Unbelievers. But if any one be otherwise perswaded, let him succour and support his weak Brethren, and not judge and persecute them with violence and cruelty: Wherefore in those matters wherein we be all agreed, let's walk with one another hand in hand heartily and chearfully towards Heaven.

17. We know there be two sorts of Errors, some in Points of Faith, and others in exterior Actions and Practice. Of this first sort are those Errors about the nature of Jesus Christ, about Predestination, and Free will; of the Second are those about Communion in one kind, the Adoration of the consecrated Host, Prayer in an unknown Tongue by the Petitioner. Errors of this last sort, altho in themselves less, yet do they most often occasion the greatest divi∣sions, and do most venemously exasperate mens Spirits, and immediately en∣gender Schism. For if a man communicate at the Lords Table with an erro∣neous

person in the doctrine of Predestination, or about the Nature of Jesus Christ, or who believes that the Body of our Lord is every where, in all places at once, altho this Error be very great, yet may it not trouble him who is a Communicant with him: But and if we communicate with one who giveth religious adoration unto the bread, or pretends to sacrifice the Lord Jesus Christ, such an action would scandalize us, and must needs drive us from that Communion, lest we should participate with him in his Idolatry, or in a false Sacrifice. Now we have this advantage together with the Lutheran Churches, that all our differences are of the first kind, and as for those external Ceremo∣nies used and practised by them, we have no such difference, but what may be easily composed, yea and that too with a wet Finger.

18. It were fitting to lay before them on the Table the Concordat of the Polo∣nish Churches, made at Sendomir, in the year 1570. and since revived in the Synod of Ulodislan in the year 1581. that so we may learn by their example to serve our selves of all things which may contribute unto this Union, and are worthy of our imitation. And possibly there may be found some Lutheran Churches who for peace sake would not insist upon their Ubiquity, but frank∣ly yield it up and part with it.

19. The same Order should be observed in this second Assembly as in the first; and the same difference paid unto his Majesty of great Britain, and it should be opened with a fast, and concluded with the celebration of the Holy Supper of our Lord, at which both the Lutheran Ministers and ours should communicate together.

20. It is very needful that some course should be taken to bring the several Churches and People to embrace and practise the Articles of this Union, and that Soveraign Princes and Estates do promise to exert their Authority about it, and that those words of Lutheran, Calvinist, and Sacramentarian,* 1.1 being wicked badges of distinction, were utterly abolished, and that our Churches should ever after be called the Christian Reformed Churches. And all In∣vectives from the Pulpit, or Press, or Writings against the Brethren of either side shall be forbidden under the severest penalties. And that the Catalogues of Books vended at Frankford maybe no more stuft with injurious Titles as formerly. And the German Princes should, at some certain days mutually agreed on, send their Pastors unto the principal Churches of their Neighbour Princes, and also admit and receive of their Ministers into theirs, and so com∣municate together on some set and solemn day at the Lords Table.

21. If it should please God to bless this Holy and Laudable Design with success, which would be a Crown of Eternal Glory unto his Majesty of Great Britain, and to the Princes joyned with him therein, then would it be a con∣venient time to sollicit the Romish Church unto a Reconciliation; which whe∣ther it may be really effected, or is at all feasible, seems as yet very doubtful: because the Pope will admit of no Council nor Conference, at which he may not preside. But could this General Union of all Christians be once accom∣plished we should be then more considerable, and Ministers might Preach with more authority, and greater success than ever.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gustazus Adolphus K. of Swi••••d∣land would have them styled the Evangeli∣cal Church∣es.