The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, Table of contents 10 – Table of contents 11
THE CONTENTS of this SYNOD.
CHap. I. The Deputies Names, Monſieur La Faye Moderator, Covel and La Nouaille Scribes.
Chap. II. General Matters, Impotent Perſons may not marry, The Aunt of a dead Wife may not be married, Apoſtates cenſured, Of Names given Children in Baptiſm, Care taken for a Succeſſion of able and worthy Miniſters, General Matters 5. Synods to be held annually, Paſtors muſt come with an Elder to them. Sureties muſt conſider their Engagements at Baptiſm, Some Crimes to be always Regiſtred, Scruples about communicating with ſickly Perſons.
Chap. III. Several Caſes of Conſcience, as about a Monk's Wife who returned to his Vomit, Miniſters Words at the Lord's Table. Of Benefices, Of Farmers of the Clergies Temporal Eſtate, Of Godly Parents having Idolatrous Children, who will marry Idolaters. How Publick Penance is to be inflicted. No Scripture the Subject of Plays, The Orders of particular Churches and Provinces muſt be for ſubſtance the ſame with the Canons of the Diſcipline. Miniſters cannot promiſe themſelves to any Church. Canon for Miniſters out of Employment. Tythes poſſeſſed by Proteſtants must be devoted to pious Ʋſes, Art. 24. Of Burials. Dances forbidden, Suſpended Perſons cannot be Sureties for Children at Baptiſm. Reading of Pſalms line by line before Singing condemned. Bare Head and Kneeling in Prayer. Legal Terms and Formalities baniſhed out of all Acts of Church-Diſcipline. A kind of Cenſure forbidden 3. Care taken for their Miniſters Stipend, Canon of Marriage explained 35. A Vagrant Miniſter depoſed and notified to the Churches 36. The Confeſſion of the Dutch Churches approved. Call of the next National Synod.
Chap. IV. Remarks.
THE Synod of FIGEAC.1579 Synod X.
SYNOD X.
Of the Tenth National Synod of the Reformed Churches of France, held at Figeac the Second Day of Auguſt, and ended the Eighth Day of the ſame Month, in the Year of Grace 1579, being the Sixth Year of the Reign of Henry the third, King of France and Poland.
CHAP. I. The Names of the Deputies unto this Synod.
THere appeared as Deputies from the Provinces unto this Synod, the Paſtors and Elders, whoſe Names arc hereunder written.
1. For the Province of the Iſle of France, Monſieur de la Maiſon Neuv Miniſter in the Church of Paris, and his Commiſſion bore date the 28th of June, 1579.
2. For the Province of Burgundy Mr. James Covet, Miniſter in the Church of Villarmont, and Monſieur du Chaſteuverd, Elder of the Church of Dijon, Their Commiſſion was dated May the 15th, 1579.
3. For Champagne Monſieur Teuans, Miniſter of the Goſpel in the Church of Recours, without an Elder. His Letters of Deputation bore date the 28th of May, of this ſelf-ſame Year.
4. For Xaintonge Monſieur John Cochois, Miniſter at Jonzac, and Guy Filleul Eſq Lord or La Couſture, Elder of St. Fort. His Commiſſion was ſigned the 22d day of July, 1579.
5. For Britain Monſieur du Gricq, Miniſter of Morlais. His Commiſſion was dated the 2d day of April of the ſame Year.
6. For Gaſcegny and Perigord Monſieur Trumpols, Miniſter of La Motte, and Monſieur Francois de la Novoeille, Elder in the Church of Jerſac. Their Commiſſion was dated the 29th of July.
7. For Anjou, the Maine, Loudunois, and Touraine, Monſieur de Clairville, Miniſter of Loudun. And his Letters of Deputation were dated the 26th day of June.
8. For Normandy Monſieur Echeron, Miniſter of God's Holy Word and Sacraments in the Church of Ponteau de Mer, and his Commiſſion was dated the 23d of March.
9. For the Upper Languedoc and Guienne Monſieur de Raiſſe, Miniſter of Figeac, and Monſieur Rouſſet Miniſter of the Church in Mazamet. Their Commiſſions were dated the 24th of April, and the 19th of June.
10. For the Lower Languedoc, Monſieur Perron Miniſter of Merues, and his Commiſſion bore date the 22d day of April.
11. For Augoumois Monſieur de la Billitierre, Miniſter of Aubeterne, and his Commiſſion was dated the 23d of July.
12. For the Province of Poictou Monſieur Cayer. Miniſter of Poitiers, and Monſieur de St. Euſtache, Elder in the Church of Niort. Their Commiſſion was dated July the 6th.
13. For Provence Monſieur de Pouſſilles, Elder in the Church of Forceilinis. His Letters of Deputation were dated the 22d day of July.
14. For the Principality of Bearn Monſieur de la Pierre, Miniſter in the Church of Navarrins. And his Commiſſion bore Date the 21ſt day of July; which was alſo ratified and authoriſed by the Letters of the King of Navarre, dated the thirtieth of the ſame Month.
15. The Province of Picardy excuſed its abſence by Letters of the 8th of June.
16. For the Churches of Berry, Beauce, and the adjacent Countries, Monſieur John Miner, born at Orleans, and Elder — his Commiſſion was dated the 25th of July.
17. The Province of Dolphiny excuſed its abſence by Letters of the 23d of July.
18. The Province of Vivaretz was abſent, but ſent no Letters of Excuſe.
19. The Province of Lower Anvergne and Forest abſent.
20. There ſate alſo in this Synod the Noble Anthony de Paramelle, Lord of St. Colombe, Viguier, and Governour of the ſaid Town of Figeac.
21. After Prayers were ended, the Aſſembly choſe Monſieur de la Faye, Paſtor of the Church of Paris, Moderator, and Monſieur Couit Aſſeſſor, and Monſieur Francois de la Nouaille, Scribe.
CHAP. II. General MATTERS.
ARTRTICLES.
Eunuches may not be married.I. FOraſmuch as the firſt and principal End of Marriage was the Procreation of Children, and to be a Preſervative from Fornication; he then that is a known Eunuch, ſhall not be married in any of our Reformed Churches.
The Aunt of a dead Wife may not be married. See St. Foy. G. M. art. 5.II. No Man ſhall marry the Aunt of his deceaſed Wife: For ſuch Commixtures are inceſtuous; and altho' the Civil Magiſtrate may permit it, yet ſuch a Marriage ſhall not be ſolemnized in any of our Churches. And all Paſtors are warned carefully to obſerve this Canon.
See the Synod of Rochel, art. 22.III. Such as Apoſtatize from the Reformed Religion unto Popery, and embrace the Idolatries of the Romiſh Church, and all Endeavours uſed to reclaim them proving uſeleſs and unſucceſsful in caſe they perſiſt in their Apoſtacy, they ſhall be declared Apoſtates publickly before the Congregation, unto which they did belong.
IV. In giving Names unto Children, let all Preciſeneſs on the one hand, and Superſtition and Scandal on the other be avoided: Becauſe Matters of this nature ſhould have a perpetual tendency to the Churches edifying. So that when Parents or Sureties do offer Children unto Baptiſm, and deſire their own Names to be put upon them, this their Requeſt ſhall be granted; provided they be not Names prohibited in the cloſe of the Ninth Canon of Baptiſm, as the Names of God, Angel, or Office, or ſuch as be notoriouſly ridiculous.
V. Colloquies and Provincial Synods ſhall moſt humbly intreat and exhort Kings, Princes, Great Lords, and all Impropriators of Church-Lands, and all our opulent and wealthy Churches,, to lay by and dedicate ſome conſiderable Portion of their yearly Incomes, Eſtates, and Revenues towards the maintenance of Students in Divinity, and of poor Schollars of excellent and hopeful Parts, who may be hereafter imployed in the Sacred Miniſtry. And that this Canon may be obſerved, this Aſſembly will give the firſt Example, and doth now order that Letters ſhall be written unto thoſe moſt Illuſtrious and Noble Perſonages, and to our richeſt Churches, inviting them unto this moſt needful Contribution; and theſe Letters ſhall be ſigned in the Name of this National Synod, by the Moderator, Aſſeſſor, and Scribe.
VI. National and Provincial Synods ſhall be held once every Year for time coming, and Colloquies twice a Year; but by this Canon we do not intend to abridge the Provinces (who can better do it) of their Priviledge in obſerving the firſt eſtabliſhed Order.
Paſtors muſt come accompanied with one Elder unto Synods or Claſſes.VII. Paſtors ſhall ever come unto theſe Eccleſiaſtical Aſſemblies accompanied with an Elder; and in caſe they be ſent alone, there ſhall be no regard had unto Memoirs, as in like manner it ſhall be with the Elders, if they come ſingly.
Sureties muſt ponder ſeriouſly their Engagements at Baptiſm.VIII. Paſtors ſhall diligently exhort all Sureties of both Sexes ſeriouſly to weigh and conſider their Promiſes ingaged at Baptiſm; and Parents ſhall be adviſed to chuſe ſuch Sureties for their Children, as are well inſtructed in Religion, and of exemplary Life and Converſation; or at leaſt ſuch, as if need be, may be able to educate their Children in the knowledge and fear of God.
Some Crimes ſhall not be blotted out the Books of Conſiſtory.IX. Upon Repentance and Satisfaction given unto the Church, all Crimes and Offences ſhall be razed out of the Books of Conſiſtories, except ſuch who for their Contumacy and Rebellion had been cenſured with Suſpenſion from the Lord's Supper, or Excommunication.
None of the Conſiſtory may declare the Sins of ingenuous Penitents.X. Conſiſtories ſhall not give in Evidence againſt any Perſon, by Act, or any other way unto the Magiſtrate: And the Members of thoſe Conſiſtories ſhall not reveal any Perſon the Confeſſions of Penitents, who voluntarily, and of their own accord, or by Admonitions given them, ſhall have confeſſed and acknowledged their Offences.
XI. Foraſmuch as divers ſickly Perſons are Communicants at the Lord's Table, and ſome for fear of Infection ſcruple to take the Cup after them, Paſtors and Elders are adviſed to uſe their beſt prudence and diſcretion in this caſe.
CHAP. III.
XII. A Woman having been joyned in Marriage unto one who was formerly a Monk or Prieſt, and ſince returned unto his former Profeſſion, may not marry another Man, until ſuch time as her firſt Marriage be diſſolved, and the Sentence of Diſſolution ſhall be pronounced, as of Right it ought, by the Magiſtrate.
XIII. Paſtors are left unto their liberty to uſe either the accuſtomed words, or any other words in the Adminiſtration of the Lord's Supper; it being a matter indifferent,The Faithful may not hold any Benefices where there is peril of Idolatry. See the Second Synod of Rochel, art. 34.37. provided they be ſuch as tend unto edification.
XIV. In the caſe of Benefices, to which there is a Right of Patronage, by preſentation from the Lord of the Mannor, or by the interpoſal of the Biſhop of the Dioceſs, the Faithful muſt be adviſed not in the leaſt to retain them, thô they were freely given them without any Condition expreſs or implicite of Service unto the Idol.
XV. Farmers of the Temporalities of the Clergy, of their Rents, Tithes, and ſuch-like Matters, ſhall obſerve the Nineteenth Article of the laſt National Synod held at St. Foy, which was to intermeddle as little as may be with ſuch Concerns, becauſe of divers Abuſes and Inconveniences that might happen about them. Which ceaſing, thoſe of the Reformed Religion may lawfully farm them. And all Conſiſtories are deſired to take Notice of it.
XVI.See the Second Synod of Rochel, Art. 50. How Parents ought to behave themſelves, when they marry their Children to one of a contrary Religion. Parents profeſſing the Reformed Religion, having Idolatrous Children of a Religion contrary to their own, who would take them Wives Idolaters like themſelves, ſhall be adviſed to uſe their utmoſt endeavour to turn away their Children from ſuch a Marriage, eſpecially if as yet they be Minors, and not emancipated from under their Paternal Authority. But in caſe they cannot prevail upon them, whenas the Marriage-Articles ſhall be ſigned, they ſhall openly proteſt their abhorrency of that Idolatry into which their Children do ſo wickedly plunge themſelves, and afterwards may give their Conſent to the Promiſes and Conditions concerning the Portion, and other ſuch-like Matters.
XVII.Publick Penances to be uſed prudently. See the Second Synod of Rochel, Art. 26. Conſiſtories are adviſed to take care, that Publick Penances be uſed very ſeldom, and with a great deal of prudence, and only for publick notorious Crimes, really committed, which are come to the knowledge of the far greater part of the Church, and in this caſe the ſcandalous ſin itſelf ſhall be particularly confeſſed.
No Book of the Holy Scripture ſhall be turn'd into Plays.XVIII. Neither the Canonical nor Apocryphal Books of the Holy Bible ſhall be transformed into Comedies of Tragedies.
XIX. No Church, nor Province ſhall make any Ordinance, unleſs for Subſtance it be conformable to the General Articles of our Church-Diſcipline.
Miniſters by their Perſonal Promiſes ſhall not be obliged to any Church.XX. No Church ſhall pretend Title or Right unto any Miniſter, becauſe of his particular Promiſe given them, without the Authority of the Colloquy of Provincial Synod.
XXI. In caſe a Miniſter be deſtitute of a Church in his own Province and Colloquy, and ſhall lend his Service unto another Church out of his Province, which hath deſired him ſo to do till the next Synod; and if that Synod when convened, cannot employ him in its own Province, he ſhall then be the peculiar Miniſter of that Church, which had demanded him, provided it be done with the full content of the Church. And this Canon ſhall bind for the future, but without any prejudice to the time paſt.
XXII. In the firſt Article concerning Elders and Deacons, after theſe words, The Duties of their Office ſhall be read, there ſhall be this addition, And a particular Prayer ſhall be expreſſed, conceived, and offered up to God for them.
XXIII. In the firſt Article concerning Delinquents, after theſe words, Cutting him off in the Name; and by the Authority of our Lord Jeſus Christ, ſhall be added, And of his Church.
Proteſtants poſſeſſing Tythes, muſt wholly employ them in pious Uſes on pain of being cenſured.XXIV. Whereas divers Perſons profeſſing the Reformed Religion, do by their own Authority and Right poſſeſs Tythes, which formerly were appropriated unto Church-men in Holy Orders, they ſhall be adviſed to employ them wholly to pious Uſes, ſuch as the Maintenance of the Miniſtry, Relief of the Poor, Education of Schollars, who be the Seminary of the Church, and in no wiſe unto their private Profits, on pain of being ſuſpended the Lord's Supper, in caſe of non-obſerving this holy, juſt, and reaſonable Counſel.
XXV. That Article concerning Burials, without Exhortations and Prayers at the Graves, ſhall be punctually obſerved; and ſuch as act contrary to it ſhall be ſeverely cenſured.
XXVI.Againſt Dances. See the Second Synod of Rochel, Art. 33. Miniſters and Conſiſtories are hereby admoniſhed to ſee that Canon concerning Dances to be moſt ſtrictly obſerved, which is the 20th under the Title of Particular Orders, forbidding expreſly all Dances; and alſo they ſhall prudently diſtinguiſh between ſuch as be contumacious Rebels againſt this holy Advice, and thoſe who by their diſcontinuance of Dancing do manifeſt their having profited by it.
XXVII.‖No ſuſpended Perſon from the Lord's Supper may be Sureties for a Child at Baptiſm. Suſpended Perſons from the Lord's Table ſhall not be admitted to preſent Children unto Baptiſm in quality of Sureties, during the time of their Suſpenſion.
XXVIII. There ſhall be no change made in the preſent Diviſion of the Provinces, with reference to their particular Synods. Yet are they adviſed, all of them, ſo to aſſign the Places of their Synodical Aſſemblies, as will be moſt commodious for them.
XXIX. Churches that in ſinging Pſalms do firſt cauſe each Verſe to be read, ſhall be adviſed to forbear that childiſh Cuſtom, and ſuch as have uſed themſelves unto it ſhall be cenſured.
XXX. Whereas divers Perſons during Publick and Family Prayers, do neither uncover their Heads,Humility muſt be teſtified in Prayer. nor bow their Knees, expreſſing thereby the great pride of their Hearts, and ſcandalizing ſuch as fear the Lord, that this their Irreverence may be amended and reformed, all Paſtors, Elders, and Governors of Families are adviſed and required to ſee carefully unto it, that during the time of Prayer, every one in their Churches and Families without exception, be they high or low, noble or baſe, do teſtifie the humbleneſs of their Heart, by thoſe fore-mentioned outward marks of humility, unleſs they be hindred by unavoidable neceſſity or malady, in which caſes we leave them to the direction of their particular and reſpective Conſciences.
No Legal Formalities to be uſed in the Exerciſe of Church-Diſcipline.XXXI. In the Exerciſe of of Church-Diſcipline, all Formalities and Terms of Law commonly uſed by the Civilians ſhall be forborn. And foraſmuch as divers Perſons, that they may avoid the Cenſure of their Crimes, do ordinarily appeal from one Eccleſiaſtical Aſſembly unto another, and then at laſt to the National Synod, which is thereby more encumbred in the deciding their buſineſſes than of any other:Differences ariſing in any Province are to be definitively determined in that particular Province. This Synod doth ordain, That for time to come, whatever Differences ariſe in any Province, ſhall be definitively determined by that very Provincial Synod, and no Appeal from it to be admitted; excepting what concerns the Suſpenſions and Depoſings of Miniſters, Elders, and Deacons, and the removal of a Miniſter from one Province unto another, and Points of Doctrine; in which caſes they may be brought by degrees at laſt to the National Synod, where they ſhall be finally judged and determined.
XXXII. The Holy Word of God condemning that Cuſtom introduced into certain Reformed Churches, of enquiring into, and generally cenſuring of Faults in the Publick Congregation both of Men and Women before the Lord's Supper; thoſe Churches that have uſed it are exhorted to forbear it for the future, and in Point of Cenſures to acquieſce in the obſervation of that Order eſtabliſhed in our Diſcipline, and practiſed by all other the Reformed Churches of France. And ſuch Churches as ſhall refuſe ſo to do, ſhall be cenſured.
That the Complaints of Miniſters and the diſſipation of Churches may be avoided, the Churches muſt advance a Quarter's Pay before-hand unto their Miniſters.XXXIII. That the Ingratitude of divers Churches towards their Miniſters (who therefore deſerve juſtly to be deprived of them) may be hereafter prevented: This Aſſembly doth ordain, That every Church ſhall advance a Quarter's Stipend before-hand unto their Paſtors, of that Annual Maintenance they had ingaged to pay them. And in caſe three Months be laps'd, and his Quarteridge unpaid, after Complaints made unto the Conſiſtory, or the more eminent Members of that Church, the ſaid Paſtor may withdraw himſelf from the Service of his ſaid Church, appealing from its Conſiſtory unto the two neareſt Miniſters, before whom he ſhall declare the cauſes of his departure, that ſo he may be diſcharged from all Calumny; and the Paſtor thus ungratefully dealt withal, ſhall not be obliged to tarry for the Judgment of any Colloquy or Synod, unleſs one of thoſe Aſſemblies do meet in the ſame Month of his departure. And that ungrateful Church ſhall not be provided of any other Paſtor, till it ſhall have firſt given plenary ſatisfaction unto its former Miniſter. And he muſt in the mean while remember not to engage himſelf to any Church out of his Province, unleſs he have firſt obtained Licenſe from his own Provincial Synod.
XXXIV. The Cenſure incurred and merited by the ungrateful Members of particular Churches ſhall be inflicted on them by their own Conſiſtories according to our Diſcipline.
XXXV. The 11th Canon in the Chapter of Marriages ſhall be thus explained: That whenas one of the Parties is of a contrary Religion, the Marriage ſhall not be admitted in a Reformed Church, until ſuch time as that Party of the contrary Religion be ſufficiently inſtructed, and is enabled with a good Conſcience to make a publick Proteſtation of his Renouncing all Idolatry and Superſtition, and that by the Grace of God helping him, he will continue the reſt of his Days in the purity of his Worſhip. And the Conſiſtory of that Church in which he is to make this Proteſtation, ſhall take Cogniſance or the ſufficiency of his knowledge.
XXXVI. All the Provinces are deſired to take Notice, that a certain Miniſter called German hath been depoſed from his Miniſtry, and declared a Vagrant for good and juſt Cauſe, by the Provincial Synod of Orleans and Berry, whoſe Sentence ſhall abide valid. Saving always to the ſaid German power to juſtifie himſelf before the National Synod, if he think fitting.
The Confeſſion of the Low Countries approved.XXXVII. The Confeſſion of Faith preſented by the Churches of both Languages, Dutch and French, in the Low Countries, hath been approved by this Synod, and the Provincial Deputies have promiſed in the Name of their Churches to ſubſcribe it, if need be. And it was conſulted on by this Aſſembly,A Project of Univerſal Confeſſion of Faith for all the Proteſtant Churches. what means would be moſt proper to re-unite the ſeveral Confeſſions of all thoſe Nations which agree in Doctrine, into one common Confeſſion, and which may be hereafter approved by all theſe Nations. And this purſuant to the Project laid down in the late Conference at Neuſtadt, September 1577.
XXXVIII. The next National Synod ſhall be called by the Province of Anjou, about one year hence; and the ſaid Province ſhall give Notice thereof unto the Counties of Maine, Loudunois, and Touraine, they being all incorporated into one with itſelf, as alſo to all other the Provinces, three Months before the Day and Place of Meeting.
Done at Figeac, this8th of Auguſt, 1579.
The End of the Synod of FIGEAC.
CHAP. IV. Remarks upon the DEPƲTIES.
1. MR. James Covet; he in the Civil Wars retired into Switzerland, and there writ againſt Socinus, one of the firſt Books that was writ againſt his Hereſie. He was ſometime Miniſter of the Church of Paris.
2. Cayer; he afterwards apoſtatized.
3. Monſieur de la Faye the Moderator. There was one of his Name, but whether it were he, I am not certain, that was Paſtor in the Church of Geneva, a very learned Man.
THE ACTS, DECISIONS, and DECREES OF THE XI. National Synod OF THE Reformed Churches of Chriſt, IN The KINGDOM of FRANCE, HELD For the ſecond time in the City of ROCHEL, and Year of our Lord, 1581.
This Synod ſhould have been Aſſembled at Loudun in the Province of Anjou; but for ſome other Reaſons was transferred unto Rochel.
The CONTENTS of this SYNOD.
CHap. 1. Names of the Deputies. Synodical Officers choſen.
Chap. 2. Of General Matters. The Deputies promiſe perſeverance in the Ʋnity of Faith. One Minister enough to ordain another. Roll of Apoſtate Miniſters. Miniſters practiſing Phyſick condemned. Great Lords to obſerve the Diſcipline. Canons about Miniſters. 7. to 11. Elders may read Prayers in the Church. Parity of Elders and Deacons. Of Certificates. 16. The King of Navar, Prince of Conde, and all Lords deſired to contribute to the Educating of Youth for the Miniſtery. Acts, Sufferings, and memorable Events about the Churches to be Collected and Regiſtred. Gadding Profeſſors cenſured.
Chap. 3. A Caſe about Cenſuring of Apoſtates reſolved. The Caſe of Lapſed Members inhabiting in another Church. Publick Penance for Fornication how to be inflicted. 25. Subordination of Synodical Meetings. 28. A Book called the Hiſtory of France cenſured. 29. Brocard's Book upon Geneſs condemned. Canons about the juſt Number of Deputies unto Synods, 30.31. Dancings and other Diſſolutions condemn'd. Holding of Benefices by Bulls from Rome cenſured. Impropriaters cenſured. Care about Miniſters Maintenance. 36. Miniſters out of the Kingdom to be called home. 39. Pſalm. Books to be brought by all unto the Temples that all may Sing. An Explication of the Canon about Habits. The 14th. Canon of Marriages explained. 42. Ʋſuries condemn'd. Printers to take care what Books they ſell. A Caſe reſolved, about Marrying the Widow of his Wife's Brother. Licenſes to Marry may be taken from the King, tho' not from the Pope. Baptiſm not to be deferr'd. 47. Proteſtants muſt not be preſent at Apoſtates Marriages. 48. Call of the next National Synod.