The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 25 (Castres) · Chapter 38
CHAP. XXXVIII. A Letter of the Church of Geneva to the National Synod of Caſtres.
Moſt Reverend, Honoured and Dear Brethren;
THere has not been a National Synod of the Churches for theſe many Years laſt paſt held in France, but that we have made tenders of our Duties to them, becauſe of that ſtrict and intimate Communion we have with them all in our common Lord. We have alſo new Ingagements unto Thankfulneſs, and to abound in Thankſgivings for the infinite Mercies of our God, which are Day by Day, and from one Year unto another accumulated upon, and continued to his Churches; the Lord renewing his tender Compaſſions ſo miraculouſly in their Preſervations. But if ever we had any cauſe for ſo doing, 'tis now that we are in a moſt extraordinary manner obliged to it; for his gracious Providence ſhines forth with a moſt admirable Luſtre in the defence of your Churches, and particularly in the free enjoyment of your Religious Aſſemblies; ſo that at the many ſtrange Accidents which have befallen you for divers Years together, and the Tempeſts with which the Kingdom of France hath been aſſaulted and battered, the ſore and grievous Afflictions of many of our Brethren having aſtoniſhed our Souls, and overwhelmed our Hearts with Sorrows, had made us almoſt deſpair of ever ſeeing the comfortable returns of Peace unto your Realm, and of Repoſe and Settlement for your poor afflicted Churches, and the Exerciſe of your moſt excellent Diſcipline, than which a better was never practiſed in the Chriſtian World. And now in this Calm the Divine Wiſdom gathers his Children, as the Hen doth her Chickens, under his Wings, and reneweth the Face of his Church in your Congregations, as the Eagle doth his Youth. And this Mercy ſhould be the more prized and eſteemed by us, becauſe it is not in this Day a common Favour and Benefit vouchſafed of God unto all thoſe whom he had once honoured with the knowledg of himſelf in the Goſpel. For beſides that the ſubverſion of ſo many Provinces, the diſmal Deſolations or thoſe ſometimes flouriſhing Churches in Germany, Bohemia, Moravia, and the Valtoline, are yet continued, and the Diſſipations and Diſperſions are ſtill growing and augmenting, and the Judgments of God from Heaven are following one upon the neck of another, one dreadful Ravage calling upon another to make haſte: Therefore we lie proſtrate night and day at the Feet of our Heavenly Father, adoring his rich Grace in Chriſt Jeſus, for ſetting bounds unto the Fire of his Wrath, ſo that all his Churches are not totally devoured by it. And we moſt ardently beſeech his Divine Majeſty, that as he keeps the Hearts of Kings in his own Hands, ſo he would be pleaſed to inſpire your King with Counſels of Favour and Peace for his People, and tender Love unto your Churches; that under his Government and Authority, the Name of God may be celebrated with Liberty of Conſcience, and Truth may bring forth Faith in the World, and Righteouſneſs from Heaven may yield the Fruit of True and Saving Peace. Moreover, we do alſo carry upon our Hearts unto the Throne of Grace, all other our Brethren, who he groaning under the heavy Yoak and Burden of Afflictions, that he would reſtore unto them the Conſolations of his Spirit, and put an end in his appointed Time, according to his own good Pleaſure, unto all their Anguiſh and Sufferings. Thoſe many and ſad Objects which are daily preſented to our Eyes, of a multitude of Refugees, who were once themſelves a Refuge unto the Faithful from the Storm, and a Covert from the Tempeſt, but being now ſaved by a mi…aculous out-ſtretched Arm from a moſt calamitous Shipwrack, are wandring up and down, ſeeking an Ark and Retreat from this overflowing Deluge, and ſheltring themſelves, as in a Sanctuary, in this our poor City, will not permit us to leave our God alone, nor to give him any Reſt, till by our moſt importunate Prayers we have prevailed with him, to ſtir up the Bowels of his Compaſſions for the deliverance of his Children. And we alſo pour into your Boſoms the Sentiments of this Grief, which as on the one hand it cannot but move our Sympathies, ſo on the other hand it doth make us ſeriouſly reflect on God's Methods and Dealings with his Churches, and principally to conſider his exquiſite Trials of Church-Officers, who be conſtituted by him Overſeers in his Houſe and Service, and were bound to ſanctify his Name in their Performances, leſt he ſhould ſanctify himſelf upon them by his Judgments. This was what he had denounc'd againſt all that draw near unto him, and they have ſeen it executed in its Perfection. Beſides, we cannot in theſe laſt Troubles of the Church, but obſerve how poor and feeble a thing an Arm of Fleſh is, and how very perillous thole Succors and Aſſiſtances are which Men receive from it: Whereas the true Shields and Bucklers of Salvation do belong to God, who only hath the Priviledg, and deſerves the Glory of his Churches Protection and Deliverance. And in this Confeſſion the Faithful (knowing that the Aſſiſtance of Heaven is promiſed unto thoſe who do patiently wait for it, as you your ſelves, moſt honoured dear Brethren, have frequently ſenſed and experienced in your Trials) do always prefer the Reſolutions and Weapons of the Spirit of God to the Counſels of the Fleſh, that ſo there may not be the leaſt pot reflected or faſtned upon the Goſpel. And thoſe who deſpiſe Dignities, and ſubject them to the Power of that Man of Sin, to be trampled under foot by him, may be aſhamed and confounded at their Lies and Calumnies caſt upon us, from thoſe evident Teſtimonies of our Loyalty and Fidelity, which, according to the Goſpel, is rendred unto God, and unto thoſe, to whoſe Authority he hath ſubjected our Perſons and Eſtates in this World. And this will be moſt clearly owned and acknowledged, even then whenas Paſtors ſhall intend the interiour Service of the Sanctuary, which is the Edification of precious and immortal Souls, and do not walk according to the World, nor fear their Fear, but glorify God in the Day of their Tribulations, by an abſolute and intire reſignation of themſelves to him, and dependance on him, whom they muſt need know can never diveſt himſelf of that Care and Charge of them, which he hath once took upon him ſo expreſly and particularly, as to be their Guardian, their Fortreſs, their ſtrong Tower, and a Wall of Fire and Braſs round about his Church, marching as their Captain-General in the Van and Front, and bringing up the Rear-guard of his Iſrael, whilſt that the Prieſts are wholly buſied and imployed in carrying the Ark of his Covenant. And we do not ſpeak this, as taking upon us to be the Judges of any one's Work, but with all due Reſpects communicating to you the Sentiments of our Conſciences, which we hope will be approved alſo by your Reverences, we do hereby expreſs the moſt affectionate Deſires of our Souls, that the Breaches in the Temple of God may be repaired, and that the Face of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt may ſhine forth more gloriouſly upon our Brethren and our ſelves unto Salvation, by the Spirit of his Power in the Goſpel of his Glory, waiting always for that bleſſed Hope of his laſt Coming; whoſe near Approaches are notoriouſly viſible and conſpicuous from thoſe frequent Travel-Pangs of the Church, and general Convulſions and Shakings of the Nations, infallible Harbingers and Fore-runners of his glorious Appearance: before which, we comfortably hope, that having chaſtiſed his Church, he will turn the fiery Stream and Current of his Judgments upon the Enemies of his Truth and Glory, and will moſt effectually by the Spirit of his Mouth deſtroy the Son of Perdition. True indeed, there is one thing which cuts the Sinews of our Hopes, and obſtructs the Progreſs of this Divine Work, and exceedingly damps and ſaddens our Hearts, to wit, that incredible and aſtoniſhing Stupidity of vaſt Numbers of Perſons, who harden themſelves in their Sins under the Rods of God's Wrath, and do ſottiſhly yield unto the Temptations of the Devil in the Hour of their Trials. Yet notwithſtanding, we be greatly comforted, moſt Honoured Lords and Brethren, at the glad Tidings of thoſe excellent Fruits which the Lord's Viſitation hath produced in many of your Churches, once again bringing into uſe and exerciſe thoſe Graces and Vertues ſo neceſſary for the Faithful, and ſo difficult to be exerted and practiſed in Times of Proſperity, ſuch as the love of God's Word, contempt of the World, and kindling again a Fire of holy Zeal, by the Spirit of God, upon the Altar of the Sacred Miniſtry, to the conviction of Sins and Errors, and the reformation of Life and of former Miſcarriages, and the ſtrengthning of the infirm and weaker Chriſtians. This is a demonſtration of the Spirit and Power of God, who is not only magnified in reſcuing of his Church whenas the World gave her up for loſt, but alſo, as we are from all Parts credibly informed, and for which we rejoice together with you in our Lord, in manifeſting the Power of his Truth; whenas the Adverſaries taking occaſion from your Afflictions, believed that it was as eaſy for them to triumph by their Sophiſtry over the Doctrine of the Goſpel, as to throw down your ſorry Ramparts of Earth: but they have in truth ſound the Rock of God's Word to be then inexpugnable, whenas there was leaſt of the Work of Man; and the Truth then moſt prevalent and invincible, when diſcovered in its primitive native Beauty and Simplicity.
Whence we ground our Hopes and Conſidence, that God, who hath poured out his Bleſſing upon your Labours, will not begin and advance his Work to deſtroy it, nor will he build his Sion with your Hands, and at laſt abandon it unto thoſe of his moſt cruel Enemies. Wherefore, moſt honoured Lords and Brethren, The Joy and Crown of God's Churches, be you incouraged in the Lord, and whatſoever Difficulties may befal you from without or from within, by thoſe who ſuffer themſelves to be debauched by this evil World, do you be fortified in your Holy Work; and as you have been made a Spectacle to Men and Angels, ſo do you perſiſt to hold forth the Light of the Goſpel in all Pureneſs, and to fight the good Fight with the Weapons of Righteouſneſs on the right Hand and on the left, taking all poſſible Care that no Root of Bitterneſs do ſpring up, which under the Shadow and Pretext of ſubtle Queſtions may weaken or diminiſh the Union of all your Members, and whom 'tis moſt indiſpenſably needful you ſhould firmly cement in an Uniformity of Confeſſion, to avoid thoſe dreadful Diſtractions which will infallibly ariſe from a Diverſity of Opinions and Affections. All the Reformed Churches, as far as ever we could learn, were filled with Joy at thoſe ſolid Declarations made in your National Synods againſt revived Pelagianiſm, and at that ſingular Care taken by thoſe venerable and Holy Councils to exclude it out of your Churches. Now he that lowed thoſe Tares in God's Field is not aſleep, but is ſtill at Work: wherefore there is need of continual Watchings, there muſt be no relaxing of your Circumſpection, leſt you ſhould loſe the things which you have wrought. But we may forbear inſiſting any longer on this Argument; nor is there any reaſon that we ſhould exhort you to continue in your godly Purpoſes and Reſolutions. Sith your great Zeal is a moſt powerful Example to excite others: It's enough that we have thus opened our Hearts unto your Reverences, and have largely experienced the harmonious Uniformity of your Holy Thoughts and Intentions. And foraſmuch as by theſe late Troubles ſome famous Univerſities have to our unſpeakable Grief ſuffered very ſad Eclipſes and Interruptions, we ſhall do our beſt and utmoſt Endeavour to keep burning that little Candle which the Goodneſs of our God hath lighted up in our poor Candleſtick. And our moſt honoured Magiſtrates have reſolved to continue their Incouragement and Maintenance of our School and Univerſity, which from its firſt Foundation had none other Deſign or End, than to prepare Inſtruments who might be another Day capable of edifying God's Church. And they conceive themſelves at this time more eſpecially concerned and obliged to ſerve your Churches, becauſe 'tis but the Repayment of an old Debt, We owing the Original of our Academy unto the worthy Labours of ſome of your moſt eminent and famous Miniſters; beſides, your favourable Reſpects have been exceeding ſerviceable to it in its Growth and Progreſs, and they do receive with ſingular Conſolation the Aſſurances of your good Will, both from the Letters of the laſt Synod at Charenton, and from your ſending of Students hither, to whoſe Advancement in Learning and Godlineſs we ſhall moſt willingly contribute whatever God hath imparted to us, that ſo we may return them to you well improved and furniſhed with thoſe requiſite Talents for the Miniſtry in the Temple of the Lord. Moreover, we do return you our moſt hearty Thanks for your kind Remembrance had of our Church in times paſt, and we do bleſs the Lord for the Expreſſions of his Majeſty's Love and Kindneſs towards our City, which is a Continuance of thoſe Royal Favours we have ever received from the Crown of France, and conſonant to his former Declarations, that he would not exclude the Natives of this Town, in caſe, according to your excellent Diſcipline, they ſhould be called out unto the Miniſtry, in the Churches of his Kingdom. And we are ſo very well ſatisfied of your Love unto us, that it the aforeſaid Declaration ſhould not be notified unto ſome of the Churches, yet by your means it ſhall be ſo for the future, and this will be a renewed Pledg and Confirmation of your ancient fraternal Charity and Affection to us. Whereupon we do moſt affectionately ſalute in the Lord, your Holy Synod, and tender you our moſt humble Service, intreating the Continuance of your good Will unto us, and that you would ſtrive together with us in your Prayers for us, as we do continually recommend you unto our God, the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and to the Word of his Grace, and to his Spirit of Conſolation; and all your Churches, Perſons, Labours, and your whoſe ſacred Aſſembly to his moſt bleſſed Protection, beſeeching the great Shepherd of Souls, that he would daign to preſide in the midſt of you, and make you perfect in every good Work to do his Will, working in you what is well pleaſing to him, and accumulate upon you his beſt and moſt Heavenly Benedictions, to the Glory of his Holy Name: And ſubſcribe our ſelves,
Moſt Honoured Lords and Brethren, Your moſt affectionate Brethren, and moſt humble Servants in the Lord, the Paſtors and Profeſſors in the Church and Univerſity of Geneva, and in the Name of them all;
Prevoſt.
Diodati.
B. Turretin.
Du-Pan.
The Superſcription was thus, To our moſt Honoured Lords and Brethren, the Paſtors and Elders of the Reformed Churches of France, aſſembled in their National Synod at Caſtres.
The Anſwer of the Paſtors and Elders in the National Synod of Caſtres, unto the Letter of the Right Reverend Paſtors and Profeſſors of Geneva.
Moſt Honoured Lords and Brethren;
AMong the Conſolations which the Goodneſs of our God hath granted us in this Place, this which we have received from your Communion in Spirit with us, and thoſe cordial Affections which you have expreſſed to us, have been therefore the more acceptable, becauſe that as we rejoice in the Lord, ſo we cannot but be thankful to him, for that after ſo many Troubles and Deſolations, we be yet permitted to aſſemble from all Corners and Quarters of this Kingdom, to the upholding, ſettling and confirming of his Holy Worſhip. You alſo are come in by your Letters to bear your Parts in this ſacred Harmony, augmenting by the Union of your Hearts with ours, the rich Bleſſing which the Prophet hath compared to that precious Oil, poured out upon the Head of Aaron, and to the Dew which deſcends from Mount Sion, and this too with ſuch an Efficacy, that the bare hearing of your ſweet Conſolations, and Holy Counſels, hath by a moſt ſecret and powerful Motion, ſenſibly operated upon us, and raiſed up the Spirit of Jeſus Chriſt (our Head) in us, who doth unite us, though many Members, into one Body in the Lord. We do therefore imbrace you in our God, and accept thankfully of your Prayers and Holy Affections, giving Thanks unto our Heavenly Father, that (as you have piouſly confeſs'd it) he made us an Example of his Compaſſions, and having ſaved us out of divers Perils and Diſtreſſes, he hath preſerved us our Lives (by no leſs a Miracle than that of old, when as he preſerved the Bramble-Buſh from being conſumed) in the midſt of thoſe Flames of War which ravaged our whole Country. Nor can we ſufficiently adore his ſingular Loving Kindneſſes, that although the Sins of his People had ſo far provoked his Wrath, as to throw down all our Fences, and to demoliſh all our Fortreſſes, and to wither that Arm of Fleſh in which we had ſo very much confided, yet he hath ſupported, and doth ſtill ſupport by his own Almighty Arm the People of his Covenant, confounding their Hopes, who promiſed themſelves no leſs than the utter Ruin of all our flouriſhing Churches, upon the Change of their temporal Eſtate; they not conſidering that the true Religion is kept up in the Hearts of God's Elect by the Efficacy of that Spirit of Life, which having raiſed Jeſus Chriſt from the Dead, doth give Power and Virtue to the Faithful, to triumph over all the Forces and Aſſaults of the World, yea, and of Death it ſelf. To this Occaſion of Thankſgiving, we will add another which is more particular, viz. That ſince the Peace was ratified, God hath filled our Hearts with Gladneſs, by ſaving his Majeſty, (to whoſe Clemency we owe our Peace) from a great and horrid Conſpiracy, plotted againſt him by his perfidious Enemies, and ours alſo. The Lord grant that the lively Senſe of his Benefits may make us groan for having ſinned againſt him, and inflame us with his Love, and that we, to whom he hath committed the Government of his Houſe, may be Pattners of Zeal and of every Chriſtian Vertue, and by the Light of ſound Doctrine and of an Holy Life, we may diſſipate and drive away thoſe black and dark Vices wherewith our Flocks have provoked his Anger; for certainly we have very great Cauſe of Humiliation, being as yet under the Croſs, and his Majeſty's Edict in divers Points and Articles, being not as yet executed, obſerved or performed, and the Malice of our Enemies increaſing the Number of thoſe Infractions, and thereby the Meaſure of our Sufferings, all which is ordered by the moſt holy wiſe Providence of our God for our Correction. For as of old, when he extended Mercy unto Jacob wreſtling with him, yet with a Blow from his own Hand he made him lame and halt ever after; even ſo alſo now in theſe Deliverances from our paſt Miſeries and Confuſions, which it hath pleaſed his Divine Grace to vouchſafe us, yet hath he left divers Wounds on the Body of our Churches, whereby to provoke us unto Repentance, and to quicken us unto more Intenſeneſs and Fervour in our Prayers and Supplications for the exciting of his Bowels of Compaſſion towards us. We do acknowledg the free Grace of our God to be our trueſt Refuge and Sanctuary, and that a Chriſtian Patience and ſubmiſſive Waiting for the Effects of his wiſe Providence, will be our moſt aſſured Remedy againſt all the Evils that can befal us. And we have this Conſolation, (got by long Experience of the Vanity of all human Means and Aids) that 'tis in our Days as it was in ancient Times, when God ſaved and reſtored his People, it was not done by Might nor Power, not by Arms, nor by Swords and Bows, but by his Spirit. This ſelf-ſame Spirit which levelled the great Mountains before Zorobabel, and brought them into Plains, worketh as powerfully now as heretofore, ſo that we often ſee thoſe very Mountains of Dangers and Difficulties which were raiſed up againſt his People, reduced unto nothing, giving us therefore a clear and full Knowledg of his great Name, that he is wonderful in Counſel, and excellent in Working.
Moreover, we do give you farther aſſurance, that it is our Intention, That thoſe who are called of God to ſerve and Miniſter before him in his Houſe, ſhall wholly and abſolutely attend thereunto: We well knowing, that whilſt, with Moſes in the Mount, they give themſelves to Prayer, and apply themſelves wholly to their Miniſterial Work and Duty, they will attract upon their People the Bleſſing of the Lord, and they will be mighty with God for the throwing down of ſtrong Holds, and of every high thing that exalts it ſelf againſt the Knowledg of God. And whereas you remind us of that great Contentment you received at the ſight of that Univerſal Harmony of our former Synods in Points of Doctrine, and rejection of Errors, which had troubled divers Churches; we conceive our ſelves bound to promote the continuance of your holy Joys and Thankfulneſs unto God, foraſmuch as in this Aſſembly there was found but one Heart, and one Soul to maintain the Confeſſion of Faith, and the Diſcipline of our Churches, by which we know that the Lord will preſerve his Heritage in this Kingdom, he himſelf keeping up this Sacred Mound and Hedg by his own ſpecial Benediction, whilſt he hath broke to pieces that which was Terrene and Carnal in ſundry places: Yea, 'tis our hope, that as heretofore he made his Ark triumph in Captivity, and Dagon to fall down proſtrate before it, even then whenas Iſrael was moſt deſpicable; ſo alſo in the midſt of the Churches Sufferings ſhall his Goſpel triumph over Superſtition. And as the Croſs of his Son, the Lord Jeſus, got the Victory over the World; ſo ſhall the Croſs of his Children (which is alſo that of Chriſt) be the Confuſion of their Enemies. This is, moſt honoured Lords and Brethren, our Conſolation, amidſt the Ruins and Deſolations of the Church of God in divers Regions of Europe, which is intimated to us in your Letters. Let us therefore lift up our Hands and Hearts unto our God, that he would be pleaſed to take pity on the great and ſore Afflictions of Joſeph, and that he would make Jeruſalem a Praiſe and Renown in the whole Earth, for his own Name's ſake. Of which we have the more and greater Hopes, becauſe thoſe great and violent Attempts of Satan do learn us, that the time of his Confuſion draweth near; and we know that the Lord never humbleth nor caſteth down his poor Church, but with a deſign of exalting it; and he layeth his Children, as it were, dead in their Graves, that he may confound the World by raiſing them again from the Dead. And inaſmuch as, amidſt ſuch horrible Afflictions, God hath made your Church and Common-wealth a glorious Example of his Protection, and of the Miracles of his Providence, we render to his Divine Majeſty, from the bottom of our Hearts, all poſſible Thanks and Praiſes; and particularly for this, that as your Golden Candleſtick hath never wanted burning and ſhining Lights, ſo alſo your Univerſity ceaſeth not to educate and prepare for the Service of many Churches, many fit and well-furniſh'd Inſtruments for the Work of the Miniſtry: In which we own and acknowledg the Zeal and Piety of our Lords your Magiſtrates; to whom we do wiſh, from the Lord of Lords, all ſorts of Benedictions: And we praiſe God, that through the goodneſs of our King, we enjoy our ancient Priviledges of ſerving and building up the Churches in this Realm by their Miniſtry, who owe their Education to your worthy Labours and Inſtructions; and all our Provinces ſhall be as to their Profit ſo to your Contentment, fully and ſufficiently informed hereof at the return of their reſpective Deputies. And in the mean while, we moſt affectionately thank you for your ſingular care in cultivating and improving thoſe many young and tender Plants which have been ſent you from divers Provinces of this Kingdom, that through your well-deſerving Pains and Counſels, they may be prepared and made fruitful Miniſters of the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus. And to theſe our Thanks, we ſhall add our moſt ardent Prayers unto God, that he would pour out upon you his moſt precious and ſaving Bleſſings; and that he would always make you a moſt eminent Example of his Grace and Mercy in the Churches of his dear Son, covering you, and your Common-wealth wherein you live, with the Wings of his Protection, to the Glory of his Providence, and to the Honour of his Holy Name, as alſo to the Conſolation of our Churches; In whoſe Name we are,
From Caſtres this 6th of September 1626. Moſt Honoured Lords and Brethren, Your moſt humble, and moſt affectionate Servants in the Lord, the Paſtors and Elders of the Reformed Churches of France, aſſembled in our National Synod, and for them all, The Superſcription was thus, To our Lords, the Paſtors and Elders in the Church of Geneva, at Geneva.
Chauve, Moderator.
Bouterove, Aſſeſſor.
Scribes of the Synod.
O. Blondel &
Petit,
A Letter from the Church of Paris, to our moſt Honoured Lords, the Paſtors and Elders aſſembled in the National Synod at Caſtres.
Moſt Reverend and very Honoured,
'TIS with very great regret on our part, that we are enforced to complain unto you againſt our Province; but we have too juſt cauſe for out ſo doing. We have ever held a fair and Chriſtian Correſpondence, and Fraternal Union with it. And indeed, Sirs, if it had been only our own particular Intereſt that was concerned, we ſhould much rather have choſen to ſuffer all manner of ill Uſages, than to have interrupted you in your moſt holy and important Occupations. But the Honour of our Functions, and the Glory of our God, and the Advancement of the Kingdom of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, are all concerned. Therefore we implore, with the greater freedom, the Aſſiſtance of your Charity, and the Help of your Fatherly Protection, becauſe we are well aſſured of your Zeal to the Well-being and Edification of our Church. You know, Sirs, that great Affliction wherewith our …od hath of late viſited us, in calling unto himſelf that moſt excellent Perſon Monſieur Durant, whoſe Gifts and Graces, and ſingular miniſterial Abilities, were univerſally known throughout the whole Kingdom. During his Sickneſs, which laſted near ſour Months, and ſix Months ſince his Deceaſe, thoſe two aſtors which were left us, were ſo ſurcharged with hard Labour, that they both fell dangerouſly Ill; and muſt have infallibly funk under the weight of their Burden, had they not been extraordinarily aſſiſted and ſupported by God. As ſoon as God had took into his Joys our late famous Paſtor, we faw immediately the great neceſſity we had to relieve and eaſe thoſe two which ſurvived; and this was the unanimous Prayer and Deſire of the whole Church. It was utterly impoſſible for us to find in our Colloquy, a Miniſter every way qualified for us; for beſides, that none of thoſe Paſtors had a Voice ſtrong enough for our Auditory, and thoſe other Abilities requiſite for the edifying ſo great a People: There were ſome afflicted with Sickneſs, and divers Churches were deſtitute of Paſtors; and ſo far were we from being holpen by them, that ſeveral of the Neighbour-Churches have importuned us to lend them our help. To aſſemble a Synod for their and our Relief, was out of our Power. For beſides the bitterneſs of the Seaſon, the rigour and ſharpneſs of the Winter, we were then in the very hotteſt and deepeſt of the late Trouble, and without any hopes of Peace; which ſince our good God, out of his infinite Mercy, hath beſtowed upon us. Being then obliged to provide for our ſelves elſewhere, we were not in any great trouble on whom to ſaſten our Eyes; for ſo had the gracious Providence of God ordered it, that in the extremity of Monſieur Durant's Sickneſs, Monſieur Daillé preached three Sermons to us; which ſo much affected our whole Church, that from that inſtant it was the common Diſcourſe, that as God afflicted us on the one Hand, ſo did he ſeem to comfort us on the other, by pointing out unto us ſuch a Perſon as might he eaſily and ſpeedily obtained by us; becauſe the Province of Anjou was well enough provided of able Paſtors, and of divers Propoſans of very great Hopes. Monſieur Durand reſting from his Labours in Abraham's Boſom, we believed it our Duty to concur with thoſe ardent Deſires that many of our Members had expreſſed for Monſieur Daillé, and the rather, becauſe we were well inform'd of his ſingular Piety, Probity, and rare Learning; who, by reaſon of thoſe excellent Gifts and Graces of God's Holy Spirit in him, had been already ſought after, far and near, by many of the greateſt and moſt famous Churches in the Kingdom. But the Lord, out of his abundant Goodneſs, had reſerv'd him for us: And that we might handſomly and regularly proceed in giving him a Call to the Paſtoral Office in our Church, we reſolved at firſt to demand him by way of Loan, as we can eaſily prove by our Letters written unto the Church of Saumur, and to the ſaid Monſieur Daillé, and by the Acts of our Conſiſtory. But the Perſon whom we deputed to Saumur, and to whoſe Prudence and wiſe Conduct we had confided this Affair, having been refuſed as to the Loan, adviſed us, by an expreſs Meſſenger, that there was more hopes of gaining him as an abſolute Gift; becauſe the Church of Saumur could more eaſily procure it ſelf a fettled Paſtor, than borrow one for a few Months. Whereupon he demanded of us new Letters, and a more ample Commiſſion. The Quality of the Perſon imployed by us in this Negotiation, and our moſt preſſing urgent Neceſſity, made us reſolve to demand the Miniſtry of Monſieur Daillé purely and abſolutely: We in the mean while taking it for granted, that our Synod would have approved and conſented to what we had done, as we on our parts were diſpoſed to break off the whole Treaty, in caſe they could make it appear that we were out, and miſtaken in our Choice, and that there could be any thing oppoſed againſt the Doctrine, Life, and Converſation of him, to whom we had ſent our Call. As ſoon as we had notice that our Synod ſhould be aſſembled, we, to render all due Honours to it, delegated the Sieurs Meſtrezat, Bigot, and d' Huyſſeau to it, and charged them to make report of our Conduct in this Affair, and to petition that Aſſembly to approve of the calling Monſieur Daillé into Office among us, though at that time we had no promiſe of him made us by the Church of Saumur. We well hoped that thoſe Reverend Gentlemen would have conſidered the great importance of our Church, and the Kindneſſes they continually receive from it, and that they would have comforted us in our Affliction, and would have praiſed our Proceedings, or at leaſt would have ſuffered us to have finiſhed what we had begun, ſince we had entred upon it: But contrariwiſe, we were cenſur'd by them, and they rejected our Call of Monſieur Daillé, without ever giving us any reaſon for it. This, moſt honoured Sirs, did exceedingly aſtoniſh us, and is very bitter to us, that after ſo many Travels we ſhould be blamed for that Action, of which, we proteſt before God, Angels, and your Holy Aſſembly, we had none other end than the Glory of God, and the Advancement of his Kingdom; nor durſt we believe that our Synod could have been guilty of ſuch an Exceſs, unleſs the Intereſts and Pretenſions of ſome particular Perſons had not been predominant. For we are not convinced of having violated any Canon of our Church-Diſcipline: whereas, on the contrary, thoſe Gentlemen, under the pretext of eſtabliſhing it, do ſap and undermine its very Foundations: For the Diſcipline having prudently ordained, that no Church may call a Paſtor from another Province, till it have firſt communicated it unto the Provincial Synod, hath thereby provided for two things; firſt, For the publick Edification of our Churches, and for the maintaining of an holy Union between all the Churches of this Kingdom, it doth permit a Church to chuſe and call a Paſtor to it from out of another Province. And if this be permitted unto all the Churches, and many of them have made uſe of this Priviledg, it ought more eſpecially be allow'd unto this Church of Paris, whoſe Importance is ſufficiently known: This hath been our practice ever unto this day, nor till now was it contradicted by any Perſon. For thus was Monſieur du Moulin called off from the Service of her Royal Highneſs the Dutcheſs of Barr deceaſed, and thus did we call Monſieur Durant from her Highneſs the Dutcheſs of Deuxponts. The other is, that the Diſcipline would hinder Churches from calling raſhly and unadviſedly ſuch Perſons, whoſe Doctrine was unſound, or Lives ſcandalous, or in whom there was an Inſufficieney: So that if any Church ſhould call ſuch Perſons, the Provincial Synod might very juſtly and warrantably obſtruct and hinder it. But when-as nothing can be urg'd againſt the Perſon called, the Synod hath no power to hinder that Call, ſuch an abſolute Power being condemned by the Word of God. And 'tis very improbable that the Compoſers of our Diſcipline ſhould ever harbour ſuch a Thought or Intention, as to impoſe this Yoke upon our Churches, or that they would place Paſtors of Churches in worſe Circumſtances than Scholars; who being ſought after by Churches, and preſented unto Synods, cannot be rejected, whenas they have thoſe Qualities which are requiſite for their imployment in the Sacred Miniſtry. Therefore in our Opinion, we have not in the leaſt ſwerved from the Canons of our Diſcipline: For we have called a Perſon admitted into the Paſtoral Office already in our Churches, and who hath diſcharged his Duty with Applauſe and Commendation, and not a Stranger utterly unknown to us. And we gave notice of it unto our Synod as ſoon as poſſibly we could, and craved their Approbation: But contrariwiſe, our ſaid Synod breaketh the Links in the golden Chain of Communion between us and our Churches, and would deprive us of that Bleſſing and Franchiſe wherewith our Diſcipline hath endowed us, and of which we have had the Poſſeſſion and Enjoyment to this preſent Day, and this without alledging of any other Reaſon beſides their meer and bare Will and Pleaſure. For in caſe theſe Gentlemen ſhould pretend Ignorance of Monſieur Daillé, and that they do not in the leaſt know him: We anſwer, that they might better have been acquainted with him, and inform'd themſelves concerning him, than to have deprived us of ſo great a Bleſſing, and to reject a Perſon, whom having once the happineſs of his Acquaintance, they would moſt highly careſs, eſteem and value. Beſides, were there any force in this Argument, all Paſtors might be rejected who are called from out of the Province. But ſhould they ſay, the Synod diſapproved abſolutely of this Call, becauſe we were over-haſty in it; and that we did not in the firſt place conſult with them about it. We anſwer, That we imparted this Affair unto them as ſoon as poſſibly we could; and in caſe we did it not ſooner, it was not out of any diſreſpect unto them. Theſe Gentlemen do very well know, with how much Humility and cordial Affection we are wont to treat and deal with them: But this muſt be imputed to the unhappineſs of the Times, and that Affliction wherewith God had viſited us: And ſuppoſe we had failed in this Particular, (which yet they will never be able to convince us of); What Zeal, what Charity is this! to puniſh our Miſcarriage with the loſs of God's Glory, and the Edification of ſo conſiderable a Church as ours is! And if God had not, out of his great Goodneſs, excited the Charity, and moved the Compaſſions of Churches far diſtant from us, the Condition of our Church had been moſt lamentable; for our Synod made no better Proviſion for us, than to ſend us unto our Colloquy. And whenas we thought of addreſſing our ſelves to it, the very firſt Church from whom we demanded help, gave us this anſwer, That it could not afford us any, till ſuch time as the Colloquy had preſcribed them the manner How; thereby deluding our very Demand. For you know, Sirs, how rarely our Colloquies are held, and the trouble we have now-adays to aſſemble them. Therefore, whenas the Church of Saumur had the Charity to conſent that Monſieur Daillé ſhould come and ſerve us; and the Synod of Anjou imitating their Zeal, agreed to this Removal; we did not make any ſcruple of calling Monſieur Daillé to our Aſſiſtance, in which alſo the Bleſſing of God is very viſible: For this Church receiveth a moſt ſingular Edification by his Miniſtry, and we are full of hopes that it will be continued, and be daily more and more uſeful and fruitful; and that we have exceeding great cauſe of praiſing God for putting it into our Hearts to make ſuch a Choice. We beſeech you then, moſt Honoured Sirs, that conſidering our Sincerity and Zeal in this Affair, but above all the Glory of God, and the Edification of our Church, you would be pleaſed to confirm this our Choice, and to roll away that Reproach wherewith ſome would blaſt our Honours and Office, and to take off that Cenſure which hath been denounc'd againſt us, and to admoniſh our Province to carry it with more Love towards us. In doing whereof, you will inſpire us with new Courage in the midſt of thoſe Travels ſuſtained by us for the Service of our Church, and of many others, to whom, upon all Occaſions, we are ready to perform all kind of good Offices. And we beſeech God, moſt Honoured Sirs, to preſide in your Council by his Holy Spirit, to preſerve your Perſons, and to ſhower down his Bleſſings upon your Labours. Being
Paris, Auguſt 20.1626. Your moſt humble and moſt obedient Brethren, the Paſtors and Elders in the Reformed Church of Paris, and for all,
Drelincourt, Paſtor.
Bigot,
Tardif,
Dinets,
Maſſanes,
Millet,
Raillard, and
Mandat, Elders.
And in the Margin, We moſt earneſtly beſeech you to give Audience to Monſieur Meſtrezat, who is ordered more particularly to report this Affair unto you.
The End of the Synod of Caſtres.
SYNODICON IN Galliâ Reformatâ; OF THE Acts, Canons, Deciſions, and Decrees, OF THE Four Laſt National Synods OF THE Reformed Churches OF FRANCE.
The Second Part of the Second Volume.
By JOHN QƲICK, Miniſter of the Goſpel.
LONDON, Printed by J. D. for Thomas Parkhurſt and Jonathan Robinſon, 1691.
THE Acts, Canons, Deciſions and Decrees, OF THE Twenty ſixth Synod, HELD BY The Reformed Churches OF FRANCE and BEARN, The ſecond Time at CHARENTON, Under the Authority and Permiſſion of LOUIS XIII King of FRANCE and NAVARRE;
In the twenty ſecond Year of his Reign, begun September the 1ſt, and ended Friday the 10th of October.
In the Year of our Lord, 1631.