The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, Synod 23 (Alès) · Chapter 3 – Chapter 4
CHAP. III. An Act of the Oath of Union ſubſcribed by all the Deputyes, both Paſtors and Elders.
The ſame Oath was Enacted at Tenneins 1014.WEE whoſe Names are hereunder written Deputies of the Reformed Churches of France aſſembled in our National Synod in the City of Alez in the Province of Sevennes, knowing by experience of what is paſt, that there is nothing more neceſſary to preſerve the peace and wellfare of the ſaid Churches than an holy Union and inviolable conſent both in Doctrine and Diſcipline, and their dependencies, and that the ſaid Churches cannot long ſubſiſt without a good, ſtrict, and mutual Union and Conjunction of one with another, and this better kept and maintained than heretofore. Therefore being deſirous for the future to remove all ſeeds of Diviſion, and occaſion of partialities between the ſaid Churches, and to obviate all Impoſtures, Plots, Calumnies, and Practices whatſoever by which divers Perſons ill-affected to our Religion do indeavour its ruine and deſtruction; for which reaſon we are more bound than ever to uſe by an Unanimous conſent and agreement ſuch means as will moſt and beſt contribute to our juſt, lawful, and neceſſary preſervation in the aforeſaid Union under the Authority of Our Sovereign Lord the King, and the Queen Regent his Mother, We have in the name of all thoſe Churches, and for their wellfare, and for the Service of Their Majeſties ſworne and proteſted, and do ſwear and proteſt, promiſing that we will ſee theſe our Proteſtations ratified in all our reſpective Provinces, to continue inſeparably United and Conjoyned in that Confeſſion of Faith owned and profeſſed by the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom, confirmed, approved and ratified by us all: We ſwear as well in our own names as in the names of the Churches and Provinces which have Commiſſionated us to be their Deputies unto this Aſſembly, that we will live and die in this Confeſſion: Moreover we do profeſs that we will keep inviolably that Eccleſiaſtical Diſcipline, which is Eſtabliſhed in the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom, and obſerve its Cannons for the Government of the ſaid Churches, and the Reformation of manners, owning and acknowledging that it is agreeable to the Word of God, under whoſe Supream and Inviolable Authority we proteſt and ſwear to yield all Obedience and Fidelity to Their Majeſties, deſiring nothing more, than through the favour of their Edicts to ſerve our God without any violence offered to our Conſciences.
Sworn and Subſcribed by
Peter de Moulin Moderator of the Synod, Miniſter of the Church of Paris, and Deputy for the Iſle of France, Picardy, Champaigne, &c.
By Lawrence Brunier Aſſeſſor, Miniſter of Chriſt in the Church of Uſez, Deputy for lower Languedoc.
By Nicholas Vignier Miniſter of Chriſt in the Church of Blois, Scribe of the Synod, and Deputy of the Province of Orleans and Berry.
By Thomas Papillon, Advocate in the Parliament of Paris, and Elder of that Church, Deputy for the Iſle of France, and Scribe of the Synod.
Sworn and Subſcribed by Iſaack de Juigne, Paſtor of the Church of Vaſſy and Deputy for the Iſle of France, Picardy, Champaigne, &c.
2. By Samuel de L' Eſcherpiere, Lord de la Riviere Miniſter of the Word of God at Roan, by Daniel Maſſys Paſtor of the Reformed Church in Caen, by James de Montbray Elder of the Church of Conde upon Noireau, and by Anthony Bridou Lord of Boisſleroy Elder in the Church of Feſcamp Deputies for the Province of Normandy.
3. Sworne and ſubſcribed by Paui Guyon Miniſter of the Word of God in the Church of Dieu le fit, by Peter de la Croze Miniſter of the Holy Goſpel in the Church of Courtozen in the Principality of Orange, by Moſes du Port Eſq Doctor of Law and Advocate, Elder in the Church of la Mure, By James Bernard Doctor of Law and Advocate, Elder in the Church of Montlimart, Deputies for the Province of Dolphiny.
4. Sworne and ſubſcribed by Paul Huron Paſtor of the Church of Riez, by Elijah de Glandeves, Lord of Ajon, Elder in the Church of Puymichel, Deputies for the Province of Provence
5. Sworne and Subſcribed by Daniel Venturin, Paſtor of the Church of Vigan, by Peter Guillaumine Paſtor of the Church of St. Andrews de Valborgne, by John de Vignoles Lord of St. Bonnet and of Colegnuc Elder of the ſame Church, by John Baudouin Doctor of the Civil Laws and Elder in the Church de la Salle, Deputies for the Province of Sevennes.
6. Sworne and ſubſcribed by Ezechiel Marmet Paſtor of the Church gathered in the Houſe of my Lord Duke of Rohan, by Philip de Vaſſaut Eſq Lord of Penmoncel, Elder in the Church of Roche Bernard, Deputies for the Province of Britain.
7. Sworne and ſubſcribed by Daniel Jamett Paſtor of the Church in St. Amand in Bourbonnois, by Galliot de Combis, Lord of Souſtelle, Elder of the Church of Romorantin, by John de Benes, Advocate in the Parliament of Paris, and Elder of the Church of Guyan, Deputies for the Province of Orleans and Berry, &c.
8. Sworne and ſubſcribed by Peter Heliot, Paſtor of the Church of Arnay le Due, by Francois Perreault Miniſter of the Goſpel in the Church of Maſcon, by Noel du Noyer Lord of Joncey, Elder in the Church of Buſſy, Deputies for the Province of Burgundy, Lyonnois, Breſſe, &c.
9. Sworne and ſubſcribed by Daniel Chanet Paſtor of the Church of Ars in the Iſle of Re, by John Conſtans Paſtor of the Church of Pons, by Paſquet Elder of the Church of Rochefoucault, by Peter Formentin Eſq Lord of Chaſtinat, Sheriff of the City of St. John d' Angely, Deputies for the Province of Xaintonge, Aunix, and Augoulmois
10. Sworne and ſubſcribed by John de Voiſin Paſtor of the Church of Realmont in Albigeois, by Anthony Gariſſoles Paſtor of the Church of Puylaurent in Lauragais, By Paul de Luffee Lord of Maravaut and Governour of Maulterin in Armagnac, Elder of the ſame Church, by James du Puy Elder of the Church of Montauban Deputies for the Province of higher Languedoc, and the higher Guyenne.
11. Sworne and ſubſcribed by J. Chauffepied Paſtor of the Church of Niort, by John Carre Paſtor of the Church of Chaſtelheraut, by Giles Begaud Lord of la Begaudiere, Elder of the Church of Mountagu, Deputies for the Province of Poictou.
12. Sworne and ſubſcribed by Samuel Bouchereau Paſtor of the Church of Saumur, by Matthew Cottiere Miniſter of Gods Word at Tours, by G. Raboteau Elder in the Church of Pruylly, Deputies for the Province of Anjou, Touraine and le Main.
13. Sworne and ſubſcribed by Peter de Abbadie, Paſtor of the Church of Pau, by John de la Coſte Lord of Badett Plaiſance and of Monheim Elder of the Church in Monheim now mentioned, Deputies for the Principality of Bearn.
14 Sworne and ſubſcribed by John du Luc Paſtor of the Church of Caſtel jaloux, by James Privat Paſtor of the Church of Caſtelle upon the Dordogne, by Francois Joly Elder of the Church of Bourdeaux, by John de Boutiers, Squire of the Kings Body, and Lord of Artigues, Elder in the Church of Grateloup, Deputies for the Province of the lower Guyenne.
15. Sworne and ſubſcribed by David Agard Paſtor of the Church of Vaylance, and of Soyon, by Danlel Richard Paſtor of the Church of Chedard in Batiere, by John de la Blache Lord of Bleſſet, Elder of the Church de la Baſtie, by John de Rovre Doctor of the Civil Laws, Lord of Eſbonaud, Elder in the Church of Aubenas, Deputies for the Province of Vivaretz.
16. Sworne and ſubſcribed by Michael le Faucheur Paſtor of the Church of Montpellier, by Anthony de Raques Lord of Clauſſonnes Elder of the Church of Montfrin, by Charles de Bouques Lord of Pons, Doctor of the Civil Laws, Elder of the Church of Montpellier, Deputies for the Province of Lower Languedoc.
17. Sworne and ſubſcribed by John de Chal'ais General Deputy for the Reformed Churches of France near His Majeſty.
The Sieurs Des Marez and Ollier Paſtors of the Church of Alez craved admiſſion into this Aſſembly, and leave to aſſiſt at the Reading of our Confeſſion of Faith and Church-Diſcipline, which was granted not only for themſelves but for two Elders alſo, who ſhould be choſen out of the Body of their Conſiſtory.
And whereas divers other Paſtors, who were not commiſſionated by the Provinces did take upon them to come unto this National Synod, and to ſit and tarry in it as Spectators during the whole time of its Seſſions, the former Cannons made by the National Synods of Rochell and Vitre were now revived, and ordered to be put in execution againſt them.
CHAP. IV. Obſervations upon the Confeſſion of Faith.
1. THE Word Ʋnity which is found in divers printed Copies of the Six and Twentieth Article muſt be changed into that of Ʋnion, according to the former Advice given in the National Synods of Montauban, Saumur and Rochell.
2. The Confeſſion of Faith having been read word by word, and examined in every particular Point and Article thereof was moſt unanimouſly approved and ſworne to by all the Deputies then preſent, who did not only promiſe and proteſt to live and die in this Faith; but alſo to procure its obſervation in their reſpective Provinces, and to cauſe it to be ſworne by their Principals by whom they were Commiſſionated.