The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 22 (2nd Vitré) · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Reflections on reading the Acts of the laſt National Synod, Celebrated at Tonneins.
1. THE Deputies of the Iſle of France read an Act of theirs in this Aſſembly,Tonneins Art. 12. in the Roll of Paſtors. and reported what was done by them in execution of that Commiſſion, which had been given them, and the Provincial Deputies of Anjou to cenſure the Church and Conſiſtory of Tours, and Monſieur Coupé Paſtor of the ſaid Church, for not obeying the Decree of the Province of Anjou, concerning the deputation of Monſieur Coupé, unto the National Synod of Tonneins, and declared farther, how that the ſaid Deputies of Anjou had not aſſiſted them in the leaſt in it. This Aſſembly approving all that hath been done by the ſaid Deputies of the Iſle of France, doth charge the next Provincial Synod of Anjou to hear what the ſaid Deputies of Anjou can ſay for themſelves, and why they had not joined with them in executing the ſaid Commiſſion, with which they were equally intruſted with the Deputies of the Iſle of France.
2. Foraſmuch as the third Article of Obſervations,Privas Obſerv. on the Diſcipl. Alez. Obſerv. 2. on this very Synod. made by the National Synod of Tonneins, on the Acts of that of Privas, was omitted by him, who dictated the ſaid Acts: This Aſſembly thought good to inſert them into the Acts of this preſent Synod, which it doth in theſe following words. As for that Canon which gives way to Elders, the Paſtor being refuſed becauſe of exceptions taken at him, to judge of differences, even unto ſuſpenſion from the Lord s Supper; the Province of Lower Languedoc demanding, that ſome change might be made in it: This Aſſembly Ordained, that it ſhould abide in thoſe very ſelf ſame words in which it was couched at firſt.
3. The Province of Brittaine complaining of a Judgment paſt by the Provincial Synod of Anjoy, in executing a Decree of the National Synod of Tonneins, Tonneins Appeal 7. Below, p. m. 10.was now heard, in what it had more to ſay and offer unto this Aſſembly; But when they had done, the judgment of the ſaid Province of Anjou, for dividing the Church of Montague from that of Viellevigne, was confirmed; And the Church of Viellevigne is admoniſhed to contribute lovingly towards the maintenance of their Paſtor; and in caſe of their inability, the Province of Brittaine ſhall make proviſion for him out of the monies apportioned to them from his Majeſties liberality; and thoſe private perſons who will join themſelves unto the ſaid Church of Viellevigne, ſhall not for time to come, at their will and pleaſure, depart from it, to be joined in Communion with that of Montagu.
4. The Deputies of the Province of Dolphiny, Tonneins Obſ. 5. on the Synod of Privas. Alez. p. m. 3.gave notice unto this Aſſembly, that their Synod had ſeen and peruſed the Hiſtory of the Waldenſes and Albingenſes, collected by Monſieur Perrin; but it was not printed nor diſtributed according to the Order given the ſaid Monſieur Perrin, by the National Synod of Tonneins. Now it is Ordained, That the ſaid Hiſtory ſhall be ſent unto our Honoured Brethren, the Paſtors and Profeſſors in the Church and Univerſity of Geneva, who ſhall be deſired by the Synod of Dolphiny to peruſe it; and whereas the ſaid Monſieur Perrin requeſts a ſum of money towards the Printing of the ſaid Book, The Province of Dolphiny is injoined to ſollicit it's impreſſion, for there can be nothing more given or added by us, to what was formerly granted by the Synod of Privas.
5. A Canon of the Synod of Tonneins was read,Tonneins Appeal 18. concerning the Appeal of Monſieur Margonne, ſometimes Paſtor in the Province of Burgundy, but ſince withdrawn unto the Church of Chaſtillon, on the Loire, in the Province of Berry; which Canon had ordained that the ſaid Province of Berry, ſhould give unto that of Burgundy, a Propoſan before the next Provincial Synod: The ſaid Province of Burgundy reported, that they having no information given them of the time and place when the Synod of Berry met, they could not demand them to fulfil the conditions and terms enjoined in that Canon; wherefore they beſought this Aſſembly to confirm the aforeſaid Canon, which it alſo did, and injoined the very next Provincial Synod of Berry, fully to anſwer and ſatisfy the Contents and Import of the ſaid Canon of Tonneins.
6. The Province of Vivaretz requeſting,Tonneins Appeal …2. that the Cenſure impoſed on them by the National Synod of Tonneins, might be reverſed, and took off the File, and that the Letters of Monſieur de la Faye, Paſtor of the Church of Aubenas, on whoſe account the ſaid Cenſure was decreed, might be read, he joining together with the Province in this their requeſt; This Aſſembly conſidering that the diſcontents on all hands are now appeaſed, and deſiring the weal and repoſe of the ſaid Province, and particularly of the Church of Aubenas, hath granted them their demand.
7. That Act of the National Synod of Tonneins being read,Tonneins p. m. 35. about the difference between Monſieur du Moulin and Tilenus, on which the Lord of Pleſſis-Marly had been intreated to contrive away for Reconciling them by calling in ſome of the Neighbour Paſtors, together with the Profeſſors in the Univerſity of Saumur. Monſieur Rivet tendered unto this Aſſembly a Letter on this ſubject from the ſaid Lord du Pleſſis, by which he informs them of what he had done in it, and how that the Sieurs Fleury, Le Bloy, Rivett, Rerilla…, and Bouchereau, Paſtors in the Church of Loudun, Angers, Touars, of the Iſle Bouchart, and Saumur, and the late Monſieur Craig, Profeſſor of Divinity in the Univerſity of Saumur, had been called in by him unto his Aſſiſtance in this affair, from which at laſt there reſulted a good Accord between both the Parties, who were mutually reconciled in points of Doctrine, notwithſtanding that ſome harſh words, if rigorouſly taken, and badly underſtood, might be drawn contrary to their avowed ſenſe and ſentiments. Thanks were ordered, in the name of this Synod, to be returned unto the Illuſtrious Lord Du Pleſſis, and to the R. Reverend Monſieur Rivet, our Moderator, now preſent; and the ſame alſo ſhould be rendered unto his Collegues, by the Deputies of their Province, and ſpecial notice hereof ſhould be given by every one of them unto their Synodical Aſſemblies, that ſo thanks might be offered up unto God unanimouſly, and as it were with one mouth, and humbly to beg of his moſt glorious Majeſty, that this ſacred Concord might not only be confirmed by an uniform judgment between theſe two Eminent Members, but alſo betwixt all the reſt of our Body. However afterward Tilenus deſerted the Communion of our Churches, and died in that of the Arminians.
8. Letters ſhall be written from this Aſſembly unto the Lord Mareſchall Duke of Leſdiguieres, Gap. g. m. …. Tonneins p. m. 39.intreating him to recommend unto his Royal Highneſs the Duke of Savoy, the poor Proteſtants baniſhed out of the Marquiſate of Saluces, beſeeching him, that he would be pleaſed to permit them, out of his Royal Favour, to return unto their Houſes and Inheritance; and that he would grant unto them their former Liberty of Conſcience in the Service and Worſhip of God.