The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 24 (1st Charenton) · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV. Of GENERAL MATTERS.
1 THE Sieurs de Chambrun and Meſtrezat Miniſters of the Goſpel, de Jarlan and Rabboteau Elders, who together with our General Deputies had been commanded by this Synod to wait upon His Majeſty, being now returned, made report, that they delivered unto the Lord Chancellor unto the Lord de la Vieuville, and to the Lords Principal Secretaries of State the Letters of this Aſſembly, of whom they had a very gracious and kind Reception, and every one of thoſe Lords aſſured them of the Kings ſincere intentions to conſerve the peace of the Kingdom, and particularly for His Subjects of the Reformed Religion, provided that they perſiſted in their Duty and Obedience, and farther they adviſed the Paſtors and Elders of this Synod upon their return unto their reſpective Provinces, who had ſent them, that they would deal effectually with them to continue in their due Obedience. After this they were introduced into His Majeſties Preſence, who was then attended with My Lord Chancellor, and the other Lords of the Privy Council, to whom they delivered the Letter of this Aſſembly, and aſſured His Majeſty in the Name of this Aſſembly and of all the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom, whom they repreſented, of their Loyalty, Submiſſion, and Obedience, whereunto they were obliged by their Birth, Religion, and Benefits conferred upon them by His Majeſty. And farther, they returned their moſt humble thanks unto His Majeſty for that Peace he was pleaſed to vouchſafe unto his Subjects of the Reformed Religion, and did with a moſt profound Humility petition His Majeſty, that they might through his Royal Goodneſs and Juſtice evermore enjoy and poſſeſs it. Whereupon His Majeſty did with his own Mouth give us this Anſwer, That if his Subjects of the Reformed Religion did carry themſelves well, and lived in that Duty and Obedience which God and Nature required of them, he would continue to them the Priviledges of his Edicts, and that My Lord Chancellor ſhould tell us his mind more amply and at large.
After which My Lord Chancellor beſpake them in theſe words, That His Majeſty having been well informed of the Actions and Deportments of the Synod till now was exceedingly ſatisfied. But that His Majeſty would diſcover unto them his mind upon two points, the firſt whereof concerned Foreign Paſtors, That it was His Majeſties Will, That the Churches ſhould not ſerve themſelves in the Miniſtry of any other Perſons than ſuch as were born in the Kingdom, and were his Natural Subjects, for ſome private reaſons which he needed not to tell them, but one of them was very evident, becauſe his Natural Subjects, who are ſuch by their Birth, would be more tied unto his Service than any Foreigners. The other related to the laſt Synod held at Alez, yet was it not in the leaſt intended by His Majeſty to impair or alter the Liberty of the Churches with reference to their Faith, or the Exerciſes of their Religion, either in Doctrine or Diſcipline; but it was very diſpleaſing unto His Majeſty that the National Council of the Reformed Churches in this Kingdom held at Alez ſhould oblige all Paſtors by their Corporal Oath to approve a Doctrine defined in a Foreign State. And that though His Majeſty giveth protection to the Religion, yet you muſt not miſtake him, he intends it not for a Novel and Exotick Faith. When as his Lordſhip had finiſhed his Diſcourſe, The ſaid Deputies did moſt humbly petition His Majeſty graciouſly to hear them upon thoſe two points, which His Majeſty having favourably granted; They declared as to the firſt, That it was true, That now as for a long time ago the Churches of this Kingdom had made uſe of ſome Foreign Miniſters, but that they ever had this honour to have kept themſelves within the limits of all Duty and Service to His Majeſty, and that during the War His Majeſty had left unto the Churches their Paſtors, without informing himſelf of their Country or Nation. But ſince His Majeſty did us the favour as to acquaint us with his Will and Pleaſure in a time or Peace, that we muſt have no Strangers to officiate in our Churches, it would be ſo far from preſerving our Churches, that it would leave ſome of them deſtitute, and ſome others deſolate, and allay very much of the taſt and ſweets of that ꝙeace we now enjoyed. Moreover that among thoſe of the Church of Rome in this Kingdom there were a multitude of Eccleſiaſticks of other Nations, which enjoyed the moſt honourable and profitable Benefices and Dignities of the Gallican Church, wherefore His Majeſty was moſt humbly petitioned, that he would be pleated not to make this ſevere diſtinction between his Subjects, ſo as to permit thoſe of one Religion to uſe Strangers, and to deny it unto the other. And as for the Second Point, It was a truth, that the Synod of Dort, made up of the Deputies of divers Reformed Churches had decided ſome certain points of Doctrine, whereby to oppoſe the Errors which troubled the Churches of the Netherlands. But that this Deciſion did moſt harmoniouſly agree with the Confeſſion of Faith in the Churches of this Kingdom, and which had been preſented to His Majeſties Predeceſſors. So that the ſubſtance of the Doctrine aſſerted arid maintained by that Synod was not new, and that there was nothing novel in it, excepting its Formality and Application as a Fence and Boundary to keep out divers Errors that were then riſing and breaking in upon us. So that His Moſt Excellent Majeſty was moſt humbly intreated not to believe that his Subjects had any ſuch deſign as to make him the Patron and Protector of a Novel and Foreign Doctrine. After that the Deputies had finiſhed their Diſcourſe, they were commanded to withdraw, that His Majeſty might conſider and deliberate about what had been ſaid by them; and being a while after called in again, My Lord Chancellor told them as to the firſt head, that His Majeſty having heard the Matters that were propounded by them, would not remove the Foreign Paſtors from their Flocks in this Kingdom, who were now in Office, and at preſent actually imployed: But it was his pleaſure that for the future no more ſhould be received. Whereupon His Majeſty taking the words out of the Lord Chancellors Mouth, repeated it himſelf, I will not that one of them that is now in the Miniſtry of their Churches be turned out. Afterward My Lord Chancellor continuing his Diſcourſe told them, That as for the ſecond point that His Majeſty left us wholly at liberty to judge of our Doctrine, and would not himſelf have the cogniſance of it; but only gave us to underſtand, that no Man ſhould be obliged to pin his Faith upon anothers Sleeve, or to ſwear unto the Faith of a Stranger, but that every one ſhould believe as he would. Whereupon theſe Deputies judging and believing that this Anſwer did not m the leaſt prejudice them nor our Churches, becauſe no Perſon in the Reformed Churches ſwears unto anothers Faith, after they had once again returned Thanks unto His Majeſty for all His Favours, and proteſted afreſh of their moſt humble Obedience and inviolable Affection to His Majeſties Service, they departed. And having before their return hither waited upon the Chancellor privately, and rendred him thanks, as alſo to the Lords de Piſieux and d' Herbant for that Audience and very kind reception they had by their means from His Majeſty, they were informed by them that His Majeſty was very well pleaſed with them, and that he retained his Intentions of keeping the Peace, provided his Subjects of the Reformed Religion continued in their Obedience.
2. When as the Deputies had ended their Report the Lord Galland Commiſſioner and Deputy for the King in this Aſſembly related what was given▪ him in charge by His Majeſty upon theſe two aforeſaid points: This Synod yielding all Obedience to His Majeſties Will in what concerns the admiſſion of Strangers for the future, doth yet reſolve to take all opportunities of petitioning His Majeſty that our Churches may enjoy the ſame liberty they ever had in this matter. And as for the ſecond point concerning the Oath, The Synod declareth that the Intention of that of Alez was not in the leaſt to wound His majeſties Authority, of which they will be alwaies moſt tender and ſollicitous, nor did that National Synod deſign to bring into this Kingdom any Foreign Cuſtoms, or Strange Doctrines, or New Opinions, but only to teſtifie the Union of the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom with thoſe of the Low Countries in certain points of Doctrine, which have been in all times entertained and embraced by them, and for their ſubſtance are comprehended in our Confeſſion of Faith, but upon which there fell out ſome Controverſies in the Netherlands. However that they may give all poſſible contentment and ſatisfaction unto His Majeſty, This preſent Synod conſidering that the City of Dort is a Dependance and Member of a Foreign Commonwealth, it doth ordain that the Reference had in the ſaid Oath unto that City ſhall be taken away, nor ſhall it for the future be adminiſtred in the Churches and Univerſities of this Kingdom. And the ſaid Oath ſhall be hereafter taken in that form as is expreſt in the cloſe of the Canons decreed in this preſent Synod, which by, its ſpecial Order were printed and inſerted into theſe preſent Acts.
3. The Province of Normandy moved that a Canon might be ordained to oblige all Paſtors to viſit once a year the reſpect Families of their Churches, and to take notice of their progreſs in Piety, and to preſs them to it by the moſt quickning motives. Although this Synod doth not judge it neceſſary to make any New Canons on this occaſion, yet nevertheleſs doth it exhort all Paſtors and Conſiſtories carefully to overſee the Flocks committed to their charge, according to the Rule of Gods Word, and the Example of thoſe Worthy Miniſters who have been noted and renowned for their diligence and faithfulneſs in the Houſe of God.
4. That ſame Province alſo requeſted that the Moneys given us by His Majeſties liberality might not for the future be diſtributed by the number of Paſtors but of Churches. This National Synod as that of Privas before it, decreeth, That the former courſe and practice ſhall ſtand, and that the ſaid Portions ſhall be diſtributed according to the number of our Miniſters; but withal, it exhorteth the Provinces in their particular diſtribution of the ſaid Moneys to have a ſpecial regard and compaſſion for the poor and weaker Churches.
5. The Province of Anjou petitioned the Synod, that ſome expedient might be found out for ſetling of a certain Maintenance upon our Univerſities. But there could not be at preſent any thing done in it.
6. The Province of Lower Guyenne moved, whether it might not be expedient to add ſome Marginal Notes unto thoſe Texts in our French Bibles, and to be publiſhed in the next Impreſſion of the Holy Bible, which our Adverſaries accuſe us to have falſified and corrupted. This Aſſembly did not judge it needful, becauſe our Tranſlation of the Sacred Scriptures hath been ſufficiently defended by our own Divines, as will appear to any one that will but take the pains to conſult their Learned and Orthodox Writings upon this Subject.
7. The Province or Lower Languedoc demanding Licenſe for our Paſtors to continue their receiving of Moneys belonging to the Colloquies: This Aſſembly did very ſharply reprove and cenſure the ſaid Province for acting contrary to that Canon made at Alex, and forbiddeth all Miniſters ſo much as to intermeddle with that Receipt, and the Deputies of the ſaid Province immediately upon their return home are charged to give notice of this preſent Ordinance unto them; and if any one of them for the future dare violate it, this Aſſembly declareth him from this very inſtant ſuſpended the Sacred Miniſtry, which ſuſpenſion ſhall continue upon him till the ſitting of the next National Synod, before which he ſhall appear in Perſon to give an account of his Actions. And the Moderators of Colloquies and Synods are commanded to exert all their Power that this Canon be obſerved, or elſe they ſhall anſwer for it in their own private Capacities.
8. The Province of Burgundy moved, that for the future no Church nor Miniſter might be admitted to bring in any Propoſal or Petition unto the National Synod but by the way of the Provincial Synods, and the Deputies of their Provinces. This Aſſembly accepted and approved of the motion, as agreeing with the Sentiments and Canons of former Synods, and made it into a Canon.
9. The Province of Dolphiny requeſting of this Synod that ſome certain Perſons might be ſelected to collect out of the Writings of the Fathers ſuch paſſages as will be of uſe in that Controverſie of Church-Hiſtory. This Synod becauſe there have been publiſhed a vaſt number of Books on this Subject, and a multitude of Collections already made by divers of our Orthodox Divines doth not judge it needful to imploy any one particularly on ſuch a Task: But yet withal it exhorts all them to whom God hath given thoſe Abilities, that they would improve them ſo as to frame and compoſe a faithful Church-Hiſtory, wherein we may have the riſe, growth, and progreſs of all Controverſies, and their confutation by the Sacred Scriptures for the greater Edification of Gods Church.
10. The ſame Province demanded, Whether Conſiſtories might compel an Advocate by Eccleſiaſtical Cenſures to depoſe againſt his Client ſuch matters as had been ſecretly communicated to him. This Aſſembly conſidering that Advocates are intruſted with many Secrets, and obliged by the Duties of their Office and Calling to conceal Matters confided to them by their Clients, judgeth that no Conſiſtories ought to urge them to it unleſs in caſes of High Treaſon, or things of ſuch great importance.
11. The Provincial Deputies Commiſſionated to our National Synods ſhall not be ſuffered to plead for any Church, or private Perſon who appeals from the Judgment of their Province. But it ſhall be lawful for them to bring with them the Memoirs and Inſtructions of the ſaid Churches and particular Appellants, and tender them unto the National Synods, who may leave them in the hands of Commiſſioners to make report of them.
12. This Synod ratifying the Decrees of former Synods, forbiddeth all Colloquies and Provincial Synods to divert the Moneys given us by the King in any manner whatſoever from their primary uſe and intendment whereunto they were appointed; and ordaineth that they ſhall be only employed towards the maintenance of our Miniſters, and the upholding of the Sacred Miniſtry, of the maintenance of our Univerſities, Colledges, Propoſans, the Widows of Paſtors, and they ſhall be expended in defraying the neceſſary Charges of our National Synods, according to the Will and Pleaſure of His Majeſty.
13. Monſieur d' Huiſſeau appearing in this Aſſembly as he and Monſieur Guydon had been ordered to give an account of their proſecuting Monſieur Palot, for the recovery of thoſe great Summs of Money he was indebted unto the Churches. He declared that both himſelf and the ſaid Monſieur Guidon now abſent, ſince the laſt National Synod held at Alez (which they had acquainted with the proceſs commenc't by them againſt the ſaid Palot,) could not make any great progreſs therein, becauſe of the Wars which a little while after brake out, and for that the Commiſſioners appointed by the King to audit the ſaid Palots Accounts were all out of the way. But yet notwithſtanding they had not been altogether idle, nor loſt their time: For though this Affair were exceedingly imbroyl'd, yet had they got ſuch light into it, as would be very beneficial unto the Churches, and not only to ſome of them which were more particularly concern'd above other, but would be very uſeful to the Exchequer it ſelf, and to the ſaid Monſieur Palot. That the difficulty formerly experienc't in getting Commiſſioners who might examin the Accompts of the ſaid Palot, had made them conclude, that to bring this Affair to an happy period, it were beſt to carry and leave it with the Sedentary Judges, as thoſe are, in the Sovereign Courts. And ſince the opening of this Synod the Lord Malat Secretary to His Majeſty, a Man of great Probity, Capacity, and Intelligence, and very well known, did by a third Perſon make this offer, That in caſe he would give him a quarter of what Moneys might be gotten in from this Affair, he would undertake the proſecution of it without ever demanding any thing elſe from the Churches for defraying his Coſts and Expences. If therefore it would pleaſe this Synod to continue and prorogue for Six Moneths longer unto the ſaid Lords Guidon and d' Huyſſeau the faculties and powers granted and confirmed to them by the laſt Synod of Alez, and give them leave to aſſociate with them the ſaid Lord of Mallat, and to proſecute this Affair in ſuch Courts and Juriſdictions as they ſhould think good, on condition, that one quarter of what might be recovered, ſhould be given them in lieu of all their Charges and Recompence, they hoped that within the term of Six Moneths the Churches ſhould be well contented with their pains and undertakings, and reap the fruit and injoy the benefit of them. And that an eſtimate might be made of their progreſs in this Law-Suit within that time, This Aſſembly is deſired to Authorize the Synod of the Iſle of France to take cogniſance thereof, that ſo according to the ſucceſs and profit had and obtained, they may either order it to be continued, or ſurceaſed. Moreover this Aſſembly is requeſted to charge the Lords our General Deputies to come in and aſſiſt the ſaid Lords, Guidon, Mallat, and d' Huiſſeau upon ſuch occaſions as do occur, and when as they ſhall be deſired by them. But the Synod thought it more convenient before they proceeded any farther to conferr in the firſt place with the Sieur Palot, becauſe we had now an eaſie opportunity for ſo doing, and therefore voted that the Seur Palot ſhould be intreated to come unto this Aſſembly, which accordingly he did, and upon diſcourſe he offered, that if this Aſſembly would be pleaſed to nominate a Committee of their own Members, he would very willingly confer with them about this Affair. Whereupon the Lords of Montmartyn one of our General Deputies, Baſnage a Paſtor, Du Port, du Four, and de Launay Elders together with Monſieur d' Huiſſeau were appointed to confer with the ſaid Palot, and ſee if they could bring him to put a fair and amicable end unto it. Who having diſcourſed with him, informed this Aſſembly that he was ſo far from compounding with the Churches, and refunding any thing unto them of the great Summs demanded by us, that on the contrary he avowed they were very much indebted to him. The Synod hereupon Commiſſionated the Lords, Durant and Meſtrezat Paſtors, Marbau, Maſſoners, Biggot and de L' Aunay Elders of the Church of Paris to act joyntly together with the Lords of Montmartyn and Manialt our General Deputies, or with any one of them in the abſence of the other, and to reſolve and conclude in the Name and behalf of our Churches whatſoever they ſhould conceive meet in this Affair, and to treat and agree with one or more Sollicitors, and to give full Powers unto him or them to proſecute it on ſuch Articles and Conditions as in their Wiſdoms would moſt contribute to the Weal, Benefit, and Advantage of our Churches. And to this purpoſe a ſpecial Letter of Attorney was Sealed to them, and Delivered by all the Provincial Deputies of the Churches in this Synod, but on this Condition, that he or they with whom they agreed ſhould not demand nor pretend unto any Moneys of right from the ſaid Churches for their Pains, Coſts, Loſſes or Sallaries in the purſuit and ſollicitation of this Affair.
14. The Lord of Candal came into this Aſſembly, and aſſured it of the continuance of his ſincere Affections and Service unto the Churches, and did farther declare and notifie with how much diligence and importunity he and the Lords General Deputies for Five Moneths together in this preſent year had ſollicited both His Majeſty, and the Lords of his Council, that the Moneys granted by his Bounty unto the Churches might be aſſigned on ſome particular Tally for this year. That a long time was ſpent before he could find any ſucceſs of his endeavours. But at laſt they would give him Orders and Aſſignations, which in truth he refuſed to accept, becauſe he knew them to be naught and worth nothing. And that finally about the end of the laſt April they had given him others, which he was conſtrained to take, becauſe he ſaw the Lords of the Council fixed in their reſolutions of giving him none other. That indeed theſe latter Aſſignations were a little better than the former, but it would be a very great while before any payment were made, that it would be at leaſt Six or Eight Moneths before the firſt Summ would become due, that the whole Aſſembly knew they would not grant him any Order or Tally for the laſt year 1622, yea, and His Majeſty had revoked his former grant of Moneys to the Churches for the year 1621, and employed them elſewhere to ſome other purpoſes: And as for the Arrears due unto us in the foregoing years, he had took all care poſſible, and uſed the utmoſt diligence to recover them, but with very little or no ſucceſs, that he had brought in his Accompts, and prayed the Aſſembly to conſtitute a Committee to audit and cloſe them. The Aſſembly having moſt heartily thanked the ſaid Lord of Candal for his ſingular care, reſpects and kindneſſes upon all occaſions expreſſed unto the Churches, and deſired the continuance of his Love, did nominate Meſſieurs de Baſnage and Le Clark Paſtors, du Port and du Four Elders to peruſe and examine his Accompts. And whereas a world of inconveniencies will befal our Churches by ſo long delay of paying in the Moneys granted us by His Majeſty for this year now current, the Synod deputed the Sieurs de L' Angle, a Paſtor, and du Port an Elder, and the Lords of Montmartyn and Candal to wait upon His Majeſty, and on the behalf of this Aſſembly moſt humbly to beſeech him to grant ſome other Aſſignations and Orders for the more ſpeedy paying in of His Majeſties Great Bounty unto our Churches, and that as a Token of His Royal Goodneſs and Liberality he would be pleaſed to add ſome other Summs to us inſtead of thoſe which have been taken from us in the laſt foregoing years, we having received not ſo much as one farthing or doibt for them.
15. A few dayes after the ſaid Deputies being returned from the King, they made Report in this Aſſembly how Graciouſly they had been received by His Majeſty, who aſſured them that in caſe his ſaid Subjects of the Reformed Religion continued in their Duty and Obedience, he would alwayes give them all poſſible content. And the ſame Expreſſions of kindneſs they received alſo from the Lords of His moſt Honourable Privy Council, who ordered out of hand Forty Thouſand Livres to be payed in unto them, they yielding up unto their Lordſhips the old Warrants for the like Summ; but as for what was requeſted about reimburſing us the years paſt by fixing thoſe Summs due unto us on ſome other Tallies and Aſſignations, their Honours were pleaſed to ſay, There was no reaſon why they ſhould promiſe it.
16. The Province of Anjou requeſted that the Univerſity of Saumur might not any longer be left deſtitute of Profeſſors in Divinity, but that ſome ſpeedy care and courſe might be taken to ſend Monſieur Cameron to be Profeſſor of that faculty in it. The Lord Commiſſioner and Deputy for His Majeſty unto this Synod, declared that it was the Will and Pleaſure of His Majeſty that thoſe two Gentlemen, Mr. Gilbert Primroſe, and Mr. John Cameron ſhould not be preferred neither of them to any Publick Office either of Paſtors in the Churches or of Paſtors and Profeſſors in the Churches and Univerſities of this Kingdom, not becauſe of their Birth as being Foreigners, but for ſome private Reaſons of State, relating to his Service. And the ſaid Lord of Galland preſented us His Majeſties Letters Written and Signed with His Own Hand Lewes, and a little lower de L' Omeny: Dated the Twenty Fifth day of this preſent MonethMonth. The Aſſembly underſtanding this to be His Majeſties pleaſure, would not put it to the Vote, Whether they ſhould be continued or not in their Miniſtry, but deputed the Sieurs Cottiby Miniſter of the Goſpel, and du Bois, and St. Martyn Elders together with the Lord of Montmartyn General Deputy to carry unto His Majeſty a Petition from this Aſſembly, wherein this Aſſembly did moſt humbly beſeech His Majeſty, that as he had lately with his own Mouth moſt graciouſly promiſed, ſo His Majeſty would be pleaſed to give Order that all our Miniſters might as fully injoy the fruit and benefit of his promiſe.