The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, Introduction 2 · Section 6 – Section 8
Sect. 6. The Reformed form themſelves into regular Church-Aſſemblies, ſeparating themſelves, as the Primitive Chriſtians did from the unbelieving Jews, and their Synagogues, ſo from the unbelieving Papiſts and their idolatrous Worſhip. It was the great care of the firſt Reformers to preach up ſound Doctrine, to inſtitute and celebrate pure Evangelical Worſhip, and to reſtore the ancient Primitive Diſcipline. They ſet up purity of Worſhip, according to the Scripture Rule. The Holy Bible was tranſlated by Olivetan (Uncle unto Mr. Calvin, and a Miniſter in the Valleys of Piedmont) from the Original Hebrew and Greek into the French Language. He had not any aſſiſtance nor incouragement unto this work from any great Prince, or State, and yet finiſhed it in one Year. The Lord bleſſed him in his undertaking wonderfully, that he ſhould begin and finiſh it in ſo ſhort a time. This Star ſcatters bright Beams of Heavenly Light and Truth into the dark Corners of the Land, to the inlivening and comforting of many thouſands of Souls. Now the Fountain of Life is opened, and the Waters thereof flow down in plenteous ſtreams from the Throne of God, and the Lamb, to the cleanſing, quickning, and refreſhing of the City of God. This Holy Bible is read in their ſolemn Meetings, in the great Congregations. This divinely inſpired Scripture is peruſed and ſtudied by Nobles and Peaſants, by the Learned and Ideots, by Merchants and Tradeſmen, by Women and Children, in their Houſes and Families; by this they be made wiſer than their Popiſh Prieſts, than their moſt ſubtle Adverſaries. By this they ſtop the mouths of Gainſayers, and put them to ſilence and confuſion. Clement Marot a Courtier, and a great Wit, was adviſed by Mr. Vatablus, Regius Profeſſor of the Hebrew Tongue in the Univerſity of Paris, to conſecrate his Muſe unto God; which Counſel he embraceth, and tranſlateth fifty of David's Pſalms into French Meeter. Mr. Beza did the other hundred, and all the Scripture-Songs. Lewis Guadimel, another Aſaph, or Jeduthun, a moſt Skillful Maſter of Muſick, ſet thoſe ſweet and melodious Tunes unto which they are ſung even unto this day. This holy Ordinance charmed the Ears, Hearts and Affections of Court and City, Town and Country. They were ſung in the Louvre, as well as in the Pres des Clerks, by the Ladies, Princes, yea and by Henry the Second himſelf. This one Ordinance only contributed mightily to the downfal of Popery, and the propagation of the Goſpel. It took ſo much with the genius of the Nation, That all ranks and degrees of Men practiſed it in the Temples and in their Families. No Gentleman profeſſing the Reformed Religion, would ſit down at his Table without praiſing God by ſinging. Yea it was a ſpecial part of their Morning and Evening Worſhip, in their ſeveral Houſes, to ſing God's Praiſes. The Popiſh Clergy raged, and to prevent the growth and ſpreading of the Goſpel by it, that miſchievous Cardinal of Lorrain, another Elymas the Sorcerer, got the Odes of Horace, and the filthy obſcene Poems of Tibullus and Catullus to be turn'd into French, and ſung in the Court. Ribaldry was his Piety, and the means uſed by him to expel and baniſh the ſinging of divine Pſalms out of the prophane Court of France, The Holy Word of God is duly, truly, and powerfully Preached in Churches and Fields, in Ships and Houſes, in Vaults and Cellars, in all places where the Goſpel-Miniſters can have admiſſion and conveniency, and with ſingular ſucceſs. Multitudes are Convinced and Converted, eſtabliſhed and edified. Chriſt rideth out upon the white Horſe of the Miniſtry, with the Sword and Bow of the Goſpel Preached, Conquering and to Conquer. His Enemies fall under him, and ſubmit themſelves unto him. O! the unparallell'd ſucceſs of the plain and zealous Sermons of the firſt Reformers. Multitudes flock in like Doves into the Windows of God's Ark. As innumerable drops of dew fall from the Womb of the Morning, ſo hath the Lord Chriſt the dew of his Youth. The Popiſh Churches are drained, the Proteſtant Temples are filled. The Prieſts complain that their Altars are neglected, their Maſſes are now indeed ſolitary. Dagon cannot ſtand before God's Ark. Children and Perſons of riper years, are Catechiſed in the Rudiments and Principles of Chriſtian Religion, and can give a comfortable account of their Faith, a reaſon of that hope that is in them. By this Ordinance do their pious Paſtors prepare them for Communion with the Lord at his holy Table. Here they communicate in both kinds, according to the Primitive Inſtitution of this Sacrament, by Jeſus Chriſt himſelf.
Sect. 7. Though the Churches of God walked in the Comforts of the Holy-Ghoſt, and were multiplied throughout the whole Kingdom, yet were they exerciſed with Fiery Tryals, and underwent moſt cruel and inhumane Sufferings. Satan ſtormed that his Kingdom was aſſaulted, weakned, and ſubverted: this boileth up his Revenge, and cauſeth him to throw out Floods of Wrath againſt the Church travelling under the pangs of Reformation. Hence the Saints of God are impriſoned, arraigned for their Lives, and condemned by mercileſs, unrighteous Judges, for their Profeſſion of the Truth, unto the Flames. Others are murdered in cold Blood, and maſſacred without any legal forms of Juſtice in the leaſt. And yet in the ſight of thoſe cruel Deaths, and moſt barbarous Executions, the firſt National Synod is called, and celebrated in the Metropolis of the Kingdom, at the very Doors of the Court. God inſpiring with Zeal and Courage the Paſtors of ſeveral Churches to meet and conſult together about the arduous and moſt important Buſineſſes of the Reformed Religion.
Sect. 8. Two things among others were diſpatch'd in this Council, 1. They publiſh the Confeſſion of their Faith: and tell the King and Kingdom what they believe and practiſe. This was put into the Hands of their Young King, lately come to the Crown, upon the Death of his Father, who though he had ſworn to ſee that famous Martyr of Chriſt Annas du Bourg, Counſellour in the Parliament of Paris, burnt; yet was, at a Tilt by Count de Montgomery a Proteſtant, wounded with a Launce in the Eye, and died before he could perform his Oath. How Francis the Second entertained this Confeſſion when it was tender'd him, is not my Buſineſs to relate: I ſhall only give my Reader the Confeſſion itſelf: and I do the rather lay it before him, becauſe it is a brief Syſtem of the Proteſtant Religion, conſtantly read at the opening of all their Synods, and becauſe of the frequent References unto it in and by all thoſe National Synods which I now publiſh.