The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 13 (Mountauban) – Half title 14

The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France · 13 (Mountauban) – Half title 14

p. 157THE Synod of Montauban.1594. Synod XIII.

SYNOD XIII.

Acts of the National Synod held at Montauban, the Fifteenth Day of June, in the Year of our Lord One thouſand five hundred ninety and four, in the Fifth Year of the Reign of Henry IV. King of France and Navarre.

Maſter Michael Berault, choſen Moderator.

Maſter John Baptiſte Rotan, Aſſeſſor.

Scribes.

Maſter John Gardeſy, and

James Thomas,

CHAP. I Of the DEPƲTIES.

High Languedoc and Guyenne.THere appeared for the Higher Languedoc, and the Higher Guyenne, Maſter Michael Berault, Miniſter of the Church of Montauban; and Maſter John Gardeſy, Miniſter in the Church of St. Antonin; and Maſter Bernard Lovis, Miniſter of Lectoure; and Maſter Anthony D'Arroles, Elder of the Church of Figedo; James Thomas, Elder of the Church of Montauban; and John Bertrand, Elder in the Church of Renel and Lauragais.

Xaintonge Aunis and Augoumois.For Xaintonges, Aulnis, Augoulmois, Maſter John Baptiſte Rotan, Paſtor and Doctor in the Church of Rochel; Maſter German Chauvetan, Lord of Beauvais, Miniſter in the Church of St. Martin's in the Iſle of Reé, choſen extraordinarily by the Colloquy of Aunis, and approved by the Synod; and Elijah Feſtineau, Elder in the Church of St. John D'Angely.

Lower GuyenneFor Lower Guyenne, Gaſcony, Perigord, and Limouſin; Maſter James Lamqert, Miniſter of St. Foy; and Amanien de Beaupuy, Elder in the Church of Toneins.

Poictou and Brittany.For Poictou, Maſter Francis Lóyſeau, Miniſter of Thouars; and the Lord De la Cheuratiere, Elder in the Church of Luſſon, who alſo by Procuration appeared for the Province of Brittany.

Berry, Orleans, Dunois, and Nivernois.For Berry, Orleans, Dunois, and Nivernois, Maſter John Berger, Miniſter of Chaſteaudun, without an Elder, for which they excuſed themſelves; and their Excuſes were admitted, though they were exhorted to come better aſſiſted next.

Lower Languedoc.For Lower Languedoc, Maſter William Andrew de Villette, Miniſter of Vallerague; and John Chalais, Elder in the Church of Niſmes.

Anjou, Touraine, Maine, and Vendomois.For Anjou, Touraine, Le Maine, Vendoſmois, M Felix du Tronchay, Miniſter of Beaufort in Valeé, and Monſieur Peter Coigneé de la Plante, Elder of the Church in Saumur.

For Provence there appeared no one.Provence. And the exiled Members of the Churches there, which had refug'd themſelves in the Lower Languedoc, excuſing p. 158themſelves by the Deputies of that Province,1594. Synod XIII. the Synod reſolved, that Letters of Conſolation from it ſhould be written to them.

Foraſmuch as the Deputies of Vivaretz and Vellay were abſent and without excuſe on their part,Vivaretz and Vellay. the Synod ordained Cenſures againſt them; as alſo that they be advertiſed by the ſame hand, to ſend their Meſſengers unto the General Aſſembly convened at St. Foy.

Notwithſtanding their Excuſes,Dauphiné. the Deputies of Dolphiny ſhall be moſt ſeverely cenſured becauſe of their abſence, as alſo of the Iſle of France.

Thoſe of Normandy did not appear,Normandy. but only excuſed their abſence by Letters, for which they ſhall be grievouſly cenſured.

Lyonnois and Auvergne.Thoſe of Lyonnois and Lower Auvergne, did earneſtly crave excuſe by their Letters, and their Excuſes were received and approved.

The Deputies of Burgundy being abſent,Burgundy. and no Letters of Excuſe on their behalf, ſhall be ſeverely cenſured.

After Prayers Maſter Michael Berault was choſen Moderator, and Maſter John Baptist Rotan Aſſeſſor, and Mr. John Gardeſy and James Thomas Scribes, to Collect and Regiſter the Acts of this Synod.

It was alſo decreed, That the Lord's Supper ſhould be celebrated in this Church before the breaking up of the Synod, to teſtifie our Union in Doctrine and Church-Diſcipline.

CHAR II. OBSERVATIONS made upon reading the Confeſſion of Faith of our Churches.

1. THE Printers ſhall be informed, that inſtead of Invincible, they do place Inviſible in the firſt Article, becauſe the Text of Scripture from whence 'tis quoted doth require it.

2. In the 18th Article the word peaceably, ſhall be changed into that of Peaceable, according to the Original, and becauſe the Adjective is more full and ſignificant than the Adverb.

3. In the 24th Article, inſtead of this, That there is, there ſhall be altered according to the Original theſe words, Whereby Men are turn'd out of the true way of calling on God.

4. The word Ʋnity in the 26th Article ſhall be left out, and that of Ʋnion placed in its ſtead, as better explaining the Antitheſis; which is, Thoſe that keep themſelves ſecret, and worſhip God alone by themſelves.

5. To the 28th Article, as it is in ſome other, ſo in all Copies for the future, the word Vertue ſhall be added to that of Efficacy, for the better explaining of the ſence, and in imitation of the Apoſtle, who joyneth both thoſe words together in the cloſe of the firſt Chapter to the Epheſians.

6. The Printers ſhall be informed for the future, never to forget or omit thoſe words in the 38th Article, they being the expreſs words of Inſtitution by our Lord himſelf, Take and eat, and drink ye all of it.

7. That their Inſolency may be reſtrained, who reject this word Subſtance both in our Confeſſion of Faith, and Form of Celebrating the Lord's Supper, the Churches ſhall be informed, that this preſent Synod doth ratifie the Reſolutions formerly decreed on this Point in the Synods of Rochel and Niſmes.

The aforeſaid Confeſſion of Faith having been read in its ſeveral Articles orderly and diſtinctly, was confirmed and approved by all the Deputies of France, in the Name and behalf of all the Churches.

p. 159CHAP. III. Obſervartions made in reading of our Church-Diſcipline.

1. THis following addition ſhall conclude the 2d Article of the Chapter of Miniſters, And Impoſition of Hands ſhall not be given them, no more than unto Perſons of whom we have not the leaſt knowledge, unleſs it were in a Provincial Synod.

2. The 18th Article ſhall be cloſed up with this addition, As against them alſo whoſo much employ themſelves in the teaching of Youth, that they are thereby hindred from performing the principal Duties of their Office.

3. After the 21ſt Article there ſhall be this enſuing addition made, Conſiſtories erected in the Palaces of Princes, and other great Lords, ſhall be diſtinct from the Conſiſtories of the Churches of thoſe places where for a time they make their abode, unleſs it be in a matter of common concern unto both the Conſiſtories, or in caſe of ſome very great and notorious ſcandal given unto the whole Church by a Domeſtick relating to the ſaid Prince or Lord; or in any other Affair in which the two Conſiſtories ſhall ſee meet, that there ſhould be a mutual concurrence and conjunction.

4. After thoſe words, with ſpecial Prayers, in the firſt Article of the third Chapter there ſhall be this added, And their Names ſhall be by an audible clear Voice mentioned in the Conſiſtory. And after theſe words, If there be no oppoſition, you muſt add, They ſhall be publickly received on the third Sunday ſtanding before the Pulpit with ſolemn Prayers.

5. There ſhall be added to the end of the firſt Article of the fifth Chapter, theſe words, As alſo in all other Church-Meetings.

6. This following addition ſhall be made to the end of the 16th Article, And in caſe of an Appeal, the ſaid Appeal ſhall be notified without naming of the Perſon, or declaring the Cenſure inflicted by the Conſiſtory.

7. Inſtead of thoſe words publickly known, in the 21ſt Article, ſhall be inſerted Notoriouſly.

8. Towards the cloſe of the 27th Article theſe words ſhall be added, However, 'tis left unto the prudence of the Conſiſtories to uſe otherwiſe, if they ſhall judge it more expedient for the Churches edification.

9. This ſhall be added to the 28th Article, If any Perſons profeſſing the Reformed Religion ſhall Appeal their Paſtors, Elders, or the whole Body of the Conſiſtory before the Civil Magiſtrates, to force them to give in evidence againſt thoſe Delinquents, who have confeſſed their ſins to them, they ſhall be proceeded againſt by all Church-Cenſures, yea even to excommunication itſelf.

10. There ſhall be this enſuing clauſe added to the end of the 4th Article of the 6th Chapter: And if any particular Church or Churches refuſe Payment of their Contributions to the defraying of thoſe Expences, which are unavoidably contracted by Journies and Attendance in Synodical and other Eccleſiaſtical Aſſemblies, kept and held up for the common good and ſervice of all the Churches, they ſhall be deprived of the Miniſtry of the Goſpel, and be reputed, and accounted Deſerters of that holy Ʋnion, which ought to be maintain'd among us for our general preſervation. Only Notice ſhall be given them hereof, ſome competent ſpace of time before, that they may not complain of being not warned, nor duly admoniſhed of their Duty, and that they are ſurprized. And all Miniſters in ſuch Churches are interdicted the Exerciſe of their Miniſtry upon pain of being denounced Schiſmaticks.

11. After the word Memoire in the ſecond Article of the ninth Chapter, you muſt add theſe, ſigned by one Paſtor and one Elder.

12. Alter theſe words, And the removing of Miniſters from one place unto another in the 10th Article of the 8th Chap. theſe ſhall be added, And from one Church unto another.

p. 16013. After theſe words in the 3d Article of the 9th Chapter, With a ſufficient Teſtimonial, theſe ſhall be added, Signed by the Moderator and Scribe of the Provincial Synod.

14. After theſe words, Both Miniſters and Elders, in the third Line of the 11th and laſt Article of the ſame Chapter, you muſt add theſe, Of Matters onelyonly, which have happened during that Action.

15. After thoſe laſt words in the 2d Article of the 10th Chapter, Who ſhall ceaſe to have, ſhall be cenſured, add theſe following, As thoſe alſo who do not uncover their Heads during the time of ſinging, from the beginning of that Ordinance to the end.

16. After theſe words, Inſtructed in the true Religion, the 4th Article of the 11th Chapter ſhall be thus concluded, The Children alſo of Gypſies, (the French call them Bohemians) and Saracens may be baptized in our Reformed Churches upon the Terms before-mentioned, and provided there be no ground to believe they have been already baptized; and after that the Sureties have been previouſly and ſeriouſly admoniſhed to bethink themſelves how they may diſcharge that Obligation and Promiſe which they make unto the Church.

17. This enſuing Article ſhall be the 8th in the 11th Chapter of our Diſcipline, No Member of another Church ſhall be admitted a Surety for any Child at Baptiſm, unleſs he bring with him an Atteſtation from his own Church.

18. After thoſe words in the 15th Article, Being ſigned by the Child's Godfather, and by the Miniſter who baptized him, theſe ſhall be added, And whenever Children ſhall be preſented unto Baptiſm, the Parents or Sureties ſhall bring with them a Paper in which are writ down the Names of thoſe Children, and of their Fathers and Mothers, and of their Godfathers and Godmothers, and of the day of their Birth.

19. The 20th Article of the 13th Chapter of Marriages ſhall be thus concluded, And the Marriage ſhall be publickly ſolemnized and bleſſed in the Congregation of the Faithful by the Miniſtry of the Paſtors, and not of any Elder or Deacon.

20. The 31ſt Article of the 14th Chapter ſhall be placed in order before the 21ſt, and thus couched, All Swearers, who in paſſion or haſtineſs do take the Name of God in vain, and others who affront the Divine Majeſty ſhall be moſt ſharply reproved, and if after one or two Admonitions they do not refrain, they ſhall be ſuſpended the Lord's Table. And all outragious Blaſphemers, Forſwearers, and ſuck-like Perſons ſhall in no wiſe be tolerated in the Church, but upon the first Offence ſhall be puniſhed with Suſpenſion from the Lord's Supper, and if they continue in this their Ʋngodlineſs, they ſhall be publickly excommunicated. And this Aſſembly voted unanimouſly, That when the Deputies of the Provinces ſhall be returned to their ſeveral reſpective homes, they ſhall cauſe this Article to be read in all the Churches, in the Audience of all the People.

21. The Articles of our Diſcipline having been all read over one by one, they were all approved and ratified by the joynt and common Conſent and Suffrages of all the Provincial Deputies in the Name of all our Churches, and in this ſelf ſame Form in which they are couched by the former and this preſent National Synod. And this Synod declareth farther. That the Copies of it corrected and amended by the Commiſſioners authorized thereunto, ſhall be hereafter followed and obſerved, both as to Number of Articles, and Terms and Words by which they be expreſſed; that ſo ſuch as ſhall take the pains to tranſcribe it may conform themſelves exactly to thoſe ſaid Copies of our Diſcipline.

p. 161CHAP. IV. Of General MATTERS.1594. Synod XIII.

I. IN every Province there ſhall be choſen ſome ſit Perſon to anſwer the Writings of our Adverſaries; (not that by this Canon we intend to abridge any other of our Brethren of their liberty to uſe thoſe Gifts and Abilities which God hath given them for his Churches Service): And this ſhall be done at the ſole Charges of that Province in which the Anſwer is made. And if any Perſon ſhall preſume to print his Book before he hath firſt communicated it unto his Colloquy, or Synod, according to our Diſcipline, he ſhall be moſt ſeverely cenſured, and his Work ſhall be ſuppreſſed.

II. The Colloquies ſhall be exceeding careful, that that Article of our Diſcipline concerning the Maintenance of poor Schollars deſigned for the Miniſtry be diligently obſerved, and that they make Report of it unto their Provincial Synods, and the Provincial Synods ſhall give account thereof unto the National, that ſo it may be manifeſted how they have performed their Duty in this particular. But foraſmuch as the Expedients contained in that Article arc not ſufficient for this end, and the Churches Stock is very mean and low, the farther Conſideration hereof is referr'd unto the General Aſſembly at St. Foy.

The laſt Tranſlation of the Holy Bible by the Paſtors and Doctors in the Church of Geneva is to be received in ours.III. Reſerving liberty unto the Church for a more exact Tranſlation of the Holy Bible, our Churches imitating the Primitive Church, are exhorted to receive and uſe in their Publick Aſſemblies the laſt Tranſlation reviſed by the Paſtors and Profeſſors of the Church of Geneva. And Thanks ſhall be preſently given unto Monſieur Rotan, and by Letters unto our Brethren of Geneva, who have at the deſire of our Churches ſo happily undertook and accomplished this great and good Work: and they be further intreated to amplifie their Notes for the clearer and better underſtanding of the remaining dark places in the Sacred Text: and Miniſters in the reſpective Provinces are ordered to collect thoſe difficult paſſages, and to make Report of them unto the next National Synod, who ſhall conſider which moſt needs explication.

Mr. Calvin's Catechiſm to be uſed in our Churches.IV. A Reſolution being took in the laſt National Synod of Vitré, at the deſire of the Deputies of Xaintonge, that they ſhould conſider, whether Mr. Calvin's Catechiſm ought to be changed; it is now decreed, that it ſhall be retained, and Miniſters ſhall not be permitted to expound any other; yet this Explication ſhall be done by familiar Queſtions and Anſwers: And as for general Catechiſings, which are uſually done before the Lord's Supper, all People without exception ſhall be catechiſed in ſuch a manner as every Church judgeth beſt ſitting for their inſtruction.

V. To the Caſe propounded by the Deputies of Anjou and Tourain, this Aſſembly replies, That there is no need of an expreſs particular Form of Prayer at the Ordination of Miniſters. However, that Article concerning their Ordination ſhall abide in its full force, and be carefully obſerved.

VI. There ſhall be nothing changed in the 4th Article of the 10th Chapter of our Diſcipline. Nevertheleſs, that all Abuſes may be prevented either by Paſtors or Churches, the Colloquies may appoint two or three Miniſters,No regard is to be had unto the reciprocal Complaints of Paſtors and People one againſt the other, unleſs in ſuch Caſes as merit Suſpenſion and Depoſition. who ſhall tranſport themſelves upon the place, to remedy and redreſs them, and in caſe of failure by the Colloquies, the Provincial Synods ſhall provide againſt ſuch neglects and omiſſions.

7. Whenas a Miniſter complains of his Churches Ingratitude, and the Church on the other hand ſhall lay the blame on its Paſtor, there ſhall be no Notice taken of either of them, unleſs it be in a caſe of very great and enormous wickedneſs, for which the Paſtor meriteth Suſpenſion or Depoſition from his Office, and that Sentence ſhall be pronounced by the Provincial p. 162Synod. And then alſo ſome effectual courſe ſhall be taken to provide againſt the afore-mentioned Ingratitude: And the Churches ſhall be cenſured for concealing ſo long a time what ought to be more early diſcovered.

Ungrateful refractory Perſons ſhall be deprived of the Lord's Supper.VIII. Foraſmuch as the Ingratitude of divers Perſons, in not contributing to their Miniſter's Subſiſtance, is more notorious than ever, and that this crying ſin threatens the Churches with a total diſſipation, after mature deliberation we do decree, That in caſe theſe ungrateful Wretches having been ſeveral times admoniſhed by their Conſiſtory do perſiſt obſtinately in this their ſin, their Conſiſtory ſhall deprive them of Communion with the Church in the Sacraments.

IX. Colloquies ſhall be exhorted to obſerve carefully the 38th Article in the firſt Chapter of our Diſcipline.

Paſtors muſt be reſident. The Apocryph… not to be read in the Churches.X. Colloquies and Synods ſhall take ſpecial heed, that Paſtors reſide as much as poſſible on their Churches.

XI. The Churches are adviſed to ſee to it, that their Deacons or Readers do not read publickly the Apocrypha, but the Canonical Books of Holy Scripture.

This Article was repealed by the Synod of Saumur, art. 5. Gen. Mat.XII. Whenas there ſhall be any conſiderable Sum of the Churches Money given to their Poor, lying by in Stock, and there be no preſent urgent occaſion for its diſtribution, the Deacons may put it out to Intereſt upon good ſecurity, and receive ſuch profit for its Loan as is allowed by his Majeſtie Laws, and thoſe of Charity, but with this Proviſo, that both the Deacons and Conſiſtory do immediately call it in, whenas there is ſpecial need of it.

XIII. The 13th Article of the fifth Chapter of the Diſcipline ſhall abide in full force, and none ſhall uſe the Formalities or Ceremonies commonly obſerved in taking Oaths before the Magiſtrate.

A Rule about publiſhing of Apoſtates.XIV. The Deputies of Xaintonge demanding, Whether the Names of Apoſtates ſhould be publickly declared, becauſe of that danger we are thereby expoſed to? we adviſe, that the 19th Article of the fifth Chapter of our Diſcipline be kept up in its full power, and that all Conſiſtories look carefully, and prudently to its better obſervation.

Publick Prayers ſhall be offered up to God, for reducing the King unto the Proteſtant Religion.XV. All Miniſters are exhorted to be earneſt with God in their publick Prayers for the Converſion, Preſervation, and Proſperity of the King; and whenever they be at Court, and have acceſs unto His Majeſty, they ſhall do their Duty in reminding him ſeriouſly of the great Concerns of his Soul's Salvation. And the Paſtors ordinarily reſiding at Court, or in its Neighborhood, ſhall be writ unto by this Synod, more eſpecially, to put this our Counſel into Practice.

XVI. Letters ſhall be ſent from this Synod unto Madam the King's Siſter, congratulating her Perſeverance, and adviſing her Highneſs to continue faithful unto the laſt.

17. The Deputies of Xaintonge propounded this Caſe, Whether we ſhould reſt ſatisfied with a general Confeſſion publiſhed in the open Church by the Penitent, he not ſpecifying his particular Offence. This Aſſembly adviſeth, That there be nothing altered at preſent in the 22d Article of the Diſcipline, but that it be conformed to as much as may be. Only the Provinces are required to bring their better thoughts on this Subject, unto the next National Synod.

XVIII. Whereas divers Perſons would compel Conſiſtories to depoſe before the Civil Magiſtrate Matters told in Conſiſtory; a Memorial ſhall be prepared and preſented by the General Aſſembly of Saint Foy, to take this Matter into their moſt ſerious Conſideration, and to procure a Grant from His Majeſty, for the conſervation of the Liberties of Conſiſtories.

p. 163XIX. There ſhall be no alteration made in the Forms of Publick Prayers and Adminiſtration of the Sacraments, the whole having been prudently and piouſly ordained, and for the moſt part in plain and expreſs Terms of holy Scripture.

XX. The Provinces are all reproved for neglecting their Duty, in preſerving the Memoirs of remarkable Events which have fallen out in this Kingdom, and their Deputies are charged upon their return, to advertize their Colloquies hereof, that ſo a better account may be given of this Article unto the next National Synod.

XXI. A Breviate ſhall be prepared and preſented to the Aſſembly of Saint Foy, complaining againſt thoſe of the Iſle of France, and divers others, who in the Name of all our Churches have proſecuted the Verification of the Edict of 1577; whenas it was expreſly contrary to the Reſolution took in the laſt Aſſembly held at Mantes in December 1593.

XXII. Churches that have neglected their Duty of paying the Quota towards the laſt Aſſembly held at Mantes, and other Aſſemblies elſewhere, and to this alſo, which is now ſhortly to be held at Saint Foy, ſhall be ſummoned once more by the Deputies of their Provinces to bring in out of hand their reſpective Proportions, and in default hereof, their ſaid Deputies ſhall immediately upon their return, by the Authority of this Synod, deprive them of the Miniſtry of God's Holy Word and Sacraments, with an Interdiction unto all Miniſters from officiating among them.

The Union of Mantes to be ſworn. See the Synod of Saumur, G. M. & Art. 6 & 30.XXIII. The Union made in the Aſſembly at Mantes ſhall be ſworn by all Churches, either in the Guild-halls of their reſpective Towns, or in their Temples, as ſhall be judged moſt convenient.

XXIV. The Deputies of Xaintonge requiring Advice about the Circular Letters written from one Church unto another, and from one Colloquy and Synod unto another, it was ordained, That no Letters ſhall be of any Credit, unleſs ſigned joyntly by one Paſtor and Elder, or by two Elders where there is no Paſtor. And they ſhall be directed in their Superſcription either to the Conſiſtory, or particularly unto the Paſtors, that they may be prudently communicated unto the Conſiſtory, or to any part of the Elders, according to the occurrence of Affairs.

XXV. The Deputies of Higher Languedoc demanding, Whether over and above the Propoſitions made of courſe by Miniſters in Colloquies, it were convenient, that there ſhould be a Theological Diſputation held by the ſaid Miniſters in one of the Seſſions of that Colloquy? It is ordered, That the Provinces do come prepared againſt the next National Synod, with their thoughts about it, that ſo, if it be judged meet, a General Decree may be eſtabliſhed for it.

Miniſters and Churches not coming unto Colloquies and Synods cenſured.XXVI. If Churches ſail a ſecond time to defray their Paſtors Charges in travelling unto Colloquies and Synods, they ſhall be deprived of their Miniſters. And in caſe Miniſters neglect twice following to come unto thoſe Meetings, they ſhall be ſuſpended from their Miniſtry, unleſs they have lawful excuſe for their abſence, and their reſpective Colloquies or Synods ſhall judge of it.

XXVII. The Churches are all exhorted diligently to obſerve the Fifth and Sixth Articles of the Tenth Chapter of our Diſcipline, and particularly thoſe of Lower Languedoc, where many ſuch abuſes are committed contrary to the aforeſaid Articles. And the Churches of the ſaid Province are required to be more exact in their obſervation of them than formerly.

XXVIII. However, Parents and Sureties may bring Infants late into the Church, yet their Baptiſm ſhall not be delayed, unleſs the Aſſembly ſhall be departed; becauſe Children ought not to be puniſhed for their Parents ſins, who yet together with their Sureties ſhall be ſeverely cenſured for their ſlothfulneſs, p. 164and neglect of Sermons, to which they have not vouchſafed their preſence.

XXIX. All the Churches ſhall be exhorted to ſee, that the Article decreed in the Synod of Vitré, concerning the Adminiſtration of Baptiſm before ſinging the laſt Pſalm, or at lead before the Bleſſing, be carefully and inviolably obſerved.

The firſt part of this Article included within the Parentheſis was razed by the Synod of Saumur art. 8. of Gen. Mat.XXX. (No Sureries ſhall preſent Children unto Baptiſm by their Proxies, unleſs it be Kings and great Princes, who by reaſon of their weighty Occupations cannot always be upon the place, when Baptiſm is adminiſtred.)††And the laſt Clauſe mark'd with the Obelisk, is the 13th art. in the chap. of Baptiſm See the Synod of Figiac, art. 4.And Proteſtants who by their Proxies preſent Children unto Baptiſm in the Popiſh Churches ſhall be moſt ſharply reproved, as being Perſons who conſent unto Idolatry.

XXXI. Miniſters are adviſed to make no difficulty at thoſe Names given Children in Baptiſm, tho' not mentioned in the Holy Scripture, provided always that there be nothing indecent in them.

XXXII. Such as receive from His Majeſty's Royal Bounty a Sine Curâ, a Benefice without Cure of Souls, ſhall be exhorted to diſpoſe of a conſiderable part of its Revenue to pious and charitable Uſes, as towards the Maintenance of God's own holy inſtituted Worſhip and Relief of the Poor; otherwiſe, we will proceed againſt them by Suſpenſion from the Lord's Table.

XXXIII. The 9th Canon in the 12th Chapter of our Diſcipline, binding Paſtors as much as poſſible to diſtribute the Cup at the Lord's Table, ſhall be in full force.

Paſtors and Elders muſt communicate at the ſame Time and Table.XXXIV. Elders of the Church ſhall communicate together with the Paſtors at the Lord's Supper in the firſt place, and the reſidue of the People in ſuch order as the Conſiſtory judgeth moſt expedient for the Churches edification.

In Caſe of Appeal from an Inferiour to a Superiour Judge. Marriage may not be celebrated. Nicodemites are in the ſame Claſſis with Infidels.XXXV. Altho' the Parties cannot obtain the Conſent of Parties, yet if they that have that of the Magiſtrate unto their Marriage, by his Judicial Sentence, the Paſtors in our Churches may celebrate ſuch Marriage, unleſs there lie an Appeal in the Caſe.

XXXVI. To the Caſe propounded by the Deputy of Berry and Orleans, this Synod returns its Anſwer, That the Churches ſhall declare it publickly, that whoſoever whiſpereth in private, that he is a Proteſtant, and of the Reformed Religion, altho' he do not make an open profeſſion thereof, that this Perſon is to be accounted no better than an Infidel, until ſuch time as he he have totally renounced the Superſtitions and Idolatries of the Romiſh Church.

XXXVII. The Deputies of Xaintonge having declared the Inconveniences ariſing in ſeveral Churches, from Promiſes of Marriage expreſſed by words de praeſenti, and that it were better that for time coming, all ſuch Promiſes ſhould be uttered in words de futuro: The Deciſion of this difficulty is remitted over to the next National Synod, whereunto the Provinces are required to come with due preparation.

XXXVIII. The 12th Article of the 13th Chapter of the Diſcipline is remitted over to the conſideration of the next National Synod, and in the mean while Mr. Beza and Mr. Daueau are intreated to couch in Writing their Arguments about it, that they may be perus'd and examined by that Synod, that ſo we may know, Whether it be lawful for a Brother to marry the Widow of his Wife's Brother.

Whence proceeds Impotency and tying of the Point, and its proper Remedy.XXXIX. When divers Perſons in our Churches are afflicted with that Plague of Impotency by thoſe who tie the Point; the Paſtors ſhall remonſtrate to them in their Sermons, that the cauſe of this Evil is Unbelief in ſome, and weakneſs of Faith in others; and that Charms uſed to untie them are deteſtable, as alſo the means uſed by others in conſulting Witches, the Devils p. 165Miniſters; this Remedy being worſe than their Diſeaſe: whenas Faſting, Prayer, and Reformation of Life thorough the Bleſſing of God would effect the Cure.

XL. In the Form of Excommunication pronounced publickly at the Lord's Table, next after the word Idolaters, there ſhall be added, All Sorcerers, Charmers, and Inchanters; as alſo upon another account, after the word Mutinous, there ſhall be added Murderers.

XLI. Whereas Publick Notaries in divers Churches, keep open Doors on the Lord's Day, and paſs all manner of Contracts and Tranſactions, whereby very many Souls are taken off together with themſelves from the Religious Sanctification of the Lord's holy Sabbath. It is decreed by this Synod, That for time to come, the ſaid Notaries ſhall paſs no manner of Contracts on the Lord's Day, unleſs it be Contracts of Marriage, Laſt Wills and Teſtaments, Articles of Agreement between diſſenting Parties, and the amicable terminating of vexatious Law-Suits, and ſuch other buſineſs as cannot poſſibly be delayed; under which head fall in Matters of Neceſſity and Mercy, and ſuch Contracts may be diſpatcht on the moſt Holy Days, provided always, that ſuch Writings be not drawn up, nor executed during the time of Divine Service, and of the Publick Worſhip of God, and their Offices ſhall be ſhut, if poſſible, whilſt they be thus employed.

XLII. Nothing ſhall be changed in the firſt Article of the 14th Chapter of our Diſcipline: but all endeavours ſhall be uſed to prevent thoſe Abuſes which are uſually committed.

XLIII. The Deputies of Gaſcony demanded, Whether it were lawful to take a new Leaſe of the Lands and Demeans belonging to the Popiſh Church-men, upon condition of bringing them their Rent home unto their Convents, and other Houſes of thoſe Eccleſiaſticks? To which it was anſwered, That there was no inconvenience in it, provided, that it were not in any matters relating unto Idolatry, as the carrying of Incenſe, Wax to make Torches, and other ſuch-like things.

XLIV. The ſecond Article in the 14th Chapter of our Diſcipline, concerning Patronages, ſhall not be altered. Yet notwithſtanding Lay-Patrons may enjoy their Priviledge of laying claim by Proteſtation unto their Rights and Emoluments, that ſo their Title to them may be preſerved, grounding their Proteſtation upon this, that the preſent Collation is contrary to our Religion, againſt which they dare not in Conſcience act. And this is according to the Edicts of Pacification: And this Affair ſhall be further debated in the Aſſembly of St. Foy.

XLV. The 26th Article of the ſame Chapter ſhall remain entire, only the word Poincons, a Houpe, ſhall be left out, and becauſe now that Habit is wholly out of Faſhion among us, and ſuch as paint and ſhew their naked Breaſts, ſhall be dealt with more ſeverely than heretofore, and weaker Perſons ſhall be born withal as much as poſſibly we can for their edification, or in caſe they be cenſured, it ſhall only be by a ſimple ſuſpenſion from the Sacrament, that ſo they may be reduc'd unto Chriſtian Modeſty.

XLVI. The Deputies of Xaintonge moved well, and this Synod decrees upon it, that whoſoever are received hereafter Members into Communion with our Churches ſhall ſubſcribe, if they can write, the Act of their Reception, and a Regiſter ſhall be kept in all the Churches of their Names, and of the time of their Deaths.

XLVII. Upon another motion of thoſe Deputies it was decreed; That exiled Members from their Churches refug'd in another, ſhall yet notwithſtanding contribute to the ſubſiſtence of their ancient Paſtors, if ſo be they are fled only with an intention of returning to their former Habitations, but in caſe they reſolve to remove elſewhere, it is not reaſonable they ſhould be compell'd thereunto.

p. 166XLVIII. Upon another motion of the ſame Deputies, concerning Propoſans (Candidates for the Miniſtry) who having been for ſome time maintained at the Churches Charges, in order to their future Service in the Miniſtry, not meeting with a Call unto it, or having ſince upon other grounds altered their minds, and took up another Vocation: the Synod made this Decree, That if through want of will on their ſide, they were not employed in the ſacred Miniſtry, they ſhall be bound to make reſtitution unto thoſe Churches, which had furniſhed them with neceſſary Supplies towards their Education, as ſoon as God ſhall enable them.

XLIX. The preſent Synod returns Thanks unto Monſieur Beraud, Rotan, and the other Paſtors, for their pious endeavours in maintaining the Truth, at the Conference held at Mants, with Monſieur De Perron, and other Popiſh Theologers, and ratifies their whole proceeding; and that offer made by them to continue the ſaid Conference at the pleaſure and commandment of His Majeſty. In purſuance whereof the Synod hath nominated twenty Paſtors, out of whom twelve ſhall be choſen to confer with thoſe of the Romiſh Church, that ſo the Provinces may have notice, and come prepared for the ſaid Conference: And in caſe the Provinces would recommend any other, they are required to do it ſpeedily, and ſhall acquaint the ſaid Beraud and Rotan with it.Catalogue of thoſe nominated for the General Conference. The twenty Perſons nominated, are, Monſieur Rotan of Xaintonge, Monſieur Ceovt of Bourgogne, **Mr Chauve. See the Synod of Saumur, Gen. Mar. 12.Mark 12Monſieur De L'Eſtang Godion of Poictòu, Monſieur D'aneau of Higher Languedoc, Monſieur Pacard of Xaintonge, Monſieur De la Noue of Anjou, Monſieur Conſtans of Lyonnois, Monſieur Cazenave of Bearn, Monſieur De la Banſerie of Normandy, Monſieur De la Faye of Geneva, Monſieur De Beaulieu of France, Monſieur Des Al…ues of Tourain, ††Another Copy hath Monſieur De Serres.Monſieur Chamier of Dauphine, Monſieur De Chambrisé of Brittany, Monſieur Ricotier the Son of Gaſcony, Monſieur Gigord of Lower Languedoc, Monſieur Berault of the Higher Guyenne, Monſieur||But Baron's Name was razed out. Baron of England, Monſieur Melanez of Gaſcony, and Monſieur Junius of Leyden in Holland.

L. The Province of Lower Languedoc demanding our Advice, What courſe ſhould be taken with thoſe Miniſters, who having been depoſed, did afterwards live ſoberly and religiouſly, without giving any the leaſt offence, tho' a long time had paſt ſince their Depoſition; whether it were lawful to employ them again, in the Diſpenſation of the Word and Sacraments, in that ſelf-ſame Province where they had been depoſed, or not? This Synod anſwers, That it is in no wiſe expedient, becauſe contrary to the very Letter of the Canons of our Diſcipline.

LI. The ſame Deputies having moved, That there might be nothing innovated as to the Obſervation of Holy-days, ſuch as Chriſtmas, and the reſt; the Synod doth accord unto it.

LII. This Aſſembly having ſeen Monſieur Daneau's Anſwer unto the firſt part of Bellarmin's Works, doth judge them worthy to be made publick, whereof Notice ſhall be given our ſaid Brother by Letters from this Synod; and he is entreated to intimate in his Preface, that he deſigned brevity in his Anſwer, becauſe others had been more large and ample.

LIII. Monſieur De Serres having requeſted by his Letters written to this Synod,See Synod of Saumur, Part. Mat. 3.Matt 3 that ſome learned Men might be, appointed to reviſe his Collection out of the Fathers, a Work undertaken by him, to prove our Religion to be the moſt Ancient Catholick Religion, and the Romiſh to be New and Particular. This Synod hath ordained, That the ſaid De Serres ſhall cauſe three Copies of his Collection to be fairly tranſcribed, whereof one ſhall be ſent into the Lower Languedoc, and from thence into the Higher Languedoc, Guyenne, and Gaſcogny; another into Xaintonge, and from thence into Poictou, and the Churches beyond the River of Loire; and the third ſhall be ſent unto Geneva, that care may be taken about its Impreſſion. And till it be thus p. 167reviſed, the ſaid Monſieur De Serres is expreſly ordered neither to print nor publiſh any thing of the ſaid Collection.

LIV. The Synod being informed, that ſeveral Sums of Money were collected in the Churches for their Service, whereof no account hath been render'd. This Synod ordereth, That all Receivers of thoſe Collections made in the ſaid Churches, do bring in their Accompts of thoſe Moneys unto the next National Synod, notwithſtanding any Agreement paſt between theſe Receivers, and particular Churches to the contrary. And the Province of Lower Languedoc ſhall give Notice to Monſieur De Serres, and John Chalais, that they come and yield up their Accounts, and pay in the remaining Moneys in their hands, at the time appointed them before the ſix Miniſters, and ſix Elders, or other Perſons well skill'd in matters of Accompt, which ſhall be deputed by the Synod of Lower Languedoc; and theſe Accounts ſhall be audited in the City of Monpellier. And in caſe the ſaid Monſieur De Serres refuſe ſo to do, he ſhall be ſuſpended from the Miniſtry, and the ſaid John Chalais from the Sacrament: And both of them are required to appear in Perſon before the next National Synod. But De Serres died the very day before it ſat.

LV. The Deputies of Higher Languedoc demanding, Whether Sinners who had committed certain Crimes, for which by Sentence of the Magiſtrate they were puniſhed with Brands of publick Infamy, ought alſo to be cenſur'd by the Church, ſo far as to do publick Penance in the face of the whole Congregation. The Synod reſolved affirmatively, becauſe they be two diſtinct Matters, the Juriſdiction of the Civil Magiſtrate, and the Eccleſiaſtical Cogniſance taken by Conſiſtories, this relating to the Conſcience, and the interiour concerns of the Soul, and that only to the Body and outward Man.

CHAP. V. Of APPEALS.

I. WHereas the Church of Rochel hath brought an Appeal from the Province of Poictou, about Monſieur Eſnard, whom the ſaid Church claims for its Miniſter, by Vertue of an Order granted it by the National Synod, celebrated in the Year 1581. It is now decreed, That becauſe the. ſaid Church hath not produced the Grant of that Synod, Monſieur Eſnard ſhall remain where he is at preſent in the Province of Poictou; and moreover, the ſaid Church ſhall be cenſured for having uſed Terms of Law in the ſaid Appeal.

II. An Appeal being brought by the Colloquy of Angouleſme againſt the Church of St. Meſme, about a Judgment paſt in the Synod of Xaintonge: This Article was razed out in the Synod of Saumur, Part. Mat. 4.Matt 4this Aſſembly doth confirm that Judgment in the whole, and in every part of it denounced by the ſaid Synod; which is alſo charged by the Authority of this Aſſembly, to cenſure Monſieur De Bargemont, and his Aſſociates, for troubling us with their Impertinencies.

III. The Church of Cognac, and Monſieur De Bargemont having appealed from a Judgment given in the Synod of Xaintonge held at Pons. This Aſſembly decreeth, That the ſaid Monſieur De Bargemont ſhall be appropriated to the Church of Segonſac with this Proviſo, that he ſerve alternatively the Church of Coignac, and Segonſac, and that the Church of Segonſac do give him full ſatisfaction for all his Arrerages within the prefixed Term of Six Months from the firſt of July next. And if the Church of Coignac refuſe their Conſent unto this Condition, then the ſaid De Bargemont ſhall appertain ſolely to the Church of Segonſac: And if it ſo fall out, that the ſaid Church of p. 168Segonſac be wanting unto their Duty, and which is now re-inforced upon them,1594. Synod XIII. the ſaid de Bargemont ſhall be at liberty to be conferr'd on any other Church, excepting that of Cognac.

IV. An Appeal being brought by Monſieur Cazaux, and the Conſiſtory of Mauvoiſin, from an Order made in the Provincial Synod of the Higher Guyenne: After that Monſieur de Fontenailles, and the Church of Caſtillon were heard, this National Synod did confirm that Order of the Provincial Synod hold this preſent Year at Lectoure, and in caſe the ſaid Church of Caſtillon cannot throughly effect the purport of that Order, then the ſaid Sieur de Cazaux ſhall be at liberty to ſerve the Church of Mauvoiſin.

V. Appeals being brought by Monſieur Beraut, Miniſter of God's Holy Word, of the one part, and by Meſſieurs, the Conſuls and Elders of the Church of Montauban on the other part, from an Order of the Synod of Higher Languedoc, about the ſpace of time granted unto the ſaid Berault, for attending his private domeſtick Concerns, and the looking after his Eſtate lying at a diſtance from the City of Montauban. This National Synod confirmeth that Order of the aforeſaid Provincial Synod, for the full term of One Year, to be granted the ſaid Monſieur Beraut, for attending his neceſſary private Buſineſſes, which ſhall begin from the Day of his Departure. And he is deſired as a Teſtimony of his Reſpect and Love unto his Church, to leave his Family in the ſaid City, or at leaſt within the Province; as alſo his Church is admoniſhed to pay in unto him during his abſence his Salary, as a Token and Pledge of their great and unfeigned Reſpects unto their Paſtor the ſaid Monſieur Beraut; and both the ſaid Monſieur Beraut, his Church and the Colloquy ſhall carefully and unanimouſly endeavour that his place be ſupplied, and all the requiſite Duties of his Paſtoral Office be acceptably diſcharged by ſome other worthy Miniſter in his Church, during that Year of his abſence.

VI. An Appeal being brought by the Churches of Montauban and Venez, for that by the Synod of Higher Languedoc held at Montauban and Lectoure, Monſieur de Caſtlefranc, Miniſter of the Goſpel, was conſigned to the Church of Realmont, and yet the Iſle of France doth pretend a Right unto the ſaid Monſieur de Chaſtlefranc; This Synod declares, That the Province of the Iſle of France, had nothing to do with the ſaid Monſieur De Chaſtlefranc; and whereas Monſieur de Chaſtlefranc doth alſo make his Appeal unto this Synod: we decree, That the Churches of Montredon and Venez have a Right to claim him as their own peculiar Miniſter, nevertheleſs the ſaid de Chaſtlefranc ſhall officiate in the Churches of Montredon, Venez, and Realmont, conjointly at each of them ſix Months together, during which time this Synod doth order, that the Church of Realmont ſhall provide themſelves of an able Paſtor, otherwiſe they ſhall be proceeded againſt by the ſharpeſt Cenſures, as is uſually done in ſuch Caſes by their Colloquy. And if it ſo fall out, that the ſaid Church of Realmont do need the Labours of the ſaid Monſieur de Chaſtlefranc, he is intreated to aſſiſt them as far as his ſtrength will ſuffer him.

VII. The Church of Monpellier having brought an Appeal from the Provincial Synods of Lower Languedoc, who had diſpos'd of Monſieur de Villette to the Church of Valleragne. This Aſſembly doth confirm the Judgment of the ſaid Provincial Synod, and declareth, That the ſaid Church of Monpellier cannot of Right lay any Claim to the ſaid Monſieur de Villette.

p. 169CHAP. VI. Particular MATTERS.1594. Synod XIII.

I. THE Deputies of the Province of Gaſcony, Perigord, and Limouſin, deſiring that the Churches of Coudonnois and Landers might be joyned to the Provincial Synod of Agenois, Perigord and Limouſin; and being oppoſed herein by the Remonſtrances of the Deputies from the Province of Higher Guyenne, and moſt eſpecially by the Paſtor of the Church of Lectoure, Mr. Bernard Ennis, in the name and behalf of the Colloquy of Armagnac: After mature conſultation, it was reſolved, That the Synods of the Higher Guyenne and Gaſcogny ſhould remain as they are in their preſent eſtabliſhment; not but that in time coming, and in caſe neceſſity ſo require it, there may be made an alteration, and the Churches of Armagnac which are now divided from their Colloquy, ſhall reader an Account unto the next National Synod of their ſeparation from it, till which they ſhall remain incorporated with it.

II. The Churches of Augoumois ſhall be joyned to the Provincial Synod of Xaintonge and Aunix, for the perfecting a ſixth Colloquy, according to the equal diviſion of thoſe ſaid Churches.

III. The Church of Bergerac ſhall be ſharply cenſured by Letters from this Aſſembly; for that by theirs to us they profeſſed a Reſolution not to ſubject themſelves to the fourth Article of the tenth Chapter pf our Diſcipline.

IV. Thoſe of the Iſle of France ſhall be ſeverely cenſured, for propoſing to this Aſſembly, a politick Union with thoſe of the Romiſh Gallican Church, in defence of the Liberties of the Gallican Church againſt the Pope: And Letters ſhall be diſpatch'd unto thoſe fore-mentioned Perſons, to acquaint them, that their Propoſition was judged utterly unworthy our conſultation, and they ſhall be farther cenſured for demanding competent Judges both of the one and other Religion, to decide the Points in controverſie between us; as alſo for demanding, that neither National nor Provincial Synods be conven'd, unleſs on very great and weighty occaſions, and that very rarely.

5. The Church of Aymet complaining, That Monſieur Balarand their Paſtor abſented himſelf from them, and was ſetled in the Church of Caſtres, without any lawful diſmiſſion from them. After that the Provincial Deputies of Gaſcony had been heard, as alſo the ſaid Monſieur Balarand, and the Petition of the ancient Deputy from the City and Church of Caſtres, and after reading the Act of Diſmiſſion given unto the ſaid Balarand by thoſe of the Church of Aymet, ſubſcribed by thoſe ſelf-ſame Perſons, who have now written to thoſe of the City of Caſtres, and yet ſome of them have ſince ſigned a Revocation of that Grant; this Synod doth aſſign the ſaid Monſieur Balarand unto the Church of Caſtres, to be their ordinary Paſtor, but on theſe conditions, First, That the Church of Aymet be provided of an able Paſtor within ſix Months, or ſooner, it may be, by the Colloquy of Perigord, or Synod of Gaſcony, at the ſole Charges of the aforeſaid Church of Caſtres, according to the offers made by Monſieur Baſſol their Deputy. Secondly, That the Judge of Caſtres do cauſe all Proſecutions to ceaſe againſt Monſieur de la Garime, and Monſieur de la Grange for having depoſed Maſter Gaſpar Olaxa, who was ejected by Authority of the Colloquy of Albigeois, and the Provincial Synod held at Montaban. And in caſe our Advice concerning the ſaid de la Garime, and la Grange, be not entirely obſerved, this National Synod doth declare, That thoſe of the Church of Caſtres on whom it was incumbent to effect it, ſhall be cenſured, even with ſuſpenſion from the Lord's Table; and farther, that they be utterly unworthy of ever enjoying the p. 170Miniſtry of their Paſtor Monſieur Balarand, and the Colloquy of Albigeois are ordered from us to meet in any other place than the City of Caſtres, and to ſee to it, that this our preſent Decree be effectually obſerved, and that the ſaid Monſieur Balarand be transferr'd from the City of Caſtres, and to ſee to it, that this our preſent Decree be effectually obſerved, and that the ſaid Monſieur Balarand be transferr'd from the City of Caſtres to ſerve in ſome other Church elſewhere.

VI. The Province of Higher Guyenne having complained of the wicked Converſations, and ſcandalous Lives of Maſter Gravel, and Vieux Banque, it was decreed, That the Miniſters of Upper Quercy ſhall ſummon the ſaid Graver, and Vieuxbanque, to appear without delay, in two Months time perſonally in this City of Montauban, where the Miniſter of the Upper Quercy producing ſufficient Evidence, that they had ſummon'd the ſaid Graver and Vieuxbanque to appear, together with the Information of the Crimes charged on them, which if clearly proved on them, the Miniſters of this City and Colloquy, by the Authority of this National Synod ſhall ſuſpend or depoſe them, as they ſee cauſe from the Miniſtry, and in caſe of their non-appearance, they ſhall be immediately ſuſpended, and this their Suſpenſion publiſhed in the Churches.

VII. The Province of Tourain, Anjou, and Main, craving Advice how to diſpoſe of Monſieur Le Bloy, Miniſter of St. Aignan, this Synod doth ordain, That the ſaid Le Bloy ſhall continue in the ſaid Church, provided that within ſix Months the ſaid Church do give him full ſatisfaction in paying him the Salary they had promiſed him, and in cauſe of failure therein, he ſhall be conſigned unto the Church of Preuilly, according to the Order of the Provincial Synod of Touraine.

VIII. Whereas the Church of**Two other Copies read Bracqu…t. Bourinquet doth inform us, That their Paſtor Monſieur De la Finer is removed from them by the Paſtors of the Province commiſſionated by this preſent Synod to inſpect that Affair, who have thereby left them totally deſtitute without a Miniſter, this Aſſembly doth ordain, That the ſaid Sieur de la Finer ſhall abide with his Church, exerciſing all the Duties of his Office, until ſuch time as they be provided of another, and the Colloquy of Lower Quercy ſhall take that Task upon them, and the ſaid Sieur de la Finer ſhall be preſently paid all his Arrears, and that ſaid Church of Bourinquet ſhall ſupply all his Wants for the future, and in caſe of non-performance on their part, then the ſaid Sieur de la Finer ſhall be free and fully diſcharged from them.

IX. This Aſſembly, at the Requeſt of the Deputies of Lower Languedoc, doth think meet, That our Brother Monſieur Boulet do ſtand related unto Condoignac and Vergeſſers, but with this Condition, that he exerciſe his Miniſtry in his former Church, until ſuch time as they be provided of another.

X. At the deſire of the Magiſtrates of the City and Church of Rochel, as alſo of the whole Province of Xaintonge, this Aſſembly ordaineth, That Letters be ſent forthwith to the Syndics and Church of Geneva, earneſtly intreating, that the Seignory and Conſiſtory of that famous Church and City would be pleaſed to give up their Right in our honoured Brother Monſieur Rotan, for the Service of the Church of Rochel, becauſe of his ſingular uſefulneſs and fruitful Labours in that Church, and his great ſerviceableneſs in that Province, yea, and to all the Reformed Churches of France. Yet Rotan was afterward deeply ſuſpected for prevaricating in Religion.

XI. Complaints being made by the Province of Xaintonge, againſt Maſter Eſperient and Cahier, this Aſſembly orders, That the Province of Xaintonge do inform the Synod of Bearn about the ſaid Eſperient, becauſe he belongs to it, that he may give ſatisfaction to them; and that the Sieur Cahier ſhall be written to in the Name of this Aſſembly, that he perſonally appear before p. 171the Synod of Xaintonge, which is impower'd with full Authority by this preſent Synod, to hear and judge of the whole Fact.

XII. The Province of Lower Languedoc demanding Advice about Mr. John Corneille, it is decreed, That the Province ſhall be ſharply reproved for their ſo long ſuffering and ſparing the ſaid Corneille in his Errors and wicked Actions, and in particular the Magiſtrates and other Perſons in the Church of Orange, who proſecuted ſo vigorouſly his Reſtoration unto the Miniſtry. For which cauſe this Synod confirmeth the Depoſition of the ſaid Corneille, and ordains that he be ſilenced for ever, and that the Magiſtrate and Conſiſtory of Orange be reproved for permitting him to pray publickly during his Suſpenſion, as alſo we give warning that it is dangerous to employ him in the teaching of Youth.

XIII. Sharp and Comminatory Letters ſhall be written unto the Colloquy of Auvergne, and to Monſieur De Montcaſſin, that if they do not ſatisfie and reimburſe Monſieur Lambert his Expences, in getting the King's Orders for the maintenance of the afore-mentioned Miniſters, this Synod on their refuſal will proceed againſt them as Delinquents, and particularly againſt Monſieur Montcaſſin, becauſe he became bound for the Payment of that Money, as appears by the very Act of the Provincial Synod held in this City of Montauban in the Year 1593: And in caſe they do not give ſatisfaction before the breaking up of this Aſſembly, Proceſs ſhall be iſſued out againſt them, as we have written them.

XIV. Foraſmuch as in the concluſion of this Synod the Colloquy of Higher Rouargue have returned no Anſwer to it, the…efore in purſuance of the Reſolution before taken it is decreed, That Monſieur de Villette and Chalais, when they return into their Province of Lower Languedoc, ſhall interdict the Exerciſe of the Miniſtry in all the Churches of that Colloquy, and particularly Monſieur de Montcaſſin ſhall be ſuſpended and ſilenced for not performing his Promiſe.

XV. Mr. William Benet acquainting this Aſſembly, That he had diſcharged his Duty in educating his Son Mark Antony in good Learning, in order to his being employed in the Miniſtry of the Goſpel to his great comfort, and yet without his privity and conſent his ſaid Son had accepted of a Call unto the Church of Marvejoles in the Province of Lower Languedoc: After hearing what could be alledged for themſelves by the Deputies of that Province, as alſo the Plea of the ſaid Mark Antony for himſelf, that he only accepted of that Call for a time, and with this expreſs condition, That his Father were contented with it; this Aſſembly doth aſſign the ſaid Mark Antony unto the Church of Villemure, in the Colloquy of Lower Quercy, to ſerve them as their own peculiar Paſtor; yet on theſe Terms, that he ſhall aſſiſt the ſaid Church of Maruejoles by the ſpace of three Months, during which time the Colloquy of Givaudan, and the Province of Lower Languedoc, ſhall uſe their beſt endeavour to provide another Paſtor for the Church of Maruejoles, which Church alſo is ordered to ſatisfie the ſaid Mark Antony Bennet, within ſix Weeks of his Return, all his Arrerages, and the whole Stipend of the Quarter now current; and in caſe of failure herein by them, the ſaid Bennet is left in full liberty to leave them immediately, and to betake himſelf to the Service of his own Church of Villemure, he adviſing with his Colloquy, and they approving it, according to the Diſcipline.

XVI. Divers Provinces having conſulted this Aſſembly what courſe they ſhould take with thoſe who challenge, and with thoſe who accept the Challenge to fight a Duel, as alſo how to deal with the challenged, who killing their adverſe Party, have ſince obtained His Majeſties Pardon, or have been afterward legally juſtified and diſcharged, the Synod made this Decree, That p. 172every ſuch Perſon ſhould be ſuſpended the Lord's Table, and this their Suſpenſion ſhall be out of hand publiſhed to the Congregation, and before ever they be re-admitted to the Churches Peace and Communion, they ſhall undergo Publick Penance for thoſe their Offences.

XVII. The Conſuls and Elders in the Church of Montauban petitioned this Aſſembly, that during Monſieur Berault's abſence, their Church might be ſupplied for that Year by Monſieur De la Nove, Miniſter of Beaufort in Anjou: Anſwer was given them, that according to our Diſcipline it could not be done, 'till ſuch time as both the Church and Province to which he ſtood related, had been firſt acquainted with it. And therefore they ſhould ſend Letters unto that Church and Province, and to the Lady Vaux, and to the Lord Du Pleſſis, intreating them, becauſe of the great importance of the Church of Montauban, that they would be pleaſed either to grant, or at leaſt to lend their Paſtor Monſieur De Nove unto the Church of Montauban, during Monſieur Beraud's abſence. And till that the Synod of Anjou have gratified the ſaid Petitioners, the Colloquy of Lower Quercy ſhall take care, that the ſaid Church of Montauban be not left deſtitute without a Paſtor, but that they do from time to time ſend able Miniſters unto them.

CHAP. VII. The Roll of the Vagrants, Deſerters, and Depoſed Miniſters.

1. THE Vagrants are Iſaac and Moyſes Bouchars, who wander up and down ſowing falſe Doctrines, they were of Poitiers, the Elder of them is a little dapper Fellow, red Face and Beard, roaving Eye; the younger is much of the ſame ſtature, but blackiſh Beard, pale and ſad, and roaving Eyes as his Brother.

2. Coſta, or La Coſta of Bearn, who preacheth here, and there without any Ordination. He is a Fellow of low Stature, a black Beard, a ſwarthy Countenance, a notorious Lyer, Impudent, and a Thief.

3. Commiſſion is given to Maſter Villette and Maſter Chalais, Deputies of Lower Languedoc, to make ſpeedy enquiry about Monſieur Du Croix, late Miniſter of Perigueux, who hath forſook his Miniſtry for the Practice of Phyſick.

Vincentius Cordatus, being ſixty Years of Age, a tall lubberly Fellow.

The DEPOSED:

4. In the Province of Higher Languedoc, and Higher Guyenne, Maſter Bernard Vaiſſy for preaching falſe Doctrine.

5. Maſter Gaſpar Olaxa a Spaniard, for raiſing Troubles and Seditions in the Church of Caſtres.

6. Maſter Peter Beaupoil, otherwiſe going by the Name of Dumont or Damont.

7. Maſter James Caza of Normandy, Maſter Gabriel Roul, otherwiſe La Sales; De Coucher in Rouargue.

A Schiſm having fallen out in the Church of Saint Foy, upon the ſcore of the ſaid Roul, the Miniſters of this Synod who are to meet in the p. 173Aſſembly of St. Foy, are impower'd with full Authority from it,1594. Synod XIII. to hear and judge fully and finally of that buſineſs.

Becauſe of the Neceſſities and Diſperſions of the Churches on the other ſide of Loire, the Province of Anjou is appointed to call the next National Synod unto the City of Saumur, in the Month of May, two Years hence. And foraſmuch as the Province of Lower Languedoc, to whom by Order of the laſt Synod held at Vitré, it belonged to convocate this next enſuing Synod, hath parted with its Right in favour to, and for the benefit of that Province, theſe things conſidered, the next Synod ſhall be intreated to appoint, that the National Synod which ſhall ſucceed it, may be aſſembled and held within the Bounds of the Lower Languedoc.

Given at Montauban the 28th of June, in the Year of our Lord 1594. The Original Acts of this Synod are kept in the Archives of the City Rochel, and are thus ſigned,

Beraud, Moderator.

Gardeſy and Scribes of the Synod.

Rotan, Scribes of the Synod.

The End of the Synod of Montauban.

THE ACTS, DECISIONS, and DECREES OF THE XIV. National Synod OF THE Reformed Churches of Chriſt, IN The KINGDOM of FRANCE, HELD At Saumur the 15th Day of June in the Year of our Lord 1596.