The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 20 (Privas) · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. Obſervations made on Reading the Acts of the next National Synod of St. Maixant.
1. IN purſuance of the Decree made by the National Synod of St. Maixant in their Obſervations on the 11th Canon of the firſt Chapter of our Church-Diſcipline, all the Provinces are ſtrictly enjoyned, on pain of Cenſure, to have a very careful Eye over their Miniſters, that they preach not up any new Doctrines, and that they affect not in the Pulpit, nor in Writing, nor in any other Diſcourſes, any phraſes or modes of ſpeech which be ſtrange and forreign to the Sacred Scriptures, and that they interſperſe not Latine, Greek, nor Hebrew ſentences in their Sermons, nor ſurcharge them with many prophane Hiſtories. And thoſe Deputies who ſhall be ſent by the Provinces unto the next National Synod, are charged to bring their Memoirs with them, whether this Decree had been obſerved or not.
2. Monſieur Chamier having preſented his Controverſial Writings unto this Synod, according as he was enjoyned by the laſt National Synod, he received the thanks of the whole Aſſembly for the great progreſs he had made in them, and he was earneſtly intreated and encouraged to finiſh his deſigned Labours, and that he would be pleaſed to print the three firſt Tomes at once, and to aſſiſt him in the great and neceſſary Charges he muſt needs be at, the ſum of two thouſand Livers is ordered to be paid him now in hand.
3. Monſieur Perrin alſo preſenting his Hiſtory of the Albingenſes and Waldenſes, it was put into the hands of Meſſieurs Rouſſett, Cuville, de Preaux, Petit and Joly, Miniſters of the Goſpel, who were ordered to bring in their Opinion of it, and in conſideration of his Charges, this Synod orders him the ſum of three hundred Livers.
4. The Provinces which have not obſerved that Decree of the abovementioned Synod, which forbad all additions to be made at the cloſe of Propoſitions and Colloquies are exhorted conſcientiouſly to obey it.
5. In the obſervations made by the ſame Synod upon the Acts of the former National Synod held at Rochell, in which there was great diſcourſe and debate about Monks, who quitting their Cloyſters, did joyn themſelves to the Communion of the Reformed Churches; but Information being now given of divers Scandals arriving from the publick declaration made by theſe Monks in our Churches: This Aſſembly judged that it was in no wiſe expedient for the ſaid Monks to make any declarations publickly until ſuch time as we have good experience of their abilities ſincerity, and diſcretion. However their ſimple and unfeigned Abjurations ſhall be admitted either publickly or in the Conſiſtories.
6. That Article of the ſame National Synod about thoſe Remonſtrances which ſhould have been made in the Chamber of Nerac, ſhall be razed.
7. Nothing ſhall be altered in that Article of the aforeſaid Synod, which had approved the adminiſtration of Baptiſm before Sermons, and at the ordinary publick Prayers, excepting in that clauſe, which ſpecifies the lawfulneſs of this Action, in caſe there be apparent danger of death, and that the Conſiſtory do atteſt it, or at leaſt ſome of the Elders, becauſe this clauſe ſeems to favour that Opinion of the neceſſity of Baptiſm: And the remaining part of the ſaid Article ſhall be in force until the next National Synod, and in this Interval the Provinces are charged to Study the point diligently, and to come prepared with the judgments of their reſpective Conſiſtories, Colloquies and Provincial Synods, and to ſend them in writing confirmed by ſolid Arguments; that ſo after mature conſideration had of the whole, the Caſe may be finally decided by plurality of Votes gathered from the ſeveral Deputies of that Synod. And that this may be the more eaſily effected, Monſieur Sonis, du Moulin, le Faucheur, and la Faye, are nominated to put in writing the reaſons both of the one ſide and other, which have been here urged, and a Copy of them ſhall be carried hence together with the Acts of this preſent Aſſembly unto their Provinces by the Deputies.
8. The Deputies of Berry requeſting that ſome courſe might be took to avoid the violating of that Canon made at St. Maixant, Bearne.which forbad all Profeſſors in Divinity to intermeddle with Political Aſſemblies: This Synod ordaineth, that it be punctually obſerved, and in caſe any of them do accept of ſuch a Deputation, whoever he be, ſhall be puniſhed with Suſpenſion from his Profeſſorſhip for the ſpace of ſix months.
9. Information being made of the great disorders in the Provincial Synods of Higher and Lower Languedoc, of the tricks and ſubtle under-hand dealings (fitter for Attorneys and Petty-Foggers, than for ſuch grave Aſſemblies) commonly practiſed by them, and of the contempt of Church-Diſcipline, from whence have ſprung up very many and grievous ſcandals: This Synod doth moſt ſtrictly enjoyn all Provincial Synods, and moſt eſpecially thoſe now mentioned, that for the future they do reform and conduct themſelves better, on pain of being dealt withal as violators of the Diſcipline, and that in the ſevereſt manner; and particularly it threatens the Moderators in thoſe Meetings with Suſpenſion from their Charges, in caſe they connive at them, and do not their utmoſt to redreſs theſe irregular and ſcandalous actions.