The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 20 (Privas) · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. Of Appeals.
1. THE Church of Orange complaining by her Deputies, that they were excluded from the Political Aſſembly held in Dolphiny. This Aſſembly remands them unto the next General Political Aſſembly, unto which they ſhall preſent their complaint, if they judge meet.
2. Maſter Gautier complained on behalf of the Church of Annonay, that they had never been reimburſt their Expences, which they were neceſſitated to make in getting ſupplies, during the abſence of their Paſtor Monſieur Faucheur, who was deputed to the Aſſembly of Saumur. This Synod ordereth the Province of Vivaretz to ſee the ſaid Church of Annonay be paid an hundred Livers, including in that ſum the ſix and thirty already received by them.
3. The Church of Armagnac appealed from a Decree of the Provincial Synod of Lower Languedoc held at Florac, which had impoſed on them the Sieur Thevond to be their Paſtor againſt their conſent. And the ſaid Mr. Thevond alſo appealed from the Synod of Montpellier for removing him againſt his will from Aigues-mortes. This Aſſembly after, hearing of all Parties; and peruſal of the Acts of both theſe Synods, judgeth that the ſaid Province hath very much tranſgreſt the Diſcipline, by lending the ſaid Thevond unto the Church of Aigues-mortes, and by reſtoring the ſaid Paſtor unto the Church of Armagnac; and therefore ordaineth, that the next Colloquy or Synod ſhall provide the ſaid Thevond of another Church, and that he be removed from that of Aigues-mortes, or of Armagnac, and the Church of Armagnac is ſharply cenſured for her ſtrange proceedings in obſtructing the return of the Sieur Thevond to them, as alſo Benezet, Elder of that Church, and his Companions, who without any juſt cauſe given, did proſecute the Expulſion of the ſaid Thevond from among them. Moreover, we do very greatly condemn him the ſaid Thevond, for his pragmaticalneſs, and unneceſſary intermedlings with Civil Affairs, as alſo for his unhandſome actings in the celebration of his Marriage, that he might avoid the Tying of the Point, a notorious Character of his Infidelity and Diſtruſt of God, deſerving a Depoſal from the Sacred Miniſtry, and the Sieur Chambrun, Paſtor of Niſmes, who bleſſed that Marriage, is liable unto the ſame cenſure. But this Aſſembly contents it ſelf with that ſofter Reprehenſion given him by the Colloquy, hoping that it will redound unto his future benefit: And in caſe he hath not as yet fully ſatisfied the Cenſure impoſed on him by the ſaid Colloquy, he is ordered immediately to fulfil it, on pain of being ſuſpended from his Miniſtry.
4. The Deputies of the Church of Aigues-mortes complained of that Article of the Aſſembly at Saumur, which authorized the proſecution of Monſieur de Berticheres at the inſtigation of the Lords General Deputies, and the ſaid Deputies of Aigues-mortes remonſtrated that the ſaid Aſſembly was ſurprized for otherwiſe it had been impoſſible for the ſaid de Berticheres to have been admitted into the ſaid Church. The Synod refuſed to take cogniſance of this Affair, it having been determined by the ſaid Aſſembly of Saumur; and becauſe it conceived that a ſubſequent Aſſembly of the ſame nature could beſt judge of its own preceding Sentence, and of whatſoever might be propoſed with reference unto that ſubject; and therefore remands the Plaintiffs thither; but it charged our Lords the General Deputies at Court, to give order, that this Affair be remanded unto that Aſſembly there to be determined, and in the mean while nothing ſhall be innovated or altered in that Article.
5. Monſieur Benoiſt, Paſtor in the Church of Moutauban, and de la Vialle Lieutenant Criminell in the ſame City appeared in this Aſſembly, craving Remedies againſt thoſe Diſſentions which have ariſen about the Miniſtry of the ſaid Benoiſt in the ſaid Church. This Aſſembly deputed the Sieurs Perrin and Ferrand Paſtors, and de Mallerett, Glatignan and Bonnett Elders, to paſs over unto Montauban, and after hearing of the ſeveral Parties, to find out ſome means of reconciling them, and to contrive ſome expedient whereby their Differences may be compoſed; and upon report of the whole matter by theſe Deputies, the Synod declared, that of right Monſieur Benoiſt belongs unto the Church of Montauban, he having been adjudged as ſuch by the National Synod of St. Maixant: Yet nevertheleſs, in regard of the preſent Diſpoſition of that Church of Montauban, it decrees the ſaid Benoiſt to continue in his Miniſtry of the Churches of Realville and Albyas until the next Provincial Synod; in which, if the ſaid Benoiſt be not demanded by the Church of Montauban by their general and unanimous Conſent, according to the Diſcipline, the ſaid Provincial Synod is enjoyned to provide the ſaid Benoiſt of ſome other Church, wherein he ſhall make his Reſidence; and the whole ſhall be ſo managed, as that the honour of his Miniſtry may be kept unblemiſhed, becauſe he is not diſcharged from his Church for any fault committed by him, but meerly for the peace of it.
6. The Elder of of the Church of Aulais in Sevennez complaining of the Synod of Lower Languedoc for impoſing Monſieur Jarry as Paſtor upon their Church againſt their will, and this teſtified by him openly in their Synodical Metting: That Province is cenſured for breaking of our Diſcipline: And the next Colloquy which ſhall ſit is to provide the Church of Aulais of another Paſtor, and the Sieur Jarry of another Church, and the ſaid Province ſhall defray the Charges of the ſaid Jarry, amounting to the ſum of two hundred Livers.
7. The Agreement made betwixt the Church of St. Antonine and that of Verfeuil upon their Appeal brought hither, is approved by this Aſſembly, which doth alſo confirm Monſieur Guerin in the Paſtoral office of the ſaid Church of St. Antonine.
8. Monſieur Bayly Paſtor in the Church of Lyons preſented in this Aſſembly an Account of the difference between his Church and the Province of Burgundy: And the Deputies of that Province being heard requeſting that the Decree of their Synod concerning the fifth penny of the poors Money might be obſerved by the ſaid Church of Lyons: This Aſſembly ordered that they ſhould punctually obſerve and practiſe that Canon of the National Synod of Rochell relating to this matter, and it ſhould alſo be done in and by all the other Churches of that Province.
9. The Colloquies of St. Germain, Anduze, and Saulne demanding A ſeparation from the Synod of Lower Languedoc, that for time to come they might make a diſtinct Province; The whole affair having been Seriouſly weighed and conſidered, as alſo that the Synod of Lower Languedoc compoſed of an hundred Paſtors and as many Elders, are of an exceeding diſtance, and that their great number brings the greater Confuſion: This Aſſembly judgeth the ſaid ſeparation to be very needful for their Eccleſiaſtical meetings; And that for the future, the ſix aforeſaid Colloquies ſhall be divided into two Provincial Synods, whereof the one ſhall conſiſt of the Colloquies afore-mentioned, viz. of St. Germain, Anduze and Saulne, and ſhall be called the Synod of Sevennes and Gevaudan, and the other three Colloquies ſhall make another Synod called by the Name of the Synod of Lower Languedoc.
10. Monſieur Gautier did by his Proctor Captain Paſcall Appeal unto this Aſſembly from the Judgment given in the Synod of Bagnals againſt Monſieur Banſillon Faſtor of Aiguemortes, who conſidering his notorious Crimes, had not dealt ſeverely enough with him. This Aſſembly approveth of his Appeal, and judgeth that the Province for their lenity and gentle Cenſures of him, are themſelves worthy of the ſharpeſt Cenſures. And therefore it decreeth, that upon this very account, and for what hath been tranſacted in this Aſſembly concerning the ſaid Banſillon, and becauſe he hath poſitively denied thoſe matters, which ſince his Repentance he owneth and acknowledgeth, that he ſhall be ſuſpended from his Miniſtry for the ſpace of three months.
11. An Appeal was brought in the Name of the Lord Mareſchal de Leſdiguieres, Viſcount of Villemur, from an Order of the Provincial Synod held at Revel, which in purſuance of a Decree paſt in the preceding Colloquy, had ordained Monſieur Charles, Paſtor of the ſaid Town of Villemur, to abide and live there, notwithſtanding the inſtant deſires of the people to the contrary. This Aſſembly having heard the Commiſſioners deputed to examine this Affair, and peruſed their Evidences produced by them, and having heard both the ſaid Charles, and the Lord of Bellujon, Governour of the ſaid Villemur ſent by the ſaid Lord Mareſchal, who alſo joyned with him in this Appeal; it judgeth that the ſaid Sieur Charles hath incurred the Cenſures of the Church for his pragmaticalneſs in intermedling with State-matters, and for carrying unto the ſaid Lord Mareſchal a Libel fraught with defamatory Articles againſt the ſaid Governour de Bellujon; as alſo for bringing away with him Memorials of the ſaid Mareſchal, quite contrary to his intention. And in like manner is the ſaid Governour de Bellujon cenſured for not having firſt of all formed his Complaints in the Conſiſtory, and thence gradually proſecuted them in the Colloquy and Synod, according to the Rules of our Diſcipline, and for that he ſuffered his Family to ſeparate themſelves from the Body of the Church of Villemur, and to go and joyn themſelves in Communion elſewhere. And inaſmuch as there is little hopes that the ſaid Charles may for the future live quietly, and exerciſe profitably his Miniſtry in that ſaid Church, it is ordered, that the next Provincial Synod ſhall provide it of another Paſtor, and him of another convenient Church, and this without any impairment to his Reputation or Miniſtry. And theſe ſeveral Parties were mutually reconciled, pledging their words to bury in oblivion the remembrance of all paſt-matters, and that they would live for time to come in all Brotherly Love and Concord. And whereas the ſaid Charles complained, that the Expences in this Appeal and Cauſe, were too heavy a burden for his Church, the Province was ordered to provide therein according to Charity.
12. The Sieur Iſaac Boiteux Miniſter in the Church of Buſſy in Burgundy appealed; His Father, Mother, and the Paſtors of the Church of Geneva joyned with him in the ſaid Appeal, craving that he might be reſtored unto his aged Father, who is a Paſtor in the ſaid City of Geneva; their Letters alſo were tendered unto this Synod, grounded upon this, that he was only a Loane unto the ſaid Province, which yet avows the contrary, and that the ſaid Boiteux promiſed without any reſtriction or reſervation to ſerve them during life. But he not appearing in perſon in this Aſſembly, the whole affair was diſmiſſed over to the Province of Vivaretz, with full authority from this National Synod to make a final deciſion of it.
13. The Colloquy of Higher Poictou Appealed, complaining of the Synod of Poictou held at Thouars, for diſmembring the Church of Marcillac from their Colloquy, and joyning it to the Colloquy of middle Poictou: Upon a full hearing of the matter, this Aſſembly approved the Judgment of the ſaid Synod.
14. The Sieur Peyrol Paſtor in the Church of Montpellier complained of an Order made by the Synod of Lower Languedoc, importing that the Paſtors of Montpellier ſhould have a careful Eye over his Sermons in the Church, and Lectures in the School. But the Deputies of the ſaid Province proteſting that it was never the Intention of the Synod to make any ſuch Order, or that it ſhould be executed, and that they having razed it out of their Synodical Regiſter, (which alſo was ratified by the very next ſubſequent Synod) might well content him. This Aſſembly judgeth, that this Atteſtation of the Deputies may ſuffice him, becauſe for that good and laudable Teſtimony given him, we believe that the Article was null both before and after the razing of it. And the ſaid Sieur Peyrol is exhorted to undertake couragiouſly, and to diſcharge faithfully his Profeſſorſhip of Divinity according to the deſire, approbation and expectation of his Province.
He afterwards revolted.15. The Sieur de Souſais appeared perſonally in the Synod, and having been heard in his defence againſt the Accuſations of the Province of the Iſle of France, who proved that he had deſerted his Church of Bordes without leave, and that he had been already abſent from it the ſpace of eighteen months. This Aſſembly diſmiſſed the final Judgment of his Caſe unto the Provincial Synod of Berry, with full Authority to determine it; in which he ſhall juſtifie himſelf, as alſo from all other Crimes whereof he is ſuſpected and accuſed, and the time and place of that Synods meeting ſhall be ſignified to him; till which we judge it alſo expedient that he ſhall not exerciſe his Miniſtry.
16. The Complaints and Accuſations brought in againſt Mr. Jeremy Ferrier, Paſtor of the Church of Niſmes, were heard, as he was alſo in his Defence and Anſwers. This Aſſembly over-looking many of his miſcarriages, for which he had been dealt withal particularly, and by word of mouth privately reproved, and for which he deſerved a very ſharp Cenſure; it doth now admoniſh and charge him to give glory unto God by a penitential Acknowledgment of his ſins committed both in his Office of Paſtor and Profeſſor, and in his management of Civil matters, and more eſpecially for his abandoning the Church of Paris without leave from it firſt obtained, contrary to the promiſe made by him at his Admiſſion into the Miniſtry there, that he would always continue in their ſervice: Item, he was reproved for his great neglect of his Profeſſoral Office ih Divinity, which he could not diſcharge whilſt he made ſeveral Journeys unto Court, and to Political Aſſemblies, contrary to what had been decreed in the National Synod of St. Maixant, and for not taking care about the ſupply of his Place, and diſcharge of his Office by ſome fit perſon during his Abſence; and farther, for his intermedling with the Moneys of the Univerſity, And appropriating more of them than was his due, even the ſum of three thouſand one hundred and three Livers, five Sous, and ſix Deniers to his own private uſe.It was commonly reported of him, that he was bought off by the Popiſh Clergy by a Penſion of 3000 Crown…; if they were ſo liberal; but he turned Apoſtate afterward, and was excommunicate. See the Synod of Tonneins, the laſt Act. Item, for giving his conſent to the publication of Captain Gautier's Letters, which he ſhould rather have ſuppreſſed; they having cauſed ſuch contentions as lie not now in his power to allay, unleſs he imbark himſelf in tricks and ſhifts utterly unbecoming his Miniſterial Calling. For which cauſes it was ordained, that he ſhould by Letters written with his own hand, give full ſatisfaction to the Church of Paris, and clear his hands of the aforeſaid Moneys belonging to the Univerſity; and farther, to obviate and ſtifle all fears, jealouſies, reports and ſuſpicions concerning him, he is expreſly forbidden to preſent himſelf in any Political Aſſemblies, be they Provincial or General, for the ſpace of ſix years. And out of kindneſs to him, and that the honour of his Miniſtry may not be blaſted, it is decreed, that he ſhall exerciſe it in ſome other Province, as may be judged moſt conducing to the Glory of God, and the Edification of the Church.
17. The Church of Muſſaye brought in their Appeal from a Decree of the Synod of Brittany held at Blain in the month of November laſt, for that they were deprived of their portion of Moneys granted unto the Churches by the King. This Aſſembly reverſeth that Decree, and ordaineth that the ſaid Church ſhall injoy her part and ſhare of thoſe Moneys as well as the other Churches of the Province, and the payment that hath been now made her upon this order ſhall be allowed in the Accounts of the Receiver of that ſaid Province: And the Lord Baron de le Mouſſaye is praiſed for his ſingular zeal and good affection teſtified by him in the advancement of Gods glory and the Settlement of the Churches.
18. The Province of Lower Guyenne is obliged to ſee that order of the Synod of St. Maixant better obſerved; for it ordained that Monſieur Salmon, who was lent by the National Synod of Rochel for two years unto the ſaid Province, ſhall be reſtored unto the Province of Berry: And the ſaid Province of Lower Guyenne is injoyned to Reſtore the ſaid Monſieur Salmon, or to reimburſe the Province of Berry their charges expended by them in his Education at the Univerſity: And in caſe they neglect to execute this Decree, the Receiver General ſhall detain in his hands three portions of His Majeſties Moneys belonging unto that Province, until ſuch time as this Order be performed. And in caſe the ſaid Salmon be diſobedient, refuſing either to return unto them, or make them ſatisfaction, as is before ordained, he ſhall be, as he is now declared, ſuſpended from the Miniſtry.
19. The Appeal of Monſieur Maillard from a Decree of the Provincial Synod of Berry concerning the Sieur Alix, is diſannulled: Becauſe an Appeal brought by a private perſon, who hath no Office in the Church, againſt a Synod, is utterly unworthy of any conſideration.
20. This Aſſembly remanded back again the Appeal of Monſieur de Montſanglard (Paſtor of the Church of Corbigny St. Leonard, from a Decree of the Synod of Berry held at Caſtillion upon Loir) unto the ſame Synod, which is commanded to provide him for his yearly maintenance the ſum of five hundred Livers, comprizing in it the Rent-charge of his houſe. And in caſe his Church through poverty be not able to pay him ſo much, then the ſaid Synod ſhall make it up unto him from the Moneys granted us by His Majeſty.
21. The Church of Saint Loo in Normandy complained, that whereas the Inhabitants of Hauteville going to the Church of Havre for the Worſhip of God, had formerly contributed towards the maintenance of their Paſtor; they now were by the Provincial Synod diſcharged from the ſaid Contribution: This Aſſembly doth ratifie the Decree of the ſaid Synod.
22. The Sieur Mazett, one of the Paſtors in the Church of Metz, in the Dukedom of Lorrain, appearing in this Aſſembly, reported the Diviſions fallen out in his ſaid Church on this occaſion, that the Deacons having by an antient Cuſtom diſtributed to the Communicants the Cup in the Lord's Supper, with theſe words, This Cup is the Communion in the Blood of Chriſt, omitted theſe words, which we bleſs. Alſo there were read Letters from the ſaid Church of Metz, containing their Arguments upon which they grounded their obſervation of that Cuſtom. This Aſſembly having maturely pondered whatever was ſaid by both Parties, doth confirm the Sentence given by the National Synod of St. Maixant, which allowed Elders and Deacons in caſe of neceſſity to deliver the Cup, but without ſpeaking, founding this their Decree upon the example and practice of our Lord Jeſus, who only himſelf ſpake at his laſt Supper, but yet permitted his Apoſtles to diſtribute among themſelves the Bread and the Cup. And as to the abridgment of theſe words, which we bleſs, this Aſſembly judgeth, that none ſhould be employed, but ſuch as can authoritatively utter all the words of Inſtitution. Nor can the Example of the Church of Geneva any ways relieve the Church of Metz, becauſe that at Geneva, in their delivery of the Cup, the Deacons are ſilent, but not ſo the Paſtors. For which cauſes, and that the Authority and Reverence due unto this holy Sacrament, may be kept up and maintained, the ſaid Church is exhorted to conform it ſelf in this matter unto the Example and Practice of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and to the general Cuſtom of our Churches, and this to be done by the ſweeteſt ways poſſible, without any thing of violence.
23. This Aſſembly was informed, how that the Conſiſtory of the Church at Orleans, and in particular a certain Elder of it called Meſmein, did, (but with a previous Proteſtation to declare unto the Supream Magiſtrate, and to the Kings Attorney the matters tranſacted in it) ſet themſelves againſt an Order of the Provincial Synod held at Blois, ordaining a General Colloquy in purſuance of the Decrees of their former Provincial Synods, as alſo that the Sieur Eruet Doctor in Phyſick had writ a Defamatory Libel againſt that Canon of the Aſſembly of Saumur, which enjoyned all the Provinces to eſtabliſh Counſels for their mutual ſafety, and againſt that Decree of the ſaid Synod held at Blois: This Aſſembly reproving and condemning all theſe Proceedings, as being contrary to our Diſcipline, and to the Union of all our Churches, did Depute the Sieurs du Moulin, la Freſnaye, and Cartaud Paſtors, together with the Sieurs Bigot, Manevill, and du Bois Elders, as they return in their way homewards to paſs unto Orleans, and there to Aſſemble the Conſiſtory, and notify unto them the pleaſure of this National Synod, which is, that the Canons and orders of Saumur be obſerved, as beſt agreeing with our duty unto their Majeſties, and what had been practiſed during the life of Henry the Great of Glorious memory; and full Power is given unto the ſaid Commiſſioners to determine finally in the Name and Authority of this Aſſembly, of this affair, and to ſuſpend and remove all paſt exceſſes in and about it whatſoever, and the Charges of the ſaid Deputies, during their abode at Orleans, ſhall be defrayed by that Province.
24. The Appeal of Maſter John de Vaſſan Paſtor of the Church of the Caſtel upon Loir who ſtands accuſed of ſeveral Crimes, and ſuſpended by the Commiſſioners, which were Deputed by the Provincial Synod of Anjou, is diſmiſſed over to the next approaching Synod of that Province, and in caſe he do not appear in perſon to juſtify himſelf, he is from this very inſtant declared to be depoſed from the Sacred Miniſtry.
25. The Sieurs d' Arguillon and Barnier two Magiſtrates of the City of Niſmes, together with Arnold Guyrand ſecond Conſul, and Veſtric Favier a Member of their Common Council, as alſo the Sieurs Suffren and Chambrun Paſtors of the ſaid Church of Niſmes deputed by their Conſiſtory unto this Aſſembly, did inſtantly and moſt importunately intreat that their Paſtor Monſieur Ferrier might not be removed from them, notwithſtanding what had been before reſolved about him in this Aſſembly, as alſo that he might at their requeſt be reſtored to them, and that leave might be granted him to aſſiſt perſonally in Political Aſſemblies, in caſe he were commiſſionated thereunto. Whereupon the ſaid Deputies of Niſmes being demanded if they had any thing to offer from the ſaid du Ferrier, anſwered, that he had charged them with nothing as from himſelf. The Aſſembly having maturely debated the Remonſtrances and Petitions of the ſaid Deputies, and applauded their Zeal and great Love to Monſieur Ferrier, gave them to underſtand, that foraſmuch as the cauſes moving them to tranſport the ſaid Ferrier out of the Province, were ſtill valid and in being, they could not depart from their former Reſolution, which was not taken up on deſign of reflecting on, or intereſting the ſaid Church of Niſmes; for which they have as high an eſteem and value, as for any other Church of Chriſt in the Kingdom, and they hope that the whole Church will ſubmit it ſelf unto this Synodical Decree. Whereupon the ſaid Deputies, and particularly the Sieur d' Arguillon ſpeaking firſt, renewed with great vehemency his deſires, adding very injurious words, full of menaces, threatning us with the confuſions that would ariſe hereupon in the Church of Niſmes, and that he would give them notice of it. He was ſeconded, according as it had been concerted among them in private, by the Sieur Veſtrie Favier with diſcourſes full of Arrogancy and Threats, with a Proteſtation of Appeal unto another Synod, and let this do what it pleaſed, they would never part with the ſaid Monſieur Ferrier, and that he ſhould continue to exerciſe his Miniſtry both in Niſmes and in the Province alſo. Accuſing this Aſſembly of paſſion and partiality in its Judgment: Whereupon the Aſſembly deſiring an Act of Record for ſuch injurious Language, and to know whether the ſaid Deputies would avow or diſavow it, the ſaid Veſtrie returning again into the Synod to evidence his owning of all his former diſcourſes, gave us Memoirs of them ſtuft with falſhoods and calumnies, all ſubſcribed and atteſted with his own hand; the which Copy was ordered to be ſafe kept, and forth-coming, in caſe of need, at the next National Synod.
26. And the Sieurs Suffren and Chambrun are ſharply cenſured for becoming the Bearers of ſuch Libellous and injurious writings againſt this Aſſembly, to whom it was declared that they might and ought to have excuſed themſelves from any conjunction in ſuch a Deputation; becauſe by their departure from the City of Niſmes, the whole Church was left without a Paſtor; and this their offence was judged ſo grievous, and their contempt of this Aſſembly ſo intolerable, that they deſerved a very long ſuſpenſion from their Miniſtry. Yet nevertheleſs out of pure reſpect unto the Church of Niſmes, and that it may not be left deſtitute of its Miniſters: The Synod doth Mercifully pardon them their offence, and injoyns them moſt ſtrictly upon their return unto Niſmes to do their utmoſt that this Synodical decree be put in execution againſt the ſaid Ferrier, and that they do their utmoſt endeavour to prevent whatever Murmurings or troubles may hereupon fall out, and that they keep their Church in peace. And in Caſe after the diſſolution of this Aſſembly they preſume to act contrary to what is now commanded them, the next Colloquy of Lions is authorized to proceed againſt them, and all other Paſtors and Elders, Complices with them in the ſame Rebellion, even to ſuſpenſion, yea and depoſition from their reſpective charges. And as for Monſieur Ferrier this Aſſembly will provide him a Church out of the Province, which ſhall be ſignified unto him; and if after notice given him he continue to preach at Niſmes or within the Province, He is from this very inſtant declared ſuſpended from the Miniſtry, and not to be reſtored but by the next National Synod.
27. The Church of Vallence Appealed from the Provincial Synod of Vivaretz held at Annonay, and from the Synod of Dolphiny held at Veyners, for removing from them the Sieur Murat their Paſtor. The Memoirs and Acts of the ſaid Synods, and of the Colloquy of Niſmes being read, and both parties having been heard ſpeak upon this preſent Caſe: Monſieur Murat was ſharply Cenſured for his over-forwardneſs in cloſing with the Invitations of the Church of Niſmes, and for urging by diſhoneſt ways the Church of Vallence to give him his Diſmiſſion, and this extorted alſo under the pretence, and with the plauſible Atteſtation of his ſingular prudence. And the Church of Niſmes is ſeverely cenſured for all its proceedings, and particularly that contrary to the Decree of St. Maixant in the firſt Article of General Matters; it ſought a Paſtor for it ſelf out of the Province without firſt conſulting with their Colloquy or Synod. And the Synod of Vivaretz alſo was blamed for acting contrary to the Diſcipline, in judging (notwithſtanding the Appeal of the Church of Vallence, lay neglected by them) that the ſaid Murat was at liberty. And the Provincial Synod of Dolphiny held at Veyners is alſo cenſured, for ſuffering themſelves to be ſurprized and inveigled into this preſent Act, and paſſing too ſlight a Judgment on it, whereas they ſhould have been more reſerved, and done as the Colloquy of Niſmes, which diſmiſſed the whole Affair unto this Aſſembly. For theſe cauſes, and after mature deliberation upon the whole, this Aſſembly enjoyneth the ſaid Murat to return unto his Church of Vallence within three months, and in caſe of contravention unto this Ordinance, we do preſently denounce him ſuſpended from the Miniſtry.
28. Monſieur Iſaiah Ferrier appeared in perſon before this Aſſembly (he was Miniſter of St. Gyles in Lower Languedoc) to anſwer thoſe Accuſations which were brought againſt him by the Sieur de Beauvoyſin, who appealed from the Synods of Vigan and Baignols; and that the truth of thoſe Accuſations might be proved, Commiſſioners were ordained to receive and examine them; who having heard them, and ſeen the Evidences produced by the ſaid Sieur de Beauvoyſin, and upon their Report made of them, and of matters confeſſed by the ſaid Ferrier, the Aſſembly pronounced this Sentence, viz. that the ſaid Ferrier be ſuſpended from the holy Miniſtry until the next National Synod. And foraſmuch as among thoſe many Articles of which he ſtands accuſed, ſeveral cannot be fully proved, becauſe of Proceſſes yet hanging in the Court of Caſtres: The Aſſembly doth order the ſaid Ferrier to appear before the Synod of Vivaretz, and to juſtifie himſelf, if he can, in their preſence; and the ſaid Synod ſhall tranſmit his Defence of himſelf, whatever it be, over unto the next National Synod, that ſo he may be either reſtored, or more ſeverely cenſured; and in caſe he cannot juſtifie himſelf between this and the next National Synod, he is now, as he ſhall then be denounced, Depoſed from the Miniſtry of the Goſpel. And in caſe he ſhould be reſtored by the National Synod unto the Miniſtry, yet ſhall he not be ſent back unto his Church of St. Gyles, nor to any other in that Colloquy. Nevertheleſs there ſhall be allowed him betwixt this time and the next National Synod, a yearly portion of the King's Moneys towards his ſubſiſtence. And alſo the Province of Lower Languedoc is ſharply cenſured for their long connivance at ſo great a wickedneſs, and for not doing their duty in endeavouring to ſuppreſs the ſcandal, and throughly to purge the Houſe of God from ſuch defilements.
29. The Appeals of the Sieur Conain from the Decree of the Synod of Parey le Moyneau, as alſo that of the Sieur Truchis, (who yet did not ſend his Appeal unto this Aſſembly) are declared null and void, and the Judgments paſt in the Provincial Synods of Burgundy againſt them are by this preſent Act ratified and eſtabliſhed.
30. The Appeal of the Church of Avalon from the Province of Burgundy being not proſecuted by any one in this Aſſembly is declared Null.
31. The Appeals of the Colloquy of Gex from the Synod of Buſſy, and alſo that of Pont du Velle, were wiſely and rightly judged by the Synod of Burgundy, and the ſaid Colloquy, is exhorted to conform it ſelf for the future unto the Orders thereof.
32. The Church of Manoſques appealled from an Ordinance of the Synod of Provence held at Lire, September 1610. And complained, how that by the ſaid Ordinance an yearly grant of ſixty Livers formerly accorded to them by a preceding Synod, was then reverſed. This Aſſembly doth confirm that Article of the ſaid Synod of Lire. Yet nevertheleſs it recommends the ſaid Church of Manoſques to the care of that Province.
33. An Appeal was brought by divers Churches of the Lower Guyenne from a Judgment of the ſaid Province, importing, that the more opulent and wealthy Churches ſhould be deprived of their portions in the King's Moneys, and that their ſhares ſhould be employed to the comforting of poorer Churches, that ſo they might be kept up, or reſtored. And whereas the Deputies of the ſaid Province requeſted that the Judgment of their Synod might be confirmed; This Aſſembly leaveth that Province wholly to their liberty, either to follow the aforeſaid Expedient, or thoſe other Overtures particularly notified unto thoſe Deputies, and it recommends with the greateſt earneſtneſs their poor Churches unto the Charity of thoſe, which flouriſh, and are in a better condition as to the World.
34. That Book written by Monſieur de la Viennerie, Paſtor of the Church of Tonne Boutonne in Xaintonge, entituled, A Commentary upon the Canon of the Maſs, having been read and examined as to its chiefeſt Points, to wit, Invocation of Saints, Juſtification, Predeſtination, and divers others, there was obſerved in it ſeveral odd expreſſions and phraſes, which were not only obſcure, but alſo doubtful, ſuſpicious and erroneous: Whereupon in purſuance of the Judgment given by the Provincial Synod of Xaintonge, the ſaid Manuſcript was ordered to be ſuppreſt; and farther, the Province was exhorted to watch carefully over the Doctrine delivered from the Pulpit by the ſaid de la Viennerie.
35. Whereas there is a great Diſſention ſprung up in the Church of Montauban about the Sieurs Loupiat and Gouze, who are Elected Elders; This Aſſembly condemns the proceeding of the ſaid Sieur de Gouze, as being full of vanity, and for inſiſting on it, that he ought to be preferred to the Sieur Loupiat in their nomination unto the people: Alſo the ſaid Gouze is blamed for his animoſity in ſearching out crimes and perſons to accuſe Monſieur Loupiat, who yet could never make proof of thoſe matters laid by them unto his charge. Moreover, the Conſiſtory there is alſo cenſured for not reſtraining thoſe proceedings by a ſtrict and ſevere exerciſe of the Diſcipline, and for not executing the Judgment of the Colloquies and Synods of their Province, given forth on this occaſion: And the ſaid Conſiſtory is enjoyned to ſee to it, that the ſaid Gouze and all his Partners do make ſatisfaction, as in reaſon they are bound, unto the ſaid Sieur Loupiat, for the injuries they have done him: And in caſe they ſo do, the ſaid Loupiat ſhall be intreated to deſiſt from all proſecutions at Law againſt the ſaid Gouze; but in that matter we leave him to his liberty. And the ſaid Loupiat at the next Election ſhall be received into the Elderſhip according to the Canons of our Diſcipline. And as for the ſaid Gouze, we do not conceive him qualified at preſent for the Office of an Elder.
36. The Province of Lower Languedoc, aſſembled at Florac to provide a Paſtor for the Church of Meruez fit for their ſervice, did lend the Sieur Ollier, Paſtor of the Church of St. Andrew de Valborgne; Whereupon the ſaid Church brought their Appeal into this National Synod; Which having heard the whole matter did approve of the Loan made by the aforeſaid Provincial Synod, but withal gave them to underſtand that when as the ſix Months for which he is lent ſhall be expired, that then the ſaid Sieur Ollier ſhall return again unto his Church of St. Andrew de Valborgne.