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

CHAP. VI.

18. THE Confession of Faith of the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom was read, and Signed by all the Deputies, and they did all of them unanimously for themselves, and for their Provinces, make this Solemn Protestation, that they would immovably persist to their last Gasp in the Profession of it.

19. Observations upon Reading of the Church-Discipline.

• ARTICLE 1.
  THE strict Observation of the Thirteenth Canon, in the First Chapter of our Discipline, concerning the Residence of Pastors in their Churches, is recommended unto all the Provinces, who shall mutually inspect one the other, and shall be responsible respectively for their Obedience unto this Order in the next National Synod.
• Article 2.
  For the better Understanding of the Ninth Canon in the Second Chapter of our Discipline, and the Second Observation of the Synod of Alez, on the immediate foregoing Synod of Vitre, That when a Church is served by several Pastors, and an Appeal shall be made from One of them, this Business shall be decided by his Colleagues, in conjunction with the Consistory; and in such Churches where there is but one Pastor only, a Neighbor Minister shall be entreated to come unto that Consistory, to consult about the Appeal from him, and to give Judgment in that case; and till it be Pronounced, the Appellant shall abstain from Communion at the Lord's Table.
• Article 3.
  The Tenth Canon of the 13th Chapter of our Discipline, shall be understood in this Sense, That no Man may Marry the Mother of his Deceased Spouse, unless the Civil Magistrate shall Authorize it by his own Ordinance, which shall be expected, both by the Pastor, and the Parties contracting Marriage.
• Article 4.
  The Twelfth Canon shall be couched in these Words, That however Civility and Decency may oppose a Mans Marriage with the Widow of his Wives Brother, yet in case the Civil Magistrate will authorize the Contract, our Churches shall make no difficulty at all to Bless it.
• Article 5.
  In ratifying the Canons of the National Synods of Gergeau, Gap, and the Third held at Rochelle concerning Proposans, who presume to get into the pulpits, and from thence to hold forth their Propositions, which can be none other than an Authoritative Preaching unto the People, especially if it be on the usual Days and Hours of their Public Meetings; this Assembly at the Request of the Province of Saintonge, doth forbid all Pastors and Consistories, to suffer this Practice to creep into any of their Churches; nor shall they of their own Heads introduce it.
• Article 6.
  By reason of that defect which occurs in some Letters of Commission from the Provinces unto their Deputies, it is now Decreed, That the Proper Names and Surnames of their respective Deputies shall be inserted in them.
• Article 7.
  The Province of Provence, is admonished to cause the Letters of Commission given unto their Deputies to be signed in their Provincial Synod by the Moderator and Scribe, that it may be known who they be that are chosen by them; and they shall also insert into them the Clause of Submission unto the authority of the National Synods, even as it is expressed in that particular Canon of our Discipline relating to it.
• Article 8.
  The Province of Britain demanding by their Deputies, whether Pastors may be permitted to Bless the Marriages of Couzen Cermans, before they have obtained his Majesty's Dispensation; This Synod doth most strictly forbid any one of our Ministers to attempt such a matter, because the very contrary is expressly enjoined us in those particular Articles, which explain the Edict of Nantes. See Art 41.
• Article 9.
  Whereas the same Province demanded, that this Assembly would frame a particular form for Baptizing of Adult Persons, which are Converted from Paganism, Mohammedanism, and Judaism unto the Christian Religion; It was thereupon Ordered, that this ensuing Form should be particularly used on those Occasions, when as God shall be graciously pleased to make any Additions unto his Church, of such Converts.

CHAP. IX. The Form and Manner of Baptizing Pagans, Jews, Mohammedans and Anabaptists Converted to the Christian Faith; Composed by the National Synod of the Reformed Churches of France, Assembled at Charenton, in the Year 1645.

10. THE Catechumen having been sufficiently instructed in the Christian Religion, and able to give an Account of his Faith and Hope in God, and the Lord Jesus, to the good Contentment and Satisfaction of the Church, and they being very well satisfied of the Purity and Integrity of his Life and Conversation by Credible Witnesses, he shall by those self-same Witnesses be presented publicly to the whole Assembly of the Faithful to be Baptized; and the Minister before all the Congregation shall thus bespeak him.

Quest. 1. Do you not acknowledge yourself by Nature to be a Child of Wrath, worthy of Death, and Everlasting Malediction?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 2. Are you not Sorry and Displeased for all the Sins of which you are Guilty ever since you were Born; and do you not promise that you will forsake them forever more?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 3. Do you not from your very Heart, renounce all intermeddling with the Temptations and Seducements of the Devil and of his Angels, all the Pomps and Vanities of this present World, and all the Affections and Concupiscences of the Flesh?

Answ. Yes.

If he be a Pagan, the Minister shall thus bespeak him.

Quest. 4. Do not you believe that there is but one God only, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, who by the Word of his Power sustaineth all things, and in whom we Live, Move, and have our Being?

Answ. Yes.

After this, they shall proceed unto the next Question, which shall be common to them all. And here the Reader must be admonished, that all those Questions which are in the Small Roman Character, are to be propounded to all the Chatechumens indifferently; but those in the Italian Character, do either belong distinctly and severally to the Jews or Pagans, to the Mohammedans or Anabaptists, according as their respective Titles do demonstrate. And then they return unto their General Questions in the Lesser Character, which are to be made in this Ensuing Order.

Quest. 5. Do not you believe that this great God who hath Created Heaven and Earth, is one in Essence, though distinguished into Three Persons Equal and Coeternal; The Father, the Son begotten of the Father from all Eternity; and the Holy Ghost proceeding Everlasting from the Father and the Son?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 6. Do not you believe that this Great God who never left himself without Witness, hath manifested himself unto Men, not only by his Works, which ever since their first Production, do incessantly declare his Praise and Glory, but also by the Revelation of his Counsel, for the Salvation of Mankind, contained in the Holy Scriptures, called the Old and New Testament?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 7. Do not you believe that all those Holy Scriptures are of Divine Inspiration, and contain the perfect Rule of our Faith and Life.?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. Do not you profess, that you will even to the last Moment of your Life, resist the Devil, whom you have hitherto adored, serving Idols made with hands, or the Host of Heaven, or those which by Nature are no God's?

Answ. Yes.

If the Catechumen be a Jew, these Five following Questions shall be propounded to him, omitting those Four above mentioned, as properly belonging to the Heathen.

Quest. 1. Do you not detest the Rebellion and Obdurateness of the Jews, and do you not most humbly beg Pardon of God, that you have been so long a time detained under it?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 2. Do not you believe that the whole of God's Will, which it hath pleased him graciously to reveal unto us, is not only contained in the Books of the Old Testament, but also in those of the new?

Answ. Yes.

Quest 3. Do not you believe that Jesus the Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was Conceived in her by the uneffable Power of the Holy Ghost, and afterward Condemned to the Death of the Cross, upon the malicious Accusation of the Jews, by the Unrighteous Sentence of Pontius Pilate, and Raised from the Dead the Third Day, and now exalted in Glory, is God manifested in the Flesh, the Eternal word of the Father, by whom he Created and Sustaineth the whole World, that blessed Seed promised unto Adam immediately upon his Fall, by whose Power and Virtue the Head of that Old Serpent was Bruised, whose coming in the Flesh all the Patriarchs believed and hoped for; that great Prophet, and true Messiah foretold by Moses and all the Prophets that lived after him?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 4. Do not you believe that the Lord Jesus is the end of the Law for Righteousness unto all Believers, the Truth and Substance of all his Types and Shadows, the true Lamb of God, who taketh away the Sins of the whole World, and in whom all the fullness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 5. Do not you believe that the Observation of the Ceremonial Law is now not only needless and Superfluous, but also every way pernicious unto Conscience?

Ans. Yes.

If the Catechumen be a Mahometan, the Minister shall propound unto him these Six following Questions, omitting those above mentioned, which properly belong unto the Jews and Pagans.

Quest. 1. Do you not believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament be inspired of God, and contain his whole Counsel for the Salvation of Men, and are the only perfect Rule of Faith and Life?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 2. Do not you believe that Jesus the Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was Conceived in her by the Virtue of the Holy Ghost, and Formed as to the Flesh out of her own Substance, is God and Man, Blessed for evermore, perfect God, and perfect Man; Man born of a Woman in due fullness of time, and God begotten of the Father from Everlasting?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 3. Do not you believe that the Lord Jesus, from his first Conception after the Flesh, was Holy, Innocent, without Blemish, and separate from Sinners; and that he did not suffer Death for his own Sins, but for ours only?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 4. Do not you believe that his Death is the Propitiation for our Sins, yea, and for the Sins of the whole World; and that this Propitiation is infinitely Meritorious, through which Everlasting Glory and Salvation were purchased for us?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 5. Do not you believe that Mahomet was an Impostor, and that his Alcoran is a Sacrilegious Heap of Idle Fancies, full of Absurdities, broach'd on design to set up a False and Abominable Religion?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 6. Do not you believe that the Gospel of our Lord Jesus is the power of God unto Salvation, to everyone that believeth; and that in the Christian Religion, only God the Father hath revealed his good Will and Pleasure for the Salvation of Men, until the End of the World, and that since its Revelation, there is not any new Religion to be expired, for that the Lord Christ is the only great Prophet promised unto the Faithful of the Old Testament; and that God having formerly spoken at sundry times, and in divers manners unto Men, before the Law, and under the Law, hath spoken to the Church of the New Testament, by the Mouth of his only Son the Lord Jesus?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. Give an Account of your Creed.

Answ. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of, &c.

In case the Catechumen be an Anabaptist, the Minister having made all those Demands Printed in the Roman Character, and omitted those in the Italian, which more particularly belong either to Pagans, Jews, or Mohammedans, he shall thus proceed.

Quest. 1. Do not you believe that the Lord Jesus is and shall be true God, and true Man in those Two Natures everlastingly; that he was according to his Human Nature like in all thing unto other Men, Sin only excepted, insomuch that he was the true Son of Abraham, of David, and of the Blessed Virgin, descended from their Seed and Blood, and that the Substance of his Body was not only formed in the Virgin, but also out of the very Substance of the Virgin, conformably to that Saying of the Apostle, that he was of the Seed of David, according to the Scriptures, that he was born of a Woman, and partaker of Flesh and Blood, as all other Children?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 2. Do you not believe that Infant-Baptism is grounded on the Scriptures, and the perpetual Practice of the Christian Church?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 3. Do not you renounce with your whole Heart their Error, who reject Baptism? And are you not penitent for your so long refusal of it?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. 4. Do not you believe the Authority of Magistrates to be an Ordinance of God, unto which whoso will not yield Subjection, do bring upon themselves Condemnation, and that all kind of Obedience is due unto them?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. Do not you believe that this good God, who calleth all of us by the Ministry of his Word unto Life and Salvation, hath appointed certain Signs and Sacraments in his Church, which do Seal and confirm the Covenant of Grace, propounded to us in the Gospel Ministry?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. How many Sacraments do you believe that there be in the Christian Church?

Answ. Two, Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

Quest. Do you desire to be instructed in the Nature and Use of Baptism, which you now demand of this Church of Christ?

Answ. Yes.

Then the Minister shall say,

Our Lord showeth us in what Poverty and Misery we are all born, when he telleth us, that we must be born again. For if our Nature must be renewed, that it may enter into the Kingdom of God, then 'tis evident that it is universally depraved and accursed, whereof he admonisheth us, that we may be humbled and displeased with oar selves; and by this means doth he prepare us earnestly to petition for his Grace, by which all that Corruption and Malediction of our first Nature may be abolished. And we are not capable of receiving it, till we be first emptied of all Confidence in our own Virtue, Wisdom and Righteousness, that so we may pass Sentence of Condemnation upon all that is in us.

And look as he remonstrateth unto us our miserable Estate, so also doth he comfort us with his Mercy, promising to regenerate us by his Holy Spirit unto newness of Life, which will be the earnest of our entrance into his Kingdom. This Regeneration consisteth of two Parts: First, that we deny ourselves, not following our own Judgment, Will and Pleasure, but resigning our Hearts and Understandings to be led Captive by the Wisdom and Righteousness of God, and so mortifying ourselves and all our fleshly Members here below, we do then follow the Divine Light, and take up our Complacency in Obedience unto his good Will and Pleasure revealed to us in his Holy Word, and subject ourselves to the Guidance and Government of his Holy Spirit.

Now the Accomplishment of both these is in our Lord Jesus, whose Death and Passion is of such Virtue, that by communicating in it, we are as it were dead to Sin, that so our carnal Affections, and the Desires of our Flesh may be mortified. In like manner by the Virtue of Christ's Resurrection, we rise up unto newness of Live, which is of God; in • smuch as his Holy Spirit doth guide and govern us, and work in us those Works which are well-pleasing to him. Yet the first and chiefest Point of our Salvation is, that by his Mercy he freely pardons all our Sins, not imputing them unto us; and blotteth out the remembrance of them, that so they may not be brought in Judgment against us. All these Benefits are conferred upon us, when he is pleased graciously to incorporate us into his Church by Baptism; for in this Sacrament he testifieth unto us the Forgiveness of our Sins. And to this purpose hath he ordained the Sign of Water, thereby to signify unto us, That as this Element cleanseth away the Filth of the Body, even so will he wash and purify our Souls, that there may not appear the least Spot upon them.

In the next place it holdeth forth unto us our Renovation, which standeth, as was said before, in the Mortification of our Flesh, and in that Spiritual Life which he effecteth in us.

So that we receive a double Grace and Benefit from God in our Baptism, provided we do not disannul the Virtue of this Sacrament by our Ingratitude. First, That we have a most certain Token and Testimony, that God will be a propitious Father to us, not imputing our Sins and Offences to us. Secondly, That he will assist us by his Holy Spirit, that we may be enabled to combat with the Devil, Sin, and the Desires of our Flesh, until we have won the Victory; and so enjoy the Liberty of his Kingdom, which is a Kingdom of Righteousness.

For as much then as these two things be accomplished in us by the Grace of our Lord Jesus, it followeth that the Virtue and Substance of Baptism is treasured up in him. And indeed we have no other Laver but that of his Blood; nor any other Renovation, but what is in his Death and Resurrection, which, as he communicateth his Riches and Benedictions to us by his Word, so also doth he distribute them abroad among us by his Sacraments.

And in this appeareth the wonderful Love of God towards us, that these Graces bestowed on us, having (before the Incarnation of our Lord Redeemer) been as it were, locked up among the Jewish People, and the Partition-Wall, which separated between Jews and Gentiles, being broken down by his Death, he hath and doth shed abroad upon Mankind the saving Waters of his Grace in such abundance, that now there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither Male nor Female, neither Circumcision nor Uncircumcision, nor any outward Condition of Men, that can exclude them from that great Salvation, which is in him, and which the Lord Jesus will have preached unto all Nations: And the Covenant of his Peace is now ratified by Baptism, according to the Commission, which he hath given unto his Apostles, saying, Go ye and preach unto all Nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Quest. And is it not true, my Brother, that you desire to be Partaker of this Grace by Baptism?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. But forasmuch as he that entereth into the House of God must look unto his ways, lest he should profane the Sanctuary, and presume, according to that Saying of the wise Preacher, to offer the Sacrifice of Fools and ungodly Persons, and that he ought to be clean purged from all Leaven of Error and Malice, do you not detest from your Heart all Errors contrary to that sound Doctrine taught in our Churches?

Answ. Yes.

Quest. Forasmuch as we are now about to administer the Sacrament of Baptism unto you, do you not protest to live and die in the Faith of our Lord Jesus, which you have now confessed before us, and to adorn it with an Holy Life and Conversation, and to direct all your Thoughts. Words and Actions to the Glory of God, and the Edification of your Neighbor, and to submit yourself to the Order and Discipline of our Church, in Conformity whereunto this Holy Ordinance must be inviolably maintained?

Answ. Yes.

This being done, the Minister shall add, Let us call upon God, that he may be entreated to give his Blessing to this present Holy Ministration.

O Lord our God! The most wise and merciful God! We praise and bless thy Holy Name for that Grace, which thy good Hand hath deigned to bestow upon this thy Servant, who lay in the profound Darkness of the Shadow of Death, but is now enlightened by thee, thou having caused the Day-Spring from on high with his quickening and saving Brightness to arise and shine in upon him, drawing him from a most deplorable hardness of a stony Heart to mollify and soften him, delivering him from the Bonds of Death, and restoring Life unto him. Lord! as thou hast took away the Veil that was upon his Face, and called him to the Knowledge of thyself the only True God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent, and animated him with a Spiritual Courage to make a public Confession this Day of thy Holy Faith, and that Hope which thou hast begotten in his Soul, and granted him this Grace to offer himself in thy Presence unto this Holy Sacrament of Baptism, the Seal of thy Covenant, the Pledg of the Remission of our Sins, and the Token of our Admission into thy House by a Supernatural New Birth: So, most blessed God, we beseech thee, to dart in upon him more and more the Beams of thy Mercy, to forgive him all his Sins, to purge his Conscience with the precious Blood of the Lamb without Spot, who taketh away the Sins of the World. O cause him, Lord, to feel the Almighty Virtue of his Propitiation. Let thy Holy Spirit sanctify him, and make him a new Creature, that he dying unto Sin may live unto Righteousness, and putting off the Old Man with his Works, he may put on the New Man, who is renewed in Righteousness and true Holiness. And as we are now pouring upon his Head the Waters of thy Sacrament, so we beseech thee more especially to pour down upon him the Gifts and Graces of thy Holy Spirit. Receive him into the Number of thy Domesticks, and honor him with the Adoption of thy Children. Give him Grace, that during his whole Life he may devote himself entirely unto thy Service, and yield that Obedience and Religious Worship to thee, which is thy Due and his Duty. And let him persevere faithfully in thy Holy Covenant forever-more; that as we do now receive him in thy Name into the Communion of thy Church Militant, so thou mayest another Day exalt him into the Bosom of thy Church Triumphant, and gather him at his Death unto that general Assembly of the First-born, whose Names are written in Heaven. Hear us, O merciful Father, that this Baptism, which we do now administer to him according to thy Sacred Ordinance, may produce its Fruit and Virtue in him, as thou hast declared in thy Holy Gospel to us, for the sake of thy dear Son, in whom thou art well-pleased, even our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath commanded us to call upon thee, saying, Our Father which art in Heaven, &c.

Then the Minister addressing himself to the Sureties, who present the Catechumen, shall say,

My Brethren, As you have charitably employed yourselves in the Instruction and Edification of this our Brother, and are Witnesses of tha Baptism, which he shall now receive through our Ministry; so, do you not promise before God and this Sacred Assembly to continue more and more to strengthen and confirm him in the Faith, and to stir him up unto all good Works?

Answ. Yes.

This done, the Minister speaking unto the Catechumen, who upon his Knees waiteth for Baptism, shall say,

Forasmuch as we have received these Evidences of your Faith, [pouring Water upon him] N. I Baptize thee in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

The Conclusion of the Form of Baptizing Strangers from the Covenant of God, whether Pagans, Jews, Mohammedans, Anabaptists, or any other Infidels, who had not been before baptized.

11. If in Churches served by divers Pastors, any one of them be disabled either through Age, or some other Infirmity, from administering the Cup, yet shall he always distribute the Bread in the Lord's Supper unto the Communicants, and this Canon shall be observed in all the Provinces without exception.

12. Whereas in many of the greater Churches of this Kingdom it hath been found requisite for their more general edifying, to handle the Sunday 's Catechisms by way of Common-Places in Divinity, and not by familiar Questions and Answers: And to promote their Instruction, who are well grown in years, they have substituted extraordinary Catechisings on certain Days immediately preceding the Lord's Supper, we approving their Practice, do notwithstanding exhort the rest of the Churches to conform themselves unto the Order prescribed by the Discipline as much as possibly they can. And in case they cannot every Lord's Day Catechize their Children, yet shall they choose out some days of the Week peculiarly for this Exercise, especially before the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is to be administered, and the Provincial Synods are ordered to see this punctually observed in every Church of their Jurisdiction, and to give an Account thereof unto the next National Synod.

13. To explain that Canon of our Discipline, which bindeth Pastors in their ordinary Course of Preaching to expound someone particular Book of Holy Scripture from the beginning to the end thereof, this Assembly declareth, that the Intention of the National Synod, which decreed that Canon, was not thereby to debar or hinder any Pastors from edifying their Churches by expounding of any Books or Texts of Scripture particularly chosen on extraordinary occasions, as of the Lord's Supper, &c. nor to impose upon them any necessity of prosecuting the Exposition of the same Book, which was the Subject of their Lord's Day Sermon upon the Week Days, in which the far greatest Part of the People are taken up with the Occupations of their Secular Callings and Families, that they cannot attend upon such Sermons, and so would be deprived of their chiefest Edification, but in this respect to leave all Pastors to their Liberty.

14. Henceforward the Moderators in Synodical Assemblies, and the Deputies which shall be sent from the Provinces in their Name to assist in National Synods shall be chosen, as the Canons of our Discipline have determined, not by the Churches, but by Plurality of Suffrages of the Provinces. And in case any absent Person should be elected, yet this shall not abridge the Pastors of their Liberty in Voting.

15. For the better Understanding the Third Canon of the Ninth Chapter of the Discipline, This Assembly declareth, that the Memoirs wherewith every Province intrusteth their respective Deputies, ought to be resolved in their Provincial Synods by plurality of Votes, and signed in the said Assemblies by the Moderators; and in case this be omitted, there shall be no more regard had unto them, than unto Motions made by Private Persons who had no Order nor Commission, and propounded such matters of their own Head.

16. Upon the Eighth Canon of the Ninth Chapter of the Discipline, it was decreed, that the Moderator of the Synod having propounded the Matters of Discipline, which are to be debated, shall defer the giving of his Suffrage till all the Deputies have given theirs; and he having gathered their Votes, shall then at last have the Casting Voice.

CHAP. X. Observations made on Reading the National Synod of Alenson, held in the Year 1637.

1. IN compliance with that Petition of the Deputies of Vivaretz, and of the Church of St. Stephen in Forest, which had agreed in a particular Treaty made with the Church of Bonlieu, and by Consent of the Province of Burgundy, that the said Church should be united as it hath been for divers Years last past with it; this Assembly doth approve both of their Reunion with the said Province of Vivaretz, and of its being incorporated with that of Bonlieu.

2. In Confirmation of the promises made by the National Synods of Charenton, held in the Year 1631, the Second time at that Place; and of Alenson, in the Year 1637, unto Monsieur Chamier, this Assembly resolveth steadfastly as soon as God shall have enabled the Churches, that they shall be punctually performed.

3. A Decree past, that the Sieurs Constant and Bellot should be effectually paid what had been promised them by the foregoing Synods, as soon as ever the Churches may recover a Fund for it; and it shall be returned unto the Province of Saintonge, who had advanced before-hands the said Monies.

4. For as much as the whole written Will and Testament of Monsieur Scoffier, the Father produced in this Assembly, hath not been in the least fulfilled, although the National Synod of Alanson had strictly enjoined his Executors to perform it; the Consistory of the Church of Nismes is ordered once again to call before them the Widow of Mr. John Scoffier Deceased, who had applied to his own private uses, the Monies belonging to Jaquemine his Sister, though she was by their own Father made Joint-heir with him, that so she may make Restitution of what she had unjustly taken to herself, and that by a false Information brought in by her unto the National Synod of Castres: And in case she refuse to Discharge her Conscience in this particular, then shall the said Consistory prosecute her with all the Censures of the Church according to the Discipline.

5. Monsieur du Fresne producing Testimonials from the Province of Higher Languedoc, of his Godly Life, and most exemplary Conversation ever since the last National Synod, and out of respect to his most Humble and Importunate Petition, this Assembly granteth him his Desire, and restoreth him to the Honor and Exercise of his Ministry, of which he had been deprived these Fourteen Years. And it was farther Decreed, that the Act of the National Synod of Alanson relating to him, shall be Rased; and whereas his Name was enrolled among the Deposed, it shall be now taken off the File, and he shall be sent unto the Churches of Issoire, Paillac, Chazelle, and Gazelle, to serve them as their Ordinary Pastor. All which shall be signified unto him by Letters.

6. Complaints being brought in against Monsieur Amyraud, Pastor and Professor in Theology, at Saumur, for Violating the Canons of the National Synod of Alanson, by Printing his Book of Reprobation, and some other of his Works; and the Province of Anjou, and the said Monsieur Amyraud, who was deputed by the said Church and University of Saumur, and charged with the Delivery of their Letters, having remonstrated unto this Synod many and sundry Transgressions of those very Canons, by several Provinces. And the Provincial Deputies of Poitou being heard, and also the said Amyraud, both as to the Publishing of his Books, and the Doctrine contained in them, this Assembly being very well satisfied with his Explications and Sense given of his Doctrine agreeable to that of the Synod of Alanson; and judging it best to bury in the Grave of Oblivion all those reciprocal Complaints brought in from all Parties, hath, as formerly, dismissed the said Sieur Amyraud, with honor to the Exercise of his Professorship, wherein he is exhorted to employ himself with Courage and Chearfulness. Moreover this Synod desirous for the future to settle a good arid lasting Peace in all the Churches, and to satisfy the Requests of all the Provinces, which have unanimously demanded the strict and punctual Confirmation and Observation of the Canons of the National Synod of Alanson, doth most expressly forbid on pain of all Church Censures, yea, and of being deposed from their Offices all Pastors and Professors to go beyond those bounds in Writing, Preaching or Disputing one against another upon those points declared and explained in the said Synod of Alanson, or to publish any Books on those Subjects. Moreover the said Professors shall be responsible for all their Lectures, Theses and Disputations; and their Provincial Synods shall be accountable for them onto the National. And all Students in Divinity are most expressly enjoined, upon pain of being declared unworthy of ever serving in the Sacred Ministry, to raise any Stirs or Debates about unnecessary Questions, as concerning the Order of God's Decrees, of Universal Grace by the Preaching of Nature, which may lead and bring Men unto Salvation, Points only propounded and advanced by pure Curiosity, and for the Exercise of Men's Wits. And all Examiners of our Proposans in order to the Ministry, shall proceed in that business with very much Charity, exacting from them nothing but what is demanded by the Canons of our Discipline; and provided they give that Satisfaction which is requisite, by signing the Confession of Faith, the Liturgy of our Churches, and the Canons of Alez, Charenton, and Alenson, and this present Act, they shall be approved and admitted.

7. After Reading of this Canon, which Monsieur Amyraud promised to observe and obey, he petitioned the Synod, that in case his Works might be opposed by Books printed in Foreign Parts, without the Kingdom, to the blasting of his Reputation, License might be given him to defend his own Innocency, and to make use of his Natural right in repelling injury, and purging himself from all Blame and Reproach. An Order passed, that if any such thing fell out, he should demand leave to vindicate himself from the Provincial Synod of Anjou, who shall consider whether it will be expedient for his Consolation, and the Churches Edification.

8. Monsieur Grace producing his Accompts of Monies received, and distributed to the Churches of Rochelle, Montauban and Castres, shall carry them to the next Provincial Synod of Burgundy, where upon his Bringing forth of the Acquittances, this Account shall be concluded and past by the Authority of this Assembly.

CHAP. XI. APPEALS.

1. THE Churches of Divonne and Grilby, in the Land of Gex, appealing from a Judgment in pecuniary matters, their Appeal is according to the Discipline sent unto the Province of Burgundy: And the Deputies of that Province, are Ordered to take into their Custody all Papers of both Sides relating to it.

2. That right may be done the Church de la Fite upon their Appeal, this Assembly judgeth, that the Province of Lower Guyenne hath exceeded the stated Rules. First, In removing Monsieur de Bourdieu from the Church in that Town, unto which he was by a particular Covenant obliged, and without hearing the Church, as is evident from the Acts of the said Provincial Synod. 2. For fixing the said Monsieur de Bourdieu, absolutely in the Church of Bergerac, notwithstanding the Appeal of that of La Fite. 3. That when the said Church of La Fite re-demanded their ancient Pastor, they provided for them Monsieur Belon, a Person never desired by them, and against whom very many Members of the said Church made their Exceptions, as being one by whom they could not profit. Wherefore that said Province and all others, are forbidden for the future, to use any such manner of dealings; and the said Province is enjoined to comfort and accommodate the said Church of la Fite, as soon as possibly they can, by providing a Pastor for it, who may be more pleasing and acceptable to them than Monsieur Belon, and to settle the said Belon in some other place, where he may employ his Gifts more usefully. And whereas Bergerac is a Church of no small importance, and its Necessities are very great and urgent, and Monsieur de Bourdieu is exceeding Successful in his Ministry there, this Synod doth approve of his being in that Station, and confirmeth him in the Pastoral Office of that Church. And whereas the Lord of Rabas, his Majesty's Commissioner in the Synod of St. Foy, who made this Change, hath complained by Letters, that the Act of Monsieur de Bourdieu 's Removal was passed before a Public Notary, an Answer was Voted to be returned, assuring him how great Deference this Assembly hath for his Lordship's Person and Quality, and to the truth of that Testimonial rendered by the Deputies of Lower Guyenne concerning what was transacted in their Provincial Assembly, and that whilst Judgment was passed upon the said Appeal, that Act was not in the least regarded.

3. Upon Hearing the report of the Committee, who were ordered to inspect the Appeal of Monsieur Reynault, Pastor of the Church of Realville, and the Proceedings against him by the Synods of Mauvezin and Realmont, this Assembly conserving the Honor of his Ministry untainted, and confirming the Judicial Acts of the Province, to whose care and kindness, he is yet notwithstanding particularly recommended, doth exhort him to enjoy his Quietus the remainder of his Days, that in case his many and frequent Sicknesses shall not permit him to go through with the Duties of his Calling, yet he may Edify the Church of God by his Exemplary Life and Conversation.

4. Report being made by the Commissioners, appointed to examine the Letters and Memoirs of Monsieur Moysnier, who appealed, because the word of Censure was not inserted into the Act of the Synod of Higher Languedoc, and had formed a Complaint against the Sieur Crubel: This Assembly, as to the first Article judgeth, that his Appeal was ill grounded. And as for his Complaint, in as much as he never gave notice of it unto Monsieur Crubel, it shall be carried unto the Consistory of the Church of Montauban, to whom the care of restoring him unto his charge is particularly recommended.

5. The Colloquy of Condommois appealing from the Synod of Lower Guyenne, for taking to themselves the Cognizance of Monsieur Rival 's Complaint, and of that of the Province of Béarn, and not having ordered any Person to appear for them, nor sent any Memoirs whereby to sustain their Appeal, this Assembly declareth the said Appeal null and void, and the Appealers worthy of the greatest Censures, for having by a kind of Chicanery of Law, obstructed the final Decision of that Affair; and requireth the very next Synod of that Province to give Judgment on it, and not only to denounce the Censures, but to see them as zealously executed, and to exert their Authority; that whatever Legacies have been heretofore, or may be hereafter bequeathed unto the Church of Marsan, be punctually and faithfully applied according to the Intention of the Testators; and that the right of Alternation expressly declared in this Testament, be kept inviolably for the Province of Bearne.

6. Memoirs sent from the Church of St. Hippolite were read, in which they maintained their Appeal from the Decree of the Synod of Cévennes, who had forbidden them to seek after Monsieur Poujade, now in the Ministry of the French Church of Canterbury in England. And the Deputies of the Province produced and alleged the Reasons of their Prohibition; and the whole affair having been maturely considered and debated, this Assembly confirmeth that Decree from which they have Appealed, and forbids that Church of St. Hippolyte of ever anymore entertaining a Thought for the said Poujade; and this also shall be observed as a standing Rule by all the Churches of that Province.

7. Although the Appeal of the Consistory of the Church of St. John de Gardonengues be not of the nature of those things which are to be brought unto these Assemblies, yet nevertheless this Assembly desirous of the Peace of that Church, and for the procuring and effecting of it, hath took cognizance thereof; and vacating the Judgment of the said Synod of Cévennes, which had approved that Monsieur Bony the Younger, should erect a Seat for himself in the Temple, directly contrary to the advice of the Consistory, retaining the ancient Custom of that Church. It Declareth, that excepting the Lord's and Magistrates, and Judges of that Place, everyone should be at liberty to sit where they pleased. And it is farther Ordained, that in all such like cases, every Consistory shall have full Power to Act and Provide what will be most for the Peoples Edifying, without any Appeal at all from them. And that for the future, no Appeals of this kind shall ever be admitted into the National Synods.

8. The Acts of the Synod of Cévennes, and a Letter written from Monsieur Tubert, complaining of his being Deposed from the Holy Ministry, without ever confronting of the Witnesses, being all read, and the Deputies of that Province heard, who had no Memoirs given them by their Principals for justifying of their Judgment, the Assembly dismissed this Cause to the Cognizance of the next Synod of Lower Languedoc, and enjoineth the Parties to appear in Person before it, and to bring with them all their Acts and Evidences that may serve to the clearing up of this matter, and impowereth the said Synod to give forth a final Judgment on it.

9. The Appeal of the Church of Brenoux, concerning their Conjunction with that of Laval, is disannulled; because that such Matters as these about Uniting one Church unto another, are to be judged Sovereignly without Appeal, by every Provincial Synod.

10. The Church of Vixan Appealed from the Synod of Cévennes, for rejecting their Petition, when they craved leave to get for themselves a Second Pastor. This Assembly disannulleth their Appeal, because that the said Church had not sent any Memoirs for the upholding of their Appeal, and because the Ground of it is now wholly removed.

11. That Sentence pronounced by the Provincial Synod of Lower Guyenne is confirmed in all its Branches and Articles, and the Consistory of Tonneins hath incurred the greatest Censure, for having (under the pretext of a particular Counsel offered by the same Synod unto the Church of Bergerac, and propounded by them as an Example to be followed by all others in the Province,) deprived Monsieur Fevron (who now Appealed) of a Right acquired by him through a long and uninterrupted Possession, without any Complaint brought in against him. 2. For Suspending Monsieur Fazas the Younger, maintaining his Father's Right; yea, since he had entered his Appeal, without any the least regard had unto his Father's unjust Deposal from his Office in the Eldership. 3. For refusing to notify unto the Church, the Restitution of the said Monsieur Fazas, unto his Office, whom they had Deposed, although the Provincial Synod had ordered them so to do, and that according to the Canons of our Discipline. Moreover this Assembly Decreeth, that the Judgment of that Provincial Synod shall be fully and most effectually performed; and that the Pastors and Elders of the Church of Tonneins, who shall not acquiesce in it, shall be Censured and Suspended from their Offices by Monsieur Brignos, (another Copy hath Brinol ) Pastor of La Parande, who was ordered by the Provincial Synod to inflict the Censures on them. And the Lord of St. Blancard, by reason that his House is Situated on the other side of the River, shall be at liberty to join himself unto that Church which is nearest to him. And farther, all Consistories are strictly forbidden to bring any Appeals of this Nature unto these National Synods; and although it be not our Intention to trouble our Selves with particular Customs, which have obtained in the Churches, about seating of Persons in our Temples, yet we do declare our Judgment, that there are less and fewer Inconveniences in leaving them free to all Comers, than to assign them unto particular Persons of a Private Condition, who have no Right nor Privilege to arrogate and claim unto themselves a preeminence above any others.

12. This Assembly desiring to preserve those Lord's who have the privilege of high Justice, and other Gentlemen in the possession of those Advantages granted them by the Edict, and doing right unto the Lord of Marcassargues, upon his Appeal, Ordaineth, that the Province of Cévennes shall yield unto his Lordship's Demand, upon those Conditions expressed in his Memoirs, and produced by him in this Assembly, to wit, that the Pastors shall come unto his House at his Charges, and without prejudice to those Religious Exercises, which are to be performed formed on certain Days of the Week; and that there be the like Consideration had for Persons of the same Quality and Character.

13. A Man going by the Name of Michael, dwelling at St. Stephens de val Franscisque being Condemned by the Provincial Synod of Cévennes, to separate himself from the Niece of his Deceased Wife, whom he had espoused, Appealed unto this Assembly; who having considered the Case, judged that Monsieur Sauvage the Pastor, and the whole Consistory of St. Stephen 's, had deserved the greatest Censures for their Disrespect shewn unto the Laws of the Land, and the Canons of our Discipline, in publishing the Banes of the said Michael, and afterwards for having given him a Certificate of their Publication. The Synod also of Cévennes was justly blamed for admitting a Fellow so deep in Guilt, and engaged and resolved to continue in his Sin, to take an Oath in their Presence. And the Sieur Ausez is ordered to appear before the Provincial Synod of Lower Languedoc, and to be accountable unto them for what he hath done in this business. And the said Michael and his Wife are commanded to give Glory unto God, and to refrain each others Company, and no more to wound their Consciences, by continuing in a Life so Scandalous, Condemned by the Word of God, and the Statute Laws of the Kingdom. And whereas the said Consistory of Saint Stephens, have took upon them by their Letters to maintain the Cause of these Delinquents, and that there is very much reason to suspect, that the Signature of Monsieur Barjon, affixed to the Lower end of the said Letters is Counterfeited, they shall be all carried to the next Synod of that Province, which shall inform themselves of the matter of Fact, and in case the Suspicion be found to be well grounded, they shall immediately proceed to censure the Person or Persons guilty of this Forgery.

14. The Acts and Memoirs sent from the Sieur de Combalasse, and those Joyning with him on the One Party, were read in this Assembly; and on the other, the Deputies of the Province of Higher Languedoc were heard, giving in the Reasons of that Judgment, which the Provincial Synod held at Mauvezin, had prononuced, both against the said Sieur de Combalasse, and those who had Accused him. Whereupon the said Judgment was Confirmed in all its Articles and Members. And forasmuch as there have been very many Defaults in the Proceedings on all Hands, which deserve a Censure, it was Decreed, that since the Ministry of the said Sieur de Combalasse can be no longer Edifying to the Church of Realmont, he shall be removed from it, and another Pastor Substituted in his Stead. And whereas upon Reading those Acts produced, divers Articles of Accusation appeared, which were not sufficiently cleared nor proved, the Colloquy of Albigeois is charged at their next Meeting; as also the Synod of higher Languedoc, to revise this matter, and to take new Information thereupon; and as things alleged, shall be averred and proved, to apply the Censures appointed by our Discipline.

15. Monsieur Guyonnet, Pastor of the Church of Chastillon upon Seine, having Appealed unto this Synod, that right might be done him, a Decree past, that he should continue to serve the said Church one Year however, until the Meeting of the Provincial Synod of Burgundy; upon the breaking up of which, he shall be at full Liberty. And the Sieur de Carouge shall be sent unto the Church of Beaune, to continue there for a time, and at the departure of the said Monsieur Guyonnelt, he shall be settled in the Church of Chastillon, as its peculiar Pastor.

16. That Judgment pronounced by the Province of Berry, upon the Sieur de la Galere, was Confirmed, and his Appeal from it disannulled; yet forasmuch as the said Province, and that of Anjou, in which he hath heretofore exercised his Ministry, have given him an Honorable Testimony; this Assembly Decreeth, that he shall be left upon the Roll of Pastors, who are by the National Synod to be distributed among the Churches, and shall be employed in such an One as the good Hand of God shall direct him to.

17. The Sieur Codure, formerly Pastor and Professor of Divinity in the Church and University of Nismes, having sent Letters with a Diatribe of his, Dedicated unto this Assembly, in which he pretends to reconcile the Differences between the Protestants and the Church of Rome concerning Justification, and demanded Audience of it: According to his Request, he was admitted to propound the Reasons and Motives of his Design. Which having done, there was a most serious Remonstrance made him of the great wrong he had done; First, Unto the Truth of God, in taking upon him to reconcile Contradictory Opinions, and utterly inconsistent one with the other. And then Secondly, How injurious he was unto the Protestants, in oppugning as erroneous their common Confession, that so to their prejudice he might advantage the Romish Church, which doth notoriously confound Two of the greatest Blessings of God, and inseparable one from the other, though yet always distinct in themselves; to wit, The Sinners Absolution before the Tribunal of God, upon the account of the Merits of Christ Jesus, his Obedience imputed to him, and Regeneration wrought in the Heart of Man, by the Sanctifying Operation of the Holy Ghost. And Lastly, how much an Enemy he was unto himself, in Forsaking his Ministry, and the Cure of Souls, to become an Advocate of such a Vile and Ungodly Cause as is this of the Papacy, which is altogether unreasonable in him, for that he undertakes things impossible. But he still protesting that he never intended to, and never would depart from the Orthodox Creed professed in our Churches, and offered to purge and acquit himself from all Suspicions that might be had of him by his Voluntary Subscribing the principal Articles of the Doctrine of Truth, from which he was supposed to have swerved and declined: They were thereupon offered to him; which when he had as freely and in general Signed and Subscribed, as he had offered to do it, yet it being done with hesitation for some time, and this also attended with ambiguous Expressions, the Assembly was constrained to doubt of his Sincerity; and it was the rather feared, for that after the Subscription required, he resolutely refused to follow his Vocation, and the Counsel of his Brethren, discovering an unworthy Disdain and Scorn of that Holy and Honorable Employment in the Ministry of the Gospel, whereunto in his Younger Days he was called by God. All which considered, the Synod interdicted him all the Offices of the Sacred Ministry, and of the Profession of Theology, and enjoined both the Province, and that particular Church where he constantly Resideth, to Watch over his Deportments, and to give an accompt of him and his Conversation unto the next National Synod, which may, according to what Testimonials they shall receive of him, and his future Carriage, proceed unto his Restauration.

18. The Sieur Roux, coming with Letters and Memoirs written by Twelve Persons (or thereabout,) in the Name of the Consistory of Aymargues to sustain their Appeal, which he and others who had Deputed him, had made from the Judgment past against them in the Synod of Lower Languedoc; and on the other side, an Appeal of Monsieur Sigillory, Pastor of the Church of Aymargues being read, and the Deputies of that Province heard, giving an Account of the Reasons of their Judgment; this Assembly Declared, that those Appeals ought not to have been brought unto it, nor should the Provincial Synod have suffered it, and doth therefore dismiss the Cognizance of their Affair, to the Provincial Synod of Cévennes. And whereas divers matters have been alleged, but not proved against Monsieur Sigillory, concerning violent Actions pretended to have been done by him, bitter and injurious Words uttered in his ordinary Talk and Discourses, Sermons fraught with Invectives, Perverse and Unworthy Wrestings of the Word of God; the Consistory of Sauva is Commissionated to send Deputies unto his Church, and to inquire and inform themselves of these things, upon the Places where they have been said to be uttered and acted, and to make report of the whole unto the said Synod, which shall have full power to dispose of the Ministry of the said Sigillory, according as will most contribute to the Edification of God's Church.

19. The Church of Duras having demanded of the Province of Lower Guyenne, that Monsieur Thoroud might be bestowed upon them for their Pastor; and being denied their Request, they brought in an Appeal from them unto this Assembly, but sent no Memoirs at all for the upholding of it. The Church of Leyras also opposed their Petition, and requested of that Provincial, and of this National Synod, that it might not be deprived of the Ministry of their Pastor, the said Monsieur Thoroud. Upon the whole, the Judgment of the Provincial Synod was Confirmed, and the Sieur Thorold fixed in the Pastoral Office of the Church of Leyras, and the Appeal of the Church of Duras declared null and void.

20. Whereas the Lord de la Baume complained by Word of Mouth, and produced Letters and Memoirs from Four Elders, and a great many Heads of Families living at Saint Foy, and who were Appellants with him, opposing the Settlement of Monsieur Privat, in the Pastoral Office of their Church, and petitioning that Monsieur Alba (who was set at Liberty by the last Synod of Lower Guyenne, to officiate in his Majesty's Army in Germany, under the Conduct of his Excellency the Lord Mareschal de Turenne as his Chaplain,) might be given to them as their Pastor. And the Sieur Guyon Pastor of the Church of Bourdeaux being heard speak on behalf of his Province, and the Sieurs Privat and Alba for what particularly concerned themselves: And the Assembly being well assured of the Consent of Mademoiselle de Bouillon, (who remitted in her Brothers Name the Lord Mareschal of Turenne, whatever right he could lay claim unto in the Ministry of the said Alba, ) and condescending to the desire of the Plaintiffs, and to put a final end to all their Complaints, did Ordain, that those Ministers aforesaid, the Sieurs Privat and Alba should serve jointly the said Church of St. Foy; and that the said Church may be fully settled, and its divided Members mutually and perfectly reconciled among themselves in a cordial Peace and Union, the Sieurs Garrissoles and Darashus are Commissionated and Expresly ordered as they return unto their own Province to ride over unto St. Foy, and to use all possible means for the Peace and Repose of the said Church; and in case they be not able to remove all the Obstructions, and to surmount all the Difficulties which may occur, the Synod of higher Languedoc is nominated and appointed to hear all Parties, and to put a final Period to their Contentions, by his last Judicial Sentence from which there shall be no Appealing.

21. The Sieur Pejus Appealed from divers Judgments past upon him by Synod of Berry, in pursuance of an Act made on his Account, in the last National Synod of Alanson. This Assembly declareth his Appeal not admittable, and ordaineth that the next Synod of Berry shall exert their Authority, and see that all his Arrerages due from the Church of Argenton be paid him Honestly, and without delay at the rate of Three Hundred and Twenty Livers a Year; and that for the future they do constantly furnish him with Three Hundred and Fifty Livers Yearly. And in case of any default herein, that then the said Pejus shall be set at Liberty, to provide for himself in any other Church either within or without the Province.

22. The Lady Dutchess of Trimouille, having desired Audience of this Assembly, which was granted her; she proposed, that it was very needful for the Peace and Welfare of the Church of Vitre in Britain, that the Sieurs Petre and Jortain its Pastors should be removed from it, because of the Misunderstandings and Divisions, which have been between them for many Years together. Moreover the Province of Anjou requested, that the Church gathered at Terchant (which was only joined for some time to that of Vitre, by the National Synod held there in the Year 1583,) might be reincorporated with that of Laval, because the said Church of Terchant lieth, and is situated in the County of Laval, and was from its first Foundation United to, and a Member of that of Laval. The Deputies of the Province of Britain were also heard speak on behalf of their Synod, who reported how opposite the Intentions of the Lady of Montmartin were unto this Separation, because the Discords between the Pastors, had divided the Body of the Church of Vitre; which being at length tired with their Contentions and Debates, in which they have been unavoidably engaged through their Means, did entreat by Letters the Lady Dutchess of Trimouille to get them discharged from their Ministry in it. This Synod Decreeth, that according to the desire of the said Lady Dutchess, those Two Pastors who have hitherto served in the said Church of Vitre, shall be transferred elsewhere. And that Monsieur Jortan shall be sent unto the Church in the Isle of Gast and Lassay, provided the said Monsieur Jortane and the Church do Consent unto it; and the Church of Vitre, shall be provided of a Pastor, adorned with Gifts and Graces meet for their Edification. And as for that of Terchant and Vieuville, the Sieurs Basnage and de L'Angle, together with the Sieurs Guesdon and Caillard, or in case of their Lawful Hindrance, then two other Pastors, and Two Elders, Members of the Colloquy of Constantine, taking with them the Memoirs and Acts brought hither unto this Synod from the Church of Vitre, shall pass over to it at the Charges of the said Church, and shall proceed to Censure those Persons, whom they find guilty of these Divisions. And they shall send Monsieur Petre to the Church of Terchant and la Vieuville; and that they may effectually compose the Discords which do trouble the Church of Vitre, they shall endeavor to gain the Consent of the Lady of Montmartyn, for the settling of Monsieur Petre, in the said Church of Terchant, and to yield unto the Dismembring of the said Church from that of Vitre, and dispose the said Lady to follow the Intention of this Assembly: And they shall give an Account hereof unto the next National Synod.

23. Monsieur Huron, Pastor of the Church of Barbigneres, sent Letters with his Appeal from the Synod of Lower Guyenne, which had interdicted him the publishing of some certain Discourses of his about State Affairs, because they did not conceive them to be any wise Edifying unto the Church of God. This Assembly Declareth, that the said Appeal ought not to be admitted, nor can it be of right brought before it; and farther, the said Huron is enjoined to acquiesce in the judgment of his Province.

24. Monsieur Charron Advocate in the Parliament of Bourdeaux, and Elder of the Church of Bergerac, Complained and Appealed from the Synod of Lower Guyenne, by the Mouth of the Lord of Pyrarede, with whom he had deposited his Memoirs. This Assembly reversing the Judgment of that Provincial Synod, taketh off the Censure which was inflicted on him by the Colloquy of Perigord, there being an Error in it, and declareth that the Consistory of Bergerac hath acted very ill in their Proceedings; and that the Sieur Jacob Tourneau having carried himself so unnaturally and unhumanly to his own Father, as is publicly and notoriously known to the whole World, ought not to have been chosen unto the Office of an Elder in that Church of Christ.

25. The Synod of Higher Languedoc shall judge finally of that Appeal brought by the Church of Saint Foy, which was condemned by the Synod of Lower Guyenne, to pay the Arrerages due unto the Heirs of the Sieurs Hesparian and Mizaubin their Deceased Pastors for their Work and Service in the Ministry among them.

26. The Appeal of Monsieur Crane shall be signified unto the Consistory of St. Maixant, and by them carried unto the Synod of Saintonge, who shall by the Authority of this Synod pass a final Judgment on it.

27. Mr. Giles Marchand, Advocate in the Parliament of Rouen, presented a Petition unto this Assembly, requesting that there might be some Alteration made in the Government of the more Populous Churches of this Kingdom; and he Complained, that because he had insisted on such like Proposals, he was Suspended from the Lord's Supper by the Consistory of the Church of Rouen; and this Sentence of Suspension was Ratified by the Authority of the Provincial Synod of Normandy. Answer was returned him in these Words, that the National Synod enjoined him to abandon these his Designs and Fancies which could never be effected according to his Intentions. And inasmuch as he hath promised to acquiesce in what shall be here Ordained; if he do, let him be again admitted to Communion with the Church at the Lord's Table.

28. The Sieur de Coutures Appealing from a Judgment given by the Isle of France; and not sending any Memoirs to abet and maintain it, his Appeal is declared null and void.

29. Le Sieur Toussaints de Roussannes Appealing from the Synod of Lower Guyenne, for giving leave to the Sieur de Blancard, to sit ordinarily among the Elders in the Church of la Fite, (which they did out of respect to his Old Age, and many Infirmities; and because of those considerable Services he had done the Church of la Fite; ) and not sending any Memoirs to sustain his Appeal, it was declared null.

30. Those Appeals of the Churches of Navarrins and Ortez from the Judicial Sentence pronounced in the Synod of Béarn held at Lambeze are declared null.

31. Monsieur Rondel who had been Deposed from his Office of Elder by Sentence of the Consistory of Vitre, which also was Confirmed by another of the Provincial Synod of Britain, having Appealed from them, shall declare his Grievances unto the Sieurs Basnage and de L'Angle, who are Commissionated by this Assembly to remedy those disorders in the Church of Vitre, and to judge finally of those matters, without any Appeal from them.

32. The Sieur Aymin, at present Pastor in the Church of Manosques Appealed from the Synod of Dauphiné, held in the Year 1642, at Nyons, which had by their Decree removed him from his Ministry in the Church of Die, and given him liberty to provide himself elsewhere, either within or without the Province, according as the good Providence of God should direct him. The Assembly having heard him open particularly his Grievances, and the Answers made unto them by the Deputies of that Province, doth Confirm the Decree of the said Synod of Nyons, and at the request of those aforesaid Deputies, doth in compliance with the said Province and Church of Die, now settle him in the Church of Manosques; nor may he on pretence of any Bargain and Agreement made betwixt him and the Church of Die, demand or claim a Farthing from them for the time in which he hath exercised his Ministry among them. And farther, License is given unto the Church of Manosques, to provide themselves of another Pastor, as God shall give them Ability and Opportunity for so doing, either within or without the Province, in case the said Aymin shall leave them destitute and unsupplied, to follow his Suits at Law, which he hath already, or may hereafter Commence, or in case he shall Abandon them without their Consent first had and obtained.

33. The two Synods of Poitou and Saintonge, having agreed and jointly consented to the Uniting of the Churches of Champagne-Mouton and St. Claud, and after reading those Letters sent from the Right Honorable the Earl of Roussy (by whose Contribution the said Church of Champagne-Mouton is principally maintained,) and who requested that Monsieur Ferrand might be continued in his Ministry there, notwithstanding the means used by the Church of Courtelles to remove him thence, and gain him for themselves; as it appeareth by their Letters, Appeal and Memoirs sent unto this Synod for this very end and purpose. This Assembly confirmeth the Union of those said Churches of Champagne and St. Claud, and Ordaineth the Synod of Poitou to take all possible care for the speedy supply of the Church of Courtelles, by some able and worthy Minister, who may be for its Edification. And on default hereof, the Church of Courtelles shall be reincorporated with that of Champagne and St. Claud, and shall be served alternatively by the said Monsieur Ferrand, who also shall assist alternatively at the Synods of Saintonge and Poitou.

34. Monsieur Homel, Deputy for the Province of Vivaretz, came charged with the Memoirs of the University of Die, and declared in the audience of this Synod, the Grievances they had sustained by Judgments past upon them the 21st Day of March, 1638, and the 7th of March, 1643, by the Consistory of Lion, to whose Cognizance the Difference betwixt the said University and Monsieur Aymin had been remitted, upon occasion of an Account which should have been rendered by him of a certain business, with the management whereof he was entrusted by that University: And the said Mr. Aymin was heard in his Answers to them. Upon the whole, this Assembly amended these Judgments aforesaid, and hath regulated and reduced the Payments to be made unto the said Aymin, to Sixty Sous by the day for his Journeys, and those Days to the Number of Six Hundred, Fifty and Nine; so that the Sum due for them, amounts to Sixteen Hundred Forty and Seven Livers, and Ten Sous. Moreover it is Ordained, that those aforesaid Judgments of the 21st of March, 1638, and the 7th of March, 1643, shall stand good for those other Sums, which have been adjudged him, arising to Seven Hundred, Forty and Seven Livers, Seven Sous; out of which there shall be deducted the Sum of Two Hundred and Ten Livers received by Monsieur Aymin, and couched by himself in his Account of the 4th of January, 1638. And the Sum of an Hundred and Thirty Livers, Five Sous, which he received of the Consistory of Lyon, March the 27th, 1634, together with the Sum of Eight Hundred, Thirty and Four Livers, Sixteen Sous, owned by him on account of the 17th of January, 1642, all those Payments amounting to the Sum of 2982 l. the said Mr. Aymin shall restore and make Payment out of them the Sum of Five Hundred Eighty and Seven Livers, Four Sous, unto the said University; and of all other Sums received by him, which he never charged, nor brought in himself Debtor for on his Account; as also all Papers, Deeds, and Instructions belonging to the University of Die, and lying by him and in his Custody, he shall Surrender to them.

35. Whereas the University of Saumur, have brought in an Appeal, upon a business of Monsieur Forbes their Professor of Eloquence, it is declared null.

36. The Appeal of the Church of Lassay about their Pastor Monsieur Rouvean is declared null.

CHAP. XII. General Matters.

• ARTICLE 1.
  IF any Pastors being removed from their Churches by Ordinance of their Provincial Synods, shall endeavor to obstruct the Execution of that Ordinance, by entering of their Appeals unto the National Synod, and thereby as much as in them lieth, promote Disorders and Confusions in the House of God, and render our Discipline useless, and the Cure of the Church remediless: This Assembly decreeth, that the said Appellants shall be subject to the Judgment of their Neighbor Provinces, which shall first hold their Synod; and that Provincial Synod shall take Cognizance of their Appeal, and give Sentence in it till the meeting of the next National Synod.
• ARTICLE 2.
  This Assembly forbiddeth all the Provinces to Cause their Young Scholars make Oath, that they will never quit the Service of those Churches and Provinces in which they shall be first admitted unto the Ministry of the Gospel; because this is prejudicial to the Rights of our National Synods, and very much impedeth the common Edification of the Churches.
• ARTICLE 3.
  It being moved by the Deputies of the Isle of France, all the Churches are enjoined to conserve most Charily the Acts of Settlements made in the Years 1599, and 1600, by those Lord's Commissioners, who were deputed by his Majesty King Henry the Fourth, to execute the Edict, and to give notice thereof in all Places where it hath not been observed; and to take a most special care of all their Deeds, Acts and Evidences which prove the Exercise of our Religion in those Places, where it was in the Years 1576, and 1577, and 1596, and 1597.
• ARTICLE 4.
  When as Pastors and Elders for the Conscientious Discharge of their Duties, shall be Prosecuted at Law, provided they have acted therein according to the Canons of our Discipline, and the Rules of the Edict, the Churches are bound to see them indemnified; and in case their particular Church be overburden'd, the other Churches of that Colloquy and Province, ought in Conscience to help bear the Charges with them. Wherefore this Assembly cannot but judge those Churches guilty of a most inexcusable ingratitude, who have forsook their Pastors and Elders, leaving them to shift for themselves, when as they have been Sued at Law, and Imprisoned for following the Duties of their Places and Callings.
• ARTICLE 5.
  At the Request or the Province of Cévennes, this Assembly explained the First Article of General Matters, passed in the National Synod of St. Maixant, and did thereupon declare, that no particular Church could seek after a Pastor, till it have first obtained permission from their Colloquy, or Provincial Synod; and when as they have procured him, they may not effectually settle him, without the Consent of the whole body of that Synod, or of the Neighbouring Pastors, 'till such time as the Synod shall be agreed, and approve thereof.
• ARTICLE 6.
  The Province of Lower Guynne, moved that all the Churches might be enjoined to conform unto their Custom, who as soon as they come into the Temple, humbling themselves upon their Knees, do each of them privately by themselves, offer up a short Prayer unto God, craving in it his gracious assistance, in hearing of the Word Preached. But it was the Judgment of this Assembly, that no Canon should be made about a matter in itself indifferent; and that the Churches should be left at liberty to use their own ancient Customs; and they be all exhorted respectively to seek after those things which will make for their Edification, and to avoid and shun all kind of Ostentation, Affectation, and Superstition.
• ARTICLE 7.
  The Maritime Provinces making great Complaints of the vast number of Captives detained in Algier, Tunis, Salle, and other Places of Barbary and Morocco, and of their sad and woeful Condition, and that they do indispensably need the Charitable Assistance of all the Faithful, to redeem them out of Misery: This Synod adjureth by the Bowels of Compassion of the Living God, and by that Fellow-feeling which all Members of our Lord Jesus ought to have of one another's Straits and Necessities, all the provinces, and all the Churches, and every particular Individual Professor of our Religion, to yearn with Bowels of Pity over the Affliction of these our poor Brethren, and to contribute liberally towards their Redemption; and the Alms which shall be Collected to this purpose from the Provinces of Saintonge, Poitou, Lower Guyenne, Béarn, Higher Languedoc, shall be paid into the Consistory of Rochell; and those Alms which shall be Collected from the Provinces of Lower Languedoc, Cévennes, Vivaretz, Dauphiné, and Burgundy, shall be paid into the Consistory of Lions; and those Alms which shall be Collected from the Provinces of Normandy, Britain, Anjou, Berry, and the Isle of France, shall be paid into the Consistory of Paris; and every Province shall send unto the Consistory of Paris, a List of their Captives, and an Account of their Alms; that so these Monies may be employed in the Redemption of those Captives, who are Natives of Provinces before any others, and after them as a Supplement of Charity for others also: That so this whole work of Love may redound to the Glory of God, the common Edification, and particular Consolation of these our Poor Afflicted Brethren.
• ARTICLE 8.
  The Provinces of the Isle of France and Anjou moving it: All those Churches who enjoy the privilege of a Printing Press, are strictly charged, that they do not suffer any Alteration to be made either in the Translation of the Bible, or Book of Psalms, or in the Text of the Confession of Faith, Liturgy, and Catechism, without an express Order from that Consistory, which is authorised thereunto by the Provincial Synod.
• ARTICLE 9.
  Upon report made by certain Deputies of the Maritime Provinces, that there do arrive unto them from other Countries some Persons going by the Name of Independents, and so called, for that they teach every particular Church should of right be governed by its own Laws, without any Dependency or Subordination unto any Person whatsoever in Ecclesiastical Matters, and without being obliged to own or acknowledge the authority of Colloquies or Synods in matters of Discipline and Order, and that they settle their Dwellings in this Kingdom: A thing of great and dangerous consequence, if not in time carefully prevented. Now this Assembly fearing lest the Contagion of this Poison should diffuse itself insensibly, and bring in with it a World of Disorders and Confusions upon us; and judging the said Sect of Independentism not only prejudicial to the Church of God, (because as much as in it lieth, it doth usher in Confusion, and openeth a Door to all kinds of Singularities, Irregularities and Extravagancies, and barreth the use of those means, which would most effectually prevent them,) but also is very dangerous unto the Civil State; for in case it should prevail and gain Ground among us, it would form as many Religions, as there be Parishes and distinct particular Assemblies among us. All the Provinces are therefore enjoined, but more especially those which border upon the Sea, to be exceeding careful, that this Evil do not get footing in the Churches of this Kingdom; that so Peace and Uniformity in Religion and Discipline may be preserved Inviolably, and nothing may be innovated or changed among us, which may in any wise derogate from that Duty and Service we owe unto God and the King.

  N. B. whether the Persons thus qualified by this Reverend Assembly came from the Old or New England, I cannot tell; at this time 'tis certain the Divisions about Church Discipline flew very high here at Home, to the great hindrance of Reformation, and the letting in upon us a Deluge of Sects and Pestilential Heresies, the sight of which grieved the Hearts of all that truly feared God, and exasperated very many Eminent Divines and Ministers against the Congregational Brethren; which terminated in a most lamentable Schism, and of above Forty Years continuance. But it pleased God at last to have Compassion upon us, and to touch the Hearts of the Godly Ministers of the Presbyterian and Independent Persuasion with a deep sense of this great Evil, in separating so long one from the other. Whereupon several Learned and Pious Pastors of Churches in the City of London of both ways met together divers times, and Conferred each with other about the healing of this Breach; and having frequent Consultations about it, and poured out many Mighty and Fervent Prayers unto the God of Grace and Peace to assist, direct and prosper them in it, upon Friday the Sixth Day of March, 1690, according to our Computation, most of the Dissenting N.C. Ministers in the City, and many others from the Adjacent parts of it, met together, and there was then read unto them the Heads of Agreement prepared by the Committee, and which had been seen and perused by many of them before; and their Assent unto them being demanded, it was readily accorded, and afterwards near an Hundred gave in their Names unto this Union. This Example was taking and leading to all other the N. C. Ministers of England, who in many of their respective Counties had their Meetings to compose this Difference, and by the Blessing of God upon those their Endeavors, it was also upon the sight and consideration of the Printed Heads of Agreement among the United Ministers in London, effected, whereof Notice was sent up unto the Brethren here in London. When the London Ministers first signed this Union, they agreed unanimously to bury in the Grave of Oblivion those Two Names of Distinction, viz. Presbyterian and Independent; and to communicate these Articles of Union unto all Members in Communion with them in their particular Churches the Lord's day come Sevennight after, and that they would at the next Meeting acquaint the United Brethren what Entertainment and Acceptance the Reading of it had with their respective Assemblies; which was done accordingly, and to general satisfaction.

  And because the Reader of the Acts of this Third National Synod of the Reformed Churches in France held at Charenton, may not have seen, and may be desirous to see what this Syncretism was between those Brethren in England, I have here inserted them from my own Manuscript and printed Copies.

CHAP. XIII. Heads of Agreement Assented to by the United Ministers in and about London, formerly called Presbyterian and Congregational.

CHAP. XIV. 10. Article of General Matters.

THere was a Report made in the Synod of a certain Writing, both Printed and Manuscript, holding forth this Doctrine, that the whole Nature of Original Sin consisted only in that Corruption, which is Hereditary to all Adam 's Posterity, and residing originally in all Men, and denieth the Imputation of his first Sin. This Synod condemneth the said Doctrine as far as it restraineth the Nature of Original Sin to the sole Hereditary Corruption of Adam 's Posterity, to the excluding of the Imputation of that first Sin by which he fell, and interdicteth on pain of all Church-Censures all Pastors, Professors, and others, who shall treat of this Question, to depart from the common received Opinion of the Protestant Churches, who (over and besides that Corruption) have all acknowledged the Imputation of Adam 's first Sin unto his Posterity. And all Synods and Colloquies, who shall hereafter proceed to the reception of Scholars into the Holy Ministry, are obliged to see them sign and subscribe this present Act.

11. Forasmuch as that Religious Adoration given by the Church of Rome to their pretended Consecrated Host, hath in its Public Service, and whenever it is carried in Procession unto the Sick for its sole Foundation, this false Supposition, That it is by the Priests Consecration properly made the self same Body, which was taken out of the Womb of the Blessed Virgin by the Eternal Son of God, and united unto his Divine Person, unto which belongeth both before and since his Incarnation the Empire of Glory, and Religious Worship most strictly and properly so called, and not unto his Humanity separated from it: That the Church of Rome neither rendereth to, nor requireth for its Consecrated Host any other Adoration than that of Latria; and the Professors of our Religion are in this Point of another Faith, believing this Host after Consecration to be that very self-same insensible and inanimate matter which it was before, and cannot, if they will follow the Dictates of their own Consciences, and the prime Fundamental Verities of Christianity ascribe Divine Adoration unto a thing which by Nature is not God, nor transfer the Glory of the Eternal God from him unto the basest of Creatures.

This Synod therefore doth adjure all of them, by that Profession they make of serving the Lord in Purity and Sincerity, and by that irreparable Prejudice they do the truth, by their rash and inconsiderate oppugning of it; and to their own Consciences, which are shamefully betrayed by them; and to their Countrymen of the Romish Communion, whom they confirm in their Superstitions; and to the weaker Christians among ourselves, whom by such a vile Example, utterly unbecoming that worthy Name that is called upbri them, they learn to prevaricate in Religion, that they would once again return unto themselves, and mourn bitterly in the Presence of the Great God, and of our Savior Jesus Christ, for that by this Sin of theirs they have profaned his Glory. And the Synod ordaineth, that when as the Host shall be carried in Procession, or to the Sick by those of the Romish Church, everyone do withdraw himself from the sight of it, that so no Scandal may be given unto their Neighbors. And whereas some, who do not step out of the way, do feed themselves with this frivolous Imagination, that they may tarry and see it, though they do not, as those of the Romish Church, let out their Thoughts to a Religious Adoration of the Host; yet if their bodily Presence be voluntary at it, it is a kind of Approbation of it. And whereas some, out of a sordid, servile Spirit, do comply with the received Custom in taking off their Hats when as the Host passeth by, which, say they, is not for its sake, or any Reverence to it, but only out of Respect and Honor to the Curate or Vicar who carrieth it, or of the Persons which accompany it; this is sinful, because they do not conform themselves to their Intention whom they pretend to gratify; and they yield only a Civil Salutation, where the Romish Church ordaineth Religious Worship to be paid and performed, bestowing it on another Object besides that proposed by her; which Acts of theirs are directly contrary to the received Maxims of Civility among all Men, in that they honor, though not as the Church of Rome professeth to do, the Lord of Glory, but in his Presence, and to his Contempt, a Priest, who saith he is called to serve him, and this in that very proper Act of Worship, yielded by him as he pretendeth unto his God. Besides, this is contrary to all Christian Sincerity, which requireth our Actious to be true Copies and Transcripts of our Hearts, and not fallacions Feignings of that which is not only not in our Intentions, but is formally contrary to them, which is a most mischievous trick and abuse put upon those who see and converse with them. Yea lastly, this is contrary to those glorious Patterns and Examples of the Primitive and Ancient Christians, who being in no wise able to brook such Disguises, did repute and esteem them most Sacrilegious Impieties, and would rather expose themselves to many Deaths, than to swerve from the least Tittle of that Fidelity and Allegiance they had sworn unto God in their Baptism.

Wherefore this Synod ordaineth, that such Offenders be strictly and carefully admonished not to persist in this their Hypocrisy; for with whatsoever glosses and fine pretexts they may color it over, it is an open Mockage and Scorn both of God and Man, a grievous Scandal unto their Brethren, and a Mortal Wound unto their own Consciences. And in case they shall obstinately abide in their Impious Resolution, then all Consistories are enjoined to pursue and prosecute them with all Church-Censures, as being Persons utterly unworthy of Communion with the Saints of God. And that none may pretend Ignorance of this Act, let it be Read and Notified publicly in all Places and Congregations where it may be judged needful.

12. Forasmuch as the Patience and Long-suffering of God which leadeth Men unto Repentance, hath been horribly despised by them, so that his just Wrath and Indignation hath burnt like Fire against them for their great Ungodliness in every Nation and Country of Christendom, and yet this fierce Anger of God is not turned away, but his Almighty Arm is stretched out still; and that Devouring Wars by reason of the Obdurateness and Impenitency of Sinful Men, do menace them with utter Ruins and Desolations: The National Synod assembled by his Majesty's Permission at Charenton, considering that the only means for removing so great and sore Judgments, is the Conversion of Sinners, and the humbling and abasing of their Haughty Hearts before the glorious Tribunal of that great God whom they have so much provoked unto Jealousy: And whereas it is the indispensable duty, and should be the perpetual practice of all Christians to become new Creatures, to purge themselves from Dead Works, and to serve the most holy God in all Holiness, Righteousness and true Godliness: The National Synod exhorts all the Faithful in general and particular, to offer unto the Lord of Glory, whom they have exceedingly dishonored, the reasonable Sacrifice of a contrite and a broken Heart, and to lie prostrate in all Humility and Sincere Repentance, at the Feet of his Divine Majesty. And Provincial Synods are all of them required to proclaim public and solemn Fasts in their respective Divisions, according as their public or private Necessities may demand. And now that the Grace and Mercy of our Infinite and Almighty God may be implored, and his Blessing and favor obtained for the establishing of an Universal Peace, for the setting of the Kingdom, for the conservation of his Majesty's Sacred Person, for his Divine Benedictions upon his Youth, for the glory of his Crown, and the happy Success of his Armies under the lawful Government of the Queen Regent, and for the prosperity of the whole Royal Family; it is decreed, that a solemn Day of Fasting and Prayers shall be Observ'd and Celebrated in all the Churches of this Kingdom upon the Fourth Day of May now next ensuing; and that the Faithful may be prepared for the Religious Observation of it, public Notice shall be given to them by all Pastors from their Pulpits, by reading of this present Act.

CHAP. XV. Particular Matters.

• ARTICLE 1.
  ON the First Day of January, being the Seventh after the opening of the Synod, the Sieur de la Milletiere having distributed some certain Copies of a small Script of his just then Published, in which he acquainted the World with the Reasons moving him to print another of greater bulk (whereof he presented Two Copies unto this Assembly,) Intituled Instruction a la Foy Catholic, and farther demanded, that the Letters written by him unto this Assembly, and left in the Hands of the Scribes might be read; but they were not read, the Lord Commissioner having desired the Tuesday following that they might be deposited with him, to be sent unto his Majesty. And the said Sieur de la Milletiere having on Monday the Eighteenth Instant, obtained his Majesty's leave to be present at this Assembly, he was admitted into it, when and where he discoursed of his Design, and of the Subject of his Book, and demanded that Commissioners might be appointed by the Synod for its examination, which was absolutely refused him. The Synod remembered the Judgment past against him by that of Alanson, which had Seven Years ago expressly ordered the Consistory of Paris to threaten him, that unless he abandoned his Opinions and Designs so very contrary to the Peace of our Churches, to his own Conscience, and to God's Truth, he should not be owned as a Member of these our Reformed Churches. Besides, the Synod conceived that it was not reasonable to take off any of the Deputies from their Service, and to employ them in such an unprofitable Occupation; or that they should contest with a Fellow who would not submit himself unto their Judgment and Authority, and who hath told the World that for these Two last Years he had no other Intention than to incorporate himself into the Communion of the Church of Rome, and to form a Party against all the Reformed Churches, impugning with might and main the common Confessions of all Protestants, perpetually accusing them of contemning the Catholic, that is, his Romish Church, and of Schism from it, and propounding to them for the Rule of their Faith, the Acts and Canons of the Council of Trent; against which they have all unanimously protested, and do to this very Day protest against, both them and it. But the said de la Milletiere having given it under his own Hand in Writing that he would submit himself unto the Judgment of this Synod; when as the Commissioners, whom he himself had nominated, brought in their report, and the result of all their Conferences and Discourse had been read, he changed the form of his Petition, and varying from what he promised of receiving a Charitable Instruction, he fell into a Contentious Dispute full of Wranglings, upon the points in Controversy, particularly upon that of Justification, and would needs have two whole Days allowed him for this Debate with them. However the Synod pitying his Weaknesses, and desirous by all means possible to reclaim him back unto his Duty, yielded to his desires, and ordered the Sieurs de Croy and de Langle Pastors of the Churches of Beziers and Rouan to confer with him. And whereas the said de la Milletiere had begun to debate the point of Justification with Monsieur Amyraud, Pastor and Professor of Divinity at Saumur, the Synod thought meet that their Conference should be continued in presence of those Two forementioned Commissioners the remaining Thursday, and part of the Day following; When the said de la Milletiere importunately demanding that now in his turn he might oppose and produce the Arguments in defense of his Opinions confirmed, as he pretended by the Council of Trent; though this was far wide from what he at first requested, yet was it freely granted him: And he having continued Writing till Evening, and for that it was needful he should be answered, Monsieur Amyraud spent a great part of the Friday night, and of the Saturday Morning in making a Reply unto him. Whereupon the said de la Milletiere finding that the time allotted him was expired the Friday Evening, he came and demanded a longer time for continuing the Conference: Which the Synod did once more refuse him, especially, because that he had fully opened his Intentions, and in formal Words declared, that by that Writing subscribed with his own Hand, he never promised to submit his Doctrine, but Himself and Person to the Judgment of the Assembly; who taking, as in truth they could not but take this distinction, such an one as it was, in any other Sense than a notorious Scorn of their Just and Charitable Endeavors for his Eternal Welfare; They told him plainly, that neither they nor any of their Commissioners would waste a moment more of their precious time about him, and adjured him by the Mouth of the Sieur Garrissoles their Moderator, to give Glory unto God, and to relinquish his most impious Designs; and added farther, that they did as the National Synod of Alanson had done before them, declare, that for divers Years past he was not to be reputed a Member of our Reformed Churches. After which, the said de la Milletiere, demanded a Copy of the Conference, collation'd with the Original, and Sign'd by Monsieur Amyraud, and the Two other Commissioners, that he might make such Reflections on it, as he thought best; which was readily accorded him by the Synod. But before the said Copy was finished, on Monday the 23d of January, the said de la Milletiere accompanied with one de Nardeau Huisser des Eaux & Forests de France, Overseer of the Waters and Forests, of France, living at Paris, came unto Charenton, and applying himself to Monsieur Blondel, one of the Scribes delivered to him by the Hands of the said Nardeau an Act subscribed with his own Hand, summoning the Synod to cause the said Conference began at Charenton (by their Commissioners, whom he all accused, but especially Monsieur Amyraud of Ignorance and False Dealing,) to be continued in Paris: And Secondly, in case of Refusal, that then they consign unto them the Acts signed by the said Commissioners, that he might examine them at his leisure and pleasure. Which said Summons being brought in, and reported to the Synod by Monsieur Blondel, a Vote past, that Copies of those Acts Collationed and Subscribed by the said Commissioners, and by Monsieur Amyraud, should be delivered unto the said de la Milletiere according to his desire: And that Monsieur Amyraud should be in readiness to refute him, in case he should attempt, as he threatened, to make any further opposition by his Scribbles against that sound and saving Doctrine of Justification professed in all the Protestant Churches. And whereas by these last actings of his, the said de la Milletiere hath discovered himself to be immovably fixed in his Designs, of impugning the Truth professed in all the Churches of this Kingdom, which he now treateth as his avowed Adversaries; and that for these Twelve Years last past, notwithstanding all Admonitions and Remonstrances made him, he hath wholly estranged himself from our Communion, altho he hath frequently assisted at the Sermons which have been during all that time, and still are Preached at Charenton. This Synod confirming the Decree of the last National Synod held at Alanson in the Year 1637. doth now ordain, that on the next Lord's Day, being the Nine and Twentieth of this Instant January, after the Morning Sermon is ended, and before the last Prayer is poured out before God, the said Sieur de la Milletiere shall be denounced by the Pastor from the Polpit in the Face of the whole public Assembly an Excommunicate Person, and cut off from the Body of our Reformed Churches, and not at all to be reputed a Member of them.

This very Act was accordingly pronounced at the Close of the Morning Sermon upon the Lord's Day, January 29. 1645. by Mr. Theophilus Rossel, Pastor of the Church of Xaintes, in the Church of Charenton, before that great and numerous Congregation.

• ARTICLE II.
  The Petition of Monsieur du Mais, upon the account of his Services unto the Churches of Auvergne, is dismissed over to the Province of Cévennes, who are to see him satisfied.
• ARTICLE 3.
  The Petition of the Province of Cévennes concerning the Church of Dourbiez, shall be brought before the next Synod of Higher Languedoc, which is entreated to take it into their particular Consideration.
• ARTICLE 4.
  This Assembly declareth, that those free Portions, which were by the National Synod of Castres put upon the Dividend of the Province of Cévennes to be distributed among the Churches of Auvergne, having not been paid into the said Province, it is not at all accountable for them.
• ARTICLE 5.
  Whereas the Widow of Monsieur Garnier deceased, complaineth, that the Wages of her late Husband were not paid him by the Church of Lorges: The Sieur de Clesles Elder of that Church, and Deputy of the Province of Berry, answereth, That there was a course already taken for the discharge of that Debt; and he promised that the Quarter of Messac should bring in their portion without delay unto the next Synod of Berry? and the said Synod is enjoined to see this Widow fully and entirely satisfied.
• ARTICLE 6.
  The Sieur de la Lause petitioned by Letters, that his Son-in-law the Sieur Boronet might be set at Liberty from his serving the Churches in the Province of Xantonge, because of his great Age, and that he needs him to look after the Concerns and Affairs of his Estate and Family: An Order passed, that this Petition of his should be carried unto the next Synod of Saintonge, which is charged to take it into their Godly Consideration, and to deal with him according to the Rules of Charity and Equity.
• ARTICLE 7.
  The next Synod of Berry shall take Cognisance of the Petition of the Sieur Gueren, and in case he be oppressed, the Province of Burgundy is ordered by their final Judicial Sentence to redress his Grievances.
• ARTICLE 8.
  Letters written by Monsieur Percy, Pastor of the Church of Monflanquin, and Deputy for the Province of Lower Guyenne were read, in which he gave an Account of those Causes which hindered him from attending on this Synod, as also the Titles of those Works begun by him in defense of the Truth. This Assembly admitted his Excuses, and ordered him to carry the Manuscript Copies of his Works unto the Provincial Synod, which shall carefully examine them, that so with their Approbation they may be published.
• ARTICLE 9.
  The Sieur Daubus, Pastor of the Church of Nerac, Petitioned by Letters, that this Assembly would be pleased to constitute some certain Commissioners to examine a Book written by him, and presented to the Synod of Lower Guyenne, and which was now brought hither unto this Nationa Synod. It was Voted that the said Manuscript Book of his should be examined by Commissioners chosen in the Synod of that Province, who having approved of it, should take Care about it's Impression and Publication.
• ARTICLE 10.
  This Synod being well informed both by the Letters of Monsieur Falquett a Pastor Emeritus, and by the Speech of Monsieur Taby, of the deplorable Estate whereunto he is reduced: An Ordinance passed, That the said Falquett should be recommended to the Charity of the Churches, who have hither relieved him; with oar desire, that they would be pleased to continue their Offices of Love and Christian Kindness to him. And this Ordinance shall be sent unto the Church of Maringues, whether the said Mr. Falquett is ordered to retire.
• ARTICLE 11.
  According to those respective Letters written by the Pastors and Consistories of the Colloquies of Rouan and Caux, the Si • urs de L'Angle and Guesdon having petitioned that those two aforesaid Colloquies might be sundered, to make up each of them a particular Synod; the Sieurs Basnage and Caillars, who spake for the four Colloquies of the Lower Normandy, which opposed this Separation, being also heard; The Assembly, after a mature Debate and serious Consideration of the Reasons pro & con, of the Conveniences and Inconveniences which might ensure upon this dismembering, and for denying or granting their Request, made this Decree, That the Separation demanded by them could not be allowed. And whereas the said Sieurs Basnage and Caillard have on their side requested, that without any respect had unto that distinction of Higher and Lower Normandy, this Assembly would be pleased to ordain, that whenever an Election should be made of Deputies unto the National Synods, that it might he carried by Number of Persons and Plurality of Suffrages, and not by that Custom of deputing one tor the Higher, and another for the Lower Normandy: It was again resolved, that the ancient Custom should not be abrogated, nor that anything should be innovated in the Form and Manner of their Elections.
• ARTICLE 12.
  The Complaint of Monsieur des Marez in his Letters, was brought hither by the Deputies of the Lower Languedoc, and exaggerated by their Remonstrances in this Synod, whereunto the Deputies of the Province of Vivaretz also did make Reply in their own Defense. Upon hearing of both Parties, the Consistory of Montlimard (which was accepted by both Parties for their Umpire) was empower'd with Authority from this National Synod to determine finally of this Affair.
• ARTICLE 13.
  Report was made by the Deputies of Normandy of a Suit at Law commenced by a certain Head of a Family belonging to the Church of Rouen against a Woman espoused, without their Permission, or the Consent of his Parents, unto his Son. This Assembly decreed, that the Son, who by reason of this difference had been suspended the Lord's Table, should humble himself unto his Father, and by all the Ways and Duties of Submission and Reverence endeavor to regain his Favor and Blessing; and the Father shall be entreated and conjured by the Consistory to limit a certain time when he will put an end unto this Process. Which term being lapsed, the Son shall be received unto Communion at the Lord's Supper.
• ARTICLE 14.
  The Complaint of Monsieur Gravier shall be brought before the next Synod of Burgundy, who shall take Care about it.
• ARTICLE 15.
  Whereas Monsieur de la Fite hath represented, that there was a Clause inserted into the Act of the Synod of Alanson, framed upon the Account of the Sieur Fabas, and which concerned both him the said La Fite, and the Sieur Gillott Advocate in the Parliament of Navarre, this Assembly decreeth, That the said Sieurs shall appear before the Provincial Synod of Lower Guyenne, which is to determine finally of this their Affair.
• ARTICLE 16.
  That Act made in the Synod of Lower Guyenne, held at St. Foy, on behalf of Monsieur Larigorrie, shall be executed according to its Form and Tenor; and the said Sieur Larigorrie is according to the Intention of that Synod, recommended to the Charity of the Churches of Lower Guyenne, that from them he may receive the assistance promised to him.
• ARTICLE 17.
  Till the Meeting of the Provincial Synod of Berry, unto which the Sieur L'Eufant shall present himself to be examined, the Church of B •••• e shall be supplied by the Pastors of Orleans, Blois, Chasteaudun, M ••••• noir, Chillieure, D'Angeau and Mer, who shall take care of its Co •••• and Edification.
• ARTICLE 18.
  Monsieur Drelincourt, one of the Pastors of the Church of Paris, and Deputy for the Isle of France, having presented to this Assembly the books written by him upon that great Question, about the Religious Worship paid by the Church of Rome unto the Blessed Virgin, and maintained by the Bishop of Bellay, received the Thanks of the whole As •• mbly for his Deference and Respect given to it; his Zeal also in d ••• nce of God's Truth was praised and applauded by all the Members, and he was entreated to consecrate the residue of his Labors and Studies to the common Edification of God's Church, and the Confutation of its Adversaries.
• ARTICLE 19.
  The Sieur de Morande Deputy for the Province of Burgundy, petitioned on behalf of the Church of Bussy, that this Assembly would be pleased to direct them what Course they should take to recover divers Legacies bequathed to it, and to cause several Persons, which owe the Monies, to make payment of those Sums assessed on them for the Maintenance of the Holy Ministry among them. A Decree passed, That he should carry his Petition unto the next Synod of his Province, who shall advise them to use their best Prudence in choice of those Means which will be most effectual and expedient for them in their present Circumstances.
• ARTICLE 20.
  The Complaint of Monsieur Ramet, Pastor of the Church of Pontigny, about certain Letters very injurious to him, and written by an unknown Person under the feigned Name of Philarque, is dismissed over to the Cognisance of the Sieurs Basnage and de L'Angle, and of the Commissiones their Colleagues, nominated by this Assembly, to pass over unto Vitre, and there to labor conjunctly in the settling and restoration of Peace and good Order in the Church of Christ gathered in that Town.
• ARTICLE 21.
  The Provincial Deputies of Poitou having presented the first Tome of reconciling those Texts of Scripture which seemingly differed and disagreed, written by the Sieur D'Artois Pastor of the Church of St. Hillary, and Dedicated by him unto this Assembly; and the Letters of the said Sieur D'Artois being read, in which he requested, that by Order of this Assembly his Book might, be examined and approved, and then in consequence thereof printed and published, it was resolved that Letters should be written him in commendation of his Zeal and good Affection towards the clearing up of God's Truth. But inasmuch as he had been already prejudiced by the Sieurs de Persy and D'Aubus, who had offered to communicate their Labors on this Subject to him, and that the Straits of Time, and multitude of Business could not permit this Assembly to examine and revise his Book, the Province of Poitou was charged to deliver the Message of this Assembly to him, and praising him for his great Pains and Undertaking, to assure him, that when they had examined and approved of this Work of his, they would take care for its Impression and Publication.
• ARTICLE 22.
  The Sieur Bernardin, Pastor of the Church of Cartays, petitioned this Assembly by his Letters to assist him in the purchase of Books needed by him in prosecution of his great Design of refuting the Annals of Cardinal Baronius; a Work which he hath undertook from that Evidence and Knowledge God hath given him of the many Weaknesses and Failures in the Adversary. An Answer was Voted to be sent him, That forasmuch as the Churches had no Fund at their Disposal, this Assembly was not in any condition to satisfy his Demand. And touching his Work, if he pleased to go on with it, he should render an account of it unto the Province of Lower Guyenne, who are to judge how useful and serviceable it may be unto the Churches.
• ARTICLE 23.
  The Sieur Richard was upon his Petition admitted to be heard give the Reasons why he had varied from that Act, made on his Occasion in the last National Synod of Alanson; and the Assembly allowing his Plea of Bodily Indisposition, which did not suffer him to perform any Duties of his Ministerial Calling, hath absolutely discharged him from it, and freeing him from that necessity of returning to the County of Vaux, doth again recommend him to that Charity, which hath been usually extended to him by the Isle of France, and that he might be enabled to return unto his own House, there were some Effects of their Bounty imparted to him by this Assembly, with an express Injunction laid upon him, that he should never for the future trouble these Synodical Meetings with Complaints of his Poverty and Necessities.
• ARTICLE 24.
  The Sieur Arnaud came in Person unto this Assembly, and demanded its assistance and advice in his perplexed condition; and he was directed to steer this course, that if he intended to have his Majesty's Interdiction removed from him, he should solely address himself unto his Majesty's Courts of Justice; and in case the King should be pleased to release and acquit him, and restore him once again unto his Ministry, that then he should go unto the Consistory of Nisms, who having sent their Deputies upon the Place to take cognizance of the Carriage of the Church of Andusa towards him, and of the Sieur Bouit, who was since inducted into it, and calling in to their assistance, for the confirmation and strengthening of their Act, four of their Neighbor Pastors, they shall by Authority of this present Synod proceed unto the Restoration of the said Sieur Arnaud, and to censure those Persons who have so basely and unworthily forsook him in his Troubles; and they shall censure the Sieur Bouit, who is since gotten into his place: And if upon a strict Examination, they find him to have intruded himself into the Church of Andusa, they shall deal with him according to the Rigour of the Discipline. And the Expence and Charges of those Deputies from the Consistory of Nisms shall be defrayed both by the Church of Andusa, and by the Sieur Bouit.
• ARTICLE 25.
  The Expences which the Sieurs Arnaud, Bland, and others, have been necessitated to make through the Wiles and crafty Practices of their Adversaries, shall according to the Order passed in this Assembly, be repaid them by the Churches of Cévennes, and those Churches, which had called them, shall everyone of them bear their proportions of one Third, and the Colloquies in whose Division they are another third, and the Province the last third.
• ARTICLE 26.
  Mr. Blondel, who when he was chosen Deputy for the Isle of France, stood related as Pastor to the Church of Houdan, and hath been since removed by the last Synod of the Province, who permitted him to reside in Paris, that he might with the more conveniency intend his Studies, as appeareth by the Act of that Synod, which was now read, did petition the Synod to determine the Nature and Quality of his Function by some particular Act made by it, and to be inserted into the Body of the Acts of this National Synod, and to take it into their Consideration, whether they do approve of his Residence at Paris. Secondly, That inasmuch as he hath frequent Intelligence given him from divers parts, that there be some at work to answer his Treatise De Primatu, whether it would be proper for him to be ready to defend it, or whether they would lay that Task upon another, which he leaveth, as he doth all his Concerns, to the disposal of the Churches. And he desired that the Synod would be pleased to order those Persons who made any Remarks upon the said Treatise to communicate it to him for his better Information. Thirdly, Whether those Treatises composed by him on several Subjects both in Divinity and History, the Catalogue of which he now produced, might be any ways useful and serviceable to the Public. Fourthly, and in case those Helps and Assistance which he hath hitherto had at Paris should come to fail him, or he should be too much diverted, from his Studies, by looking after a Maintenance, he might not be licensed to accept of 〈◊〉 Call in a Foreign Land, and to quit his Pastoral charge, that so he might be the better enabled to attend upon that great work of defending the Truth, a Province confer'd upon him by Decrees of the National Synods of Castres, Charenton and Alanson, and to spend the remainder of his Life in serving God and his Church in this weighty Employment. The Synod acknowledging the great 〈◊〉 the Public received by his Learned Labors, and that they might be perfected, he could not be settled in a more convenient place than in Paris, because of the great confluence of Learned Men, and the oppo ••• 〈◊〉 of corresponding with Learned Foreigners, and for that the cho ••• 〈◊〉 braries of all France are in this City, did judge, that it was best for 〈◊〉 that according to the decree of the Synod of the Isle of France, he do continue his Residence here, and that he retain his Quality of Minister of the Gospel, which is so justly due unto him. And he was enjoined to be in readiness to reply unto such as should undertake to answer his Book de Primatu, as being the fittest Person in the World to do it, and who will acquit himself most worthily thereof to general satisfaction. And he was exhorted to Publish as soon as possible he could these Treatises in Divinity and History, whose Catalogue was 〈…〉 Assembly, which we are fully persuaded will very much contribute to the Edification of God's Church. And in particular he is ord ••• to hasten the publication of his Treatise concerning Bishops and P ••• sts, and of that also wherein he proveth, that there is little or no Evidence that St. Peter was over at Rome. And because we are well acquainted with his great Abilities, excellent Gifts and Talents especially with his vast knowledge in the Antiquities of the Christian Church, for which he is most highly valued by all our Churches, we cannot in any wise consent that he should depart the Kingdom; and therefore we do most earnestly exhort him to take up his Dwelling in Paris, and there he may enjoy those helps which the good Providence of God doth afford him for the accomplishment of his designs. And since it is unreasonal so that he should always work for the Public, and lay himself out to painfully and laboriously upon a tails imposed on him by the •• at ••• all Synods, without ever receiving any benefit, this present Synod considering him as an Honorary Professor, have by the •• ammous consent of all the Deputies of the Provinces, over and above what is paid him by the Province of the Isle of France, decreed to him the ••• ual Pension of a Thousand Livers, which shall be carefully paid in unto him by the Provinces, according to that account hereunder couched, and in the same manner and proportion as they pay our Universities; and they shall be obliged all and every of them to send in their respective Quota's Yearly unto the Consistory of the Church of Paris, The Synod being exceeding sorry that they cannot gratify him suitably to their own Desires, and his great Deserts by those many excellent Endowments he is Owner of, and those incomparable Works that he hath given to the Public. A Dividend of the Sum of a Thousand Livres granted by the National Synod to Monsieur Blondel, Minister of the Holy Gospel, to be taken from these Thirteen Provinces hereafter Named.

  	l.	s.	d.
  From the Province of Normandy, the Sum of	157	03	00
  From the Province of Dauphiné, the Sum of	157	03	00
  From the Province of Burgundy, the Sum of	013	04	00
  From the Province of Lower Languedoc, the Sum of	102	03	00
  From the Province of Saintonge, the Sum of	100	12	00
  From the Province of Higher Languedoc, the Sum of	104	14	00
  From the Province of Anjou, the Sum of	089	10	00
  From the Province of Britain, the Sum of	013	02	00
  From the Province of Berry, the Sum of	036	13	00
  From the Province of Poitou, the Sum of	102	03	00
  From the Province of Lower Guyenne, the Sum of	094	04	00
  From the Province of Cévennes, the Sum of	026	02	00
  From the Province of Béarn, the Sum of	006	02	00
  	1022	15	00

  There be Two and Twenty Livers, Fifteen Sous more than the Thousand Livers ordered to Monsieur Blondel, which are to be laid by in Stock.

• ARTICLE 28.
  Monsieur Gautier Pastor of the Church of Archiac, having in Obedience to that order given to all the Provinces by the National Synod of Alanson, compiled the Canons of our National Synods into a body, and applied them to the respective Canons of our Discipline, presented his work unto the Synod of Saintonge, which charged their Deputies to tender it unto this Assembly, together with the Letters of the said Gautier. The Synod ordained that his Letters should be answered, and his Godly Zeal for the Public Service of the Church commended, and that his Province which hath first experimented the utility of his Labor, should be exhorted to express before all others their gratitude unto him.
• ARTICLE 29.
  Monsieur Catelon having labored in the explication of the Canons of our Discipline, by applying to them the Canons of our National Synods, which expounded and confirmed them; and this in pursuance of that Counsel given by the last National Synod, presented his Collection unto the Synod of Vivaretz, who caused it, together with the Authors Letters, to be brought unto this Assembly by their Deputies, and craved that the said Catelon might be reimbursed of his Charges. The Assembly judged that the said Province who employed him in this work for the Public Service of the Churches in their Division, should give him all Satisfaction; and in the mean while he should be applauded for contributing his good Intentions to the edifying of the Faithful, and promoting the exercise of our Discipline.
• ARTICLE 30.
  The Church and University of Sedan having represented by their Letters how gracious and favorable their Majesty's have been unto them ever since they incorporated the Principalites of Sedan and Raucourt with the Crown of France; and that this Assembly would be pleased to give forth their Order, that our Scholars might study in their University, as well as in others of this Kingdom. A Decree passed, that an Answer should be returned them, expressing the Joy of all our Churches at their Prosperity; and to assure them that there shall be an equal respect had unto their University, as unto the Four others erected in this Kingdom.
• ARTICLE 31.
  That Complaint made by Monsieur de la Fonds, formerly a Minister, but now a Schoolmaster at Cajare, against his Sister, and Monsi •• e de la Roche Pastor of the Church of Card • illac, shall be carried by him unto the Consistory of Montauban, which shall summon the Parties before them, and judge finally of the difference between them, by the Authority of this Assembly.

CHAP. XVI. Of Universities.

• ARTICLE 1.
  IT being evident, that through the ill-Will of divers Churches in the Lower Guyenne, the said Province is indebted in very great Sums unto the University of Montauban, which hath been exceeding prejudicial to it; this Synod Ordaineth, that the Arrearages owing by the said Province, and by all others, indebted to the said University, shall be paid by equal Proportions, without any the least abatement, within the space of Six Years; and that in every Colloquy there shall be constituted a Receiver, to whose Hands the Quota assessed upon every particular Church, shall be directed, and from them unto the General Receiver for the Province, who shall deliver in the full and complete Contribution of that Province, unto that University to which it was appointed. And all Pastors and Elders shall put to their helping Hand, that the Canons and Decrees made on this occasion, be punctually and faithfully executed in their Provinces. And the Contribution of particular Churches for our Universities shall be raised with as much exactness, care and Fidelity as for the Pastors. And the Provincial Synods are charged to call every Church within their District unto an Account how they have performed their Duty in this particular, and to punish all Pastors and Elders, who shall be found to have been remiss, negligent and careless herein, and to censure them even with suspension from their Charges.
• ARTICLE 2.
  The University of Montauban, having remonstrated that the Province of Béarn hath been so far from paying the poor Sum of Fifty Livres of Annual Contribution, which they freely offered by their Deputies in the National Synod of Alanson, for the Subsistence of the said University, that they have in divers of their Synods since positively resolved not to contribute so much as one Denier. The Sieur de la Fite was heard what he had to say in excuse for his Province, it being a most notorious default, because the Contribution which was offered by their Provincial Deputies, is so very inconsiderable, and easy to be paid; and that the refusal of its payment will give an open Scandal to all the Churches. So that the Assembly judged that Province to have incurred the most grievous Censures; and that the said Sieur de la Fite was consequentially ill-grounded in his Excuses. And farther Decreeth, that the Sum of Fifty Livres due for this present Year, without prejudicing of the time running on, shall be immediately paid down by the said Sieur de la Fite, according to his Promise; and as for the Arrears owing by them, they shall be paid in by equal proportions within the prefixed term of Six Years. And in case that, or any other Province should make default o • Payment, they shall be dealt withal as Desertors of the Churches Union, and shall lose their Privilege of sitting and voteing by their Deputies in our National Synods. And whereas the said Sieur de la Fite did offer to lay down an Hundred Livres for the Two last Years, provided his Province might be fully discharged of all Arrears, it was utterly rejected.
• ARTICLE 3.
  The Council of the University of Montauban, is it powered to take what they can conveniently spare out of the Minerval (the Entrance Money ) paid by Scholars unto their Regents, and to pay it in to the common Purse, for defraying the Charges they must be necessarily at in recovering the Contributions due from the Neighbor Provinces: And 'tis recommended to the Care of the said Council, that upon this Pretext, they do not surcharge the poor Scholars, nor absolutely discharge the Provinces.
• ARTICLE 4.
  Whereas the Province of higher Languedoc, hath chosen Monsieur Crumel a Pastor in actual Service of the Church of Reniers and Courbaniers, to be Professor of Philosophy in the University of Montauban, and given in to this Assembly the Reasons and Motives inducing their Synod unto that Choice; what they had done was Authorized and Approved.
• ARTICLE 5.
  At the request of the Province of Higher Languedoc, Monsieur Verdier is exhorted to fit and qualify himself, together with those other Ministers nominated by the Synod of Alanson, for the profession of Theology.
• ARTICLE 6.
  The Canon made in the Synod of Alanson, concerning the Maintenance of our Universities, and beginning with those Words, Although it be notorious, &c. shall be again read in all the Churches.
• ARTICLE 7.
  To sacilitate the payment of Arrerages due unto our Universities by the Province of Normandy; This Assembly Ordaineth, according to the Expedient propounded by them, that in the Lower Normandy there shall be established One common Receiver, and Four particular Ones for its Four Colloquies, who shall deliver into the Hands of the common Receiver their respective Contributions; and he shall after send it to the Receiver General residing at Rouen, to whom shall be sent the State of the Quota as it is assessed in every Provincial Synod, which shall serve for the regulating and clearing of his Accompts, and the Churches depending on them. That so all of them may in case of failure be reduced with more ease and commodiousness unto their duty.
• ARTICLE 8.
  This Assembly ratifying that injunction formerly laid upon our Professors of Philosophy, to lay by many needless questions of Natural Philosophy in their handling of Meraphysicks, doth also over and besides it, Ordain, that they shall leave also those Questions in Logic which are Superfluous, and instead of them, subjoin unto it a short Compend of Ethics, that so their Scholars may be acquainted with the first Rudiments of Moral Philosophy.
• ARTICLE 9.
  Whereas there is the Sum of Three Thousand Livres Ordained for the Yearly Maintenance of the University of Montauban, and when the Professors have been paid their respective Sallaries, there will remain Four Hundred Livres in stock: This Assembly Ordaineth, that hereafter in all Dividends of the said Monies, out of those Four Hundred Livres remaining in stock, there shall be equally distributed among the Three Regents, who Instruct and Teach the Scholars of the Reformed Religion in the College of Montauban, One Hundred and Fifty Livres; and to the Door-Keeper of the said College professing the Reformed Religion, Fifty Livres. And as for the other Two Hundred Livres, the Sieurs, Garrissoles and Charles, Professors in Divinity, shall receive them Yearly by equal Portions, over and above their Wages assigned to them, as the Contributions of the Churches and Provinces shall come into their Hands: It being but just and reasonable, that their continual Labors and Cares for the public should be recognised by this slender gratuity; nor will this in the least prejudice the Regents or Door-Keepers, whose Vails and Emoluments will come in unto them from the Minerval Monies, by the Scholars paid at their Matriculation; as was before granted in another Article.
• ARTICLE 10.
  Out of an old Sum of One Thousand and Twenty Seven Livres of Arrears owing by the Province of Normandy, to the University of Montauban, the Sieur Harrissoles Professor in Divinity, shall receive by way of Advance, and without any prejudice to his Portion, owing to him out of the Sum of Three Thousand Livers, in consideration of his great Pains and Services performed by him for these Eighteen Months, ever since the Decease of his Reverend Colleague Monsieur Beraud, until the Settlement of his Successor Monsieur Charles, the Sum of Three Hundred Livres. And whereas that Province is indebted for those Arrears aforesaid, until the settling of the succeeding Professor, it is obliged to make good payment of it in the manner before appointed, and particularly to see that the said Monsieur Garrissoles be fully content and satisfied; who only when all others for want of their Sallaries quitted their Employments, continued diligent in his station, and followed hard the Duties of his Calling and Profession.
• ARTICLE 11.
  That all Complaints may be prevented about the Non-Execution of the Canons concerning the Promotion of Scholars; this Assembly leaveth it to the prudence of the Rectors and Councils of our Universities to judge of the proficiency made by them in their several Classes, and so either to advance them from the Lower to an Higher Degree, or to promote them unto the public Lectures. Nor shall they ever use any Indulgence herein, but on special grounds, and for very good reason and consideration.
• ARTICLE 12.
  The Judgment of the Province of Anjou, in preferring the Professors of Philosophy before the Professors of Eloquence is ratified and confirmed; and until such time as the Provinces can make a Fund for the Maintenance of a Greek Professor, this Assembly doth greatly approve, and joyfully embrace the offer of that Gentleman who promiseth to exercise that Profession freely, and without any Charge unto the Churches.
• ARTICLE 13.
  The Pastors of those Towns and Cities in which our Universities are Erected, having been Incorporated by the Canons of the National Synod of Alez, in the Year 1620, into the Councils of those Universities, shall be ordinarily and in their own persons present at them, unless there be some lawful cause impeding them.
• ARTICLE 14.
  According to the Received Custom for divers Years in the Church of Saumur, our Proposans shall come up unto the Lord's Table immediately after the Professors, and shall precede all the Regents of the Classes.
• ARTICLE 15.
  According to that Canon made at Alez, those Pastors in whose Churches our Universities are situated, shall in their turns preside with the Professors of Theology at all Propositions both French and Latin.
• ARTICLE 16.
  At the Request of the University of Saumur, the Province of Normandy shall bring before September next unto the Consistory at Paris the Acquittances of those Payments, which they pretend to have made unto the said University, of the Sum of Six Hundred and Five and Twenty Livres, which the said Province stood indebted to it for the Year 1637. on default whereof they shall be condemned to pay the said Sum, as also the Sum of Nine and Forty Livres, which are owing by them upon another Account. And the Consistory aforesaid is fully empowered by this Assembly to judge finally, without any Appeal in this Case.
• ARTICLE 17.
  His Excellency the Lord Mareschal of Chastillon having writ unto this Assembly, and by his Letters given us to understand that he designed to set up again the College of Chastillon in the same Estate in which it was in his Fathers Life, and the Sieur des Baraudieres Deputy for the Province of Berry, having offered for the Lady Mareschal of Chastillon, according to that express Order he had received from her, to contribute yearly the Sum of Five Hundred Livres towards maintenance of a Professor in it: The Assembly Voted, That the said Lord and Lady should be most humbly thanked for their charitable Offers, and entreated to continue always their Kindnesses unto the Churches; and in compliance with their laudable Designs, the Sieurs Drelincourt and Le Coq, Deputies of the Isle of France, have assured this Assembly, that the Church of Paris will add Annually the Sum of Four Hundred Livres more, which they had not given hitherto, because they waited for the sitting of this Synod. And the Sieur de L'Angle, and the other Deputies of Normandy, did voluntarily offer in the Name of their Province, to contribute yearly the Sum of sixty Livres. The Sieur de Croy and the other Deputies of Lower Languedoc have consented to pay the like Sum of sixty Livres. The Sieur Bollenat and his Colleague, Deputies for the Province of Burgundy, consented also to make paying yearly the Sum of Fifty and Nine Livres, over and above the Sum of Four Hundred Livres assessed upon them in the foregoing Synods. And forasmuch as these Contributions are not sufficient, the Synod ordaineth, That the Churches of Rochelle and Lions shall be entreated to contribute unto so good a Work, according to their Piety and Zeal for the Glory of God.
• ARTICLE 18.
  The Church of Loudan petitioning this Assembly to be assisted and enabled with some Supplies for the better Maintenance of their College, and that they might be forgiven their Contribution, which they have hitherto paid into the University of Saumur, and that the said Sum might be levied elsewhere: It was Decreed, That their Contribution should be paid in as formerly unto the University of Saumur, and the Church of Loudan should receive Yearly the Sum of Threescore and Ten Livres, to be paid in unto it by the Province of Britain, which is exhorted and entreated to enlarge their Charity as much as possible unto the said College of Loudan, and that they would not hereupon abate or defalk anything of their wonted Contribution to the University of Saumur.
• ARTICLE 19.
  The Provincial Deputies of Lower Languedoc having represented, that since the Death of Monsieur Petit, Pastor and Professor of Theology in the University of Nisms, that the Four Pastors of that Church have read Lectures unto the Students, and kept up the other Exercises of Propositions and public Disputations; and that the Synod held at Montpellier in December last, had charged them to continue these Academical Exercises until such time as this present National Synod should by its Authority make other and farther Provision; and they did now petition, that some Persons might be nominated and appointed to the Profession of Theology and the Hebrew Tongue, or else to Authorise the Synod of that Province so to do. This Assembly confirming the said University of Nismes, and accepting the Offers of the Provinces of the Lower Languedoc and Cévennes, who have took upon them to bear the greatest and principal part of its Charges and Maintenance, doth exhort the Sieur de Croy, on whom the whole Province of Lower Languedoc have cast their Eyes, to fit and betake himself to the Exercise of the Profession of Divinity, whenever he shall be called to it by the Authority of that Provincial Synod, they strictly observing all the Forms prescribed by our Discipline.
• ARTICLE 20.
  Approving that just Petition of the Provinces of Lower Languedoc and Cévennes for the re-establishment of their common College in such a place as they should agree unto, and conserving to the University of Die its yearly Contribution from the Churches of Cévennes: This Assembly exhorteth the Provinces of Provence and Vivaretz, that because the Neighbourhood of the College of Cévennes must needs be exceeding profitable unto them, that they would be pleased to contribute, according as God shall have enabled them, towards its establishment and maintenance; and the rather, for that they never did contribute anything unto our Universities. Moreover it is ordained, that Letters shall be written unto the Consistory of Marseilles, entreating them to afford all the Fruits of their Charity that possibly they can unto this College; and those Offers made by the Sieur de Caille, who promised to contribute liberally unto it, were accepted; and he was entreated to get the Lord Marques of Senars, and the other Noblemen and Gentlemen of that Province to express also on their parts then Kindness and Liberality.
• ARTICLE 21.
  When as the Provincial Synod of Dauphiné shall have examined the Works of Mr. Rhodon Professor of Philosophy at Orange, and shall have considered of their Usefulness, they may be licensed for the Press, and published to the World.
• ARTICLE 22.
  The Deputies of Dauphiné petitioned on behalf of the University of Die, that this Assembly would be pleased to ordain, that the Province of Guyenne do pay in unto the said University the Sum of Three Thousand Six Hundred and Ten Livres, Seven Sous, which they owed to it, and which the Synod of Alanson had given as a Fund unto the said University. The Deputies of Lower Guyenne were heard, who very much questioned the Truth of the said Debt. This Synod dismissed them both unto the Consistory of Paris, who shall inspect and revise those Accompts within six Months, and that term being passed, they shall proceed to a final Judgment on those Accompts and Papers brought in by the Deputies of Dauphiné; and till that final Sentence be given, the Province of Lower Guyenne shall pay what shall be found due on their part, according to that general Canon before established for payment of Arrearages owing by the Province unto our Universities, that so these Sums thus paid in may be disposed to the best advantage, according to the Intention of the National Synod of Alanson.
• ARTICLE 23.
  To finish that great Work of Monsieur Chamier Deceased, upon the Controversies of Religion, the Sieurs Garrissoles and Charles were chosen and appointed to write De Reali Prasentia & Transubstantiatione, to handle the Questions De Ecclesia & Consiliis; Monsieur Amyraut to treat De Manducationo Spirituali, & de Sacrificio Missa; Monsieur de la Place and the aforesaid Sieur de Garrissoles is entreated and exhorted to publish his Work de Christo Redemptore. And the Sieurs de Chanvernoun, Mestrez •• ; da C •• y, Aubertin and Daille are also desired to print their Works, which they have undertook and performed for the common Edification of the Churches
• ARTICLE 24.
  The Province of Normandy shall produce within six Months before the Consistory of Paris those Acquittances which they received from the University of Saumur for the Sum of Six Hundred and Five and Twenty Livers; and in case they omit the doing hereof, the said Province shall be condemned, as it is from this very instant to make payment of it.

  l.	s.	d.
  25. From henceforward the University of Montauban shall receive Contribution from the Isle of France the yearly Sum of 800 Livres, from the Higher Languedoc 1000 Livres, from the Lower Guyenne 900 Livres, from the Contribution of Normandy, besides what that Province is to pay into the University of Die 250 Livres, and from Béarn 250 Livres, in all 3000 Livres.	3000	00	00
  26. The University of Saumur shall receive of the Contribution from the Isle of France 800 Livres, and from that of Normandy 800 Livres, and from that of Poitou 975 Livres, and from Anjou 850 Livres, and from Britain 130 Livres, and from Zantonge 575 Livres. In all 4130 Livres.	4130	00	00
  27. The University of Die, over and besides the Contribution brought in by the Province of Dauphiné, amounting to 1560 Livres, it shall receive from that of Berry 345 Livres, from that of Burgundy 131 Livres, from the Cévennes 125 Livres, from that of Saintonge 385 Livres, from Normandy 450 Livres. The whole 2996 Livres.	2996	00	00
  28. The University of Nisms shall receive the Contribution of the Lower Languedoc, which amounts to the Sum of 975 Livres, and out of that of Cévennes 120 Livres. In all 1100 Livres.	1100	00	00
  29. The Total Sum of what is Levied for the Four Universities of Montauban, Saumur, Die and Nisms, amounts to 15800 Livres.	15800	00	00

• ARTICLE 30.
  A Dividend of the Sum of 15800 Livres, being the remainders of the Sum of 1600 Livres granted by his Majesty unto this Synod, for defraying the Expences of Four and Fifty Deputies, who received each of them 292 l. 11 s. 6 d.

  	l.	s.	d.
  1. To Anjou, for 4 Deputies	1170	07	06
  2. To the Isle of France, for 3 Deputies	0877	15	04
  3. To Normandy, for 4 Deputies	1170	07	06
  4. To Dauphiné, for 4 Deputies	1170	07	06
  5. To Cévennes, for 4 Deputies	1170	07	06
  6. To Béarn, for 2 Deputies	585	03	06
  7. To the Lower Guienne, for 2 Deputies	585	03	06
  8. To Saintonge, for 4 Deputies	1170	07	06
  9. To Vivaretz, for 4 Deputies	1170	07	06
  10. To Berry, for 4 Deputies	1170	07	06
  11. To Poitou, for 4 Deputies	1170	07	06
  12. To Britain, for 2 Deputies	585	03	06
  13. To Higher Guienne, for 4 Deputies	1170	07	06
  14. To Lower Languedoc, for 4 Deputies	1170	07	06
  15. To Burgundy, for 3 Deputies	877	15	04
  16. To Provence, for 2 Deputies	585	03	06

• ARTICLE 31.
  The Two Hundred Livres, which remained to complete the Sum of Sixteen Hundred, were employed in defraying the Charges of two Deputies, who were sent unto Paris, about the Business of the Churches, and to attend some time at Court, that so in case they should need those Monies, they might, according as was before ordered, receive them.

  By reason of the dearness of Provisions, the Journies of the Deputies were taxed at the desire of several Provinces at the rate of Six Livres a Day.

CHAP. XVII. The Accompts of our Universities; and, The Debt of every Province unto each of them respectively.

CHAP. XVIII. An Act for calling of the next National Synod.

THE Province of Anjou petitioning, that the Privilege of calling the next National Synod might be conferred upon them: This Assembly did freely grant it, and ordered, That as soon as his Majesty's Writ should be signed and dispatched, that Province should give notice of the time and place of Meeting, which should be in the Town of Loudun.

CHAP. XIX. A Decree about the Validity of the Synodical Acts.

A Decree was made, That the Acts Signed by the Scribes of this Synod should be of as much Credit and Validity, as if they had been Signed by the Moderator, Assessor, Scribes, and the whole Body of the Synod.

CHAP. XX. Remarks upon some of the Deputies.

1. MR. David Blondell, born at Chalons, called to the Ministry in the Church of Houdun, a very Learned Man, who had dived deep into the Ocean of Ecclesiastical Antiquities. He hath published many things, his Pseudo Isidorus & Turrianus Vapulantes. De Joanna Papissa, answered by Des Maretz Professor at Grouinguen. Modeste Declaration de la Sincerite & Verite des Eglises Reformees de France, An Answer to Cardinal Perron, and divers other Works. He was made Honourary Professor by this National Synod, and had an Annual Stipend paid him by his Province of the Isle of France, and another assigned him as a mark of their Esteem and Favor by this very Synod. But being invited to the Profession of History in the Illustrious School of Amsterdam, he left his Native Country, accepted of the Employment, and died in that City.

2. Monsieur Drelincourt, Pastor of the Church of Paris, a very learned and holy Man of God, of him and his Works I say more in my Icones.

3. Monsieur Basnage. He was in high Esteem with their Churches; he hath a very Learned Son now living in Exile at Rotterdam.

4. Monsieur de L' Angle, a most eloquent Preacher. His Son is one of the Prebends of Westminster.

5. Monsieur Vincent, Pastor of the Church of Rochelle, the Jesuits called him Two Thousand. He perpetually mawl'd them in the Pulpit.

6. Monsieur Jurieu, his Son is that worthy Pastor of the French Church, and Professor of Divinity at Rotterdam.

7. Monsieur Garrissoles the Moderator, was a Person of Eminent Learning and Piety. When all the other Professors in the University of Montauban quitted it for want of their Stipends, he alone continued in the Discharge of the Duties of his Professoral Office, doing his Work faithfully and painfully, trusting God for his Wages.

8. Monsieur de Croy was nominated by this National Synod to the Professors Chair of Divinity in the University of Nisms. Mr. Amyraut had a very great Esteem for him, and Dedicated his Treatise De Libero Hominis Arbitrio unto him.

CHAP. I.

There appeared in the said Assembly with Letters of Commission from the Provinces, which were read by the Sieur Des Loges, and the Sieur de Fresnay Elder of the Church of Loudun, and the Sieur de M •• son • als, these Persons following.

1. For the Province of Normandy the Sieurs John Manimilian de L' Angle, Pastor of the Church of Rouan, and Samuel Boschart, Pastor of the Church of Caen, accompanied with the Sieurs Daniel Guesdon, Elder of the Church of Rouan, and Peter de la Musse, Esq Lord des Roquettes, Elder of the Church of Caen.

2. For the Province of Higher Guienne, and Higher Languedoc, the Sieurs John Louis Joussauld, Pastor of the Church of Castres, and Theophilus Arbussy, Pastor of the Church of Milhaut, accompanied with the Sieurs John de Besnes, Esq Lord of Laseron, Elder of the Church de Beraux, and Master John Brassart, Advocate in Parliament, and Elder in the Church of Montauban.

3. For the Province of Burgundy, the Sieurs Amedeus de Chandieu Pastor of the Church at Pont de Velles, and Peter Mussard, Pastor of the Church of Lyon, accompanied with Master Samuel Gentis (D'anthial) Advocate in Parliament, Elder in the Church of Chaalons, and Master Phillebert de Sage, Advocate also in Parliament, Elder in the Church of Autan.

4. For the Province of Lower Languedoc, the Sieurs David Eustache, and Isaac de Bourdieu Pastor in the Church of Montpellier, accompanied with the Noble Francis de Toulonge, Lord of Foissac, Elder in the Church of Usez, and Master Philip Besse, Doctor of the Civil Laws, Advocate, and Elder in the Church of Beziers.

5. For the Province of Orleans and Berry, the Sieurs John Per ••