The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 24 (1st Charenton) · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII. Appeals unto this National Synod of CHARENTON.
1 WHereas the Church of Meſnil-Imbert appealeth from the Sentence of the Synod of Normandy, which had ordained that the ſaid Church ſhould be joyned to that of Falaiſe: The Deputies of that Province being heard, they did declare that they had no notice nor intimation given them of this Appeal till this very moment, and Monſieur de Beaufiel Deputy for the ſaid Church being heard, praying that they might be joyned unto that of Orbec; This Synod injoyneth the Province of Normandy to procure the re-union of the Church of Meſnill-Imbert with that of Falaiſe, and in caſe that the ſaid Church of Meſnill will not conſent unto this re-union, then to conjoyn them with that of Orbec. And the Province ſhall annex that of Falaiſe unto ſuch a Church as will with the greateſt eaſe and readineſs admit of it, and in the mean while the ſaid Churches ſhall be ſerved by the Neighbour Miniſters according to the Ordinance of their laſt Provincial Synod.
2. Monſieur Belon Paſtor of the Church of Gevaudan in the Lower Guyenne appealed from the Judgment of the Synod of Higher Languedoc, which had declared that the Church of Montauban ſhould not give him any recompence for his labours among them during the time of his Retreat and Sojourning in it. The Synod ordaineth that the Judgment of the Province ſhall hold good.
3. An Elder of the Church at St. Savinian appealed from a Decree of the Synod of Xaintonge, which had ſet Monſieur des Oullieres at liberty, ſo that he might joyn himſelf unto the Church of Tailleburg and contribute towards the Miniſtry there. This Synod for divers reaſons doth reſerve to it ſelf the cogniſance of this Matter, and reforms the ſaid Sentence, and confirmeth that of the Colloquy of St. John d' Angely held at Jarnac the Two and Twentieth day of April laſt.
4. The Lord of Lodde, together with the Conſiſtories of the Churches of Treviers and Collumbieres appealed from the Decrees of divers Colloquies and Synods held within the Province of Normandy, which had aſſigned the Penſion given by the Lady of La Hay du Puy for the maintenance of a Propoſan in Divinity unto the Son of Monſieur. Baſnage, who had not as yet attained unto that Degree. The Synod being not in a capacity to judge of this Affair, becauſe the Acts and Evidences neceſſary to be peruſed, before a judgment can be given on it, are not produced, hath left it to the Conſiſtory of the Church of Paris finally to d…erm…n… it within one Moneths ſpace after the breaking up of this Synod. And the ſaid Province is ordered to ſend that Act of the ſaid Ladies gift, and the reſolutions of the Colloquies and Synods thereupon thither unto that Church of Paris, that ſo they may judge of it by the Authority of this Synod. And whereas Monſieur Baſnage declared that he would decline acceptance of the ſaid gift, the Synod confirming the payments which have been already made, ordaineth that for the future no Money ſhall be payd without ſecurity for its reſtitution.
5. Monſieur Perreaud Paſtor of the Church of Maſcon appealed from two Decrees of the Colloquy of Lions, one of which concerned certain Charges expended by him in his Travells unto that Colloquy, and another which ordered him to return unto his Church within ſix Weeks. This Synod ordaineth that the ſaid Perreaud be cenſured for troubling it with ſuch trivial matters, and which might be ended in his own Province, and for that he hath not acquieſced in that other Ordinance of the ſaid Colloquy ſo very juſt and equitable, as nothing more, and that he return home again unto his own Church without delay.
6. Another Appeal was brought by the ſame Perreaud from a Decree of the Synod of Gex, which had cenſured him for being abſent Fourteen Moneths from his Church, and that there ſhould alſo be deducted Seven Moneths Wages from out of his Stipend; and the Church of Maſ…on alſo appealed from the ſame Decree demanding a greater abatement to be made of that Summ. This Synod confirming the former Cenſure of the Synod of Gex, doth reduce his payment unto Four Moneths Wages, and which ſhall be deducted out of the Sallary payd him from the Kings Moneys, and his Church, according to that Order made by the Colloquy of Lions.
7. The Elders of the Church of H…re de Grace Appealed from an Order of the Provincial Synod held at Dieppe about a certain Summ of Moneys. But this Aſſembly rejecting their Appeal, cenſured the ſaid Elders for troubling them with ſuch a ſlight matter, which might be eaſily determined in their own Province.
8. The Sieur de Gaſques appealed on behalf of the Church of St. Martyn de Bobaux from the Synod of Sevennes held at Alez, which had given Monſieur d' Allegre away from them to be Paſtor unto the Churches of Auvergne, without taking any care how they might be ſupplied. The Deputies of the ſaid Province of Sevennes being demanded about this Affair, anſwered that what they had done in removing the Sieur D' Allegre was by and with the conſent of the Elder of the ſaid Church of St. Martyn, who alſo had diſmiſſed him, though for what reaſons he was diſcharged by them, they knew not. This Aſſembly orders the ſaid Province to provide without delay a Paſtor for that Church, and to reſtore Monſieur d' Allegre to it or to take ſome other ſpeedy courſe that it be immediately and out of hand ſupplyed: And for the future it commands the ſaid Province never to conſent that a Paſtor be ſeparated from his Church by their ſole Licenſe, till they have been firſt of all fully informed and ſatisfied about the cauſes of the ſaid diſmiſſion and ſeparation.
9. The Conſiſtory of Caſtres brought in an Appeal from the Decrees of the Colloquy of Albigeois, and the Provincial Synod of Higher Languedoc by which Monſieur de Combalaſſe Paſtor of the Church of Vabres for words uttered by him in the late troubles, and which had cauſed a tumult in the ſaid City, was cenſured by the ſaid Colloquy, and farther obliged by the Synod to appear in Perſon before the Conſiſtory of Caſtres, and to give ſatisfaction to it unto their Church, and to the Conſuls of the ſaid City. This Aſſembly conſidering that the Offence for which he is now queſtioned, is of their Nature which were ordered to be buried in Oblivion by the Peace, and Amneſty given us by His Majeſty, doth think …it that the aforeſaid Conſiſtory ſhould reſt ſatisfied with the Decree of their Synod, it having been fully performed, and ſo ſhould be no more at all mentioned.
10. The Sieur de L' Allen appealed from the Judicial Sentence of the Province of Xaintonge, confirming that of the Conſiſtory of Rochell, which had not only condemned him to abjure the Errors collected out of his Works and Writings, to which he had ſatisfied, but he was over and above obliged to make a publick Recantation of them, and to do Pennance for them before the whole Church there. Although this Aſſembly approveth the Acts and proceedings of the ſaid Provincial Synod and Conſiſtory of Rochell as done with great Prudence and Charity, yet nevertheleſs yearning with Bowels of compaſſion on the ſaid Sieur de L' Allen, and conſidering theſe great and ſolemn proteſtations of Repentance made by him in this Aſſembly, and ratified by a new and particular, and voluntary Act of Abjuration ſubſcribed with his own hand, we do ordain that he be received to the Peace and Communion of the Church, but on this condition, that he do not participate of the Lord Supper, till after two Moneths Tryal and Experience had of his Obedience and Conſtancy, which time ſhall begin from that very day in which this preſent Act ſhall be publiſhed in the Church of Rochell, on the Lords day immediately after Sermon by Monſieur Berauld Paſtor and Profeſſor of Divinity at Montauban, who is Deputed by this Aſſembly unto the Church of Rochell for this very end and purpoſe. And if the ſaid Sieur de L' Allen ſhall ever hereafter relapſe into his former Errors, and vent them either by Writing or Diſcourſe, or any other manner or way whatſoever, this Synod doth ordain that he be then caſt out of the Church by Excommunication.
11. The ſaid Sieur d' Allen requeſted that the Paper in which was written the Retractation and Abjuration of his aforeſaid Errors and that Act confirming and recording this his Abjuration made in this Synod might not be ſent to Rochell, becauſe he intended to quit that City, and live at Paris: This Aſſembly for divers reaſons moving them thereunto ordaineth that the ſaid Record ſhall be kept by the Conſiſtory of the Church of Paris.
12. The Sieur de Richelieu Paſtor of the Church of Plouer and St. Malo appealed from the Sentence of the Provincial Synod of Britain, vvhichwhich had ordered the Sieurs du Preau and de So…vigne Paſtors, and the Sieurs de Conte an Elder to viſit that Church, and to inquire into thoſe Diſorders committed in it, and to take ſome courſe for their removal, and that they may be prevented for the future. After that the Deputies of the ſaid Province had been heard, and the ſaid Monſieur de Richelieu alſo, and the Acts of the ſaid Viſitation by thoſe Commiſſioners vvere read by him, and ovvned by them. This Aſſembly judged that the ſaid Provincial Synod had very vvell and vviſely acted in ordering of the Viſitation, but yet nevertheleſs they ſhould have took notice of matters of greater importance than are contained in their Report, and they ſhould have vvaved the cogniſance of ſuch ſlight and trifling Accuſations, vvhichwhich vvere never proved, nor ſhould they have troubled this Aſſembly vvith ſuch needleſs and unprofitable ſtorys. Farther the Commiſſioners did not proceed uprightly in the execution of their Commiſſion, becauſe they did not mark and obſerve what might be ſaid as well for and in behalf of the ſaid Monſieur de Richelieu as againſt him, and for that they accepted and admitted of all kind of Evidence and Witneſſes againſt him, though they were never ſo paſſionate and Parties in the caſe, and ſome alſo who were not legally to be admitted unto a Depoſal againſt a Miniſter▪ And as for the ſaid Sieur de Richelieu, This Aſſembly judgeth him worthy of a very grievous Cenſure for neglecting his Duty, and not keeping up Order and Diſcipline in his Church, for not holding Conſiſtories, nor paſſing Cenſures as ought alwayes of courſe to have been done and practiſed before Communion days at the Lords Table, and for leaving his Church before the time appointed, and without having demanded or obtained his Licenſe of departure in due form, and above all for expreſſing too much levity in his imaginations, and for giving too much way unto his paſſions, and for ſpeaking diſadvantagiouſly of other Perſons, and inſulting over the dead, whom he took for his Enemies, and who could not ſpeak for themſelves. And whereas this Aſſembly could not at preſent be fully and ſatisfactorily informed of the State of that Church of Plouer, the Colloquy of Conſtantine in the Province of Normandy is ordered to viſit it by their Deputies, who are Authorized by this Aſſembly to provide for that Church as they ſhall judge meet, and to order all matters for its edification in Godlineſs; and if they ſee cauſe for it, they ſhall remove and diſcharge the ſaid Sieur de Richelieu from his Miniſtry; and the Expences of theſe Deputies ſhall be defrayed by that Province of Britain.
13. The Church of Die, and the Sieurs Martinett and Huron appealed from two Judicial Sentences denounced in the Provincial Synod of Dolphiny againſt them, to witt, Monſieur Martinett complained for that the ſaid Synod had ordained his removal from the ſaid Church of Die, upon pretence of eaſe and quieting his Spirit, though he had been preferred unto that Church by ſome former Synods. And Monſieur Huron appealed for that the ſaid Synod had forbidden him the Exerciſe of his Miniſtry within the Province of Dolphiny; whereunto he had retired in time of the late troubles. And the ſaid Church appealed for that the ſaid Synod had refuſed and rejected their endeavours to get Monſieur Huron for their Paſtor. Whereupon the Provincial Deputies of Dolphiny were heard give in their Report of the cauſes and occaſions moving their Synod to pronounce thoſe Judgments, and the aforeſaid Martinett and Huron were heard in their reciprocal Accuſations and Apologies, and in like manner the Meſſengers of the ſaid Church were heard ſpeak for it, and the Acts relating to theſe Affairs were all produced and peruſed upon the whole. This Aſſembly doth ratifie the Judgment of the ſaid Province of Dolphiny, and diſchargeth the ſaid Monſieur Martinett from his Paſtoral Office in the Church of Die purely for his eaſe comfort, provided alwayes that the ſaid Church do pay him, if they have not already done it all his Arrears due unto him from the very firſt day that he was ſet at liberty from them by the aforeſaid Synod, and he is at full liberty to accept of any other Church. And as for the maintenance of the ſaid Martinet ſince that time he was firſt of all diſcharged, and ſet free of ſerve the Church Beaumont, This Aſſembly exhorteth and intreateth the ſaid Province out of Charity to pay him the one half of his Salary, And foraſmuch as Monſieur Huron, has been convicted to have left his Church for little or no juſt cauſe, and to have brigued his Election into the Church of Die, and to have fomented the Diviſions in it, betwixt the Church and Monſieur Martinett, in whoſe expulſion out of it he had the greateſt hand and part, having conſented to divers irregular Actings and Contentions; and adhered to the Rebellions of ſeveral Members of the ſaid Church, to the contempt of its Conſiſtory and of the Decrees of many Eccleſiaſtical Synods, and for that he kept Conventicles, private Meetings, Proclaimed Faſts, and Days of Prayers, and Writt Books contrary to the Analogy of Faith, and Form of Sound Words, and hath done many other things contrary to the Order and Diſcipline Eſtabliſhed in the Church of God, and that honourable Calling of the Holy Miniſtry. This Synod aggravating the Judgment of the Provincial Synod of Dolphiny ſuſpends the ſaid Huron from the Sacred Miniſtry for the ſpace of Three Moneths, and ſets him at liberty to be imployed in ſome other Province than that of Dolphiny. And foraſmuch as in their endeavours to get the ſaid Huron to be their Miniſter, the Conſiſtory and Paſtors of the Church of Die have too much adhered to the unruly motions of ſome private Perſons, and ſtrangely ſupported their inſolencies and proud irregular actings, This Aſſembly doth judge them alſo worthy of a very ſharp cenſure, and exhorts them for the future to teſtifie and expreſs more Vigour and Zeal for the Diſcipline of our Churches, and to maintain it in theirs, and to ſee the Decrees and Canons of our National Synods put in Execution. And that all theſe Cenſures may be performed, the Sieurs Paulet and Berlie Paſtors Deputies for the Province of Sevennes are appointed by this National Synod to paſs over unto the ſaid City of Die, as they return home unto their Province, and in the Conſiſtory of that Church there to make denunciation of them.
14. The ſaid Sieur Huron the next day came into this Synod, petitioning that his ſuſpenſion might be taken off, and that ſome maintenance might be provided for him until ſuch time as he were preſented unto another Church. But the Synod confirmed his ſuſpenſion, and ordered that ſome ſmall matter ſhould be allowed and given him for his preſent Relief.
15. The Church of Sauve and Monſieur Roſſel Paſtor of the Church of Montlimart appealed from a judgment of the Synod of Dolphiny, by which his Miniſtry was refuſed to that of Sauve, and confirmed in that of Montlimart, though the former did moſt earneſtly re-demand him. After hearing the Deputy of the Church of Sauve and Monſieur Roſſel ſpeaking for it, as alſo Monſieur Chamier for the concern of the Church of Montlimard, and the Provincial Deputies of Dolphiny and Sevennes, This Synod ordains that Monſieur. Roſſel ſhall be lent unto the Service of the Church of Sauve in the Miniſtry of the Word and Sacraments until the next National Synod, and injoyneth the Colloquy of Montlimart to take care that the ſaid Roſſel be then reſtored unto his Office again in that Church.
16. Monſieur de Gouvernet Lord of Mirabel appealed from a Decree of the Synod of Dolphiny concerning Monſieur Perrin Paſtor of the Church of Serres. After that the Deputies of that Province had been heard. who reported that there was nothing to this purpoſe ſpoken of or handled in their Synod at Mure; This Aſſembly becauſe of the abſence of Monſieur Perrin, and their want of Acts needful to determine this Affair, hath given full Authority to the Province of Burgundy to judge therein, and the Province of Dolphiny is injoyned to ſend their Acts unto it, and to adjourn the Parties thither.
17. Monſieur Peyreille Paſtor of the Church de la Cabarede appealed from a judgment of the Colloquy of Albigeois, and the Synod of Higher Languedoc, which had Depoſed him from the Holy Miniſtry. The Letters of the ſaid Peyreille directed unto this Aſſembly being read, and the Acts of all proceedings had againſt him by the Colloquy of Albigeois having been peruſed, and the Deputies of the Province of Higher Languedoc having ſpoken on behalf of their Synod; This Aſſembly did not only confirm the Sentence of the ſaid Colloquy and Province, but doth farther aggravate it, by depriving the ſaid Peyreille utterly of all hopes of ever being re-inſtated into the Sacred Miniſtry.
18. The Lord Broccard formerly preſident of the Exchequer at Dijon brought his Appeal from a Decree of the Provincial Synod of Burgundy, but it was declared null; and the Conſiſtory of Dijon is injoyned to proceed againſt him the ſaid Broccard by all Church-Cenſures, in caſe he detain his Daughter from her Husband without his conſent.
19. The Church of Croſet brought its Appeal from a Judgment of the Synod of Burgundy, which ordained that the Churches of Cheury and Puilly ſhould both equally and by turns enjoy the Miniſtry of their Paſtor with that of Croſett. This Aſſembly remanded back again this Affair unto that Provincial Synod, which having congregated its Four Colloquies ſhall reviſe it over once more, and then paſs a final Sentence on it.
20. The Church of Monoblett appealed from the judgment of the Province of Sevennes, becauſe it had lent their Miniſter Monſieur de Merveils for Sixth Moneths unto the Church of St. Hippolyte. The Church alſo of St. Hippolyte brought an Appeal from the ſame Judgment. The Deputy of St. Hippolyte was heard petitioning that the Miniſtry of Monſieur Marvell might be confirmed to them during Life, and the Deputies of that Province were heard alſo, and the Letters from the ſaid Churches were read audibly and diſtinctly, and a Canon of the National Synod of Tonneins, and ſeveral other Acts were all peruſed and conſidered; after which this Aſſembly altering the Judgment of the ſaid Province, ordained that according to their requeſt Monſieur Marvells be ſettled during Life in the Miniſtry of that Church of St. Hippolyte, and chargeth the ſaid Province to get out of hand a ſupply for that of Monoblett.
21. The Conſuls of the Town of Anduze appealed from a Decree of the Synod of Sevennes, importing that Monſieur Couront ſhould continue his Miniſtry in the Church of Anduze, and the ſaid Courant petitioned that he might be freed from their Service. The Deputy of that Church, and the Deputies of the Province having been heard, and Letters of the ſaid Courant being read; this Synod diſcharged the ſaid Courant from his Miniſtry in that Church, and ordereth the Province to preſent him unto ſome other Congregation, and farther the Deputies of Sevennes are charged as they return home to paſs through Anduze, and to accord and pacifie the Differences between their Conſuls and Conſiſtory. And whereas the Deputy of the ſaid Town hath brought in a complaint againſt Monſieur Ollier another of its Paſtors, This Aſſembly conſidering that their Complaints are about ſorry Trides, and that they had not firſt carried them as they ought to their own Provincial Synod, doth ordain that Monſieur Ollier continue in his Miniſtry there until the ſitting of the next Provincial Synod, who ſhall take care of this buſineſs.
22. Monſieur Tricot Paſtor of the Church of Chaſteau du Loire complained of the Conſiſtory of the Church of Tours, for that being order'd by the Provincial Synod of Anjou in their Name and Authority to judge of a difference betwixt Monſieur du Verger an Elder in that Church and himſelf, they gave a reſpit of Hearing for Fifteen days unto the ſaid du Verger, before which time this National Synod will be diſſolved, and the Parties concern'd deprived of all means for bringing in their Appeal, and having it here determined. This Aſſembly conſidering that the ſaid du Verger is abſent, diſmiſſeth over the Affair to the Colloquy of Anjou with full power in two Moneths time after our breaking up, to judge finally thereof.
23. Monſieur Guerrin Paſtor of the Church of Baugency brought in his Appeal from the Judgment of the Provincial Synod of Berry. This Aſſembly for certain reaſons drawn from the ſpecial nature of the matter in queſtion judgeth that it does not belong to the cogniſance of our Eccleſiaſtical Aſſemblies, as it hath been alſo thus determined by the Provincial Synods. However we would not have it to be made a Preſident.
24. The Church of Puylaurens appealed from a Judgment of the Synod of Higher Languedoc, by which Monſieur Gariſſoles Paſtor of that Church was lent unto the Church of Montauban until the meeting of this National Synod, which yet was contrary to a Decree of the laſt National Synod held at Alez, which had only lent Monſieur de Gariſſoles unto that ſaid Church for Six Moneths, with an expreſs prohibition unto the ſaid Church of Montauban not to detain him beyond that time. Monſieur du Bois Deputy for the Church of Montauban having been heard, and the Elder of the Church of Puylaurens, as alſo the Deputies of the Province, this Aſſembly corrected and condemned the Judgment of the ſaid Synod of Higher Languedoc, for violating the Decree of the laſt National Synod of Alez: And yet conſidering the great neceſſity of the Church and Univerſity of Montauban, ordaineth that Monſieur de Gariſſoles ſhall remain in the Church of Puylaurens until the next Provincial Synod, which may then beſtow him upon the Church and Univerſity of Montauban, provided that he yield his conſent unto it, which that he may be induced to, Letters ſhall be written him from this Aſſembly to perſwade and incourage him to accept thereof.
25. The Church of Montrevil Bonnein appealed from a Judgment of the Provincial Synod of Poictou for giving away Monſieur*Two Copies call him Delon, but a Third D'Ʋſſen Delon their Paſtor from them unto the Church of Montauban. After that the Deputies of the ſaid Province had been heard, the Aſſembly confirmed Monſieur Delon in his Paſtoral Office in the Church of Montauban upon the ſame terms and conditions as were expreſſed in that Decree of the Provincial Synod of Poictou.
26. The Church of Touars appealed from the Judgment of the Synod of Poictou, which for ſome ſpecial reaſons had remanded back unto the Colloquy of Higher Poictou their Petition about Monſieur de la Piltiere whom they deſired to be their Paſtor, and who is now Miniſter in the Church of Chaſtelheraut. After hearing the Deputy of that Church of Touars, and the Deputies of the Province, and the Letters of the Lord Duke, and Lady Dutcheſs of Tremouille, and of the Church of Chaſtelheraut, and thoſe of Monſieur de la Piltiere, and the Memoirs ſent by him tending to his being diſcharged from the Church of Chaſtelheraut, becauſe of his indiſpoſition. This Aſſembly valuing the Health of the ſaid Sieur de la Piltiere, and for divers other conſiderations doth beſtow him upon the Church of Touars, and whereas the Church of Chaſtelheraut pretends to have been at great Charges and Expences about the ſaid Sieur de la Piltiere, the Judgment thereof is devolved over unto the Colloquy of Higher Poictou, which is injoyned to provide the Church of Chaſtelheraut of an able and worthy Miniſter, conſidering what an important Poſt it is.
27. The Church of Vaſſy appealed from the Judgment of the Provincial Synod of the Iſle of France for depriving them of Monſieur Juigne their Paſtor, becauſe he had for divers years together complained of their unkindneſs and unthankfulneſs unto him. The Church of Paſſavant, Mont, and Preſſigny appealed from the Judgment of the ſame Synod, becauſe it had deprived them for their manifeſt and notorious ingratitudes of their Paſtor the Sier Babinett, *Of this Babinett ſee the Roll of Apoitates, and Depoſed in the National Synod of Caſtres.and had given him unto the Church of Vaſſy. At the ſame time the Church of St. Quentin appealed and complained of Monſieur de Juigne, who having been preſented to their Church for Paſtor by the Synod aforeſaid, and agreed with them, and alſo begun to exerciſe his Miniſtry among them, upon pretext of fetching his Goods and Books from Vaſſy returned thither, but never came back again unto them, and had left them quite deſtitute. After hearing the Deputies of the Church of Vaſſy, and St. Quintin, and the Deputies of the Province, and peruſal of divers Letters written unto this Aſſembly by the Churches of Vaſſy, Paſſavant, Mont, Preſſignay, and St. Quintin aforeſaid, and by the ſaid Monſieur de Juigne: This Synod acknowledging that the Province had but too great reaſons for making thoſe exchanges and removals, doth yet notwithſtanding (becauſe of the ſatisfactions and amends ſince made by them) ordain that the ſaid Sieur de Juigne ſhall continue in the Church of Vaſſy, and the Sieur Babinett in the Church of Paſſavant, Mont and Preſſigny, and that the Church of St. Quintin may be no longer vacant, This Aſſembly chargeth the Deputies of the Iſle of France now preſent in it to write in their Authority unto the two neareſt Miniſters of the City of St. Quintin, that they ordain Monſieur Meſtayer by impoſition of hands unto the Miniſtry in that Church, and that he continue there until the ſitting of the next Provincial Synod, which may either continue him in it, or ſupply the ſaid Church ſome other way, and provide another Church, which ſhall be more to the advantage of the ſaid Monſieur Meſtayer. And farther this Aſſembly cenſureth thoſe Churches of Vaſſy and Paſſavant for their diſingenuity and ingratitude towards their Paſtors, and the ſaid Monſieur Juigne for his irreſolution and unfixedneſs.
28. Monſieur Juigne ſome days after this cenſure came unto this Synod, and requeſted that the Note and Reproach of ingratitude faſtned on his Church of Vaſſy, and of irreſolution on himſelf might be removed, becauſe that he was ever well pleaſed with his Church, and their not contributing to his maintenance came not from want of Will, but from their Poverty and Inability. This was granted, but the Cenſure paſt on him was ordered to hang ſtill on the File.
29. The Lord of Aldebert Judge of Sauve appealed from the Judgment of the Synod of Sevennes, which had ordained that though Monſieur Bony Paſtor of the Church of St. Andrews deſerved to be ſuſpended, yet he ſhould only receive a ſharp and publick Reproof, and be continued in his Miniſtry.
After the Letters, of the ſaid Aldebert and Bony were read, and the Sentence of the ſaid Province of Sevennes, and thoſe Acts produced when the Judgment was given, and the Deputies of that Province were heard, and Monſieur Roſſel his Petition for the ſaid Bony, how that becauſe of his Abſence the Buſineſs might be remanded back again unto the Province; This Aſſembly declareth that the ſaid Province deſerves a very ſevere cenſure for being ſo ſlow and remiſs in its proceedings, and uſing an unjuſtifiable Indulgence and Lenity when it came to Judgment, and decreeth that the ſaid Bony ſhall continue ſuſpended from his Miniſtry from that very day, whereas this Synodical Sentence ſhall be ſignified to him, (which the Deputies of the ſaid Province ſhall forthwith inform him of) until the next Seſſions of the Provincial Synod of Higher Languedoc, unto which the Parties aggrieved ſhall make their complaints: The Deputies of Sevennes being charged to ſummon them unto it, that ſo the ſaid Synod by the Authority of this Aſſembly may examine, and judge, and aggravate the Sentence if need be. And that Province of Sevennes is ordered to proceed with rigour and vigour againſt all other Paſtors, who have demeaned themſelves ill in their Office, and to render an account thereof unto the next National Synod.
30. The Church of Nions appealed from a Judgment of the Synod of Dolphiny, importing that the ſaid Church ſhould not ſeek for it ſelf a Paſtor without the Province, and that Monſieur Bouvier ſhould be their Miniſter for Six Moneths. The Acts needful to be known for the right underſtanding of this Caſe having been all read, and the Deputies of the Province being heard, This Aſſembly judged that at preſent there was no reaſon for that Church to ſeek a Paſtor abroad out of the Province, and the ſaid Province is injoyned to provide them a Miniſter fit for their Service.
31. The Lord of Puyredon Elder in the Church of Niſmes appealed from the Sentence of his Conſiſtory about Matters of Precedency, and the way of gathering the Votes and Suffrages in the ſaid Conſiſtory. This Synod judging this Affair not fit to be debated by it, hath diſmiſſed it over to the Colloquy.
32. Whereas the Elder of the Church of Charenton, St. Mere, Vallognes, and le val de Serre appealed from the Sentence of the Provincial Synod of Normandy, which had provided for the ſafety and comfort of Monſieur Baſnage their Paſtor, that he ſhould be removed from them, and placed elſewhere as he himſelf ſhould approve of. This Appeal was declared null.
33. The Appeal of Monſieur Bicheteau Profeſſor of the Hebrew Tongue at Montauban from the Judgment of the Synod of Higher Languedoc held at Montauban the Five and Twentieth day of April laſt, is declared null.
34. An Appeal of Monſieur De Mas Paſtor in the Church of Campagne from the Higher Languedoc held at Montauban the Five and Twentieth day of April laſt is declared null.
35. The Appeal of Monſieur Perrier formerly Paſtor in the Church of Paillac from the Judgment of the Synod of Burgundy which had Depoſed him from the Sacred Miniſtry was declared null.
36. The Paſtors and Elders of the Church of Iſſurtille appealed from the Judgment of the Province of Burgundy, for refuſing them the grant of the half ſupernumerary Portion for the future, which was allowed them by the Synod of Alez. The Letters of the ſaid Elders having been peruſed, and the Deputies of the Province heard, This Aſſembly confirms the paſt Payments, and ordains that for the future the ſupernumerary Portions granted unto the ſaid Province ſhall be wholly at their own diſpoſal.
37. Monſieur Le Pin Elder in the Church of Iſſurtille appealed from the Judgment of the Synod of Burgundy held at Gex in this preſent year, but his Appeal was declared null and deſert.
38. That Appeal of the Elders of Aubenas and Annonay from the Judgment of the Provincial Synod of Vivaretz, which had reunited the Colledge parted before betwixt thoſe Two Cities, and reſettled it at Privas, was declared null and void.