The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 24 (1st Charenton) · Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX. An Expedient to preſerve the CHURCH-PEACE.
11 THE Province of the Iſle of France moved that, to preſerve our Union, and prevent thoſe Diviſions which will otherwiſe creep in inſenſibly upon us, and that the ſound Doctrine, which hath hitherto through the Grace of God been preached, may be alwayes taught and kept up in our Churches, and never corrupted by the Invaſion and Admiſſion of thoſe Errors condemned in the Synod of Alez, by the Curioſity and Contentious Humour of ſuch as love to abound in their own ſence, the Province of the Iſle of France moved this Synod to adviſe of ſome Expedients, vvhichwhich might curb and bridle thoſe unruly Spirits, vvho elſe vvould not be kept vvithin the ſtated bounds of their Duty. This Aſſembly received the Motion very kindly, and approving it, decreed, that all Conſiſtories, Colloquies, and Provincial Synods ſhould carefully ſee to it, that the Canons of our Church-Diſcipline about Printing of Manuſcripts be moſt ſtrictly obſerved, and that before they be carried to the Preſs: they be moſt exactly peruſed, and approved by thoſe Divines vvho are appointed by the Provincial Synod ſo to do, and that there be rendred an Account hereof unto the next National Synod. Moreover all Paſtors, be it in their Writings, or in their Sermons are to keep themſelves vvithin the bounds of Chriſtian ſimplicity, and to prune off from all their Diſcourſes and Exhortations thoſe needleſs Excreſcencies of curious Questions, and to oppoſe ſuch Perſons as ſhall attempt to ſubvert the Truth delivered to us by our Teachers of Bleſſed Memory, vvhoſe Miniſtry the Lord ſo ſignally ovvned in the great Work of Reformation: And that they vvould ſo order all their Doctrines and Sermons as they might have a direct tendency to promote the Churches Peace, and the Edification of the Conſciences of their Auditors.
12. Monſieur Buſtonoby Paſtor in the Churches of Mauleon, Sanquis, and Montori in the Land of Soules in Biſcay complained that the tvvo Portions granted him by the Synod of Vitre, had not been payd him free of all Charges ever ſince the year 1619, though it vvas ſo ordained by that Synod, and he therefore petitioned that vvhat vvas behind due, might be payd unto him, moreover that tvvo other free Portions might be granted tovvards the maintenance of another Miniſter in thoſe Churches aforeſaid, becauſe he vvas not able alone by himſelf to performe all Paſtoral Duties in them. The Deputies of the Principality of Bearne, and of the Lovver Guyenne, were heard replying to him, and afterward the Synod ordained that the Portions aſſigned by the Synod of Vitre and Alez ſhould be payd him in free accordingly, and that as long as he ſhall ſerve thoſe Churches alone without a Fellow-helper in the Work of the Miniſtry, their payment ſhall be continued to him, and when as a Colleague ſhall be joyned with him, there ſhall be another free Portion added for his Colleague alſo: And this Aſſembly intreats him to inquire and uſe his beſt endeavours to get an Aſſiſtant, and the Portion for the Aſſiſting Paſtor ſhall be kept in the Lord of Candals hands till ſuch time as he be called and ſettled together with him in thoſe Churches.
13. The Church of Montauban demanded that Monſieur Ollyer, who with the Conſent and Order of the Colloquy of Ʋſez, impowered thereunto by the National Synod of Alez, was lent unto them, might now be their fixed Paſtor during Life. After that the Provincial Deputies of Sevennes and Lower Languedoc had been heard ſpeak on this Affair, The Aſſembly ratified that Order of the Colloquy of Ʋſez by its own Act and Authority.
14. Whereas his Grace the Lord Duke of Trimouille and the Church of Vitre demanded that Monſieur Blanchart Paſtor of the Church of Conde upon Nereau in the Province of Normandy might be preferred unto the Church of Vitre. After hearing of the Provincial Deputies of Normandy, and reading the Decree of that Province, which injoyned the ſaid Blanchart to return back unto his Cure, upon pain of being declared a Deſertor of it; and the Deputies of Britain informing this Synod they had hot any Memoir or Command from their Province concerning this Matter: This Aſſembly decreed that a very ſevere and rigorous Cenſure ſhall be inflicted on the ſaid Blanchart for contemning the Diſcipline of our Church, and that he ſhall return again unto the Church of Conde within two Moneths after the Diſſolution of this Synod, or if not, that he ſhall be then ſuſpended from the Miniſterial Office.
15. Monſieur du Bois formerly Paſtor in the Churches of I a Val and la Barre but ſet at liberty by the Provincial Synod of Anjou complained unto this Aſſembly, that whereas the Church of Fontaines and Crocy in the Province of Normandy had given him a Call to the Miniſtry among them, the Synod of that Province would not agree unto it, nor ſuffer him to be ſettled in that Church. This Aſſembly after hearing the Deputies of Normandy in this caſe, decreed, that the ſaid Monſieur du Bois ſhall be received and fixed in the Paſtoral Office of the ſaid Church of …ontaines and Crocy until the next meeting of the Provincial Synod of Normandy.
16. Monſieur Joly petitioning this Aſſembly for ſome Relief for himſelf and poor Family until the ſitting of the next National Synod, and that leave might be given him to aſpire unto the Profeſſion of the Hebrew Language in caſe there ſhould be a vacancy. This Aſſembly granted him the letter, and becauſe of his wants, and the diſtreſſed Condition of his Family, they do give him an Hundred and Fifty Livres, and for the future do continue unto him one free Portion under the ſame Name as it was granted him by the National Synod of Alez.