The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 21 (Tonneins) · Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX. A Letter from His Majeſty of Great Britain.
To Meſſieurs the Paſtors and Elders Aſſembled in their National Synod at Tonneins in France.
Sirs,
HAving received intelligence that your Aſſembly would be held in Gaſcony the firſt of May, in which ſome perſons may be engaged to revive that Controverſly about Juſtification, and to urge the Conſciences of others to aſſent againſt their own judgment, unto matters not ſufficiently Underſtood by them. We thought good to ſend you Monſieur Hume one of our ſubjects, and of your Paſtors with this our preſent Letter, to exhort you in our Name, not to ſuffer the ſpirits of your Paſtors and Profeſſors to be imbittered one againſt another, about diſtinctions more ſubstile than profitable more curious than needful; but that you would indeavour to Moderate thoſe animoſities which are grown up already to too great an heighth among ſeveral of your Miniſters, and that you would quench thoſe ſparkles of diſſention, which meeting with wood, hay, ſtubble, and ſlight rather than ſubſtantial matters, may inflame you into ſuch aſchiſm as will Conſume you all, unleſs you do timely prevent it, and ſtifle it in the birth, by committing to the fire thoſe Books, Papers and Manuſcripts, which ſerve only as fewel unto new Controverſies, rather than promote your Edifying, and give occaſion to the Enemies of Gods Church to advance themſelves on your weakneſſes, and to be the more hardned in their Errors. Particularly we intreat you to compoſe the difference riſen up betwixt the Sieurs du Moulin and Tilenus, if it ſhould be brought unto your immediate Cogniſance and diſcuſſion, and not be removed out of the way by Arbitrators, which we judge of the two to be the beſt, and by arbitrating their fact, you your ſelves, will publiſh unto the World how great a value you have for the Gifts of God in both thoſe perſonages. That honour with which God hath inveſted us by exalting us unto the higheſt and moſt eminent place in his Church for the defence of the truth, or duty to ſerve it in our regall dignity and to the utmoſt of our power, and that particular deſire we have to ſee a good Peace and Ʋnion to flouriſh among all Sincere Profeſſors of the Chriſtian Faith, and our care for your preſervation, as being the firſt Churches which have rejected the yoke of Idolatry, do induce us to deal ſo freely with you. And we promiſe our ſelf from your prudence that all matters ſhall be pacified, and amicably compoſed among you, as we have commanded Maſter Hume to preſs you more amply by word of mouth thereunto, to whom you may give credence, receiving him as our Meſſenger, and as a perſom well-known unto you and ſufficiently commended by his own excellent good parts, and a Lover of peace, which above all things we recommend unto you; and ſo we pray God to Bleſs your godly debates and conſultations, and to have you always in his holy keeping.
From our Palace this 15th Day of March,1614. Signed James R.
The Synods Anſwer. To the King of Great Britain.
Sire,
THAT Zeal with which it hath pleaſed God to inflame your Royal Spirit, and that abundant care which your moſt Serene Majeſty vouchſafeth to take of all the Chriſtian Churches, obligeth every good ſervant of God to pour out continual prayers and ſupplications to the Lord of Glory for your Majeſties long Life and Proſperous Reign and Preſervation. The Churches of France in whoſe name we be here Aſſembled have the deepeſt ſence of this obligation, becauſe they have moſt frequently and to their great advantage received the comfortable influences of this bright ſhining ſtar in the Heaven of God's Church, for which we render unto our God the glory, and to your moſt Serene Majeſty our humbleſt thanksgivings, and ſhall ever reſerve in our Memories the perpetual character of an inviolable gratitude. We have received with all reverence and ſubmiſſion thoſe good and wholſome Counſels which your moſt Serene Majeſty was pleaſed to ſend us, which, as flowing from the Holy Spirit of God, have confirmed us in thoſe pious reſolutions that were before lodged up in all our hearts, and ſince reduced into act with unanimous conſent in our Synodical Decrees. We are enforced to our great regret to acknowledg there was an evil thing flung in among us, but alſo we can aſſure your Majeſty, that hitherto it hath met with very ſmall incouragement, and we truſt it ſhall never be able to make any breach in the peace of our Churches, becauſe we are reſolved through grace vigorouſly to oppoſe it, and to Conſerve that Order and Union which hath been until now kept up among us. We had grubbed it up by the very roots, if it had been found among us, as it is elſewhere and out of this Kingdom. And as for that difference between the Sieurs Tilenus and du Moulin, we believe that your Majeſties helpful hand will exceedingly advantage us, and we promiſe your Majeſty for our ſelves, that we ſhall give all reaſonable ſatisfaction unto thoſe that trouble us, provided they do not attempt to break us in pieces. The way of Arbiters hath been ever deſired by us, and that ſilence which we ordered and impoſed, might have been ſucceſsful, if the divided parties had but a little yielded on their ſide, and ſtrove who ſhould have made the firſt advances, we believe ſo much of the good intention both of the one and other that they had joyned hands, and each had quitted his particular Intereſt for the peace, repoſe and comfort of their Conſciences which deſired it. We will be reſponſible for one of them according to the power which God hath given us over him, and we are in good hopes of the other, eſpecially if your moſt Serene Majeſty ſhall be pleaſed to employ your powerful Counſels in the furtherance of ſo good a work. In the mean while we have Judged it neceſſary to ſuppreſs thoſe writings, which might any ways feed and nouriſh this bitter controverſy between theſe two ſervants of God, leaving the total ſuppreſſion thereof unto an interview of both parties, which we have appointed at Saumur upon very equitable and moſt reaſonable terms. It is the deſire of our Souls that thoſe ſelf ſame Writings diſperſt abroad without this Kingdom might be ſuppreſſed, and we moſt humbly ſupplicate your moſt Serene Majeſty to order their ſuppreſſion in your Kingdoms of great Britain. As for that Heroick deſign of your Majeſties communicated to us by Mr. Hume for re-uniting the Churches of divers Nations into one and the ſelf ſame Confeſſion and Doctrine, we look upon it as an Undertakement worthy ſo great a King, and well becoming that Divine Zeal, with which the Celeſtial Majeſty hath inflamed your Royal Soul; and we alſo ſhall bring in our poor offerings and tribute Penny thereunto in due time and place, and with our whole Heart and Soul we ardently pray that the ſame may be haſtned and brought unto perfection to the great Glory of our God, and confuſion of the Adverſaries of his Truth, in hatred of whom we have condemned and deteſted that Execrable Doctrine of Regicides, which violates the ſacred Majeſty of Kings, and aſſerteth that whole Realms may be interdicted by the Pope. And farther we earneſtly deſire to maintain a good correſpondence with the Churches of your Kingdoms, whereof we give your moſt Serene Majeſty all poſſible aſſurance, and do moſt humbly beſeech you to accept of our devouteſt Prayers and Services, which with ſubmiſſion to his Majeſty our Natural King and Soveraign, we do lay at your Majeſties Feet, ever remaining as we are, of your Sacred Majeſty, &c.
From Tonneins May 1614. The moſt humbly devoted Servants, the Paſtors and Elders of the Reformed Churches in France Aſſembled by the permiſſion of our moſt Gracious Soveraign Lewis the thirteenth in a National Synod and in the name of all,
Gigord Moderator.
Gardeſy Aſſeſſor.
Scribes.
Andrew Rivet and
Denys Maltrett.
A Letter from the Church of Geneva. To the National Synod of the Reformed Churches of France aſſembled at Tonneins.
Meſſieurs, and our moſt Honoured Brethren,
YOUR Charity, and that Communion which we ever had with you in our Lord Jeſus, and the word of his Grace, hath on all occaſions made us joynt partners with you in thoſe ſingular benedictions the great God hath poured down upon your Churches, as alſo at all times and upon all occaſions to ſympathize with you in your afflictions, by a moſt ſenſible and cordial fellow-feeling of them. Yea 'tis this very ſelfſame paſſion that doth at preſent give us acceſs to you, and inviteth us not to let ſlip this opportunity of your National Synod, for the conſolating our own Souls, by imparting to you our thoughts and purpoſes combined with yours in one and the ſame faith, common to us all. If our Wiſhes could have been granted, we would not have put off our communion as now we do unto theſe dumb Letters, but we had ſatiated our Souls by a perſonal preſence, interview and converſe with you. But for as much as the hard Laws of neceſſity do reſtrain us, we believe it will not be unpleaſing to you, tho we be abſent from you in body, that by our Letters we teſtifie our preſence with you in Spirit, rejoycing in your Order, and in the ſtedfaſtneſs of your Faith in Chriſt, and that with Vows and Hearts moſt intimately united with your devouteſt Prayers we firſt of all adore the infinite goodneſs of the Lord for inſpiring their Majeſties with that great benignity and ſingular clemency ſo as to continue you your Liberty and Priviledge of holding your National Synods in peace and ſecurity. Theſe Aſſemblies repreſenting all your Churches are a divine Bulwark againſt the aſſaults and invaſions of your Enemies, and a moſt firm Cement of your Sacred Union, a ſoveraign remedy againſt all your Maladies, and in one word the very baſis of that excellent building, which God Almighty by his own wonder-working hand hath miraculouſly raiſed up in your Nation. This is ſo rich and ſingular a Mercy, that we cannot ſufficiently admire the Providence and Wiſdom of God, which did at firſt ſuggeſt the uſage and eſtabliſhment of it, and his ſpecial aſſiſtance, ſupport and bounty in continuing it. And we doubt not of Satans machinations to unhinge it. We muſt tell you Sirs, when ever the time comes of the ſitting of your National Synod that we are poſſeſed with holy jealouſies and ſolicitous fears, trembling at thoſe confuſion and horrible miſchief brought forth by that wicked one upon an ungodly World, by which it is corrupted and ruined: whence we take occaſion to lift up our Souls in extraordinary Prayer unto Heaven, that our great head and chief Paſtor would deign to preſide in the midſt of you by the ſole authority of his holy word, and to conduct you by his good Spirit, bending your hearts to an intire ſubjection, docility and obedience to him, and that he would ſtill keep his ground among you, and firmly uphold and maintain the poſſeſſion of his Sanctuary, in the midſt of you, from whoſe fixedneſs and ſtability, Life and Health is convened into all it's parts and members, and that he would vouchſafe you that Grace to obtain a teſtimony hereof immediately from himſelf, that your laſt works may be better than your firſt. And in this juncture of affairs we are more earneſt in our wreſtlings with God than ever; becauſe we cannot rid our Souls from the frightful apprehenſions of injoyed a calm: In our peace, as ſaith the Sacred Scripture, we have had great bitterneſs. The Commotions in your Kingdom, the report whereof is ſcattered far and near, make us believe that that bloody Spirit which raged ſo much heretofore in Murders and Maſſacres is not yet glutted nor ſatiated, and that the wrath of the juſt and dreadful Jehovah will burn more than ever againſt the enormities and impenitencies of the World, hardning it ſelf under the patience and indulgence of God, and that the poor Church will be a ſharer and ſufferer in thoſe judgments for her wretched compliance with an ungodly World, even then when he reſpited and reprieved her from that mortal hatred it hath ever born her. We ſhould wrong your integrity, and approved wiſdoms did we ſo much as entertain a ſiniſter or diſtruſtful thought of them, yet nevertheleſs that great and earneſt concern we have for your well-being doth make us aſſume she Liberty to exhort you by all that is moſt ſacred, dear and precious with you, that on all occaſions which ſhall offer themſelves unto you, you would not only juſtifie your ſelves fully and clearly before the World, but our moſt Holy Religion alſo which is profeſſed by you, and that renouncing all ſecular deſigns and intereſts, you would keep to the Commandments of our God, which are the true infallible rule of wiſdom, and the ſtandard of our patience, to the perfecting of our Works. It will be a prerogative favour beſtowed on you by Heaven to have kept that unvaluable treaſure of the Faith in a pure Conſcience towards God, and it will give you a moſt ſignal Victory over your Adverſaries who calumniate you, to their deeper conviction and confuſion; It will evidence your ſingular prudence before the Churches of Chriſt to have been able to guard your ſelves againſt the hatred and ſcorn of the World, poverty and baſeneſs, a mean, uncertain, and perillous condition here below. Yea we fixedly hope that our good God will hear and anſwer your and our daily Prayers, by not expoſing you unto any ſorer trials; but that under the long and happy Reign of your King you may be delivered from all fears of your Enemies, and ſerve him in Holineſs and Righteouſneſs the remainder of your days. There were ſome other heads upon which we could and would have enlarged, and communicated to you our thoughts, but we ſhall at preſent forbear,Mr. Jeremy F…rier, Paſtor and Profeſſor at Niſmes, who revolting from the Truth, was excommunicated July 14. 1613. being overborn with grief and horrour cauſed by the fall of that * eminent Apoſtate, who having for many years together abuſed the excellent gifts of God, and that place of Honour he held among you, and was particularly ſupported by you, doth now ſerve as a ſorrowful ſpectacle of the direful vengeance of God Almighty. His paſt ungodly converſation was not bruited abroad in forreign Nations, till ſuch time as they heard of his Revolt, which like a ſudden thunder clap ſtunn'd and amazed all that had the relation of it, as of an unexpected and prodigious ruine. We have heard and read what hath been ſpoken and written of him, and we cannot gueſs at any other ground of his depravation, than his pragmatical intermedling with mundane affairs. From whence we take the freedom to intreat you for Gods ſake, ſtrictly to inſpect into vocations and employments, that they be not mixed nor confounded to the detriment both of the one and other. The Miniſterial function is expreſly limited by the Word of God as to its Laws, Ends, Means and Actings, it being altogether different from, yea and totally contrary to the ſecular Government; And we conceive that there is no ſuch difficulty in the matter, but that Miniſters may be kept within the inviolable bounds of their moſt holy calling, and yet be uſeful unto the publick without glorying in thoſe little arts of ſubtilties and ſurpriſals, which abutt at no other Mark than temporal and carnal profit. Beſides that 'tis a very rare thing to find a man capable both of the one and other calling, there is this grand miſchief in it, that fleſh and blood ſeeing in the Holy Miniſtry nothing but what is mean and humble, deſpicable, and painful, difficult and dangerous, and contrariwiſe meeting in the management of ſecular affairs with food and fewel enough for Pride, Ambition and Covetouſneſs, (the ground of all envies and jealouſies) and with the means and helps to carryon deſigns of ſelf advancement and domination, as tricks, craft and diſſimulation; It will be almoſt impoſſible to hinder the ſpreading of this contagion, which creeps inſenſibly into the greateſt wits, and ſeizeth upon them at unawares, and not as an affected and approved vice. We know very well, that neceſſity, the Law of the preſent day, is pleaded and urged on behalf of this Practice, too too much in uſe among you, to vindicate and juſtifie it. But for Gods ſake, moſt dear Brethren, we beſeech you to conſider, whether it were not better that your temporal affair ſhould ſuffer ſome inconveniencies, than your Spiritual ones to be contaminated; And whether the great riſque you run in ruining and depraving your Paſtors ſhould be preferred unto your temporal Intereſts. And whether it were not better to have a Reſerve among you of ſome pure and ſavoury ſalt againſt the general corruption, rather than to hazard all in this Univerſal overthrow by the World, upon which Theatre we ſee the moſt valiant Champions to be foiled. If the neceſſity be abſolute, peremptory and indiſpenſable, then let them go about ſuch ſecular political affairs with regret and grief, troubled at their enforced diſtraction from their Heavenly calling, lamenting a the Spouſe in the Canticles, that they have made me the keeper of the Vineyard, but mine own Vineyard have I not kept. Let them go, but then only, when your buſineſſes are in extream danger, at it were at the laſt gaſp, when you need the greateſt Circumſpection, a moſt immovable fidelity, and unchangeable integrity, and without any affectation or introduction of ambition, or hidden, diſguiſed intereſts. No man going to War intangles himſelf with the World, that ſo he may the better pleaſe his Captain that hath liſted him. That commination is very dreadful, the Prieſt ſhall be as the people, and that lamentation exceeding doleful, All this evil and miſchief is from the Prophets, and the Stones of the Sanctuary are lying at the four Corners of the Streets. Let us, moſt Dear and Honoured Brethren, give up and reſign our ſelves to the conduct of true Wiſdom, ſpeaking to us from the Word of God, which is, to forſake our own. This alſo, moſt Honoured Brethren ſhould be endeavoured, that all perſons whatſoever in the Miniſtry, when called forth unto thoſe ſecondary employments of the Church, do retain in their deportments and converſations the marks and characters of their firſt and moſt Sacred Vocation. Let their Devotion, Piety, Gravity, Self-denial, and Sequeſtration from Worldly pleaſures, uſed with too great a liberty by many Chriſtian States-men ſerve to maintain the ſweet odour and reputation of our Church Government, and to keep up inviolably the authority of their moſt Holy Miniſtry, and to bind the Souls and Conſciences of men by religious humility to an everlaſting dependance on the Majeſty of their great Lord, whoſe holineſs and Soveraign Wiſdom ſhineth forth moſt reſplendently in the Order of his ſervice, as the Queen of Sheba ſaw and admired it in the Court of Salomon. Impiety and Impudence are too much in vogue every where. But let the Sanctuary, the Church of God be at leaſt the Receptacle and Habitation of true and unfeigned Piety, where it may act and breath freely at in the open Air, with an uplifted countenance, in a couragious demonſtration of the Spirit, and evidence of Truth, convincing and condemning the unfruitful works of darkneſs, and awakening with its bright ſhining Flambeau the drowzy Conſciences of a perverſe generation, it may incourage the faithful unto perſeverance, and preſerve the Remnant of Jacob in this day of diſperſions and deſolations. The laſt Enemy of the Church, and he hath been eſſentially one and the ſame in all ages and places, and therefore ſhe is now expoſed unto all the miſchiefs he can do her, it the World: The World ſucceeding the the ſtood of Hereſies and Perſecutions diſguiſeth himſelf into a Friend and Ally, and the poor Church being reſpited and reprieved from her former contention, and deſtructions by a ſhort peace, he makes ſhort work with her, and brings upon her the conſumption determined, which ravageth her poor and ſmall remainder,. Theſe laſt times have yielded us ſufficient evidences and tokens of his rage and deſolations. Faith is decayed, zeal grown cold, the Goſpel and the croſs are become ridiculous, and contemptible, the language of Canaan is quite forgotten, and a multitude of Souls in Iſrael debauched by following the Counſel of Balaam. Now a ſtrong and vigorous reſolution is moſt needful. His cheats and impoſtures can never be prevented, but by a rejection of them, when they crave at firſt their admiſſion. We are bound alſo in Conſcience to requeſt and ſollicit you, tho we be very well ſatisfied that it is already upon your Hearts, to take care that thoſe different ſentiments, which for theſe laſt years have troubled your Church in the Doctrine of Juſtification may be ſuppreſt. Thoſe opinions have been fomented and imbitered by prejudices grudges, and ſecret hatable; they have been ſpread abroad, and propagated, into a multitude of unprofitable and dangerous queſtions by frequent diſputes and wranglings. As for our part although we hold abſolutely the ſame Faith with your Churches, and do apply whole Chriſt unto our ſelves for Redemption from Death and Wrath, and to obtain everlaſting life, and that we judge it to be communicable by imputation of all his obedience done and ſuffered by him in his human Nature, which we were bound to have yielded according to the law of God in our perſons; yet we could never approve of ſuch great ſtrife and altercation between Brethren who were otherwiſe minded, much leſs can we approve of their bitter ſeparation and mutual condemnation. So that we had rather that little ſpark had been ſuffered of its own accord to have dwindled away into nothing, than by blowing it into a flame by ſo many oppoſitions to kindle a greater fire in the hearts of Gods People, which hath tormented then with a world of ungodly jealouſies, ſuſpicions and prejudices, and thoſe too in an age toſſed and beaten with the tempeſtuous winds of contention and victory. We have divers time ſuggeſted this advice, and importunately inſiſted on it, that there might be a Temperament and Expedient found out for a Concordat, which without condemning or prejudicing either party might be ſufficient to guide and direct Conſcience, and totally to exclude all errors ſubverſive of Faith, and deſtructive of Salvation in this fundamental point. And we have received abundant conſolation, for that the ſelf-ſame Counſels have been preſcribed by a great and moſt potent Monarch, and by very many learned men and moſt celebrated Univerſities. And we were exceedingly ſatisfied, that you did not reject, but were well-pleaſed with our proceedings and intentions, as we do according to the Univerſal Laws of Chriſtian Charity freely forgive their unkindneſſes to us who have been diſpleaſed with us for them. And you moſt Honoured Sirs, ſith you have not only knowledge and wiſdom, but power alſo to judge and determine in theſe matters we beſeech you to exert that power ſo forcibly and effectually, that you may pluck up by the roots all unprofitable and curious queſtions, and ſee to it, that your Paſtors and Profeſſors do with all ſincerity purſue thoſe things which make for the Edification of your Churches in Faith and Godlineſs, and that they utterly abandon all thoſe oppoſition of Science falſly ſo called. On which point we preſume to deliver our mind with our uſual freedom, and we deſire you would reviſe that form couched and conceived in the Synod of Privas, and once more deliberate about it; not that we except againſt the ſubſtance of it in the leaſt, but becauſe its manner ſeems to threaten you with worſe breaches, and far greater partialities. We are not the firſt, who have obſerved the Remedy of forms to be very dangerous, eſpecially when a controverſy is not formed into a party, unleſs it be in Articles purely neceſſary, and determined by the Word of God it ſelf; and when it's otherwiſe impoſſible, all means failing us to detect the fallacies of our real Adverſaries; and ſuch ſtrait bands inſtead of conjoyning and ſetling, have for the moſt part diſlocated the members, and wounded them more ſorely. We deſire alſo that when new authentick forms ſhall come to be framed, the Churches might be firſt of all conſulted, that ſo our ears may not be broken with the din, and complaints of their being ſurprized, and of an uſurped domination over Conſcience, and of reproaches for precipitancy and connivency, as we are informed hath been the iſſue of that at Privas. And in ſhort we ſhould think it beſt to leave your Confeſſion alone, immoveable, and not as you often do, dig it up, and lay open this Foundation, which though for the preſent it may be done, with a good Intention, and with laudable moderation, yet may in after times produce a world of licentiouſneſs. Above all we moſt inſtantly requeſt this of your Piety totally to extinguiſh thoſe Acceſſory queſtions, which being altogether needleſs and unprofitable, do extreamly indanger Gods Church, and are naturally apt to engender Hereſies or Atheiſm among the ignorant people. We very much fear that the Printing of Tilenus his book will be a great ſtumbling block, and hindrance to this work, and therefore we judged it neceſſary to obſtruct the publication of its anſwer and are in great trouble what other lawful courſe we may take for the juſtifying of our Dear Brother, whom he hath ſo grievouſly impeached. However, if it ſhall be thought good for the weal of the Church that he be ſilent, and there be no more invectives or mutual recriminations left ſtanding on the File; we hope ſome other Expedients may be found out to ſalve the honour and the reputation of our Brother, eſpecially ſince the controverſie is not about any point in it ſelf fundamental, which is to be defended, but occaſionally, and in diſputation, where all ſort of arguments, and ways of proving, though they be not always good and receiveable, do not conſequentially import a ſimple and abſolute aſſertion; becauſe had it not been for their ſerviceableneſs to confirm the concluſions, they had never been at all mentioned. And we cannot think it any wiſe convenient to redeem the honour of a private diſpute from the Laughter and Scorn of the Enemies of Truth, by letting in upon us a ſwarm of perilous and curious Queſtions, together with horrible ſcandals, and ſcruples perplexing and tormenting Conſcience. Let's labour rather to extirpate theſe animoſities, and to draw theſe divided Spirits nearer in love one unto the other. And then the offendor, who in our opinion cannot with any Conſcience judge ſo unworthily of our Brother, will be the firſt, as in duty bound, to acquit and clear him, exchanging his Invectives into Brotherly admonitions.
We receive frequent and mournful relations of that accurſed Practice of Duels, yea and among perſons of our Religion; and tho we believe this violent and brutiſh Sin is ſo ſtrongly rooted, as to elude and reject all remedies, yet becauſe of its atrociouſneſs and enormity, we deſire your holy Synod to conſuls of the laſt and Soveraign Remedy, even that dreadful power which the word of God hath given unto his Church to draws out the Spiritual Sword againſt ſuch notorious delinquents, without connivency, diſpenſation, or reſpect of perſons, that by its implacable ſeverity againſt thoſe daring Rebels, the Lord bleſſing his own ordinance, their feet which ran ſwiftly to ſhed innocent blood may be hereafter ſtopped and reſtrained. At leaſt, let us weep and groan before the Lord, that this evil may never be imputed to us, that we may be delivered from the guilt of ſo much Blood as hath been wickedly ſpilt among us, that it may never lie at our doors, nor our Conſciences may ever reproach us for having lent our heart or hands unto that murdering ſpirit, and that we may never be marked with this brand of infamy which is peculiar to the enemies of God, to have been Executioners of his vengeance upon themſelves.
Finally, moſt Honoured and Dear Brethren, knowing the great care you have for us, and how much you are allarumed with reports of Plots and Preparatives for War againſt us, we give you to underſtand, that through grace, excepting Gods ordinary diſcipline of fears and threats, he doth yet keep us in peace, and lengthens out our tranquillity; by which we are taught continually to conſide in him, who quickneth the dead, and not to be puffed or lifted up with pride and carnal ſecurity, but Religiouſly to improve our repoſe unto his ſervice and glory, and the general aid and benefit of all the Churches. And we thank you heartily for your kind acceptance of our affection, expreſſed, in ſending ſo great a number of your Scholars to Study in our Univerſity, which is a very great honour to us, and we ſhall do our utmoſt endeavours by all means to fit them for your future ſervice, by moulding them into the form of ſound words, and into that doctrine, which is according to godlineſs, weaning and withdrawing them as much as in us lieth from that vanity of Jeſuitical knowledge, wherein to our great grief ſo many gallant hopeful wits have through vain curioſity and affectation been wretchedly inſnared, eſpecially in the endleſs Mazes and Labyrinths of Metaphyſical terms and queſtionſ, the true Siminaries of all novelties and hereſies. Help us as we ſhall you in united Prayers unto the throne of grace; you have been exceeding helpful to us this way in our frequent diſtreſſes, and we conſerve the Memory thereof by us, and ever ſhall, as of a moſt pretious Jewel. And may the moſt bleſſed God continue his divine grace and favours to you and us, perfecting his ſtrength in our infirmities, uniting all our hearts in a perfect charity, and grant us to keep the Faith unto the end, and to finiſh our courſe with joy, and to lay hold of Eternal Life, and that we may all be to the praiſe and glory of his grace through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, to whoſe power and Spirit we do with all our hearts recommend your holy Synod, and all your Churches in general, Subſcribing our ſelves moſt ſincerely, Moſt Honoured and Dear Brethren,
Your moſt humble and moſt affectionate Brethren in the Lord, the Paſtors and Profeſſors in the Church and Univerſity of Geneva,and in their Names,
S. Goulart.
J. Diodati.
A Letter from the Lord of Pleſſis Marli, unto the National Synod of Tonneins.
Sirs,
I Could not let the 'Deputies of this Province part from me without giving you aſſurance of my moſt humble and faithful ſervice, and to intreat you, notwithſtanding all the tricks and wickedneſs of this age, to believe that I am ſpeaking to you as one who is quitting this world, and hath nothing left him to diſpatch, but his own Epitaph, which through divine grace ſhall never give the lie to my paſt life, and after all, I ſhall never take my own private Intereſts for the Rule of my Life or actions, nor ſo abound in my own ſence as to counteract the common Reſolutions of our Churches, whoſe prudence I have always found ſafeſt, becauſe Conſcience is its eye and guide. Sirs, All good men expect two principal bleſſings from your holy Synod, the firſt is that you would be pleaſed by your Authority once for all to ſuppreſs thoſe unneceſſary Queſtions, which trouble the concord of our Churches in that Doctrine, which notwithſtanding the many evil times have paſt over us, hath been preſerved until now in its purity among us. The other is that by continuing the Oaths injoyned by the laſt Synod of Privas, you take the moſt proper and effectual courſe to heal the wounds, which our unhappy diviſions have theſe years laſt paſt made in the Ʋnion of our Churches; and I ſee no Expedient more likely to ſuceed, than unanimouſly and with joynt conſent to agree and pitch upon one General end whereunto all and every one ſhall direct and aim. I Salute moſt humbly every Member of your Aſſembly, and beſeech God Almighty to aſſiſt and fortify you by his holy Spirit for his own glory, and for the Ʋnion, Reſtauration, and Propagation of his Church.
From Saumur April 20. 1614. Your moſt humble and moſt affectionate Servant, Du Pleſſis.
The Duke of Rohan's Letter to the National Synod Aſſembled at Tonneins.
Sirs,
THOSE ſtrong obligations which the Churches of France have laid upon me, do ingage me to ſeek out all occaſions whereby to teſtifie my gratitude. 'Tis this which cauſes me to write at preſent, and to crave this favour of you, to believe that I ſhall never forget thoſe aſſiſtances I received from you in the laſt Synod of Privas, and particularly from divers Churches of this Kingdom, yea and from thoſe I have never known. Certainly Sirs, I ſhall Confeſs it freely that the effects of your kindneſſes have exceeded my ſervices; yet I hope that for the future you will know you have not have obliged an ungrateful perſon. And that what you have kept for me ſhall be always chearfully employed for your ſelves. We are fallen into ſuch a time as need extraordinary Prayers unto God for his Guidance and Counſel. We have been much afflicted ſince the Aſſembly of Saumur by diviſions ſown and fomented among us. The Synod of Privas, knowing it to be the moſt compendious Courſe for our Ruine, did indeavour to prevent it. But divers perſons being unacquainted with our malady then, there could not be a thorough cure effected. But now every one knows it, and may contribute ſomething thereunto. For my part I think it no difficult matter for us to uſe the true Remedy, which conſiſts in an entire re-union of all our Members, that ſo we may be but one Body; and the more fit to ſerve God, the King and our Country, and the more able to divert our enemies from enterprizing upon us, from whom alſo we might take away the very will of doing it, by its impoſſibility. This Sirs, is a work well-worthy of your Aſſembly. I exactly conformed to the deſires of the laſt Synod, and I do now again renew my promiſes of obſerving your Orders not only in that, but in whatſoever elſe you ſhall judge to concern the glory of God, whom I ardently beſeech that he would preſide in your Councils, and to give me that grace never to abuſe his favours conferred upon me, but that employing whatever I have received from his divine Majeſty to the advancement of his Kingdom, I may conſecrate the remainder of my days unto his ſervice. My Lord Baron of Montauſier hath particular orders from me to acquaint you with my intentions and proceedings, and eſpecially with that journey of the Lord of Hautefontain taken by my command unto his highneſs the Prince. I deſire you would believe him in what he ſhall inform you as if it were my ſelf, and I ſhall always approve my ſelf to you all generally and particularly, Sirs,
From St. John d' Angely, this 24. of April. 1614. Your moſt Humble and moſt Affectionate to do your ſervice, Henry of Rohan.
A Letter from the Lord of Caumont to the National Synod of Tonneins.
Sirs,
I Well hoped to have had ſtrength enough to have been perſonally preſent with you, and to have injoyed the honour and contentment of ſaluting your Holy Aſſembly, and to have given you my ſelf by word of Mouth, the aſſurance of my fidelity and affection unto whatſoever the ſervice of my God obligeth me for the ſupport of his Churches, and the advancement of his Glory. But being at preſent detained by important buſineſſes which the Sieur de Mailléz ſhall inform you of, I intreat you therefore moſt humbly to be pleaſed with my abſence, and to believe that no perſon in the World is more ready to expoſe his life and the Lives and Eſtate of all his with greater chearfulneſs and willingneſs for Gods cauſe and yours than I ſhall be to adventure mine, and the lives and fortunes of all mine. And I pray God that by his Holy Spirit he would be pleaſed to preſide in the midſt of you, and to conduct your Holy Wills in ſuch manner as he knows to be moſt expedient for his Glory, the Weal, Repoſe, and Conſervation of his Church, whereof having the honour to be a Member, I ſhall ever remain in its Communion, and ſubject my ſelf wholly in all things unto it under the priviledge of the Edicts, and the authority of their Majeſties, intreating you to lay your Commands upon me, and to be aſſured that in whatſoever I may ſerve the publick, and every one of you in particular, you ſhall have evidence of my obedience and loyal affection. The Lord follow you, moſt Reverend Sirs, with his choiceſt Favours and Benedictions. I am,
From Paris, May 2. 1614. Your moſt Humble and Affectionate Servant Caumont.
A Letter from the Lord of Chaſtillon, to the National Synod of Tonneins.
Sirs,
MY paſt actions (which through Divine Grace no Man hath juſt cauſe to complain of) are, I believe, ſufficient proofs of that care I ever had for the reunion and good intelligence of the great men of this Kingdom profeſſing the true Religion, and the fear of God, as alſo of that reſpect I paid unto the deſires of the laſt National Synod of Privas, intimated to me by their Letters; and what I have ſince done, both at Court for our general concerns, and, ſince my return, in this Province, to conſerve your Lives and Priviledges enjoyed by you during the reign of the late King, will teſtifie that the true blood of the late renowned Lord Admiral de Chaſtillon is in my Ʋeins, and that I have managed all publick affairs fallen into my hands with all uprightneſs and juſtice, as the Sieurs Gigord and Codur, who have been Eyewitneſſes of my deportments, can more fully inform you if they pleaſe. Sirs, this my Letter drives at none other end, than to let you ſee what deference I have for you, and that my whole life ſhall be employed in the ſervice of the Churches, and I beſeech you to believe, that beſides it, and the ſervice of the King, and your preſervation and advancement there is nothing in this world more dear unto me. And if I can do you in my ſtation any particular ſervice either here or elſewhere, you ſhall always find me ready for it. Had it been as eaſy for me to have been perſonally preſent with you, as I have the will, I ſwear unto you, that my own mouth ſhould have verified unto you what I now write, that I am more than any man in the World, of
Montpellier April. 26. 1614. Your Reverences, The moſt Humble, and the moſt Affectionate to do you ſervice, Chaſtillon.
The Letter of the Mareſchall Duke of Bouillon to the National Synod of Tonneins.
Sirs,
I Delayed writing to you, becauſe I was in hopes to have ſent my Letters by one of the Paſtors of his Highneſs the Prince Elector Palatine, who ſhould have paſt through this City in his way unto your Synod, and have delivered thoſe of his Highneſs to you. But that little time he had for ſo long a Journey, and the little ſafety that now is on the High-ways having kept him at home, they were directed to me, that I may ſend them as I now do unto you; and I ſhall take this occaſion to confirm you in thoſe aſſurances I have given you of my intire affection and ſervice for the Weal, Preſervation and Increaſe of our Churches, upon whoſe account you are now Aſſembled, and that I deſire to keep up with them a good Union and Correſpondence. 'Tis to my very great regret that there have been ſome little differences between Monſieur du Moulin and Monſieur Tilenus one of the Profeſſors in my Univerſity, to the ſuppreſſing of which I have done all that lay in my power; In ſo much that all thoſe bitter reflections are allayed and quaſht, and I dare promiſe, that from your prudence and the interpoſal of his Majeſty of great Britain, who writes to you by Mr. Hume Paſtor of the Church of Duras, and by the mediation of the Elector Palatin, whoſe Letters this bearer from me delivers to you, you will meet with ſome proper Expedient for their final determination, ſo that thoſe two great perſonages conſiderable for their Profeſſion and merits may employ the gifts which God hath beſtowed upon them more unto the Churches profit for the future. And I will be Surety for the Sieur Tilenus that he ſhall pay the greateſt deference unto your good Counſels, and on my part I ſhall contribute all that you can expect from me to ſo good a work, whereof I earneſtly attend the happy Iſſue through your wiſe and prudent direction. I ſhall detain you no longer, but with the offer of my prayers unto God Almighty, that he would pleaſe to guide and influence your Spirits and Councils, that their reſult may be glory to his great Name, and happineſs unto his Church.
From Sedan, May 3. 1614.
A Poſtſcript with his own hand.
Sirs,
ALtho I am well aſſured that your Intentions are all leading to a good Reunion, both in Civil and Church-affairs, yet will I not forbear quickening you hereunto, and the rather becauſe Satan and his Engines are now more than every at work, marvellouſly buſied and employed to divide us, having found in this degenerate age more debauched perſons, and greater debaucheries than in times paſt. Wherefore I proteſt unto you, that in what concerns my ſelf in particular, that I ſhall freely diſcharge my duty and ſervices according to what ſhall be reſolved on in your Common and United Counſels, and ſeek for my ſelf none other benefit and advantage than to live and die in the fear of God.
Your moſt humbly to do you ſervice Henry de la Tour.