The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France

SECT. XLV. The Martyrdom of Monsieur Homel, Pastor of the Church of Vivaretz, in the Province of Cévennes, in the Kingdom of France; who was, with most Hellish Cruelty, broken upon the Wheel at Tournon, a City in the same Province, October, 1683.

THE Professors of the Reformed Religion in France having for these last Twenty Years seen the Infraction and Seizure of their Privileges, the Violation and Abrogation of those Royal Edicts that had been formerly granted to them, the suppression of their Assemblies for Religious Worship, the demolition of their Temples, and their poor Children (whose Souls could not but be dear unto them) taken away from them by Violence, and hurried into Monasteries, to be trained up in Idolatry, and groaning under a world of other Miseries; divers of them in the Provinces of Poitou, Saintonge, Guyenne, the Higher and Lower Languedoc, Cévennes, Dauphiné and Vivaretz, consulting together, laid a general Project: about restoring their ruinated Churches. One of the Articles concluded by them was, That the 18th day of July, in the Year 1683. their Pastors should jointly set upon the Exercise of their Public Ministry, in preaching of the Word, &c. in all those Places where for some time before it had been interdicted. Yet before they undertook it they presented their most humble Address unto their King, in which, with the profoundest Submssiions, they protested unto his Majesty their inviolable Loyalty and Fidelity, and only craved this favor of him their Sovereign, that under his gracious protection they might serve their God according to his appointment in the Sacred Scriptures (to which they were obliged by all Bonds imaginable) and that they might enjoy the Liberty of their Consciences according to the former Concessions of his Royal Predecessors.

'It is not certain whether this their Petition ever came unto the King's hands. The malicious Popish Clergy having blocked up all ways of Access for the poor Protestants at Court.

Immediately after this there was a particular Assembly held in Vivaretz, in which they came to the same Resolutions of setting up the public Worship of God according to the Gospel. 'It is true, neither of these, not the former nor this latter, were to any effect executed at all, unless in the Province of Vivaretz, and some certain places of Cévennes and Dauphiné. Yet this their Declaration of their purposes cost them dear; for it brought upon those poor people a Royal Army, who put to fire and sword whatever, of the Protestants they met with, sparing neither Sex nor Age, butchering them after a most barbarous manner, and with extreme Inhumanity and Cruelty. Now the Dragoons live at discretion, eat up and devour the whole substance of these miserable Protestants. All sorts of Torments are lawful, scarce any unpractised; but the greatest and most especial subjects of their rage were the Ministers of the Gospel. None of these that fell into their hands could believe them Men, they found them by woeful Experience to be incarnate Devils. The Stories are too many and too large to be here recorded. Yet, Reader, you shall have a taste of one or two.

At a Village in Dauphiné called Bourdeaux, there was a solemn day of Prayer and Fasting observed by these poor Christians, Monsieur St. Ruth, Maschal de Camp, brings in 6000. Dragoons upon them: his Dragoons were three to one of these Protestants. They are now surprised, and commanded every Man to lay down their Arms; but knowing that if they did, both they and their Ministers should be hanged out-right, they refused. Hereupon St. Ruth commands his Dragoons to give sire, and at this first discharge kills a Multitude of these Meeters. However seeing no other way but Death before them, such as had escaped this first Volley, resolve to sell their Lives at the dearest rate, and in their own defense killed some of the Dragoons, who fell dead at the feet of their murdered Companions. About Fifty or sixty broke through the Army, designing to save themselves in an adjoining Barn, who all, excepting some few, were burnt alive. Those few that endeavor'd their Escape were taken, who were every Man of them hanged without delay by one of their own Party, whom they constrained to become their Executioner, and whom also they executed afterwards themselves.

There was among the Prisoners Monsieur Daniel Chamier, great Grandson to that famous Divine of the same name, Pastor and Professor at Montauban, This Young man was executed after a most horrible manner. He was carried to Montelimar, and there broken upon the Wheel. He received fifty Blows of the Iron Bar upon the Scaffold, before they gave him the mortal Blow, and was left alive under those exquisite torments three days together ever he died. He endured these Cruelties with an exemplary Constancy and Fortitude.

Some one had interceded with the Duke of Nouailles for a young Gentleman, not twenty years of age, who had an Estate of 30000 Livers; the Duke promised him his life, provided he would turn Roman Catholic. This heroic, religious Youth rejecteth the Conditions, he will not buy Repentance so dear, he scorneth life with sin, a life bought with the loss of God, of Heaven, and Glory: He chooseth therefore death, because he believed and hoped for a better Resurrection; And, having with his own hands fitted the Halter to his Neck, he suffers death joyfully.

But among all the instances of these Martyrs, this which I am about to relate of Monsieur Homel is the most remarkable.

Monsieur Homel was sometime Minister of the Church of Soyon, but when he was executed he was Pastor of the Church of Vivaretz; He was a Venerable Divine, aged some sixty five Years, whose whole Life has been unblameable. He was deputed by his Church and Province unto the last National Synod held at Loudun in the Year 1659. This eminent Servant of God was broken alive upon the Wheel at Tournon (where, by the way, Reader, the Jesuits have a College.) He received forty Blows of the Iron Bar upon the Scaffold. He languished under this Hellish Cruelty two days together. The very thoughts thereof strike an horror into the hearts of them that hear it. My Author tells me, he trembled, his Hair stood an end, at the remembrance of it. Certainly this Minister must have been guilty you will say of some very horrid Crime, of some unheard of piece of Treason against his King and Country, for which he suffered a death far worse than drawing in pieces by wild Horses. But he was no Trumpet of Sedition or Rebellion, he was no James Clement, nor John Chatel, nor Francis Ravaillack, to assassinate his Prince. This holy Man of God abhor'd such abominable practices. All the crime laid unto his charge, that could be proved against him, was matter of Duty to God, of Duty to his Church, over which the Holy Ghost had made him Overseer. He faithfully and zealously exhorted his Brethren in the Ministry to preach the Gospel even upon the Ruines of their Temples, yet without quitting their All • giance and Obedience to the King their Sovereign. This was all his offense, but his Function was the greatest. For this he must die. But he suffers death triumphantly. Died Abner as a Fool? Monsieur Hommel lived a Saint, died a Martyr. Some Passages of his Martyrdom are fallen into my hands, written by an eye and ear Witness of them, which for the Reader's satisfaction are here communicated, without addition or alteration.

Some one then told him, He spake too much.

Then his Judges leaving him, ordered the Executioner to do his office, which he did, breaking his Arms and his Legs. And being then demanded whether he would die a Roman Catholic? He answered,

He again addressed himself unto his Wife.

He uttered many excellent Matters, which are now slipped my memory. Only I shall not omit, that he kissed his very Judges, who poured out a shower of Tears, being astonished at so great a constancy. His eyes were always lifted up to Heaven. He never gave one Cry for all the Blows that were laid upon him after the first. His Life was had in singular veneration, and as long as this Earth shall continue, his Death will be in admiration.

Let's imitate this Great Man of God, and persevere unto the end (though' with the loss of our Lives) in the true Religion, which is that only that will conduct us to the Heavenly Paradise. Amen.

I intended •• od willing, to write his Life at large, and to publish it shortly in my Icones.

N. B. Every Limb, every Member, and every Bone in his Body were broken with the Iron Bar forty Hours before the Executioner was permitted to strike him upon the Breast, which gave him, as they call it, Le Coup de Grace, the Blow of Mercy, that Death-stroke which put an end unto all his Miseries.

Before we proceed any farther, I shall desire the Reader to remark,

SECT. XLVI.

1. That in the Head of these booted and armed Apostles, besides their own Military Officers and Commanders, there marched the Intendants of every Province and District, together with the Bishops of the Diocese accompanied with a Troop of fiery Zealots, Missionaries, Monks, and other Romish Churchmen. The Intendants gave out such Orders as they conceived would most effectually promote and facilitate the conversion of the Heretics, and suppress natural Bowels and Pity, in case any such arise and move in the Dragoons or their Officers. The Prelates kept open House to receive Abjurations, and to have a strict and careful eye, that nothing might be done contrary to the Intentions of the Clergy.

2. When the Dragoons had made some to relent and yield by their inhumane Cruelties, they presently change their Quarters, and are sent to plague those of the Reformed who do yet persevere in their fidelity to Christ and the Gospel. So that often times these had at once all the Dragoons quartered upon them, which were before dispersed among all the Inhabitants of that place. This was a burden insupportable.

3. That in the most eminent Cities and Towns of the Province they were careful by the Intendants or some other means to procure some persons to change their Religion, before they sent their Troops thither, and these new Converts must be aiding and assisting in perverting others. So that when the Dragoons had done their part as effectually as they could, the Intendant, with the Bishops and the Military Commander do once again assemble these miserable Inhabitants totally ruined, and exhort them to obey the King, and become Catholics; adding, in case of obstinacy, most terrible Threats. And the new Converts never failed in this juncture to execute what they had promised, to entice and seduce them from the true Religion. This they could do the more successfully, because the Reformed had yet some kindness for, and confidence in them.

4. When the Master of a Family, thinking to get rid of the Dragoons, had obeyed and signed an Abjuration, yet, for all this, he was not freed from his Tormentors, unless that his Wife, Children, and the meanest of his Servants did not also follow his example. And if Wife, or Children, or any of his Domesticks escaped their hands, and fled for their Lives, they renewed their Persecutions upon him till such time as he had brought them back again; which being sometimes utterly impossible, their change of Religion did not in the lead benefit or avail them.

The Form of Abjuration imposed upon the Protestants when they turned Papists, and which they styled, The Mark of the Beast, I here offer to my Reader's perusal.

SECT. XLVII.

When these poor Wretches had signed this Abjuration, and hoped thereby to be at rest, they were far enough from it; for their Consciences flew in their Faces, and many of them were driven unto despair. Yet their Persecutors never ceased tormenting them; they must own and attest it before the World, that they embraced the Roman Religion freely, voluntarily, and of their own accord, and that no Violence was offered them to move or induce them to turn from the Reformed Religion. And if after this they scrupled to go to Mass, to communicate after the Popish way, to tell over their Chaplet of Beads, or if a Sigh escaped from them, indicating their Grief and Sorrow for their great Sin in forsaking the Truth, immediately there were great Fines laid upon them, and their old Guests the Dragoons are sent back again to beat up their quarters, and they must entertain afresh those old Guests, who had wearied them out of their Faith and Life.

I have by me a Letter from Mets, giving an account of the state of the poor Protestants upon their Abjuration; which may not be unacceptable to the Reader.

SECT. XLVIII.

Whilst the Dragoons do thus ravage and ruinate the Provinces, causing Terrors and Desolations where ever they come, Orders are dispatched to all the Frontier Countries and Sea-port Towns, strictly to guard the Passages, and to stop all persons who are departing the Kingdom. So that there was no hope lest of saving themselves by flight. None could pass unless he brought with him a Certificate from the Priest of his Parish, or the Bishop of the Diocese in which he lived, that he was a Roman Catholic. Others are put in Prison, and treated like Traitors to their King and Country. All Ships of Foreigners lying in the Ports and Havens of the Kingdom are diligently searched for Passengers; the Coasts, Bridges, Passages unto Rivers, and the Highways are all strictly guarded night and day; and the neighbouring States are imperiously required not to harbor anymore Fugitives, and to dismiss or send back again such as they had already received, and Attempts were also made to seize and carry away some who had escaped into foreign Countries.

I have lying by me a Letter from Geneva, giving a doleful Account of the poor Refugees, who had fled thither. Possibly the Reader will not be displeased at the reading of it.

SECT. XLIX.

Whilst all this was acting abroad, and other mischiefs done unto the Reformed at home; The French Court sat close in Consultation about giving the last blow at the Roots of the Religion in that Kingdom, and how, and in what manner to repeal the Edict of Nantes. Very much time was spent in drawing up the matter and form of this new Edict. Some in the Council would have the King detain all the Ministers, and compel them, as he had done the Laity, to change their Religion, or in case of stubbornness and refusal, he should condemn them to perpetual Imprisonment.

The reasons alleged for this were, that in case he did it not, they would be so many dangerous Enemies against him in Foreign Nations, and Trumpets of his Cruelty and Tyranny; others on the contrary affirmed, that as long as the Ministers continued in France, their presence would encourage the People to abide in their Religion, whatsoever care might be taken to hinder them; and that supposing they should change, they would be but so many secret Adversaries nourished in the bosom of the Romish Church, and the more dangerous because of their great knowledge and skill in controversial Matters. This last Argument prevailed. And thereupon they came to a final conclusion of banishing all the Ministers, and to give them no more than fifteen days time to depart the Kingdom.

The Edict is now given unto the Attorney-General of the Parliament of Paris, to draw it up in such a Form as he should judge most fitting. But before the publishing thereof, two things were thought necessary to be done. The first was, to oblige the Assembly of the Clergy to present by themselves unto the King a Petition about this Matter before mentioned; in which also they told his Majesty, that they desired not at present the Repealing of the Edict of Nantes. The second was, to suppress universally all Books made by those of the Reformed Religion, and that an Order should be issued out to that purpose. By the first of these the Clergy supposed they might shelter themselves from those Reproaches which would otherwise be flung upon them, for being the sole Authors of those many Miseries, Injustices, and Oppressions, which would infallibly be occasioned by the Repeal of that Edict. And by the other they designed to make the Conversions of the Heretics more easy and feasible, and to confirm those which had been already made. For Ministers and Books being all removed, they could not possibly be instructed, nor confirmed, nor reduced back again to their old Religion.

SECT. L.

In fine, this Edict, revoking and repealing the Edict of Nantes, was signed and published on Thursday, October the 8th, in the Year 1685. 'It is said the High Chancellor of France, Le Tellier, expressed an extreme joy when he put the Seal to it. But his joy was but as the crackling of Thorns under a Pot. It was the last act of his life. For no sooner did he return from Fountainbleau to his own House, but he fell sick, and died in a few days. 'It is certain, that the Policy of this old Man, rather than any Cruelty in his Nature, induced him in his declining Years to join himself unto the Persecutors of the Reformed.

This Revocatory Edict was registered in the Parliament of Paris, and immediately after in all other the Parliaments of this Kingdom.

This great Instrument of the ruin and desolation of the Reformed Religion, of all its Ministers and Professors in that Kingdom, was couched in these Terms.

SECT. LI. The King's Edict, forbidding all Public Exercise of the Pretended Reformed Religion in this Kingdom.

LEWES, by the Grace of God, King of France and Navarre, To all present and to come, Greeting. Whereas King Henry the Great, our Grandfather, of glorious Memory, having procured a Peace for his Subjects, after those great Losses they had sustained during the Civil and Foreign Wars, endeavored that it might not be disturbed upon the account of the Pretended Reformed Religion, as it had fallen out in the Reigns of the Kings his Predecessors, had therefore by his Edict, given at Nantes in the Month of April, in the Year one thousand five hundred and eighty eight, established such Measures as should be observed with reference to those of the said Religion, the Places in which they might exercise it, and ordained extraordinary Judges for the ministering of Justice to them, and finally, had provided also by special Articles whatsoever he conceived needful to maintain Tranquillity in his Kingdom, and to diminish that Aversion which had arisen between persons of the one and other Religion, that so he might be the better enabled to carry on his design of reuniting them unto the Church, who had been too easily estranged from it. And forasmuch as this Intention of the aforesaid King, our Grandfather, could not by reason of his sudden death be accomplished, and the Execution of the said Edict was also interrupted; during the Minority of the late King our most honored Lord and Father of glorious Memory, by reason of the new Enterprises of those of the Pretended Reformed Religion, so that occasion was taken to deprive them of divers Privileges which had been granted them by the said Edict. Nevertheless, the said King, our late Lord and Father, using his ordinary Clemency did yet vouchsafe them a new Edict at Nismes, in the Month of July one thousand six hundred and twenty nine, by means whereof Peace being again restored, the said late King, animated with the same Spirit and Zeal for Religion, as the King our Grandfather, had resolved to improve to the utmost this Peace, by endeavoring to bring his godly design into practice: but the Foreign Wars falling out a few Years after, in such a manner, that from the Year 1635. until the Truce concluded with the Princes of Europe in the Year 1684. the Kingdom having but little rest, it was scarce possible to do anything for the advancement of Religion, unless it were to diminish the numbers of the Churches belonging to those of the Pretended Reformed Religion, by interdicting such as had been built contrary to the Orders of the said Edict, and by suppression of the Mixt Chambers, which were erected only provisionally.

God having at last granted to our People the enjoyment of a perfect Peace, and we also not being occupied with those cares to protect them against our Enemies, and being able to improve this Truce, which we effected for this very end, that we might wholly apply ourselves to seek out such means whereby we might accomplish successfully the design of the said Kings our Father, and Grandfather, upon which also we entered as soon as we came unto the Crown, we now see, and, according to our Duty, thank God for it, that our Cares have at last obtained that end we had propounded to ourselves, inasmuch as the far greater and better part of our Subjects of the said Pretended Reformed Religion have embraced the Catholic. And inasmuch as hereby the Execution of the Edict of Nantes, and of whatsoever else hath been ordained in favor of the said Pretended Reformed Religion is become useless, we have judged, that we could do nothing better towards the total blotting out of the remembrance of those Troubles, Confusions and Mischiefs which the progress of that false Religion had caused in our Kingdom, and which occasioned that Edict, and several other Edicts and Declarations which had preceded it, or had been in consequence thereof Enacted, than totally to revoke the said Edict of Nantes, and the special Articles which in pursuance of it had been conceded, and whatsoever else had been done in favor of that said Religion.

I. We therefore make known, that for these Causes, and others thereunto us moving, and of our certain knowledge, full power, and Royal Authority, we have by this present perpetual and irrevocable Edict, suppressed and revoked, we do suppress and revoke the Edict of the King our said Grandfather, given at Nantes in the Month of April, one thousand five hundred eighty and two, in its whole extent, together with those special Articles ordained the second day of May following, and the Letters Patents expedited thereupon, and the Edict given at Nismes in the Month of July, one thousand six hundred and twenty nine, we declare them void, and as if they had never been, together with all Grants made as well by them, as by other Edicts, Declarations and Decrees, to those of the said Pretended Reformed Religion, of what kind soever they may be, which shall in like manner be reputed as if they had never been: And in consequence hereof we will, and 'tis our pleasure, that all the Temples of those of the said Religion, situated within our Kingdom, Countries, Lands and Lordships of our subjection shall be immediately demolished.

II. We forbid our said Subjects of the said Pretended Reformed Religion anymore to assemble themselves, for exercise of their said Religion, in any Place or Private House, under any pretence whatsoever, yea, and all real Exercises, or such as were in Lordships, although the said Exercises had been maintained by the Decrees of our Council.

III. In like manner we forbid all Lord's of every degree the Exercise of their Religion in their Houses and Manors, whatsoever may be the Quality of their said Manors, and that upon pain of Confiscation of Bodies and Goods for those of our said Subjects, who shall so exercise their said Religion.

IV. We command all Ministers of the Pretended Reformed, who will not turn from it and embrace the Catholic Apostolic and Roman Religion, to depart our Kingdom and the Lands of our Dominion, within a Fortnight after the publication of this our present Edict, and not to tarry beyond that time, or during that said Fortnight to Preach, Exhort, or perform any Function of their Ministry, upon pain of being sent to the Gallies.

V. Our will is, that such of the said Ministers, who shall change their Religion, shall, during their whole life, continually enjoy, and their Widows also after them, as long as they remain unmarried, the same Exemption from Taxes and Lodging of Soldiers, which they enjoyed during the time of their Ministry; and farther, we will pay also unto the said Ministers, as long as they live, a Stipend, which shall exceed by one third the Wages they received for their Ministry, and their Wives also, as long as they abide Widows, shall enjoy the one half of their said Stipend.

VI. If any of the said Ministers desire to become Advocates, or would proceed Doctors of the Laws, 'tis our will, and we declare it, That they shall be dispensed as to three Years studying, prescribed by our Declarations, and having undergone the usual Examination, and thereby judged capable, that they be promoted Doctors, paying one half only of those Fees, customarily paid to this purpose in every University.

VII. We forbid all Private Schools for the Instruction of the Children of those of the said Pretended Reformed Religion, and generally all other things whatsoever, that may bear the sign of Privilege or Favor to that said Religion.

VIII. And touching the Children that shall be born of those of the said Pretended Reformed Religion. Our Will is, that for time to come they be baptized by the Curates of their Parishes. Commanding their Fathers and Mothers for that purpose to send them to their Churches, on penalty of being fined five hundred Livers, or a greater sum; and those Children shall henceforth be brought up in the Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman Religion: And we most strictly Command all the Judges of those respective places to see that this be Executed.

IX. And that we may express our Clemency towards those our Subjects of the said Pretended Reformed Religion, who are withdrawn from out of our Kingdom, Countries, and Lands of our Dominion before Publication of this our present Edict, we will and give them to understand, that in case they return within the space of four Months, from the day of its Publication, they may, and it shall be lawful for them to enter into the possession of their Estates, and to enjoy them even as they might have done, if they had been always at home; whereas contrarily, such as within that time of four Months shall not return into our Kingdom, or Countries, or Lands of our Dominion, their Estates abandoned by them shall be and remain Confiscated, according to our Declarations of the twentieth day of August last past.

X. And we do most straitly again repeat our Prohibitions unto all our Subjects of the said Pretended Reformed Religion, that neither they, nor their Wives nor Children do depart our said Kingdom, Countries, or Lands of our Dominion, nor transport their Goods and Effects, on pain, for Men so offending, of their being sent to the Gallies, and of Confiscation of Bodies and Goods for the Women.

XI. We will and give them to know, that all Declarations published against the Relapst, shall be Executed according to their form and tenor.

XII. And furthermore, Those of the said Pretended Reformed Religion, till such time as it shall please God to illuminate them as others have been, may abide in the Towns and Places of our Kingdom, Countries, and Lands of our Dominion, and continue their Traffick, and enjoy their Goods, without being troubled or hindered, because of the said Pretended Reformed Religion, Provided as before, That they do not exercise it, nor assemble themselves on pretence of Prayers, or of any manner of worship, according to that said Religion, on the Penalties beforementioned, of Confiscation of Bodies and Goods. We Command all our Trusty and Well-beloved Counselors in our Court of Parliament, of Accounts, and Court of Aids at Paris, Bailiffs, Seneschalls, Provosts, and other our Justices and Officers to whom it shall belong, and to their Deputies, that they cause this present Edict to be read, published, and registered in their Courts, and Jurisdictions, yea, and in Vacations, and to entertain it, and cause it to be entertained, kept and observed in every particular, without swerving, and that in no manner of wise they permit the least swerving from it. For such is our Will and Pleasure. And that this may be forever firm and stable, we have caused these Presents to be Sealed with our Seal.

SECT. LII.

The same day that this Edict was Registred, which was the 23d of October, they began to throw down the Temple of Charenton, and at the same time little notes were dispersed abroad to the heads of Families, for their Appearance before Mr. Attorney-General, to give in their Answer, whether in three days they would embrace the Roman Catholic Religion or not.

The Eldest Minister of this Church was Commanded to leave Paris in four and twenty hours, and immediately to depart the Kingdom, (this was that excellent Man of God, Monsieur Claude, who afterward died at the Hague. Of whom I shall say more in my Icones. ) One of the Kings Footmen was ordered to see him safe out of the Kings Dominions. His Collegues met with a little better treatment, for they had forty eight hours given them to quit Paris, and upon their parole for so doing, they were left to shift for themselves. Accordingly Monsieur Maynard, Allix, and Bertau, come for England, and are here exercising their Ministry.

The rest of the Ministers were allowed fifteen days for their departure: but it can hardly be believed to what Cruelties and Vexations they were exposed. They were not permitted to dispose of their Estates, nor to carry away any of their moveables, or effects; yea, they disputed them their very Books, and private Papers, upon this pretence, that they must prove and justify their Books and Papers did not belong to their Consistories. A task impossible, for there were no Consistories then in being. Moreover they would not give them leave to take along with them, either Father or Mother, Brother or Sister, or any of their Relations or Kindred, though they were many of them infirm, diseased, and impoverished, and could not in any wise subsist without their help. Yea, and they went so far as to deny them their own Children, if they were above seven years old, yea, and some that were under that age, and were as yet hanging upon their Mothers Breasts. They refused them Nurses for their new-born Infants, although their own Mothers could not suckle them. In some Frontier places they stopped and imprisoned them upon trifling and ridiculous pretences. They must immediately prove, that they were really the same Persons which their Certificates mentioned. And they would know, whether there were no Criminal Process or Informations out against them. They must presently justify, that they carried away nothing with them that belonged unto any one of their respective Churches. Sometimes having thus amused and detained them, they would tell them, the space of fifteen days, allotted them by the Edict for their Departure, was now expired, and that therefore they should have no liberty to leave the Kingdom, but must be sent unto the Gallies. There was hardly any kind of deceit, and injustice and troubles, in which these worthy Ministers of Christ were not involved. And yet through rich mercy, very few revolted, the far greatest number of them escaped, either into England, Holland, Germany, or Switzerland; yea, and some are now settled in New-England.

SECT. LIII.

As for the residue of the Protestants, whom the Violence of Persecution, and the Cruel Usages they endured, had necessitated to abandon their Estates, Families, Relations, and native Country, it is hardly to be imagined to what dangers they were exposed. Never were Orders more rigorous and severe, nor more strictly Executed than those which were given out against them. They doubled the Guards at every Post, in all Cities, Towns, Highways, Fords and Ferries. They covered the Country with Soldiers, they armed the very Peasants, that they might stop the Reformed in their Travel, or kill them upon the spot. They forbad all Officers of the Customs to suffer any Goods, Moveables, Merchandises, or other Effects of theirs to pass out of the Kingdom. They forgot nothing that might hinder the flight of these poor Persecuted Creatures; insomuch, that they interrupted all Commerce with the Neighbouring Nations. By this means they quickly filled all the Prisons in the Kingdom. For the terror of the Dragoons, the horror of seeing their Consciences forced, and their Children to be taken away from them, and to be Educated in Anti-Christian Superstition, and damnable Idolatry, and of living for the future in a Land where there was neither Justice nor Humanity for them, obliged everyone to think with himself, and consult with others in whom they could confide, how to get out of France, and so they could but escape without polluting their Consciences, many thousands of them were ready to, and did actually leave their Worldly All behind them. As for the poor Prisoners, they have been since treated with unheard of Barbarities, shut up in Dungeons, loaden with Iron Chains, almost starved with Hunger, and deprived of all Converse, but that of their inhumane Persecutors. Many were thrust into their Monasteries, where they were most cruelly disciplined. A Lady of eminent Quality gave this Relator this Account, That when they had seized all her Estate, clapt her up in Prison, Arraign'd and Condemn'd her to Death for Murdering five of her Children (because she had conveyed them away that they might not be trained up in Popery) they took her two youngest, one of five, and the other of two years, and put them into Nunneries. They could never get that of five to kiss a Crucifix, or bow to their breaden God, though they kept her from meat and drink eight and forty hours, and having scourged the poor young Heretic unmercifully, they returned her, with her young Sister, whom they had also tormented with Famine and Whipping, to the poor Mother, in whose Arms one of these Innocent Lambs died a few hours after.

That very day the Edict was published, the Attorney-General and some other Magistrates send for the Protestant Heads of Families (who lived in Paris ) to appear before them: and when they came, they declared to them, That it was the King's absolute Will and Pleasure, that they should change their Religion; that they were no better than the rest of his Subjects; and that if they would not do it willingly, his Majesty was resolved to compel them to it.

At the same time, by Letters under the Privy-Seal, they banished all the Elders of that Consistory, together with some others, in whom they found more constancy and resolution; and they dispersed them into those places which were remotest from all Commerce and Business, and have since used them with unparalleled Cruelties.

When as the diligence of Mr. Attorney-General, and the City Magistrates succeeded not answerably to their desires and expectations, Monsieur Seignelay, Secretary of State, would try what influence he had in his division at Paris. Wherefore he gets together about an hundred or sixscore Merchants with some others, unto his House, and having shut the doors, he forthwith presents them a Form of Abjuration, commanding them in the King's Name to sign it; declaring, that they should not stir out of the doors till they had yielded a full obedience. The Contents of this Form were, That they did not only renounce the Heresy of Calvin, and enter into the Catholic Church, but also, that they did it voluntarily, without any force or compulsion. This was done after a most imperious manner, and with the tone of authority: Yet notwithstanding some had the courage to speak, though' they were soon cut short with this reply, They were not called to dispute, but to obey. So that they all signed before they went out.

SECT. LIV.

With some of the Ministers they dealt very treacherously, fawning upon them with kind words and counterfeit civilities, wheedling them into a good opinion of those respects and loves they never had nor intended for them. This proved a great and dangerous Snare to two worthy Ministers, among others, as will appear from this following Letter, written to an eminent French Minister in London, from Paris, October 19. 1685.

WE, whose Names are here-under written, being fully persuaded, that among Christians there cannot be a greater mischief than to be divided one from another, especially when as the providence of God has made us all Subjects to our King, who is the most glorious Monarch in the whole World, and being immeasurably grieved, that we are bound to depart his Kingdom, and to subject ourselves unto the authority of strangers, whom we can never own for our Sovereign Lawful Princes, Do declare, That from this very day we can promise my Lord, the Bishop of Meaux, that we will subject ourselves to the Sermons and Even-Songs used in the Catholic Church, thereby giving a sensible demonstration of our Union with the Archbishops, Bishops and Curates of France; We also entreat, That we may be absolutely believed to be in the same Sentiments with the Higher Powers, who, in conformity to the Liberties of the Gallican Church, gave in divers Articles (as our Historians relate) to my Lord Cardinal de Joyeuse, concerning the Council of Trent; and until such time as they may be established by the King's Authority, and signed by the most Reverend Clergy of France, in the sense of the second Article of the last Edict, verified in Parliament the 22d of this instant October, we most humbly beseech his Majesty to grant us the liberty of abiding within his Kingdom, in quality of poor private persons, we calling God to witness, by our Oaths, That we will do nothing against his Majesty's Declarations, but contrariwise, we shall endeavor by our example to keep the People within those bounds of Fidelity and Obedience, which we all owe unto the King and our Superiors.

I suppose those Articles were the same, which had been demanded by the Cardinal of Lorraine, and the other French Ambassadors in the Council of Trent, as they be mentioned by De Mezeray, in his 3d Tome, p. 1470. viz.

SECT. LV.

Now the Ministers have left the Kingdom, and vast multitudes of their People steal away after them as well as they can. But the King and Haman, the French King and his Cabal sit down and drink, whilst that Paris, as Shushan of old, and all other places, in which the Reformed remain, are in great perplexities. In every Province, whithersoever the King's Commandment and his Decree came, there was great Mourning among the Protestants, Fasting, Weeping, and Wailing, and many lay in Sackcloth and Ashes.

Yet among the Sighs and Groans or God's poor Saints, who mourn for the Desolations of Zion, the Ruines of their Temples and Sanctuary, the loss and reproach of their Solemn Assemblies, the Prophanations of their Holy Sabbaths, their deprival of Religious Ordinances, the banishment of their Pastors, the dissipations of their Churches, and the total extirpation of the pure Evangelical Religion, and cannot be comforted; the Popish Clergy, the Monks and Jesuits have their Jubilees and Triumphs; and the Pope sends, a Letter to the King, congratulating him for his Zeal against the Heretics in his Kingdom, and for repealing the Edict of Nantes. It spake this Language.

SECT. LVI.

Whilst the Ministers are in exile, their Eyes and Hearts are towards France. There is many a Loadstone that draws their Affections thitherward. They left behind them many dear Relations, many Christian Friends under great Temptations, and very sore Trials. And though' they cannot visit them in person, and converse with them mouth to mouth for their edification and mutual comfort, yet they do it by Ink and Paper. Many Pastoral Letters have been transmitted: But, if I am not mistaken, this was either the first, or one of the first which was written, though' a multitude of them have since followed.

SECT. LVII.

I have done with my Preface, adding, Courteous Reader, but one Advertisement about my Manuscript Copies, out of which I have extracted and compiled my Synodicon.

It is more than twenty Years ago that I met with some Collections out of the Manuscript Acts of these National Synods. That great Learning, deep Wisdom, and sound Godliness I observed in them, inflamed my desires and affections after the Originals. Accordingly, when as the Ministers were banished France, and about 150 of them came unto London, I made it my business to learn of them some News of these Acts. But I may speak it truly, that the far greater part of these Reverend Confessors did with much regret inform me, that they feared they were lost irrecoverably. For the first thing the Intendants did, when they visited their Churches, was to seize upon all Papers, Writings, Acts, Deeds, Books, and whatsoever belonged unto their Consistories, Colloquies, and Synods; yea, and this they did also unto particular Ministers; thus robbing them of their well-furnished Libraries, and of all their Manuscripts. I mingled my Griefs with theirs for this Peculate. But yet did not give over my search. No sooner did I hear of any new Minister arrived, but I insinuated myself into his Acquaintance, and renewed my Inquiry, though' frequently to my sore dissatisfaction. And having given over all hopes of ever seeing this Jewel, one day, about two years and a half since, as I was in company with about six or seven of these worthy and reverend Refugees, bemoaning the great loss their Churches had sustained in this cruel Persecution, and particularly in the loss of those Acts of their famous National Synods, A Minister, who was a mere stranger to me, and whom I had never seen before, being but then newly arrived, told me he could give me some intelligence of them, and demanding my Name and House, he did the next day honor me with a visit, and presented me with what I had longed for many Years so ardently, and sought for far and near exceeding diligently. This Copy was very large, and contained near a Ream of Paper, tolerably well written; yet it had suffered by the wet in some places, and Letters and some Sentences were defaced, so that I have been five hours together to spell out the sense of five lines; which I am confident I have hit upon at last: being exceeding careful not to corrupt or pervert the sense of these venerable Councils. The Grandfather of this worthy Minister had been deputed once and again by his Province as their Representative unto their National Synods, and his godly Father had took the care to examine and collation this Copy by and with several other Copies; and this Copy was attested by several of the Deputies unto several of these National Synods, as by Mr. Quinson, Mr. Launay, Mr. Blondell, Mr. Grauvier, Mr. Bollenat, Mr. de Bordage, Mr. de la Musse, Mr. Bernard the Bailiff of Chastillion upon the Loign, and Mr. Guillemot. So that I reckon it is as good as an Original.

When I had proceeded in my Work as far as the Synod of Alez, I was at a great loss for one Act, which was quoted in my Copy, and must of necessity be inserted to make the sense perfect, and to prevent a sad chasm; this put me upon a new Inquiry. The Book to which I was refer'd was rare, it could not be easily got in London, though' I had consulted some scores of Booksellers, nor in the Bodleian Library. Whilst I was again regretting my loss, one of the Ministers of the ancient French Church of London tells me they had in their Consistory a Manuscript Copy of the National Synods, and accordingly giveth me the sight of five Folios, four very fairly written, well bound in Vellom, but wretchedly spell'd, and ill pointed; these four were a complete Body of these Acts, and had some more Acts than my first Copy, and yet wanted a great many more which were in mine. The fifth was only an imperfect Copy of the twenty first Synods. I borrowed these five Manuscripts of that Consistory, and compared them with my first, and supplied my defects out of them, though' it put me upon a new travail. But my labor was a pleasure to me.

When I had proceeded as far as the Synod of Alanson, and so had but two more to finish, that reverend and ancient Minister of Christ, Monsieur Misson, who had been Pastor of the Church of Niort, sends unto me another Manuscript in Folio fairly written, (though' impaired much by the Rain, or Salt Water) of the Acts of these Synods. But it was imperfect, ending at the first Synod of Charenton, so that it contained only the History of the twenty four first National Synods. However, this I examined and compared with my first and best Copy, and found that in the order of the Acts it did harmoniously agree with it, though' it fell wonderfully short in the materials, as being exceeding defective and lame in number, quantity, and quality of the Acts, and I found it exactly to agree with that fifth Volume, which contained the twenty first Synods. So that I had no help nor assistance by it, but only satisfaction to my Curiosity, and labor for my pains.

About the same time my Honoured Friend Monsieur Baignoux, Pastor of the Church of Poitiers, sends me two Originals, one of the second National Synod of Charenton, Anno 1631. the other of the Synod of Alanson, 1637. And that ancient and learned Minister of St. Quentin, Monsieur Meslayer, I think the same Week brought me a very fair Manuscript exactly agreeing with my two best Copies of the last National Synod of Loudun. These were the principal materials out of which I have composed my Synodicon.

One thing I observed, that these Copies did differ much in the order and placing of their Acts. This hath much perplexed me, especially when I revised what I had done, and compared it with the other Copies. But I have lest out nothing.

I have been extremely puzzled to adjust their Accompts. It hath been the most laborious toil to me. But I found by comparing one Copy with another, that I was rolling Sisyphus 's his Stone, for the difficulties always occurred, and the differences and disagreements among my Manuscripts, through the negligence of the Transcribers, were implacable and irreconcilable; whereupon I even left them as I found them, lamenting my expense of time to so little, indeed to no purpose at all. The National Synods may not be blamed for this. For nothing was more accurate and exact, nothing more regular and orderly than their Synodical Acts. But, as I said, the Copyists, were guilty of a most supine negligence.

I have observed a most strict and Cordial Union between the French and Dutch Churches, in Faith and Discipline: this was first signed in the first National Synod of Vitre. See Canons the 1, 2, 3, 4. And they sent their Deputies reciprocally to their National Synods for some time. And when as Monsieur Chamier, Du Moulin, Chauve, and Rivet, were on their way to the Synod of Dort, in the year 1618. they were frighted back again by a Prohibition issued out against them by the King then Reigning, Louis XIII.

These National Synods paid a very great deference unto the Church, Pastors and Professors of Geneva, and embraced their Councils. See that Letter which they sent unto the National Synod of Tonneins, which was most kindly accepted, and all their advice practiced.

The first Appeal that was ever brought before them was by the Prince of Condé, a Prince of the Blood, and of a very great and haughty Spirit, but not above that grave Assembly of St. Foy. See Synod of St. Foy. Appeal the first.

When I had finished my Work, and delivered it into the Booksellers hands, who undertook the Printing of it, They earnestly desired me, for the ease and benefit of the Readers, to divide it into Chapters, and to prefix the Contents of each Synod to it. This was a new trouble created to me by my two Friends; but to satisfy their importunity, I have divided it accordingly, and I hope it may answer, in some measure, your expectation.

The Fathers in these Councils were not willing that the body of their National Synodical Acts should be published; see the Synod of St. Maixant, Particular Matters, 26. And when as Monsieur Piotet had collected them into due order, yet they cared not to have them divulged. The time was not come as then, but now it is. I have detained thee, good Reader, too long in the Porch: the Door is now open, and both Leaves are unfolded, you may go in and read them, there is none to hinder you.

SECT. LVIII.

There were nine and twenty National Synods celebrated by these Churches within the space of one hundred Years; they met in this order, and at the times and places mentioned in this ensuing Catalogue.

• 1. At Paris, May 25. 1559.
• 2. At Poitiers, March 20. 1560.
• 3. At Orleans, April 25. 1562.
• 4. At Lions, Aug. 10. 1563.
• 5. The 2d at Paris, Octob. 21. 1565.
• 6. At Vertuil, September. 1. 1567.
• 7. At Rochelle, April 2. 1571.
• 8. At Nismes, May 8. 1572.
• 9. At St. Foy, Feb. 2. 1578.
• 10. At Figeac, Aug. 2. 1579.
• 11. The 2d at Rochelle, June 28. 1581.
• 12. At Vitre, May 26. 1583.
• 13. At Montauban, June 15. 1594.
• 14. At Saumur, May 13. 1596.
• 15. At Montpellier, May 26. 1598.
• 16. At Gergeau, May 9. 1601.
• 17. At Gap, May 18. 1603.
• 18. The 3d of Rochelle, March 1. 1607.
• 19. At St. Maixant, May 26. 1609.
• 20. At Privas, May 23. 1612.
• 21. At Tonneins, May 2. 1614.
• 22. The 2d of Vitre, May 18. 1617.
• 23. At Alez, Octob. 1. 1620.
• 24. At Charenton, September. 1. 1623.
• 25. At Castres, September. 15. 1626.
• 26. The 2d of Charenton, 1631.
• 27. At Alanson, May 27. 1637.
• 28. The 3d of Charenton, 1654.
• 29. At Loudun, Novemb. 10. 1659.

The next National Synod was appointed to be held in the City of Nismes; but when that will be, Peloni Palmoni, the wonderful Numberer, can only and most certainly inform us.

CHAP. I.

FRancis de Morell, otherwise called De Callonges, presided, and there assisted at it, on behalf of the Reformed Churches of France, the Pastors of Diep, and St. Lo in Normandy, of Paris, of Angiers, of Orleans, of Tours, of Chastelherand, of Poitiers, of Xaintes, of St. John d' Angeli, and Marennes.

CHAP. II. The First CANON.

I. NO Church, nor Church-Officer, be he Minister, Elder, or Deacon, shall Claim or Exercise any Jurisdiction, or Authority over another.

II. A Moderator shall be chosen by general Consent in every Synod, who shall give Notice of the Days and Places of Meeting, and of the Sessions of the Synod: And he shall gather the Suffrages, and declare which is the greater Number, and pronounce the Synodical Decisions. Moreover, he shall see that Order be observed in Speaking, without confusion, and impose Silence on such as are eager and contentious; and in case of Disobedience, he shall cause them to withdraw, that Advice may be taken how to Censure them. Moreover, he shall preside at the Censure of every Person, and make the Remonstrances. As also to give Answers in case of Counsel demanded; or unto Letters sent unto the Synod, yet therein always observing the Advice of the Assembly; And he himself also shall be subject unto Censures. The Office of the Moderator shall expire with the Synod; and the next Synod is at liberty to choose him, or any other.

III. Ministers that are sent unto the National Synod, may bring with them one or two Elders or Deacons, but not more; and those chosen by the Body of their Consistory, who also shall have their Votes in the Synod. As for the Elders and Deacons of that Church where the Synod shall be assembled, they may be present also, and speak in their Order; yet to avoid confusion, two of them only shall have Power of Voting in it. And no Person shall depart from the Assembly, without leave first had, and obtained.

IV. National Synods shall meet according to the Necessities of the Churches, and in them there shall be an amicable and brotherly Censure of all its Members; and at the closing up of the Synod, the Lord's Supper shall be celebrated, to testify their Union, not only by the Ministers and Elders of the Synod, but in general with that whole Church.

V. The Ministers, with one Elder and Deacon at the least, from every Church in all the Provinces of this Kingdom, shall meet together once a Year, and choose such a Time and Place, as shall be most convenient for their Synodical Assembly.

VI. No Minister for the present shall be chosen by one only Minister, or by his Consistory, but by two or three Ministers and their Consistories, or by the Provincial Synod, or by the Colloquy, which in those Places (where they be already established) shall be, if possible, called together for this purpose. And the Elect-Minister shall be presented unto the People for their Approbation: but in case there be opposition, the Consistory shall judge thereof; and if neither part do consent, the whole shall be Reported to the Provincial Synod, which shall take Cognisance thereof, as well for Justifying of the Minister, as for his Reception; provided the major part of the Consistory and People do consent thereunto.

VII. Ministers shall not be sent from the Churches without Authentic Letters, or some other sufficient Testimonials from those Places whence they come; and if having no such Commission, they should offer themselves to be Received, they shall not be Admitted, unless their Conversation be fully known, and upon what Account they have quitted their Church. And in case of opposition, they shall be dealt with as was before determined.

VIII. The Deputies Elect shall subscribe our Confession of Faith, both in their own Churches in which they were chosen, as in those also from which they be sent, and their Election shall be confirmed by Prayers and Imposition of Hands by the Ministers; yet without Superstition, or Opinion of Necessity.

IX. Such as shall intrude themselves into the Ministry, in those Places where the Ministry of the Word of God is already established, shall be sufficiently admonished to forbear; and in case of their persistency, they shall be declared Schismatics; and the same Admonition shall be given unto their Followers, who also abiding contumacious and obstinate, shall be denounced Schismatics.

X. If A People, not having the Ministry of the Word of GOD fixed and settled among them, should choose unto themselves a Pastor: The Neighbor-Church shall amicably and earnestly entreat him to confer with them, and exhort him to subscribe the Confession of Faith, and Church-Discipline established among us: And in case of refusing such Subscription, three or four Ministers of the next Churches shall assemble together with their Elders, and shall then declare him a Schismatic, and the People shall be advised to avoid such a Person. But in case of Non-conforming to our Discipline, he may not be declared Schismatic, until such time as the Provincial Synod shall have ordained some other course to be taken with him.

XI. The Minister of one Church may not preach in another without the consent of its Pastor; but in his absence the Consistory may give Leave and Authority unto that Stranger. And in case the Flock be scattered by Persecution, or any other Trouble, he shall endeavor to assemble the Elders and Deacons; but if that cannot be effected, he may notwithstanding Preach for the Re-uniting of the Flock.

XII. He that being called to the Holy Ministry, and hath once accepted of that Call, shall betake himself wholly to this Employment: but in case he should afterwards change his mind, and refuse it, he shall be solicited by fitting Exhortations, to embrace it: but he may not by any other means be enforced thereunto.

XIII. Ministers that cannot discharge their Office in those Places whereunto they have been appointed, if being sent elsewhere, by the Advice of their Churches they do refuse it, they shall then declare the Causes of such their refusal unto the Consistory, who shall judge whether they may be admitted; and if they may not be, and they still persist in their not accepting the said Employment, the Provincial Synod shall determine of it.

XIV. Whoso intrudes himself into the Ministry of the Gospel, although he may be approved by the People, yet shall he not be approved by the Neighbor-Ministers, nor others, in case another Church excepts against him: Wherefore e're they proceed farther, the Provincial Synod shall be assembled, as soon as conveniently it may, for to determine about it. And in case that Synod cannot be called, if there be a Colloquy of six Ministers at the least established there, the said Colloquy shall have Power to take Cognizance of this matter.

XV. Such as are once chosen unto the Ministry of the Word must know, that their Call is during Life. And as for those who were sent for a certain time, and to whom for some special Reasons we gave admittance, it is advised, That the Church in which they are do make provision of a fixed Minister, that so the others may intend their own Affairs. But if the Churches cannot provide a Pastor for this Flock, these shall not be permitted to abandon the Church for which Jesus Christ died.

XVI. If a Minister be personally persecuted, so that he cannot without great danger unto himself discharge his Office in the Church whereunto he was ordained, he may exchange for a time with another Church, and this with Advice and Consent of both Churches. And in case of the Minister's Disobedie • ce to the Judgment of their Churches, the Cause shall be refer'd unto the next Provincial Synod. There may be other Causes of changing, which shall be proposed and judged in the Provincial Synod.

XVII. No Pastor shall quit his Flock without leave first had and obtained from his Consistory, and the Neighbor-Churches also shall approve the cause of his departure. Yet on such occasions it will be fitting to admonish Churches to relieve their Pastors, and to minister unto their Necessities. And if necessary Relief be refused them, when they have been advised to it, in this case it shall be lawful for the Minister to engage himself unto some other Church.

XVIII. Novices received of late into the Church, especially Monks and Priests, shall not be chosen unto the Ministry, without a long and diligent enquiry into, and approbation had of their Lives and Doctrine.

XIX. Forasmuch as it is not lawful nor expedient to hear the Sermons of Popish Preachers, or of others introduced without a lawful Call, in those Places where the Ministry of the Word is established. Therefore the true Pastors are obliged as much as in them lieth, to hinder their Flocks from going to them.

XX. Ministers teaching Evil Doctrine, and not desisting upon sufficient Admonition; and such as are disobedient to the Holy Orders and Counsels of God's Word, given them by their Consistory; as also they who lead a scandalous Life, deserving Punishment by the Magistrates, or Excommunication; and they who are totally insufficient for their Office, shall be deposed: But those who be rendered uncapable by Age, Sickness, or any other Affliction, or hindered by the Providence of God from the Exercise of their Ministry, shall not; yea, their double Honor shall be continued to them, and the Churches are required to maintain them, and to provide another Minister to execute their Office.

XXI. Scandalous Crimes punishable by the Judges, as Murder, Sodomy, and High-Treason, or any other Sins, which would redound to the great Dishonor and Scandal of the Church, although they had been committed not only before his Call unto the Ministry, but even in the time of his Ignorance, merit the Deposing of such a Minister. As for other Sins less scandalous, the Judgment of them is left to the Prudence of the Provincial Synod.

XXII. A Minister Convict of enormous and notorious Crimes, shall be immediately deposed by the Consistory, two or three Pastors of unstained Reputation being called into Counsel with them. And in case the Delinquent Minister complain against his Accuser, and of the Calumny laid upon him, the whole Matter of Fact shall be reported to the Provincial Synod.

If he has taught any Heresy or False Doctrine, he shall be out of hand suspended by the Consistory, two or three Ministers, as before, being called in, until such time as the Provincial Synod shall have Decreed about it. The Causes of Deposing, unless necessity so require, of which the Consistory shall judge, may not be published unto the People.

XXIII. The Elders and Deacons are the Counsel of the Church, in which the Ministers of the Word ought to preside. The Office of Elders is to assemble the People, to make Report of Scandals unto the Consistory, and such other like Matters, according as in every Church it is couched in Writing, together with the proper Customs of those Places and Times. Yet is not their Office for Life.

XXIV. The Deacon's Office, as now used by us, is not perpetual; yet this belongs unto them, to Collect the Moneys for the Poor, the Prisoners, and the Sick, and by the Advice of the Consistory to distribute those collected Charities among them; to Visit them, and in their respective Houses to Catechize them; and in case any Deacon shall be found fit, and he promise to devote and consecrate himself during Life unto the Service of God in the Ministry, he may be chosen by the Ministry and Consistory to Catechize publicly, according to the Form received in our Churches; and this in order to their Trial, without permitting them to administer the Sacraments.

XXV. The Office of Elders and Deacons is not to Catechize publicly, nor is their Office perpetual: However, neither the one nor the other, shall quit it without leave first obtained from the Church. In the Minister's absence, or sickness, or in any other necessity of the Church, the Deacon may read Prayers, and the Holy Scriptures, but he shall not take upon him the Office of Preaching.

XXVI. In those Places in which Church-Order is not yet established, both Elders and Deacons shall be chosen by the common Suffrage of Pastor and People; but where Discipline is already constituted, it shall be done by the Minister and Church-Council, who shall give them their Charge, and they shall subscribe the Confession of Faith professed and avowed by us, then they shall be presented unto the People; and in case any one should oppose their Election, it shall be debated and determined in the Consistory; but if they cannot agree, it shall be refer'd unto the Provincial Synod.

XXVII. The Deacons and Elders shall be deposed for those very self-same Reasons, that the Ministers of the Word were, according to their quality; and if being condemned by their Consistory, they should make their Appeal, they shall be suspended, until such time as the Provincial Synod shall have ordained otherwise.

XXVIII. Ministers, nor any Other Members of the Church, may not Print their own, or others Works concerning Religion, nor in any wise Publish them, till they have first communicated them unto two, or more, of the Gospel, of unspotted Reputation.

XXIX. Heretics, Contentious Persons, Despisers of God, Rebels against the Consistory, Traitors to the Church, such as be impeached and convicted of Crimes worthy of Corporal Punishment, such as scandalize the whole Church, shall be utterly excommunicated and cut off, not only from the Sacrament, but from all Communion with the whole Church. And as for Delinquents suspended from the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and guilty of other Vices, it is left to the Church's prudence, whether they shall be admitted to hear the Word preached or no.

XXX. Such as are Excommunicate for Heresy, Contempt of God, Schism, Treason and Rebellion against the Church, or other grievous Offences, scandalous to the whole Church, shall be denounced Excommunicate Persons before the People, together with the Causes of their Excommunication. And as for those who were Excommunicate for lesser Offences, it's left to the Church's Prudence, to consider whether they shall be published by Name unto the Congregation or not. And this Order shall hold, till it be otherwise determined in a National Synod.

XXXI. These having been Excommunicated, shall address themselves unto their Consistory, for Re-admission into Church-Fellowship; who shall judge of their Repentance. And if they have been publicly Excommunicate, they shall testify their Repentance publicly; but if they have not been publicly Excommunicate, they shall only in private, before the Consistory, express their Repentance.

XXXII. Such as through force of Persecution have abjured the Gospel, shall not be received into the Church, till such time as they have expressed their Repentance publicly before all the People.

XXXIII. Public Prayers, and extraordinary Fastings, yet without any scruple or superstition, shall be enjoined in times of severe Persecution, of War, Pestilence, Famine, and other grievous Affliction; as also, whenas a Minister is to be chosen, or a National Synod to be convened.

XXXIV. Marriages shall be propounded unto the Consistory, in which the Contract of Marriage shall be produced, signed by the Public Notary, or proved by some other sufficient Attestation, in such places where there is not a Notary: Or if the Persons will not produce their Contracts, they shall however bring a sufficient Attestation under the Notary's hand, or some other way; and a Fortnight after the Banes shall be published on three Lord's Days following, in those Places where the Word is ordinarily preached, and in other Places where is Exhortation and Public Prayers, provided that this Publication be continued a full Fortnight; and then the Marriage may be solemnized in the Church. This Order shall not be infringed, unless there be very great Causes for it: whereof the Consistory shall take Cognisance.

XXXV. Both Marriages and Baptisms shall be Registred, and the Register preserved carefully by the Church, together with the Names of the Fathers and Mothers, and Sureties for the baptized Infants.

XXXVI. The Faithful may not contract Marriage within the prohibited Degrees of Affinity and Consanguinity, and the Church is to take heed that all scandal in this particular be avoided.

XXXVII. The Faithful whose Yoke-fellows are convict of Adultery, shall be advised to reconcile themselves with them; but in case of refusal, that liberty they have by the Word of God shall be declared to them. However, none of the Churches shall dissolve the Marriage, least they should intrench upon the Authority of the Civil Magistrate.

XXXVIII. No Person may contract Marriage without the Consent of Parents. But in case Parents should be so unreasonable, as to refuse their Consent to such an holy and needful Ordinance, the Consistory shall advise what is to be done herein.

XXXIX. Promises of Marriage once made, cannot be dissolved, no not by mutual consent of the Parties, who have past those Promises each to other: And the Consistory of that Church where these Persons are Members, shall judge of the lawfulness of those Promises.

XL. No Church shall undertake any Matter of great consequence, wherein the Interest or Damage of other Churches is of right to be comprised, without consulting the Provincial Synod, if it may be conveniently assembled. But if the business be urgent, they shall communicate it to other Churches of the Province, and obtain, at least by Letters, their Advice and Consent.

XLI. These present Articles of Discipline are not so ordained by us, but that if the Churches Profit do require, they may be changed. But it shall not be in the Power of any one particular Church to change them, without having first Advised with, and got the Consent of a National Synod.

CHAP. III. Particular Matters Propounded and Decided in the aforesaid National Synod held in PARIS.

1. AS to that Case of Conscience propounded by the Minister of Diep, it was answered, That such as had Licenses from Popish Vicars or Curates to Marry where they pleased, should not be married in the Church of God, unless they do confess this their Offence before the Congregation wherein they be married: And the Minister of the Gospel shall be instant with them to evidence their Repentance by Tearing of the License. But whether the Tearing of it in pieces be done in the Church or Consistory, that is left unto the Church's Prudence, where this Matter may fall out.

II. As to the Question propounded by the Minister of Angers, it was answered, That he who had espoused a Maid of the Popish Religion, but is himself since converted, although the said Maiden refuseth to be married in the Church of God, is nevertheless bound by his Promise; wherefore he ought solicit her to accomplish it; but if she will not consent unto it, he must contain himself until such time as the Bond be broken, either by her Marriage or Whoredom. The same Advice was given in the like case by Mr. Calvin.

III. The Minister of Castelherand having moved this case: A Papist displeased with the Creasme, and Spittle, and other Ceremonies added unto Baptism by the Popish Church, desireth him to Baptise his Child: It was queried, Whether he should do it. But because there was another Question first to be debated, viz. Whether the Children of Papists ought to be received into the Church of Christ? Divers Arguments having been banded on both sides, the Decision thereof was remanded to a more full Assembly.

IV. As to what was related by the Minister of Poitiers, concerning Lavan, who for a long time hath publicly Taught and printed strange Doctrines, Schisms and notorious Heresies: The Brethren may, if they judge meet, cite him to appear before the next Provincial Synod, or privately Commune with him; and if he be found Obstinate, there being made a diligent and faithful Collection of his Heresies, they shall be brought into the Provincial Synod, that so they may be, according to the Rule of GOD's Word, condemned. However, out of hand the People shall be admonished to avoid so great a Plague.

V. And whereas our Brother of Poitiers hath declared in private Conference, That an Heretic is not to be punished as an Heretic, but as a Disturber of the Civil Government; we say, That were there no other Fault but this, yet he should be admonished not to create Troubles unto the Church; but there being other Circumstances reported unto this Assembly, and these in particular, That he hath very proudly scorned Counsel given him; and basely Calumniated the Minister his Tutor, and the whole Consistory, calling him, A blind Leader of the Blind; and notwithstanding the many Remonstrances made him, not to frequent a certain Schismatical Heretic, nevertheless he continues to keep him company: Therefore for these causes we advise, that he be cut off by Excommunication from the Fellowship of the Faithful.

VI. The Minister of Poitiers having demanded, Whether it be well done to take their Oaths, who are newly received into the Church not to discover their Brethren. Again, these Novices being made Prisoners for the Gospel's sake, and the Magistrate tendering them an Oath to declare the Truth, whether notwithstanding their first Oath they should discover their Brethren? As to the former it was answered, That respect must be had unto the circumstance of Places, that so they may obviate the Levity and Malice of those Persons, who otherwise by their Imprudence and Malice would endanger an whole Church. And as to the second Question, It is most certain that the end of that Oath being to glorify God, and preserve Charity, the latter Oath does not oblige to speak or do anything contrary unto these: But it were better that they did Protest at first never to speak anything that might redound to the Dishonor of GOD, or the Damage of their Neighbors.

VII. Is it necessary that Infants should be baptized in a Public Church-Assembly? Or may it be done without such a Congregation, as in a private Family, where there be very few People? We answer, That where a Church is already constituted publicly, there the Children shall be baptized publicly: But where there is none gathered, nor publicly established, and Parents through Infirmity are afraid to carry them to a public Assembly far distant from them there to be baptized, Ministers may yield what in Prudence they may judge convenient for them.

VIII. Our Brother of St. John d' Angely demanding, Whether the Faithful might lawfully suffer their Children's Names to be recorded in the Registers of Popish Priests? It was answered, That because it was a Civil Ordinance of his Majesty, the Ministers and Consistories should specially observe the Design and End of him that it, and admonish him that he be very careful lest thereby he be taken for a Papist.

IX. Advice hath been taken upon what was proposed by the Minister of St. John d' Angely, viz. Whether the Faithful might lawfully Farm the Ecclesiastical Revenues of Monks and Priests, &c? And it is our Judgment, That it is in no wise lawful for the Faithful to intermeddle with any Matter that hath Idolatry conjoined with it, as the Patten, or the Baise-mains, or to cause Masses or Vigils to be said or sung, or to maintain Monks, who were appointed to no other Service: But to Farm a Field, Rents, or Lordship, and to pay the Profits accruing from them unto those Ecclesiastics, for as much as they be Temporal Lord's of them, the Faithful are left unto their liberty therein to do as they please.

X. It was also determined, That the exercising of Civil Jurisdictions or Procurations under the aforesaid Ecclesiastics, is not in itself unlawful, provided it he not in Spiritual Matters, as they call them.

XI. Moreover, whereas our said Brother of St. John d' Angely hath demanded, Whether Elders uncapable of discharging their Office, who had • een admitted when the Church was first gathered, might lawfully be deposed, that other better qualified may be elected into their Places? And whether a Banker might be chosen into the Eldership? As to the First Article we answer, That if those Elders be utterly incapable of discharging their Duties, they shall be deposed; according to what hath been determined already in the Articles of our Discipline. But if they can tolerably perform them, they ought not without their Consent to be laid by. And touching Bankers, in case they meddle with those Diabolical Dispatches of Pardon and Dispensations, and other such-like Popish Abominations, they shall be so far from being received into Office in the Churches, that if after Admonition given them to desist from such Actions, they do not refrain them, they shall be forthwith Excommunicated.

XII. Our Brother of Orleans propounded the case of a Woman, who was resolved to serve God with a pure Continence, but could not agree with her Husband, a Time-server, to commit Idolatry; and whereas fearing trouble that may betide him and his Wife, he gives leave, yea solicits his Wife to withdraw into a Place of Liberty: Is it lawful for her to follow this Counsel? We answer, That as long as this Woman can possibly subsist with her Husband, she ought to live with him, that so many Inconveniencies may be avoided, which would otherwise fall out through her absence: But in case she cannot without imminent Danger to herself abide with him, let her embrace our Lord's Counsel, If they persecute you in one city, fly ye unto another. Yet always earnestly importuning her Husband, as in Conscience he is bound, to come unto her.

XIII. Our Brother of Marennes having craved our Advice concerning Pirates and Tradesmen, who, before they were admitted into the Communion of our Churches, had ill-gotten their Estates, Whether they ought to be received unto the Lord's Supper? We answer, That not only these, but all other Persons who shall unjustly detain the Goods of other Men; however, that Injustice may be modified, are yet bound in Conscience to make Restitution of those Goods, if they be able, unto their right Owners. And Ministers and Consistories shall take especially care herein: and in case they find them eminently penitent, and mourning for their Sin, having exhorted them unto Charity, they may admit them unto the Lord's Table.

XIV. He also proposing this Case, Whether Goods sold by Pirates, might be bought? We answer, That those Merchandises are either sold publicly by the Permission and Approbation of the Magistrate or not: If the Magistrate consent unto their Sale, they may with a safe Conscience; but if the Sale be Clandestine, they ought not, because they in buying should be Parties with the Pirates.

XV. As to the Proposition of our Brother of Xaintes, we answer, That such as use Papal Excommunications do defile their Consciences.

XVI. As to what was proposed by our Brother of St. Lo, we answer, That notwithstanding the Popish Priests do unjustly claim a Right to Tithes upon the account of their Ministry, yet they must be paid, because of the King's Commandment, as a matter in itself indifferent, and that Sedition and Scandal may be avoided.

XVII. To another Proposal of our Brother, was given this answer, That where both Father and Mother were Excommunicate, their Children should not be received unto Baptism, until such time as the aforesaid Parents, or one of them had reconciled himself unto the Church; unless the Grand-father or Grand-mother of the said Child should present it, in which case it might be baptized, it being their Blood, and descended from them.

XVIII. He also propounded this Matter of Fact, The Church of St. Lo had been informed, and thereupon maintained, that to be present at Marriage Feasts celebrated by Popish Priests, although there was no Idolatry in it, at least none consented to by those Guests, yet upon this account only, that the Marriage was contracted and performed after the Popish Way, they were defiled. For which cause, before the Lord's Supper was administered to them, they swear, that they were not present at those Feasts as aforesaid. Yet afterwards having come to a right understanding of the Truth in this matter, they demand, Whether they be absolved of their Oath, made by them thro' false Information that had been given them. It was answered, They were discharged from the Bond of such an Oath.

XIX. Another Fact was also propounded by the same Brother, A Man of S. Lo, being ignorant of the evil Conversation of a Woman, marrieth her, about five Months after she is delivered of Child, whereupon he would forsake her; but the Parents of his Wife telling him, That a Child might be born, and that honestly too in that time, for twelve Months; this Year his Wife carried herself exceeding chastely, or at least he had no occasion to suspect her. But afterward the Husband possibly being weary of his Wife, separates himself from her, and publisheth how much he was abused by her Parents; though he declares with his own mouth, that he had accompanied with her as an Husband with his Wife. It is demanded, After what manner he is to be dealt with, since he will neither take his said Wife, nor hearken to the Remonstrances of the Consistory. This Assembly adviseth, That repeated Admonitions be Ministered to him, in which if he do not acquiesce, he shall be rejected by the Church.

XX. That Woman who refuseth or delays to join herself unto her Husband infected with some contagious Disease, may not however be suspended the Lord's Table: yet shall she be admonished conscientiously to perform that Duty which a Wife owes unto her Husband. And at the same time the Husband shall be acquainted with the Danger to which he doth expose his Wife.

XXI. And in answer to the Question of the Minister of Tours, it was said, That the Wives of infected Persons should not be rejected by the Assembly, provided they may come without danger of infecting it. The other Copies read it thus: That the Wives of Unbelievers may be admitted unto our Church-Meetings, provided the Church be not endangered by them.

XXII. And to another Case propounded by the same Brother, this answer was given, That the Husband of an Unbelieving Wife was not excusable, unless that to the utmost of his power, he had hindered his Child's being baptized by a Popish Priest; and therefore inasmuch as he was wanting unto his Duty, he shall not be received into Communion with the Church at the Lord's Table.

XXIII. Neither the present Bishops, nor their Officials, nor Arch-Deacons have of right any Jurisdiction Civil or Ecclesiastical: Wherefore it is not lawful for Believers to cite any one in any Case to Judgment before them, or to appear in Person to answer unto their Citations without a Protestation against their Power of Judging in Matters belonging unto Conscience: But as to Civil Causes, because we be compelled oftentimes to appear before them that we may recover our Right, which otherwise could never be obtained, we may Address ourselves unto them, as we would unto a Thief that Robs upon the Highway, to obtain some Kindness from him. However, it is more desirable, that everyone would totally forbear in such Matters.

XXIV. Such as will have their Banes published by the Parish-Priests may do it, because it is a thing merely Civil.

XXV. As for such who waiting upon their Masters, enter with them into the Popish Churches, though they do not in the least bend their Knee; yet because the Weak are scandalized, they shall be reproved: And whereas they do commonly allege the Examples of Naaman and the Duke of Saxony, they shall be born withal when they give as public Testimony and Evidence not to defile themselves with, or consent unto that Idolatry which is committed in those Temples whereinto they enter, as the Duke and Naaman did.

CHAP. I.

LE Bailleur chosen President.

Roland Scribe.

CHAP. II. A Memorial to be presented unto the States of FRANCE.

WHenas the States of France shall be assembled at the Day appointed, there shall be this propounded unto the King's Majesty, to the Queen Mother, and to the Princes of the Blood, That they cannot be in a Capacity to satisfy the Requests tendered by the King of Navar at Orleans, till such time as there be a lawful Counsel established for his Majesty: Because there will otherwise be no Security for the performance of any Contracts and Ordinances that may pass between the King and his Subjects, or between the Subjects themselves, as hath been at all times done, and by those of the last Assembly, who declared, That none could be his Majesty's Privy-Counselors, nor in his Council of State for any of his Affairs, unless they had been appointed and approved according to Law. For the Powers of those in being expired at the Death of the late King, so that they are now only in the nature of a Committee, nor can they be reckoned among those Counselors, whose Commission is irrevocable, as is theirs who are Counselors in Sovereign Courts, and such like invested with ordinary Jurisdiction: And at present his Majesty hath no Will in Law, being a Minor, nor hath his Majesty constituted them of his Council; nor hath the Queen Mother any Power to make them such. Wherefore none other but the States of the Kingdom can nominate unto the Princes of the Blood, those Persons whom they judge sit to be Counselors of State: nor do the said States hereby in the least design or intend to revoke the Power and Authority of their Highnesses the Princes of the Blood; but only they desire this, That they would be pleased to take their Advice in providing fit and worthy Persons, Persons of Quality and Honor, to take upon them, as Privy-Counselors, the Management of the Affairs of this Kingdom, who shall be recommended to them, and chosen from among the Nobility and Lawyers. Nor do the said Estates intend to propose or answer anything till such time as the said Council be thus constituted by the Wisdom of their Highnesses the Princes of the Blood, and be confirmed according to Law. And they do protest, That if anything be attempted, or ordained by any others, that they will Appeal from them unto the next Assembly of the States, which shall be lawfully called, of the Nullity of their Powers and Actings. And farther, they do require, That the Lord High Chancellor, L'Hospital, do forbear acting in his Office as Chancellor, because he hath not been nominated and recommended by the Estates, nor thereupon chosen and appointed by their Highnesses the Princes of the Blood.

CHAP. III. Observations, Corrections, and Additions to the Church-Discipline, couched and comprised in the Acts of the first National Synod of the Reformed Churches of France, held at Paris, May 25th, 1659.

• ARTICLE I.
  WHereas the Third Article of our Church-Discipline began with these words: [Every Minister shall come accompanied unto the Synods Provincial or National, with one Elder or Deacon of their Churches or more; and they shall all have their Votes in those Synods.] There shall be this added as is now decreed, That Ministers who come unto the National Synod, may bring with them one or two Elders or Deacons, but not more, chosen by their Consistory, who shall have their, Votes in the said Synod: And the Elders and Deacons, or others of that Church, where the Assembly shall be held, may be present at the Debates, and in their order they may give in their Opinions, and Arguments upon the Question debated, but two of them only shall have power of Voting to avoid Confusion, nor shall any Deputy depart the Synod without leave first had from the Moderator.
• ART. II.
  To the Fifth Article, which ran thus: A Minister accompanied with one Elder or Deacon at least from every Church, shall meet together at least once a Year in every Province; there shall be this added, And they shall choose the most commodious Time and Place that may be for their Meeting.
• ART. III.
  The Sixth Article was thus altered and amended: No Minister shall be now elected by one only Minister or his Consistory, but with two or three Ministers together with the Consistory of the vacant Church, or if it may be the Provincial Synod, or by the Colloquy, which shall be called to sit as much as may be in those places where Consistories be already instituted, and unto this the Minister who is to be ordained, shall make his Addresses, and from the Colloquy he shall be presented unto the People to be accepted by them; but in case any one oppose his Admission, the Consistory shall judge hereof, and if neither part consenteth, senteth, the whole shall be referred to the Provincial Synod, which shall take cognizance as well of the Minister's Justification as of his Reception, provided the Consistory and the greater part of the People do approve and consent unto it.
• ART. IV.
  There shall be this added to the Close of the Twelfth Article, those places where the Colloquy is made up of six Ministers at least, case the Colloquy may take cognizance of this Intruding Minister.
• ART. V.
  Forasmuch as it is in no wise expedient that our People should bear Popish Preachers, or any others who are not lawfully called to preach the Gospel in those Churches which have a settled and standing Ministry; therefore all true Pastors are to hinder as much as in them lieth, the wandering of their People after them.
• ART. VI.
  And whereas the Sixteenth Article begins thus: Such as teach unsound Doctrine, and being admonished will not forbear; there shall be this Addition to it, And those who shall disobey the godly Counsels of God's holy Word given them by the Consistory.
• ART. VII.
  The Twenty Second and Twenty Third Articles of the said National Synod of Paris speaking of Elders and Deacons, and of their Office, were thus explained: The Elders Office as now used by us is not perpetual. And the Deacons Office is to Collect and Distribute the Poors Monies unto them, and to the Prisoners, and to the Sick, and to Visit them in their Afflictions, and to go from House to House, and to Catechize the Members of those Families: and in case any one of these Deacons be fit and qualified, and promise to devote himself for life to the Service of God in the Ministry of the Gospel, then he may be chosen by the Pastor and Consistory to Catechize publicly according to the Form received in our Churches, and this by way of Trial of their Gifts only, without giving them any power of Administring the Holy Sacraments.
• ART. VIII.
  Upon the Twenty Fourth Article it was said, That it did not belong to the Office of Elders and Deacons to Catechize in public, and that their Office was not perpetual; yet notwithstanding, neither the one nor other may depart from it, without leave first had and obtained from the Church.
• ART. IX.
  Whereas the Thirty Third Article begins thus: Marriages shall le propounded, after those words Notary Public, shall be added, Or sufficient Attestation where there is no Public Notary.

CHAP. IV. New Articles added unto the Church-Discipline, framed in the First Synod of PARIS, May 1559.

• ART. X.
  IT is now unanimously concluded, That in the Close of every National Synod, one certain particular Church shall be invested with full Power to call within the Year a General Council of all the Provinces; in which there shall meet one Minister, and one Elder or Deacon at least, for every Province; and other Ministers have liberty to come if they please, and obtain leave from their Churches for so doing: And this General Council shall determine of all Church-Matters, nor shall there be any Appeal admitted from it, excepting in such Points as itself shall judge needful to be turned over to the next General Council of all the Churches of this Kingdom, and of other Persons who may think fit to come unto it. And it is left wholly to the Prudence of the General Council in being, to ascertain the time when the next General Council shall be Assembled, which shall be according as the necessity of our Churches Affairs may require it.
• ART. XI.
  And all Consistories shall be admonished by their Ministers, that they do strictly forbid all Dancing, Mummeries, and Tricks of Jugglers.
• ART. XII.
  And whoso is once denounced an Heretic or Schismatic, shall also be declared such unto the other Churches, that they may be aware of him.
• ART. XIII.
  Item, The Doctor in a Church may not Baptize, nor Administer the Lord's Supper, unless he be ordained a Minister as well as Doctor at the same time.
• ART. XIV.
  In every Church the Candidates for the Ministry shall Preach upon Trial, and their Text shall be some certain Portion of God's holy Word, and this as time and place may conveniently bear.
• ART. XV.
  Item, Whatever shall be decreed by the Provincial Synods concerning the Suspension of Vagrant Ministers, who intrude themselves into Churches, it shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been ordained by the National Synod.
• ART. XVI.
  All the Churches shall be admonished to Maintain and Relieve their Ministers in their Necessities. And in case they should refuse a Competency unto their Pastors for their Subsistance, and having been warned of this their Duty, it may be lawful for those Pastors to remove from them, and to engage themselves unto the Service of some other Church.

CHAP. V. General MATTERS.

• ARTICLE I.
  IT is thought needful that in every Church there be a Consistory, consisting of Ministers, Deacons and Elders, exercising their Offices, who when Affairs so require may call in whom they think good to consult withal.
• ART. II.
  The Consistories of the respective Churches shall be advised, that for time to come they do better discharge their Duty towards their Ministers, by succouring them in their Necessities, and raising Maintenance for them and their Families; because Forreign Countries have been exceedingly scandalized at the Neglect and Ingratitude of divers Churches even in this particular.
• ART. III.
  No Matters shall be propounded unto the National Synods, but such only as could not be resolved in the Provincial, nor shall any Cases be brought unto them, but what are of general concernment to all the Churches.
• ART. IV.
  When as Contention or Debate may arise about Articles of Faith, Doctrine or Heresy, which cannot be decided by Disputes either in the National or Provincial Synods, the Deacons and Elders shall be reduced to an equal number in voting with the Ministers. And in other Matters relating to the Government of the Churches, although the Elders and Deacons exceed in number the Ministers, yet their Suffrages shall be collected.
• ART. V.
  In the first Constitution of a Church, he may be chosen for an Elder, who hath formerly, or doth as yet hold Communion with the Idolatry of Rome, provided always that he promise never to return more unto it.
• Art. VI.
  A Minister newly chosen shall bring with him a Testimonial to be delivered into the hands of the Consistory unto whom he is sent, which shall be kept by them very carefully.
• ART. VII.
  This Order shall be observed by him who begins to Preach in Public, and to gather a Church, viz. That as soon as possible he can, he shall take their Names and Number who will submit unto Discipline, and who are to be owned as Sheep of that Flock, that so all may not be received higly-pigly without distinction unto the Lord's Table; and over these there shall be had a most diligen • Inspection.
• ART. VIII.
  All Violences and Injurious Words against the Papists, as also against their Chaplains, Priests, and Monks shall not only be forborne, but to the utmost of the Church's Power shall be suppressed.
• ART. IX.
  The Church of Orleans is deputed to call the next National Synod within an Year, or thereabout, and to give notice thereof unto all the Churches three Months before of the Place, Day, and of all those difficult Questions which are to be handled in it: And in order hereunto the other Churches shall within nine Months send unto them those Difficulties which they would have debated and decided by them.

CHAP. VI. Particular MATTERS.

I. OUr Brother of Poitiers propounded this Case, Whether a Person having Abjured the Gospel before a Judge and his Clerk, he be not bound to public Penance? To which it was answered, That inasmuch as the Magistrate is a public Person, the Abjuration done before him was public, and therefore it must be repaired by a public Repentance.

II. Whether plain and sincere Promises of Marriage made by word de futuro, may by consent of the Parties be dissolved? We answer, That such Promises whether by words de proesenti or futuro, ought inviolably to be performed: for although by those words de futuro, the Accomplishment be delaid, yet the Parties are nevertheless bound and obliged before God to fulfil them.

III. The Children of Popish Parents shall not be admitted unto Baptism in our Reformed Churches, although they were presented by a believing Surety, unless the Father or Mother will devest themselves of their Authority, and devolve it upon the Surety, yielding up and releasing to him their Right, and solemnly engage that they will allow their Child to be Educated in the true Religion.

IV. Whether for Warning unto others such Persons may not be debarred the Lord's Supper, whose Repentance is only Exteriour? That may be ordered according to the Grievousness of the Fact.

V. Whether a Monk who hath quitted his Monastery, may make use of the Pope's Dispensation, that so he may enter again upon his Estate? We answer, That the Monk hath done very ill in using such unjust Means whereby to recover his Estate.

VI. Upon mature Deliberation it is decreed, That whoso professeth a Trade of Dancing, and hath been divers times admonished, and doth not quit it, shall be excommunicated, and principally because of his Obstinacy and Rebellion.

VII. It being demanded, What Course should be taken with such who having been a long time Members of the Church, yet do not Communicate at the Lord's Table, lest they should be obliged to a total Renunciation of Idolatry. We answer, That if after some convenient Time and Admonitions given them, they do not reform this their neglect, they shall be • nt off from all Communion with the Church.

VIII. As to that Question, Whether Baptism may be lawfully administered extraordinarily where the Child is ready to die? It was resolved, That in those places where the Word of God is ordinarily preached, the established Order shall be observed; but in such places where Sermons are had only extraordinarily, at an undue Hour, it is left to the Minister's Discretion to accommodate themselves to the Infirmities of Parents, yet to be very careful that they do not nourish them up in Superstition.

IX. May a Man lawfully Espouse the Sister of his deceased Wife, who hath left him Children begotten on her Body by him? To which was answered, That this is in no wise lawful nor expedient, and the Church must see to it, that no such Marriages be solemnized in it.

X. May a Woman kept by a Priest as his Concubine, although she protest he is her Husband, and the Priest also secretly owns her for his Wife, yet before Witnesses denies it, may she be continued in, or cut off from the Communion of the Church? We answer, That she ought to use all Diligence in summoning the Priest to get their Marriage celebrated, and blessed in the face of the Church; and in case of refusal by the Priest, she shall separate herself from him; and having given satisfactory Proofs of her Repentance, she shall be received into the Fellowship of the Church.

XI. What is to be done in case a Child has been baptized by a private Person? It's answered, That to avoid the Scandal given and taken, there shall be Sermons preached for the better Information of the People, who shall also be acquainted with the Nullity of such Baptism; and that this may be imprinted upon their Hearts, the Child shall be brought publicly into the Church there to receive the true Baptism.

XII. In a Church already constituted, may he be chosen for an Elder, who through weakness hath defiled himself with Idolatry, since his Admission into Church-fellowship? It's answered, In case his Fall has been lately committed, and is fresh in memory, he ought not to be chosen.

XIII. May the Lord's Supper be received from a learned Popish Priest, since the Baptism administered by him is not repeated? It's answered, The Case is greatly differing; for he that Communicates is of Age, come to Years of Discretion, and capable of rejecting all the Impurities of his Ministration; whereas this cannot be done by the baptized Infant: wherefore it is in nowise lawful to receive the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper from the Hands of such a Man.

XIV. Ought they to be rebaptized who were baptized by Monks? We answer, That Baptism administered by one destitute of Commission and Calling is altogether Null: wherefore inasmuch as Monks have no Call, neither from the Reformed Churches nor elsewhere, such as have been baptized by them ought to be rebaptized, unless the Monk have been received by a People to preach the Gospel to them, in which case there is the appearance of a Call.

XV. Should a Minister pay so much Deference to his Consistory as to refuse Preaching the Gospel to another People, when he can do it without prejudicing his own Church? We answer, He ought to consider what is most expedient for the Glory of God, and apply himself thereunto, and endeavor with his utmost power to keep Peace and good Understanding with his Consistory.

XVI. May the Faithful turn Informers against such Church-Members as are guilty of Crimes punishable by the Laws? We answer, That as for scandalous Sins, and dangerous to the Commonwealth, the Faithful ought to assist the Magistrate in his Proceedings against the Impenitent, that persist in their Wickedness: but w reiterated, the Censure of the Church shall be sufficient.

XVII. May Priests and beneficed Persons, yet now become Members of the Church, and serving in the Ministry, receive the Revenue of their Cures? We answer, No; by no means.

XVIII. A Man having made promise of Marriage to a certain Maid; upon Discontent given him by her Parents, and to despite them, utters these words, You shall not see me in three Years time; and accordingly he leaves the Country for that time: Being returned at three Years end, he finds her married, Is he bound in Conscience to re-demand her, or may he marry himself unto another? It was answered, That if it appear unto the Consistory, that she had re-married herself lightly, without having just and sufficient cause to believe her Husband dead, because she hath falsified her Faith plighted to him by joining herself unto another, he is not bound to re-demand her: But it shall be sufficient for him to desire the Magistrate, that he would declare him Discharged of his Promise. But if through false Reports she had occasion to believe him dead, and she would not have plaid the Harlot, nor have violated her Faith given him, he must demand her, and be importunate that she be restored to him.

XIX. As to that Case, whether a Judge may together with his Judicial Office exercise the Ministry; it's answered, This is tolerated for a time, but not approved, because the Ministry requires the whole Man, and therefore he ought to lay down his Judicial Office.

XX. Advocates of the Reformed Religion shall neither postulate nor plead in the Officials Court, unless it be in such Cases where Right only is to be had and obtained from them.

XXI. A Priest having sold his Benefice, though he hath not received the Monies, shall not be received unto the Lord's Table, unless he will protest never to touch or take a Farthing of that Sum, and for the Fault committed by him in selling his Benefice, he shall do Penance before the Consistory.

XXII. An Elder is accused of Adultery, which yet is denied by him: and although there be no sufficient proof of his Crimes, yet because of the great noise about it, and that the Woman protests the truth of it, that he hath had carnal Knowledge of her, and a Child by her, it is demanded, What Course is to be taken with him? It was answered, That he should be suspended his Office, and the Cognisance of the Fact should be referred to the Provincial Synod, to whose Jurisdiction this Business doth properly belong, and from whence there shall be no Appeal.

XXIII. A Man having promised Marriage to the Cousin-Geman of his deceased Wife, before his Marriage with her has carnally known her, and had a Child by her; but now ho desires to be received into Communion with, and married in the Church. It was answered, That forasmuch as the Marriage of Cousin-Germans is not prohibited by the Word of God, although it be by our Magistrates, it is advised, That they shall separate for some time, and make public Confession of their Fault before the Church; and then the Minister reproving it, and admonishing that none offend for the future in this manner, they shall be then married.

XXIV. The Question being started, Whether Women might present Children unto Baptism? It was answered, That this Custom should not be introduced. Yet nothing hindered but that for some considerable Reasons it might be upon times admitted.

XXV. It was thought meet to Advise the Churches, that in Matters of general concern to them, they should send from every Province, upon a common Purse, some particular Person, who follows the Court, to solicit the Affars of the Churches in that Province, at Court: and all these Soliciters are to communicate their Counsels together, that so they may be found unanimously agreeing in those Suits which they prosecute. They shall also carry with them the Confession of Faith, and consult of some means how to Present it unto the King in the Name of all the Churches. Yet none of them shall pretend unto any Superiority over another: Moreover, every of them shall be admonished by the Province, who dispatched him with its Memoirs and Instructions, that in Matters of importance they decline not in the least from them, without first imparting it unto their Province, or in case of great and urgent Necessity, without having took Advice from such Ministers as are then in Court, and the nearest Church: Yet all these together shall have no Command nor Power over any Church, but only send their Advice unto their respective Provinces; and the Provinces upon those Advices shall take that care and course which they shall judge most expedient.

XXVI. An Elder having collected Monies to be given unto Priests or others, that may sing Masses for the Dead, is he to be deposed from his Office? We answer, Let him be first heard in the Consistory speak for himself, before they proceed unto his Deposal.

XXVII. It was demanded, Whether the Word of God might be preached publicly, without Authority from the Civil Magistrate? Answer was given, That there should be special care had of the Time, and Public Peace, and above all that there be no Tumults nor Sedition.

XXVIII. The Churches of Paris, Orleans, and Rouan are deputed by this present Synod, to Protest against the Popish Council now held at Trent, and of the Nullity of all its Decisions and Decrees; and their Protestation shall be done either by Printed Books, or Oral Remonstrances unto the King's Majesty, or by any other way, as they shall judge needful.

XXIX. It is now Decreed, That the Deputies of the Provinces when they go to Court, shall take with them our Confession of Faith; and consult among themselves how to present it unto His Majesty, together with the Petitions of our Churches; and to this purpose they shall make Application unto those Lord's, who they know to be Favourers of our Cause and Religion.

XXX. Whereas divers Persons do solicit this National Synod to supply the Congregations, who have sent them hither, with Pastors; they are all answered, That at present we are utterly unable to gratify them; and that therefore they be advised to set up Propositions of the Word of God, and to take special care of Educating hopeful young Men in Learning, in the Arts, Languages, and Divinity, who may hereafter be employed in the Sacred Ministry; and they are most humbly to Petition the Lord of the Harvest to send Laborers who may get it in.

XXXI. May he be admitted to communicate in the Bread only at the Lord's Table, who hath an Antipathy against Wine? Yes, he may, provided that he do his utmost to drink of the Cup; but in case he cannot, he shall make a Protestation of his Antipathy.

CHAP. I.

ANthony de Chandieu, Minister in the Church of Paris, chosen President. Robert le Macon, Lord La Fountain, Minister in the Church of Orleans, and Peter Sevin Deacon of the Church of Paris, chosen Scribes by General Consent of the Deputies.

CHAP. II. General MATTERS.

I. THE Ministers and Elders Convocated in this Assembly of Orleans, for the General Council of France, following the Determination of the last Synod held at Poitiers, are of Opinion, That the present Assembly should have, and bear the Name and Authority of the Council General of the Deputies of this Kingdom, notwithstanding that several Deputies are absent, who shall be sufficiently informed of Matters debated and resolved in this Council, together with the Reasons for which, notwithstanding their absence, we were constrained to proceed without them; all which shall be more largely declared in the next General Council; where also shall be heard the Reasons of those absent Deputies, for their Non-attendance, and their Arguments, if need be, against the Decisions of the present Council.

II. The Princes, and other great Lord's following the Court, in case they would have Churches instituted in their Houses, shall be desired to take such for their Pastors, as are Ministers in Churches truly Reformed, bringing with them sufficient Testimonials of their Lawful Call unto the Ministry; who shall before their Admission, subscribe the Confession of Faith of the Churches in this Kingdom, and our Church-Discipline. And that the Preaching of the Gospel may be more successful, the said Protestant Lord's shall be requested, everyone of them, to erect a Consistory, composed of the Ministers and other Persons most eminent for Piety in their said Family; by which Consistory all Scandals and Vices shall be suppressed, and the Rules of Discipline observed. Moreover, those Ministers shall be present at Provincial Synods, if it may possibly consist with their occasions: And that this may be effected, the Council hath ordained, That the Province in which the Synod shall be assembled, shall be obliged to call them to it: And those Ministers especially, or a part of them shall be there present, being deputed by the rest unto the General Synods together with their Elders, who may inform the said General or Provincial Synods, of their Lives and Conversation. And in case the said Lord's and Princes have divers Houses, they shall be advertis'd, that none of their Ministers may pretend domination or preeminence over another; according to that Article of our Church-Discipline in this case expressly provided. And when as the said Lord's and Princes shall reside in those Houses of theirs, where there is a Church already formed, we desire for the preventing of all Divisions, that the Church in their Family would join itself unto the Church of that place, and for that time to make but one Assembly.

III. Whenas the Lord's Supper shall be celebrated in the close of every Synod, according to the Fourth Article of our Church-Discipline, in the Acts of the First National Synod: The said Sacrament shall not be administered privately to the Ministers and Elders only deputed unto these Synods, but in public, and to the whole Church, in which they be assembled.

IV. If it happen that a Bishop or Curate, desire to be promoted unto the Ministry of the Gospel, they may not be received, till such time as they are first admitted Members of the Church, renouncing all their Benefices, and other Rights depending on the Church of Rome, professing also publicly Repentance for their past sins, as they shall be ordered by the Consistory; and after long trial and proof had of their Repentance, and Godly Conversation, they may be chosen into the Ministry of the Gospel, according to the Canons of our Church-Discipline, 6 & 8. of the Synod of Paris, and 3. of Poitiers.

V. Ministers shall not be ordained without assigning them to some particular Flock. If they be sent anywhere for a certain time, that time being expired, they shall return unto the Church from whence they parted, and be under her power: And in case they were not accepted by the Church, unto which they were sent, they shall be at liberty to return unto the Church from which they parted, or else to wait the Determination of a Provincial Synod concerning them; during which time they may not Preach, but by the Advice of two or three Neighbor-Ministers. And this also shall be observed by them, who having leave do depart their Churches, without ever being sent elsewhere, that so no Ministers may be Vagrants, nor by their own Authority intrude themselves where best liketh them.

VI. Ministers shall preside by Turns in their Consistories and Synods, that so none may presume to any superiority over another.

VII. The Division of Provinces, as they relate unto Provincial Synods, shall remain in their first Estate: And in case the said Provinces have too great a number of Churches, they may be divided according to the Advice of those Provincial Synods, which shall consider the conveniency of those Churches, complaining of their too great distance, and recommend them to another Province nearer to them, and more commodious for them; and giving them to this purpose Letters of Dismission unto that Province, into which they shall be incorporated. And as for Churches erected since the last Provincial Synods, and others that may be hereafter constituted, they shall be obliged to join themselves unto the nearest Province.

VIII. The Faithful shall be exhorted not to Scandalize the Papists by working upon Holy-days. And as concerning that which they call Spiritual Kinred, this Council is of Opinion, That it is not comprised nor understood by the words of Affinity and Consanguinity in the last Edict of January: However, it adviseth, That the Deputies of the Churches do, upon the first occasion presented to them, endeavor to obtain the King's Declaration as to this and other matters.

IX. And as for Marriages dissolved for Adultery, it is now Ordained, That the Churches may not marry those Persons without observing this Order: The wronged Person, who hath not offended, shall be bound to Prosecute at Law before the Magistrate its offending Party, so long till that by his final Sentence he be convicted; which said Sentence he shall produce before the Consistory, demanding leave and permission to marry. Which Consistory having called the Parties concerned before them, may grant them License to marry. But the offending Party shall not be permitted Marriage till such time as the Offended be first married; and then this Offender having done public Penance according to the Prudence of the Consistory, may have License to marry. And this Canon shall be in force till the Churches have greater Liberty. This shall hold also in the case of Fornication after Promises of Marriage, where the Whoredom was not known unto the espoused Party.

X. Whoso shall have cohabited together as Man and Wife without having been first lawfully and solemnly married, and now demand to be married, shall do public Penance, or at least before the Consistory, according to its Discretion: and then the Marriage may be celebrated, all requisite Solemnities being first observed; excepting such Persons who shall have cohabited together during the time of their Ignorance, and not despised contemptuously the Orders of our Churches. And it shall hold also in their Case who have cohabited together, where there was no Church constituted in the places of their abode: These shall only be called into the Consistory, that their Marriage may be ratified.

XI. It being expressly forbidden us by the Kings to purchase any Estate or Office of Judicature; no Church shall advise the doing of it.

XII. The Churches shall admonish the Faithful of both Sexes to be very Modest in their Apparel, and to retrench all Excesses and Superfluities, which are originally committed in and about it: However, the Churches shall make no Decrees concerning it, because 'tis a matter belonging to the Civil Magistrate; but they shall cause the King's Ordinances relating hereunto diligently to be observed. Nor may the Churches excommunicate any Man or Woman for using such Habits and Fashions as are common and customary in this Kingdom.

XIII. The Faisthful cannot with a good Conscience purchase any Benefices, nor part of their Revenue, least by this means they should be entangled with some kind of Idolatry, or in the least sort be Favourers of it.

XIV. Whereas some Ministers have been deputed by certain Provincial Synods to visit the Churches; this Council doth advise, That the Order formerly used to discover Scandals, arising in the Churches being sufficient for that purpose, is now again ratified and approved by this Council, and this new-found Office is condemned, because of its dangerous Consequence.

XV. That all Superstition may be avoided, Ministers shall not use any Prayers at the Interment of our Dead.

XVI. The Articles of our Ecclesiastical Discipline shall be read in the Consistories of the Reformed Churches, at such times at least when as the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is administered.

XVII. The Churches shall suppress Usuries, and all manner of Extortions, as much as lieth in their Power: yet they may not condemn those who receive a moderate Profit for the Loan of their Monies, provided it be conformable to the King's Ordinance, and the Rule of Charity.

XVIII. Priests, Monks, and other Ecclesiastics of the Romish Church, before they be received unto Communion with us at the Lord's Supper, shall manifest their Repentance before the Consistory, and for some particular causes, if the Consistory do judge it requisite, they shall testify it before the whole Assembly.

XIX. The Faithful may not take out Admonitions, or execute Excommunications from the Church of Rome, nor obtain a Dispensation for Swearing from the Official, or any other belonging unto that Church; and though there hath been a Recompense given, the Oath cannot hinder the Rescission of the Contract.

XX. Printers, Booksellers, Painters, and in general all the Faithful, especially such as bear Office in the Church, shall be admonished, not to exercise their Arts, Office, or Calling in or about the Superstitions of the Romish Church, or their Dependencies, nor in the least to savor them: and the Cognisance of particular Matters, that may happen hereupon, and their Correction and Reformation shall belong unto the Consistories.

XXI. Concerning Names, imposed upon Children, Ministers shall reject those which yet remain of old Paganism; nor shall they give unto Infants such as are attributed unto God in Holy Scripture; nor Names of Office, as Baptist, Angel, Archangel: moreover, Parents and Sureties shall be admonished, as much as in them lieth, to take those which are approved by God's sacred Word.

XXII. Although a Church having lent a Minister for a time, and that expired, may re-demand him back unto its Service; yet ought it to have respect unto the Necessities of that Church where the said Minister hath been sent, and shall ordain herein what will make most for the Glory of God, and the Edification of his Church.

XXIII. No Church shall marry any Persons without having first received ample Information and Approbation of and about them.

XXIV. The Inconveniencies which have already risen, and may in time to come arise from the usual public Catechisings by Deacons having been heard and considered, the Council hath remitted the entire Decision of this Matter unto the next National Synod; and in the mean while Exhorts those Churches which have not received that Custom, never to admit it; and in other places where it is practiced, the Churches are likewise exhorted to deal with their Deacons in case they be fitted for it, to enter into the Ministry as soon as possible they can.

XXV. The Faithful may by their Consistories be adjured to declare the Truth, because this doth not in the least derogate from the Authority of the Civil Magistrate.

XXVI. Churches having Printers and Booksellers, shall carefully advise them to print no Books concerning Religion, or the Discipline of the Church, before they have communicated them unto their Consistories, because of the Inconveniencies that have arrived: Nor may many Booksellers or Hawkers sell scandalous Books, nor may they in the sale of their Books take unto themselves immoderate Gains.

CHAP. III. Discipline exercised upon Delinquents.

Particular Matters.

THe Council having heard and considered the Proceedings against James le Fevre, his Excommunication, and the public Penance imposed on him by the Authority of the last Provincial Synod held at Gien, and the Deportment of the said Le Fevre in undergoing public Penance, together with its Consequences; and having understood the whole of that Affair partly from the Relation of the Brethren, and partly from his own Confession; the Council is of Opinion, That the said James le Fevre hath not well nor duly made that public Confession which was enjoined him, nor given Testimony of his Repentance; and for this cause the Excommunication denounced against him, shall abide in its full power and vigor: and therefore the Council hath declared, and doth now again declare him a Man uncapable of serving the Church of God until such time as he shall have first undergone public Penance in the Church of Bourges; in which Penance shall be declared the Facts contained in the Article of the said Synod of Gien touching this matter: And moreover, this shall be added, That by his Replies and Murmurings he had shewn himself Refractory and Disobedient to the Displine of the Church: And whenas there shall be good Evidences of his Repentance, he may be received into the Communion of the Lord's Supper.

II. As to those matters concerning David de Brosses, who calling himself Minister of the Church of Melun; after hearing the Charge brought in against him by the Deputies of the Church of Paris, who had opposed his Election, because of the wicked Doctrine formerly broach'd by the said David, and because of the Troubles and Schisms excited by him, particularly in the Church of Melun, and because of his wicked and debauched Life, which hath occasioned a Process of Enormous Crimes to be commenced against him, and from which he hath not purged himself before the Consistory; the proofs of all these matters having been laid down in Writing, read and diligently considered, divers Brethren, Ministers of God's Holy Word, having been heard also, both as to the Doctrine published by the said David, and his Life and Conversation: The Council judgeth the Opposition founded by the Church of Paris against him, to be good and valid; the Election of the said David made by the Church of Melun to be null, void, and of no force nor effect: And farthermore, the said Council hath declared, and doth delare the said David uncapable of the Ministry of the Gospel, until such time as he shall have manifested his Innocency before a National Synod of the Reformed Churches in this Kingdom: Yea, moreover, the said Council hath excommunicated him out of the Church, until such time as he shall have testified publicly his Repentance, by confessing publicly his Sin, and that in the Church of Melun, which he hath troubled by his Schism, in case he return unto it, or in any Church unto which he would hereafter join himself; and that Church having good Evidences and Testimonials of his Repentance, may receive him unto Communion with it in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. But and if the said David despising the present Decree of this Council, shall hereafter intrude himself into any Church, and cause new Troubles and Divisions in it; then this Council commands that Province, in which the said David shall be, and reside, to Formalize itself against him: and upon this account the Church of Paris shall be obliged to furnish the said Province with Proofs which it hath now, or may have had heretofore lying by against the said David; that so he may be proceeded against in such a manner as shall be thought most advisable for the Repose of the Church.

III. Touching the matter propounded by the Minister of Paris, the Council is of Opinion, That the Marriage pretended to be broken by reason of Spiritual Kinred, doth remain firm, and in its full power: and therefore the second Marriage which hath since intervened is null, and these second married Persons are excommunicated because of their Adulteries, until such time as they have done public Penance, and shall have duly evidenced their Repentance.

IV. Whereas our Brother the Minister of Varennes, in Picardy, doth usually administer the Lord's Supper every Month, the Council doth advise, That our Brother of Mont-mejor do admonish him in the Council's Name, to follow the general Practice of our Churches, that so there may be no Diversity among us, and our Uniformity may be preserved.

V. The Churches are advertised, to take notice of a Fellow called Frederick Thierry, formerly an Augustine Friar; as also of another called Marmande, as being Vagrants.

VI. 'It is the Judgment of this Council, That a Minister being employed in the Church, may not ordinarily exercise any other Calling, nor receive Wages for it. Our Brother of Britain moved this Question.

VII. As to that Book entitled, A Treatise of Christian Discipline and Polity; composed and published by John Morelly, the Council judges, That as to the Points concerning the Discipline of the Church, by which he pretends to condemn and subvert the Order received in our Churches, sounded upon the Word of God, that the said Book contains wicked Doctrine, and tends to the Confusion and Dissipation of the Church; and therefore the said Council cautions the Faithful to take heed of the aforesaid Doctrine.

VIII. A Remonstrance being made by the Church of Poitiers, about an Appeal brought by the People of the City of Loudun, from a Decree of the Provincial Synod of Poitou, held at Niort, concerning the Fact of Maturin Sibileau, the said Appeal having been signified to the Church of Poitiers, on behalf of the said People of Loudun; the Decrees both of the Provincial Synod held at Partinay, and of the Synod of Niort, were read and considered. Whereupon this present Council hath, and doth send back the Knowledge of the said Cause unto the next Provincial Synod of Touraine, which by the Authority of this Council, shall pass a Definitive Judgment upon these Persons, although they were absent, provided their Absence be not out of Contumacy, and they had been duly informed of the meeting of that Synod. And in the mean while it is ordained, That both the said Sibileau, and the said People of Loudun, shall yield Obedience to the Synod of Niort: And to this purpose the Church of Poitiers is required to signify this present Sentence; and the Church of Tours is to Assemble the said Provincial Synod.

IX. A Petition being presented by Madam Margaret de la Voirie, concerning a Marriage pretended to have been contracted between her and the Noble William de Schilhant: The Council has approved, and doth approve of that Sentence given by the Provincial Synod of Touraine, held at Mans the last October, by which the said Marriage was declared Incestuous, because the said De Schilhant had formerly espoused the Sister of the said Petitioner, whereunto it does enjoin the said Lady quietly to submit, and to observe it with Repose and Tranquility of Conscience; moreover, the Council exhorts her to return unto her own Church, there to make such Acknowledgment of her Fault, as the Consistory shall think meet.

X. Having heard the Remonstrance made by our Brother the Deputy of Poitou, concerning Peter Boulay, who had intruded himself into the Ministry of the Church of Niort: The Council ratifies and approves the Determination of the Provincial Synod held at Niort, by which the said Boulay was declared uncapable and insufficient to be chosen into the Ministry of the Gospel, until such time as he had given proofs of his Sufficiency before the Provincial Synod of Poitou. Moreover, this present Council hath ordained, That this very Advice shall be signified both unto the said Boulay, and to all those who do abett him, by our Brethren La Forest and De Thire, who making report unto the next approaching Synod of Poitou, of the Obedience or Rebellion of the said Boulay, and his Abettors; a final Period shall be put unto this Affair according to the Rules of our Church-Discipline. And the Council leaves it to the Wisdom of the next • ynod, whether it be expedient for the common Edification, of the Church, that our brother De la Fayole be not also removed from Niort.

XII. There shall be no Alteration made in that Article of our Discipline touching the Choice of Ministers: and the Council hath ordained, That Mr. John Rebitt do sign the Confession of Faith, and Articles of Discipline; and moreover, doth expressly forbid him so Teach in his Lectures Doctrine contrary unto them; that so there may be no Disunion in the Church: and if he should refuse Submission to this Advise of the Council, he shall be sent back to the Consistory of that City, to be dealt withal according to the Canons of our Church-Discipline.

XII. As to that Question moved by our Brother of Orleans, the Council hath, and doth leave it to the liberty of the respective Consistories, to judge of those who may be sit to assist at the Examination of Candidates for the Ministry, as may be most expedient for their Edification, yet so as they shall not suffer any besides the Members of the said Consistory to examine them.

XIII. The Council judgeth it inconvenient to publish from the Pulpit, the Articles of our Discipline; yet they may be given unto such as desire them by the Consistories.

XIV. Whereas the Letters sent unto this present General Council of the Reformed Churches of France, assembled at Orleans, by Maurice Joequin, are fraught with heavy Complaints against David Vivian, Minister of Bourges, and divers others of the Consistory of the said Church; and because both Parties are absent, the said Council remands them unto the next approaching Provincial Synod Berry, that there the said Vivian, and the other Members of the Consistory may be dealt withal as is just and sitting. In the mean while, considering the outrageous and profane Words mentioned in the said Letters, and the Contumacy of the said Joequin, disdaining to come unto this present Council, after he had been lawfully summoned, and the Threatenings contained in his Answer; divers of our Brethren having been heard on this Affair, reporting his continual Rebellions against the Consistory of the said Church, for near six Months together: The Council doth enjoin the Consistory to call the said Joequin before them, and to give him a very severe Reproof for the sorementioned Crimes; and in case of his Contempt and continued Rebellion, to depose him from his Office of Deacon without delay, as also to cut him off from the Communion of the Church, and to denounce him publicly Excommunicate, until such time as he shall have given public satisfactory Evidences of his Repentance.

CHAP. I.

M ^R. Peter Virett, Minister in the Church of Lions, was chosen Modederator and Scribe.

CHAP. II. Observations, Additions, and Annotations upon the Church-Discipline.

Of SYNODS.

• ARTICLE. I.
  AT the Opening of all National and Provincial Synods, the Canons of our Church-Discipline shall be read; and for the future, Provincial Synods shall send unto the National, those Articles and Canons composed by them for the Government of their respective Provinces, and all the Churches in their District.
• ARTICLE. II.
  The Canons of the three former National Synods held at Paris, Poitiers, and Orleans, shall be reduced into a Body: and this Order shall constantly be observed at the end of every National Synod.
• ARTICLE. III.
  Every Sentence of Excommunication confirmed by the Provincial Synod shall be for the future stable and valid.
• IV. None other Articles of Discipline shall be divulged, but those which were composed by common Consent of all the Deputies.
• ARTICLE. V.
  The Deputies of the Provinces shall not depart from the National Synod, without carrying home with them the Resolutions and Decrees of the Synod, signed and attested by the Moderator and Scribe.

CHAP. III. Of CONSISTORIES.

• ARTICLE. VI.
  ALtho' it may be convenient in weighty and important Business of the Church, to call into gether with the Consistory, some of the most discreet and judicious Members of the Church, though they be not in actual Office in the Consistory; yet nevertheless there ought not to be any other ordinary Assembly, or Form of Council for Church-Matters, excepting the Body of the Consistory, which hath been chosen and settled by the Church to these very ends and purposes, who be Persons in public Offices, which the others are not.
• ARTICLE. VII.
  A Civil Magistrate may be a Member of the Consistory, provided it do not hinder him in the Exercise of his public Office, nor be prejudicial to the Church.
• VIII. Professors of Divinity may be admitted Members of Consistories, and deputed unto Synods.
• ARTICLE. IX.
  Consistories are left at liberty to receive as Members into them, both Father and Son, and two Brothers at the same time, unless there be something which may hinder it; of which the Provincial Synod shall take Cognisance.
• ARTICLE. X.
  Although the Body of the Consistory may advise, and admonish disagreeing Persons to terminate their Controversies and Suits at Law; yet that very Consistory shall never consent to be the Judge or Arbitrator of those Controversies betwixt Persons at Variance about worldly Goods and Estates: but in case any Members of the Church, not of the Consistory, shall be employed as Arbitrators in those Differences, then the Members of the Consistory may assist them with their particular Advice, but always in their private Capacities.

CHAP. IV. Concerning CENSURES.

• ARTICLE. XI.
  IF any Officer of our Reformed Churches shall have committed Idolatry in times of Persecution, they shall be deposed from their Office, and before they be admitted to communicate at the Lord's Table, they shall do public Penance. And as for private Persons, who have offended in the same manner, they also shall undergo such a Penance as the Consistory shall judge meet. The whole to be managed with Christian Moderation according to the Discipline.
• ARTICLE. XII.
  Ministers who scandalize the World by marrying basely and unworthily, the Brethren in this Synod are all of one Mind and Advice, That Consistories shall proceed against these Delinquents in such a manner, as may prevent all Scandals for the future.

CHAP. V. Of MINISTERS.

• ARTICLE. XIV.
  MInisters, though settled in one Church, may be lent unto other Churches for some time for their Instruction and Comfort. And whenas our Proposans are called unto the Ministry, they shall be settled in someone particular Church, there constantly to remain; yet Synods shall have Power to remove Ministers from one Place to another, for some certain Reasons and Considerations, provided their Churches do consent unto it, according to the Discipline.
• ARTICLE. XV.
  Here must be inserted the Fifth Canon of the National Synod of Orleans, viz. Ministers shall not quit their Churches, nor join themselves unto any other without the Authority of the Provincial Synod, or consent of the Neighbor-Ministers, or that Church unto which they were sent.
• XVI. Whenas a Minister is to be chosen, not only the Consistories of that Church, but the Neighbor-Ministers also shall, with the Colloquy pursue that Election.

CHAP. VI. Of BAPTISM.

• ARTICLE. XVII.
  MInisters shall admonish their Flocks to compose themselves withal possible Reverence at the Administration of both the Sacraments.
• ARTICLE. XVIII.
  Women alone shall not be admitted to present Children unto Baptism.
• ARTICLE. XIX.
  If a Person come to Years of Discretion was never baptized, and shall desire that he may be admitted into the Church of God by that Initial Sacrament, he shall not be baptized till he have made a public Confession of his Faith, and evidence that he hath a competent measure of Understanding and Knowledge in the Articles of our Christian Religion.

CHAP. VII. Of MARRIAGES.

• ARTICLE. XX.
  MInisters neither may nor shall marry such as are professed Papists, till they have first renounced their Popish Religion, Superstition, the Mass, and do make profession of our Faith, although the Husband himself should be a Believer.
• ARTICLE. XXI.
  The Churches shall be informed not to celebrate any Marriages of Strangers out of the places of their abode, without sufficient Attestation from that Church unto which they do belong.
• ARTICLE. XXII.
  The Banes shall be published on two Lord's Days in those places where there be Weekly Sermons, and if in other places, then at such times as there is Exhortation made, and common Prayers; yea, also they shall there be published thrice within the Fortnight. It may be lawful, but not necessary, to publish the Banes of Marriage in the Popish Temples.
• ARTICLE. XXIII.
  'It is the Judgment of this Synod, That a Man having left his Wife because of Leprosy, and married another, his first being yet alive, that this his Marriage is null before God; and that therefore he may not be admitted to the Lord's Table, till he have first separated from this second Wife, and repaired the Scandal he hath given the Church by public Penance.

CHAP. VIII. About Interests of Money.

• ARTICLE. XXIV.
  ALL Persons shall carefully observe the King's Edicts, and the Rules of Charity about Interest of Money.

CHAP. IX. About Vagrants, Heretics, and Schismatics.

• ARTICLE. XXV.
  VAgrants, Heretics, and Schismatics shall be notified unto all Churches, that they may be aware of them.

CHAP. X. Of the LORD's SUPPER.

THe Churches shall be informed, that it belongs only unto Ministers to give the Cup in the Lord's Supper, if possible they can do it, and that all evil Consequences may be avoided.

CHAP. XI. General MATTERS.

I. MInisters shall exhort their Churches to demean themselves with all Reverence, during the Administration of Baptism.

II. Women only shall not be admitted to present Children unto Baptism.

III. This Synod explaining the Article of the foregoing Synod concerning Baptism, saith, That no Baptism shall be administered unless in public Church-Meetings.

IV. The Churches shall be informed, That it belongs only unto Ministers to give the Cup at the Lord's Table, and to obviate all evil Consequences, it be possible none else shall deliver it.

V. All Vagrants, Heretics, and Schismatics shall be denounced such by Name unto the Churches, that they may beware of them.

VI. Consistories shall be directed to call none before them, unless there be good and sufficient ground for it.

VII. Professors that are Ministers, may be Members of Consistories and Synods.

VIII. Ministers, though' already fixed in one Church, may yet be lent unto another for its Edification for some time. And when as our Candidates shall be called into the Ministry, they shall have a certain Flock assigned to them, among whom they shall have their constant abode. The Power of removing Ministers for certain considerations remaining in the Synods, with the consent of their Churches, according to the Discipline.

All Sentences of Excommunication ratified by Provincial Synods, shall for the future be confirmed, and no Appeal from them.

X. The Bodies of Consistories shall never be chosen Arbiters, but only some particular Members from among them instead of the whole.

XI. None other Articles of the Church-Discipline shall be divulged, but such as have been resolved on unanimously by all the Deputies in the National Synod.

CHAP. XII. A Case of CONSCIENCE.

XII. MAy a Man marry his Cousin-German, or she that is one degree removed? This Synod is of Opinion, That care be taken of giving Scandal in such a case, and the Offence being removed, we know nothing to the contrary but that such Persons may marry, for they do not sin against any Prohibition of God.

XIII. At the openings of all Synods Provincial or National, all the Articles of the Discipline shall be read: And for time to come, Provincial Synods shall s •• d unto the General Assemblies the Articles decreed by them, as well such a • concern the Government of their own Province, as those others which concern the generality of the Churches.

XIV. Consistories have full liberty to receive Father and Son, or two Brothers at the same time into Office among them, unless there be some just cause which may hinder it, whereof the Provincial Synod shall take Cognisance.

CHAP. XIII. A BOOK Censured.

XV. HAving seen and read a certain Book entitled, A Declaration of the Mystery and Secret of God, demonstrated by two Pictures; as also another Book in Manuscript, entitled, The Mirrour of Antichrist; This Assembly declares the said Books to be full of Blasphemies, Heresies, and of vain and scandalous Discourses, and therefore adviseth the Faithful to beware of them; and their Author is declared unworthy of the Ministry, and of any other Office in the Church; and the Books shall be put into the hands of the Ministers of the Classis of Nismes, who shall tender them unto their suspected Author, and if he avow them for his own, then to depose him from all Office, if he bear any in the Church, and to proceed farther against him, as they shall judge meet.

CHAP. XIV. Particular MATTERS.

JAmes Pinus is declared unworthy of the Ministry, and the Sentence of the Synod of Niort, condemning him for divers Crimes from which he hath never purged himself, is confirmed; in particular, 1. That he intruded himself into the Ministry without a Call. 2. For that since he hath continued in it notwithstanding the Remonstrances made him, and his Promises to desist, which he made unto the National Synod of Poitiers: Moreover, he shall be bound to reconcile himself unto the Churches of Geneva and Lausanna.

And for what concerns our Brother De Resse, he shall be exhorted by Letters to continue in his Ministry, and to renounce Pleading at the Bar, and other Businesses which take him off from his Calling: and in case of his Rebellion he shall be forthwith deposed, and cut off from Communion with the Church. And the Church of Talmont is admonished to live in Concord with the other Churches.

CHAP. XV.

UPon those Remonstrances presented by the States of Languedoc unto this Synod, there was this Advice given: As to the first and second Articles concerning Ministers, Letters shall be written unto the Provincial Synod of Languedoc, exhorting the Ministers of that Province to watch mutually over one another: as also other Letters unto the States, acquainting them, That because we cannot learn neither by Letter nor word of Mouth from their Deputy, who those Ministers accused of Negligence be, we will write in general concerning it unto the Provincial Synod of Languedoc. And as to the third and fourth Articles, this shall be inserted in the Letters to our Brethren of Languedoc, That they do their endeavor to advance the Kingdom of God, as much as in them lieth, not only at home in their own Churches, but if it may be done without incommoding their own Flocks, abroad also. And in the Letters to the Estates, it shall be remonstrated, That it is the Minister's Office to regulate them and their Flocks according to the Word of God, and the Church's Discipline; and that it is the Duty of Magistrates to watch over all Orders and Degrees of Men, and in particular over Ministers, that they walk uprightly in their Calling, and in case Ministers be deficient and faulty, that they cause them to be admonished and censured according to the Discipline by Classes and Synods: Not hereby understanding such Crimes as are punishable by the Laws, the Cognisance whereof doth properly appertain unto the Civil Magistrate.

As to the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth Articles, the Ministers of Languedoc shall be informed by our Letters to them, that in case of lesser, slighter, private and domestic Injuries, it shall be sufficient if a Member of the Consistory do secretly admonish the Offender: But in case of public and scandalous Offences, as circumstances may be, those who implead others at Law may be called into the Consistory, unless besides their Law-suit they had committed some other and more scandalous Crime: nevertheless, they shall by Exhortations and other means endeavor to compromise and reconcile the litigant Parties. And in our Letter to the States, this Clause shall be insertted, That though in Law-sense a Crime is then called public when it merits exemplary Punishment, yet we account that a public Crime, which coming to the knowledge of the World, or of many does beget Scandal or evil Example; so, that all circumstances considered, nothing hindereth but that these public Crimes may be censured and corrected.

As to the ninth, tenth and eleventh Articles, by which the Estates demand Obedience to be yielded unto Magistrates, and in particular that they be called into Consistories, Classes, and Synods, provided this be communicated unto both the Parties Plaintiff and Defendant, this Council does freely grant it.

As to the twelfth and thirteenth Articles, we answer, That in the Civil Government the Magistrates Ordinances ought to be obeyed: And in Ecclesiastical Affairs, Ministers shall have the ordering of them in conjunction with Synods. And when a Common concern doth offer itself to be discussed, as for instance, if this Question shall be propounded, How many Ministers ought to be established in a City? they shall consult together, and ordain about it by joint Suffrages.

Lastly, as to the fourteenth Article, it's answered, That Ministers may be removed from one Church unto another; which shall be debated and resolved on by the Provincial Synods, according to the Tenour of the sixteenth Article of our Discipline.

CHAP. XVI. Cases of CONSCIENCE.

III. THe Brethren of Normandy requesting, that the eighteenth Article of the Synod of Paris might be altered, where it was ordained, That no beneficed Persons, or other such-like, should be received into the Ministry without long Experience had both of their Life and Doctrine; this present Assembly decreeth, That the Article shall remain entire and in its full power, without any Relaxation or Alteration, and therefore that it be more diligently observed.

IV. Such as hold Church-lands, provided they do not pollute themselves in any manner with Idolatry, and do their endeavor to root out all Superstition, at least that there be none committed by their consent and authority; and also protesting that they disclaim all Right that they might have from the Pope, if also those Lands and Goods be visibly employed in holy and lawful Uses, forasmuch as the King grants Liberty of Conscience to enjoy them; these Persons shall not be refused Communion at the Lord's Table.

V. It having been proposed, Whether Maids above ten Years old, should answer the public Catechism. This matter is left to the Prudence of the respective Consistories, who shall act herein as will make most for Edification.

VI. The Church of Issoudun demanding. Whether besides the Consistory, it were not needful that the Church should have a Council to determinate all matters of difference arising in it. After diligent consideration, this Synod judgeth, That it is the Duty of Consistories to determine all Church-Affairs, and that it's needless on this account to have another standing Council besides those who are Officers in it.

VII. The Brethren of Nismes having desired our Advice about Morning and Evening Prayers; this Assembly dismisseth it over unto the Provincial Synods.

VIII. Our Brethren of Normandy having propounded this case, Whether a Magistrate might be called into Office by the Consistory? This Assembly resolveth, it may be done, provided that the exercise of the one doth not hinder the other.

IX. Concerning Interest of Money, it is advised, That the King's Edicts herein shall be universally observed, as also the Rule of Charity.

X. The Minister of Normandy demanding, Whether a Cousin-German removed, might be married? The Synod answers, That if there be no Scandal taken by such a Marriage, it may be done.

XI. 'It is the joint Opinion of all the Brethren, That a second Marriage contracted by him who had forsook his Wife because of Leprosy, is null; and therefore till he be separated from his second Wife, and the Scandal given by him be repaired, he shall not be admitted unto the LORD's Table.

XII. It's lawful, though not necessary for Protestants to publish their Banes of Marriage in Popish Temples.

XIII. A Minister demanding our Advice, Whether a Person begging his advice and comfort under inward Perplexities, and confessing to him secretly great Crimes, he ought to discover them unto the Magistrate? We answer, That it is left wholly to the conscience of the Minister, who must prudently consider all circumstances.

XIV. Ministers contracting unfitting Marriages which beget Scandal, the Brethren in this Synod do judge, that Consistories shall proceed in such a manner against these Delinquents by Church-censures, that all occasion of Scandal for the future be prevented.

XV. To the case, Whether a Promise made by a Maid at the Age of eleven, with the consent of her Parents, to which before twelve she had renounced, might be dissolved? This answer was given, That such a Promise was Null.

XVI. It being moved, Whether Ministers might marry them who were downright Papists? The Synod answers, That it may not be done, unless they do positively renounce the Mass.

XVII. Gentlemen or other renting Benefices from Priests, where Idolatry is not as yet purged, shall be seriously admonished to abstain from so doing within a certain fixed time; and in case of final Disobedience to this Admonition, they shall be cut off from Communion at the Lord's Table.

XVIII. As to the difficulty propounded by our Brethren of Nismes, Whether a Minister may with a good Conscience leave his Church, when his Wife, after that he hath done his Duty in order to her Conversion, will not live with him? It is answered, That all circumstances considered, he shall renew his Endeavors for the Conversion of his Wife, and in the mean while he shall have his liberty to resume again his Charge, as soon as he shall have reduced his Wife unto her Duty.

XIX. Our Brother of Xaintes having demanded what is to be done in this case, A Man having done public Penance in the Church for divers Faults committed by him, yet again and again returns unto the same Sins, ought he to be excommunicated or not? Our Judgment is, because he hath not truly hearkened unto the Church, that he be excommunicate.

XX. As to that Question, Whether the Promises of Marriage may be given before a Priest, because the Mother will have her Daughter contracted by a Priest? It is answered, Forasmuch as the presence of the Priest is only required that the Espousals should be performed by him, 'tis our Advice, that it ought not to be done.

XXI. A young Man promiseth Marriage unto a Maid, with this express Condition inserted in the Contract, That he promiseth Marriage, provided the Maid consents to be married in the Reformed Church; the Maid promiseth and consents for a time; afterward seeing the Troubles arising for Religion, she will not yield unto it, and saith farther, That she will never have this young Man. It's demanded, Whether he is hereby freed from his Promise? We answer, The young Man shall endeavor by his diligent Sollicitations to persuade her; and 'tis left to the prudence of the Consistory to judge of the Diligences used by him, and accordingly to proceed to a Declaration of the Nullity of the Marriage, if need be.

XXII. Such as bearing Office in the Reformed Church having in times of Persecution fallen into Idolatry shall be deposed from their said Office, and before they be again received unto the Lord's Table shall undergo public Penance. And if private Persons are guilty of the same Crime, they shall do the same Penance enjoined them by the Consistory; all which shall be performed with Christian Charity and due Moderation, according to the Rules of our Ecclesiastical Discipline.

XXIII. The case being moved, Whether it be sufficient that the Fornication of a Man be proved by his Harlot, and the Testimony of some worthy Person, who shall depose that he heard the Fornicator acknowledge his Crime, and that those belonging to the House do testify of their frequenting each others company? 'It is our Counsel, That the Consistory of the Church would exhort the Accused to confess the Truth, confronting him, the Harlot, and Witnesses together, and to examine well all Circumstances: And if he persist in his Denial, yet to suspend him from the Lord's Supper, provided the Witness be an honest Person, and without reproach.

XXIV. The Churches shall be advertised, not to celebrate the Marriage of strange Persons, who dwell not in the places where those Marriages are to be solemnized, unless they bring Certificates from those Churches whereunto they do belong.

XXV. A Maid brought from among Salvages, and not instructed in the Principles of Christian Religion, ought not to be baptized before she can give a rational account of her Faith, and that by a public Confession.

XXVI. In the Province of Berry, whenas over and above the Synodical Assemblies and Propositions, (to exercise the Gifts of young unordained Preachers in order to their Approbation for the Ministry) there shall be other Assemblies specially convened to consult about necessary and emergent Affairs, they shall be held by the common Agreement of the Churches Consistories, and not by any other Authority, that so that Article of our Discipline may not be thwarted, which expressly ordaineth, that no Church shall usurp any Authority over another.

XXVII. The Minister of Memiot desiring our Judgment in this case, A Gentleman caused his Child to be baptized by a Priest, who continues practicing his Idolatry: Shall this Child be rebaptized or not? It's answered in the Negative.

XXVIII. The Minister of Chasteneauef and Mazon desired Resolution unto this case, Whether he may with a good Conscience lend another his Name, that under the covert thereof he might enjoy the Profits of a certain Benefice? We answer, That he ought not to do it in any wise.

XXIX. Forasmuch as the Minister of New castel, in Normandy, hath of his own accord forsaken his Ministry, induced thereunto by the persuasions of his Wife, as he protested before the Colloquy at Diep, it is resolved, that the Brethren Ministers of that Colloquy shall censure him according to his Deservings, and put him in the Catalogue of Desertors.

XXX. It being demanded, Whether it were only a Prohibition of Human Laws, That the Widow of the deceased Brother might not be married to his surviving Brother? The Council answered, That such Marriages were also forbidden by the Word of God: And though under the Law of Moses it was ordained, That when the elder Brother died childless, the younger Brother should raise up Seed unto him; yet this was only a temporary Law to God's Ancient Israel, and intended only for the preservation and distinction of their Tribes.

XXXI. One having renounced his Benefices, demands advice, What he shall do with his Writings, Deeds, and other Evidences belonging unto the Lands and Revenues of those his said Benefices. We advise him to discharge himself by due course of Law, according to the Ordinance of the Magistrate: and he shall cancel his Letters of Presentation.

XXXII. A certain Lady craves our Advice, Whether she may claim her Right and Interests in a Gentleman, who had promised her Marriage by words de praesenti, all usual Solemnities halving been observed, who yet notwithstanding now refuseth to accomplish the said Marriage, pretending Inequality of Fortune, and Difference of Religion, and that for these reasons he cannot comply with her. We advise that before she insist on those things which are consecutive to the interruption and separation of the Marriage, as the demanding of her Rights, and other matters of that nature from him, that she procure the accomplishment of the Marriage according to his Promise.

XXXIII. In some Places and Temples where the Word of God is preached, the Bells being rung to give notice of it, is it expedient, that Men and Women meeting together for that purpose in a certain Chamber of those Temples, should answer Questions propounded to them from the Books, Chapters, and Verses of the Holy Bible by the Minister, and give each of them their Scence and Interpretation of those Texts of Scripture? It was answered, That this course was evil and of dangerous consequence, and that the Minister of Croissil did very well to oppose himself against it. And the Churches are advised not to bring in any such Practice.

XXXIV. Those of Caen send their Candidates abroad to preach the Word, whence divers Scandals have ensued, because some of them have been Persons of ill Life, and it was contrary to what had been ordained at Rouen: However, the Reasons urged by them are these, That by the Council of Poitiers, Deacons were permitted to Catechize; and they could not suddenly lay hands on any, being as yet Novices, and also because they sent them unto such places as had not ability to maintain a Minister: Is this Action of theirs worthy of Reprehension? We answer, That in the National Synod of Poitiers Deacons were indeed permitted Catechising, but it was when they were fully resolved to serve in the Ministry of the Gospel; and also by reason of the difference of Opinions hereabout this very matter had been remitted unto this present Council: But because there was not at that time anything spoken about Propositions, and that they had been warned of this by the Provincial Synod of Rouen, not to indulge unto this practice anymore, they shall therefore be censured.

XXXV. A Minister of Caën did so very much importune a Maid that she gave him promise of Marriage, and promiseth to espouse him on this Condition, When the Mass shall be no more used in the City of Caën; whereupon the Minister gives her certain Rings, and a while after demands the accomplishment of their Marriage. But the Maid will not consent, and saith, That her Father did by Threatenings constrain her to make those Promises; which is also acknowledged by the Father. The Provincial Synod of Caën declared the Nullity of that Promise, because it had been extorted by force, and had it been performed, there would have arisen great Scandal: For sometime he acquiesceth in the Sentence of that Synod, and receiveth again his Rings: But now, as he saith, being pressed to it by his conscience, he believes himself bound unto her, and therefore makes his Appeal unto this present Synod, who having seen the causes of this Appeal, orders, That he submit himself to the Direction of the Provincial Synod of Caën, which they judge to be most equitable. And the Provincial Synod of Caën also is enjoined to inquire into the Call and Life of this Minister, and in special to discover the means used by him for the obtaining this pretended Promise, and to take knowledge of it, that he may be suspended and deposed if so be necessity do require it.

XXXVI. A Gentleman troubles the Church, and wills that his Wife come up immediately after him unto the Lord's Table before any of the Men: And altho' it had been ordained by the Synod of Caën, That he should follow the general practice of the Churches; yet nevertheless he will not conform thereunto. This Assembly orders, a Letter in their Name to be sent him, advising him to walk with more Humility.

XXXVII. It's demanded, Whether those words, You neither need me nor my Goods; uttered upon speech of Marriage, do imply a Promise? This Synod answers negatively.

XXXVIII. A Minister of Limonsin, whose Conversation was otherwise blameless, by the Threats of Enemies, writ to the Queen-Mother, That he never consented to the taking up of Arms, although he had consented and contributed thereunto: Item, That he promised to preach no more until such time as the King should License him, and that he had promise made him to enjoy his Conscience, living quietly in his own House. Since being convinced of his Sin, he did freely of his own accord, without having been solicited thereunto, make public Confession of it before the whole Congregation, hath lived very holily, yea, with the rare Testimony of a Very great Repentance; and in particular he did acknowledge his Offence upon a solemn Sacrament-day in the presence of all the Ministers of the Country, insomuch that all the Faithful departed exceedingly edified by his Example: He hath also for a long time together forborne the exercise of his Office. 'It is demanded, Whether this be a sufficient Penance, and he may enter again upon his Charge, the People earnestly desiring it? We are of Opinion that this is sufficient: However, he shall once again write unto D'Escars, who was the cause of his Fall, to give him to understand his Repentance▪ if so be the Consistory and Neighbor-Ministers think it fitting; and he is entreated, if he can, to acquaint the Queen with it. And in case of Scandal taken against his Church for this Action, 'tis left to the Prudence of the Provincial Synod of Lymousin to remove him unto some other place.

XXXIX. The Church of Vivaretz demand, Whether they may without wronging their consciences give the Sacrament unto an Abbess, who having quitted all Idolatry, doth notwithstanding retain the Revenues of her Abbey, and not employ them to their right uses? 'It is answered, That they may not admit her to the Lord's Table.

XL. A Minister being sound insufficient, who was put into the Ministry without Examination, what is to be done with him, especially since a Multitude do desire to have him? It's advised, That he go and follow his Studies elsewhere for some time.

XLI. Unto the Question, Whether Marriage may be performed in his private House, who is sick of a Disease, which hinders him from going abroad? It is answered, That it is not lawful, because though he cannot go, yet he may be carried unto the Church.

XLII. A young Man promiseth Marriage unto a Maid, but oftentimes protests before her Parents and divers others, That he will not take her in Marriage, if she be not a Virgin. They do all give him assurances of the Virginity of their Daughter, and she also herself avows it: yet it comes to light, that eight Years before she had a Child. It's demanded, Whether he be freed from his Promises, because he says he is cheated by them. We answer, That in case the Whoredom is manifest, and he never had carnal Knowledge of her, we are of Opinion that he is free, according to our former Decision on the same Article.

XLIII. A certain Abbot in Lymousin professeth himself a Doctor and Preacher: the People hear him gladly; nevertheless he maintains his Monks, goes in Person unto the Mass, and does not join himself unto a Reformed Church. 'It is queried, Whether the People may be permitted to hear him; and whether those Ministers who exhorted him to read his Lectures, have done well, and those also who have assisted at his French Sermons? It's answered, That those Ministers who have been present at his Sermons, or exhorted the People to become his Hearers, or him to Teach, among whom there is one called Provost, ought all of them to be grievously censured: And the People shall be admonished, according to the Rules of our Discipline, to content themselves with their own Pastors; and that my Lord Abbot be desired to forbear his Lectures, and to subject himself unto the Order of God's Church, and tarry till he be called unto such an Office.

XLIV. Monsieur Pelot craved advice in this weighty Case: A Marriage had been contracted between a Youth of sufficient Age, and a Maid of Thirteen, with mutual content of the Parties and their Parents: The Banes were published in the Church; and just as the Minister would have married them, the Maid sat down, and would neither rise nor stand up. But after Sermon, having been admonished of her Duty, she yields unto it, and they were married in the Church, and lay together, yet without any carnal Cohabitation. She upon second thoughts says, the Marriage is null; and separating from her Husband, protests she is not bound to own him for hers in that relation, nor to cleave unto him; and requireth to be divorced from him; whereunto the Man would freely and willingly consent, provided it might be done with a good conscience. This Assembly declares, That it is a good Marriage, true and indissolvable; and the Parties must be exhorted in the Name of God, to carry themselves as true married Persons. And Monsieur du Verges, and the Consistory of Montlimart, where the Mother which hinders the Marriage dwells, are desired to do their endeavor, that it may be perfected.

XLV. Monsieur Vaisse propounds, That Promises of Marriage had been made by two Persons at Marnejoux, both of sufficient Age, and with consent of Parties; the Promises were ratified and confirmed the second time, and that by Contract passed through the hands of a Public Notary: The young Woman refuseth to accomplish the Marriage, urging for herself, that she was compelled by her Parents to make such Promises; though the contrary is evident from the very words of her Parents: she further alledgeth, That her Party's Breath is very stinking. The Marriage is declared indissolvable.

XLVI. A Man having contracted Marriage with a Maid by consent of Parents, maketh other Promises unto another Maid, and passeth Contract of this also, of which he is afterward very penitent, and persisteth in his first Promise. By consent of the Consistory and Magistrate of the Place, 'tis concluded the first Promise shall hold. Nevertheless when the Banes are published, the Father of the second Maid forbids them. May the Minister proceed to celebrate and bless this Marriage notwithstanding the old Man's Prohibition? It is concluded, that forasmuch as the Father of the second Maid opposeth it only out of Interest, and for a sum of Money, which he claimeth due unto him, the Minister may do his Office in marrying them.