The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, Synod 23 (Alès) · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. GENERAL MATTERS.
1. THIS Aſſembly being informed of great Diviſions fallen out in the Province of Lower Languedoc, 2 Vitre. g. m. ….through the multitude of Miniſters, who are perſonally preſent at their Political Provincial Aſſemblies, and of manifold Inconveniencies ariſing from the Deputation of Paſtors about State-Affairs, and principally by ſending them in buſineſs unto Court; and deſigning a remedy for this ſad diſorder, which doth re…ect upon the Miniſtry a world of Reproach and Scorn, and diverteth Paſtors from their Studies and Miniſterial Duties, and is exceeding chargeable and incommodious unto their Churches; It forbiddeth moſt expreſly all Miniſters in that Province, and in all the other Provinces of this Kingdom to accept henceforwards of any Deputations unto Court, or to become the Deputies of others, although they be Perſons of the greateſt Quality, or to be deputed unto them. And it exhorts the ſaid Province of Lower Languedoc to ſend their Deputies from Colloquies rather than from the Churches: And it intreateth the next General Aſſembly to confirm this our Canon, and if poſſible totally to diſcharge all Paſtors of Churches from intermedling with State-Affairs. And in ſhort it doth injoyn Provincial Synods to take ſpecial Notice of ſuch Miniſters as ſhall accept of thoſe Deputations, and to proſecute them with the ſevereſt cenſures, yea, and to ſuſpend them from their Miniſtry. And in caſe the Provincial Synods prove negligent, the National will take cogniſance of this their neglect, and call them to an account for it.
2. Monſieur Boucheteau Miniſter of Gods Holy Word, and the Sieurs de la Begaudiere, de Benes, Joly Bernard, and du Puy Elders were appointed a Committee to audit the Accompts of the Lord du Candal.
3. The Lords de la Riviere, and de Juigne Miniſters of the Goſpel, and de la Begaudiere, de Benes, Puſquet, di Bouques, and Joly Elders, were nominated to receive the Accounts of our Colledges and Univerſities, and to make report thereof unto this Aſſembly.
4. The National Synod of Vitre having given Commiſſion unto ſome certain Deputies of divers Provinces joyntly together with our Lords the General Deputies at Court to compel the Sieur Palot to accompt with them for thoſe great Summs he is indebted unto the Churches,2 Vitre. g. m. 4. and theſe according to their Commiſſion, having devolv'd it on the Conſiſtory of Paris to take care of this concern; who did to this purpoſe imploy the Sieurs Guidon, and d' Huiſſeau Elders of the ſaid Church of Paris. Now the Letters of thoſe two Gentlemen, Monſieur Guidon, and d' Huiſſeau being read, as alſo the Memoirs of what they had done in their proſecution of the ſaid Palot, This Aſſembly approved and confirmed the Powers which had been granted them by the Lords our General Deputies, and Conſiſtory of the Church of Paris, and it thanketh them for their great pains, and intreat them to continue this their Proſecution, and as a Teſtimonial of our Gratitude, we do paeſent them with Two Thouſand Livres, which they ſhall receive out of the firſt Moneys of the Four and Twenty Thouſand Livres, which the ſaid Sieur Palot was condemned in open Court after the Tryal was heard, to pay unto our Churches, for which gratuity the ſaid Sieurs Guidon and d' Huiſſeau ſhall being in their Account, as alſo of the Overplus of the ſaid 24000 Livrs. But in caſe the ſaid Summ of 24000 Livres ſhould not be payd by the ſaid Sieur Palot, yet the Summ of 2000 Livres wherewith they be preſented by this Aſſembly may be taken by them out of the cleareſt Moneys which ſhall be received from the ſaid Palot. And as for thoſe other great Summs remaining due from him unto the Churches, This Aſſembly doth freely give and grant unto the ſaid Guidon and d' Huiſſeau a quarter part of whatever may be recovered by them, provided they purſue the Proceſſes and Suits in Law at their own Coſts and Charges, without expecting any other gratification or reimburſement from the Churches. And if perchance the ſaid Gentlemen ſhould not accept of theſe conditions, and refuſe to finiſh the proſecution of this Affair hitherto undertaken and performed by them, then ſhall they be reimburſt of all their paſſ Expence and Charges, according to the report they ſhall make of them in all Sincerity and Juſtice unto the Conſiſtory of the Church of Paris, which ſhall notifie it unto all the Provinces, and they conjoyntly with our Lords the General Deputies ſhall make an equal Dividend of the Paper and Accounts relating to thoſe Summs among all the Provinces, that ſo every particular Province may proſecute the ſaid Palot for their reſpective Summs in ſuch a way and manner as beſt pleaſeth them. In purſuance of this Decree Letters of Attorney were ordered to be given unto the ſaid Guidon and d' Huiſſeau by the Deputies of the Iſle of France, provided they would by a publick Act of their own Signed and Sealed ſtipulate to their Approbation and acceptance of this preſent Synodical Act and Decree, and promiſe to go thorough with the proſecution of the ſaid Palot, conformably to the Conditions and Terms propounded and included in it.
5. Foraſmuch as there is a moſt dreadful Deluge of Ungodlineſs overflowing the whole Land, and horribly corrupting all Ranks and Degrees of Men amongſt us, which doth call aloud unto us to humble our ſelves before God, and the late doleful Changes hapned in the Churches of Bearn, and in divers other Churches and Provinces united and incorporated with us, which are either ruinated, or upon the very brink of ruine and deſtruction do all warn, invite and ſummon us to turn away Gods Wrath from us by a moſt ſerious and ſpeedy Repentance, and ſincere Converſion; Therefore this Aſſembly ordaineth that a Publick Faſt ſhall be ſolemnly kept and obſerved in this Church of Alez on Saturday the Fourteenth of November, and on the firſt Thurſday in March next enſuing in all the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom.
6. A Motion and Petition from the Province of Normandy, St. Maixant. Obſerv. 2.2 Vitre. g. m. 11.that there might be a ſpecial Canon made with reference unto our Propoſans; becauſe all former Orders have been ineffectual, and very great Inconveniences do fall out dayly through want of a ſufficient knowledge of the Qualities and Converſations of ſuch as we are to receive into the Miniſterial Office. This Aſſembly is of another Opinion, judging that there is no need of any new Canons. But it enjoyneth all the Provinces exactly to obſerve thoſe which are inſerted into the Body of our Diſcipline, and in the Acts of our National Synods, and not to lay on hands ſuddenly on any Perſon. And whereas thoſe ſaid inconveniencies have riſen hence, that the Doctors and Profeſſors in our Univerſities have been over-liberal, and too too favourable in their Teſtimonials given to our Scholars, they ſhall be admoniſhed for time to come never to grant them out of favour or reſpect to any perſon contrary to Truth, and Sincerity. And in like manner all the Provinces be forbidden to admit the Scholar of another Province into the Miniſtry among them, without the expreſs conſent and atteſtation of that Province from whence he departeth.
7. The Lord of Candal ſhall not pay any Money unto any Member of, nor to any Perſon that comes from the Political Aſſemblies, without a particular Order under the hand of the Receiver of the Province, and to be charged on the account of the Provincial Synods. And in caſe he do otherwiſe, thoſe Summs ſo payed by him ſhall not be allowed in his Accompts, nor ſhall thoſe Receivers give him an Acquittance for them.
8. The Moneys granted us by His Majeſty ſhall not be diverted from thoſe Uſes to which they were originally intended, our National Synods having ordained that they be diſtributed among the Miniſters, and to the Widows of the poorer Paſtors, and to our young Scholars, and Students in Divinity, and to the defraying of Synodical Charges, when as the neceſſities of our Churches ſhall require ſuch Aſſemblies.
… Maxiant Ob…ervat▪ 5. on the former Sy….9. The Province of Poictu moved that a Canon might be paſt for determining the Age of Miniſters Children, who are to be received into the number of Scholars Penſioners by the Provinces. This Aſſembly leaveth it to the prudence of Colloquies and Synods to aſcertain it, according to the Decree of the National Synod of Maixant.
10. Mr. James Hubner came unto this Aſſembly as he had done unto hat laſt National one held at Vitre, 1 … 2.preſenting Letters from the Lords of the Canton of Bearne, requeſting on behalf of Monſieur Hubner his Father, that he might be reimburſt of divers great Summs of Money owing unto Monſieur Sturmius deceaſed, Father of the Wife of the ſaid Hubner. This Aſſembly anſwered him that none of the Writings produced by him did bind or oblige our Churches, but the late King Henry the Great of Glorious Memory, and the late Prince of Conde. And therefore Letters ſhall be written in the Name of this Aſſembly unto the Lords of Bearn, to inform and certifie them of the Truth of this Matter, and an Hundred Livres were given unto the ſaid Mr. Hubner to pay the Expences of his Journey hither, without ever hoping for the future of drawing any Moneys from our National Synods.
11. Foraſmuch as divers Churches are decaying,Poictiers. g. m. 21. and will at laſt be diſſolved for want of maintenance for their poor Miniſters. All our Churches are exhorted, That as they love the increaſe and advancement of Chriſt's Kingdom they would endeavour to raiſe a Fund, either by Gifts from the Living, or Legacies from Dying Perſons in their laſt Wills and Teſtaments, or by any other convenient ways: That ſo the Sacred and unvaluable Treaſure of Gods Word may be alwayes conſerv'd among us, and our Off-Spring after us in Generations to come may be Educated and confirmed in the True Religion.
12. The Lord of Candal ſhall be perſonally preſent at our next National Synod, that he may have his Commiſſion confirmed by the Univerſal approbation of our Churches; and the Lords General Deputies ſhall ſee to it, that the ſaid Commiſſion bear not the Title of an Office. And the ſaid Lord of Candal is intreated to give Notice unto the Provinces of the time when he can make payment unto the Provincial Receivers of their Quarterly Dividend, and of the Quantity of the Summ wherewith they may be furniſhed, and the Copies of his Letters ſent them, in which ſhall be preſented the Tranſcripts of all Acquittances for Moneys paid by him already, and that he may hereafter pay unto the Paſtors. And he ſhall produce all his Acquittances before the Lords our General Deputies, and the Conſiſtory of the Church of Paris, or ſuch Perſons as ſhall be deputed by them to audit his Accompts, that ſo they may be verified in our National Synods. In all which he ſhall demonſtrate his diligence for the payment of the Moneys on all Bills and Orders that have been put into his hands, and in default thereof there ſhall be Repriſals made on his Accompts.
13. A Motion was made by the Province of Sevennes, that all Publick Notaries profeſſing the Reformed Religion might be forbidden in their executing of Marriage Contracts to make a Gift of the Bodies of betroathed Perſons; eſpecially where one is of a contrary Religion, until ſuch time as the Conſiſtory of that Church ſhall have taken cogniſance thereof.Privas Obſervat. 9. upon the Diſcipline. This Aſſembly leaveth it to the prudence of the Province of Sevennes, or any other, where ſuch things as theſe be practiſed to make a By-Law, which may moſt effectually contribute unto their future edifying.
14. That Order paſſed in the Province of Xaintonge excluding the preſident of the laſt Provincial Synod from being choſen Moderator in the next,1. Paris. 2. and that he who was deputed unto one National Synod may not be unto the enſuing, was repealed and vacated. Provincial Synods being left in full liberty to nominate any Perſons whom they ſhall judge meeteſt for both the Employments according to our Church-Diſcipline.
15. The Province of Burgundy demanded,3. Rochel. Obſervat. 17. 2. Vitre. Obſervat. 10. whether was moſt expedient to chooſe Moderators and Deputies for Synods by a low or loud Vote. This Aſſembly is of opinion, that for the avoiding of many Inconveniences it were beſt to make thoſe Elections by a low Voice.
16. The Province of Dolphiny moved, whether a Miniſter might together with his Miniſtry exerciſe the Profeſſion of Philoſophy.1. Rochel. Obſerv. 18. This Aſſembly judgeth that theſe two Profeſſions are not convenient to be diſcharged by one Man at the ſame time.
17. Foraſmuch as every particular Church is obliged to raiſe a certain Stipend for its Paſtors,St. Maixant. Appeal. 16. no Miniſter nor Paſtor of any Church ſhall touch a doit of the Kings Money, but it ſhall be payd him in by his Conſiſtory, and all Expences in Travel unto Synods and other Eccleſiaſtical Meetings ſhall be defrayed by the Churches themſelves, that ſo the Miniſters may be freed of all manner of Reproach, and may in no wiſe be diverted from their Studies, and Duties of their Calling by the care of worldly matters. And Synods ſhall make inquiry after ſuch as do tranſgreſs this Canon, and correct them by all Church-Cenſures. But this ſhall not be ſo underſtood as if Miniſters were hereby debarred the receiving of the Moneys granted us by His Majeſty, or to give Acquittance for it, provided they give in an Account thereof unto their Churches. and that they do not make with them any ſecret Bargain or Covenant for it.
18. The Proteſtants are Exhorted to make in every Church Collections for the poor perſecuted Proteſtants of the Marquiſate of Salluces, and the Moneys ſo collected ſhall be put into the hands of Monſieur Gras living at Lions.
19. In all Churches there ſhall be kept a Regiſter of all Marriages, Baptiſmes, and Burials.
20. The Paſtors and Profeſſors in the Church of Genvea ſhall be deſired,Montauban. g. m. 46. to ſuffer no new French Tranſlations of the Bible to be printed in their City, nor that any alterations be made in our Liturgy: And that if they have any Annotations for the common received Tranſlation, they would be pleaſed to print them by themſelves, and before they do it, to give notice thereof unto the Churches of this Kingdom, and to take our advice firſt in it.