The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, Synod 23 (Alès) · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. Of COLLEDGES and UNIVERSITIES.
1 PRofeſſors of Philoſophy in handling Phyſical or Metaphyſical Queſtions which have a Correſpondence with Divinity ſhall take care that they ſo do it as not to injure in the leaſt the Principles of our True Religion; and that they infuſe not any Scruples contrary to Piety into the tender minds of our Youth. And Doctors and Profeſſors in Divinity ſhall abſtain as much as in them lieth from all Curious and Unprofitable Queſtions, though much in vogue among the Romiſh Church-men, nor ſhall they inlarge in the Confutation of unknown Hereſies, nor any more than is barely neceſſary for the right Interpretation of the Holy Scriptures, in expounding whereof they ſhall keep themſelves to that gravity and ſimplicity which ſhineth forth ſo conſpicuouſly in the Writings of thoſe Famous Divines, whom the Lord raiſed up to kindle in the laſt Century the Flambeau of the Goſpel in theſe and the Neighbour Nations.
2. A Motion was made by the Province of Poictou, that no Profeſſors nor Principals in our Colledges or Univerſities ſhould practiſe Phyſick leſt they be taken off from attendance on their Profeſſion; but rather that their Sallaries ſhould be augmented, that ſo they might apply themſelves wholly to the Duties of their Office and Calling. This Aſſembly foreſeeing the difficulties which will occur in caſe that ſuch a Canon as is now deſired ſhould be framed and enacted, doth therefore leave the matter unto the prudence of our Univerſity-Councils, to aft therein as they ſhall conceive will redound moſt to the Profit and Honour of the Univerſities.
3. No Profeſſors of Divinity, although they be Paſtors alſo, unleſs they be ſent with Letters from their Churches, or called by Colloquies and Synods, when as matters relating to their Univerſity, or important points of Doctrine be handled, ſhall ever appear in Colloquies, or Provincial and National Synods.
4. A Miniſter may at the ſame time be Profeſſor in Divinity, and of the Hebrew Tongue. But it is not ſeemly for him to profeſs the Greet alſo, becauſe the moſt of his Employment will be taken up in the Expoſition of Pagan and Prophane Authors, unleſs he be diſcharged from the Miniſtry. Nevertheleſs Profeſſors in Divinity and of the Hebrew Tongue, which are in Holy Orders, ſhall ever be reputed Paſtors of that Church in which their Univerſity is Erected, and where they do ordinarily reſide, provided the Church do conſent unto it, and ſhall take their turns in preaching, only they ſhall be diſcharged from the Exerciſe of Church Diſcipline, and from other burdenſome Imployments of the Miniſtry. And whereas ſeveral Miniſters are at this day actual Profeſſors in thoſe Faculties in our Univerſities, and yet are not reputed Paſtors there, though it be the place of their conſtant and ordinary Reſidence; they ſhall be tolerated until the next National Synod, unto which they ſhall make Report of the Churches conſent and choice of them for Paſtors where they ſojourn, or elſe they ſhall be provided of Churches of their own.
5. A Motion was made about reducing the Number of our Univerſities, that ſo they might be the better furniſhed with all needful Profeſſors both in Divinity, and in the other Arts and Sciences. It was not thought good at preſent to make any change or alteration, leſt it ſhould occaſion any difference, and breach in that good Correſpondence, which ought by all means to be kept up among us. But nevertheleſs the Provinces are exhorted to bring with them unto the next National Synods their mature and well-digeſted Thoughts on this Subject. As alſo all thoſe Cities which have Univerſities Erected in them ſhall bring into the next National Synod an account of what means they have, or Fund ſufficient for the maintenance of a compleat and perfect Univerſity.
See the Firſt Synod of Charinton. Obſerv. 18. upon this Synod.6. Divers Propoſals were ſet on foot by Monſieur Beraud both from himſelf, and from the Univerſity of Montauban. As for the Firſt, The ſaid Monſieur Beraud is confirm'd in his Profeſſorſhip of Divinity in that Univerſity, becauſe of the laudable Teſtimonials which the Deputies of Higher Languedoc have given of his Academical Exerciſes theſe Two years laſt paſt. Yet nevertheleſs that ſaid Province is cenſured for not having obſerv'd the Formalities required by our Diſcipline in the Call of the ſaid Monſieur Beraud unto the Profeſſors Chair in Divinity. Although the ſaid Monſieur Beraud had undergone a very rigorous and ſevere Examination, as the Deputies themſelves of that Province had atteſted. For the Second, it is Decreed, That the ſaid Monſieur Beraud over and above the Seven Hundred Livres which he receiveth from the Univerſity, ſhall alſo have one free Portion out of the Kings Moneys belonging unto the Province of Higher Languedoc, as all other Paſtors have which are Miniſters in our Univerſities. And whereas the ſaid Monſieur Beraud hath not injoyed his ſaid Portion ever ſince his Profeſſorſhip at Montauban; the Province ſhall be obliged to reſtore unto him all his juſt Dues and Arrears even to this very day, and that out of the very firſt Moneys which it ſhall receive from the Lord of Candal, becauſe they have alwaies took up the ſaid Portion under his Name. And whereas there is a loud and general complaint of very bad Payments by that Univerſity of Montauban unto its Profeſſors; ſith nothing appears to the contrary but that the ſaid Univerſity hath the ſame kindneſſes and allowances as all our other Univerſities, therefore it ſhall reſt contented with the Common Order eſtabliſhed herein by the former National Synods, which was, that the Moneys aſſigned unto our Univerſities ſhall be taken out of the three firſt Quarters of the year from the Common Stock of all the Churches, without leaving them to the laſt Quarter whoſe payment is more uncertain.
7. The Wages granted by the Univerſity of Montauban unto an Academical Secretary cannot be allowed, but ſhall be razed out of their Accompts both as to what is paſt and to come.
8. Whereas the Univerſity of Saumur did together with Commendatory Letters of the Lord Du Plleſſis Marly requeſt, that Mr. Cameron might be continued in the Profeſſion of Theology there; and on the other hand the Church of Bourdeaux, and Monſieur Joly on its behalf redemanded him back to the Exerciſe of his Miniſtry, among them, according to that Obligation which lieth upon him as their Paſtor, and Monſieur Privas Deputy of the Lower Guyenne conſented to it by Order of, and Memoirs from the ſaid Monſieur Cameron. This Aſſembly acknowledging that the ſaid Church of Bourdeaux hath an undoubted right to the Miniſtry of Monſieur Cameron, yet notwithſtanding, becauſe of the preſſing and urgent Neceſſities of the ſaid Univerſity of Saumur, which is of mighty concernment to all our Churches in general, It doth now Order and Decree that Monſieur Cameron ſhall continue in the ſaid Profeſſorſhip in that Univerſity until the next National Synod, and the Church of Bourdeaux is intreated to allow and approve thereof. And during this time the ſaid Univerſity ſhall uſe her beſt and utmoſt endeavours to procure them another Profeſſor in Divinity.
9. The Church of Rochefoucauld demanded an Augmentation for the better ſupport and maintenance of their Colledge. This Aſſembly, becauſe the Example would be leading, could not grant it; but exhorts the Province of Xaintonge to take it into their conſideration, and to aſſiſt the ſaid Church with a competent Summ of Moneys drawn out of the Common Stock of that Province, that ſo this Colledge may be kept up, which hath been already ſo very uſeful and profitable unto them.
10. The Univerſity of Montauban moved for the reviſion of a Decree paſt in the National Synod of Privas, and about the Six Deniers allowed in the Livre unto the Receiver of that Univerſity. But it was judged unfit to be Debated, and therefore let fall.
11. A Contention having riſen between the City of Alez and Anduze about the Colledge Erected in the Province of Sevennes, This Aſſembly not inclining to make any alterations at preſent in the Eſtate of the Provinces, nor to obſtruct that good Union which ought to be kept up, and preſerved among the Churches, doth ordain, that the ſaid Colledge (according to the Synod of Tonneins) ſhall continue in the Town of Anduze until the next National Synod, when and unto which the Province of Sevennes ſhall give in a faithful report of the State of the ſaid Colledge, that in caſe it be not ſuch as makes for the advantage of the Churches, it may be removed elſewhere.
12. The Aſſembly proceeding to chooſe Paſtors, who may ſupply the vacant Chairs of Profeſſors in our Univerſities upon all occaſions eſpecially in Divinity, according to a former Decree paſt by it in its Obſervations on the laſt National Synod of Vitre, hath nominated Monſieur du Moulin, Vignier, Bouchereau, Gariſſoles, Cottieres, Chanvernon, and de la Coſte. All which are exhorted to diſpoſe and fit themſelves betwixt this and the next National Synod for the ſaid Publick Profeſſion of Divinity.