The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, Synod 23 (Alès) · Chapter 6 – Chapter 7
CHAP. VI. Obſervations made on Reading the Acts of the laſt National Synod held at Vitre.
1. THAT Article enjoyning Monſieur Rivett to compoſe an Hiſtory of thoſe Remarkable Providences which had befallen our Churches,… obſerv. … upo… the …. being read, together with his Excuſes by Letters for non-performance, the Provinces not having communicated to him their Memorials as they were ordered; This Aſſembly commands that Letters ſhall be diſpatcht to Monſieur Buffon Lieutenant General of Caſteljaloux exhorting him to proſecute this great Work undertaken by him of writing the Hiſtory of our times, and that he would be pleaſed before it go unto the Preſs to impart it unto the Synod of his Province; and all the other Provinces be charged to ſend unto him their Memoirs.
2 P… Ob…arv. 2. upon the Synod of …ins.2. In reading that Canon of Tonneins inſerted into the laſt Synod of Vitre, which gave leave unto Elders in Conſiſtory, the Paſtor being excepted againſt, to ſuſpend a Scandalous Perſon from the Lords Table: The Provinces of Berry and Sevennes remonſtrating that many and great inconveniencies might fall out by the Execution of ſuch an Ordinance. This Aſſembly Decreed, That although for good and juſt cauſes the Paſtor had been excepted againſt, yet the Elders only by themſelves might not proceed to ſuſpend any Perſon from the Lords Table, without the Preſence and Approbation of a Neighbour Paſtor.
3. On that Article concerning Monſieur de Beauchamp, 2. Vitre. Appeal. 2.which injoyned the Province of Britain to give him ſatisfaction for his Penſion due unto him for his Four Years Service, Miniſter in the Houſe of the Lord Duke of Rohan; and the rather, becauſe the ſaid Province had for that whole time received the Portion of the ſaid Monſieur Boauchamp out of the Monies given us by His Majeſties liberality: And the Letter of the ſaid Miniſter were read, in which he complained of the Injuſtice of the ſaid Province, and requeſted that a particular Church of Anjou might be appointed by the Authority of this National Synod to adjudge unto him the Summ of Eight Hundred Ninety and Eight Livres, Ten Sous, and Nine Deniers which are Owing him, and be detained in the hands of Monſieur Boitereul Receiver of the ſaid Province of Britain. This Aſſembly decreeth that Monſieur de Beauchamp and Monſieur de Peſtere for the Province (the Deputies of Britain declaring that all Writings concerning this Affair are lodged with him) ſhall appear before the Conſiſtory of Saumur on the Firſt day of April next, that ſo their Accounts being Audited the Conſiſtory of the ſaid Church of Saumur may by the Authority of this Aſſembly finally determine this Matter. And in the mean while the ſaid Summ of Eight Hundred Ninety and Eight Livres, Ten Sous and Nine Deniers ſhall be ſtopt in the Hands of the ſaid Receiver of the Province of Britain, to be reſtored unto the ſaid Monſieur de Beauchamp in caſe it be found due unto him.
2. Vitre g… m. 6 Below of Univerſ. 12.4. Whereas the Provinces had been Exhorted by the Synod of Vitre to conſult by what means our Univerſities might be provided of Profeſſors in Divinity. This Aſſembly having heard the Opinion of ſundry Provinces here tendered by their Deputies, decreed, That for this purpoſe there ſhould be choſen out a certain number of Paſtors in the Actual Service of theſe Reformed Churches, without burdening our ſelves with a new Fund, or chooſing Scholars, who by reaſon of their ſew years and inexperience are leſs fit to govern the Youth in our Univerſities.
5. Monſieur Boucherau having been heard about thoſe complaints made in the Synod of Vitre, concerning the Exceſſive Rates paid by our Students at Saumur for their Lodging and Diet, This Aſſembly was fully ſatisfied of the groundleſsneſs of thoſe complaints.
2. Vitre. g.m. 17. 2 Vitre. g. m. 21.6. That Canon forbidding Miniſters to preach their own private Sentiments on State Affairs being read, and Report made unto this Synod that ſeveral Miniſters had acted contrary to it in the laſt political Aſſembly held at Loudun. This National Synod deſirous to ſtifle all Seeds of Diviſion forbore looking into what is paſt; but for the future it did ſtraitly forbid all Miniſters to treat of State-Matters in their Sermons or Pulpit Diſcourſes, on pain of being ſuſpended the Holy Miniſtry, becauſe the only Subject of their Sermons and publick Preaching ſhould be the Holy Word of God; and the venting of State-Matters by them expoſeth the Goſpel of Our Lord Jeſus unto contempt, and the Provinces ſhall take ſpecial care that an Account hereof be given by their Deputies when they return from the General Politick Aſſembly, as alſo of what may be foiſted in of this nature into their Writings and Printed Works.
7. Theſe words, as much as may be, ſhall be razed out of that Canon which had enjoyned the Churches to ſing full parts of Pſalms, 2. Vitre. g. m. 31.and ſo conform themſelves into that Antient Cuſtom in uſe with us ever ſince the Reformation.
8. The laſt Synod of Vitre had injoyned ſundry Miniſters of the higher Languedoc reſiding in the City of Montauban, 2. Vitre. g. m. 38.and not in their own Churches, to depart thence, and to live actually they and their Families in thoſe places where they be fixed Paſtors, and that within Three Moneths after Notice given them of this Decree, and in caſe of diſobedience it was expreſly declared to them that they ſhould be ſuſpended, yea, and they were then denounced to be Suſpended from the Holy Miniſtry. But now the Letters and Excuſes of the Sieurs Richard Paſtor of the Church of Muzac and Iſlemade, of Benoiſt Paſtor of Albai and Realville, and of du Mas Paſtor of Verlai, dwelling at Montauban being read, and the Provincial Deputyes of higher Languedoc having been heard ſpeak about them: This Aſſembly beſides their Suſpenſion judgeth thoſe Miniſters to be guilty of open Rebellion againſt our Order and Church-Diſcipline, and to have deſpiſed very many of our National Synods, and to have abandoned their Flocks, and therefore it declareth them to be Uſurpers of the Sacred Miniſtry; and farther it doth very ſeverely cenſure that Province of higher Languedoc for ſuffering ſuch great Diſorders ſo long a time unpuniſhed, and the Conſiſtory of the Church of Montauban for permitting them to preach after the Declaration made of their Suſpenſion at Vitre; and farther confirming the aforeſaid Sentence, it declareth the ſaid Benoiſt and Richard to be ſuſpended the Holy Miniſtry for Three Moneths to Commence from that very day when as this preſent Act ſhall be ſignified to them, and if in caſe within Three Moneths time they do not obey the Canons of our National Synods, and reſide perſonally among their People, they are from this very inſtant depoſed. And as for the Sieur du Mas this Aſſembly doth as yet grant him one MonethMonth more after that this Decree ſhall be notified to him, and in caſe he be not then Obedient, and reſide on his Church, he is, declared ſuſpended from the Holy Miniſtry, which ſaid Suſpenſion ſhall continue upon him till he do conform; and the Portions or Moneys ariſing from His Majeſties Bounty that might accrew unto them as unto other conformable Miniſters ſhall be detained by the Lord du Candal in his own hands until ſuch time as they have intirely ſatisfied this preſent Synod and this its Ordinance. But notwithſtanding all that's imported in this Cenſure Monſieur Gardeſy is Excepted, he having a lawful Excuſe for his Abode at Montauban, by reaſon of his great Age, and for his laudable Travels undertook and ſuſtained by him for the Service of Gods Church in the Flower and Vigour of his Youth: And this preſent Act ſhall be Sinned and Authenticated by the Manual Subſcriptions of the Moderator, Aſſeſſor, and both the Scribes of this Synod, and ſhall be read and ſigniſied both in the Conſiſtory of the Church of Montauban, and in the reſpective Conſiſtories of the Churches of thoſe fore-mentioned Miniſters by the Deputies of the Province of Lower Guyenne, at the Charges of the Province of Higher Languedoc, and they ſhall be allowed Six and Thirty Livres to defray their Charges, which ſhall be payd them in by the Lord of Candal out of the Moneys belonging to the Province of Higher Languedoc. And that Province is commanded to ſee the Diſcipline more exactly obſerved, eſpecially in the point of Paſtors Reſidence in their Churches.
9. Samuel du Freſne Student in Divinity in obedience to the Order of the laſt Synod held at Vit…e preſented himſelf before this Aſſembly, bringing with him Teſtimonials from the Conſiſtory of the Church of Saumur, certifying of his Piety, Religious Converſation, Soundneſs in Doctrine, diligence in viſiting and comforting the Sick, and of his Silence when admitted to aſſiſt at their Conſiſtorial Seſſions, and the Rector and Pro…ſſors of the Univerſity atteſting the ſame things alſo, and that on all occaſions whether by Theſes publickly defended, or private Conferences and Diſcourſes, and by Propoſitions from the Word of God he hath manifeſted his good Learning and Proficiency in the Languages and Divinity: This Aſſembly giving Credence to his Atteſtations hath granted to the ſaid Samuel du Freſne the Summ of One Hundred Livres for his Journey hither, and Two Hundred Livres more for his maintenance for One Year, in which time he may be called out unto the Miniſtry in ſome one of our Churches.
10. The Sieur Chauveton having been condemned by the Synod of Vitre to pay the Summ of Three Hundred Livres to the Province of the Iſle of France, 2. Vitre. p. m. 17.which had maintained him in his Studies, or in caſe of his default the Provinces of Lower Guyenne in which he is now Miniſter was to make ſatisfaction for him. The Letters of the ſaid Chauveton were read by which he humbly requeſteth to be diſcharged from paying that great Summ, becauſe it was not long of himſelf, that he returned not within the time preſcribed unto his Church of Claye, where he once ſerved, but becauſe of the many heavy Domeſtick Burdens that lay ſore upon him. And the Province of Lower Guyenne being heard in their Remonſtrances made by them upon this Account: The Aſſembly confirmed the Decree of the former National Synod, and that it might be Executed, the Lord of Candal is ordered to keep the ſaid Summ of Three Hundred Livres in his own hand, out of the Moneys belonging to the Lower Guyeune from the Kings Liberality, that ſo they may be reſtored unto the Province of the Iſle of France, and Monſieur de Chauveton may be acquitted from all Payment, becauſe of his great Poverty, which was fully notified unto this National Synod.
11. On that Affair of the Sieur d' Anglade concerning Arrearages of Sallary pretended to be due unto him by the Province of Lower Languedoc for his poſſeſſion of the Hebrew Tongue in the Univerſity of Niſmes, 2 Vitre. p. m. 18.his Letters having been read, and the Judgment of the Province of Seventies on the Accompt produced by him: This Aſſembly decreeth Four Hundred Livres unto the ſaid Sieur d' Angtade, to witt, Three Hundred Livres to be paid him out of the Moneys appropriated to the Univerſity of Niſmes, and owing to him as Profeſſor of the Hebrew Tongue there; and an Hundred Livres more out of the Common Stock of the Province of Lower Languedoc, and theſe Monies ariſing from both theſe Funds ſhall be paid in unto him by the Lord of Candal.
12. Whereas the Province of Berry hath yielded that the Church of Moulins ſhould be incorporated with the Province of Burgundy, this Act of theirs is confirmed by the Authority of this National Synod: And as to that difference between the ſaid Church of Moulins, and the Province of Berry, about Moneys due unto it from the Province,2. Vitre. p. m. 22. as Monſieur John Durand their Paſtor had made report thereof unto this Aſſembly: They ſhall accompt with the Deputy of the ſaid Province at their next Synod, who ſhall come into Burgundy on purpoſe to terminate this Affair. And in caſe they ſhould not agree, the Province of Anjou ſhall put a final period to it by the Authority of this Aſſembly.
13. Reading that Article concerning the Sieur Guerin Paſtor of the Church of Baugencey, who together with divers other Perſons of the Province of Orleans and Berry ſtand bound in a very great Summ of Money. 2. Vitre. p. m. 26.The Deputies of the ſaid Province having remonſtrated that notwithſtanding all their Urgencies and Importunities with the Marquis of Roſny, and the repeated inſtances of our General Deputies at Court with the ſaid Lord, they could never get from him ſo much as one Farthing; by reaſon whereof the ſaid Monſieur Guerin and his Sureties are in great trouble, and threatned that they ſhall be compelled will they nill they to make payment, or elſe to lie and die in Priſon. Wherefore they moſt humbly petition this Aſſembly to have compaſſion on the ſaid Guerin and his Suretyes, and to continue unto him that ſelf-ſame Charitable Aſſiſtance until the next National Synod, which was granted him in the laſt. This Aſſembly would moſt cordially have complyed with their Deſires: But being bound up by His Majeſties Order, It cannot divert the Moneys given our Miniſters for their Miniſterial Labours unto any other Uſes.
14. Upon that complaint of John le Febure Bookſeller and Citizen of Geneva againſt the Sieur Menuielle, the younger,2. Vitre. p. m. 21. at preſent Miniſter and Paſtor of the Church of Orthez, whoſe Judgment had bin diſmiſſed to the Synod of Bearn, which alſo was adviſed to injoyn him to go unto Geneva, and there to juſtifie himſelf from the Crime imputed to him before the Magiſtrates of that City, and in default thereof that Synod was to ſuſpend him from the Miniſtry. Now after hearing the Relation of all paſſages done at Geneva both before the Magiſtrate and Conſiſtory at the inſtance of the ſaid le Febre, and the Mediation of the ſaid Menuielle's Friends to compound the matter with him, and the Letters written by the ſaid le Febure unto the Synod of Bearn, the Shifts and Subterfuges of the ſaid Menueille, and the Reaſons inducing the Synod of Bearn not to ſuſpend him being all urged by their Deputies. This Aſſembly not brooking that a Man blaſted in his Reputation, and accuſed of the Crime of Fornication, ſhould be Countenanced in his Sin, and incouraged in the Functions of the Sacred Miniſtry to the great Diſhonour and Reproach of ſo High and Holy a Calling, doth once more Exhort the Synod or Colloquie of Bearn to interdict the ſaid Menuielle the Exerciſe of the Miniſtry, until ſuch time as he ſhall have fully cleared himſelf from the Crime imputed to him. And notice hereof ſhall be given by Letters in our name unto the Synod of Bearn, as alſo of ſome other matters, which we have judged fitting to acquaint them with, according to that Communion which is betwixt us and them, and theſe matters ſhall be notified to them by their Deputies.
15. The Synod of Vitre ordained the Summ of Four Hundred Livres ſhould be delivered unto the Lords our General Deputies for the defraying of ſeveral Expences that they ſhould be neceſſitated to make at Court about Diſpatches,2. Vitre. g. m. 41. Expeditions, and other Extraordinary Charges for the Service of our Churches: And the Lord of Bertreville formerly our Deputy General having ſent unto this Aſſembly an account of the disburſement of the ſaid Summ made both by himſelf and the Lord Maniald his Colleague in the Exerciſe of their Office, as alſo that they had depoſited in the hands of Monſieur de la Riviere Paſtor of the Church of Ronen an Hundred Sixty and Eight Livres, being the remainder of the ſaid Summ of Four Hundred Livres. This Aſſembly returns their moſt hearty thanks unto the ſaid Lord of Bertreville for his great care and faithfulneſs, and ordains that the Summ aforeſaid of an Hundred Sixty and Eight Livres ſhould be put into the Common Treaſury of the Church, and that the like Summ of Four Hundred Livres ſhall be paid in to the Lords de Favas and Chalais our General Deputies to be uſed by them on the like occaſions, according as the neceſſity of our Affairs may demand it; and for which they ſhall be accountable unto the next National Synod.
CHAP. VII. Monſieur Chauves's Report.
16. MOnſieur John Chauve Paſtor of the Church of Sommiers made Report how that in purſuance of the Commiſſion given him, and the Sieurs du Moulin, Chameir and Rivet by the National Synod of Vitre to conſult together of the moſt proper and neceſſary means to procure a good and firm Re-union of all the Churches, which have quitted the Communion of the Church of Rome, they would have Travelled into Holland, and according to the Invitation and Deſire of the High and Mighty Lords, The States General of the Confederate Netherlands, they would have perſonally aſſiſted at that General Council of the Reformed Churches held at Dort, which alſo was ſignified to the Province of Sevennes by our General Deputies at Court, and by the Church of Paris unto them the ſaid Chauve, du Moulin, Chamier and Rivet: But that afterwards they brake off their Journey, and came back again into Languedoc upon the Intelligence which he and Monſieur Chamier received at Geneva, that they were forbidden by His Majeſty to go unto that Council, This Aſſembly approving of what the ſaid Sieur Chauve had done, and thanking him for it, Ordered that the Expences of his Journey ſhould be repayed him out of the Common Moneys of our Churches as ſhould alſo thoſe of Monſieur Chamier. In conſequence whereof the ſaid Sieurs Chove and Chamier brought in their Accounts; the Expences of Monſieur Chamier amounted to Two Hundred Eighty Five Livres, and thoſe of Monſieur Chouve to One Hundred Seventy Four Livres, which the Lord Candal was ordered to pay unto them both without delay.
17. The Sieur Paul Bennet remonſtrated unto this Aſſembly how that the laſt Synod of Vitre had Ordained that he ſhould not be reſtored unto the Miniſtry in the Province of Xaintonge, … Vitre. App…l. 9.although he were perfectly abſolved from that Crime imputed to him, And that ſince having been abſolved, he was thereupon reſtored unto the▪ Functions of the Sacred Miniſtry by the Synod of Poictu acting by Authority derivred from, and in Obedience to that Decree of the ſaid National Synod of Vitre, which yet did not readmit him into the Miniſtry in the Province of Xaintonge: Now he humbly petitioned this Aſſembly, That they would be pleaſed to take off the ſaid Reſtriction, that ſo the blott caſt upon his Miniſtry being expunged, he might exerciſe it with Honour in Xaintonge as formerly, and the Synod of Xaintonge from whence he came joyned with him in the ſame requeſt which was atteſted both by their Synodical Act, and viva voce by their Deputies, notwithſtanding an Appeal brought by the Colloquy of the Iſles of the ſaid Province of Xaintonge againſt the ſaid Petition. This Aſſembly having read the Decree of Vitre, relating to him, did not think meet to make any alteration in it. But ordered that the free Portion of Moneys granted by His Majeſty, and due unto the ſaid Bonnet by that Ordinance of Vitre ſhould be pay'd in unto him. And the ſaid Province of Xaintonge is once again enjoyned to come to account with him, and to make him good payment.