The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, Synod 23 (Alès) · Chapter 1 – Chapter 2
CHAP. I. Deputies and Officers of the SYNOD.
1 IN which there met for the Province of the Iſle of France, Monſieur Peter du Moulin Paſtor of the Church of Paris, Iſaac de Juigne Paſtor of the Church of Vaſſy, and Thomas Papillon Advocate in the Parliament of Paris, and Elder of the Church there gathered. Monſieur de Marolles Elder in the Church of Vitry was nominated in the Letters of Commiſſion, but abſent; however he did by Letters written under his own hand excuſe his abſence; which Letters were remanded back unto his Provincial Synod to judge of them.
2. For the Province of Normandy, Monſieur Samuel de L' Eſcherpiere Lord of Riviere Paſtor in the Church of Rouen, Daniel Maſſys Paſtor in the Church of Caen, Antony Bridon Eſq Lord of Boiſleroy Elder in the Church of Feſcamp, and James de Montbray, Eſq Advocate in the Court of Vires, and Elder in the Church of Conde.
3. For the Province of Brittain, Monſieur Ezechiel Marmet Paſtor of the Church gathered in the Houſe of My Lord Duke of Rohan, and Philip de Vaſſaut, Eſq Lord of Pennonſtet, Elder of the Church of Roche Bernard.
4. For the Province of Orleans and Berry Monſieur Daniel Jammet Paſtor in the Church of St. Amand, Nicolas Vigner Paſtor in the Church of Blois, John de Bennis Advocate, Elder in the Church of Gien, and Galliot de Gambris Eſq Lord of Souſſeſſe Elder in the Church of Romorantin.
5. For the Province of Tourain and Anjou, Monſieur Samuel Bouchereau Paſtor in the Church of Saumur, Matthew Cottieres Paſtor in the Church of Tours, George Rabboteau Advocate, Elder in the Church of Pruilly, and Monſieur de la Plante Elder of the Church of Saumur being abſent, and excuſing himſelf by Letters, his excuſes were admitted.
6. For the higher and lower Poictou, Monſieur John Chauffepied Paſtor of the Church at Niort, John Carre Paſtor of the Church at Caſtelheraud, Giles Begand Lord of la Begaudiere Elder in the Church of Mountagu, and Eſajah du Mas Eſq Lord of Montmartyn, excuſing his abſence becauſe he fell ſick upon the way unto this Synod, his Excuſe was admitted.
7. For Xaintonge Mr. Daniel Chanet Paſtor of the Church or Ars in the Iſle of Re; John Conſtans Paſtor of the Church of Pons, Peter Packquet Elder of the Church of Rochefoucault, Peter Fromentin Elder of the Church of St. John D' Angaly.
8. For the lower Guyenne Mr. James du Luc Paſtor of the Church of Caſtlejatoux, James Privat, Paſtor of the Church of Chaſtillon: Francis Joly Counſellor and Secretary to the King, and his Auditor in the Chancery of Bourdeaux, and Elder of the Churchthere; and John Guillim de Boutieres Eſq Lord of Artigues, Elder in the Church of Grateloup.
9. For Vivaret, Mr. David Agard Paſtor in the Church of Valence, Daniel Richard Paſtor of the Church of Cheilar, John de Blache Lord of Bleſſet Elder of the Church in Bouffres, and John de Roure Advocate, Elder of the Church of Aubenas.
20. For the lower Languedoc Mr. Laurence Brunier Paſtor of the Church of Ʋſez, Michael le Faucheur Paſtor of the Church of Montpellier, Charles de Bouques Lord of Pons, Doctor of the Civil Law, and Elder of the Church of Montpellier, and Antony de Roques Lord of Clauſonne Elder in the Church of Montfrin.
11. For the higher Languedoc and Guyenne Monſieur John de Voyſin Paſtor of the Church of Realmont, and Antony Gariſſoles Paſtor of the Church of Puylaurent, Paul de Luffee Lord of Maraval, Governour of Maveſin, and Elder of the Church there, James du Puy Deputy-Lieutenant in the Seneſchalſy of Montauban, and Elder of that Church.
12. For …urgundy Mr. Peter Helliot Paſtor of the Church of Arnay le Due, Francis Pereault Paſtor of the Church of Maſcon, and Noel du Noyer Elder of the Church of Buſſy. Monſieur Salmaſius was nominated Deputy unto this Aſſembly, but excuſed himſelf by Letters, as alſo did Monſieur Guichard, and Foreſt, who beigg Elders were both ſubſtituted in his place, whoſe excuſes were remanded back unto their Province that it might judge of their validity.
13. For the Province or Provence Mr. Peter Huron Paſtor in the Church of Reis, Elias de Glandevi… Lord of Anjou Elder in the Church of Puymichel.
14. For the Province of Dolphiny, Mr. Paul Guyon Paſtor of the Church of Dieu le ſit, Peter de la Croze Paſtor of the Church in Courtezon, James Bernard Advocate, Elder of the Church in Montlimart; and Moſes du Port Elder of the Church de la Meure, the Lord of Champoleon was alſo nominated in the Letters of Commiſſion, but excuſed himſelf by Letters unto this Aſſembly.
15. For the Province of Sevennes Monſieur Peter Guillamin Paſtor of the Church of St. Andrew de Valborgne, Daniel Venturin Paſtor of the Church of Vigan, John de Vignoles Lord of Bonnet Elder in the Church of Colegnac, and John Baldwin Doctor of Laws Elder in the Church of la Salle.
16. There came alſo for the Churches in the Principality of Bearne, Monſieur Peter L' abbadye Paſtor of the Church of Paw, and John de la Coſte Lord of Padet Elder of the Church of Moneing. In whoſe Letters of Commiſſion there being wanting the clauſe of Submiſſion, that Article of the Synod of Vitre was read unto them relating to it. Whereupon they offering their reaſons why they could not intirely ſubject themſelves unto the Diſcipline of our Churches in France, principally becauſe of the preſent juncture of Affairs. They were admitted to a conſultive Vote, under the limitations expreſſed in that Act of the Synod of Vitre, that it ſhould be left to the Will of the Provinces, Whether they ſhould have a deciſive Vote in certain Caſes concerning the Churches of this Kingdom, and this by proviſion only until the next National Synod.
17. The Sieur Chalas one of the General Deputies of the Reformed Churches in this Kingdom near His Majeſty was preſent alſo in this Aſſembly according to the Charge given the ſaid Lords General Deputies in the laſt general Aſſembly held at Loudun, and Order of our Church.
After Invocation of the Name of God, the Reverend Monſieur Peter du Moulin was choſen Moderator, Mr. Brunier Aſſeſſor, and Meſſieurs Vignier and Papillon Scribes,
CHAP. II. Remarks and Paſſages of the Firſt Seſſion.
LEtters were preſented from the Lord Duke of Rohan unto this Aſſembly, whereby he aſſured them of the continuance of his Zeal and Affection to the Glory of God, and to the weal and happineſs of our Churches, for which he had the thanks of the Aſſembly returned him in their Letters.
2. Meſſieurs des Maretz and Ollyer Paſtors of the Church of Alez petitioning to be admitted into this Aſſembly, and to aſſiſt at the reading of our Confeſſion of Faith, and Church Diſcipline, it was granted them as alſo unto two Elders whom the Conſiſtory ſhould appoint, but as for ſuch Miniſters as were not commiſſionated hither by their Churches and all other Perſons the Canons of the Third Synod of Rochel and that laſt of Vitre ſhould be punctually obſerved.Vitre. Act 4. after the Liſt of the Deputyes.
3. Every one of the Deputies in this Aſſembly took the Oath according to the Decree made in the Synod of Privas that they had not brigued their Deputation unto this place neither directly nor indirectly,Privas, Act. 1. after the Names of the Deputyes. neither for themſelves nor for any others. And this ſhall be obſerved in like manner for the future in all our National Synods.
4. Monſieur …uretin Paſtor and Profeſſor in Divinity in the Church and Univerſity of Geneva having brought Letters from the Paſtors and Profeſſors there fully teſtifying and expreſſing their Holy Affection to the Churches of this Kingdom, and of their moſt near and intimate communion with us, was intreated by this Aſſembly to give us his preſence during his abode in this City, and to take place among us, and to communicate his Counſels and Votes in matters that ſhould be propoſed, which he alſo did. And after mature and exact conſideration of the ſeveral clauſes in thoſe Letters tender'd by him, an Anſwer was made unto them.
5. The Letters of the Lord*But he ſomtime after revolted. Duke of Deſdiguieres were alſo preſented unto this Aſſembly, expreſſing his deſire for the advancement of the Kingdom of Jeſus Chriſt, Letters of Thanks were ordered to be ſent unto His Excellency.
6. Monſieur Banſillon Paſtor in the Church of Aiguemortes having brought Letters from the Lord of Chaſtillon, and by word of mouth given this Aſſembly the Proteſtations of the ſaid Lord after the Heroick Example of his Famous Anceſtors to ſpend himſelf and Eſtate in the advancement of Chriſt's Kingdom, was deſired to carry back Letters of Thanks from this Synod unto that Noble Lord.