The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, Introduction 2 · Section 12 · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. Chap. IX. Of National Synods.Of National Synods.
CANON I. NAtional Synods ſhall be held once every year, if it can poſſibly be done; and this Order ſhall be obſerved for its aſſembling, That in the cloſing up of every National Synod a Province ſhall be choſen, which ſhall be intruſted with the power of calling the next, and ſhall be charged to acquaint all the other Provinces with the day and place of its meeting.
CAN. II. If difficult caſes ſhould be moved in any one of the Provinces, it ſhall give notice of it unto that Province, which is charged to aſſemble the National Synod, and having ordered the time and place of its meeting, the other Provinces ſhall be acquainted with it, that ſo they may come unto the Synod ready and well-prepared for a Deciſion.
CAN. III. And foraſmuch as at this time it is very difficult and dangerous to aſſemble the National Synod in a great number of Miniſters and Elders: It is thought good for the preſent, and till ſuch difficulties can be removed, that the Brethren aſſembled in every Provincial Synod, ſhall chuſe out only two Miniſters and Elders, who are Perſons of great experience in Church-affairs, to be ſent in the name of the whole Province, and theſe Deputies ſhall come with ample and ſufficient powers, and furniſhed with good memorials, ſubſcribed by the Moderator and Scribes of the Provincial Synod; and leſt any of the Deputies ſhould fail, three or four Paſtors more, and as many Elders ſhall be nominated by the Provincial Synods: that ſo if the firſt named Perſons ſhould be by any accident hindered from taking their journey, yet others may be at hand to ſupply their places in the National Synod. N.B. That in all Letters of Commiſſion ſigned by the Provinces to their Deputies unto the National Synods, there was this Clauſe of ſubmiſſion to be inſerted, viz. We promiſe before God to ſubmit our ſelves unto all that ſhall be concluded and reſolved on in your holy Aſſembly, and to obey, and perform it to the beſt of our power; being well perſwaded, that God preſideth in the midſt of you, and guideth you by his holy Spirit into all truth and equity by the Rule of his Word, for the weal and benefit of his Church, and the glory of his great Name. Which alſo we beg of him moſt ardently in our daily Prayers. See the Acts of the National Synod of Vitré, 1617. in that Canon next after the Catalogue of the Deputies.
CAN. IV. Provincial Synods ſhall not limit any certain time for the return of the Miniſters and Elders whom they had deputed unto the National Synod: but they ſhall ſuffer them to tarry at the ſaid Synod ſo long as there ſhall be need of their preſence and attendance in it, and theſe Deputies ſhall have all their expences born and defrayed out of the common ſtock of the whole Province.
CAN. V. The Articles of our Confeſſion of Faith, and the Canons of our Church-Diſcipline, ſhall be all read at the opening of every National Synod.
CAN. VI. And that the National Synod may not be buſied about Queſtions already determined in the Acts of former National Synods, The Provincial Deputies ſhall be adviſed to peruſe the Acts of former National Synods before they prepare their Memoirs, and they ſhall ſee that nothing be tranſmitted but what is of common and general concern to all the Churches, and which meriteth the deciſion of a National Synod.
CAN. VII. All Eccleſiaſtical matters may be finally decided and reſolved by the National Synod, the Provinces having been in the firſt place informed of them, if poſſible, by that Province which had the charge of aſſembling the National Synod.
CAN. VIII. The Deciſions ſhall be only made by the Provincial Deputies; but and if there be in the National Synod other Miniſters beſides the Deputies, they may propound their judgments as to what may be done, but they ſhall neither have conſultive nor deciſive Votes. N.B. This Canon is in three Editions, in that of 1653. in that of 1666. and in that 1676. but in thoſe of Paris, and Quevilly, 1663. it is omitted.
CAN. IX. Thoſe that appeal from Provincial Synods unto the National, ſhall be bound to be preſent in Perſon at it, or elſe they ſhall ſend unto it moſt ample Memoirs, with a lawful excuſe for their abſence: And on default hereof the Sentence of the Provincial Synod ſhall be ratified. The ſame courſe ſhall be taken with Appeals from Conſiſtories unto Colloquies, and from Colloquies unto the Provincial Synods.
CAN. X. The Provincial Deputies ſhall not depart from the National Synod without carrying home with them the Synodical Decrees, ſubſcribed by the Preſident and Scribe: and a month after their return they ſhall give notice thereof unto the Colloquies of their Province, that ſo they may ſend for the Acts of the ſaid Synod, and this at the ſole charge of the ſaid Colloquies.
CAN. XI. And that Synodical Acts may be preſerved, and that they may be of uſe and ſervice in after times for the determining of Controverſies which may be propounded for reſolution unto our National Synods; The ſaid Acts both for the time paſt and to come, and all others which concern thoſe Synods, as alſo the Canons of Church-Diſcipline, and the Confeſſion of Faith of the Reformed Churches in this Kingdom, ſhall be left in cuſtody with the Provincial Deputies, who are appointed to call the next National Synod, and that Province ſhall be obliged to bring them unto the Synod.
CAN. XII. Before the breaking up of National Synods there ſhall be an amicable and fraternal Cenſure of all the Deputies, Miniſters and Elders, about thoſe matters only which had been managed during its Seſſions, and whatever did in general reſpect their Provinces. And the Holy Supper of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſhall be Celebrated and partaken by them in teſtimony of their Cordial Union. Provided always that this holy Sacrament ſhall be Communicated in with that very Church in which they held their Synodical Aſſembly, and for this purpoſe the ſaid Church ſhall be admoniſhed to prepare themſelves for it.