The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 18 (3rd Rochelle) · Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Obſervations on the reading our Church-Diſcipline.
1. ON the Second Article of the firſt Chapter after theſe words of their Doctrine ſhall be added, approved at leaſt by the ſpace of two years ſince their Converſion, and confirmed by good Teſtimonials from thoſe places in which they live.
2. On the fourth Article of the ſame Chapter, that alternative of two or three ſhall be removed, and there ſhall be mentioned three only.
3. No Church ſhall for the future undertake (whatever ſollicitations may be made it) to examine or ordain thoſe Paſtors, which are to ſerve out of this Kingdom, but herein they ſhall conform unto the Diſcipline, and the Decrees of former National Synods.
4. After theſe words in the fourth Article, which ſhall be adviſed, there ſhall be added, without being able during that all whole time to adminiſter the Sacraments, that ſo, &c.
See Synod of Gap, 4 Art. uppon the Diſcipline.5. That Article of the Synod of Gap concerning the eleventh Canon of this firſt Chapter ſhall be moſt ſtrictly obſerved; and that it may be better kept for the future, in all Conſiſtorial, Claſſical and Synodical Cenſures, diligent inquiry ſhall be made into the Converſation, and Manner of Preaching uſed by every Paſtor, and an Oath ſhall be impoſed on the Examinant to ſpeak the Truth to the beſt of his knowledge, and that they may the better anſwer to every point, they ſhall read unto them the ſaid Article of the Diſcipline.
6. On reading the ninteenth Article, the Synod ordered Letters ſhould be written unto the Lords of this Kingdom, profeſſing the Reformed Religion, that they be intreated when ever they are called from their Houſes unto Court, or when ever they travel, that they would not fail to take their Paſtors with them.
7. The Synod expounding the twenty eighth Article by theſe words (their Churches being heard) doth underſtand the Conſiſtories and Chief of the people, and by theſe words, for certain conſiderations doth underſtand, whatever may fall out in general, and not particularly the proceeds of Cenſures.
A Colloquy may lend a Miniſter for three, and the Provinc. Synod 6 months out of the Province. See the firſt Synod of Vitré, g. Mat. 24.8. On the thirty third Article, where ſpeech is had about the conſent of Paſtors and Churches in caſe of Loan of Miniſters without the Province; It is now decreed, that notwithſtanding any Appeal to the contrary, a Colloquy may lend a Paſtor for three Months, and the provincial Synod for ſix.
9. The means preſcribed by the Synods of Gap and Gergeau to prevent their ingratitude who refuſe maintenance unto their Paſtors, are left to be uſed according to the diſcretion and charity of the reſpective Conſiſtories.
10. Theſe words ſhall cloſe up the fourty eighth Article, and all ſentences of ſuſpenſion for what cauſe ſoever ſhall ſtand good, notwithſtanding any Appeal, until the final Judgment.
11. On the firſt Article of the third Chapter, That Cuſtom introduc'd into ſome certain Churches, that Elders going out of Office do nominate their Succeſſors, is reprehended, and it is decreed according to the Diſcipline, that they ſhall be choſen by the common Suffragies of the Conſiſtories.
12. On the fourth Article of the fourth Chapter. Notice is given unto Provincial Synods, diligently to enquire who thoſe Paſtors and Elders be that give▪ Teſtimonials contrary to the form preſcribed by our Diſcipline, that ſo they may be cenſured. And for time coming all Paſtors giving Atteſtations unto Trades-men or others, who deſire them upon none other account than to be acknowledged as Church-members, ſhall ſpecifie that they promiſed never to abuſe them as Inſtruments for begging or wandring from one Church unto another, and in caſe they ſhould ſo do, that then they be reputed null and void, and be torn in pieces.
13. Churches, whoſe Members are Priſoners in Paris or elſewhere upon the account of Religion,Priſoners for Religion to be relieved. are exhorted to miniſter unto their Neceſſities by be relieved, their Charities and Alms-deeds.
14. This Sentence ſhall conclude the fourth Article of the fifth Chapter, however without being able to treat of Church-matters, but in thoſe places where the Conſiſtory doth ordinarily meet.
15. On the ninth Article, whole Conſiſtories ſhall not be excepted againſt, nor one of the Paſtors and Elders in caſe a Conſiſtory judge the cauſes of that Exception invalid, notwithſtanding the Appeal.
Perſons married by a Prieſt muſt confeſs their ſin publickly.16. On the twentieth Article, ſuch as have been married by a Popiſh Prieſt, ſhall not be diſpenſed from making publick Acknowledgment of their ſin by the Conſiſtory, whatever their quality or condition may be.
17. To the ſeventh Article of the eighth Chapter, after theſe words, ſhall be choſen, theſe muſt be added, with a low voice.
18. Reading over the diviſion of the Provinces, it was thought good that the greater, and which are furniſhed with a larger number of Paſtors, ſhould conſult whether it were not commodious for them to be divided into two; and they are requeſted to come prepared with theſe Reſolutions upon it unto the next National Synod.
19. On the third Article of the ninth Chapter, The Provinces are left at liberty to ſend their preſent Deputies unto the following National Synod, provided they judge it expedient.
20. The clauſe which was razed out of the ſeventh Article of the ninth Chapter by the Synod of Gap, to wit, The Provinces having been firſt informed by that which was charged to convocate the next Synod, ſhall be again inſerted, but with this reſtriction in the end, if it may poſſibly be done.
21. On the third Article of the tenth Chapter, Licenſe is given unto particular Churches to celebrate a Faſt, they firſt conſulting with their Neighbour-Churches, and on great and urgent cauſes, for which they ſhall be accountable unto the Colloquies and Provincial Synods.
22. To the eleventh Article of the thirteenth Chapter, after theſe words, with the Niece, ſhall be added, and the Grand Niece.
23. To the fifteenth Article of the ſame Chapter after theſe words ſufficient atteſtation, there ſhall be added, of Promiſes.
24. To the ſixteenth Article of the fourteenth Chapter there ſhall be this addition made to cloſe up that Article, And in caſe the matter be urgent, then unto the Univerſities or Neighbour Miniſters.
The Church Diſcipline having been read and approved by all the Deputies, they ſwore unto its obſervation, and promiſed to ſee that it be carefully obſerved in their reſpective Churches, and to ſollicite their Provinces for its performance.