The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 25 (Castres) · Chapter 18 – Chapter 19
CHAP. XVIII. No Miniſter to Depart the Kingdom without the Kings Leave.
THE Lord Commiſſioner declaring that it was His Majeſties Will and Pleaſure according to Law that none of our Paſtors ſhould depart the Kingdom without his Royal Licenſe, and that in caſe any Foreign Princes or States deſired that any of our Miniſters might be either lent them for a time, or given to them abſolutely during Life, that then the ſaid Miniſter ſhould according to our Laws firſt obtain His Majeſties Licence for his departure. The Council reſigned it ſelf and all the Miniſters of our Churches moſt fully and freely, as they have ever done, unto the Laws of the Land.
This Synod inquiring into the cauſes obſtructing the Execution of thoſe particular Canons that the laſt National Synod had made for the better Government of the Province of Provence, judged that the ſaid Province did juſtly deſerve a Cenſure in caſe it cannot vindicate and acquit it ſelf from all impeachments of neglect herein. And whereas the Sieurs Crubellier and Chambrun who were appointed Commiſſioners by the Synod of Charenton to viſit that Province had been countermanded by Monſieur Recent, the ſaid Recent is injoyned to appear before the next Synod of Lower Languedoc and there to anſwer unto all Matters that ſhall be brought in againſt him, and the ſaid Synod ſhall ſuſpend him from the Miniſtry in caſe he be found to have deſerved it. And thoſe Excuſes of the Sieurs Crubellier and Chambrun are accepted, but withall, the Reverend Mr. Chauve and Bouteroue, and in caſe they by ſome lawful hindrance ſhould be detained, then the Reverend Mr. Le Faucheur and Conel are charged to go unto the next Synod of Provence, and there ſee the aforeſaid Canons of thoſe former National Synods to be put in Execution, and to remedy thoſe diſorders, which may and do retard their Obſervation.
The Agreement made between the ſaid Province, and the Widow of Monſieur Touſſains is approved and confirmed.
The Commiſſioners appointed for remedying the Confuſions in the ſaid Province ſhall give judgment in that caſe complained of by the Church of Lormarin, and brought before this Aſſembly.
The Synod confirming the Sentence of the Province of the Iſle of France, decreeth that Monſieur du Val ſhall be numbred among the Paſtors that be Emeriti, and that a free Portion ſhall be aſſigned and payed in unto him as unto others of the ſame quality, and under his Circumſtances.
That the Twelfth Article in the Chapter of Colledges and Univerſities may be more accurately obſerved than heretofore, all Provinces within whoſe diſtrict the ſaid Univerſities be Erected are earneſtly exhorted to put forth their helping hand, that they be reduc't into practice, and they ſhall bring proof of their Obedience yielded to this Canon, unto the next National Synod.
The Province of Guyenne requeſting it, this Council doth confirm the R. R. Mr. Alba, and Ferrand in the Paſtoral Charge of the Churches of Agen and Bourdeaux.
Report being made by the Commiſſioners appointed for examining the Memoirs of Monſieur du Bois a Paſtor ſent by the laſt National Synod unto the Church of Fontaines and Croſſy till the ſitting of the next Synod of Normandy, upon the firſt Article of his Complaints and Demands, he was ordered to apply himſelf unto the Province of Anjou, and the ſaid Province ſhould beſtir themſelves ſo effectually, that he may have full ſatisfaction, and all his Debts payd him, eſpecially by the Lady de la Barce, and upon the Second that the Province of Normandy ſhall give him an Accompt of his Portion, which they received for him under his Name, it being entered under their Dividend. Moreover, they ſhall either provide him of a Church, or give him an Honourable diſmiſſion from the Miniſtry in their Province, in caſe there be no vacant Church in it, that demands his Service, Which alſo ſhall be notified to him, and that the aforeſaid Province hath proceeded to diſch…rge him.
CHAP. XIX. 1626. The 25th. Synod.A Depoſed Miniſter Reſtored.
MOniſeur James Repaſſeau preſenting Honourable Atteſtations of His Deportment ever ſince his Depoſition, and with Showers of Tears moſt humbly petitioning the Synod, that he might reap the fruits and benefits of thoſe hopes which the laſt National Synod had given him ſome ground to expect, and that upon evident proofs and tokens of his ſincere Repentance, he might be another day reſtored unto the Exerciſe of his Miniſtry, and the Provincial Deputies of Dolphiny being charged by their Synod to intercede for him, and by word of mouth to confirm thoſe good and laudable Teſtimonials which had been given him by the Church of Montlimard, where he hath ever ſince reſided, and by his Religious and Exemplary Converſation exceedingly edified them. The Synod having tender bowels of Love and Compaſſion for him, and yielding a juſt deference to thoſe affectionate intreaties of the Province of Dolphiny, and of the whole Church of Montlimard, in which for theſe Four laſt Years he hath made his conſtant aboad to their ſingular ſatisfaction, after ſerious Admonitions given him to ſtand upon his guard, and diligently to ponder his Paths, and to walk in the Houſe or God with a very Godly Fear, and a moſt Religious Circumſpection for the future, becauſe of the great ſcandal which was taken by the Church and World, by thoſe within and without at his Sin and Fall, eſpecially his beſt and deareſt Friends having been horribly amazed and aſtoniſhed at it, This Synod doth now reſtore him to his Miniſtry, and to the Exerciſe of all the Duties and Offices of a Goſpel-Miniſter, and decreeth by this preſent Canon that his Name ſhall be razed out of the Roll and Catalogue of Depoſed Miniſters, that ſo when as any Church ſhall give him a Call to work among them, he may re-enter upon his Paſtoral Work, and charge with as great Honour and Comfort as he was deprived of it with Grief, Ignominy, and Confuſion.