The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 18 (3rd Rochelle) · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. Of Appeals.
1. MOnſieur de la Rouviere Doctor of the Civil Law came impowered by the Common Council of the City of Uſez into this Aſſembly to defend an Appeal, which certain of the Conſuls and Inhabitants of that City had made from the Colloquy of Uſez, and the Provincial Synod of Lower Languedoc held at St. Hippolyte, by whom Mr. Laurence Brunier Miniſter of the Goſpel, was reſtored unto his Paſtoral Office in the Church of Uſez, againſt the will and deſire of theſe his Opponents. On the other part the ſaid Mr. Brunier Paſtor of that Church, and de Janas Doctor of the Civil Law came alſo furniſhed with ample powers from a great Aſſembly of that City, diſavowing thoſe powers of the Sieur de la Ruviere, and of the Conſiſtory there. Now although the diſavowal of the firſt powers by the ſecond, might have been very well conteſted; yet nevertheleſs becauſe of the conſequence and importance of this affair, the Aſſembly paſſing by that formality, did give audience to both Parties, that it might take ſome effectual courſe about the principal. Wherefore the Deputies of that Province were heard give in the reaſons moving the ſaid Province of Lower Languedoc to reſtore the ſaid Mr. Brunier unto the Church of Uſez, and Monſieur Codur, unto the Miniſtry in their Province, contrary to the Decree of the National Synod of Gap, which had excluded Monſieur Brunier from the City and Church of Uſez, until the meeting of this preſent Aſſembly, and Mr. Codur from that Province. Monſieur de la Rouviere was alſo heard ſpeak on behalf of the Appellants, and offering his objections as well againſt that decree of the Provincial Synod, as againſt the very perſon of Monſieur Brunier. Monſieur Brunier alſo was heard ſpeak in his own defence and juſtification, and the Deputy ſent together with him from the Conſiſtory of the Church of Uſez, who teſtified the unanimous deſire of the Conſiſtory, and of the whole Church to enjoy him for their Paſtor, and how eminently acceptable and ſucceſsful the Miniſtry of the ſaid Mr. Brunier was among them. Letters alſo were read from the Church of Beziers, and one of their Elders ſent by them declared the importunate deſire of the ſaid Church, that Monſieur Codur might be confirmed in the Paſtoral Office to them, as alſo how very fruitful and edifying his Miniſtry had been among them. Upon the whole, this Aſſembly did utterly diſlike and diſapprove of thoſe proceedings of the Provincial Synod of Lower Languedoc, for neglecting the Decree of the National Synod of Gap, and for introducing Monſieur Brunier into the Church of Uſez, and Monſieur Codur again into the Province, and doth judge the ſaid Province to have incurred a very great Cenſure by its notorious tranſgreſſion of a decree made by the National Synod, a crime of very dangerous conſequence, becauſe if Provincial Synods ſhall ſlight the Authority of the National, they will open the Flood-gates to let in upon us a deluge of unſeen miſchiefs. And the ſaid Monſieur Brunier hath deſerved a ſharp reproof for liſtning unto methods for his reſtoration, which tho ſought out by others, were in truth propounded by himſelf unto the Provincial Synod, and for that he acquieſced rather in the Judgment of a Provincial Synod than of the National, yea and acted contrary to it. And the like Cenſure is inflicted upon Monſieur Codur, who, being excluded the ſaid Province, could not of right have ſought a readmiſſion into it, nor ought the Province when he ſought it, to have readmitted him. And as for the Church of Uſez, it cannot but be blamed for its precipitancy and impatiency, in not tarrying till the time prefixed by the National Synod was expired, when they might have lawfully redemanded their Paſtor. Moreover, theſe Appellants themſelves cannot be juſtified nor wholly abſolved from guilt and miſcarriages; for they have teſtified too much animoſity againſt a Reverend Miniſter of the Goſpel, for ſlight and trifling matters only, and there be ſome of them who have merited a very ſmart and ſharp reproof, becauſe they having at firſt endeavoured his reſtauration amongſt them, have ſince by an unaccountable Levity deſtroyed the Work which they were building, and have attempted his total and perpetual excluſion.
But for as much as the infinitely Wiſe God hath extracted good out of all theſe evils, and made all theſe Feuds, and Animoſities, all theſe Heart-burnings, and Contentions wonderfully to contribute to the advancement of his glory, the propagation of the Goſpel, the converſion of many Sinners, and the ſingular edification of both theſe Churches of Uſez and Beziers: This Aſſembly doth judge meet to accommodate and compound all theſe differences in manner and form following. Firſt Monſieur Brunier is preſented unto the Miniſtry in the Church of Uſez, and the Province of Lower Languedoc is ordered to provide him an aſſiſtant out of hand. And Monſieur Codur, he alſo is conferred upon the Church of Beziers, to be from henceforth their ordinary Paſtor, and the Sieurs Brunier de Janas, and de la Rouviere were all actually reconciled one unto the other in the preſence of this Synod, and they did all ſolemnly promiſe that they would uſe their beſt endeavours to reconcile and reunite their ſeveral and reſpective parties now abſent. And that this might be more eaſily effected and attained, the Sieurs Bayly, Perrin, de la Colombiere, and Valeton are charged as they return home to their own Churches, that they paſs over to the City of Uſez, and compoſe the differences between the oppoſite parties in it; And Monſieur Codur is alſo charged to bear them company, and to deal with his Friends and Allies, and Acquaintance there, that they may embrace this ſacred and deſireable peace. And Letters ſhall be written unto all the Appellants in the name of this National Synod, and ſigned by Synodical Officers to preſs and exhort them to be at peace among themſelves, to put a period unto all their diviſions and diſſentions, and to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace.
2. The Conſiſtory, and far greater part of the Church of Tonneias appealed from a Judicial Sentence given by their Provincial Synod held at Nerac, for that they had freed and diſcharged Mr. Francois de Monjoux, Paſtor of their Church, from his Miniſtry in it, and relation to it, and given him unto the Church of Bazas and its Annexes, and for that he the ſaid Mr. Monjoux had acquieſced in the ſaid Sentence. And the ſaid Church complained that this was done without ever hearing them and that they did diſown and diſavow that Perſon, who had been ſent by ſome of the Jurates and Magiſtrates of their Town, nor did they in the leaſt approve of their Elder's Silence in that Synod, when as this matter was under debate. This Aſſembly judgeth that the Synod had acted too precipitantly in giving Mr. de Monjoux his Diſmiſſion without a more ample hearing of his Church, and therefore ordereth, that he ſhall continue as formerly their Paſtor; but the ſaid Church of Tonneias ſhall alſo for their part take care, as in Conſcience they are bound, that his neceſſities be ſupplied, and a comfortable maintenance be provided for him. And in the mean time their Actings and Proceedings, who procured his Congé and Diſmiſſion, are very much blamed, as alſo their Deputies and Monſieur Monjoux, who were all preſent in this Aſſembly, were cenſured, and their Clubs and private Cabals about Church-matters out of Conſiſtory were all reproved, and particularly that Chicannery and contentious humour of theirs in getting all their Acts expedited and diſpatched before Publick Notaries and Secular Judges. Wherefore this National Synod doth adviſe and conjure them in the name of our Lord Jeſus to be reconciled, and at peace among themſelves: which theſe perſons now preſent did readily yield and accord unto, and as a pledge and token thereof did mutually take each other by the hand, promiſing that they would deal and mediate effectually with their abſent Parties to be at peace alſo; and the Paſtors of Lower Languedoc, as they return homeward, ſhall ride over unto Tonneins, and labour to make up, and conciliate all theſe differences. And whereas the Pariſh of Dunet was heretofore incorporated with the Church of Tonneins, it ſhall be conjoyned and reunited to it. And in caſe any new difficulties ſhould be ſtarted about it, the next Provincial Synod is charged by the Authority of this Aſſembly to aſſoil and remove them. And it the ſaid Pariſh yield its conſent to be united with that of Tonneins, the ſaid Church ſhall take an eſpecial care about the ſafe going and coming of their Paſtor in the exerciſe of his Miniſtry among them. And as for that particular fact of John Carrier, who complains of his being depoſed from his Office in the Elderſhip without any juſt occaſion, the afore-mentioned Deputies are charged to hear him upon the place, and to do him right by a final Judgment on his Cauſe, and they ſhall do the ſame for the Deacon, who alſo makes the like complaint as the Elder. And it is farther decreed, that there ſhall be twenty Crowns paid out of the common Stock of the ſaid Church and Town unto the Sieurs Faſſas and Carrier, to defray their Expences, and to recompence them for their Coſts and Trouble in this buſineſs, which could not amount upon a moderate computation unto a leſſer ſum.
3. The Church of Angouleſine, together with their Paſtor Mr. Hog, complained of the Synod of Xaintonge, for condemning the ſaid Church to pay unto the Heirs of Monſieur Mauget Vivian, their late Paſtor, the ſum of ſix hundred and twelve Livers, and that it ſhould be paid out of their portion of Moneys given by his Majeſty unto the ſaid Church. This Aſſembly judgeth that the ſaid Mr. Hog hath done very well in thus appealing, becauſe thoſe Moneys granted us by the King, are only appropriated unto Paſtors in actual ſervice, ſo that the Provincial Synod did wrong the ſaid Church of Angouleſme by that their Judgment. And upon conſideration had of the Heirs of Mr. Mauget Vivian deceaſed, and their great poverty, and the deep poverty of the ſaid Church, and the right that it hath unto the Moneys of his Majeſties Bounty, there was adjudged unto thoſe Heirs the ſum of three hundred Livers, and the ſaid Province of Xaintonge, Aulnix, and Augoumois is ordered to make payment of it unto them out of the Moneys, which are in the hands of the Receiver General for the fourth quarter of the years 1604, and 1605.
4. The Church of Saujon appealed from the laſt Provincial Synod of Xaintonge held in their Town, for that it had obliged the ſaid Church to give twelve Sermons every year unto the Pariſh of Medis, and to celebrate once in the year the Lord's Supper in it, the ſaid Pariſh paying the ſum of an hundred Livers towards the maintenance of their Paſtor; the Church of Saujon declaring, that through the goodneſs of God they were well able to maintain their own Miniſter, without any aſſiſtance from the ſaid Pariſh. This Aſſembly ordained, That thoſe of Medis ſhould ordinarily attend upon Divine Service in the Church of Saujon, but that Mr. Bonnett ſhould ſometimes viſit them as his conveniencies and occaſions may ſuffer him, without obliging him to time. But and if the ſaid Pariſh of Medis ſhould rather like to incorporate it ſelf with Meſchiers, or any other Church, or would have a Paſtor of its own, which is left wholly to their own choice and liberty, then the Church of Saujon ſhall be acquitted and diſcharged of all relation to them, and Medis unto them reſpectively, nor ſhall the one lay claim or pretend unto any thing of or from the other.
5. Monſieur Vaiſſé Paſtor of the Church of Campagnac appealed from a Decree of the Synod of Higher Languedoc and Higher Guyenne held at Realmont, by which the ſaid Church of Campagnac was joyned unto the Colloquy of Lower Quercy, in caſe it provided it ſelf of another Paſtor, or if it would keep the ſaid Vaiſſè, then the ſaid Church was joyned unto the Colloquy of Albigeois, yet not hindering the ſaid Church to conteſt its rights and priviledges before this Aſſembly. Monſieur Benoiſt Deputy for the Colloquy of Lower Quercy (in which quality his Commiſſion was approved, without obliging him to demand leave of his Church of Montauban) was heard ſpeak on behalf of that Colloquy. Whereupon this National Synod confirmed the Judgment of the Provincial Synod, judging that it was in no wiſe expedient that the ſaid Vaiſſé ſhould be turned over to the Colloquy of Lower Quercy, and ordained that he ſhould continue in his Paſtoral Office and Relation unto the Church of Campagnac, which ſhould be joyned to the Colloquy of Albigeois, which is ordered to bear with the ſaid Mr. Vaiſſé, although he cannot come ſo often as he would unto the ſaid Colloquy, eſpecially if the places be far diſtant one from the other.
6. Monſieur Tenans Paſtor of the Church of Montauban, and Rector of that Univerſity, appealed from an Ordinance of the Synod of the Higher Languedoc and Guyenne, which having deputed extraordinarily ſome Paſtors to examine two Candidates for the Profeſſion of the Greek Tongue, had devolved the Expences of their Journey, and abode upon the Stock of the ſaid Univerſity, and had deprived him the ſaid Rector of his Vote in judging of the Capacities of the two Competitors. This Aſſembly judged that the Rector had done very well in thus appealing. For as to the firſt point, it is but juſt that the Coſts ſhould be defrayed by them, who through their contentious temper do draw perſons before extraordinary Judges. And as for the other Article, the Rector could not be deprived of his Vote, unleſs they had juſt cauſes to except againſt him, whereof the reſt ſhould take cogniſance.
7. The Church of Benet and St. Maixiere appealed from a Decree of the Synod of St. Maixant confirmed by the Provincial Synod of Poictou, for returning back again unto the Church of Champdenys thoſe Members which had left them ſince the gathering and ſetling of the Church of St. Maixant. This Affair was remanded unto the Provincial Synod, to be reviſed by it, and when as they have well conſidered all circumſtances of the conveniencies and inconveniencies relating to thoſe Churches, the ſaid Synod ſhall paſs a final Judgment thereupon, and provide for one, without any ways in the leaſt prejudicing or damnifying the other.
8. The Colloquy of Lower Poictou appealed from an Ordinance of their Provincial Synod, which had incorporated the Church of Maillezay with the Church of Benet for a time But this Appeal was rejected, and the Order of the Synod was confirmed as long as it made good for the Edification of both Churches.
9. An Elder of the Church of Marans appealed from the Synod of Xaintonge held at Saujon, for lending the Sieur de la Violette one of the Paſtors of the Church of Marans unto the Church of St. John d'Angely, for one whole year, after which term he might return again to Marans, which made Monſieur Pillard hereupon to leave them. Several of the Inhabitants of Marans were called in, yea and thoſe of the beſt quality and account among them, who offered unto this National Synod, that they would maintain two Paſtors, without ever in the leaſt taxing or burdening thoſe perſons (who deſired the departure of Monſieur Pillard from them) above what they were ordinarily rated and aſſeſſed, or what they would freely give and contribute of their own accord. This Aſſembly approving and applauding their Zeal, and finding their offers to be very juſt and equitable, and contrariwiſe blaming and condemning the Ingratitude of that other party, who would force away their Antient Paſtor, doth ordain that both thoſe Miniſters ſhall be and continue to be the ordinary and ſtanding Paſtors of that Church, which ſhall pay unto each of them a like equal ſtipend, without leaving one behind in Arrears, when and whilſt the other is paid totally and entirely. And in caſe they do not obey this Decree, and that one of theſe Miniſters ſhould come to be lent or removed, it ſhall be the Sieur de la Violette, who ſhall tarry yet three months longer at the Church of St. John d'Angely, over and beſides that year, which the Provincial Synod had determined, and that term being expired, he ſhall return unto the Church of Marans.
10. Monſieur de Bontoux Miniſter of the Church of St. Africk appealed from the Provincial Synod of Higher Languedoc & Guyenne, for that they had ſuſpended him the exerciſe of his Miniſtry a whole month, becauſe he went out of their Aſſembly againſt their poſitive prohibition. This Appeal was vacated, and the Colloquy which abetted him in this his groundleſs Appeal was alſo cenſured
11. Whereas Monſieur Raffin hath executed an Order of the Provincial Synod of Higher Languedoc and Guyenne in the City of Milhaud, that the Elders of the Church there ſhould communicate at the Lord's Table before the Judges and Conſuls, and this conformably to the Deciſions and Decrees of our former National Synods; this Act of his was approved and ratified, and the Appeal of the ſaid Magiſtrates diſannulled; nor indeed did they inſiſt much upon it, but gave up their Cauſe.
12. Whereas the Provincial Synod of Lower Guyenne had reſtored Monſieur Reynauld unto his Paſtoral Office in the Church of Bourdeaux, this their Judicial Decree is confirmed by the Authority of this preſent Aſſembly, and the rather, becauſe that thoſe perſons, who had appealed from it, have dropt their Appeal, and ſeem to be well ſatisfied.
13. Monſieur des Fontaines appealed from the Provincial Synod of Poictou held at Chaſtelheraud, for that they had judged he was ſufficiently reimburſt by the Churches of that Province all the Charges expended by him in his Journey unto the General Aſſembly of Saumur held in the year 1596. And whereas he pretended other ſumms to be owing to him, for ſeveral other journeys, they ſent him unto the Governours of our Cautionary Towns to be recompenſed by them, becauſe he was their Deputy unto that Aſſembly, and that they received two thirds of the Moneys granted us by his Majeſty. Upon hearing this whole affair, this Aſſembly did alſo judge that he was ſufficiently ſatisfied by thoſe Churches of Poictou; who yet were exhorted to intreat thoſe Governors to perform their duties, and pay their juſt debt unto the ſaid Mr. des Fontaines.
14. The Appeal of the Church of Nage and it's Annexes, about what is owing unto their late Paſtor Monſieur Terrond was diſmiſſed over to the Provincial Synod of Lower Languedoc, who by their judicial ſentence ſhall put a final period unto that controverſie.
15. Theophilus Bluett Lord of la Combe, formerly Paſtor of the Churches at Laſſay in the Province of Mayne, and of Rouelle in Normandy, having certified under his own hand, that he acquieſced in that judicial ſentence paſt upon him by the Deputies of the Synod of Anjou, Touraine and Maine, who had depoſed him from the Miniſterial Office, and all acts and exerciſes thereof, tho now he brought his Appeal from them. This Aſſembly doth confirm that ſentence of the Deputies, and deelareth the ſaid Bluett to be totally depoſed from the holy Miniſtry of the Goſpel, and that notice hereof ſhall be given unto all the Churches.
16. The Synod of Dolphiny having paſt another Vote, that Monſieur Chamier ſhould be once more importunately ſollicited to accept of the Profeſſors Chair in Divinity in their Univerſity of Die: The Church of Montlimart brought their Appeal from if unto this Aſſembly, which did thereupon revive and ratify the former Decrees of thoſe two National Synods of Gergeau and Gap, which had left unto the Churches their Paſtors, and the Paſtors unto their Churches, and that they ſhould and be divided one from the other, but by their joint and mutual conſent, and the ſaid Provincial Synod was cenſured to have inſiſted again upon this affair, after that it had been determined by two National Synods.
17. The Church of Lions appealed from the Synod of Burgundy, which would conſtrain them to pay the fifth penny of all Charities received by them to the maintenance of Propoſans, notwithſtanding thoſe many reaſons, arguments and exceptions they had urged and brought againſt it. This Aſſembly having heard both parties doth leave the ſaid Church in full liberty freely to diſpoſe of their own Poor's Money, but yet it adviſeth them ſeriouſly to conſider what is expedient to be disburſed by them in charities, and whither they can keep a good Conſcience in neglecting a work of ſo great neceſſity.
18. The Lord of Rochefort and the Inhabitants of that Town profeſſing the Reformed Religion appealed from the Synod of Xaintonge held at St. John D'Angely, for adjudging Mr. Chevalier to the Paſtoral Office in the Church of Soubize. Upon heating of both parties, and peruſal of all Articles of Agreement made firſt and laſt between them: This Aſſembly confirms Monſieur Chevalier in his Miniſtry to the ſaid Church of Soubize, whereof he is now the fixed Paſtor, and the Members of the Church of Rochefort have full liberty to compound the matter with the Church of Soubize upon thoſe terms imported in their ſecond Agreement made with that Conſiſtory, or elſe they may Incorporate themſelves with the Church of Tonnay-charante: and both the ſaid Chevalier and that Conſiſtory are Cenſured for uſing them of Rochefort ſo rigorouſly, as to refuſe Communion with them at the Lords Table, and to hinder the Baptizing of their Infants in their Church Aſſembly.
19. The Churches of Barbezieux and Xaintes contended about the Miniſtry of Monſieur Petit, who pretending that the Colloquy of Janzac held at Pons, had diſcharged him from the Church of Barbezieux, becauſe of their great ingratitude to him, and in caſe they did not ſatisfie him all Arrerages of Sallary due unto him for his ſervice among them in two months time, and for that the judgment of the ſaid Colloquy had been confirmed by the Synod: and the ſaid Petit not having been intirely payed what was owing him, he had therefore left Barbezieux, and ſettled at Xaintes, to which he was lent by the Synod for a month, and now he had contracted with the Church there. And the Church of Barbezieux complaining of this matter unto the mixt Aſſembly held at St. John d' Angely, a Decree was there made, that Monſieur Petit ſhould return unto the ſaid Church of Barbezieux, and that the Church ſhould come to accompt with him before the Colloquy. And Monſieur Roy Elder of the Church of Xaintes did hereupon bring in his Appeal, becauſe the ſaid Synod declared to him, that according to the Canons of our Diſcipline it had full power finally to determine this matter, and that the ſaid Petit did not in the leaſt repugne or oppoſe it: Who being after ſummoned unto that Colloquy, which was ordered to examine his Accompts, did yet nevertheleſs make no appearance; for which cauſe the ſaid Colloquy had enjoined him to return unto his Church on pain of being ſuſpended, from which he now appealed, and hath ever ſince continued his Miniſtry in the Church of Xaintes, notwithſtanding all Counſels and exhortations given him by the Colloquy of Xaintonge to be adviſed and ruled by them. And in this ſtate hath this affair ſtood till the laſt Synod of the Province held at Saujon, unto which it had been remanded, and by that Synod it was diſmiſſed over unto this Aſſembly.
Now altho the ingratitude of the Church of Barbezieux be very notorious, and well known unto this Aſſembly, yet becauſe the pretended Liberty was only conditional and threatned, the ſaid Monſieur Petit could not make uſe of it as he hath done, yea tho it had been abſolute, he ought not to have uſurpt that power ſo as to ally himſelf unto another Church without having firſt conſulted the Colloquy, and till he had firſt obtained Letters Teſtimonial from it, and the Church in which he laſt ſerved: and therefore the ſaid Mr. Petit was moſt ſharply cenſured, and he was told to his face, that if ever he fell into the like offence a ſecond time, he ſhould be depoſed from the ſacred Miniſtry. And the Church of Xaintes alſo was judged worthy of a ſevere Cenſure for practiſing by unlawful means to deprive the Church of Barbezieux of its Paſtor, and the ſaid Church of Barbezieux was juſtly condemned for their ill treatment of, and unworthy carriage to the ſaid Mr. Petit. Upon which account, and becauſe both thoſe Churches are faulty and blame-worthy, the ſaid Mr. Petit was removed from both, and neither of them ſhould enjoy him, and he is put upon the Roll of diſtribution, among thoſe Miniſters who are to be provided of Churches by this preſent National Synod in the cloſe of it; which judgeth that both thoſe Churches have forfeited the Miniſtry of the bleſſed Goſpel of Chriſt, one having loſt it for their ſin of ingratitude in demanding work, and enjoying the labours of their Miniſter, and denying him bread, by which he and his poor Family might live: And the other is deprived of the Ordinances, becauſe they endeavoured to rob another Church of its Paſtor, and would get him by unjuſt and unlawful means, quite contrary to the Canons of our Diſcipline. Moreover this Aſſembly hath rejected and diſannulled the appeal of Monſieur Roy from the mixt Aſſembly before mentioned, and that alſo brought by Monſieur Petit from the Colloquy of Jonzac. And as for the Appeal of the Church of Barbezieux from the Decree paſt in the laſt Synod or Saujon, this Aſſembly cannot blame the patience and indulgence of that Synod, becauſe of all former circumſtances; but yet it cannot but cenſure the laſt Colloquy held at Abaigne for producing before us Acts and Writings ſigned when their meeting was broken up, and unto which neither the Moderators nor any other of the Paſtors had given their conſent. And that Church of Barbezieux ſhall come to a full account with the ſaid Mr. Petit, and ſhall give him intire ſatisfaction betwixt this and the next Synod, on pain of being for ever deprived of the Miniſtry of God's holy Word and Sacraments.
20. Monſieur Roſſell at preſent Miniſter in the City and Church of Orange, appealed from a Decree of the Synod of Lower Languedoc. But this Aſſembly diſmiſſed it over to the Provincial Synod of Vivaretz, which is fully authorized finally to decide and determine the matters in controverſie betwixt them.
21. The Church of Mauzé in Aulnix, having oppoſed by an Appeal the Liberty granted unto Monſieur de la …ave by the Colloquy of Aulnix, and confirmed by the Synod of Saujon, and not appearing to make good the Contents of their Appeal, the Judicial Sentence of the ſaid Colloquy and Synod was confirmed. And the Appeal of the Church of Jonzac for its being ſeparated from that of Clan, which was decreed by the ſame Synod; and the Appeal of the Church of Mirambeau about the tranſlating of Monſieur Roſſignol from them unto the Church of Arvert, neither of theſe Appeals being abetted and defended by any perſon, they did both fall to the ground of courſe, and were both declared null, and deſert.
22. Whereas the Church of Mirambeau having demanded of the Synod of Xaintonge a portion of his Majeſties Moneys, was refuſed the grant thereof, becauſe they had no Paſtor, and do now therefore make their Appeal. This Aſſembly judgeth that the ſaid Synod proceeded well and wiſely, and that the Appeal of the ſaid Church is cauſleſs and unreaſonable. But that Provincial Synod is adviſed to preſent one of their Propoſans, who is maintained out of our common Stock, unto this vacant Church.