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

CHAP. II.

AS soon as the Officers of the Synod were nominated and seated, the Lord de Magdelaine, Counselor to his Majesty in his Court of Parliament at Paris, and Deputed by his Majesty, to sit as his Commissioner in this Assembly, delivered the King's Letters patents for his Commission; which being Read, they were Transcribed and Inserted into the Body of the Acts of this Synod, whose Form and Tenor was as followeth.

CHAP. III.

AFter reading his Majesty's Letters Patents, the Lord Commissioner made this ensuing Speech unto the Assembly.

CHAP. IV. The Answer of Monsieur Daille the Moderator of the Synod, unto the Speech of the Lord Commissioner.

AS soon as my Lord Commissioner had ended his Speech, Monsieur Daille, who was Moderator of the Synod, made this Answer following, in the Name of the whole Assembly unto his Lordship.

And afterwards the Deputies did by the Mouth of their said Moderator add as followeth.

CHAP. V. The Marquess of Ruvigny Sworn General Deputy.

1. THIS Assembly acknowleding the Kindness of his Majesty, in choosing the Lord Marquess of Ruvigny, to succeed in the place of the Marquess of Arzilliers Deceased, and to discharge the Office of General Deputy for the Churches of this Kingdom, 'till such time as his Majesty should be pleased to grant Liberty for the Calling and Meeting of this Assembly, unto which his Majesty permitteth the Nomination of such Persons as are to be presented unto this important Charge; and the Lord Commissioner having told us from the King, that this Assembly had full Liberty to deliberate about what concerned the Office of the said Lord of Ruvigny, who presented his Majesty's Writ for his Election and designation to it, offering to resign up his Office unto this Assembly. Now after that he had received the Thanks of this Assembly for his great care and pains taken by him for the weal of the affairs of the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom; this Assembly believed, that they could not make a more advantageous Choice, than of the Person of the said Lord of Ruvigny, who hath been already so very useful and helpful to them. Wherefore by a most unanimous Consent of all the Deputies of this Synod, he was appointed; and they do appoint him to exercise the Office of General Deputy in the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom near his Majesty. And this Assembly being well assured by the Lord Commissioner, that it would be acceptable to his Majesty if he were confirmed in the said Office, they administered unto him the Oath, which is requisite and accustomed to be taken, and then granted him both his deliberative and decisive Votes, as all his Predecessors before him, ever had in the said Office; and his Writ was again returned to him, whose Tenour was as followeth.

3. The Assembly expounding the Act by which the Lord Marquess of Ruvigny was constituted General Deputy, declareth that their Intention is, that his Lordship shall give his Judgment in all Affairs whatsoever that shall be treated and debated in it, excepting those in which he shall be personally and particularly concerned, or do relate unto his Office of General Deputy.

4. The Sieurs Eustache Pastor, and de Mirabel, were ordered by this Assembly to go immediately to Court, and to prostrate at his Majesty's Feet our most Humble Duties, Submissions and Thanks; and they were entrusted with Letters unto his Majesty, to the Queen, to his Eminency, to the Lord High Treasurer, to the Lord of Urillieres, Secretary of State, in whose Division are those of the Reformed Religion; and to my Lord of Herual, Controller General.

6. The Sieurs Eustache and Mirabel, who were Deputed from this Assembly unto his Majesty, being returned from their Journey, gave an Account of their Deputation, and delivered Letters from the King, his Eminency, and the Lord de la Urilliere unto this Assembly, and they received the Praise and Thanks of it for their Care and Labor.

The Superscription was, To our dear and well-beloved the Pastors and Elders Deputed unto the Assembly of the National Synod of our Subjects of the Protestant Reformed Religion held at Loudun.

The Sieur de la Morinaye was Deputed by this Assembly with Letters to my Lord Chancellor, and to my Lord de Bertueil Comptroler General of the Exchequer, and ordered to ride unto Paris, and there to take up the Sixteen Thousand Livres Gratuity, which his Majesty hath been pleased to bestow upon this Assembly for defraying the Expences of it's Deputies, to which purpose the Orders of the Accountants, and the Assignment of my Lord High Treasurer was delivered into his Hands, which was under Signed by the Sieur Eustache.

7. The Assembly considering that since the Death of the Sieur Bazin General Deputy of our Churches for the Third Estate unto the King, that there is no one to supply his Place, so that my Lord Marquess of Ruvigny, our General Deputy, is even born down with the Duties of his Office at Court, which is a very great Inconveniency to our Churches, it was decreed, That a most humble Petition should be tendered unto his Majesty, that he would be pleased to put us again into the Possession of this Privilege: And the Assembly hoping that this their Petition would not be unacceptable unto his Majesty, and my Lord Commissioner not in the least opposing, it was resolved, that we should proceed immediately unto the Election of such Persons as should be presented unto his Majesty, according to the usual Forms. Which being done, it was found that the Sieurs Loride des Galinieres Advocate in the King's Council, and in Parliament, Jassaud Advocate in the mixed Court of Castres, and des Forges Le Coq Counselor and Secretary to the King, had the Plurality of Votes. Whereupon it was decreed, that my Lord Marquess of Ruvigny shall be entreated to notify it unto the King as soon as possible, together with the most humble Petition of this Assembly, that his Majesty would be pleased to choose one out of these Three, according to Custom, and to assign him the Salary, which his Majesty and the Kings his Predecessors have given unto those who have exercised the said Office of General Deputy.

8. Letters being Addressed to this Assembly by the Pastors and Professors of Divinity in the Church and University of Geneva, and other Letters from the Pastors and Professors of Divinity in the Churches and Universities of the Cantons of Zurich, Berne, Basil, and Schapheusen, jointly Signed by them, they were delivered unto my Lord Commissioner, who having first perused them, did afterwards order them to be communicated unto the Assembly, and to be read in it. The Contents of which were large Expressions of their Affections to the Peace of the Churches of this Kingdom, and their Joy at the Liberty, which it hath pleased the King to give us, and the Privilege of Assembling in this Place, their Prayers for the Glory of his Majesty, Prosperity of his Government, and the Blessings of God upon his Marriage. And my Lord Commissioner declaring, that he could not permit us to return any Answer to them, the whole Assembly submitted its self unto his Majesty's Orders.

CHAP. VI. Notes on the Confession.

THE Confession of Faith being Read, was signed by all the Deputies, who did for themselves and their Provinces unanimously and solemnly protest, that they would persevere in the inviolable Profession of it till Death.

CHAP. VII. Observations on Reading of the Discipline.

THE Deputies of the Province of Saintonge, demanded that a longer time than Two Years of Probation might be allotted unto Priests and Monks (who have renounced their Superstitions and Idolatries, and joined themselves unto our Communion) before they were admitted into the Holy Ministry, because of the many Scandals arising from their ill Conduct. The Assembly was of Opinion, that there needed no longer time of Probation than those Two years determined by the Second Canon, in the First Chapter of our Discipline. But that all Churches and Colloquies should be advised not to be precipitant nor over hasty in their seeking and receiving of such Persons; but yet to get as full and evident Proofs of their Sincerity as they shall judge necessary, till the time prescribed by our Discipline be expired, which is the least that in Reason or Prudence can be demanded.

2. The Provinces of Saintonge and Poitou demanding that this Assembly would take some order to prevent those Inconveniences which may fall out in the examination of Proposans in Fortified Consistories. A Decree was made, that the Canons in the Second Article of the First Chapter of our Discipline, and the Acts of the National Synods held at Charenton, in the Year 1631, shall be exactly observed; and that our Proposans as long as God giveth us means and opportunity, shall be examined in Colloquies and Synods, and nowhere else, unless it be upon very great and considerable Grounds and Reasons, and in case of urgent and indispensable Necessity, for which the Churches shall be accountable unto the Provincial Synods, and these unto the National; and what hath been done in this matter by the Consistories of Paris and Saumur, is approved of, as being conformable unto those aforementioned Canons.

3. The Deputies of Provinces of Cévennes and Lower Lauguedoc, proposed op the Fifth Article of the First Chapter of our Discipline, that the Age of Students in Divinity might be certainly fixed, before they be by Ordination received into the Holy Ministry; that so the many inconveniencies which have been observed in divers Places through the heats and inexperience of their Youth, may be prevented. This Assembly did not judge meet to make any change in the Canon of our Discipline: But doth seriously advise, all the Provinces to admit none unto examination, unless such Persons of whose Piety, Gravity and Prudence they have good and sufficient Testimonials, which shall not be given them by Pastors and Professors, but with very great Circumspection.

4. That Order in the Seventh Article of the First Chapter of our Discipline, about the manner of Imposing Hands in Ordination, shall be observed in all the Churches; and such as do not yield an entire Conformity thereunto, shall be censured.

5. The Province of Cévennes complained of that of Languedoc, for transgressing the Ninth Article in the First Chapter of our Discipline, they having admitted Persons into the Ministry, without assigning them any particular Flock, or taking care beforehand to secure a Maintenance for those Ministers in those Places whereunto they send them. This Assembly judgeth the said Province of Lower Languedoc to be blame-worthy, and ordaineth that the said Canon be most exactly observed by all the Provinces; and an account hereof shall be rendered unto the National Synod.

6. The Province of Berry petitioned this Assembly to exert its Authority, that all Preachers of the Gospel might be obliged to contain themselves within the bounds of that Simplicity recommended by the Apostle, and to banish from their Sermons, whatever may favor of the vanities and affectations of the Writers of this Age. The Assembly answered, that in their Judgment there could not be a more Holy nor Judicious Decree framed than that Twelfth Canon in the First Chapter of our Discipline, nor than those Canons of the Synods of Gap, Rochelle, St. Maixant, Privas, Thonneins and Castres, the exact Observation of which is recommended unto all Pastors; and all Consistories, Colloquies and Synods are enjoined to have a strict and watchful Eye over those who do transgress them; and to employ against them those Remonstrances and Censures which they shall judge needful; that so the Sacred Depositum of Truth being Religiously preserved in the midst of us, the Gospel may be Preached in such a manner as well becometh it's most excellent Majesty.

7. Upon the Twentieth Article of the First Chapter of our Discipline, This Synod Ordained, That the Canon of the National Synod of Privas, which enjoineth Pastors to exhort their People to observe Modesty in their Habits, and to go before them in their own Persons and Families as the best Patterns and Examples, shall be most strictly observed: And there being made great Complaints of several Pastors, whose Wives and Children have transgressed this Canon by their vain Conformity to the World in the new fangled Fashions of their Habits, contrary to Christian Modesty: All Moderators of Colloquies and Synods are expressly charged and commanded to reform these Excesses by Censures and the severest Reprehensions. And it is farther Decreed, that these Refractory Ministers shall be suspended their Office, till such time as they have removed the Scandal; and that a stricter Watch than ever may be kept over these Excesses, all private Persons are permitted according to the method prescribed in our Discipline, to inform their Consistories of them, and to demand a Reformation of them, which being refused, they shall apply themselves unto their Colloquies, that Censures may be issued out against them, and against all Supporters and Abetters of them: And this Canon shall be Religiously observed and read in all Consistories.

8. The Provincial Deputies of Dauphiné, complained upon the First Article in the Third Chapter of our Discipline, That some certain Persons when they were to be received into the Elder's Office, refused to stand up in the Face of the Church, although this be required by the said Article, and demanded whether this part of the Order observed in the Reception of our Elders should be dispensed with in favor of any Persons, and these in particular should enjoy their Liberty. This Assembly enjoineth, that the Contents of this Canon be fully observed by all sorts of Persons whatsoever without distinction; and the Province of Dauphiné is censured, for that it suffered it to be violated.

9. At the request of the Deputies of Lower Languedoc, upon the same first Article of the Third Chapter of our Discipline, it was decreed, That those Persons should be chosen into the Elders Office, who resided within the Bounds of that particular Church which did Elect them, and who were numbered among their actual Members, if it were possible to be done; but in case any Difficulties should occur on this occasion, they were to be decided by the Colloquy or Synod upon which that said Church hath dependence.

10. The Assembly being informed how little care is taken for putting in Execution the Thirty Third Article of the Fifth Chapter of our Discipline, doth enjoin all Provinces and particular Churches to do it more carefully for the future, and to keep an exact Record of those Memorable Events concerning our Religion, and to send them unto the Colloquies and Synods by some careful Hand, that they may be delivered unto that Person who is appointed to Collect and Compile them into a just Volume. And that Order made in the National Synod of Vitre, 1617, is now again revived, and all the Provinces are enjoined in their respective Synods, to nominate one particular Pastor, to whom the account of those remarkable Providences may be directed.

11. The Provincial Deputies of Lower Languedoc, moved upon Reading the Second Article of the Eighth Chapter of our Discipline, that a Rule might be made for the future, that no Church in any Province, at least in theirs, should send anymore than One Elder with a Pastor, unto the Provincial Synod: But this Assembly did not think meet to make any Alteration in the said Article, neither with respect to that particular Province, nor any other of the Provinces: As also that one and the same Church, however it be composed of divers Quarters, and annexed Congregations, may not depute unto those Synods more than One or Two Elders.

12. The Deputies of the Province of Saintonge demanding what course they might take with those who had Espoused the Neice, or the Great Grand Neice of their Deceased Wise, and yet demanded to be received into Communion at the Lord's Table. This Assembly adviseth, that they direct and govern themselves in this Affair by the Eleventh Canon of the Thirteenth Chapter of our Discipline, and the Decrees of the National Synods of Vitre, and of the Second and Third of Charenton, who have declared such Marriage to be Incestuous; and all Pastors are forbidden to bless and solemnize the Marriages in those prohibited degrees upon any pretext whatsoever; and all Consistories are enjoined (without meddling with the validity of those Marriages, or their effects, the cognizance whereof doth properly belong unto the Magistrate) to declare unto such as be in that Estate, that they cannot be admitted to partake of the pledges and tokens of the Remission of their Sins as long as they cohabit together; moreover all Colloquies and Synods are to exert their Authority, that this present Canon be duly observed.

13. In the next Edition of our Church Discipline care shall be taken that Printers do insert the Province of Béarn in the number of those, which do make up the National Synod.

The Church Discipline being read, all the Deputies of the Provinces did promise for themselves, and on behalf of their respective Synods whom they represented, that they would observe it themselves, and see that it should be exactly observed in their Provinces.

CHAP. VIII. Observations upon reading the last National Synod of Charenton, in the Year 1644.

1. THE Provincial Deputies of Lower Languedoc and Cévennes, demanding that something might be changed in that Decree of the National Synod of Charenton in the Year 1644. which empowered Consistories with full Authority to judge Sovereignly and without Appeal of those differences arising upon the Account of Seats erected in our Temples. And the Consistory of Montpellier having sent Memoirs, and demanded, quite contrary to them, a Confirmation of the said Decree. This Assembly waving the Decrees of Provincial Synods made in prejudice of the Ordinances of the National Synod of Charenton, and which have not been as yet put in execution by their Consistories, and are now vacated and disannulled by this present Assembly, it doth judge, that there ought not to be any change made in that Decree of the said National Synod of Charenton, but ordaineth only, That in case the Difficulties be so great, as that they cannot be composed by the particular Consistory, then it may call in the most considerable Heads of Families belonging to their own Church, or of the Neighbor Consistories, to be corroborated by their United Counsels, and to judge Sovereignly without Appeal concerning those Seats, and to prosecute with Church-Censures all such Persons as will not submit unto their Orders, and particularly those, who shall attempt to remove a business of this nature from our Ecclesiastical Assemblies. Moreover it declareth and judgeth, as did the last National Synod held at Charenton, in the 7th and 11th Articles of Appeals; That there be fewer Inconveniences in leaving all Seats free and in common, than in affecting them unto particular Persons, who being merely private Persons, cannot of right lay claim unto any preeminence before others. And all the Churches are exhorted to do what in them lieth to make all places common.

2. Forasmuch as True Piety and Holiness depend upon the right knowledge of the Mysteries of Religion, this Assembly ratifying that Decree made in the last National Synod of Charenton, which was to this effect, That whereas in several Great Churches of this Kingdom it was requisite for their general Edification, that the Sunday's Catechisms should be handled, not by familiar Questions and Answers, but by Common-places. And that their Instruction might be facilitated, who were grown in Years, they had substituted extraordinary Catechisings upon some certain days of the Week preceding the Lord's Supper, their Practice being approved, all the Churches of this Kingdom are exhorted to conform themselves to that Order prescribed by the Discipline, as far as God shall enable them; and in case they cannot Catechize their Children on every Sabbath-day, they shall then choose out some particular Day of the Week for this Exercise, especially before the Celebration of the Lord's Supper. And Provincial Synods are charged to take knowledge, whether every particular Church in their District do perform their Duty herein or no, and to give an Account thereof unto the next National Synod. This Decree is again revived, and 'tis now ordered, that it shall be exactly observed in all our Churches, which shall take such care and course in their respective Consistories as they shall judge will best contribute to the Instruction of the Faithful; and in those Churches which have two Sermons on the Lord's Day, the Second Sermon shall be turned into an Exposition of the Catechism by way of Common-Place, adapting their Discourses to the meanest Capacities. And in those Churches and Towns where there is more frequent Preaching, as on every day of the Week there is in some, they are exhorted to exchange one or more of these Sermons into familiar Catechistical Exercises; and such as be more populous, and dispersed into divers quarters, they are exhorted to hire a fit Person n to instruct the Children in all the Quarters of those Cities, and of the Country; or at least to choose out in every Quarter such Elders, as are Men able and willing to do this good Service unto the Church of our Lord Jesus. And all Fathers and Mothers shall take an especial Care of the Religious Education of their Children, teaching them themselves, and committing them to Godly Ministers, who may form their tender years unto Godliness. And all Colloquies and Synods are enjoined to take Cognizance once a year of the Observation of this Order by Pastors and Consistories. And in case there should occur any difficulty to obstruct and hinder this good Design, Provincial Synods are empowered with Authority to judge of it, and whatever shall be determined and ordained by them, shall be executed (notwithstanding any Appeal that may be made from them) and put in practice till the meeting of the next National Synod, unto which an Account of the whole shall be given. And that Pastors may acquit themselves more carefully of this most needful part of their Ministry, and may have the more time for their private Studies, and better prepare themselves for their public Work in the Pulpit, and give more satisfaction unto their Auditories, by a clear, judicious and solid Explication of the Sacred Scripture: Those Churches, whose Ministers are obliged to preach oftener than three times in the Week, are entreated to discharge them of some part of this Exercise, that they may be the better qualified for their Work, and may apply themselves more profitably to the Instruction of the Youth by familiar Catechisings. And Synods and Colloquies shall see unto it, that Pastors and their Churches do all of them endeavor the Advancement of their Members Edification, and the Glory of God, and of the Gospel.

3. Monsieur Drelincourt Pastor of the Chrch of Paris, having given an Account of his Works, undertook, in Obedience to the Counsel of the last National Synod held at Charenton, received the Praise and Thanks of this Assembly for those his Learned Labors already published in Defense of the Truth, and for Consolation of the Faithful, which have been very beneficial to them; and he is exhorted to continue his painful Studies, and to print those other Treatises, as soon as they be finished, which are now in his Hands.

4. There was read an Article of the last National Synod concerning the Differences of the University of Die with Monsieur Aymin a Minister, and the Letters also of the Professors in the said University were perused, in which they complain of the many Troubles he hath put them to upon the score of the Judgments passed in the Consistory of Lion, March 21. 1638. and March 7. 1643. notwithstanding they had been all repealed in that last National Synod, and which self-same Decree was Confirmed by a Judicial Sentence of the Supreme Court of Requests, May 12. 1656. into which the said Aymin had driven them. And another Report was made, how he threatened them with farther Prosecutions upon the same Account This Assembly censureth the said Mr. Aymin for drawing the said Professors, contrary to the Canous of our Discipline before the Secular Jurisdiction, yea, and contrary to the Decree of the National Synod aforesaid. And in case he shall hereafter offer to transgress that Decree, the Provincial Synod of Cévennes is authorized, to take Cognizance thereof, and to censure him according to his Deserts, either by Suspension or Deposal from his Office as it may so fall out: And they shall further Question him for what Causes he hath desisted from the Functions of his Ministry; and all this shall be done by the Authority of this Assembly; nor shall there be any Appeal of his admitted from that Provincial Synod.

5. The Fifth Article of Observations upon reading of the Discipline in the Synod of Charenton, 1644. which forbad all Proposans going into the Pulpit at those Hours destinated unto Sermons, shall be most religiously observed, and such as violate them shall be censured by Colloquies and Synods.

6. On reading the Thirteenth Article of Appeals in the last National Synod, the Provincial Deputies of Cévennes made their Report, and the Letter from the Consistory of St. Estienne was produced. This Assembly blamed the said Province and Consistory for not having sooner put in execution the Order of the said National Synod, for separating the Sieur Michel from his Wife. And whereas the said Sieur Michel and his Wife, that they may avoid the Censures of the Church, do offer voluntarily, and of their own accord, to separate one from the other, and so to remove the ground of the Scandal given by them, and taken at them: This Assembly ordaineth, that after they shall have evidenced their sincere Repentance and Submission to the Rules of our Discipline by a real Separation from each other for the space of Six Months, then, and not till then are they to be received to the Peace and Fellowship of the Church.

7. The Deputies of the Province of Burgundy were heard speak about that Decree of the last National Synod, which ordaineth the said Province to examine the Accounts of the Sieur John Gras, concerning the Monies received by him for the Churches of Montauban, Rochelle and Castres. The said Deputies declaring that those Accounts were audited and closed in the Synod held at Bussi in the Year 1651. and put into the Hands of the Sieurs Cale and Spons, Elders of the Church of Lion, and Deputies for the said Church. Upon which Relation the Deputies were very well satisfied.

8. The Colloquies of Roven and Cauz made a Proposal for separating the Higher and Lower Normandy, and to make out of them two Provincial Synods. After that Monsieur Bochart was heard speaking for the Colloquies of the Lower Normandy: This Assembly judged, that the Decree past in the last National Synod should hold good, without any change at all; and that the said Proposal should be let die away in silence.

9. The re-iterated Petition of the Province of Cévennes about the Church of Doubre and D'Auchy shall be tendered to the next Synod of the higher Languedoc, which is entreated to consider well of the matter.

10. The Assembly revising the eighth Article of General Matters in the last National Synod, which enjoined the Consistories of those Churches that have Printers, to take special heed, that there be not any Change made in the Translation of our Bible, nor in our Liturgy nor Psalms, without express Order from that Consistory, which is empowered for so doing by the Provincial Synod. It doth also recommend the strict Observation hereof, and declareth those Persons worthy to be censured who do neglect it, and willeth that an account of this be rendered both to the • rovincial Synods and Colloquies. And farthermore, all Persons whatso ver be forbidden to print, or bind up with our Liturgy and Ordinary Catechism any other Catechisms and Prayers whatsoever.

11. On reading that Article of the last National Synod concerning Original Sin, divers Provinces demanding with great Importunity, that this Assembly would be pleased to moderate it; this Decree was made, That for the future all Pastors and Proposans who should offer themselves unto the Holy Ministry, shall be only obliged to subscribe unto the Tenth and Eleventh Article of the Confession of Faith held by all the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom; and in the mean while all Persons are forbidden to preach or print anything against the Imputation mentioned by the said Synod in that Article before named, nor shall anything more or less be changed in it.

12. In reading that Article of the same National Synod concerning the Redemption of Captives: This Assembly took notice, that the Alms collected from the Faithful on this occasion had been employed most beneficially in this pious Work, as was made appear by those Accounts brought in and examined; and whereas there is a great Necessity for the continuance of this noble Charity, this Assembly recommends the continuance of its Practice unto the Provinces according to the intent and purport of the said Article.

13. The Deputies of Lower Guyenne gave in an account of what their Synod had done about the absence of two Elders, whom they had deputed unto the last National Synod of Charenton, and their proceedure in censuring of Monsieur Sauvage for his absence was well approved.

CHAP. IX. Of Appeals.

1. MOnsieur Ferrand Pastor of the Church of Burdeaux, appealed, for that the Synod of Lower Guyenne held at Bergerac, had made a change in their first Deputation to the National Synod, having put in another Deputy in his stead, whenas sixteen Members of the said Synod were absent and out of the way, to the wounding of his Reputation. Whereupon the Deputies of that Province declared, that this Change was made in pursuance of a Rule made in the Synod held at Casteljalonx, without any the least suspicion had of the Integrity of the said Monsieur Ferrand, whose Fidelity and Sincerity was very well known in all the Province and elsewhere. This Assembly judged, that the Rule established in the said Province is highly laudable, and its observation very profitable. Yet nevertheless it were to be desired that the new Election had not commenc'd in the absence of so great a number of their Members; and the said Monsieur Ferrand is entreated to rest satisfied with the Testimony given him by the Deputies of his Province in this Assembly, that he hath always demeaned himself as a good and Faithful Servant of God.

2. The Churches of Beaune, Thoire, and St. John, appealed from the Judgment of the Synod of Burgundy, which refused to discharge them of those Sums to which they were taxed as the other Churches of the Province, for the Colleges and Universities. After perusal of the Contents of their Memoirs, and hearing the Deputies of the Provinces, the Assembly judged those Churches aforesaid most blame worthy for refusing to pay the Sums demanded of them, and enjoineth them to submit unto that Order.

3. The Sieur Gaultier, Pastor in the Province of Saintonge, brought his Appeal from a Censure which he pretended was inflicted upon him by the Synod of that Province held at Mauze, July 5, 1656, because he refused to Baptize the Child of the Lord of Cyre, at his Castle on an extraordinary Day. The Assembly considering the Terms of that Censure which he produced, mentioned no Censure at all, it could not be persuaded that he had any ground of complaint in the least, nor that such an Appeal should have been brought into this Assembly; because Pastors should in all Affairs of this nature be guided by their Consistories, and the custom of the Provinces. And forasmuch as this Assembly is informed, that the said Gaultier hath been for a long time without a Church, the Province of Saintonge was commanded to get him some Employment.

4. Mademoiselle d' Argier, Widow of the Deceased Pastor of that Name, complained against the Judgment of the Synod of Lower Languedoc, held at Usez, in the Year 1659, which had rejected her Petition, and demand of the Annuity of her Widowhood from the Churches of Cormes and Florensac; but her Appeal was rejected, because the matters of that nature ought to be finally decided in the Provinces.

5. The Sieur Bourdieu, Pastor of the Church of Montpellier, having presented unto this Assembly the Evidences and Memoirs of Mr. Peter Caffarel, (Syndic of the Inhabitants in the City of Montpellier, professing the Reformed Religion,) by which he defends himself from the Appeals brought by the Sieur John Guillard, and Mademoiselle Colomb • , and Esther Thalodiere de Degan, about a difference between them concerning Seats in the Temple: These Differences were remanded back again unto the Consistory of Montpellier, there to be finally determined if they are not so already, according to the Ordinances established in the last and in this present National Synod of Charenton.

6. There were produced in this Assembly the Memoir of Monsieur David Blanc (late Pastor of the Church of Vernoux, who departed this Life about Two Years since,) and presented by his poor Children in behalf of their Dead Father to defend an Appeal of his from the Provincial Synod of Vivaretz held at Vals, in April 1650. And they complained that the said Synod had removed him from his Church of Vernoux, without so much as hearing him speak for himself; so that he was for sometimes altogether destitute of Employment, and without any Maintenance or Care had for him or his poor Families Subsistence. After that the Deputies of the said Province were heard, the Assembly did very much blame the Province of Vivaretz, for removing the said Mr. Le Blanc from his Church, without suffering him to defend himself, and for not providing for his Subsistence all the while he was out of employment; and Ordained that there should be paid in unto his Children within the space of one Year, the Sum of Two Hundred Livres by the said Province, and by the Churches of Vernoux, and of Velay, each of them One Third. And the Synod of Vivaretz is charged to see that the said Sum be paid in to the Children of the said Deceased Mr. Le Blanc, within the time prefixed.

7. On sight of the Letters and Memoirs of Monsieur Thubert the Father, Pastor of the Churches of Cassagnoles and Marnjolles, appealing from a Judgment past in the Synod held at Alez, in the Year 1658, against him, and for refusing to restore him unto his Church of Vezenobres, from whence he was removed without any valid Reason given him; and that because he had a right to re-enter into his said Church, they to keep him out, would pay him Fifty Livres a Year for his Life. After that the Deputies of Cévennes had been heard, and that the Memoirs containing the Reasons and Grounds of the Appeal brought from the said Judgment by the Church of Vezenobre, which was ordered to pay Fifty Livres a Year unto the said Monsieur Thubert. The Assembly vacated the said Appeal; and hath also vacated the Judgment past against the said Church, for the Yearly payment of Fifty Livres, and dischargeth it from the said Payment, without Restitution of any part of the said Monies, to be made by the said Monsieur Thubert, in case he hath received any.

8. There was an Appeal brought by the Church of Xaintes, from an Act of the Provincial Synod of Saintonge, held at Cazes, in June, 1659, for that, as they were informed, they had over and besides the great Catechism, which is ordinarily used every Lord's Day, ordained another to be used between the Morning Sermon, and the great Catechism for Children, in a familiar way, by Questions and Answers; and yet though this be not practiced in any one Church of the Province, the Church of Xaintes is called upon to conform to Order, and to keep to Uniformity. This Assembly being obliged to commend the Zeal and Diligence of the said Church, in providing for their Instruction who are committed to its care, judgeth, that it had been much better if the said Province had left this Church in full Liberty; or that when they gave it their Advice upon the difficulty, (which was discovered in the Order of the said Church, and that for a long time hath been upheld and maintained in it,) about the time chosen by them for their Catechisings, the Province itself had found out some other means more meet, and fit to produce those good effects and fruits which they have yielded, and which might have been exempted from those inconveniencies which it hath found in the said Church, and whereunto it might have conformed. And therefore exhorteth the said Church, and all other Churches in this Kingdom, to strengthen themselves, and to be encouraged in this laudable Design, and to promote to the very utmost of their Power, the instruction of particular Members, according to that Canon made and established in this present Assembly.

9. The Letters and Memoirs of the Sieurs Vulson, Des Grands Prez, D • B •• f, and Calvet, Doctors of Physic, Fellows of the College of Physicians, Fellows of the College of Physicians at Grenoble, and Professors of the Reformed Religion, were Produced and Read in this Assembly, by which they complained of Monsieur Gros, Pastor of the Reformed Church at La Mure, for having transgressed the 18th Article of the first Chapter of our Ecclesiastical Discipline, which forbiddeth Ministers to practice Physic, and that the Synod of Dauphiné held at Vegnes, in September last of this Year, 1659, had not took an effectual course to restrain him. The Letters also of the Sieurs Gros were opened and perused, and the Deputies of the Province of Dauphiné were heard speak on this matter. After all Parties had been heard, this Assembly not finding any proof against the said Mr. Le Gros, that he had of late transgressed, nor since that Act of the Consistory of Grenoble, June 17, 1659, he was only enjoined precisely and exactly to observe the sense and intention of that Eighteenth Article of our Church-Discipline under the Penalties therein contained.

10. The Sieurs de Billieres, Crumel, Codere, and Durassus, deputed by a great part of the Inhabitants of Montauban, who style themselves the Directors of the Heads of Families in the said City, as appeared by a Letter dated the Twenty Fifth of October, 1659, brought divers Complaints and Accusations against Mr. Joseph Arbussy, Pastor of the Church there, and other Letters against the Consistory, and the Senate of that University; for that he the said Arbussy, and the Sieurs Le Clerc and Caussade, Advocates Deputed by the Consistory of Montauban, and the extraordinary Council of that University, (as was evident from their Letters of Commission, and by an Act bearing date the Twenty Ninth of October, 1659,) had forbidden those Heads of Families before-named by Mr. Billieres and his Fellow-Deputies to assemble and act together. The Deputies of Lower Languedoc and the Sieur Boudet, Pastor of Caussade, were heard all of them speak for themselves and for those Persons, who opposed the Synod of Realmont; and all their Assertions and Denials having been patiently heard and considered; the Assembly did upon the whole, appoint Commissioners to examine and make good those respective Acts, which were produced by both Parties, Plaintiffs and Defendants, that so upon a clear and full knowledge of the Cause Justice might be done. The said Commissioners having made their Report, and both Parties having been heard once and again, yea, and divers times upon all that they had to declare, and many Papers having been read over again and again in the Assembly, that all the Members of which it was composed might have a full and clear Idea of the whole Affair, the plain truth of the matter appeared to be thus; With respect to Mr. Billieres and his Consorts, they have failed in these following particulars: 1. That they began their Prosecutions of Monsieur Arbussy, upon very slight and trifling. Accounts, and by a Cabal which is expressly forbidden by our Discipline. 2. And that they demanded positively in a peremptory manner of the Consistory, to call an Assembly of the Heads of Families, that they might bring before them their Articles of Accusation against Monsieur Arbussy, without ever expecting the Judgment of the Consistory thereupon. 3. That they have appeared before this Assembly by a Public Notary contrary to our Canons. 4. That because the Acts demanded by them were not immediately, nor the next Day delivered to them, they did precipitantly withdraw themselves from under the Jurisdiction of their Consistory, by appealing from it unto the Provincial Synod. 5. For that some of them seeing the said Monsieur Arbussy going into the Pulpit to Preach, went out of the Church with much irreverence. 6. For that among their Articles against the said Mr. Arbussy, there were some which in themselves were of no moment, nor worth the mentioning, and others founded upon conjectures without proof; and one in particular urged with that Passion and Uncharitableness, as in no wise became Christians, for they published a Secret to the World that was never known before, and which when it was thoroughly inquired into, it could not in the least be proved. And 7. Lastly, That in the management of the whole Affair, they have discovered more Passion than Zeal for God's Glory. For these causes the Assembly judgeth that they have deserved very great Censures, and adviseth them that for the future, they do not violate the Rules of our Discipline and Christian Moderation.

2. As for the Consistory, 'tis evident they have failed in these points following: First, Inasmuch as they have not been so careful as they ought, to extinguish the Fire of this Contention in its first eruptions by some charitable condescension. Secondly, And that instead of counseling the Sieur Arbussy to obey the Order of the Synod of Mauvoisin, they concluded on the contrary. Thirdly, For that they have suffered several Scripts to be Printed, which are totally prejudicial to our Liberties and Privileges granted us by the Edicts; and that when they audited their Accounts, who procured the impression of those Scripts, they allowed them all their Charges. And Fourthly, That they having given just occasion unto the Commissioners of the Synods of Usez and Mauvoisin, to complain of them. Wherefore this Assembly judgeth, that all these their Miscariages be remonstrated to them with Life and Power, and that they be exhorted to discharge that Holy Office and Trust in which they be employed, with all requisite Charity, Prudence and Integrity.

3. And as for the Senate of the University of Montauban, they also were found Faulty: First, In that, when as the Ordinary University Council had deputed the Sieur Crumel to the Synod of Lower Guyenne, the extraordinary Council assembleth not only without the knowledge and consent of the Ordinary, contrary to the Canon of the National Synod of Alez, but which is worse, merely in prejudice, and out of opposition to the Rector. Secondly, And that this extraordinary Council did depute the said Sieur Arbussy unto the said Synod of Lower Guyenne, for the self same matter for which Monsieur Crumel had been Deputed by the Ordinary. Thirdly, Item, And for that several Scholars being armed with their Swords, and walking up and down the City in this Equippage, they did not check and restrain them as they ought, with that Severity which was requisite. And the Assembly passed the same Judgment upon their Proceedings as upon the Consistory. Fourthly, As for the Provincial Synods of Mauvoisin and Usez, and Realmont, this Assembly saith, that although that of Mauvoisin might according to the strictness and rigor of our Discipline, have remanded that Affair of Monsieur Arbussy aforesaid, unto the Consistory of Montauban, which had neglected to judge of it; yet is their Prudence applauded, and all their Proceedings about Monsieur Arbussy approved. But as for that of Lower Languedoc, it is declared an Incompetent Judge. And as for that of Realmont, their Act in choosing Monsieur Arbussy for Moderator or Assessor, is disallowed, not only because he had no Letters of Commission to them, but also for that he had business of importance in that Synod to be determined. This also is disapproved, that they never debated nor opined upon that opposition which was made by sundry Pastors and Elders against the Election of Monsieur Arbussy to be their Assessor. And farther, this is disapproved, that after the return of the Opponents, immediately the Affair of Monsieur Arbussy came under consideration, instead of passing on to some other matters, whereby they might have re-united the Spirits which were already divided; and for that they chose another place besides the Ordinary for their meeting separately from those who were of the opposite Party. And as for Monsieur Boudet, Pastor of Caussade, and the other Opponents, they are blamed and censured for their departure from the rest of the Assembly, their Action tending unto Schism.

And as for what concerns Mr. Arbussy, 'tis evident that he hath failed in these ensuing Articles: 1. In uttering very injurious Words against those who went cut of Church as he was going to preach. 2. In his uncivil and uncharitable Carriage towards the Commissioners sent by the Synod of Usez unto St. Africa. And 3. For that the Consistory of Montauban having left it to his Discretion to preach and administer the Lord's Supper in the Old Church, because that several Counselors and other Gentlemen, Members of the Presidial Court, had protested that they could not receive the Communion at his Hands, who was suspended from the Ministry by order of the Synod of Uzez, yet notwithstanding he would and did preach and administer that Holy Sacrament. 4. In that he resolved, and was bent upon it, to be Assessor in the Synod of Realmont, notwithstanding the Opposition made by 19 Pastors and 19 Elders, they opposing his Election to that Office, because he had not any Letters of Deputation to them, and because of his Suspension. 5. For that in the same Synod, whenas the Opponents made some difficulty to withdraw, demanding a Debate first upon the Election of the said Mr. Arbussy unto the Office of Assessor, he told his Majesty's Commissioner in that Synod, that it belonged unto his Place and Office of right, to cause any Persons whom he thought good, to depart from the Assembly. 6. For that he did in his own Name cause three things to be published, which were all of a piece, entirely prejudicial to our Liberties and Privileges granted us by the Edicts, and this too when he was employed directly about Civil Affairs. 7. For that he being a Member of the Consistory of Montauban, he did not oppose the Payment of those Charges for the same Script, when as the Account was brought in unto them. 8. For that by the Endeavors of his Uncle a Decree of the Parliament of Toulouse, having restored him to the Exercise of his Office, he expressed not any the least Displeasure or Repentance for his Sin, which had caused him to be suspended as he ought. 9. For that he did not submit unto the Order of the Synod of Mauvoisin, till Nine Months after it had been notified unto him, and still continued the Exercise of his Ministry at Montauban, whenas he should have done it at St. Africa, unto which Church he was lent by the Synod for one whole Year. Nor can his Appeal cover this his Offence, because all our Synods are empowered to lend Ministers unto Churches for a Year, notwithstanding an Appeal. 10. For that he suffered divers Scholars to follow him in the City with their Swords at their sides. 11. And in short, for that in his whole Conduct he hath discovered a very fierce, haughty Spirit, and who, for the attaining of his ends, will boldly pass over all the Banks and Fences of Order and Discipline, yea, and the very Bounds of Christian Moderation, a Virtue well becoming the Ministers of our Lord Jesus; he having by such Actions as these fomented the Troubles and Divisions in the Church of Montauban. All these Offences of the said Sieur Arbussy having been duly and maturely pondered, the Assembly concluded, that he could not exercise his Ministry in the Church of Montauban, nor in any other belonging to the Synod of Higher Guienne, and higher Languedoc, and that he shall provide himself of some other Church in some other Province, as the good Providence of God may direct him. Nor shall he exercise his Ministry in any other place, until such time as he be settled in some particular Church, either by this present National, or by a Provincial Synod, or by a Colloquy, or by that particular Church with which he shall agree, and to whom he shall devote and consecrate his Ministry. Nor shall he exercise the Office of Professor, nor of Principal in the College of Montauban, and all this for very good Reasons well known unto this Assembly, who desiring rather to use their Charity than Rigour in their Dealings with the said Mr. Joseph Arbussy, do declare, that the Cessation of the Functions of his Ministry and other Offices, shall be without any Note or Blemish of Deposal from them. And forasmuch as 'tis very needful, that there should be a good understanding maintained among the Faithful in the Church at Montauban, this Assembly hath nominated the Sieurs Chamier and Vignier Pastors, and Pontperdu and Maizomay Elders, Commissioners, who shall travel unto that City, and labor in this good Work, and in all other matters that may occur unto them, according to those Instructions which shall be given them. And in the mean while all the Members of that Church are exhorted to receive those aforesaid Commissioners with Spirits well inclined unto Peace, for the Glory of God, the repose of their own Consciences, the Tranquility of the Mystical Body of Christ Jesus, and that by this Holy Union they may prevent those Judgments which their mutual Discord and Animosities will otherwise infallibly pull down upon them.

11. There came unto this Assembly Mr. Paul Bely a Member of the Church of Fontenay le Comte, and informed them, that he had appealed from the Decrees of the Provincial Synods of Poitou held at Coutre, in the Year 1654. and at Niort, in the Year 1656. By the first of which his Liberty (granted him by the Synod held at Partenay, in the Year 1649. to communicate at the Lord's Table in any other Church besides that of Fontenay ) was taken from him, and for that the Sieur Le Blois Pastor of the said Church, was acquitted from all those Accusations which he the said Bely had brought in against him at the said Synod of Niort. Whereupon the said Sieurs Jossaud Pastor, and Gondran Elder, Deputies in this Assembly being ordered to peruse the Acts of both Parties, and the said Mr. Bely being heard in his Complaints and Demands, and the Sieur Le Bloy in his Defense: All the Deputies did unanimously decree, because of several Answers made by him before a Court of Justice on a Civil Law Suit, and for several other Accusations, all of which were partly decided by the Decrees and Judgments given in the Civil Judicature in favor of Monsieur Bloy against the said Bely, and partly rejected by the Provincial Synod of Niort, because they were vain and frivolous, without Foundation, and without Proof; that the Sieur le Bloy was absolutely justified, and the said Bely censured for having persisted so long a time in his unrighteous Law-Suits, and for keeping in his Heart, and testifying by his Actions so great an Hatred against the said Monsieur Le Bloy, and so great a Resentment of past matters, by reason of the Civil Processes which have been between them. And yet notwithstanding this Assembly making use of its Authority and Charity, hath ordained, That the said Bely should divest himself entirely of all his Resentments, and accept of the said Monsieur Le Bloy as his Pastor, and be reconciled with him as becometh a true Christian. And the Sieur Le Bloy is exhorted to embrace the said Bely as his Brother in Christ, and as one of the Members of that Flock, which God hath committed unto his Charge, and to forget, as becomes a good Pastor, all past matters. And the Province of Poitou shall take care that they do not grant unto the said Mr. Bely hereafter a Liberty of Communicating in the Church of Fontenay, as they had done formerly. Which being declared unto both Parties, they did reciprocally give each other the right Hand of Reconciliation.

12. The Sieur Hesperian came unto this Assembly, complaining of a Decree of the Provincial Synod of the Lower Guyenne held at Montpazier, July, 1659. by which, because of the differences between him and Mrs. Mary Betoulle, there were Commissioners assigned them, who having examined their Papers, did not find any reason why they should proceed to a Condemnation of the said Hesperian, but rather to justify him; yet nevertheless he having been, for want of a Decree in the Court of the Edict at Guienne forfaulted, and having two Witnesses, who were never confronted, he refer'd the whole business unto the determination of the Province, which had declared, they saw no cause why the said Hesperian should be condemned; and yet notwithstanding, till a Decree should be gotten from the Chamber of the Edict, he was ordered to forbear the Exercises of his Ministerial Calling, until such time as he could be justified by the Court of the Edict, after which he might warrantably enter upon his Office; yea, and without wa •• ing till the sitting of another Synod; and that he might be re established according to our Canons in due Form, the Consistory of Bourdea • x was dep • ted by the Authority of the said Synod to take care of him in this Interim, and to provide him the first Church that should be vacant, and that he should like to accept of; and the said Mrs. Betoulle compl ••• ed of this very self same Decree by the Mouth of Monsieur Betoulle a Proposan her Brother, who hath presented on her behalf a Letter unto this Assembly, maintaining in it, that the said Hesperian ought to be deposed from his Ministry. On hearing the whole matter, this Assembly confirmed the Judgment of the said Synod of Montpazier: And whereas the said Hesperian complaineth of Mr. Betoulle Minister of the Church of Duras, the Assembly hath dismissed those Complaints of his over to the said Province of Lower Guienne, to take Cognisance of, and give Judgment in them.

13. Whereas the before-mentioned Mr. Hesperian desired this Assembly to interpret their Decree concerning the differences betwixt him and Mrs. Mary Betoulle, and his Justification in the Court of the Edict in Guienne. The Assembly declared, that it was none of their Intention to tie up the said Mr. Hesperian, that he must only obtain his Justification from the said Court of the Edict in Guienne; but that if it should so fall out, that his Law-Suit should be removed from the said Court, and brought into another, and there he should be absolved and justified, i • should d • as well, and obtain the same effect as if it had been ordained in the Chamber of the Edict of Gienne.

14. On perusal of the Memoirs of the Colloquy of middle Poitou, brought in to defend an Appeal of theirs from a Judgment given by the Colloquy of Lower Poitou held at Chef-Boutonne, whenas their Synod was assembled in September, 1659. and which refused to dismember the Churches of Collonge and Foussay, that so the Colloquy of Middle Poitou might be corroborated: This Assembly decreed, that there should be nothing innovated on this account, but things should stand as they were.

15. The Committee (appointed to peruse the Memoirs 〈◊〉 L • tters sent by the Churches of Montendre, Ozillac, and Fonta •••• to maintain their Appeal from the Judgment of the Synod of Saintonge held at Marans in the Year 1650. by which Mr. Hamilton was constituted Pastor of the Church of Jarnac. Having brought in their Report, and the Deputies of that Province having given in the Reason • prevailing with that Synod to pass that Judgment which they did. This Assembly disallowing the precipitate Removal of Mr. Hamilton to the Church of Ja ••• , done before the time • llotted him, doth confirm the said Judgment, because it is evident, that the special Grounds and Con ••••• it were the knowledge which that Synod had of Mr. Hamilton 's indispositions. And whereas the Church of Ozillac demands our Advice 〈◊〉 th • y 〈◊〉 remanded back unto their own Province.

16. The Memoirs of the Church of Pons having been repor •• l, and their Letter written unto this Assembly read, which was indeed a Defense of their Appeal from the Judicial Sentence of the Synod of Saintonge held at Mauze, in the Year 1656. by which Monsieur Prioleau was presented to the Pastoral Charge of the Church of Rochell; and the Deputies of that Province being heard; this Assembly confirming the Censure of the said Synod past on the Sieur Priouleau for his Conduct with reference to the Church of Pons, doth blame the said Province for not admitting the Appeal of the said Church, and for their approving of the Remittal of those Arrearages due unto the said Priouleau, whereby to facilitate the Execution of their Judgment in removing a Pastor from his Church, and yet notwithstanding it doth confirm the said Mr. Prioleau in his Ministry to the Church of Rochelle.

17. Report was made of the Letters and Memoirs of Mr. Genoyers, Pastor in the Province of Dauphiné, appealing from a Judgment of the said Province assembled at Veynes in 1659. which had discharged him of all Employment either within or without the Province, and had took no care for his present Subsistence, or future establishment. Upon hearing the Deputies of the said Province, this Assembly rejected the Appeal of the said Mr. Genoyers, and confirmed the Judgment of the said Province; yet nevertheless it recommends the said Genoyers unto the Care of that Province to provide a Church for him according to their Prudence, and if it be possible; and the said Genoyers is enjoined absolutely to submit himself to the Orders of his Synod.

18. My Lord, his Majesty's Commissioner, before the Committee appointed for the Affair of Monsieur Morus had begun to debate it, and bring in their Opinion upon it, declared unto this Assembly, that before ever this business was pleaded, he had permitted both Parties to produce all Evidences that they should see fitting and needful for them, and having since found in the Hands of the said Committee Writings, Papers, and Copies which were produced by the Sieur Papillon, and which the said Lord Commissioner took notice to have been transmitted from Holland in Defense of the Synods held at Tergow and Nimeguen against Mr. Morus, which said Writings and Letters he the said Lord Commissioner had left with the Committee, that they might be the better enabled to make a Report of the whole matter, without ever detaining any of them in his Hands, although he had Order from his Majesty to suppress all Letters that were sent from Holland, or from Foreign Parts without the Kingdom; and that he should not suffer them to be divulged or sold in this City of Loudun; and this he did, that neither the Parties concerned, nor the Synod itself should complain, that without those Paper • , Pieces and Writings, they could not come to a perfect knowledge of the bottom of this Affair, and to judge aright of it. In pursuance hereof, and for these Considerations before mentioned, the said Lord Commissioner declared, that he did now also give full Liberty to all the Deputies who were in this Synod Judges of this matter, to peruse those aforesaid Papers and Evidences as they should think meet, and according to the Privileges granted by his Majesty to his Subjects of the Reformed Religion by the Edicts, and according to the Discipline received in our Churches, and approved in France by the Laws and Customs of the Kingdom; but without allowing them to subject themselves to any Foreign Authority, Jurisdictio •• 〈◊〉 Judgments; or to send Monsieur Morus unto any other Judges than •• ose of his said Kingdom to be tried by them, and to undergo their Judicial Sentence; this being contrary and prejudicial to his Majesty's Authority, to his Ordinances and Edicts, as also to the Weal, and Rights, and Privileges of his Subjects▪ All which it was his Lordships Pleasure should be inserted into the Act containing the Judgment of this National Synod upon this affair.

The Sieur Papillon, Advocate in Parliament, and Elder in the Church of Paris, being admitted to produce his Arguments in defense of those Appeals brought both in his own Name, and in that of Monsieur Beauchamp, an Advocate and Elder also in the same Church, from the Judgments given in the Synod of the Isle of France held at Ay in May last of this Year now current, 1659, (by which Monsieur Morus was confer'd upon the Church of Paris to be their Minister,) and from those Members of the Consistory of that Church, who had Ordered the said Mr. Morus, to be confirmed in it, notwithstanding their Appeal, and for refusing to give him leave, which he had demanded to pass into Holland according to his promise, there to justify himself from those Imputations laid upon him; and for that they censured him the said Papillon for Appealing from them: He was heard in this Assembly, and the Assembly took notice of what he urged on behalf of his Appeal, and heard him patiently in whatever he had to offer against those Judgments aforesaid. And also Monsieur Morus was heard defend himself, and explaining matters relating to him, as were the Deputies of the Province of the Isle of France, and those of the Consistory of the Church of Paris, in defense of their Judgment, and in their demand of the Ministry of the said Monsieur Morus. And there was heard the Report made by the Committee appointed for a more exact Reading and Verification of all Papers and Writings, and what Judgment had been past on the Excuses and Denials of both sides; the Examination of this important business, ate up several Days. This Assembly having rightful Authority to judge herein, (and the rather for that the Synod of Nimeguen, whose Act was now Read, had remitted the whole unto the Prudence, Discretion and Charity of this Assembly, to do in it what it should conceive would most contribute to the Glory of God, the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ, and the upholding of that Holy Correspondence, which hath always been betwixt the Reformed Churches of France, and those of the United Provinces,) did take and retain the cognizance of this affair unto itself; and declared, that it found no cause obliging it to condemn the said Sieur Morus, nor to blast the Reputation of his Person or Ministry; but on the contrary, that it had sufficient Reasons to dismiss him, justified from all those grievous Slanders and Accusations which were brought into this Assembly against him. Wherefore it declareth him innocent of those crimes which were imposed on him; and having perused those advantageous Testimonials given him by the Magistrate, Pastors, and Professors of Divinity in the City of Geneva, by the Pastors and Professors of Divinity in the City of Middleburg, by the Burgomasters and Curators of the City and Illustrious School of Amsterdam, and by divers Pastors, and sundry other private Persons, whose Names and Probity are celebrious, and well known to this Assembly; and considering the great Edification which the Church of Paris receiveth from his Ministry, and their vehement desires urged with the greatest importunity that he may be continued to them, this Assembly doth Establish and Confirm him in the said Church to discharge the Office, and perform the Duties of an ordinary Pastor in it. And making Reflections upon what hath been transacted in the Synods of La Ferte au Col, and D'Ay, and in the Consistory of the Church of Paris, on occasion of the said Monsieur Morus, it censureth that Synod of La Ferte, for having judged the said Monsieur Morus, when he belonged not unto them, nor was under their Jurisdiction, and only because an Impeachment against him had been brought before them, and for that they never exacted of him in order to his Induction into the Church of Paris, but a simple License of departure from the Curators of the Illustrious School of Amsterdam, without making mention of his Testimonial from the Church. And the Synod of Ay is censured for assuming to themselves a power of judging the competency or incompetency of the Synod of Tergou, over which they had none Authority; and that in speaking of that Synod, they used very unbecoming Expressions, and reflected unhandsomely upon their Judgment, and confirming the Censures issued out by the said Synod of La Ferte against the Consistory of the Church of Paris, it doth ordain that the Canons of our Discipline about the Election and Confirmation of Pastors shall be observed with greater exactness than hath been done in this Call given unto, and Reception of Monsieur Morus by the Church of Paris. And as for the Sieur Papillon, the Assembly hath taken off the Censures inflicted on him by the Consistory of the Church of Paris, and doth fully acquit him from it; and declareth that there was no reason for denouncing any Censure against Monsieur Beauchamp. And after grave and serious Counsels and Admonitions given unto Monsieur Morus about his Conversation, which was not managed with that circumspection as was requisite, and advice unto him to be more careful for the future, that the mouth of Calumny which hath been wide and loud open against him may be stopped, he was enjoined more particularly to look to it, that he offended no Man by his Words or Writings, and that he labor to the utmost of his Power to preserve Peace, and to calm and reconcile the Spirits of Men of all Perswasions to himself, and to regain their Love and Amity from whom he is departed.

19. It being represented unto this Assembly, that their Act made about Morus, Mr. hath been by some Persons misinterpreted; and that therefore they would be pleased to explain their Sense and Intentions of it. This Assembly did explain itself thus; That by those grievous Crimes and Accusations whereof there is mention made in their Act, they understood all matters whatsoever relating to the Purity of Life and Conversation of the said Monsieur Morus, of all which he was absolutely judged innocent. And as to those other points whereof he was impeached, as some sharp Words spoken or written against his Brethren, the Assembly declareth, that the Remonstrances and Counsels were given him upon this account; and which having been accepted by him, he was also in this respect absolved and Discharged.

20. Monsieur Plassay, formerly Pastor of the Church of Niort, presented himself to this Assembly, complaining that the last Synod of Poitou, held at Fontenay le Conte, had suspended him without any lawful cause from his Ministry; and for that a Committee of that Synod, did in pursuance of that Suspension, most unjustly depose him, notwithstanding the Appeal which he had brought against his Suspension; and he petitioned that he might be restored with Honor unto the Exercise of his Office. There joined with him in this his Complaint and Petition, the Sieurs Bellebat and Tristan, Deputies of the Heads of Families in the said Church of Niort, and requested that he might be restored and continued in his Ministry among them, as was more amply specified in their Appeal from the Decrees of their Provincial Synods held at Lusignan, in the Year 1657, and at Fontenay aforesaid, in the Year 1658. Monsieur de la Place, Deputed by a certain number of the Elders of that Church, was heard, opposing the Demand both of the said Monsieur Plassay, and of those two before-mentioned Deputies; and craved a Confirmation of the Decrees of those Synods and of their Committee, and complained that the Conversation of the said Monsieur Plassay did render him unworthy to be received into the Holy Ministry. The Deputies of the Province of Poitou were heard also speak whatsoever they thought meet on this occasion. And the Report of the Committee being made, and Letters and Acts concerning this affair being read, the Assembly judged, that those who opposed the continuance of Monsieur Plassay in his Ministry to the Church of Niort, are worthy to be Censured, because they have testified too much bitterness and passion against the said Mr. Plassay, as also for that they did not express that tender care which they ought, unto the Edification of the Church of Niort, who professed that they were very well satisfied with his Ministry, opposing themselves to the sense and sentiment of the People, and this too in ways diametrically opposite to Christian Charity, and the Discipline practiced in our Churches. Moreover the Assembly judged the Province of Poitou to have deserved Censure, for having in the said Synod of Fontenay removed Mr. de Coignac from the said Church of Niort, without any cause alleged; as they did also the Sieur de Plassay from it, without hearing either him or the said Church; and for that they suspended him from his Ministry with very much precipitancy, without any reason assigned by the said Synod, yea, and without so much as citing him to appear before them: And it enjoineth the said Synod to abstain from such Proceedings as these for the future. And as for those Inhabitants in whose Names the Sieurs de Bellebut and Tristan have here appeared; this Assembly disapproving their Rebellion to the Orders and Canons of our Ecclesiastical Assemblies, (to which all (Church-Members owe Submission and Obedience,) and those extraordinary courses they have taken on several occasions, by which they have violated the order of our Discipline, and that Reverence which they were bound to pay unto their Superiors; and more especially for that to redress their grievance, they did, contrary to the Canons of our National Synods, apply themselves unto Secular Judges to the Civil Magistrates, which very fact of theirs is expressly forbidden by our Discipline; whereas they should have contented themselves with their Appeal unto the Superior Assemblies, which were allowed them; and therefore these have incurred the sharpest Censures. And whereas Monsieur Plassay hath been found by this Assembly deeply engaged in the most violent proceedings of those Inhabitants before-mentioned; and among the rest, in that undue recourse unto Secular Judges; and that he is convicted of Rebellion against our Church Discipline, having exercised the functions of his Ministry, after that he was suspended and deposed, directly contrary to our Canons; a fact in itself so heinous, that it deserveth the severest and utmost Censure. This Assembly cannot but condemn these Actings of the said Mr. Plassay, although 'tis evident he persisted but a very little while in his Rebellion, and that he hath forborne the Exercise of his Ministry for about Fourteen Months or thereabout; and yet being desirous to support him, it Decreeth, that he shall be sharply censured and reproved, but that the Sentence of Deposition inflicted on him shall be taken off, and that he shall be restored unto the Exercise of his Ministry, but with this restriction, that he do not for Three Months time perform any of the duties thereof, which term being expired, he shall enter again upon them in the said Church of Niort, and in which this Assembly doth confirm and settle him, exhorting him to employ himself with the greatest care and diligence that is possible, and to look more narrowly unto his ways and deportments, and to show forth that gravity which becometh his Calling and Profession, and to seek after their Friendship, who may be averse to him. And finally as to Monsieur de Coignac, this Assembly confirms him also in the said Church of Niort, and could do no less, considering what it oweth unto his Age and Merit. And that this present Ordinance may be notified unto the said Church, the Sieurs Marchand and de la Forest Pastors, and the Sieurs de Thiac, and de Courcelles, Elders in the Province of Saintonge, are charged to visit that City, and to endeavor the Peace of that Church, and to reconcile those particular Members of it, which are at variance one with another; and these Deputies, together with Mr. de Plassay are entreated to do their utmost for the effecting of this good work, and that in the mean while, in the presence of this Assembly, they do give mutually to each, the Right Hand of Reconciliation.

21. The Sieur D'Huisseau, Pastor, accompanied with the Sieurs de Haumont, Benoist, and Favre, did Petition for themselves, and on behalf of other the Heads of Families in the Church of Saumur, that Monsieur d'Huisseau might be confirmed in his Ministry unto the said Church; they Appealed also from the Decrees of the First Synod held at Beauge, in the Year 1656, and at Saumur, in the Year 1657, and at Previlli, in the Year 1658, and from the Second held at Beauge in this Year 1659, and from the Orders of the Consistory of Saumur, bearing date the 16th and 27th of March, 1659; and they complained of all that had been done in pursuance of those Synodical and Consistorial Decrees. On the contrary part, the Sieur Amyrald, Pastor and Professor of Divinity in the said Church and University of Saumur, together with the Sieurs Druet and Royer, as well for themselves as for the other Deputies of that Consistory, and of divers Heads of Families in the said Church, together with the Deputies of the Province of Anjou, did abet and maintain all the Acts, Ordinances and Decrees of those Consistories and Synods before mentioned: These also were heard, declaring the grounds of their Differences. The Committee also who were appointed to hear and verisie the Acts of both Parties, brought in their Report, and at the same time, Monsieur de Bourdin, Pastor of the said Church, had Audience given him by this Assembly. Upon the whole Debate, This National Synod censured the Consistory of Saumur, for that instead of blaming the Deputies of that Assembly of the greatest part of the Heads of Families held without their Order, the 17th of September, 1655, they did contrariwise receive them, and at their instant and earnest Suit, had enjoined the said Sieur D'Husseau to withdraw himself from the Service of the said Church against his Will, and in contempt of a Decree of the Synod of Loudun, held in the Year 1655. And it disannuls the Decree of the Synod of Beauge, in the Year 1656, who upon this very account had confirmed the Decrees of the said Consistory; yet nevertheless it approveth that Order of Suspending the Sieurs Niot, Perillau and Piger, from their Office of being Elders in the said Church, which was denounced against them by that Consistory, and ratified by the said Synod of Beauge. Moreover this Assembly doth disannul that Decree of the Synod of Saumur, in the Year 1657, which confirmed another made in the foregoing Synod of Bauge, concerning the Ministry of the said Sieur D'Huisseau, and disapproveth their Act in censuring the said D'Huisseau, for having put in his Appeal to the Synod of Poitou from the Synod of Beauge, (for which he had good grounds, no less than a Canon of the National Synod of Charenton, 1644.) and for other causes mentioned in the Acts of the said Synod. And this Assembly could wish, that the said Synod of Saumur had not approved the said Consistories meeting in other places than those in which they were accustomed. Moreover, this Assembly blameth that Consistory, for that instead of doing right upon the Complaint of those aforesaid Gentlemen, the Sieurs D'Huisseau, de Haumont, and their Companions,) which was occasioned by those Writings of Monsieur Amyrald, that published their Divisions in prejudice of those Apologies made by the said Synod of Saumur, it censured them, and would oblige them to demand Pardon; and upon this account it reverseth the Decree of the Synod of Preuilly, in the Year 1658. which had confirmed the Judicial Sentence of the said Consistory. This Assembly also could have wished that the said Consistory, before they had pronounced Sentence of Suspension from the Lord's Supper against the Sieurs Benoist, Niotte, de Haumont, and Bouchereau, for being the reputed Authors of those injurious Libels, written both against them and the Synod of Anjou, and the Sieurs Amyraut, Beaujardin, and others, that they had took a more exact knowledge, whether the forenamed Persons had been fully convicted. And yet forasmuch as it hath since appeared evidently and plainly unto this Assembly, that they were the real Authors of them, they be by this Assembly declared worthy of that Censure of Suspension which was inflicted on them: However this Assembly being very much grieved at this Division which hath so long a time troubled the said Church of Saumur, and designing to settle a good, firm and lasting Peace among them for the future, it doth take off that Suspension denounced against the Sieurs Niott, Perilleau, and Mr. Piger deceased, and restoreth the said Sieurs Niott and Perilleau to their Office in the Eldership, and taketh off that Censure of Suspension from the Lord's Supper denounced against the Sieurs Niott, Benoist, de Haumont, and Bouchereau; and notwithstanding that opposition made against the Call of the Sieurs Druet, Pellet, and Dortonne unto the Office of Elders, this Assembly doth confirm them in it. And as to what concerns Monsieur D'Huisseau, this Assembly wisheth that he had neither written nor printed any Letters on the account of these Differences; however, it disannulleth that Decree past against him by the Consistory of Saumur, assisted by the Sieurs Guiraud and La Fay, Ministers of the Gospel, the 27th of March last, and dismisseth him with Honor back unto his Church of Saumur, and for six Months time he is to preach unto it as often as his Strength will suffer him, which time the Assembly hath regulated to be the Work of one half Week when it comes unto his turn, that so it may be known within that time whether he may be able for the future to perform the ordinary Duties of his Ministry, as to the full and whole of it, or of a Moiety only. And whenas that time shall be expired, or if it be before the sitting of the Provincial Synod of Anjou, he shall then acquaint that Synod fully and plainly of his Intentions. And in case he shall be then able to exercise his Ministry either as to the whole, or to a moiety of it, he shall be at that time confirmed, and paid his Wages proportionably to the Service which he hath performed, decreeing those six Months of Trial: And if that, by reason of his Bodily Infirmities he cannot perform the whole, or one half of his Work in Preaching, he shall be from that time discharged; but nevertheless he shall still be reputed and taken for Pastor of the said Church, without Wages, according to his own Proposals, in which he shall have Liberty to preach whenever he shall be requested to it, and may when, and as often as he pleaseth, assist at Consistories, and other Ecclesiastical Assemblies, and shall enjoy both his deliberative and decisive Votes, yet without pretending to any right of presiding in those aforesaid Consistories, or of being deputed by the said Church unto their Provincial Synods. This Assembly censureth also the Sieur Niort and others, who shrouded themselves under the Secular Jurisdiction of the Civil Magistrate, in contempt of the Canons of our Discipline, and for taking the whole Consistory for their adverse Party, that so they might be exempted from its Jurisdiction, for presenting an Act highly injurious against the said Consistory. Moreover this Assembly doth condemn and censure with the greatest Severity all those Writings and Prints which have been made and published by both Parties, as most injurious and scandalous; and particularly a Letter styled Du Provincial, stuffed with divers Slanders, not only against private Persons, but also against the Provincial Synod and Consistory of the said City; and the last Synod of Bauge is very much blamed for permitting the Impression and Publication of a Book entitled, Les Pieces Authentiques. And this Assembly confirmeth the Judgment of the Synod of Saumur in what concerns the Sieur de Beaujardin, exhorting all Parties to lay by all their Resentments conceived one against the other upon the score of those injurious Words and Writings, and to declare that they have no Intention in the least of harbouring them anymore, nor of persisting in them; but that contrary wise, they do acknowledge one another for Persons of Integrity and Honor, and exempted from all Blame and Reproach, and in this Quality they shall give each other the Hand of Reconciliation. And to prevent all Differences for the future, the Provincial Synod of Anjou is enjoined to proceed against the Transgressors according to the Rigour of our Church-Discipline, even to the last Censures; and in case an Appeal should be entered, the Provincial Synod of Britain shall take cognizance thereof, and pass Judgment in it, which shall hold good till the meeting of the next National Synod. And as for those differences in the University of Saumur, this Assembly giveth full Liberty unto the said University of choosing its Professors in Divinity, proceeding therein according to its ancient Canons; and Monsieur Royer Doctor of Physic, is confirmed in his Office of Counselor to the said University, and the Sieur Doul in that of Professor of Eloquence, without suffering the said Nomination to be made a Precedent; and on this condition, that the said Professor Doul do every three Months keep a public Act. And this Assembly hath likewise approved and ratified that Canon of Agreement betwixt the Consistory and the said University, for taking cognizance of all Affairs depending upon both those Assemblies. And that this present Decree may be put in Execution, the Sieurs Guitton and de Bourdieu Pastors, and the Sieur des Champs an Elder, are deputed to pass over unto Saumur, and to visit the said Church, which is ordered to defray their Expences.

22. The Sieur John Nicholas a Bookseller, Deputy from the Company of Merchants and Burgesses, Members of the Reformed Church of Grenoble having presented to this Assembly Acts and Memoirs fraught with Complaints against the Consistory of the said Church, occasioned by reason of a difference risen betwixt them and the Attorneys in the Parliament and Court of the Edict there about Seats in their Consistory, and demanded on behalf of their Principles the Merchants afore-named, that the 7th Canon in the third Chapter of our Discipline might be observed, the Substance of which was, That neither Deacons nor Elders should claim any Primacy or Dominations the one over another, be it either in their Nomination unto the People, or in their place of sitting, or in their Order of Voting. And the Provincial Deputies of Dauphiné being heard, and the Committee having made their Report, the Assembly remandeth back this Affair to the Consistory of that Church of Grenoble, to judge ultimately therein, according to that Power given it by the Canons of the National Synods, and the said Consistory is enjoined to see that the said Canon of our Discipline be most exactly observed, and censureth those Persons who opposed the said Consistory.

23. The Provincial Deputies of Berry having advised the Church of Gergeau of the calling of this present National Synod, and ordered them to appear before it, to support their Appeal, entered by them against the Judgment of their Provincial Synod held at Blois, by which the Sieur la Tanne their Pastor was licensed to quit both that Church and Province, and no Person appearing for them, nor sending any Memoirs in Defense of their Appeal, it was declared null and void.

24. The Sieur du Vals, Pastor of the Church of Aimargues appealed from the Judgment of the Synod of Lower Languedoc held at Usez, about the Differences held between him and the Sieur de Richeres, Pastor of the Church of Vielle Ville. This Assembly not finding matters as yet ripe for a complete Decision, hath dismissed them over to the Consistory of the Church of Alez, who shall judge finally therein, and without Appeal from them.

25. There was an Appeal brought by the Consistory of the Church of Arvel from those Judgments past in divers Synods of the Province of Saintonge about some certain Seats in the Temple of the said Church. And the Deputies of that Province were heard, who declared, that they never had any notice given them of the said Appeal, nor that it was to be prosecuted in this Assembly: And that the Synod of their Province had not any knowledge of this Affair, but only the contending Parties. This Assembly, without demurring on those Judgments passed by the said Synod of Saintonge, remanded back again this Affair unto the Consistory of the said Church of Arvel, there to be determined, according to the Canons made in this and former National Synods: And as for other Affairs mentioned in the Memorial of the said Consistory, relating to the Lady of La Monerie, and the joining of the Church of Braize to that of Mornac, and that of the Lord of Forgiris to the said Church of Braize, or of Arvel, this Assembly hath dismissed them over to the Provincial Synod of Saintonge.

26. Mr. James Collin having sent no Memoirs to uphold his Appeal from that Judgment of the Provincial Synod of the Isle of France held at la Ferte au Col in the Year 1657. by which the said Synod declared, that they met with nothing in that Act of the Consistory of Vitry, dated February the 14th of the same Year, which might induce that Consistory to censure the said Collin, as he imagineth that they have done, or that he was the Author of those matters contained in the Memorials produced by him against the Siuer Anguenet, one of the Pastors of said Church of Vitry; nor could they find in the said Act any Censure against him the said Mr. Collin, for which Reasons they believed that his Appeal was needless. All which considered, this Assembly declared, that the Appeal of the said Mr. James Collin from the aforesaid Judgment of the Synod of La Ferte au Col, is null and void.

27. Monsieur Paullet, formerly Pastor in the Church of Usez, but at present Minister in the Church of Vaux and Province of Lower Languedoc, did exhibit in his own Name, and on behalf of the Magistrates, Consuls, and Common Council, and of divers Heads of Families, Members of the said Church, the Reasons of their Appeals brought against the Judgments of the Synods of Montpellier in the Year 1654. and of Usez in the Year 1659. and of Montpellier in the same Year, as also why they opposed the Call of Pastors and Elders here undernamed in the said Church of Usez. The Provincial Deputies of Lower Languedoc, and particularly the Sieur de Foissac, Elder in the said Church of U sez, Agent for the Consistory, and Assembly of the Heads of Families in the said Church, held in their Temple the 28th of September last, were heard in their Answers unto those Appeals and Oppositions before mentioned. The Committee also gave in their Report of all Matters, Papers and Acts read and perused by them, and which the said Parties had offered, or would produce. Upon the whole, this Assembly confirmeth the Judgment of the Synod of Montpellier, in the Year 1654. and declareth the Reasons and Grounds of that Appeal of Monsieur Paulet to be null and void, and that he ought not to pretend to be restored unto the Church of Usez, unless .......please scan all 6 occurences found he be called according to the Canons of our Discipline; yet nevertheless it dismisseth the said Paulet with Honor unto the Service of the Church of Vaux, unto which his Person and Concerns are recommended; and the Consistory of the Church of U sez is blamed for having brought against him injurious and unproven matters, as also for threatening the said Paulet with Suspension, in case he should stand by his Appeal; and for declaring that all other Synods were incompetent Judges in this Affair. Moreover this Assembly confirmeth Monsieur Manuel in his Ministry to the Church of U sez. And as for the Sieurs Lombard and Railly, they shall abide in the same condition as they be at present, until the next Synod of the Province, which may, if it please, either confirm them in the Ministry of the said Church, or discharge and give them their Liberty; and this however without approving the Custom of the said Province of sending Pastors unto a Church destitute for a Year, or a certain time only. And the said Province is enjoined for the future to conform itself unto the practice of the other Provinces, and to the Canons of our Discipline. And as for what concerns the Sieurs de Roche, Ravanel, Licon and Folheri, Elders in the Church of U sez, although the Consistory have been Faulty in their Call of them unto Office, yet nevertheless this Assembly doth confirm them in their said Office, and the rather, for that since their Establishment they have discharged the Duties thereof very profitably, and for sundry other Considerations not now to be mentioned.

28. The Sieur Guenard, formerly Pastor in the Church of Eureux, appealed from the Judgment of the Synod of Alanson, held in the Year 1651. by which, for his scandalous Life, he was deposed; but not appearing to make good his Appeal, it was declared null and void.

29. The Sieur German Gaultier appealed from that Judgment of the Synod held at St. Lo for suspending him the Holy Ministry: But the said Gaultier, nor any one else appearing for him to maintain his Appeal, it was declared null.

30. Monsiur Girard having brought Appeals from the Judgments given in the Synods of the Province of Burgundy, held at Issurtille and Bussy in the years 1649. and 1651. And whenas the the Memoirs of the said Girard were perused, and the Copy of that Legacy bequeathed by Mr. Heliot, a Master Surgeon deceased, had been considered, and the Provincial Deputies of Burgundy heard, and the Committee appointed to examine and verify all Papers produced on both sides had made their Report, this Assembly, by reason of the present state of the Church of Beaune doth confirm those self-same Judgments from which Monsieur Girard had appealed.

31. Monsieur de Fauquembergue, formerly Pastor in the Church of Senlis, entered his Appeal against the Judgment of the Provincial Synod of Charenton, held the 25th of April, 1653. by which he was suspended from the Ministry; and from another of the Committee assembled at la Ferte Col the 4th of July, 1655. who met by Authority of the Synod of the Isle of France held at Charenton, the 22d of April, 1655, by which he was totally deposed, and from another of La Ferte au Col, in April, 1657, which did not only confirm the said Deposition, but pronounced and executed a Sentence of Excommunication against him. The said Sieur de Fauquembergue was heard declare the Grounds and Reasons of his Appeal, and of its Defense. The Deputies also of the Isle of France, were heard speak in behalf of their Synod, and the Committee appointed for the examination of this Affair, and all Pleas on both sides were debated and judged: Wherefore upon the whole, this Assembly could not approve of several irregularities which it had observed in divers Proceedings of the Synods of the Isle of France against the said Sieur Fauquembergue, and above all in his Excommunication, which was done without any observation of the Forms prescribed by our Discipline; and declareth, that the said Sieur Fauquembergue had deservedly incurred a Deposition from the Ministry, for the many Troubles and Scandals which he hath caused by his disorderly conversation, and for continuing the Functions of his Calling after that he had been deposed, and for seeking redress from Secular Judges, the Civil Magistrate, whereby he upheld himself in a notorious violation of the Orders and Canons of our Discipline. But forasmuch as he hath humbled himself in this Assembly, and begged Pardon of God for his Offences, and expressed his Sorrow for having spoken and written Calumnies and Slanders against sundry Pastors and Elders of the Church of Paris, and others of the said Province of the Isle of France and elsewhere; and for that he hath promised to forsake all his Law-Suits Commenced against some of those Pastors, Elders, and other Persons, and to prevail with those particular Members of the Church of Senlis, that had joined with him, to lay down all their Prosecutions: This Assembly desiring to extend favor to the said Fauquembergue, hath taken off from him his Excommunication, and changed his Sentence of Deposition into a Suspension of Six Months, at the end whereof he may return to the exercise of his Ministry, bringing with him a Certificate sufficiently attested from the Places of his Abode, of his unblamable Conversation, of which the Synod of the Isle of France shall take cognizance; or in case it should not meet within that time, the Church of Rouen may do it. And at present this Assembly recommends the said Sieur de Fauquembergue and his Family, to the Charity of the said Synod, which is entreated to forgive what is past, and to express their Kindness to him, by providing him a Church within their Province, excepting always that of Senlis, or to procure him some Employment elsewhere. And as for what concerneth the Churches of Senlis and Bethizi, this Assembly censuring all those who have supported the said Sieur de Fauquembergue in his before-mentioned disorders; and yet nevertheless desiring to pacify all matters, hath taken tha • Sentence of Suspension from the Lord's Supper, which had been decreed against them. And that this present Act may be put in Execution, the Sieurs Pages Pastor of the Church of Castell Thierry, and Sarrau, Pastor of the Church of Meaux, are appointed to visit the said Church of Senlis, accompanied each of them with an Elder of their respective Consistories, and the said Church is to defray their Expences. These things being thus ordered and dispatched, Monsieur Fauquembergue craved leave of this Assembly to retire himself unto such a Place as the good Providence of God should direct him; which was freely granted him, and he was commended to the Grace of God.

32. John Grillemet came unto this Assembly to maintain his Appeal from a Judgment of the Consistory of Montauban; and from another given in the Provincial Synod of Higher Languedoc: After that the said Guillemet and the Deputies of that Province had been both heard, the Assembly judged that this affair should not have been brought before it, and therefore doth send it back again to the Synod of that Province, and to the Consistory of Montauban, whose Judgments are now confirmed by the authority of this present National Synod; but withal entreateth them both to extend their Charity unto this Appellant.

33. The Church of Eyssigeac having appealed from the Judgment of the Colloquy of Perigord, and from the Synod of Lower Guyenne, assembled at St. Foy, 1645, about the Titles put into the Bands of Matrimony, of the Sieur de Bequay, Attorney in the Praesidial Court of Agen, and from the Complaints brought against Monsieur Eymer, at present Pastor of the Church of Mount St. Proy; which said Complaints were mentioned in a Memorial sent by the Consistory of the said Church of Eyssigeac: This Appeal of theirs was declared null: And as for their Complaints, they were ordered to be carried unto the next Synod of Lower Guyenne, who are to take Cognizance of them. And the said Memorial was to this end put into the Hands of the Provincial Deputies of Lower Guienne, being attested by the Signatures of Monsieur Beraud, a Pastor, and of Four Elders.

CHAP. X. General Matters.

1. THE Assembly being informed by the Province of Lower Languedoc, that some Pastors do read the Texts of their Sermons in other Translations differing from that which is commonly used in our Churches; this Assembly decreeth that no Person shall dare use any other Version than that which is ordinarily used, whether in Reading the Scriptures, or taking their Texts out of it.

2. As to that Proposal made by the Deputy of the Province of Burgundy, concerning the administration of the Poor's Money, and the rendering of Accompts by those who have had the Management thereof: This Assembly judgeth, that the cognizance and direction of this matter belongeth unto the Consistory according to the Order established by our Discipline; and that whosoever doth violate those Canons, by rem •• ing this Affair from our Ecclesiastic Assemblies, ought to be prosecuted with all kind of Censures, as Contemners of our Canons, and Rebels to the Consistories.

3. The Provincial Deputies of Burgundy, demanding upon the Sixteenth Article of the Thirteenth Chapter of our Discipline, how they should judge of their place of Abode, who contract Marriage, that so they may warrantably publish their Banes: This Assembly was of Opinion, that there could not be a General Canon made which should oblige all the Churches, because that the Customs of particular places, though different one from another, are to be followed. Therefore the cognizance of this matter is remitted to the prudence of Provincial Synods, Colloquies and Consistories, which shall observe and follow the Customs in every particular District.

4. The Deputies of the same Province made report of the little care that was observed in several parts of their Province, to sanctify the Lord's Day, and that by very many Persons, it was employed in Worldly Businesses, Sports and Pastimes, depriving themselves of Religious Exercises and Ordinances, and suffering themselves to be led aside by Sinful Examples unto Plays and Dissolutions. This Assembly touched to the quick with a most sensible grief for so great a Profanation, provoking God to pour down his most dreadful Vengeance upon the Sons of Men, doth exhort all the Faithful to spend this Sacred Day of Rest in the performances of Holy Duties, and to those divine ends whereunto it is appointed, by exercising themselves in all public and private Duties of Religion, particularly in the Reading, Hearing and Meditation of God's Holy Word and Prayer; and that they do not only Religiously abstain from their ordinary Week-days labor, but also from all Companies, Meetings, Sports and Recreations, which will estrange their Hearts and Affections from the Worship of God, and from that Devotion which we are most especially obliged to upon these Holy Sabbaths of Christ's own Institution. And our Provincial Synods are enjoined upon this occasion, to make such Canons as they shall judge needful; and every individual Member of our Churches are most strictly commanded conscientiously to observe and obey them.

5. The Province of Béarn desired, that they might be impowered with authority to practice those Canons, which they had already established, and which they might hereafter also, as to the times and places of Celebrating Marriages. This Assembly granted them their Request, and gave also the same Authority unto all other Provincial Synods, and forbiddeth all Ministers to Marry any Persons in their Churches, excepting at the Hours accustomed for such Solemnities.

6. The Two and Thirtieth Article in the last Chapter of our Discipline, which forbiddeth Duels, under the severest Censures even of Excommunication itself, shall be read in all the Churches, and reinforced with most close and vehement Exhortations, that so this Hellish Sin may be banished from out the Hearts and Societies of the Faithful, as being expressly forbidden by the word of God, and declared by his Majesty's Edicts to have merited the deepest brand of Infamy; and all Consistories are enjoined to put forth their Power in prosecuting the Refractory with all kind of Censures.

7. Whereas diverts Provinces have complained of that great difference which is observed in the Printed Copies of our Discipline; this Assembly Ordaineth that there shall be drawn up another most exact and correct, according to the Decisions of our National Synods, in whose Margin shall be inserted the Canons and Observations extracted out of those Synods, which shall be judged most needful. And Monsieur Amyraud Pastor and Professor in the Church and University of Saumur is charged with this Task; and he shall use the labors of Monsieur Blondel, Gaultier, and Catelau, and shall communicate his Work unto the Consistories of Saumur, Paris and Rochelle, and with then Approbation it shall be Printed.

8. In executing that Article of the National Synod of Charenton, in the Year 1631, when as any Members of the Augustine Confession, commonly called Lutherans, shall offer Children into Baptism, not having before-time communicated with us; this Assembly decreeth, that the Consistories shall take a particular notice of their Inclinations, whether they join themselves unto our Church-Assemblies, with a true peaceable Spirit of Charity, as is required by the said Article; in which case they shall be admitted to stand Sureties. And the like regard shall be had and observed as to Marriages.

9. The Province of Bearne demanded whether they might suffer the Lord's Supper to be administered on any other day besides the Christian Sabbath. This Assembly judgeth, that although Religious Worship be not tied up to the circumstances of time and place, yet nevertheless it was needful, because of the Importance of so sacred a Ceremony, that it be celebrated if possible only upon the Lord's Day, and not on any other, unless upon very great and weighty considerations, whereof the Provincial Synods, Colloquies and Consistories shall take cognizance.

10. That for the future, Deputations unto National Synods may be complete, over and above those Canons already made, This Assembly Ordaineth, that such Persons who being deputed, shall be absent from them, shall inform this Synod of the causes of their absence, and of that care they had taken to give notice unto those who were substituted in their Places to appear for them; and the Synod of that Province shall judge herein. But and if they shall not give this Notice and Information, the Provinces are enjoined strictly to inspect the matter, and to proceed against such Defaulters, without sufficient Reason, by suspending them from their Offices. And an Account hereof shall be given unto the next National Synod.

11. The Provinces having rendered an Account of the care taken by them, to oblige their Pastors to reside on their respective Churches, This Assembly confirmeth the former Canons on this occasion, and enjoineth all Synods and Colloquies to concern themselves in it, and upon an exact knowledge of the state of their Churches and Pastors, they be charged to proceed against the Refractory with all kind of Censures.

12. It being reported to this National Synod, that the word Damnation in the Tenth Section of the Catechism, hath been changed in the sundry Editions of our Psalms into that of Condemnation. The Synod judging those Two Words for Substance to signify one and the same thing, doth leave the Printers at liberty to use which of them they best like.

13. To prevent that diversity found in the Editions of the Bible, and Psalms, of our Liturgy, and Catechism, This Assembly Ordaineth, that every Province shall remark and observe those Changes which have been made, and what others may be needful to be done, that they may be sent unto the Consistory of Paris, which shall choose out of them according to their Prudence, and notify them unto the Provincial Synod of the Isle of France, which shall issue out those Orders necessary for a more correct Edition of the Holy Bible, Psalms, Liturgy and Catechism, unto which the Printers shall conform themselves in their future Impressions. Moreover the Consistories of those Places where there is a Printing-Press are charged to be very careful in this matter; and the Sieurs Bochard of Caen, Jassaud of Castres, De Chandieu, Eustache, Taby, Boudan, Bernard, De Veloux, Le Blois, Guitton, Amyraud, Daille, Gommare, Dize, Riccotier, Cazamajor, and Homel, Pastors, are appointed a Committee, to see this present Act put in Execution.

14. Forasmuch as the Sins of Men, especially of those whom God hath separated from the World by a most Holy Profession, and whom he hath honored above all others with the Glorious Title of his Children, do very often and loudly summon the Church of God unto extraordinary Humiliation, Public Prayers, Fastings and Repentance: This Assembly recommendeth unto the Provinces the Observation of that Article of our Discipline, which enables the Provincial Synods to proclaim public Fasts everyone of them within their Divisions, according as they shall judge needful. And ordaineth that the Province, which hath the Privilege of calling the National Synod, shall take care to publish a National Fast to be universally observed in all the Churches of this Kingdom, according to the Intelligence it shall receive from the other Provinces, and especially from those that border nearest to it, according to the same Article of the Discipline, that so the fierce Anger and Judgment of God may be prevented and avoided.

15. Such as defer the Baptizing of their Children shall be sharply censured, according to the Rigour of our Discipline; and if any Children are come unto Years of Discretion, and were never Baptized, they shall be first Catechised and well instructed in the Principles of Christian Religion before they be admitted unto Baptism.

16. The Deputies of the Isle of France having remonstrated the wicked Practices of some Professors of our Religion; such be forbidden upon pain of the last and greatest Censures, to lend their Names unto Persons of the Romish Communion, that they may draw their Affairs, though but indirectly, and in which they have, in effect, no concern at all, before the Courts of the Edict.

17. The Deputies of the Province of Britain requesting it, this Assembly ordaineth, that in case Errors be not divulged among the Common People, they who undertake to refute them shall write in the Latin Tongue.

18. The Provincial Deputies of Normandy petitioning for it, this Assembly ordained, That all Consistories shall take care that those Portions of the Holy Scripture be read, and Psalms sung, during the Celebration of the Lord's Supper, which are most suitable to the Nature of that Ordinance, that so the Devotion of our Communicants may be raised add inflamed, and not flatted nor diverted.

19. A motion was made, that whereas many particular Churches of ours had an undoubted Right to exercise our Religion by virtue of the Edicts in sundry Cities, Towns, and other places in the Country, and yet do meet together for Religious Worship in very ill and unconvenient places; this Assembly exhorteth all the Churches, either to accommodate them better, or to build new Temples, which may be more fit and commodious, and only to employ them in Religious Uses, and the Sacred Exercises of our Religion. And all Lord's and Gentlemen, Members of the said Churches, are more particularly exhorted to promote this excellent Work as much as in them lieth.

20. At the Request of the Provincial Deputies of Dauphiné all Colloquies are exhorted to cause the Acts of all our National Synods to be transcribed, that so they may be useful to them in their Exercise of Church-Discipline.

21. The Provincial Deputies of Saintonge and Poistou moving it, that that Canon of our Discipline, and Decrees of our National Synods, (which forbad the publishing of any Treatise of Religion till it had been first examined and approved by those Persons, who were appointed to it by the Provincial Synod) might be extended unto Sermons also, and to any other kind of Writings in matters of Religion: Their Desire was granted them accordingly.

22. This Assembly being informed, that in certain Provinces Pastors are given unto Churches for an Year by way of Trial, and that they be removed from their Cures with too great Facility: This Assembly condemning these Disorders, enjoineth all the Provinces to conform themselves to that Canon of the National Synod of Gorgeau on the Tenth Article of the first Chapter of our Discipline, which declared, that it was resolved for the future, that when Ministers were ordained, they should not be sent anymore for one Year unto a Church, but that the Method prescribed in our Discipline should be most strictly and closely followed. All which shall be notified unto all the Churches by reading of this present Act.

23. In all our National Synods this Order shall be observed, that after the Moderator, Assessor and Scribe, who is a Pastor, shall have given their Opinions on the Question propounded, then the Scribe, who is chosen from among the Elders, shall give his in the next place, and after him my Lord the General Deputy, and then the whole Body of Pastors, and next to them the Elders who are Deputed by the Provinces; and then lastly, the Moderator shall collect the Votes, and conclude with his own Suffrage; and all Provincial Synods are likewise to observe and practice this self-same Method in Debates and Suffrages, without swerving from it in the least.

24. Sundry Provinces complaining that the Sieurs Daille and Amyrald had violated the Canons made in the National Synods of Alanson, 1637. and of Charenton, 1644. about the Doctrine of Grace. This Assembly having heard those two Eminent Ministers of the Gospel Daille and Amyrald speak in their own Defense, and found that they were clear and sound in their Judgments, and that they might be well enough discharged from all Blame, for having thwarted and transgressed the said Canons, and that they had not incur'd those Censures which were decreed against the Infringers and Violators of them: And it being evident, that the said Book of Monsieur Daille was not only printed without his knowledge, but also against his Will, which he proved by his express opposing of it's Publication; and that the said Mr. Amyrald hath not written anything since those Synods aforesaid, but according to that License which was granted him by the Synod of Charenton, 1644. in case any one should write against him; nor have any Writings of his been since published, till others had first provoked him by clamouring against his Doctrine. For these Causes this Assembly doth unanimously decree, nemine contradicente, that all that is past on this occasion unto this very Day, shall be buried in the Grave of a deep and holy Oblivion; and the said Sieurs Daille and Amyrald are exhorted, to continue in their Faithful Employment of those rich Talents, which God hath bestowed upon them, to the advancement of his Glory, and the edifying of his Church.

25. And whereas the Happiness of our Churches consisteth very much in their Peace, and that all kind of Contentions and Divisions may be obviated and prevented, this Assembly, treading in the Footsteps of their Predecessors, and that Satisfaction may be given to the Requests of all the Provinces, who have unanimously demanded a punctual Observation of the Canons made in those Synods of Alanson and Charenton, doth confirm those said Canons, and absolutely forbids, on pain of the last and greatest Censures of our Discipline, all Pastors and Professors to transgress them, either by public Lectures, Sermons, Disputes or Writings, against the Natives of our Kingdom, or the Subjects of Foreign States; nor shall they suffer any of their Scholars to hold any Disputations about them. And finally, that a strict Conformity may be upheld among us. All Colloquies and Provincial Synods, when they receive Proposans into the Sacred Ministerial Office, shall not use, with respect unto these points, any particular Forms, but shall acquiesce in the Signing and Swearing our Confession of Faith and Church Discipline by these Proposans, and in causing them to protest with Hands uplifted unto Heaven, calling God to witness upon their Souls, that they do reject all Errors rejected by the Decrees of those National Synods of Alanson and Charenton about the Doctrine of Predestination and of Grace, the Tenor whereof is as followeth.

One of the Provinces having complained against Monsieur Amyraud, Pastor and Professor of Theology at Saumur, as if he had violated the Canons of the Synod of Alanson, by printing his Book of Reprobation, and some others, and the Province of Anjou, and the same Monsieur Amyraud, in the name of the Church and University of Saumur, who had deputed and charged him with their Letters, remonstrating that several other Provinces had transgressed those very Canons; and after hearing the Provincial Deputies of Poitou, and the said Mr. Amyraud, about his Proceedings, both in publishing those Books of his since the last National Synod, and the Doctrine contained in them: This Assembly was well satisfied with those Explications given by the said Mr. Amyrald, agreeing with the Synod of Alanson, and judging that those mutual Complaints on all sides, of violating the Canons, ought to be buried in the Grave of an Holy Oblivion, did dismiss him with Honor to the exercise of his Professorial Office, and exhorted him to bestir himself in it with Joy and Courage. Moreover the Assembly coveting to establish a firm and lasting Peace in all and every of our Churches for the future, and to give content to the Petitions of all the Provinces, which unanimonsly demanded the Confirmation and punctual Observation of the Decrees made in the National Synod of Alanson, this Assembly forbiddeth on pain of all Censures, even of Deposition from their Offices, all Pastors and Professors, that they do not exceed those prefixed Bounds in Writing, Preaching or Disputing one against another upon those Points declared and explained in the said Synod of Alanson, or of publishing any Books about them: And all Professors shall be responsible for their Lectures, Theses and Disputations unto their Provincial Synod, who also shall give an Account thereof unto the National. And all Students in Divinity are more expressly enjoined, on pain of being declared forever uncapable of the Sacred Ministry, to forbear for the future all Strifes and Debates about unnecessary Questions, as about the Order of God's Decrees, of Universal Grace by Nature's Preaching, which may bring Men unto Salvation, and other Subjects, which may be propounded for Exercise of Men's Wits and Curiosity. And all Examiners of Proposans who are to be ordained, shall deal with them according to the Laws of Charity, exacting of them, as our Discipline demands, over and besides those Gifts and Abilities requisite, a Confession of Faith from them, conformable to that of our Churches, and to our Liturgy, and to the Canons of Alez, Charenton and Alanson, all which, together with this present Act shall be subscribed by them. And that this present Act may be inviolably observed, all the Deputies of our Provinces, who composed this Assembly, did swear, that they themselves would keep it, and see that it should be constantly kept and observed; and they did farther bind themselves to endeavor, that it should be Sworn by all Pastors and Proposans in all their Provincial Synods, who are expressly charged to have a strict and watchful Eye over all that may transgress them, and to prosecute them with all Church-Censures, proceeding herein according to the Method and Form prescribed and appointed by the National Synod of Alanson.

25. The Province of the Isle of France informed this Synod, that the Judgments given by Provincial Synods could not for a long time together be executed by reason of Appeals brought in against them, which occasioned very many and great Troubles, and it is very needful that some care and course should be taken to remedy and prevent them. This Assembly reserving unto National Synods the Cognisance of Point of Doctrine, of the Sacraments, and of the whole Body of our Discipline, doth ordain, that hereafter whenas a Provincial Synod shall have decreed the Suspension or Deposition of any Pastor or Elder, or pronounced a Sentence of Excommunication against any person, or shall ordain that a Church of one Colloquy, or of one Synod shall be translated unto another, or that the Pastor of one Church shall be removed to another, or that he shall be separated, no matter how it be, from his Flock; in case an Appeal be made from this Judgment, that Province which hath pronounced it, shall nominate two of the Neighbouring Provinces, and whose Synods are nearest to be held, and shall give unto the Appellant his Choice pf either of them to bring his Appeal before it, which shall judge of the Case till further Order. But if the Party appealing do not choose it, that very Province from whose Judgment the Appeal is made, shall choose one of the two, before which the Appellant shall be bound to appear, and subject himself unto its Judgment, which shall be of force till the meeting of the National Synod: And in case of non-appearance, that Province which hath passed Judgment may proceed to pronounce its Execution, notwithstanding the Appeal. Nor shall this be in any wise prejudicial unto Provincial Synods, for in all other matters left undetermined by our Discipline, the Judgments of those Synods shall be of full and absolute Authority; nor shall there be any Appeal admitted from them within their Precincts. And this present Canon shall be universally practiced in all the Provinces, those only excepted, upon whose Account some special Decrees have been formerly enacted.

26. Blasphemies being some of the most crying and daring Sins, enflaming the Wrath of God against the Children of Men, this Assembly being seized with an Holy Horror to see so great a number of profane Wretches involved in this Hellish Crime, decreeth, That the Four and Twentieth Canon of the Fourteenth Chapter of our Discipline shall be read publicly in all Churches, and re-enforced with most lively pungent Exhortations, that the Judgments of God may be prevented by a serious and sincere Repentance, and this horrible Vice may be banished the Society of Christians; and all Consistories are authorized to take the best Course they can for putting this present Act in Execution.

27. The Assembly being informed, that in divers parts of this Kingdom, contrary to his Majesty's Will, the Exercise of our Religion is prohibited in those places which are called Annexed, though by the Edicts in these it was always permitted and established; and it unanimously judging, and with one common consent, that this is an Affair of the highest Importance, and strikes at the very Root and Being of our Churches, and in which the Consciences of all those of our Profession are Sovereignly concerned, it doth enjoin all Pastors and Churches exposed unto this afflicting and most vexatious Trial, to maintain themselves constantly in the possession of their Exercises, notwithstanding any Prohibitions to the contrary: And in case Pastors shall neglect this their Duty, they shall be deposed from the Ministry, as Deserters of their Flock committed to their Trust; and if any of those Annexed Churches or Members shall neglect their Attendance on them, they also shall be deprived of Communion with us at the Lord's Table. And all Churches within the Precincts of that Province, whereunto these Annexes do belong, are enjoined to assist them with Counsel and Comfort, and with all other things needful to help defray the Charges of Travel, and Prosecutions in Courts of Justice, unto which they may be necessitated and obliged: And all Provincial Synods, in case the ordinary Pastors of those places should be hindered by any Violence from performing their Duties, shall take care that they be supplied by other Pastors in such a manner as they shall judge most convenient, till some other, and more beneficial course can be taken. Moreover this Assembly commandeth all the next adjoining Churches to testify their Zeal unto the Glory of God, and the Communion of Charity, which ought to be among Christians, by sending and lending their Pastors to them, that so the Possession of the Gospel preached, and the Dispensation of the Gospel Ordinances may be conserved in those Annexed Congregations.

As soon as ever this Proposition was made, and before the Judgment of the Deputies in this Synod was demanded, my Lord Commissioner declared, and offered sundry Reasons and Arguments, why an Affair of this nature ought not to be debated in it, but that according to his Majesty's Permission, this Article was to be inserted, with others of the like quality, into our Bill of Grievances, which after the breaking up of this Assembly, was to be presented unto his Majesty.

In answer whereunto, this Synod receiving in the most respectful manner whatever came from his Majesty, and from the Mouth of my Lord his Commissioner, ordained, that this Affair should be set in the Head of those, which shall be carried unto the King in the Name of this Assembly, and which shall be solicited with all possible respect, care, diligence and importunity by my Lord the General Deputy; and we hope in the mean while that his Majesty will maintain us in those matters, which are granted us by his Edict; nor that he will be displeased with us for debating about Ecclesiastical Affairs, which are brought hither unto this National Assembly, and which directly concern our Religion, and the Exercise of our Discipline; in the nature and number of which are all Ministerial Offices, and the respective Duties of private Christians.

28. It being judged needful, that some certain Person should be nominated (who did ordinarily attend his Majesty's Privy Council, and Council of State) to whom the Churches might apply themselves to take care of their Business, and to salve them from those vast Expences, which of necessity must be defrayed in the frequent Deputations of particular persons employed in the management of their Law Suits and Differences that our Churches have with their Adverse Parties, The Assembly cast their Eyes upon the Sieur Loride des Galinieres Advocate in his Majesty's Privy Council, and Council of State, and Parliament of Paris, dwelling a la Rue des Anglois, in the English Street, to take upon him this Trust, which being motion'd to him, the said Sieur Loride assured the Assembly he accepted of it as of a great Honor, and that he did most readily and willingly undertake it; nor would he demand a Denier of Costs, Salaries, and Vacations, not only for those Affairs wherewith he should be entrusted in his Majesty's Privy Council, and Council of State, but also for those which he should dispatch as Advocate in the Parliament of Paris and Court of Aids; nor would he claim anything, but for what he should himself disburse in the management of these Affairs for our distressed Churches: The Assembly kindly embraced his generous Offers, and that he may be indemnified, they voted presently, that the Provincial Deputies should each of them make report unto their Provincial Synod the Contents of this present Act, that so in case the said Provincial Synods shall judge meet, there shall be given the Sum of Three Thousand Livres a Year by the Provinces, according to the Dividend hereafter mentioned. And this, that the said Sieur Loride may not be put to the Costs and Charges of Postage of Letters and Packets, which by Reason of this his Employment he must of necessity be at, in receiving from, and sending to the Churches; and with this condition, that the said Sieur Loride shall be bound to give an Account once a Year unto all the Provinces, by Letters directed to one of their chiefest Churches of all things concerning them and their Affairs. And in case the Provincial Synods should not approve of the payment of the said Sum of Three Thousand Livres a Year, the said Sieur Loride decalred, that he would be contented with a Moiety of his Salaries and Fees for all Suits and Processes in our businesses before the Council.