The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 21 (Tonneins) · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. Particular Matters.
1. THERE was read an Act of the Colloquy of Higher Agenois, in which the Council of Lower Guyenne complained againſt the Lord of Pujole, and againſt a certain Judgment of the ſaid Colloquy, paſt in his favour, becauſe that the ſaid Lord had ſeriouſly proteſted of his ſincere intentions to perſiſt in the profeſſion of our Religion, they could not imagine that he would admit into his heart ſuch a diſloyal thought as to abandon the Sacred Communion of our Churches, and to bring the worſt of evils upon his Soul in good earneſt;1614. The 21th Synod. yet nevertheleſſ they did judge the ſaid Lord worthy of the heavieſt Cenſures for his great miſcarriages in all his publick actings, particularly, that inſtead of demanding in a lawful Aſſembly the Reformation of thoſe Defaults and Abuſes he pretended to have obſerved in the Council, he had as much as in him lay expoſed it to the higheſt contempt and infamy, and followed a courſe notoriouſly contrary to all Orders, which have been until now uniformly obeyed and practiſed among us with good acceptance and ſucceſs; a matter of very dangerous conſequence, and which might cauſe an irreparable breach in our Union: Which fault of his he did confeſs and acknowledge, and promiſed for the future to conform himſelf to the Canons which are now, or hereafter may be eſtabliſhed by theſe Aſſemblies. And Monſieur Ferrand, a Paſtor, was ordered to acquaint this Aſſembly of it. All things duly conſidered, this Aſſembly approveth of the Judgment of that Colloquy, and of the ſaid Lord du Pujol's ſubmiſſion, and having once more reiterated the ſame Remonſtrances, it drew from him thoſe promiſes, by means of which he was reconciled unto the Provincial Council, and to all thoſe who were known to have ſhared in the ſcandal that he had given: And all the Churches, Parties in thoſe diſturbances, were exhorted to live in Peace and Union for the future, which was mutually promiſed on all ſides.
2. The Deputies of the Churches of Auvergne remonſtrated their deplorable eſtate and condition, earneſtly deſiring the favour and aſſiſtance of this Aſſembly, to help them in their proſecutions at Court, that they might be inabled to uphold and continue the exerciſe of the true Religion at Iſſoyre, and that they may be provided of a Paſtor meet for ſo weighty a work; this Aſſembly ordered the Lords General Deputies to have a moſt eſpecial care of their concern, and to allow them the two hundred Livers which they have received on accompt from the Lord du Candall; and they do farther grant them one hundred Livers more, and continue unto them their four portions which had been formerly appointed to be paid in unto them free of all taxations and defalcations by the Province of Sevennes and Gevaudan upon the ſcore of any charges ordinary or extraordinary whatſoever, and it ordaineth that the Churches of Iſſoyre ſhall be incorporated with the ſaid Province, from which, according to order, they ſhall receive their aforeſaid portions, and diſpoſe of them towards the maintenance of their Paſtors, and the remainders thereof ſhall be expended in defraying their charges before mentioned until the next National Synod.
3. The ſame Deputies for that Province of Higher and Lower Auvergne having petitioned this Aſſembly to provide them a Paſtor for the afore-mentioned Church of Iſſoyre, had granted them Monſieur Babat, who was now at full liberty, to ſerve the Church of Iſſoyre, and its annexed Congregations, and to be their own peculiar Paſtor, who ſhall be brought over to them with his houſhold goods and Library at their charges, and they ſhall furniſh him with Moneys and the aſſiſtance of an Elder to be preſent at the Provincial Synods of Sevennes, as often as they ſhould be ſummoned to them.
4. The Lord Vicount of Leyran demanding by his Letter ſent unto this Aſſembly,2. Vitré, g. m. 11. Two Copies read Dan. and Din. ſome additions from us unto two hundred Livers which he promiſeth for himſelf ſhall be paid to the gathering and conſtituting of a Church at Legran l'Imbraſſat and d'Ur; there was granted him one ordinary portion, and another half extraordinary, both free of all charges ordinary and extraordinary from that Province, juſt as it comes from the Dividend made by the National Synod, and that ſaid Province ſhall be accountable for the diſpoſal of thoſe portions unto the next National Synod. And Letters alſo ſhall be written unto the ſaid Lord of Leyran, praiſing and commending his Zeal and Affection towards the advancement of the Kingdom of God.
5. John de Luna, and Laurens Fernandez, both Spaniards; preſented themſelves Montauban, declaring their Abjuration of Monkery and Popery, and approving of their Converſation ever ſince their Converſion; as alſo Stephen Converſett of the Franche Comté, who had quitted the Order of the Dominicans, and Peter Mercurin a Provincial, who had alſo abandoned Popery. This Aſſembly granted unto the ſaid Fernandez, Converſett, and Mercurin, an hundred and forty Crowns a-piece, and farther ordaineth, that the ſaid Mercurin ſhall be put into the Catalogue of Propoſans, and be firſt of all employed in the Miniſtry in Provence. And as for John de Luna, who deſires leave to retire for ſome time into Holland, there be ſixty Livers granted him for his Voyage. And whereas one called Buiſſon, born in the Lower Guyenne, is lately converted from the Popiſh Religion unto the Reformed, thirty Livers are given him towards his relief until the next Provincial Synod, wherein he ſhall be particularly cared for. All which ſhall be paid, without making it a Prefident for the future; and the Provinces and Paſtors are expreſly charged and forbidden never to preſent more unto theſe Aſſemblies any ſuch Converts.
6. The Sieur Conſtantin declaring his moſt miſerable eſtate, and craving our charitable Relief in his deep Poverty; this Aſſembly ordained, that there ſhould be paid him yearly the ſum of an hundred Livers, which ſhall be put to the account of the Moneys diſtributed to the Province of the Higher Guyenne, and immediately 300 Livers were given him to defray his charges in coming unto this Aſſembly, and the Corporation of Bergerac ſhall be exhorted to augment his Salary as Regent of that Claſſis in which he ſerveth.
7. The Deputies of the Church of Pons did in the name of its Elders and Heads of Families preſent their Petition, that they might be provided of a Paſtor; This Aſſembly ordained, that Monſieur Conſtant, who is now freed from the Church of Mazgravier, be given unto the ſaid Church of Pons, in caſe that they like of him, and he of them. And that they may treat hereof, the aforeſaid Deputies are adviſed to go to Montauban, in which City they may hear, and diſcourſe with him about it; who having been there, they did bring with them the ſaid Conſtant, who conſented to paſs over unto their Church, that they might have a proof of his Miniſtry, and he a tryal of their Tempers; and in caſe of mutual Agreement, he intended to ſettle among them as their Paſtor: This Aſſembly approved of this their Reciprocal Tranſaction, and decreeth, that after their acceptance of him according to the Diſcipline of our Churches, he ſhall be confirmed in his Paſtoral Office to them.
8. The Deputies of the Church of Pons demanding the eſtabliſhment of a Colledge in their City,2. Vitré, Appeal 2. and a ſupply of Moneys neceſſary its charges, were remanded back to the Province of Xaintonge, who ſhould take ſuch care about it, as they judged needful.
9. The Churches of Soules having deputed the Sieur Buſtonoby Paſtor,2. Vitré, p. m. 19.38 remonſtrate the neceſſity and advantage that would accrew by the perſonal Reſidence of Miniſters among them, which yet they could never effect by reaſon of their poverty and inability, requeſting alſo ſome little Moneys to forward the impreſſion of a few Manuſcripts in the Biſcain Language; this Aſſembly over and above the portions received by them from the Province of Lower Guyenne, doth beſtow upon them two portions quitted, free, and diſcharged of all expences, taxations, and deductions whatſoever, and three hundred Livers to be paid at one entire payment towards the Printing of the ſaid Manuſcripts: And the ſaid Province ſhall bring in thoſe Moneys upon Accompt unto the next National Synod.
10. Mr. Stephen Rochers, Paſtor of the Church of Monthaſillac and Piles, having been ſuſpended from his Office by the Provincial Synod of St. Foy, until the next Synod of that Province, appeared in perſon before this Aſſembly, petitioning to be reſtored unto his Miniſtry, and producing laudable Certificates from the Colloquy and Church of Bergerac, where he hath ſince reſided, as alſo from that in which he had ſerved, his requeſt was granted him, and he was declared from this inſtant Reinſtated into the holy Miniſtry, which he was exhorted to diſcharge with all prudence, diligence and faithfulneſs; and whereas he complained of his Churches Poverty, the conſideration thereof was deferr'd till ſuch times as the Moneys granted us by the King ſhould come to be diſtributed.
11. The Deputies of the Iſle of France demanding that another Order might be Iſſued out againſt Monſieur de la Touche Paſtor of the Church of Mouchamp in Poictou to Account with them about the Moneys owing them for maintaining him ſeveral years together in his preparatory Studies for the Miniſtry,2. Rochel, p. 3. m. 4. Privas, p. m. 17. to the performance of which he ſtands obliged by the very orders of one or two former National Synods. This Aſſembly having heard his exceptions, and reflecting upon the inconſiderableneſs of the debt, and that his brother hath ſerved in the Miniſtry in the very ſelf ſame Province, and that he was at great expences in Paris, where he fell ſick in a Journy which he took on purpoſe to put an end to this buſineſs, doth cancel his obligation, and intreats the ſaid Province alſo never to trouble him any more about it.
12. The difference in the Church of Muſſidan, and the Complaint of Monſieur Chabot, for that the Publick worſhip of God had been transferred unto Lunga, and the Sieur Latane given without the Conſent of the ſaid Chabot unto that Church, are diſmiſſed over unto the Provincial Synod to be examined by it and that matter concerning our Cautionary Town there it ſhall be decided by the next Mixt Provincial Aſſembly; and that things may be brought into a good temper in order to an accommodation, ſome of the Members of this Aſſembly ſhall in their way homeward call in at Muſſidan, and by their beſt arguments perſwade them to a ſincere Peace and hearty Union among themſelves.
13. Phillip Marulles born at Realmont, Student in Divinity in the Univerſity of Montauban, was preſented by the Deputies of Higher Languedoc, craving ſome charitable aſſiſtance from this Synod; who gave him ſixty Livers, to be paid him by the Receiver General out of the Moneys allowed unto the ſaid Province.
14. The Deputies of Vivaretz reported, that divers Churches in their Province ſending two Elders unto their Synods, cauſed an Inequality in their Votes, and the leſſer Churches on ſeveral occaſions do make greateſt noiſes and complaints. This Aſſembly leaveth that Synod, In caſe of conteſtation, full power to gather the ſuffrages, not by Deputies, but by their Churches; however this ſhall not be made a precedent unto the other Provinces.
15. John Guerin ſecond Regent in the Colledge of Die in Dolphiny, requeſted to be reſtored unto the ſacred Miniſtry of the Goſpel, from which he was depoſed thirty years ago, for a crime committed by him, when as he lived at Geneva. This Aſſembly, having read and heard the Atteſtations given him by the Churches of Dolphiny, in which he hath ſince made his aboad, and of the Univerſity of Die, and of his Provincial Synod, gave orders unto the ſaid Provincial Synod to write unto our Reverend Brethren the Paſtors, Profeſſors and Elders in the Church of Geneva to give us their thoughts about it, and in caſe by their anſwer they approve and conſent unto it, the ſaid Province having pondered all circumſtances, and believing that he may be uſeful in Edifying God's Church, is impowered with full authority from this Aſſembly, to reſtore him unto the Miniſtry.
16. The Deputies of Berry declaring that the Moneys granted unto the Lord Duke of Sully for the Colledge of Boisbelle were laid out and employed in repairing the Colledge of Chaſtillon, Privas, p. m. 35.and in divers other pious and requeſting that they might be diſcharged from making reſtitution of them, as they had been injoyned by the National Synod of Privas, they being in no wiſe able to do it by reaſon of their deep poverty, and very great neceſſities of their Province; This Aſſembly compaſſionateing their deplorable condition, doth for this reaſon only grant them their requeſt.
17. The great neceſſity and famine befallen the Church of Mas St. Eſpueilles having been reported in this Aſſembly,St. Maixant, P. m. 19. the Lord du Candal w to pay out of the Common Moneys of our Churches unto the Inhabitants of the ſaid City the ſum of nine hundred Livers, and to Monſieur Aubriot their Paſtor charged with a great and numerous family the ſum of three hundred Livers, the whole being 1200 l. Which ſum of nine hundred Livers ſhall be diſtributed by the Conſuls and Conſiſtory, who are to give an Acquitance for it. And that the ſaid diſtribution may be made among the People with the greater Order and fidelity, Monſieur Iſaiah Lignier, Lord de la Menarie Elder of the Churches of Melquel and Lunel, who is now perſonally preſent in this Aſſembly, and was an Eye-witneſs of their ſore and deep affliction, is intreated to ſee this Charity well-managed and diſtributed, and he ſhall carry home with him what other Collections he hath received for the ſaid City. Which accordingly he promiſed to ſee done and performed.
18. The Deputies of Dolphiny complaining that the Sieur Scoffier had not obeyed the Decree of the Synod of Privas, St. Maixant, p. m. 21. Privas, p. m. 34.in paying the Moneys which he owed them; this Synod voted that ninety Livers ſhould be detained, out of the Moneys beloning to the Province of Berry (in which the ſaid Scoffier ſerves as a Miniſter) in the hands of the Lord du Candal, and delivered unto the Province of Dolphiny; yet leaving the Province of Berry at Liberty to take what courſe they thought good to recover the ſaid ſum from Monſieur Scoffier.
19. The Deputies of Dolphiny complaining that the Sieur Jarry had received thirty Livers from the Church of Caſtel-Dolphin, upon promiſe that he ſhould come and ſerve them, which yet he hath not done, nor reſtored to them the ſaid Moneys; Order was given to the Synod of Sevennes, that they injoin him to make them ſatisfaction, and that they conſult what cenſure to inflict upon him.
20. Bertrand Auger, or Faugier, who was put upon the File of the Depoſed Miniſters by the National Synod of St. Maixant, having cleared himſelf of the Crimes laid unto his charge, was reſtored unto the exerciſe of his Miniſtry by the Synod of Dolphiny, whoſe Deputies now demanding that his name might be razed out of that black Kalander, this Aſſembly did accordingly grant it to them.
21. A judgment of the Province of Normandy about ſome Money-matter being put in execution,Privas, p. m. 25. which was remanded thither by the Synod of Privas; this Aſſembly ordained, that the Province of Brittany ſhould pay two thirds of the charges expended by the Sieur Trizonius, who was commiſſionated in that affair by the Province of Anjou; and the Moneys for the ſaid charges ſhall be kept by the Lord du Candal in his hands out of the Moneys appertaining to the Province of Brittany, unleſs their Deputies would rather compound, and make preſent ſatisfaction.
22. Complaint being made by the higher Generality of Normandy, that the general charges for the whole Province were divided by equal portions between the Lower and Higher Normandy, although there was a very great inequality both of Churches and Colloquies betwixt them; this Aſſembly ordaineth for the future that the ſaid Charges ſhall be divided into five parts, whereof the Lower Normandy ſhall pay three, and the Higher the other two.
23. The Synod of the Iſle of France complained of the Church of Paris for not paying in, as the other Churches of that Province have done, and ſtill do the fifth penny of their Charity-Moneys. This Aſſembly having heard the Sieur Bigot, and ſeen the Acts of the Provincial Synod, and the Accounts of the ſaid Church, approveth of the adminiſtration of their Charities, and ordereth that the ſaid Church ſhall continue in the ſame eſtate as it was heretofore, only that their Deputies ſhall bring in to their Provincial Synod an account how they diſpoſe of their fifth penny.
24. The difference betwixt the Church of Orleans and their Provincial Synod, about Claudius Garnier a Dominican Fryar converted unto the Proteſtant Reformed Religion, is turned over to the Province of Anjou, to put a final period thereunto by the authority of this Aſſembly.
25. The Province of Lower Languedoc having referred unto this Aſſembly the ſeparation of the Churches de la Baſtide, Viras, Vignas, and Beſſars from the Church of Barjac, that they might be incorporated with the Province of Vivaretz. After hearing the Deputies of both Provinces, and peruſal of the Judgment given by the Synod of Lower Languedoc, the aforeſaid Churches were all adjudged unto the Province of Vivaretz, excepting only that thoſe of the Quarter of Beſſars, and only they are left to their own choice, whether to continue Members of the Church of Barjac, or to follow thoſe other Churches.
See before Appeal 38.26. The expences of Monſieur Raffin in his journey to this Aſſembly for defending that Appeal brought by the Colloquy of Albigeois ſhall be re-imburſt him by the Provinces of Higher Languedoc and Guyenne, out of the portions allotted to the ſaid Colloquy.
27. The difference between the Colloquy of Albigeois and the Synod of Higher Languedoc and Gyuenne, about the diſtribution of their reſpective portions, is diſmiſſed over to the Synod of Lower Guyenne, who have full power to put a final period to it by the authority of this Aſſembly.
28. The Province of Lower Languedoc deſiring to be diſcharged by this Aſſembly from paying thoſe ſumms for which they ſtood indebted unto the Synod of Privas, becauſe that the Apoſtate Ferrier, who had their Moneys, and whom they had impleaded for them, hath removed his cauſe by way of Appeal▪ unto the Council: It was ordained, that the Decree of Privas ſhould not in the leaſt be changed; And yet notwithſtanding that theſe Petitioners ſhould be holpen in their juſt proſecution of the ſaid Ferrier at Law by all the Churches.
29. This Aſſembly approving the labours of Mr. Andrew Rivet Paſtor of the Church of Thouars, and particularly thoſe learned Works of his publiſhed againſt the Adverſaries of the Truth, gave him their thanks for them, and as a teſtimony of that love and honour they bear him, do give him the ſumm of ſix hundred Livers out of the common ſtock of all the Churches.
30. The Synod of Poictou having propoſed that there might be a new diviſion and increaſe of Colloquies in the ſaid Province, after hearing the arguments pro and con, this Aſſembly ordained that the Colloquies ſhould abide in number and form as they have ever been untill now.
31. The Sieur Chabot petitioned by Letters unto this Aſſembly that the publick Preaching of Gods Holy Word, together with the adminiſtration of the Sacraments, and all other exerciſes of our Holy Reformed Religion might be again reſtored unto the Church of Muſſidan; It was ordained that Meſſieurs d' Anglade and Eſperien Miniſters of St. Foy do viſit that Church, and Preach at Muſſidan, and diſpoſe the diſſenting parties to a reconciliation, till the meeting of their next Provincial Synod.
32. The Province of Higher Languedoc is exhorted to conſider the diſtreſſes of the Church of Aigueſmortes, and to aſſiſt it with a ſupernumerary portion, equal unto any of thoſe other portions given by them unto Paſtors, and to be paid out of that ſtock of Moneys which will be allotted them in the general Dividend.
33. And the ſaid Province is intreated to give unto Maſter Andrew Chanforan the Son of Monſieur Chanforan Paſtor of the Church of Pouſſyn the firſt place that falls vacant for any Propoſan,Privas, p. m. 19.
34. The Deputies in this Synod are charged when they return unto their reſpective Provinces to recommend unto them the continuance of their Charity towards the poor Refugees of the Marquiſate of Salluces, a great many of them ſtill groaning under very preſſing wants.
2. Vitré, obſ. 8. upon this Synod.35. According to the Decree of the National Synod of Privas, the Province of Normandy have payed their debt unto Monſieur Vatablé, and the Moneys were depoſited for him into the hands of the Deputies of Poictou.
See the 5th Article after the Roll of names. 2 Vitré, obſ. 7. upon the Synod.36. The Letters of the King of great Britain received at the opening of this Aſſembly, and thoſe from the Church of Geneva, and thoſe which were ſince its Seſſion, ſent from his Highneſs the Prince Elector Palatine, and from the Lord Mareſchal Duke of Bouillon to it; being read, as alſo the Letters of Monſieur Moulin and Tilenus, treating of the difference between them: The Aſſembly deputed certain Paſtors to peruſe the Inventory tranſmitted us from the Profeſſor Tilenus, and Monſieur du Moulin's Confeſſion of Faith about the effects of the Perſonal Union, who made report, that the ſaid Inventory contained certain terms and modes of ſpeech that were uncouth and improper, yet imputed unto the ſaid Monſieur du Moulin as his, and extracted out of a Conference held with him at Paris, whereof they could not make any Judgment unleſs they had ſight of the Original, or at leaſt of a Copy of its Acts exactly and well collationed. And as for the confeſſion of the ſaid Monſieur du Moulin ſent unto this Aſſembly, they do find it for its ſubſtance orthodox, and wide enough from all ſuſpicion of Eutychianiſm, Neſtorianiſm, Samoſatenianiſm, and Ubiquitiſm. Wherefore, that this difference may be totally extinguiſhed, and a moſt ſincere reconciliation effected between the divided Parties, this Aſſembly ordained, that all the Printed Copies of the Profeſſor Tilenus his Book, and that Manuſcript before mention Styled the Inventory, as alſo the Latin and French Books written by the ſaid Monſieur du Moulin relating unto this Queſtion, ſhall be ſent to Saumur, and depoſited with the Lord du Pleſſis Marly, that ſo the remembrance of this contention may be for ever buried in oblivion. And Monſieur du Moulin and the Profeſſor Tilenus are exhorted by this Aſſembly to meet together on the ſame day, and at the ſame place in Saumur, where the Paſtors of the neighbouring Churches together with the Paſtors of that Church, and the Profeſſors of that Univerſity may be ſummoned in together, who with the ſaid Lord du Pleſſis ſhall endeavour a firm Union in Doctrine between theſe two perſons, and a ſincere forgetfulneſs of all Matters paſt betwixt them. And in the mean while Monſieur du Moulin is exhorted to continue his labors in his Church with that ſame zeal and greatneſs of Spirit as heretofore, and to take courage and comfort unto himſelf from that Approbation and Teſtimonial which hath been, and is ſtill given him for the orthodoxy of his Faith and ſoundneſs of his Doctrin. And report ſhall be made of theſe methods and means uſed by us unto His Majeſty the King of great Britain, to his Highneſs the Prince Elector Palatin, to the Lord Duke of Bouillon, in our Letters of anſwer to them particularly, together with our humble requeſts unto his Majeſty of great Britain, to his Electoral Highneſs the Prince Palatin, and to the Lord Mareſchal Duke of Bouillon that they would be pleaſed by their Authority to oblige the ſaid Monſieur Tilenus perſonally to ingage in this Interview and conference; and to command that the before-mentioned Printed Books and Manuſcripts, which may have paſt out of this Kingdom into their Dominions, may be all called in and ſuppreſſed. And this alſo ſhall be inſerted in our anſwer unto the Church of Geneva.
37. This Aſſembly ordaineth that the portion of the Sieur du Moulin Paſtor of the Church at Orleans ſhall be diſcharged of all Taxes and Coſts upon the Provinces,See the 4th Article after the names of the Deputies. and paid in unto him full and free.
38. Maſter Hume formerly Paſtor of the Church of Duras having found on his return home from Scotland and England his ſaid Church provided of another Paſtor, and the Province not calling him unto another Church, he is declared free by this Aſſembly to ſerve in any other place where God ſhall call him, either in the ſame, or in any other Province of this Kingdom.
39. This Aſſembly having been, read, and heard the Letters and arguments of Achilles Bonhout which prevailed with him not to remove his ſon from the Jeſuites ſchool, and that the conſiſtory of the Church of Lions cannot in the leaſt compel him to it, doth Judge them null, and commands the ſaid Conſiſtory to inflict upon him, and all others that ſhall be guilty of the like ſcandal, the ſevereſt Cenſures of the Church according to our Diſcipline.
40. The Church of Metz by their Letter bearing date the tenth of May, and received the ſecond of June, petitioned this Aſſembly to ſend them ſuch a Paſtor out of the Churches of this Kingdom, as It Judged would moſt contribute to their Edification, and if It thought good, either Monſieur Chevillette Miniſter of Vitry, or Monſieur de la Cloche Miniſter of the Church of Moyſi, both of them in the Iſle of France. This Aſſembly left the conſideration of this matter unto the ſaid Province, and prayed them in their next Synod to gratifie the Church of Metz,