The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 1 (1st Paris) – Table of contents 2
1559. First Synod.THE Firſt National Synod.Henry the Second died the tenth of July, 1559.
SYNOD I.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoſt.
The Decrees of the National Synod, celebrated in Paris the Five and Twentieth Day of May, in the Year of our Lord, One thouſand five hundred fifty and nine, and in the Sixteenth Year of Henry the Second King of France.
CHAP. I.
Monſieur De Morell, Lord of Callonges, was at that time Miniſter of the Church of Paris. Publick Matters.FRancis de Morell, otherwiſe called De Callonges, preſided, and there aſſiſted at it, on behalf of the Reformed Churches of France, the Paſtors of Diep, and St. Lo in Normandy, of Paris, of Angiers, of Orleans, of Tours, of Chaſtelherand, of Poitiers, of Xaintes, of St. John d' Angeli, and Marennes.
CHAP. II. The First CANON.
I. NO Church,Diſcipline, Cap. 6. Art. 1. nor Church-Officer, be he Miniſter, Elder, or Deacon, ſhall Claim or Exerciſe any Juriſdiction, or Authority over another.
In every Synod there muſt be a Preſident choſen His Office in the Synods.II. A Moderator ſhall be choſen by general Conſent in every Synod, who ſhall give Notice of the Days and Places of Meeting, and of the Seſſions of the Synod: And he ſhall gather the Suffrages, and declare which is the greater Number, and pronounce the Synodical Deciſions. Moreover, he ſhall ſee that Order be obſerved in Speaking, without confuſion, and impoſe Silence on ſuch as are eager and contentious; and in caſe of Diſobedience, he ſhall cauſe them to withdraw, that Advice may be taken how to Cenſure them. Moreover, he ſhall preſide at the Cenſure of every Perſon, and make the Remonſtrances. As alſo to give Anſwers in caſe of Counſel demanded; or unto Letters ſent unto the Synod, yet therein always obſerving the Advice of the Aſſembly; And he himſelf alſo ſhall be ſubject unto Cenſures. The Office of the Moderator ſhall expire with the Synod; and the next Synod is at liberty to chuſe him, or any other.
A Paſtor may bring with him an Elder unto the Synod.III. Miniſters that are ſent unto the National Synod, may bring with them one or two Elders or Deacons, but not more; and thoſe choſen by the Body of their Conſiſtory, who alſo ſhall have their Votes in the Synod. As for the Elders and Deacons of that Church where the Synod ſhall be aſſembled, they may be preſent alſo, and ſpeak in their Order; yet to avoid confuſion, two of them only ſhall have Power of Voting in it. And no Perſon ſhall depart from the Aſſembly, without leave firſt had, and obtained.
IV. National Synods ſhall meet according to the Neceſſities of the Churches, and in them there ſhall be an amicable and brotherly Cenſure of all its Members;The Lord's Supper to be adminiſtred at the end of every National Synod. and at the cloſing up of the Synod, the Lord's Supper ſhall be celebrated, to teſtifie their Union, not only by the Miniſters and Elders of the Synod, but in general with that whole Church.
V. The Miniſters, with one Elder and Deacon at the leaſt, from every Church in all the Provinces of this Kingdom, ſhall meet together once a Year, and chooſe ſuch a Time and Place, as ſhall be moſt convenient for their Synodical Aſſembly.
The manner of Receiving a Miniſter.VI. No Miniſter for the preſent ſhall be choſen by one only Miniſter, or by his Conſiſtory, but by two or three Miniſters and their Conſiſtories, or by the Provincial Synod, or by the Colloquy, which in thoſe Places (where they be already eſtabliſhed) ſhall be, if poſſible, called together for this purpoſe. And the Elect-Miniſter ſhall be preſented unto the People for their Approbation: but in caſe there be oppoſition, the Conſiſtory ſhall judge thereof; and if neither part do conſent, the whole ſhall be Reported to the Provincial Synod, which ſhall take Cogniſance thereof, as well for Juſtifying of the Miniſter, as for his Reception; provided the major part of the Conſiſtory and People do conſent thereunto.
No Miniſter may be ſent unto the Synod w…hout ſufficient …owers.VII. Miniſters ſhall not be ſent from the Churches without Authentick Letters, or ſome other ſufficient Teſtimonials from thoſe Places whence they come; and if having no ſuch Commiſſion, they ſhould offer themſelves to be Received, they ſhall not be Admitted, unleſs their Converſation be fully known, and upon what Account they have quitted their Church. And in caſe of oppoſition, they ſhall be dealt with as was before determined.
The Elect Deputy muſt ſubſcribe the Confeſſion of Faith.VIII. The Deputies Elect ſhall ſubſcribe our Confeſſion of Faith, both in their own Churches in which they were choſen, as in thoſe alſo from which they be ſent, and their Election ſhall be confirmed by Prayers and Impoſition of Hands by the Miniſters; yet without Superſtition, or Opinion of Neceſſity.
How Intruders into the Miniſtry are to be proceeded againſt.IX. Such as ſhall intrude themſelves into the Miniſtry, in thoſe Places where the Miniſtry of the Word of God is already eſtabliſhed, ſhall be ſufficiently admoniſhed to forbear; and in caſe of their perſiſtency, they ſhall be declared Schiſmaticks; and the ſame Admonition ſhall be given unto their Followers, who alſo abiding contumacious and obſtinate, ſhall be denounced Schiſmaticks.
X. If A People, not having the Miniſtry of the Word of GOD fixed and ſetled among them, ſhould chooſe unto themſelves a Paſtor: The Neighbour-Church ſhall amicably and earneſtly intreat him to confer with them, and exhort him to ſubſcribe the Confeſſion of Faith, and Church-Diſcipline eſtabliſhed among us: And in caſe of refuſing ſuch Subſcription, three or four Miniſters of the next Churches ſhall aſſemble together with their Elders, and ſhall then declare him a Schiſmatick, and the People ſhall be adviſed to avoid ſuch a Perſon. But in caſe of Non-conforming to our Diſcipline, he may not be declared Schiſmatick, until ſuch time as the Provincial Synod ſhall have ordained ſome other courſe to be taken with him.
None may Preach in another Church, without the Paſt…r or Conſiſtory…s leave.XI. The Miniſter of one Church may not preach in another without the conſent of its Paſtor; but in his abſence the Conſiſtory may give Leave and Authority unto that Stranger. And in caſe the Flock be ſcattered by Perſecution, or any other Trouble, he ſhall endeavour to aſſemble the Elders and Deacons; but if that cannot be effected, he may notwithſtanding Preach for the Re-uniting of the Flock.
A Miniſter may be intreated, but not enforced to accept of the Call.XII. He that being called to the Holy Miniſtry, and hath once accepted of that Call, ſhall betake himſelf wholly to this Employment: but in caſe he ſhould afterwards change his mind, and refuſe it, he ſhall be ſollicited by fitting Exhortations, to embrace it: but he may not by any other means be enforced thereunto.
XIII. Miniſters that cannot diſcharge their Office in thoſe Places whereunto they have been appointed, if being ſent elſewhere, by the Advice of their Churches they do refuſe it, they ſhall then declare the Cauſes of ſuch their refuſal unto the Conſiſtory, who ſhall judge whether they may be admitted; and if they may not be, and they ſtill perſiſt in their not accepting the ſaid Employment, the Provincial Synod ſhall determine of it.
No Intruder into the miniſtry may be approved.XIV. Whoſo intrudes himſelf into the Miniſtry of the Goſpel, although he may be approved by the People, yet ſhall he not be approved by the Neighbour-Miniſters, nor others, in caſe another Church excepts againſt him: Wherefore e're they proceed farther, the Provincial Synod ſhall be aſſembled, as ſoon as conveniently it may, for to determine about it. And in caſe that Synod cannot be called, if there be a Colloquy of ſix Miniſters at the leaſt eſtabliſhed there, the ſaid Colloquy ſhall have Power to take Cognizance of this matter.
Miniſters are ſuch for their Life.XV. Such as are once choſen unto the Miniſtry of the Word muſt know, that their Call is during Life. And as for thoſe who were ſent for a certain time, and to whom for ſome ſpecial Reaſons we gave admittance, it is adviſed, That the Church in which they are do make proviſion of a fixed Miniſter, that ſo the others may intend their own Affairs. But if the Churches cannot provide a Paſtor for this Flock, theſe ſhall not be permitted to abandon the Church for which Jeſus Chriſt died.
An Exchange of Miniſters for a time.XVI. If a Miniſter be perſonally perſecuted, ſo that he cannot without great danger unto himſelf diſcharge his Office in the Church whereunto he was ordained, he may exchange for a time with another Church, and this with Advice and Conſent of both Churches. And in caſe of the Miniſter's Diſobedie…ce to the Judgment of their Churches, the Cauſe ſhall be referr'd unto the next Provincial Synod. There may be other Cauſes of changing, which ſhall be propoſed and judged in the Provincial Synod.
No Paſtor ſhall forſake his Church without leave.XVII. No Paſtor ſhall quit his Flock without leave firſt had and obtained from his Conſiſtory, and the Neighbour-Churches alſo ſhall approve the cauſe of his departure. Yet on ſuch occaſions it will be fitting to admoniſh Churches to relieve their Paſtors, and to miniſter unto their Neceſſities. And if neceſſary Relief be refuſed them, when they have been adviſed to it, in this caſe it ſhall be lawful for the Miniſter to ingage himſelf unto ſome other Church.
This is the Second Article in the Firſt Chapter of the Diſcipline. It is not lawful to …car the Popiſh Preachers.XVIII. Novices received of late into the Church, eſpecially Monks and Prieſts, ſhall not be choſen unto the Miniſtry, without a long and diligent enquiry into, and approbation had of their Lives and Doctrine.
XIX. Foraſmuch as it is not lawful nor expedient to hear the Sermons of Popiſh Preachers, or of others introduc'd without a lawful Call, in thoſe Places where the Miniſtry of the Word is eſtabliſhed. Therefore the true Paſtors are obliged as much as in them lieth, to hinder their Flocks from going to them.
Cauſes for the Depoſing of a Miniſter.XX. Miniſters teaching Evil Doctrine, and not deſiſting upon ſufficient Admonition; and ſuch as are diſobedient to the Holy Orders and Counſels of God's Word, given them by their Conſiſtory; as alſo they who lead a ſcandalous Life, deſerving Puniſhment by the Magiſtrates, or Excommunication; and they who are totally inſufficient for their Office, ſhall be depoſed: But thoſe who be rendred uncapable by Age, Sickneſs, or any other Affliction, or hindred by the Providence of God from the Exerciſe of their Miniſtry, ſhall not; yea, their double Honour ſhall be continued to them, and the Churches are required to maintain them, and to provide another Miniſter to execute their Office.
Crimes for Depoſing.XXI. Scandalous Crimes puniſhable by the Judges, as Murder, Sodomy, and High-Treaſon, or any other Sins, which would redound to the great Diſhonour and Scandal of the Church, although they had been committed not only before his Call unto the Miniſtry, but even in the time of his Ignorance, merit the Depoſing of ſuch a Miniſter. As for other Sins leſs ſcandalous, the Judgment of them is left to the Prudence of the Provincial Synod.
XXII. A Miniſter Convict of enormous and notorious Crimes, ſhall be immediately depoſed by the Conſiſtory, two or three Paſtors of unſtained Reputation being called into Counſel with them. And in caſe the Delinquent Miniſter complain againſt his Accuſer, and of the Calumny laid upon him,Preſently by the Conſiſtory. the whole Matter of Fact ſhall be reported to the Provincial Synod.
If he has taught any Hereſie or Falſe Doctrine, he ſhall be out of hand ſuſpended by the Conſiſtory, two or three Miniſters, as before, being called in, until ſuch time as the Provincial Synod ſhall have Decreed about it. The Cauſes of Depoſing, unleſs neceſſity ſo require, of which the Conſiſtory ſhall judge, may not be publiſhed unto the People.
The Elder's Office.XXIII. The Elders and Deacons are the Counſel of the Church, in which the Miniſters of the Word ought to preſide. The Office of Elders is to aſſemble the People, to make Report of Scandals unto the Conſiſtory, and ſuch other like Matters, according as in every Church it is couched in Writing, together with the proper Cuſtoms of thoſe Places and Times. Yet is not their Office for Life.
The Deacon's Office.XXIV. The Deacon's Office, as now uſed by us, is not perpetual; yet this belongs unto them, to Collect the Moneys for the Poor, the Priſoners, and the Sick, and by the Advice of the Conſiſtory to diſtribute thoſe collected Charities among them; to Viſit them, and in their reſpective Houſes to Catechize them; and in caſe any Deacon ſhall be found fit, and he promiſe to devote and conſecrate himſelf during Life unto the Service of God in the Miniſtry, he may be choſen by the Miniſtry and Conſiſtory to Catechize publickly, according to the Form received in our Churches; and this in order to their Trial, without permitting them to adminiſter the Sacraments.
The manner of Electing Elders and Deacons.XXV. The Office of Elders and Deacons is not to Catechize publickly, nor is their Office perpetual: However, neither the one nor the other, ſhall quit it without leave firſt obtained from the Church. In the Miniſter's abſence, or ſickneſs, or in any other neceſſity of the Church, the Deacon may read Prayers, and the Holy Scriptures, but he ſhall not take upon him the Office of Preaching.
XXVI. In thoſe Places in which Church-Order is not yet eſtabliſhed, both Elders and Deacons ſhall be choſen by the common Suffrage of Paſtor and People; but where Diſcipline is already conſtituted, it ſhall be done by the Miniſter and Church-Councel, who ſhall give them their Charge, and they ſhall ſubſcribe the Confeſſion of Faith profeſſed and avowed by us, then they ſhall be preſented unto the People; and in caſe any one ſhould oppoſe their Election, it ſhall be debated and determined in the Conſiſtory; but if they cannot agree, it ſhall be referr'd unto the Provincial Synod.
Cauſes of Depoſing Elders and Deacons.XXVII. The Deacons and Elders ſhall be depoſed for thoſe very ſelf-ſame Reaſons, that the Miniſters of the Word were, according to their quality; and if being condemned by their Conſiſtory, they ſhould make their Appeal, they ſhall be ſuſpended, until ſuch time as the Provincial Synod ſhall have ordained otherwiſe.
Books forbidden to be Printed, till firſt communicated.XXVIII. Miniſters, nor any Other Members of the Church, may not Print their own, or others Works concerning Religion, nor in any wiſe Publiſh them, till they have firſt communicated them unto two, or more, of the Goſpel, of unſpotted Reputation.
Who are to be Excommunicated.XXIX. Hereticks, Contentious Perſons, Deſpiſers of God, Rebels againſt the Conſiſtory, Traytors to the Church, ſuch as be impeached and convicted of Crimes worthy of Corporal Puniſhment, ſuch as ſcandalize the whole Church, ſhall be utterly excommunicated and cut off, not only from the Sacrament, but from all Communion with the whole Church. And as for Delinquents ſuſpended from the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and guilty of other Vices, it is left to the Church's prudence, whether they ſhall be admitted to hear the Word preacht or no.
XXX. Such as are Excommunicate for Hereſie, Contempt of God, Schiſm, Treaſon and Rebellion againſt the Church, or other grievous Offences, ſcandalous to the whole Church, ſhall be denounced Excommunicate Perſons before the People,Who are by Name to be declared Excommunicate, and who not, unto the People. together with the Cauſes of their Excommunication. And as for thoſe who were Excommunicate for leſſer Offences, it's left to the Church's Prudence, to conſider whether they ſhall be publiſhed by Name unto the Congregation or not. And this Order ſhall hold, till it be otherwiſe determined in a National Synod.
Manner of Receiving Excommunicate Perſons.XXXI. Theſe having been Excommunicated, ſhall addreſs themſelves unto their Conſiſtory, for Re-admiſſion into Church-Fellowſhip; who ſhall judge of their Repentance. And if they have been publickly Excommunicate, they ſhall teſtifie their Repentance publickly; but if they have not been publickly Excommunicate, they ſhall only in private, before the Conſiſtory, expreſs their Repentance.
Denial of the Faith demands a Publick Acknowledgment. When Faſts are to be proclaimed.XXXII. Such as through force of Perſecution have abjured the Goſpel, ſhall not be received into the Church, till ſuch time as they have expreſſed their Repentance publickly before all the People.
XXXIII. Publick Prayers, and extraordinary Faſtings, yet without any ſcruple or ſuperſtition, ſhall be enjoyned in times of ſevere Perſecution, of War, Peſtilence, Famine, and other grievous Affliction; as alſo, whenas a Miniſter is to be choſen, or a National Synod to be conven'd.
Of the Publication of Marriage.XXXIV. Marriages ſhall be propounded unto the Conſiſtory, in which the Contract of Marriage ſhall be produced, ſigned by the Publick Notary, or proved by ſome other ſufficient Atteſtation, in ſuch places where there is not a Notary: Or if the Perſons will not produce their Contracts, they ſhall however bring a ſufficient Atteſtation under the Notary's hand, or ſome other way; and a Fortnight after the Banes ſhall be publiſhed on three Lord's Days following, in thoſe Places where the Word is ordinarily preached, and in other Places where is Exhortation and Publick Prayers, provided that this Publication be continued a full Fortnight; and then the Marriage may be ſolemnized in the Church. This Order ſhall not be infringed, unleſs there be very great Cauſes for it: whereof the Conſiſtory ſhall take Cogniſance.
Marriages and Baptiſms are to be Regiſtred.XXXV. Both Marriages and Baptiſms ſhall be Regiſtred, and the Regiſter preſerved carefully by the Church, together with the Names of the Fathers and Mothers, and Sureties for the baptized Infants.
XXXVI. The Faithful may not contract Marriage within the prohibited Degrees of Affinity and Conſanguinity, and the Church is to take heed that all ſcandal in this particular be avoided.
The Church may not diſſolve a Marriage.XXXVII. The Faithful whoſe Yoke-fellows are convict of Adultery, ſhall be adviſed to reconcile themſelves with them; but in caſe of refuſal, that liberty they have by the Word of God ſhall be declared to them. However, none of the Churches ſhall diſſolve the Marriage, leaſt they ſhould intrench upon the Authority of the Civil Magiſtrate.
The Conſiſtory, in caſe Parents refuſe their Conſent, ſhall order about it.XXXVIII. No Perſon may contract Marriage without the Conſent of Parents. But in caſe Parents ſhould be ſo unreaſonable, as to refuſe their Conſent to ſuch an holy and needful Ordinance, the Conſiſtory ſhall adviſe what is to be done herein.
XXXIX. Promiſes of Marriage once made, cannot be diſſolved, no not by mutual conſent of the Parties, who have paſt thoſe Promiſes each to other: And the Conſiſtory of that Church where theſe Perſons are Members, ſhall judge of the lawfulneſs of thoſe Promiſes.
In a particular Affair the Common Cauſe is not to be concerned.XL. No Church ſhall undertake any Matter of great conſequence, wherein the Intereſt or Damage of other Churches is of right to be compriſed, without conſulting the Provincial Synod, if it may be conveniently aſſembled. But if the buſineſs be urgent, they ſhall communicate it to other Churches of the Province, and obtain, at leaſt by Letters, their Advice and Conſent.
XLI. Theſe preſent Articles of Diſcipline are not ſo ordained by us, but that if the Churches Profit do require, they may be changed. But it ſhall not be in the Power of any one particular Church to change them, without having firſt Adviſed with, and got the Conſent of a National Synod.
CHAP. III. Particular Matters Propounded and Decided in the aforeſaid National Synod held in PARIS.
Such as have Popiſh Licenſes to Marry, ſhall not be married without having firſt confeſſed their Sin.1. AS to that Caſe of Conſcience propounded by the Miniſter of Diep, it was anſwer'd, That ſuch as had Licenſes from Popiſh Vicars or Curates to Marry where they pleaſed, ſhould not be married in the Church of God, unleſs they do confeſs this their Offence before the Congregation wherein they be married: And the Miniſter of the Goſpel ſhall be inſtant with them to evidence their Repentance by Tearing of the Licenſe. But whether the Tearing of it in pieces be done in the Church or Conſiſtory, that is left unto the Church's Prudence, where this Matter may fall out.
None can be diſcharged of their Marriage-Promiſe upon pretext of Religion.II. As to the Queſtion propounded by the Miniſter of Angers, it was anſwered, That he who had eſpouſed a Maid of the Popiſh Religion, but is himſelf ſince converted, although the ſaid Maiden refuſeth to be married in the Church of God, is nevertheleſs bound by his Promiſe; wherefore he ought ſollicite her to accompliſh it; but if ſhe will not conſent unto it, he muſt contain himſelf until ſuch time as the Bond be broken, either by her Marriage or Whoredom. The ſame Advice was given in the like caſe by Mr. Calvin.
Whether the Children of Papiſts are to be receiv'd into the Church.III. The Miniſter of Caſtelherand having moved this caſe: A Papiſt diſpleaſed with the Creaſme, and Spittle, and other Ceremonies added unto Baptiſm by the Popiſh Church, deſireth him to Baptiſe his Child: It was queried, Whether he ſhould do it. But becauſe there was another Queſtion firſt to be debated, viz. Whether the Children of Papiſts ought to be received into the Church of Chriſt? Divers Arguments having been banded on both ſides, the Deciſion thereof was remanded to a more full Aſſembly.
What Courſe is to be taken with the Broachers of Hereſies.IV. As to what was related by the Miniſter of Poictiers, concerning Lavan, who for a long time hath publickly Taught and printed ſtrange Doctrines, Schiſms and notorious Hereſies: The Brethren may, if they judge meet, cite him to appear before the next Provincial Synod, or privately Commune with him; and if he be found Obſtinate, there being made a diligent and faithful Collection of his Hereſies, they ſhall be brought into the Provincial Synod, that ſo they may be, according to the Rule of GOD's Word, condemned. However, out of hand the People ſhall be admoniſhed to avoid ſo great a Plague.
V. And whereas our Brother of Poictiers hath declared in private Conference, That an Heretick is not to be puniſhed as an Heretick, but as a Diſturber of the Civil Government; we ſay, That were there no other Fault but this, yet he ſhould be admoniſhed not to create Troubles unto the Church; but there being other Circumſtances reported unto this Aſſembly, and theſe in particular, That he hath very proudly ſcorned Counſel given him; and baſely Calumniated the Miniſter his Tutor, and the whole Conſiſtory, calling him, A blind Leader of the Blind; and notwithſtanding the many Remonſtrances made him, not to frequent a certain Schiſmatical Heretick, nevertheleſs he continues to keep him company: Therefore for theſe cauſes we adviſe, that he be cut off by Excommunication from the Fellowſhip of the Faithful.
VI. The Miniſter of Poictiers having demanded, Whether it be well done to take their Oaths, who are newly received into the Church not to diſcover their Brethren.Whether an Oath may be take from ſuch as are received into the Church. Again, theſe Novices being made Priſoners for the Goſpel's ſake, and the Magiſtrate tendring them an Oath to declare the Truth, whether notwithſtanding their firſt Oath they ſhould diſcover their Brethren? As to the former it was anſwer'd, That reſpect muſt be had unto the circumſtance of Places, that ſo they may obviate the Levity and Malice of thoſe Perſons, who otherwiſe by their Imprudence and Malice would endanger an whole Church.Whether a Man notwithſtanding his former Oath, may yet afterward declare his Brethren. And as to the ſecond Queſtion, It is moſt certain that the end of that Oath being to glorifie God, and preſerve Charity, the latter Oath does not oblige to ſpeak or do any thing contrary unto theſe: But it were better that they did Proteſt at firſt never to ſpeak any thing that might redound to the Diſhonour of GOD, or the Damage of their Neighbours.
Whether Children may be baptized without a Sermon, and where no Church is.VII. Is it neceſſary that Infants ſhould be baptized in a Publick Church-Aſſembly? Or may it be done without ſuch a Congregation, as in a private Family, where there be very few People? We anſwer, That where a Church is already conſtituted publickly, there the Children ſhall be baptized publickly: But where there is none gathered, nor publickly eſtabliſhed, and Parents through Infirmity are afraid to carry them to a publick Aſſembly far diſtant from them there to be baptized, Miniſters may yeild what in Prudence they may judge convenient for them.
Whether the Faithful may write their Childrens Names in the Regiſters of Popiſh Prieſts.VIII. Our Brother of St. John d' Angely demanding, Whether the Faithful might lawfully ſuffer their Childrens Names to be recorded in the Regiſters of Popiſh Prieſts? It was anſwered, That becauſe it was a Civil Ordinance of his Majeſty, the Miniſters and Conſiſtories ſhould ſpecially obſerve the Deſign and End of him that it, and admoniſh him that he be very careful leſt thereby he be taken for a Papiſt.
Whether the Faithful may Rent Eccleſiaſtical Revenues.IX. Advice hath been taken upon what was propoſed by the Miniſter of St. John d' Angely, viz. Whether the Faithful might lawfully Farm the Eccleſiaſtical Revenues of Monks and Prieſts, &c? And it is our Judgment, That it is in no wiſe lawful for the Faithful to intermeddle with any Matter that hath Idolatry conjoyned with it, as the Patten, or the Baiſe-mains, or to cauſe Maſſes or Vigils to be ſaid or ſung, or to maintain Monks, who were appointed to no other Service: But to Farm a Field, Rents, or Lordſhip, and to pay the Profits accrewing from them unto thoſe Eccleſiaſticks, for as much as they be Temporal Lords of them, the Faithful are left unto their liberty therein to do as they pleaſe.
Civil Juriſdiction may be …x…d under Popiſh Church-men. Whether an inſufficient Elder may be depoſed, and a Banker choſen.X. It was alſo determined, That the exerciſing of Civil Juriſdictions or Procurations under the aforeſaid Eccleſiaſticks, is not in itſelf unlawful, provided it he not in Spiritual Matters, as they call them.
XI. Moreover, whereas our ſaid Brother of St. John d' Angely hath demanded, Whether Elders uncapable of diſcharging their Office, who had …een admitted when the Church was firſt gathered, might lawfully be depoſed, that other better qualified may be elected into their Places? And whether a Banker might be choſen into the Elderſhip? As to the Firſt Article we anſwer, That if thoſe Elders be utterly incapable of diſcharging their Duties, they ſhall be depoſed; according to what hath been determined already in the Articles of our Diſcipline. But if they can tollerably perform them, they ought not without their Conſent to be laid by. And touching Bankers, in caſe they meddle with thoſe Diabolical Diſpatches of Pardon and Diſpenſations, and other ſuch-like Popiſh Abominations, they ſhall be ſo far from being received into Office in the Churches, that if after Admonition given them to deſiſt from ſuch Actions, they do not refrain them, they ſhall be forthwith Excommunicated.
XII. Our Brother of Orleans propounded the caſe of a Woman, who was reſolved to ſerve God with a pure Continence, but could not agree with her Husband, a Time-ſerver, to commit Idolatry; and whereas fearing trouble that may betide him and his Wife, he gives leave, yea ſollicites his Wife to withdraw into a Place of Liberty: Is it lawful for her to follow this Counſel? We anſwer, That as long as this Woman can poſſibly ſubſiſt with her Husband, ſhe ought to live with him, that ſo many Inconveniencies may be avoided, which would otherwiſe fall out through her abſence: But in caſe ſhe cannot without imminent Danger to herſelf abide with him, let her embrace our Lord's Counſel, If they perſecute you in one city, flie ye unto another. Yet always earneſtly importuning her Husband, as in Conſcience he is bound, to come unto her.
Whether Pyrates ought to be received unto the Lord's Supper.XIII. Our Brother of Marennes having craved our Advice concerning Pyrates and Tradeſmen, who, before they were admitted into the Communion of our Churches, had ill-gotten their Eſtates, Whether they ought to be received unto the Lord's Supper? We anſwer, That not only theſe, but all other Perſons who ſhall unjuſtly detain the Goods of other Men; however, that Injuſtice may be modified, are yet bound in Conſcience to make Reſtitution of thoſe Goods, if they be able, unto their right Owners. And Miniſters and Conſiſtories ſhall take eſpecially care herein: and in caſe they find them eminently penitent, and mourning for their Sin, having exhorted them unto Charity, they may admit them unto the Lord's Table.
XIV. He alſo propoſing this Caſe, Whether Goods ſold by Pyrates, might be bought? We anſwer, That thoſe Merchandizes are either ſold publickly by the Permiſſion and Approbation of the Magiſtrate or not: If the Magiſtrate conſent unto their Sale, they may with a ſafe Conſcience; but if the Sale be Clandeſtine, they ought not, becauſe they in buying ſhould be Parties with the Pyrates.
Such as ſerve themſelves of Papal Excommunications pollute their Conſciences. Tythes muſt be paid in Obedience to the King's Laws. Children of excommunicate Perſons are not to be paptized but conditionally.XV. As to the Propoſition of our Brother of Xaintes, we anſwer, That ſuch as uſe Papal Excommunications do defile their Conſciences.
XVI. As to what was propoſed by our Brother of St. Lo, we anſwer, That notwithſtanding the Popiſh Prieſts do unjuſtly claim a Right to Tithes upon the account of their Miniſtry, yet they muſt be payed, becauſe of the King's Commandment, as a matter in itſelf indifferent, and that Sedition and Scandal may be avoided.
XVII. To another Propoſal of our Brother, was given this anſwer, That where both Father and Mother were Excommunicate, their Children ſhould not be received unto Baptiſm, until ſuch time as the aforeſaid Parents, or one of them had reconciled himſelf unto the Church; unleſs the Grand-father or Grand-mother of the ſaid Child ſhould preſent it, in which caſe it might be baptized, it being their Blood, and deſcended from them.
One may be preſent at Popiſh Marriage-Feaſts without wounding Conſcience.XVIII. He alſo propounded this Matter of Fact, The Church of St. Lo had been informed, and thereupon maintained, that to be preſent at Marriage Feaſts celebrated by Popiſh Prieſts, although there was no Idolatry in it, at leaſt none conſented to by thoſe Gueſts, yet upon this account only, that the Marriage was contracted and performed after the Popiſh Way, they were defiled. For which cauſe, before the Lord's Supper was adminiſtred to them, they ſwear, that they were not preſent at thoſe Feaſts as aforeſaid. Yet afterwards having come to a right underſtanding of the Truth in this matter, they demand, Whether they be abſolved of their Oath, made by them thro' falſe Information that had been given them. It was anſwer'd, They were diſcharged from the Bond of ſuch an Oath.
XIX. Another Fact was alſo propounded by the ſame Brother, A Man of S. Lo, being ignorant of the evil Converſation of a Woman, marrieth her, about five Months after ſhe is delivered of Child, whereupon he would forſake her; but the Parents of his Wife telling him, That a Child might be born, and that honeſtly too in that time, for twelve Months; this Year his Wife carried herſelf exceeding chaſtly, or at leaſt he had no occaſion to ſuſpect her. But afterward the Husband poſſibly being weary of his Wife, ſeparates himſelf from her, and publiſheth how much he was abuſed by her Parents; though he declares with his own mouth, that he had accompanied with her as an Husband with his Wife. It is demanded, After what manner he is to be dealt with, ſince he will neither take his ſaid Wife, nor hearken to the Remonſtrances of the Conſiſtory. This Aſſembly adviſeth, That repeated Admonitions be Miniſtered to him, in which if he do not acquieſce, he ſhall be rejected by the Church.
XX. That Woman who refuſeth or delays to joyn herſelf unto her Huſband infected with ſome contagious Diſeaſe, may not however be ſuſpended the Lord's Table: yet ſhall ſhe be admoniſhed conſcienciouſly to perform that Duty which a Wife owes unto her Husband. And at the ſame time the Husband ſhall be acquainted with the Danger to which he doth expoſe his Wife.
XXI. And in anſwer to the Queſtion of the Miniſter of Tours, it was ſaid, That the Wives of infected Perſons ſhould not be rejected by the Aſſembly, provided they may come without danger of infecting it. The other Copies read it thus: That the Wives of Unbelievers may be admitted unto our Church-Meetings, provided the Church be not endangered by them.
That Man who ſuffers his Child to be baptized by a Popiſh Prieſt is not to be received to the Lord's Supper but conditionally. It's not lawful to Appeal unto Eccleſiaſtic Judges.XXII. And to another Caſe propounded by the ſame Brother, this anſwer was given, That the Husband of an Unbelieving Wife was not excuſable, unleſs that to the utmoſt of his power, he had hindred his Child's being baptized by a Popiſh Prieſt; and therefore inaſmuch as he was wanting unto his Duty, he ſhall not be received into Communion with the Church at the Lord's Table.
XXIII. Neither the preſent Biſhops, nor their Officials, nor Arch-Deacons have of right any Juriſdiction Civil or Eccleſiaſtical: Wherefore it is not lawful for Believers to cite any one in any Caſe to Judgment before them, or to appear in Perſon to anſwer unto their Citations without a Proteſtation againſt their Power of Judging in Matters belonging unto Conſcience: But as to Civil Cauſes, becauſe we be compelled oftentimes to appear before them that we may recover our Right, which otherwiſe could never be obtained, we may Addreſs ourſelves unto them, as we would unto a Thief that Robs upon the Highway, to obtain ſome Kindneſs from him. However, it is more deſirable, that every one would totally forbear in ſuch Matters.
XXIV. Such as will have their Banes publiſhed by the Pariſh-Prieſts may do it, becauſe it is a thing meerly Civil.
XXV. As for ſuch who waiting upon their Maſters, enter with them into the Popiſh Churches, though they do not in the leaſt bend their Knee; yet becauſe the Weak are ſcandalized, they ſhall be reproved: And whereas they do commonly alledge the Examples of Naaman and the Duke of Saxony, they ſhall be born withal when they give as publick Teſtimony and Evidence not to defile themſelves with, or conſent unto that Idolatry which is committed in thoſe Temples whereinto they enter, as the Duke and Naaman did.
The End of the First Synod, May 28th, 1559.
Thus Subſcribed in the Original, By Francis Morell, Moderator Elect, for and in the Name of all the Deputies unto this Synod.
THE ACTS, DECISIONS, and DECREES OF THE II. National Synod OF THE Reformed Churches of Chriſt, IN The KINGDOM of FRANCE, HELD At POICTIERS, in the Year of our LORD, 1560.
Contents of the Synod of Poictiers.
Chap. I. Synodical Officers choſen.
Chap. II. A Memorial for the States of France.
Chap. III. Obſervations upon, and Emendations of the Church-Diſcipline in Nine Articles.
Chap. IV. Sixteen new Canons added to the Diſcipline.
Chap. V. General Matters.
Chap. VI. Particular Matters, in which Two and Thirty Caſes of Conſcience are Reſolved.