The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 18 (3rd Rochelle) · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Of Particular Matters.
St. Maixant, Art. 1. of obſervat. on this Synod.1. IT is ordained for time coming that particular Acts of Appeals, Cenſures, and things of the like nature, ſhall not be delivered, but unto the parties concerned in them.
2. This Aſſembly declareth that the Act of the Synod of Montpellier, not permitting any Certificate to be given them who through fear of Witchcraft would ſolemnize their Marriage in other Churches beſides their own, ſhall remain in full force, as not being contrary to that of the Diſcipline, which concerneth atteſtations in the Chapter of Marriages.
Charities ordered the poor Saints of Saluces.3. For as much as the neceſſities of our poor Brethren of the Marquiſate Saluces are exceeding great, they being baniſhed and perſecuted for the true Religion, as is evident by the Relations of their Deputies Charles Garnier and Conſtans Vivyan; This Aſſembly exhorts all the Churches in the Provinces of this Kingdom to aſſiſt them by extraordinary Alms; and 'tis left to the prudence of every Provincial Synod, to take that courſe for Collecting the Charities for them as they ſhall judge moſt proper and convenient to the ſtate of their reſpective Churches. And whereas in divers Churches there have been Moneys already gathered for them, it is ordained, that in no wiſe thoſe ſumms be diverted from their deſigned uſe, but be out of hand ſent unto them; And that they may be reputed Natural French men, our Deputies which ſhall be ſent unto Court, are expreſly charged to procure the Declaration from his Majeſty for their being naturalized.
4. Henceforward the Deputies of the Provinces ſhall bring with them unto the National Synods an exact Catalogue of the number of Churches, Miniſters, and Propoſans in their reſpective Provinces, together with an account of their particular Stipends, annually paid them by the Receiver of the Province, as alſo the Teſtimonials of the Univerſities concerning our young Students in them, if poſſibly it may be done.
Propoſans may be preſent as ſilent Learners in National Synods.5. Propoſans may be admitted into the National Synod, when as general Matters of Doctrine and Diſcipline are debated, provided they bring with them good Teſtimonials. But as for other Perſons, which are not Eccleſiaſtick, whatſoever their quality or condition may be, it hath been already judged inexpedient, becauſe of divers ill Conſequences, to grant them this priviledge.
A remedy againſt contentions for the Profeſſors place in an Univerſity.6. If in caſe of difference about the Call of Profeſſors and Regents in our Univerſities, one of the contending parties ſhould ſeek for relief and aſſiſtance any where elſe than in our Eccleſiaſtical Aſſemblies, he ſhall be proſecuted by all the Cenſures of the Church, and if he continue obſtinate and rebellious, he ſhall then be Excommunicated; and if he be already ſeized of a Profeſſorſhip, this Synod Decreeth, that no Wages ſhall be paid him, and declareth him a Perſon utterly uncapable of any Academical Office.
7. To prevent for the future that evil cuſtom crept into the Churches, and which hath cauſed a great deal of trouble unto this Synod, by reading and examining an infinite number of Acts paſſed before ſecular Judges, which may finally bring in upon us that baſe Chicanery, ſo much practiſed by crafty Lawyers, and utterly unworthy the Gravity of theſe Aſſemblies: Wherefore all ſuch manner of proceedings are moſt expreſly forbidden, and all perſons are commanded to keep themſelves to a native plainneſs and ſimplicity, as beſt ſuiting with Church affairs; on pain of having their papers and propoſitions rejected, who ſhall do otherwiſe.
Pecuniary matters may be diſmiſſed from one Province to another.8. In caſe a perſon complain of His being overcharged in pecuniary matters by the Provincial Synod, in which the Synod is a Party, he may demand a hearing before the next Provincial Synod, which ſhall have power to judge finally in that affair, without bringing ſuch matters before the National Synods.
9. When as the publick Faſt ſhall be celebrated in the Churches of France, thoſe of Bearn ſhall be acquainted with the time and cauſes of it, by the Province of Lower Guyenne; and thoſe Churches ſhall be compriſed in all matters relating to our Union, yea and in thoſe Complaints and Petitions which ſhall be preſented unto his Majeſty by the means of our General Deputies.
10. Monſieur Baldran Deputy for Bearn, moved, that whereas the Churches of Soulle and Bigorre lying within the bounds of France, were yet notwithſtanding unto this day annexed to the Churches of Bearn, and ſupported by them both with the grant of Paſtors, and Moneys for their ſubſiſtence; wherefore he requeſted that they might be enrolled among thoſe, who ſhared in the Moneys of his Majeſties bounty; and withal he left them to the ſole diſpoſal of the Churches of this Kingdom either to be Incorporated with them, or implanted into any other Synod beſides that of Bearn, as they ſhould conceive moſt expedient. This Aſſembly ordaineth that for the preſent two portions of the ſaid moneys ſhall be aſſigned out of the Dividend of Lower Guyenne unto thoſe two before mentioned Churches, and they have full power to declare in the firſt Provincial Synod of Bearn to which of the Provincial Synods of France they will adjoin themſelves, conſulting therein their own conveniency and edification, and ſhall produce their Memoirs concerning it before the next National Synod.
11. For as much as great contentions have ariſen in the Churches becauſe that their Miniſters ſtipulated with them only for a certain term of time, and at their reception into the Paſtoral Office among them did reſerve unto themſelves a pretended right and power of leaving them, when that term was expired: The Provinces are exhorted to keep inviolably the ninth Article in the firſt Chapter of our Church-diſcipline, and never to receive a Miniſter into that Sacred Office without conſigning him to ſome particular flock, among whom he ſhall have his fixed reſidence.
No more than two Deputies can be ſent from contending Churches. Such as marry Popiſh Wives cannot be imployed neither in the Civil nor Religious Offices of the Church.12. In caſe of contentions falling out among Church-Members, or between two Churches for time to come they ſhall neither of them ſend more than two Deputies either to the National or Provincial Synods, nor ſhall a greater number, tho they come, be admitted unto a hearing.
13. If one profeſſing of the Reformed Marry a Woman of the Popiſh Religion, he ſhall not only not be admitted unto Offices in the Church which are purely Eccleſiaſtical, but be alſo excluded from thoſe of another nature, ſuch Syndics and Proctors, who have the management of the civil affairs of our Churches: and in caſe ſuch an one be already inveſted with thoſe charges, he ſhall be immediately and actually depoſed.
14. Churches having Univerſities erected in them, their Paſtors by the advice of the Academical Counſel may on extraordinary occaſions read Lectures of Divinity, that ſo they may be qualified in caſe of neceſſity for the Profeſſors Office in them.
15. Monks and Prieſts having once profeſſed the Truth of the Goſpel, and afterward with the Dog returned unto their vomit, though they ſhould once again abjure the Popiſh Religion, and deſire leave to preach a Probation-Sermon in order to their Reception into the Miniſtry, ſhall not in the leaſt be admitted unto any Theological Exerciſe among us,Apoſtates Monks or Prieſts not to be received into the Miniſtry, till ten years Tryal of their Repentance, and not then neither, without the Advice of a Nat. Synod. Monks quitting their Cloiſters ſhall be ſent back to their Native Countreys with atteſtations. See Synod of St. Maixant obſervat. upon this Synod. Art. 4. Midwives Baptiſm null, becauſe they had no calling from Chriſt to adminiſter it. till we have had ten years Tryal of their Repentance; nor ſhall they, when that time alſo is expired, be admitted without the previous Advice of a National Synod.
16. Monks forſaking Popery ſhall not be received into Church-fellowſhip, till they be found well inſtructed in the grounds of the Reformed Religion; and they ſhall be ſent back unto the Provinces whereof they are Natives, with Certificates atteſting for what Imployment they be beſt qualified.
17. Conſiſtories may not deliver unto Parties their Bonds, though they be reconciled, and do demand them.
18. The Deputies of Lower Languedoc moved this Caſe, Whether perſons having a long time profeſſed the true Religion, and coming to underſtand they were baptized only by a Midwife, ought to be rebaptized: This Aſſembly judgeth that they ought to be publickly baptized in the Church of Chriſt, according to the Inſtitution of our Lord by a Lawful Miniſter. Their former Baptiſm being wholly null and void, becauſe done by one who had no Call unto that Office.
19. It was demanded what cenſure they deſerved, who live in an Inceſtous Marriage, though they have the Pope's Diſpenſation? This Synod ordains that the 25th Article of the General Matters in that of Saumur, be punctually obſerved, and judgeth thoſe perſons unfit for Communion in our Churches, till ſuch time as they be ſeparated one from the other.
20. Women whoſe Husbands are abſent from them, by reaſon of heinous crimes, cannot with a ſafe Conſcience contract Marriage with any other as long as their Husbands be alive.
Leproſie dot not diſſolve… Matrimony.21. This Aſſembly concurring with the foregoing Synods of Lion and Vitré, declareth their Marriages Null and void, who had contracted them ſelves unto others, their parties yet living, although they were ſeparated upon the account of Leproſie.
22. All Printers are admoniſhed, that when they print our Form of Baptiſm, they take care to expreſs that ſentence of St. Paul, 1 Cor. 7.14. in its expreſs and proper words, That the Children of Believers are holy.
23. No Atteſtations ſhall for the future be given unto Governours or Lieutenants of our Cautionary Towns, by that Colloquy wherein he or they reſide, without calling in one or more Colloquies of that ſame Province, nor without hearing the Inhabitants of the Towns concerned, in caſe the Recommended Officers be Natives of the ſame Province. And this Rule ſhall be obſerved with reſpect unto thoſe who demand Atteſtations to capacitate them for an Office in the Chambers, e. i. the Courts of the Edict.
Orders about Scholars in Penſion of the Provinces.24. Scholars, Students in Divinity, eſpecially ſuch as are maintained at the Charges of the Provinces, or of particular Churches, ſhall finiſh their courſe in the Univerſities of this Kingdom, in which we compriſe thoſe of Bearn, Sedan and Geneva; and they ſhall not be permitted to travel unto Forreign Univerſities without leave firſt granted them by their Provincial Synods, who ſhall preſcribe them the place and time of their abode.
25. Monſieur Chamier having in writing given us an Account of that Book entituled, Elenchus Novae Doctrinae, we do order its ſuppreſſion.
26. The Deputies of Lower Languedoc demanding whether ſomething in the 52d Section of our Catechiſm might not be conveniently changed particularly in what relates to our Communion with Jeſus Chriſt in the preaching of the Goſpel, in Baptiſm and the Lord's Supper. This Aſſembly is of Opinion that nothing ſhould be added or diminiſhed, becauſe the terms in which that Section is couch'd, do very plainly expreſs the different degrees of Faith, by which we receive Chriſt.
27. The Province of Lower Guyenne deſired, that that paſſage concerning Judas his being received into Communion by our Lord at his holy Table, in the laſt Section of the Catechiſm might be changed. This Aſſembly judging the Queſtion problematical, and not a point of Faith, thought it inconvenient to make any alteration, becauſe alſo the main Doctrine for which this Example was urged, is generally believed to be true, and on this all Miniſters in their explications of it ought principally to inſiſt.
28. The Province of Anjou having tender'd their Accounts by the Lord de Bruges, one of their Deputies, of the Moneys aſſigned them by the Synod of Montpellier, for the Erection and Maintenance of an Univerſity in the City of Saumur, and received by them from the Sieurs Palot, and du Caudal, from the firſt grant of the ſaid Moneys unto the laſt day of December laſt paſt: This Aſſembly commiſſionated Monſieur Vignier Miniſter of the Goſpel, and Monſieur des Fontaines, Texier and le Fevrier Elders, to examine and cloſe up thoſe Accounts; which being done, and report made by them, it appeared that Monſieur Phillip Pinaut, Receiver of the ſaid Moneys, ſtood indebted to them in the ſum of 4292 Livers, 15 Sous, and 8 Deniers, upon the whole; which ſaid Audit, and final Reckoning, is approved and ratified by this Synod; and it's further ordered, that the ſaid ſum of 4292 Livers, 15 Sous, and 8 Deniers, ſhall remain in the hands of the ſaid Pinault, to be employed in the Maintenance of the ſaid Univerſity, and about nothing elſe, as we ſhall hereafter take care for. And in ſo doing the ſaid Receiver and Province ſhall be acquitted and diſcharged of the ſaid Moneys. And the Originals of the Accounts aforeſaid ſhall be kept in the Conſiſtory of Rochell, and the Duplicates and Copies evidencing the whole, ſhall be lodg'd in the hands of the ſaid Pinault, with the conſent of the Deputies of that Province.
29. The Province of Xaintonge moving whether it were not needful to make a compleat Anſwer to the Works of Bellarmine: This Synod charged the Deputies of Dolphiny to intreat Monſieur Chamier to proſecute his worthy Labours, begun by him upon this Subject.
30. Every Province ſhall chuſe one particular Church in it, where the Original Acts of their Synods ſhall be conſerved, that in caſe of neceſſity they may have recourſe unto them.
31. The Profeſſors of Divinity in the Univerſities of this Kingdom, ſhall be adviſed ſo to contrive their Lectures and Common-places, that they may be compleatly finiſhed in three years time.
32. The Province of Orleans and Berry demanding that the time for Propoſans, tendering themſelves unto Synods and Colloquies with their Propoſitions might be fixed equally: This Aſſembly judged that it were beſt and moſt convenient to leave it as before unto the liberty and prudence of thoſe Meetings.
33. Moreover at the requeſt of the ſame Province it was ordained, That Churches which had Ability ſhould be deſired to Erect Libraries for the ſervice of their Miniſters.
34. Monſieur Perrin is intreated to finiſh his begun Hiſtory of the True Eſtate of the Albingenſes and Waldenſes; and to help him in it, all perſons having Memoirs by them, either of the Doctrine, Diſcipline, or Perſecutions of thoſe poor Saints of Chriſt, are charged to tranſmit them to him with all poſſible care and diligence.
35. Into whoſe hands there may fall a little Treatiſe about the diſpoſſeſſion of the Devil out of a Demoniack in Soreze, they are required to ſuppreſs it.
36. No Scholars for the future ſhall be received by the Provinces as Penſioners, and who be now maintained at the trivial Schools by the Moneys of his Majeſties bounty, till ſuch times as they ſhall have finiſhed their Studies of Humanity, and have begun their courſe of Philoſophy, and ſhall give in good Security for repaying the ſums received by them, and expended on them, in caſe that through their default they do not ſerve the Church in the Miniſtry of the Goſpel.
37. This Caſe was propounded by the Deputies of Higher Languedoc and Guyenne, How they ſhould deal with them, who being accuſed of Crimes, were abſolved by the Magiſtrates, and yet afterward new evidence appeared againſt them, and the ſcandal continued. The Synod leaves it wholly to the prudence of Conſiſtories, who ſhall comport themſelves herein according to circumſtances, and take ſpecial care that the Lives and Reputation of the Brethren be not expoſed to needleſs dangers.
38. The Deputies of Normandy requiring that the proper Hebrew names of the Old Teſtament, according as they be printed in this laſt Edition of our Bibles, might be refined, and pronounced as in the former Antient Impreſſions. This Synod judgeth it more convenient that they remain as they are, and that nothing be changed by our Printers in any of their After-Impreſſions.
39. Monſieur Beraud propounded this Caſe, Whether an Elder of the Church accuſed of ſome enormous Crime, and juſtified by an Inferiour Judge, and yet drawn by his adverſe Party to a Superiour Tribunal, may, whilſt this Appeal ſtands in force againſt him, exerciſe his Office in the Church? The Synod judgeth that he ought to refrain until ſuch time as he be finally acquitted and diſcharged by due courſe of Law.
See the Synod of Gergeau, p. m. 39.40. The Provinces are exhorted to aſſiſt the poor Churches, eſpecially in their diſtribution of his Majeſties Bounty conferred upon us.
41. The General Deputies are charged not only to manage the general Affairs of all our Churches, but the particular ones of every ſingle Church, eſpecially when as a difficulty is ſtarted about the Erection and Conſervation of it, according to the Edict. And this Order ſhall bind the Provinces to ſeek out diligently a Legal Title for the Erection of our Churches, and to aſſociate themſelves with the Deputies in all Proſecutions at Law neceſſarily required, that ſo their Erection may be obtained and confirmed.
A conditional Superſede as to the Article of Antichriſt.42. Whereas ſince the laſt Reſolution taken by us concerning that Article Antichriſt, and its inſertion into the body of our Confeſſion of Faith, and in conſequence thereof its being printed, his Majeſty hath notified unto us by our Deputies, as alſo by Monſieur de Montmartyn, that the publiſhing of this Article would exceedingly diſpleaſe him: This Aſſembly ordaineth, That the Printing thereof ſhall be ſuperſeded, unleſs any Member of our Church be moleſted for it, or be brought before the Magiſtrate for his confeſſion of it, or any Miniſter, for Preaching, Teaching, or Writing about it; and his Majeſty ſhall be humbly intreated to interpoſe his Authority that no one be diſquieted for the Impreſſion which is already paſt, or for being poſſeſſed of any Copies, received from the Preſs.
43. The Deputies of Higher Languedoc crav'd the Advice of this Synod, what ſhould be done in that caſe of Moneys received by their Deputies ſent unto the Aſſembly of Chaſtelleraut, in the year 1605. and which had been given them to defray the Charges of their Journey and Abode there, by the Churches, and by his Majeſties Liberality. This Synod ordaineth, That the Receivers and Detainers of the ſaid Moneys, not having given in their Accounts for them unto their reſpective Provinces, nor having received from them good and vallid Acquittances and Diſcharges, ſhall be bound to do it, and in caſe of defailure, they ſhall be proſecuted with all Church-cenſures, and other due courſes of Law, if that the Provinces and Churches do ſo require it.
44. In reading the Synod of Gap about Cenſures inflicted on the Violators of Marriage-promiſes without juſt cauſe, ſeveral difficulties were related to have ariſen in divers places upon this Subject. Wherefore this Synod decreeth, That neither private perſons, nor Conſiſtories have any Authority to diſſolve ſuch promiſes, but ſhall remand them back unto the Cognizance, Order and Legal Judgment of the Civil Magiſtrate; and in caſe any refuſe obedience hereunto, they ſhall be proſecuted by all Church-cenſures.
45. Some moved, how expedient it would be that our Academies were regulated according to the number of our Provinces, and that the ſumms now demanded for augmentation of the Regents and Profeſſors Sallaries, was too great, and particularly for that of Saumur. But this Synod not having time enough at preſent to debate this matter, doth require all the Provinces to conſider of it againſt the meeting of the next National Synod. And that our weaker and poorer Churches may be more comfortably relieved and ſupplied: Thoſe Churches who are better able to maintain a Colledge without any aſſiſtance from others, or the publick, are deſired to bring in an Account of what can be done by them; That ſo we may make the beſt eſtimate we can, how to compleat and perfect our Univerſities. And the Provinces next adjoining to our Univerſities, are requeſted to have a moſt careful eye over them, and to be reſponſable for them unto the next National Synod, and of the diligence or neglects of duty by its Officers and Profeſſors. And till that time we do not judge meet to grant any augmentation to that of Saumur.
46. The Deputies of divers Provinces, moving that there might be particular Colledges erected in their reſpective Provinces for the educating of Youth in Humanity before they were ſent unto our Univerſities: This Aſſembly granteth them their requeſt, and that the eleven Provinces, which have no Academy, ſhall have each of them the ſumm of 100 Crowns for this very purpoſe. And theſe Provinces are charged to bring in an Account unto the next National Synod, how they have employed the ſaid Moneys.
47. Monſieur Vignier is intreated to ſtudy well that controverſie about the great Antichriſt, and to bring in his work unto the next National Synod.