The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 27 (Alençon) · Chapter 15

The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France · 27 (Alençon) · Chapter 15

p. 348CHAP. XV. General Matters.1637. The 27th Synod.

Article 1. * THE Aſſembly leaveth the Provinces at full Liberty to keep their ancient Cuſtoms obſerved by them in ſinging that Prayer at the End of the ten Commandments, and which is uſually recited by ſome kneeling, by others ſtanding, and by others ſitting, according to the ſettled eſtabliſh'd Order in every Church; not judging it in any-wiſe reaſonable to oblige them all unto one only Form in a Matter, which of its own Nature is indifferent.

Article 2. The Province of Berry requeſting it, this Aſſembly ordaineth, that for the future, when the Queſtion ſhall be moved about furniſhing our Univerſities with Profeſſors in Divinity, that Province in which the Univerſity lieth deſtitute of a Profeſſor, ſhall invite the four next adjoining Provinces, to depute at their own Charges ſome of their Paſtors, who may aſſiſt in Perſon at the Examen of the Candidate for the vacant Profeſſor's Chair.

Article 3. The Demand of the Province of Poictou was granted, that whoſo ſhould hereafter tranſgreſs the 16th Article in the 14th Chapter of our Diſcipline, and the particular Canons enacted in the Province where he reſideth, about publiſhing of Books, ſhall be ſuſpended from the Miniſtry.

Article 4. However Men may have a Right to buy or keep Slaves, and this be not condemned by the Word of God, nor is it aboliſhed by the Preaching of the Goſpel in the far greateſt part of Europe; and though there hath been inſenſibly brought in a Cuſtom to the contrary, and that Merchants purchaſe and diſpoſe of them as of their proper Goods and Chattels, eſpecially ſuch as traffick on the Coaſts of Africk and the Indies, where this Commerce is permitted, do buy from the Barbarians, either by way of Exchange of Goods, or for ready Money, Men and Women-Slaves, who being once in their Power and Poſſeſſion, they do again openly ſell in the Market, or truck them away unto others. This Aſſembly confirming that Canon made on this Occaſion by the Provincial Synod of Normandy, doth exhort the Faithful not to abuſe this their Liberty contrary to the Rules of Chriſtian Charity, nor to transfer theſe poor Infidels unto other Hands beſides thoſe of Chriſtians, who may deal kindly and humanely with them; and above all, may take ſpecial Care of their precious immortal Souls, and ſee them inſtructed in the Chriſtian Religion.

Article 5. The Province of Lower Languedoc deſiring it, all the Provinces are informed to take heed that the 9th Article in the 1ſt Chapter of our Diſcipline be not tranſgreſſed, which forbids the ordaining of any Propoſan without a Title, or aſſigning him to ſome particular Church.

Article 6. The Deputies of Lower Languedoc being expreſly charged thereunto by their Province, did repreſent, that although the Churches of this Kingdom had in all their Sermons, Prayers and Thankſgivings, publick and private, given evident Proof to the whole World of that Fidelity and moſt ſincere Obedience which his Majeſty's natural-born Subjects of the Reformed Religion were obliged to yield unto his Majeſty; yet nevertheleſs, the ſworn Enemies of our Religion do never ceaſe railing, ſlandering and calumniating us, and by divers Pamphlets and Libels fraught with lying Stories, do their utmoſt Endeavour to make the Loyalty and p. 349Fidelity of our Churches to be ſuſpected and called in queſtion, and that there is an abſolute Neceſſity we ſhould juſtify our ſelves not only by Sermons preached in the Pulpit, and by Books compoſed and publiſhed from the Preſs, unto the whole World, to this very End and Purpoſe, but alſo by our moſt humble Remonſtrances unto his Majeſty, that he would be pleaſed graciouſly to account all the Members of our Churches as his moſt obedient and loyal Subjects, and to have an intire Confidence in their Fidelity unto his Service, the Welfare of his Eſtate, and the Augmentation of the Glory of his Crown. The Aſſembly imbraced this Remonſtrance as a ſacred thing conſonant to Reaſon and Juſtice, and perfectly correponding with thoſe Propoſitions tendred us from his Majeſty by the Lord Commiſſioner; and ordained, That all Paſtors in the Churches of this Kingdom ſhould give all religious and conſcientious Satisfaction herein, according to the Word of God, and the Confeſſion of our Faith, which are punctual and moſt expreſs on this Subject.

Article 7. Whereas for divers Years laſt paſt, War and Mortality have overſpread with a Deluge of Woes the far greateſt part of Europe, and made the unrepenting Nations ſenſible, what a dreadful thing it is to fall into the Hands of the Living God, juſtly incenſed againſt thoſe hard-hearted Sinners, who deſpiſe the Riches of his Grace, the Abundance of his Goodneſs and Long-ſuffering. The National Synod of the Reformed Churches of France, aſſembled by the King's Permiſſion in the Town of Alanſon, beholding, in the continual Plagues with which all the Provinces of this Kingdom are ſcourged, evident Threatnings of new impendent Judgments: Wherefore that thoſe affrightful and approaching Storms may be averted, and the Bowels of God's fatherly Compaſſions may be moved, and that we may obtain from his infinite Mercies and Goodneſs the Preſervation of his Majeſty's ſacred Perſon, a Bleſſing upon his Armies, the Return and Re-eſtabliſhment of Peace and Proſperity in the State, and a quiet Settlement for his poor afflicted Church, toſſed with Tempeſts, and not comforted: We do exhort all the Faithful by a deep Humiliation of Soul, and a ſincere and ſerious Converſion of Heart, to ſeek after the Help, Grace and Favour of God. And to this Purpoſe the Synod decreeth, That a publick Faſt ſhall be kept and ſolemnly obſerved in all the Churches of this Kingdom, on Thurſday the nineteenth Day of November next co…ing, which ſhall be notified unto them by reading of this preſent Act.

Article 8. That the Purity of Doctrine may be intirely preſerved, and all Miſunderſtandings between Paſtors, Profeſſors and Churches, may be avoided, and to prevent thoſe many Inconveniences which would thereupon happen, and to tie and maintain more ſtrictly and ſtrongly the ſpiritual Bonds of brotherly Charity and Union among the Faithful: This Synod doth moſt rigorouſly forbid, on Pain of all Church-Cenſures, yea, and of Depoſal from their Miniſtry, all Paſtors of Churches, and Profeſſors in our Univerſities, to treat of in their Sermons, Lectures or Writings, thoſe curious Queſtions which may occaſion the Fall or Stumbling either of Students in Divinity, or private Chriſtians; it being moſt neceſſary that both they, their Scholars and Flocks ſhould keep themſelves to the Simplicity and Plainneſs of the Holy Scriptures, and to the common Expedition of the Orthodox Creed grounded thereupon, and approved by the National Synods, particularly by that of Charenton, held in the Year 1623. They be alſo forbidden the uſing of any new Expreſſions ſubject to ill Conſtructions and Miſinterpretations, or contentiouſly to diſpute one with the other, upon ſuch Queſtions or Interpretations, or to draw reciprocally the Saw of Controverſy betwixt them in Polemical Writings; nor ſhall they violate, directly or indirectly, the Canons made either in p. 350this or former Synods, about printing of Books, for whoſe Contents the Licenſers of the Preſs ſhall be reſponſible as much as the Authors, unto the Provinces. And thoſe Provinces within whoſe Diſtrict and Juriſdiction our Univerſities lie, ſhall take a moſt eſpecial Care of them, and ſee them viſited from time to time, by Perſons choſen to that Purpoſe, and to oblige all Profeſſors both in Philoſophy and Divinity, to ſend every ſix Months unto the Examiners of Books, in the Neighbour-Provinces, one or two Copies of the Theſes diſputed and defended in the publick Schools. And the Neighbour-Provinces are impowered with full Authority, together with thoſe in which our Univerſities are erected, to take a particular Knowledg of their Eſtate: And in caſe any Paſtor or Profeſſor, or any Member of our Churches, in reading or peruſing the Books printed with Licence of our Examiners, ſhall find any matter of Importance, which they ſhall count worthy of Reprehenſion, we order that they apply themſelves to the Authors of the ſaid printed Diſcourſes, or to the Examiners and Licenſers of them, and to demand Satisfaction from them; and in caſe they refuſe to give it, then they ſhall addreſs themſelves unto their Colloquies and Synods. And that Church and Province out of which the ſaid Complaint cometh forth, is forbidden, as are alſo all other Perſons whatſoever, from intermeddling with this Affair, or to take upon them to judg and decide it, or to inflame this Controverſy, or to ſpread it farther; but according to the Canons of our Diſcipline, they ſhall leave and reſign it intirely unto thoſe Aſſemblies, to whoſe Juriſdiction the Authors of theſe Diſturbances do belong, and againſt whom the Oppoſition is formed.

Article 9. The Lord Marqueſs of Clermont our General Deputy, and the Sieurs Ferrand, Gigord and Ceriſy, who were particularly delegated to lay at his Majeſty's Feet the moſt humble Supplications and Complaints of our Churches, having immediately after their Return from Court, delivered his Majeſty's Letters, and given an Account of that gracious Audience, and moſt kind and favourable Reception they had from his Majeſty, and our Lords his principal Miniſters of State, and how well they approved of the Conduct of this preſent Synod, and had promiſed, that as ſoon as it was concluded and ſeparated, an Anſwer agreeable to our Deſires expreſſed in the Cahier preſented to them, ſhould be given us, and that they would aſſign for the defraying the Charges and Expences of this Synod, the ſame Sum of Monies as was granted unto the laſt National Synod, which was alſo confirmed by my Lord Commiſſioner, who had received Letters concerning it, and required that this Aſſembly would diſſolve it ſelf ſpeedily. The Synod having teſtified their great Satisfaction in the Wiſdom, Faithfulneſs and Affection, manifeſted by theſe their Deputies in their whole Negotiation, and finding that they had Hopes given them by his Majeſty, that his poor oppreſſed Subjects of the Reformed Religion ſhould ſenſe and experience the comfortable Effects of his Sacred Royal Promiſes, and that according to his wonted Goodneſs, he would take care that they ſhould not be compelled contrary to the Tenour of his Edicts, the Liberty of their Conſciences, and the Canons of their Diſcipline, to adorn the fore-part of their Houſes on thoſe Days which are called the Feſtival of the Holy or Corpus Chriſti Day, nor on any other Holy Days; nor that they ſhould be forced to yield up their Infants to be baptized after the Popiſh Manner, or by Midwives, or by any other Perſons uncalled, who be not Miniſters of the Goſpel; and that his Majeſty would ordain a Revocation of that Declaration, and of thoſe Decrees which forbad our Miniſters to preach in Places where they did not inhabit, becauſe thoſe Decrees were granted on the ſingle Requeſts of our moſt imbittered Enemies, and without ever hearing of us the injur'd Parties, p. 351and for that they were derogatory to the Royal Grace contained in his Edicts of Pacification; and by means of thoſe Decrees, a very great Multitude of People were utterly deprived of all the Ordinances and free Exerciſe of their Religion, and of the Peace and Comfort of their Conſciences. Wherefore the Synod reſolved once again, and that without delay, to have recourſe unto his Majeſty's Royal Grace and Favour, and joined extraordinarily, in Commiſſion with the Lords General Deputies, ſome ſelect Perſons out of its own Body, who, immediately after their Separation, ſhould, in conjunction with them, uſe ſuch Means for the obtaining and perfecting thoſe Grants and Promiſes, as they thought needful.

Article 10. But the Lord Commiſſioner relating how that at the firſt opening of this Aſſembly, his Majeſty had by his Mouth made a clear, expreſs and abſolute Declaration of his Intentions, and had charged him to interdict, as he did once more now interdict all Deliberations contrary thereunto; the Synod did alſo again inſiſt upon that Anſwer which they had given to thoſe Matters propounded by him the ſaid Lord Commiſſioner, and did beſeech him, that according to it he would ſuffer our poor diſtreſſed Churches to preſent their humble and innocent Petition unto his Majeſty, which needed not any Deliberation, nor had any other Deſign or Tendency than to preſerve the Priviledges of his Majeſty's Edicts, and the Liberties of our Conſciences to us, whereof we were in danger of being deveſted and deprived; and therefore did, in purſuance thereof, nominate and appoint the Sieurs de l' Angle and Gigord, together with the Lords General Deputies, to reiterate the moſt humble Supplications and Requeſts of our Churches unto his Majeſty, and to the Lords of his moſt Honourable Privy-Council, and all of them jointly to ſollicit for the fulfilling of his gracious Promiſes, and that they might paſs the Seals, and be confirmed in due Form of Law.

A Copy of his Majeſty's Letter unto the Synod.

By the KING.

Dear and Welbeloved,

WE have received, by the Hands of your Deputies, the Letters which yon ſent its the 4th and the 6th of this Month; and we heard delightfully from their Mouths, what they had to offer us on your Part; and now they be returning to you, will report unto you thoſe Aſſurances, which we have given them of our good and ſincere Intentions towards our Subjects of the pret. Reformed Religion, for their enjoyment of the Priviledg and Benefit of our Edicts: and we perſwade our ſelf that you will, by your after-Deportments, render your ſelves worthy of our Grace and Favour. And as for what concerns the Cahier of your Complaints and Remonſtrances, which was preſented to us, and your Election of Deputies to reſide at Court, and attend upon us in our Progreſs, as ſoon as your Synod ſhall be diſſolved, we ſhall, as hath been ever practiſed by us, conſider of the most favourable Anſwer that may be given you. In the mean while, 'tis your Interest to break up as ſoon as poſſible, lest your longer ſitting in our Town of Alanſon ſhould be imputed to you as a failure of your Duty to us, and a Tranſgreſſion of our Edicts and Declarations. We ſhall not detain you any longer, but leave you to the Lord of St. Mars, our Commiſſioner deputed by us unto your Aſſembly, from whom you may underſtand what is our Intendment and Pleaſure.

Given at Fontainbleau, this 24th Day of June, 1637. Signed in the Original, Louis; and a little lower, Phelippeaux: And ſuperſcribed above, For our dear and welbeloved the Deputies of our Subjects of the pr. Reformed Religion, aſſembled, by our Permiſſion, in our City of Alanſon.

p. 35211. A Copy of the Synod's third Letter unto the King.

SIRE,

FOraſmuch as your Majeſty hath condeſcended, both by your Letters with which we are honoured, and by the Mouth of our Deputies, to aſſure us of your Majeſty's gracious and ſincere Intentions to maintain thoſe Edicts, by favour of which we ſubſist and live in this your Kingdom, and that you have vouchſafed us your Royal Word, that you will ſpeedily conſider the Cahier of our Complaints and Remonſtrances, and grant us a favourable Anſwer, as alſo to gratify us with a Sum of Money for defraying our Synodical Charges; we believed, Sire, that our Boldneſs in preſenting our ſelves once more before your Majeſty, would not be unacceptable, becauſe we deſign, in all Humility, by the Mouth of the Sieurs de l'Angle and Gigord, whom we have for this very purpoſe ſent unto your Court, to teſtify the profound Reſentments we have have of your Majeſty s Goodneſs. And we have alſo given them in charge, Sire, to report unto your Majeſtly the promptitude of our Obedience unto your Commands, in quitting this Place, and by our Deputies near your Majeſty, to ſollicit and petition for the Fruits of your Juſtice, Clemency and Royal Bounty: And we preſume to requeſt your Majeſty to grant them a gracious Audience, and to iſſue out your Royal Commandment, that thoſe comfortable Effects we have ſo juſtly hoped from the inviolable Firmneſs of your Sacred Word, may be as favourably and ſuddenly as is poſſible, expedited into your Provinces: And we ſhall continue our devouteſt and moſt ardent Prayers unto the Divine Majeſty for your Majeſty's Health and Proſperity, and that it may pleaſe God, Sire, to crown your Armies with Victory, to repleniſh your Houſe and State with Bleſſings, and …o enrich you with this Grace, that you may always live the Father of your People, and Terrour of your Enemies, the Arbiter of Chriſtendom, the Love, Favourite and Darling of the whole World. Theſe, Sire, are our continual Vows, our moſt fervent Prayers unto the Throne of Grace for your Majeſty: Nor have we in this Life any other or greater Deſire and Duty, than to be always,

From your City of Alanſon, July 9. 1637. SIRE, Your Majeſty's moſt humble, and moſt obedient, and moſt faithful Subjects and Servants, The Miniſters and Elders aſſembled by your Permiſſion in a National Synod in your City of Alanſon, and in the Name of them all,

Baſnage, Moderator of the Synod.

D. Coupe, Aſſeſſor.

D. Blondel, Scribe.

De Launay, Scribe.

Article 12. The Determination and Deciſion of that Affair concerning the Doctrine and Writings of the Sieurs Amyraud and Teſtard, Paſtors, and Profeſſor of Divinity in the Ʋniverſity of Saumur. The Sieurs Teſtard Paſtor of the Church of Blois, and Amyraud Paſtor and Profeſſor of Theology in the Church and Univerſity of Saumur, came in Perſon unto this Synod, and declared, That they underſtood from common Fame, how that both at home and abroad, and by the Conſutations and Proceedings of ſundry Provinces, as alſo from divers Books written againſt them and their printed Labours, they were blamed for that Doctrine p. 353which they had publiſhed to the World; that therefore at the firſt opening of the Synod they preſented themſelves before it, not knowing but that their Cauſe might be debated whenas the Confeſſion of Faith came to be read, and that they appeared to give an account of it, and ſuch Explanations of their Doctrine, as the moſt Reverend Synod ſhould judg needful; and to ſubmit themſelves unto its Judgment, and conſequently to demand its Protection for the ſupport of their Innocence, hoping that this Favour would not be denied them; becauſe they were fully perſwaded in their Conſciences, that they had never taught, either by Word or Writing, any Doctrine repugnant to the Word of God, to our Confeſſion of Faith, Catechiſm, Liturgy, or Canons of the National Synods of Alez and Charenton, which had ratified thoſe of Dort, and which they had ſigned with their Hands, and were ready, to ſeal even with their Heart-Blood.

Article 13. And the Sieur de la Place, Paſtor and Profeſſor in the Church and Univerſity of Saumur, reported alſo from the ſaid Univerſity, That he was charged by it to render an account of the Grounds and Reaſons which induced him to approve and licenſe the Works and Writings of Monſieur Am…aud, which he did, according to the Priviledg granted by the Diſcipline unto our Univerſities. Moreover, the Sieur Ouzan, Elder in the ſaid Church of Saumur, being admitted into the Synod, declared, that the ſaid Church underſtanding that Monſieur Amyraud, one of its Paſtors, was brought into trouble for his Doctrine, though both by it, and and his moſt exemplary and godly Converſation, they had been always exceedingly edified, had given him an expreſs Charge to teſtify unto it before this grave Aſſembly, and moſt humbly to commend unto their Reverences the Innocency and Honour of his Miniſtry.

Article 14. There were alſo tendred unto the Lord Commiſſioner the Letters, but not opened, which were ſent unto the Synod from the Churches and Univerſities of Geneva and Leyden, and from the Sieurs du Moulin Paſtor and Profeſſor in Theology at Sedan, and Rivet Paſtor and Profeſſor at Leyden, together with the Treatiſes compoſed by them, and the collationed Copies of the Approbations given by the Doctors in the Faculty of Theology at Leyden, Franequer and Groningen, unto the Treatiſe of the ſaid Profeſſor Rivet: Which Letters being opened by the Lord Commiſſioner, and their Contents peruſed by him, he allowed the reading of them unto the Aſſembly. The Aſſembly did likewiſe read the Letters writ by Monſieur Vignier Paſtor in the Church of Blois, and by Monſieur le Faucheur Paſtor in the Church of Paris, in which they offer their Sentiments for reconciling the Controverſies ariſen about the Writings of the ſaid Teſtard and Amyraud, and their Opponents.

Article 15. Moreover, the Apologetical Letters of the Sieurs Vignier and Garnier, Paſtors of the Churches of Blois and Marchenoir, were read, who informed the Synod, that by virtue of a Commiſſion given them by the Province of Berry to examine the Theological Writings which might be compoſed either by the Paſtors or others of their Province, they had given their Atteſtation and Approbation to the Book of the ſaid Monſieur Teſtard, and had given an account of this their Judgment unto the Provincial Synod aſſembled in the Year 1634; and the Extracts of thoſe their Writings were produced.

Article 16. Thoſe Papers having been all read, and the aforeſaid Sieurs Teſtard and Amyraud having been divers times heard, and the Aſſembly having in a very long Debate conſidered the Difficulties of thoſe Queſtions raiſed by them, did conſtitute the Sieurs Commarc Paſtor id the Church of Vertueil, Charles Paſtor in the Church of Montauban, de L'angle Paſtor in the p. 354Church of Roan, Petit Paſtor and Profeſſor in the Church and Univerſity of Niſmes, le Blanc Paſtor and Profeſſor in the Univerſity of Die, de Bons Paſtor in the Church of Chaalons upon Saone, and Daillé Paſtor in the Church of Paris, a Committee to digeſt and reduce into Order the Explications which had been given, or might hereafter be given by the before-mentioned Teſtard and Amyraud, and that they ſhould accordingly as ſoon as it was finiſhed bring in their Report.

Article 17. And the ſaid Committee having diſcharged their Truſt, and made their Report unto the Synod, the before-mentioned Mr. Teſtard and Amyraud were again introduced, and did with the deepeſt Seriouſneſs proteſt before God, that it was never in their Thoughts to propound or teach any Doctrine whatever, but what was agreeable to the known and common Expoſitions of our Creed, and contained in our Confeſſion of Faith, and in the Deciſions of the National Synod held at Charenton, in the Year 1623; all which they were ready to ſign with their beſt Blood.

Article 18. And purſuant hereunto, explaining their Opinions about the Univerſality of Chriſt's Death, they declared, That Jeſus Chriſt died for all Men ſufficiently, but for the Elect only effectually: and that conſequentially his Intention was to die for all Men in reſpect of the Sufficien…y of his Satisfaction, but for the Elect only in reſpect of its quickning and Saving Virtue and Efficacy; which is to ſay, that Chriſt's Will was that the Sacrifice of his Croſs ſhould be of an infinite Price and Value, and moſt abundantly ſufficient to expiate the Sins of the whole World; yet nevertheleſs the Efficacy of his Death appertains only unto the Elect; ſo that thoſe who are called by the Preaching of the Goſpel, to participate by Faith in the Effects and Fruits of his Death, being invited ſeriouſly, and God vouchſafing them all external Means needful for their coming to him, and ſhowing them in good earneſt, and with the greateſt Sincerity by his Word, what would be well-pleaſing to him, if they ſhould not believe in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, but periſh in their Obſtinacy and Unbelief; this cometh not from any Defect of Virtue or Sufficiency in the Sacrifice of Jeſus Chriſt, nor yet for want of Summons or ſerious Invitations unto Faith or Repentance, but only from their own Fault. And as for thoſe who do receive the Doctrine of the Goſpel with the Obedience of Faith, they are according to the irrevocable Promiſe of God, made Partakers of the effectual Virtue and Fruit of Chriſt Jeſus's Death; for this was the moſt free Counſel and gracious Purpoſe both of God the Father, in giving his Son for the Salvation of Mankind, and of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, in ſuffering the Pains of Death, that the Efficacy thereof ſhould particularly belong unto all the Elect, and to them only, to give them juſtifying Faith, and by it to bring them infallibly unto Salvation, and thus effectually to redeem all thoſe and none other, who were from all Eternity from among all People, Nations and Tongues, choſen unto Salvation. Whereupon, although the Aſſembly were well ſatisfied, yet nevertheleſs they decreed, that for the future, that Phráſe of Jeſus Chiſt's dying equally for all, ſhould be forborn, becauſe that term equally was formerly, and might be ſo again, an Occaſion of ſtumbling unto many.

Article 19. And as for the Conditional Decree, of which mention is made in the aforeſaid Treatiſe of Predeſtination, the ſaid Sieurs Teſtard and Amyraud declared, that they do not, nor ever did underſtand any other thing, than God's Will revealed in his Word, to give Grace and Life unto Believers; and that they called this in none other Senſe a Conditional Will than that of an Anthropopeia, becauſe God promiſeth not the Effects thereof, but upon condition of Faith and Repentance. And they added farther, That although the Propoſitions reſulting from the Manifeſtation of p. 355this will be conditional, and conceived under an if, or it may be; as, if thou believeſt thou ſhalt be ſaved; if Man repent of his Sins, they ſhall be forgiven him; yet nevertheleſs this doth not ſuppoſe in God an Ignorance of the Event, not an Impotency as to the Execution, nor any Inconſtancy as to his Will, which is always firmly accompliſhed, and ever unchangeable in it ſelf, according to the Nature of God, in which there is no Variableneſs nor Shadow of turning.

Article 20. And the ſaid Sieur Amyraud did particularly proteſt, as he had formerly publiſhed unto the World, that he never gave the Name of Univerſal or Conditional Predeſtination unto this Will of God than by way of Conceſſion, and accommodating it unto the Language of the Adverſary: Yet foraſmuch as many are offended at this Expreſſion of his, he offered freely to raze it out of thoſe places, where-ever it did occur, promiſing alſo to abſtain in from it for the future: and both he and the Sieur Teſtard acknowledged, that to ſpeak truly and accurately according to the Uſage of ſacred Scripture, there is none other Decree of Predeſtination of Men unto eternal Life and Salvation, than the unchangeable Purpoſe of God, by which according to the moſt free and good Pleaſure of his Will, he hath out of mere Grate choſen in Jeſus Chriſt, unto Salvation before the Foundation of the World, a certain number of Men in themſelves neither better nor more worthy than others, and that he hath decreed to give them unto Jeſus Chriſt to be ſaved, and that he would call and draw them effectually to Communion with him by his Word and Spirit. And they did, in conſequence of this Holy Doctrine, reject their Error, who held that Faith, and the Obedience of Faith, Holineſs, Godlineſs and Perſeverance, are not the Fruits and Effects of this unchangeable Decree unto Glory, but Conditions or Cauſes, without which Election could not be paſſed; which Conditions or Cauſes are antecedently requiſite, and foreſeen as if they were already accompliſhed in thoſe who were fit to be elected, contrary to what is taught us by the ſacred Scripture, Acts 13. 48. and elſewhere.

Article 21. And whereas they have made diſtinct Decrees in this Counſel of God, the firſt of which is to ſave all Men though Jeſus Chriſt, if they ſhall believe in him; the ſecond to give Faith unto ſome particular Perſons: they declared, that they did this upon none other account, than of accommodating it unto that Manner and Order which the Spirit of Man obſerveth in his Reaſonings for the Succour of his own Infirmity; they otherwiſe believing, that though they conſidered this Decree as diverſe, yet it was formed in God in one and the ſelf-ſame Moment, without any Succeſſion of Thought, or Order of Priority and Poſteriority. The Will of this moſt ſupreme and incomprehenſible Lord, being but one only eternal Act in him; ſo that could we but conceive of things as they be in him from all Eternity, we ſhould comprehend theſe Decrees of God by one only Act of our Underſtanding, as in Truth they be but one only Act of his eternal and unchangeable Will.

Article 22. The Synod having heard theſe Declarations from the Sieurs Teſtard and Amyraud, it injoined them and all others to refrain from thoſe terms of conditional, fruſtratory, or revocable Decree; and that they ſhould rather chooſe the Word Will, whereby to expreſs that Sentiment of theirs, and by which they would ſignify the revealed Will of God, commonly called by Divines Voluntas Signe.

Article 23. And whereas in ſundry Places marked in the Writings of the beforementioned Monſieur Teſtard and Amyraud, they have aſcribed unto God, as it were, a Notion of Velleity, and ſtrong Affections, and vehement Deſires of Things which he hath not, hot never will effectuate; they having declared, that by thoſe figurative Ways of ſpeaking, and anthropopathical, p. 356they deſigned, to ſpeak properly, none other thing than this, that if Men were obedient to the Commandments and Invitations of God, their Faith and Obedience would be moſt acceptable unto him, according as was before expreſſed by them. The Aſſembly hearing this their Explication, did injoin them to uſe ſuch Expreſſions as theſe, with that Sobriety and Prudence, that they might not give the leaſt Occaſion of Offence unto any Perſon, nor cauſe them to conceive of God in any way, unſuitable to his glorious Nature.

Article 24. Monſieur Teſtard and Amyraud declared farther, that although the Doctrines obvious to us in the Works of Creation and Providence, do teach and preach Repentance, and invite us to ſeek the Lord, who would be found of us; yet nevertheleſs, by reaſon of the horrible Blindneſs of our Nature, and its univerſal Corruption, no Man was ever this way converted; yea, and it is utterly impoſſible that any one ſhould be converted but by the hearing of the Word of God, which is the Seed of our Regeneration, and the Inſtrument of the Holy Ghoſt, whole Efficacy and Virtue only is able to illuminate our Underſtandings, and to change the Hearts and Affections of the Children of Men.

Article 25. And foraſmuch as the Word of God hath always revealed the Knowledg of the Lord our Redeemer, the ſaid Sieurs did farther proteſt, that no one Man was ever, nor can be ſaved, without ſome certain Meaſure of this Knowledg, leſs indeed under the old Teſtament, but greater under the New, the Death and Reſurrection of the Son of God being moſt plainly and diſtinctly manifeſted in the Goſpel; and they hold it as an undoubted Truth, that now under the New Covenant, the diſtinct Knowledg of Chriſt is abſolutely neceſſary for all Perſons who are come unto Years of Diſcretion in order to their obtaining of eternal Salvation: And they do from their very Heart anathematize all thoſe who believe or teach that Man may be ſaved any other way than by the Merit of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, or in any other Religion beſides the Chriſtian.

Article 26. And whereas divers Perſons were much offended at the Profeſſor Amyraud for calling that Knowledg of God, which Men might gain from the Conſideration of his Works and Providence (unleſs their Corruption were extream) by the Name of Faith: The ſaid Profeſſor declared, that he did it, becauſe he reckoned that that Perſwaſion which ſome have, that there is a God, and that he is a Rewarder, may bear that Name; he owning however that St. Paul did ſimply and plainly ſtile it the Knowledg of God, 1 Cor. 1.21. The Aſſembly injoined him not to give the Name of Faith to any other Knowledg of God, but unto that which is ingendred in us by the Holy Ghoſt, and by the Preaching of his Word, according as the Scripture uſeth it, whether thereby to point out unto us the Faith of God's ancient Saints, or this which is now under the New Teſtament, and neceſſarily accompanied with a diſtinct Knowledg of Chriſt.

Article 27. And as for Man's natural Impotency, either to believe, or to deſire and do the things that belong unto Salvation; both the ſaid Sieurs Amyraud and Teſtard proteſted, that Man had none other Power than that of the Holy Spirit of God, which is only able to heal him, by an interiour illuminating of his Underſtanding, and bending of his Will by that gracious, invincible and uneffable Operation, which he only exerts upon the Hearts of thoſe Veſſels of Grace which are elect of God.

Article 28. They did farther declare, that this Impotency was in us from our Birth, for which Cauſe it may be called natural; and they have called it phyſical or natural, nor ever did refuſe ſo doing, unleſs when they would ſignify that it is voluntary, and conjoined with Malice and Obſtinacy; p. 357whenas Man deſpiſeth and rejecteth the Invitations of God, which he would receive and imbrace, provided his Heart were well and fittingly diſpoſed within it ſelf.

Article 29. And Monſieur Teſtard added particularly, that this doth not in the leaſt derogate from what he had aſſerted concerning two Callings, the one real, and the other verbal, given by God unto Men, whereby they may be ſaved if they will, ſith that he intended thereby to ſignify nothing elſe, but that their Impotency to convert themſelves was not of the ſame kind with that of a Man, who having loſt his Eyes or Legs, was willing with all his Heart to ſee and walk, but that this Impotency ſprung from the Malice of the Heart it ſelf. The Aſſembly having heard him thus expreſs himſelf, injoined him to abſtain from theſe terms, and not to uſe them unleſs with very much Prudence and Diſcretion, and to join with them ſuch needful Gloſſes and Explications, as thereby it may appear, that Man is ſo depraved by Nature, that he cannot of himſelf will any Good without the ſpecial Grace of God, which may produce in us by his Holy Spirit both to will and to do according to his good Pleaſure.

Article 30. And thoſe afore-mentioned Miniſter and Profeſſor, Teſtard and Amyraud, having acquieſced in all, as above declared, and having ſworn and ſubſcribed to it, the Aſſembly gave them the right Hand of Fellowſhip by the Hand of their Moderator, and they were honourably diſmiſſed to the Exerciſe of their reſpective Charges.

The Continuation of other General and Eccleſiaſtical Matters.

Article 31. FOraſmuch as the far greater Part of the Provinces have not took any Order about the Expences of their Deputies ſent unto this Synod, the Aſſembly deſirous to provide for their Indemnity without Prejudice to that Vantage-Aſſeſſment they might lay claim unto, or which had been granted to them, did paſs this Decree, That their reſpective Provinces ſhould pay them after the Rate of an hundred Sous, being eight Shillings and four Pence Sterling Money a day, and they ſhall be accountable to them for thoſe Portions accruing from the Sum granted by his Majeſty towards the defraying of our Synodical Expences.

Article 32. Henceforward, whenas a Profeſſor's Place in Theology, in any one of our Univerſities, comes by his Death to be vacant, that it may not be any long time void, and that the Univerſity-Councils may have fit Perſons ready at hand, whom they may chuſe and call in to ſupply the Office of the Deceaſed; this Synod deſirous to repair ſo great a Loſs, exhorteth the Lords of Chamvernon, de L'angle, Texier, du Soul, Daillé, Bochart of Caen, to ſeparate themſelves unto the Profeſſion of Theology, that they may take it upon them, whenever the Neceſſities of our Univerſities ſhall require it.

Article 33. Foraſmuch as particular Actions cannot be truly and impartially judged but from a due Conſideration had of all their Circumſtances; this Aſſembly not being able to enact a Canon concerning Perſons accuſed of Bankerouting, doth leave the whole Affair to the Prudence of Conſiſtories, how and in what manner to proceed againſt them as they ſhall ſee to be moſt expedient.

p. 358Article 34. The Province of Lower Guyenne having requeſted it, the Aſſembly declareth, that the appointing of publick Faſts, and of all other Deliberations relating to the Diſcipline of our Churches, and the upholding of their Order, ought to be determined in Eccleſiaſtical Meetings by the Plurality of Paſtors and Elders Suffrages, without any preferring of one above another.

Article 35. Over and above thoſe Atteſtations which Scholars are wont to bring with them from the Profeſſors and Regents of thoſe Univerſities under whoſe Direction they have followed their Studies, the Synod doth ordain, that they ſhall alſo take out Atteſtations from the Paſtors and Conſiſtory of their Lives and Converſations.

Article 36. Foraſmuch as the Church judgeth not them that are without, and doth not exerciſe any Juriſdiction on thoſe who have quitted her Communion: This Aſſembly judgeth it not meet that thoſe Perſons ſhould be publickly from the Pulpit cenſured, who that they might marry with Parties of a contrary Religion, have abandoned the true Religion which they formerly profeſſed.

Article 37. Without prejudicing the Rights of the Province of Provence and Burgundy, this Aſſembly grants the Power of calling the next National Synod unto that of Anjou.