The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 22 (2nd Vitré) · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. General Matters.
1. THE Motion of Lower Languedoc, 1 Paris 38.for certain new Canons about Divorces, was not accepted.
2. This Aſſembly Ordained, at the requeſt of the ſame Province,Figeac 8. that ſuch Parents who chuſe for their Childrens Baptiſm Sureties of the Romiſh Religion, though they appear not in Perſon, but by their Proxies of the Reformed Religion, ſhall be proſecuted, both Parents and Proxies, with all Church-Cenſures.
3. Notice ſhall be given in all our Churches, to take ſpecial heed,Saumur Obſ. 11. that they give no Atteſtation unto the Moors (baniſhed out of Spain, and who wander from one Church to another) till they be very well ſatisfied of their Religion, and religious Converſation; and ſuch as have been already received, and make their abode in any of our Churches, ſhall be once more examined with all poſſible care, as to their Faith, and Knowledge, and Life, and in all Atteſtations that ſhall be given them, expreſs mention ſhall be made of their having been baptized, and of the number of their Children.
4. The Deputies of Xaintonge moved,Li…s p. ni. 30. whether Moors and other Infidels, that were brought away by pure force out of their Native Country into Chriſtendom, and baptized by Popiſh Prieſts, without any previous Inſtructions in the Doctrines of Chriſtian Religion, ought to be Rebaptized, they having been ſince duly Catechized by our Proteſtant Miniſters. This Aſſembly, though it acknowledgeth abundance of defaults in their Baptiſm, doth yet notwithſtanding hold, that ſuch perſons ought not to be rebaptized. And therefore thoſe Churches unto whom theſe poor Wretches be preſented, are adviſed to take all poſſible care, that they be well principled in the Faith of our Lord Jeſus.
5. At the requeſt of the Provincial Deputies of Anjou, Saumur g. m. 2…. Alez. g. m. 1.and of the Iſle of France. This Aſſembly ordained, that the Decree of the National Synod of Saumur ſhall be ſtill in force, which was couched in theſe words, That although by reaſon of the preſent neceſſity of theſe times in which we now live, Paſtors are permitted to be ſent Deputies unto theſe Political Aſſemblies, in which affairs, relating to the Churches preſervation, are treated and debated: Yet our Provincial and general civil Aſſemblies are earneſtly requeſted to diſcharge and diſmiſs all Paſtors from Deputations unto Court, and this at the deſire of ſeveral Provinces.
6. At the requeſt of the Province of Berry all the Provinces are enjoined to extend their Equity and Charity towards the poorer Churches,Gergeau. p. m. 39. in their diſtributions of the Kings money, and in their allowances for expences in travel unto the general Aſſemblies, whether they be Political or Eccleſiaſtical.
7. The Deputies of Burgundy demanded whether a Patron might with a good Conſcience ſell away his right of Preſentation unto any Rectory or Benefice,1 Vitré g. m. 15. provided he diſpoſe of thoſe moneys unto pious uſes. It was anſwered, that he might warrantably do it. For it was thus decreed in the National Synod of Vitré, in the year 1583.
8. The ſame Province of Burgundy demanded that a ſpecial Canon might be made for direction how we ſhould receive,3 of R…chel g. m. 16 Below Art. 19. and what maintenance we ſhould exhibit unto Monks, who come unto us from foreign parts. Order was given unto the Provinces where ſuch Fellows firſt come, to examine them moſt ſtrictly, and to ſee whether they be fit for the ſtudy of Divinity, that ſo they may be ſupplied with maintenance accordingly, or to employ them in other Callings according to their Capacities; and the ſaid Provinces ſhall give account of them unto the National Synods, that they may diſpoſe of them as of their own Peculiar.
9. The Province of Higher Languedoc moving it,F…lli…rs Obſ. 14. all the Churches are injoined to ſuppreſs, with the greateſt care imaginable, all manner of Inſolencies, ſuch as they call Charivary's Redemptions of Marriage, and the like: and they, who after admonitions prove incorrigible, ſhall be proſecuted with all Eccleſiaſtical Cenſures; and Magiſtrates profeſſing the reformed Religion are intreated to exert their Authority, ſo as to hinder or puniſh ſuch Scandals.
10. The Deputies of the ſaid Province demanding,Gap Obſ. 9. upon the former Synod. that Miniſters ordained abroad, without the Kingdom, might not be permitted to exerciſe their Miniſtry in our Churches at home, without ſubjecting their Teſtimonials unto the Examination of Colloquies, or Provincial Synods. The Aſſembly ordered, that all the Provinces ſhould yield exact Conformity unto the ninth Article of Obſervations upon the Diſcipline made by the Synod of Gap on that of Gergeau.
11. At the requeſt of the forementioned Deputies, the Profeſſors in our Univerſities are ordered not to be too eaſy in giving their Teſtimonials unto Scholars, but firſt of all carefully to examine their parts, proficiency, and converſations, and according to the progreſs they have made in Humanity,St. Maixant g. m. 30. and of Univerſ. 8. Alez. g. m. 6.1 Paris 13. Philoſophy, and Divinity, and as they ſhall merit, to give them their Atteſtations.
12. On a Remonſtrance exhibited by the Deputies of Normandy, it is ordained, that if a Paſtor have given his Miniſtry unto any one particular Church, he ſhall not leave it at his pleaſure, but ſhall firſt demand and obtain the advice and conſent of his Colloquy, or Provincial Synod in the matter, and in caſe they judge of its expediency, he may remove.
13. This Aſſembly ordaineth,St. Foy 7. that Catechiſing be more frequently uſed in all our Churches than ever, and that the manner of expounding it, whether Sermon-wiſe, or by Queſtions and Anſwers, is wholly left to the prudence of the reſpective Conſiſtories, who are to conſider of the capacities and apprehenſions of the Children in their Churches.
14. Foraſmuch as divers notable errors have been met withal in the Impreſſions of whole Bibles, and of the New-Teſtament ſingly, and of the Pſalm-Books; The Conſiſtories of thoſe Churches, which have a Printing Preſs belonging to them, are injoined to look carefully to it, that their Printers have good Overſeers and Correctors of the Preſs, and that they Print with a fair Character, and a good Paper: And particularly the Paſtors of the Church of Montauban are charged to call in all the Copies of the New Teſtament, Printed in their City, in Octavo, and to ſuppreſs them, becauſe of the many and frequent faults in that Impreſſion, which quite alter and pervert the ſence, and becauſe of the evil Conſequence, if that Impreſſion ſhould be vended; and in anſwering the Letters of our Brethren the Paſtors and Profeſſors in the City and Univerſity of Geneva, this Clauſe ſhall be inſerted, that we earneſtly deſire them to over ſee the Impreſſions of the Holy Bible, of the New Teſtaments, and Pſalm Books, that they may for the future be more correct than heretofore.
15. The Deputies of the Iſle of France demanding that the ſecond part of the fifth Canon in the ſixth Chapter of the Diſcipline might be a little qualified;Saumur g. m 8. This Aſſembly did not think fit to make any alteration in it: but exhorts Conſiſtories, Colloquies, and Synods, to uſe it unto Godly Edifying.
16. The Deputies of Anjou and Poictou remonſtrating how exceeding needful it is,Figeac 51 Alez Obſ. 4. upon this Syn. that our Univerſities ſhould be ſupplied with able Profeſſors in Divinity: This Aſſembly exhorts the Provinces to come prepared for this Debate unto the next National Synod, and in the mean while to conſider how to raiſe a Fund for the maintenance of ſome Scholars of great parts and hopes, who may be wholly deſtinated unto this work, or to find out ſome better expedient, if they can.
17. Complaints coming to us from divers hands,Alez. Obſ. 5. upon this Syn. that the Penſions paid by Scholars in the Univerſity of Saumur, are ſo very high, and the expence ſo exceeding great, that many cannot, and others will not ſend their Children to it. This Aſſembly chargeth Monſieur Rivet, Lanuſſe, and de la Pilletierre, that in their way homeward to their reſpective Provinces, they do viſit the Univerſity Council of Saumur, and report unto them theſe Complaints, and to aſſure them, that in caſe they do not take ſome effectual courſe for moderating thoſe exceſſive rates for lodging, diet, and waſhing, the next National Synod will adviſe about it; and transfer the ſaid Univerſity to a cheaper and more convenient place.
18. The Deputies of Bearn brought with them a Hiſtory of our Martyrs collected by that Province in the year fifteen hundred ſixty and nine. This Aſſembly ordained, that it be ſent unto Monſieur Goulark Paſtor of Geneva, that it may be added to the next Impreſſion of our Martyrology.
19. For the right underſtanding of thoſe Canons made by the Synods of Rochel, in the year ſixteen hundred and ſeven, and at Tonneins in the year ſixteen hundred and fourteen,Above Art. 8. concerning a fixed Rule about the quota to be exhibited unto Monks for the defraying of their expences, who abandoning their Convents do come and imbrace the Proteſtant Religion, and live in Communion with our Churches: This Aſſembly ordaineth, that for the future the Churches and Provinces which firſt received them, ſhall not have any power to redemand the charges they have been at about them from thoſe Provinces in which they were born.
Mentauban Obſ. 9. Alez. Obſ.20. Foraſmuch as the nine and twentieth Canon in the fifth Chapter of our Church-Diſcipline had ordained, that if any perſons, profeſſing the Proteſtant Religion, ſhould cite their Paſtors, or Elders, or the whole Conſiſtory before the Civil Magiſtrate, to enforce them to bear witneſs againſt Delinquents, who had confeſſed their faults before them, that they ſhould be proſecuted with all Church-Cenſures, yea even as far as Excommunication. This Aſſembly doth farther injoin all the Churches to proſecute ſuch perſons with the very ſelf-ſame Cenſures, who that they may avoid the Cenſures of their Conſiſtories, do arm themſelves with Prohibitions from the Civil Magiſtrate, although the matters for which they be cenſur'd are purely Eccleſiaſtical, and not belonging to the Civil Tribunal or Juriſdiction.
21. All Miniſters are forbidden to vent in the Pulpit their private Sentiments of State-affairs,St. Foy 26. Alez. Obſ. 5. upon this Syn. it being contrary to the Reſolutions taken up in our general Aſſemblies. And Conſiſtories, Colloquies, and Provincial Synods, are injoined to have a watchful Eye over ſuch Paſtors as ſo do, and to inflict upon them all the Cenſures of the Church, yea and to ſuſpend them from the Miniſtry; and the ſame puniſhment ſhall be alſo laid on them who in their publick Sermons do claſh one againſt another upon theſe matters.
Privas Obſ. 5. upon the former Synod.22. The Deputies of Anjou demanded at what time Monks who are lately converted from Popery unto the truth of the Goſpel, might be admitted to make their publick abjuration. Anſwer was given by this Aſſembly, that it was left wholly to the Wiſdom of the Conſiſtory to act therein, according as they found ſuch perſons to have grown in Grace, and in the knowledge of God's Truth.
Tonneins Obſ. 4. on the former Synod.21. The Sieur de la Viale, one of the Deputies of Higher Languedoc, preſented unto this Aſſembly Letters from Monſieur Chamier, Paſtor and Profeſſor of Divinity at Montauban, by which he informed us of the progreſs made by him in his body of Controverſies, which he undertook at the intreaty of the laſt National Synod held at Rochell, and that there were three Volumes ready and fitted for the Preſs, the heads and matters of which were included in a particular Memorial, that was alſo tendered by him. The Aſſembly ordered their thanks to be returned him for his great and worthy labours, and that the two thouſand Livers which had been formerly promiſed him by the Synod of Privas, ſhould be kept by him as an incouragement for his travail, and to help defray his charges: and that the Church of God may be no longer deprived of his moſt ſingular and fruitful Labours, whoſe publication it hath moſt ardently deſired theſe many years; The Conſiſtories of Paris and Lyons are ordered to treat with the Printers and Bookſellers of their Cities, and with thoſe of Geneva, or with their Company, who deal in ſuch matters, to undertake the Impreſſion of theſe three Volumes without delay, and to get them Printed either in Germany or Geneva; and in caſe they ſhould demand monies to be paid them in before hand, they may oblige themſelves to advance three thouſand Livers, depoſited for this purpoſe with the Lord of Candal, unto thoſe that will ingage to finiſh the ſaid Impreſſion, provided, that as ſoon as it is finiſhed, they do cauſe to be deliver'd into thoſe afore-mentioned Conſiſtories of Paris and Lions, according to the Articles Covenanted between them, ſo many intire and perfect Books, as will ſatisfy the aforeſaid ſum of three thouſand Livers already received by them, at the rate of four deniers per ſheet. And theſe Books lodged in the hands of thoſe two Conſiſtories ſhall be ſold unto the Paſtors of our Churches at a very moderate price; reſerving always twelve compleat Copies to be preſented unto their Reverend and Learned Author, free of all coſts and charges whatſoever. And farther thoſe Conſiſtories before-mentioned ſhall be accountable unto another National Synod for their receit and disburſement of the ſum aforeſaid, and of the Books received and ſold by them. And that this Excellent Work of Monſieur Chamier may be the ſooner finiſhed and wrought off at the Preſs, he is intreated to ſend ſpeedily unto the abovementioned Conſiſtories, the Titles of his Works, the number of Quires, and of Folio's in each Quire, together with one Folio-leaf of the ſame fairly written, that ſo an eſtimate may be made of the bulk of the whole. And theſe two Conſiſtories having peruſed it, they ſhall conſult together about the beſt and moſt advantaglous terms they can agree on with the Printers, which being ſigned, notice thereof ſhall be given unto Monſieur Chamier, with their requeſt, that he would be pleaſed to ſend his Manuſcript Copy unto ſuch a place as they ſhall appoint him, at the charges of the Undertaker, who ſhall be reimburſt, by deducting ſuch a number of Books, at the rates before contracted for, as his charges amounted to in fetching the ſaid Original Papers from their Reverend Author. And the ſaid Printers ſhall be obliged to work off the whole Impreſſion within the ſpace of one year at the fartheſt, from the date of the Contract made with them.
24. In purſuance of this Order for Printing thoſe worthy Labours of the moſt Reverend Chamier, Thomas Portau a Printer, living at Saumur, appeared in Perſon before this Aſſembly, and offered thoſe terms unto it, which were accepted. Whereupon the Conſiſtory of Saumur were charged to contract with him, taking therein the advice of the Lord du Pleſſis their Governour, and of Monſieur Rivet Paſtor of the Church of Touars; and Monſieur Chamier ſhall be intreated to deliver unto the ſaid Portau his Manuſcript Copy, who on notice given him ſhall wait upon him for it, and at his own charges: And beſides this Article, there ſhall be added theſe enſuing Conditions unto the Contract, ſtipulated with him, that he ſhall finiſh the Impreſſion of theſe three Books againſt the next Mart of Franckfort, and that he ſhall bring them to the place appointed before the next Eaſter at the fartheſt, that he ſhall print them on fair and large Paper, which will hold ink without waſhing, ſuch as that on which the Lord du Pleſſis his Book of the Euchariſt was Printed, with as large a Margent, and weighing fifteen pounds a Ream, or there away; that the Character ſhall be ſuch as that Little Cicero Printed by Colomiés; that the Letters ſhall be new founded with which he begins the work, and to be renewed in the progreſs thereof, in caſe occaſion do require it, and that the Conſiſtory, contracting with him, do judge it needful; that the ſtamps for the Latine, Greek and Hebrew Quotations ſhall be all new and proportionable to the Work, that the Books, which according to the beforementioned Articles and Conditions he is to render unto the Churches, ſhall be kept at Saumar, there to be ſold, and a part of them ſhall be ſent by the ſaid Portau to Lions and Rochell, and all of them delivered unto the reſpective Conſiſtories of thoſe Churches, who ſhall take care for their being diſtributed abroad among our Miniſters. And in caſe Monſieur Chamier ſhall not deliver his Copy unto the ſaid Fortau, then the Conſiſtory of Paris is ordered to divide equally the three thouſand Livers, remaining in the hands of the Lord du Candal, and to ſend the reſpective dividend thereof unto the Provinces to whom it doth belong.
25. This Synod received Letters from the Gentlemen deputed by the Provinces unto the Aſſembly at Rochell, and Monſieur Preau, Paſtor of the Church of Vitré Commiſſionated by them, reported their unanimous intentions and reſolutions to live and die in the Union ſworn by all the Churches, for which he was ordered to render them the hearty thanks of this Synod, and to aſſure them that we never had, nor will ever have any other end or aim, than firmly and inviolably to ſecure and promote this holy Union. And as touching that particular reported by the ſaid Du Preau unto this Synod, by word of mouth, and by Letters from the ſaid Aſſembly, how that the neceſſities of the day obliging them to ſend ſeveral Deputations unto Court, and elſewhere, whilſt the ſix Provinces met, and ſince all the others have joined them, they were forc'd to borrow in one place five hundred Livers, and in another place two thouſand Livers more, to defray their charges, and there will be a want of five hundred Livers more to make another, and their laſt Deputation unto Court, which they ſhall be conſtrained alſo to take up at Intereſt; For the payment of which ſums the Deputies aforeſaid, have, by an Act which was here preſented us, bound and obliged the moneys given us by the Kings Liberality for the maintenance of our Miniſters. This Aſſembly gives thoſe Deputies to underſtand, that the diſpoſal of this money is wholly and ſolely in the power of our National Synods, and of this in particular, and that not a penny of it can be diſpoſed of by any Political Aſſembly whatſoever; yet notwithſtanding (for ſome ſpecial reaſons in this juncture, and not intending hereby to make a precedent of it for the future) the Lord du Candal is ordered to pay unto the ſaid Deputies the ſum of three thouſand Livers, and this only by way of Loan, that ſo their expences may be cleared of: And whereas the ſix Provinces have borrowed five hundred Livers, this Synod can do nothing in it, becauſe it was imployed on a private concern of the City of Rochell, and by parity of reaſon, the other Provinces might as well demand a reimburſement of their charges alſo, expended by them on the like occaſions. And our Lords, the General Deputies, are intreated moſt humbly to Petition his Majeſty, that the ſaid three thouſand Livers may be returned us again, and diſtributed among our Churches. Since this, the ſaid Deputies aſſembled at Rochell, have writ unto this Synod by the Lord of Cuſonnel, Deputy for Vivaretz, that now they had no need of the ſaid ſum of four thouſand Livers demanded by them before. Whereupon advice was given to the Lord of Candal, to furniſh them only with two thouſand one hundred Livers.
26. Monſieur du Preau did alſo repreſent the diſtreſſed eſtate of the City and Church of Sancerre, See below g.m. 37.who by reaſon of their paſt ſufferings, and to ſecure the poſſeſſion of this Cautionary Town, were well-near undone, having borrowed ſo much moneys, and Mortgaged their Eſtates for the payment thereof, that without conſiderable aſſiſtance and relief from the Churches, they ſhall never be able to pay their Debts, nor to free their Eſtates from thoſe great Incumbrances. The ſame alſo was atteſted by Letters from the Lord Baron of Belette, and by the Deputies of Berry. This Aſſembly conſidering that all the Churches are concerned in the preſervation of this important place, exhorteth thoſe Provinces which have not as yet charitably contributed towards their relief, to do it out of hand, and to remit the moneys Collected by them unto the Conſiſtory of the ſaid Church. And our General Deputies are requeſted to have an extraordinary care of that City for the future.
27. The ſame Monſieur du Preau complained to us from the Deputies, in the Aſſembly at Rochell, that Monſieur du Creſt, Paſtor of the Church of Manoſques in Provence, did together with his Church and Conſiſtory, oppoſe the Election of the Lord Baron of Semis, and of Monſieur Huron, a Paſtor, to be Deputies unto the ſaid Aſſembly. Whereupon an Order paſt, that thoſe Paſtors and Elders which were authorized by this Synod, viz. the Deputies of Lower Languedoc, to take cogniſance of thoſe many and great differences which are fallen out in the Province of Provence, ſhould alſo examine this matter, and inflict ſuch Cenſures as the Authors and Partners in theſe Diviſions have incurred and deſerved.
28. Moreover Monſieur de Preau informed us of the deplorable Eſtate of the Churches in Auvergne, which Information was confirmed by Monſieur Babat, Paſtor in the Church of Iſſoyre, who came from them. This Synod having heard them both, and peruſed the Letters ſent from the Aſſembly at Rochell, and thoſe from the Conſiſtory of Iſſoyre, and from the Lord Viſcount of La Roche Courtan, all adviſing us or the moſt miſerable Condition of thoſe poor and perſecuted Churches; It doth ordain, that whereas the Deputies of the Provinces aſſembled at Rochell have recommended this affair unto our Lords the General Deputies, the Synod will in a more ſpecial manner take care of this, and be more concerned for it than for any other, and will Petition his Majeſty, that Commiſſioners may be diſpatched thither out of hand to cauſe the perſecutions to ceaſe, and that ſatisfaction may be given unto our poor Brethren, who have been ſo barbarouſly and cruelly tormented, and that his Majeſty's Edicts may be vigorouſly and faithfully put in execution. And foraſmuch as the Deputies of Sevennes, and the ſaid Babat, have urged the neceſſity of ſetling two Paſtors in thoſe Churches aforeſaid; this Synod ordaineth, that the Province of Sevennes, ſhall provide two Paſtors for them, to be ſent unto them immediately, one of which ſhall reſide in the Town of Iſſoyre, and the other ſhall ſerve the Churches of the Mountain, according as it ſhall be preſcribed them by the ſaid Province. And that thoſe two Paſtors may have a comfortable maintenance, this Synod, continuing the Decree of the former National Synods, which had appointed four Portions, free of all charges, for thoſe Churches of the Ʋpper Auvergne, doth add a fifth for their Incouragement. Which five Portions ſhall be received by the ſaid Province, and paid into the very hands of thoſe Paſtors, to each of them the ſum of five hundred Livers. And the remaining Portions ſhall be diſtributed, by thoſe Provinces, towards the neceſſities of thoſe ſaid Churches, and all this to be duly and continually performed untill the meeting of the next National Synod.Below p. m. 25. Alez. p. m. 20. And in the mean while the reſpective Members of thoſe Churches ſhall be preſſed to contribute towards the maintenance of their Paſtors, and they ſhall give an account of their duty herein unto the next National Synod. And whereas the ſaid Monſieur Babat requeſts that he may be diſcharged from the ſervice of thoſe Churches, he was ordered to continue the exerciſe of his Miniſtry among them until the meeting of the approaching Synod of Sevennes, by which, in caſe he then deſire it, he may be ſet at liberty, and another ſubſtituted in his place. However, till the ſitting of that Provincial Synod, the ſaid Babat ſhall wholly ſerve the Town Iſſoyre as its proper Paſtor, and the Colloquy of St. Germain ſhall give another Paſtor to ſupply the Churches of the Mountain. And foraſmuch as the ſaid Babat hath been at great expences in travelling unto this Synod, and to the Aſſembly of Rochell, the Lord of Candal is ordered to pay him an hundred Livers out of the maſs of moneys belonging to all our Churches. And as for that demand of the Deputies, that a Fund might be given them for the raiſing and fixing of a Colledge at Iſſoyre; This Aſſembly cannot do it, becauſe that having eaſed many perſons among them of the charge in maintaining their Miniſters, they may very well, as in Conſcience they are bound, and we alſo exhort them to do, take care of this matter themſelves.