The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 26 (2nd Charenton) · Chapter 20 – Chapter 21
CHAP. XX. APPEALS.
1. MR. Nonis, Paſtor in the Church of Aulas, appearing to defend that Appeal brought by the ſaid Church from the Judgment of the Province of Sevennes, which had ordered the Inhabitants of La Breauvaiſe to be incorporated for the future with the Church of Breas. After hearing the pretended Grievances of the Church of Aulas, and the Petition brought by the Deputy of the Inhabitants of La Breauvaiſe, confirmed by their Letters, and by the Letters of the Church of Breaus, and the Reaſons given in by the Deputies of the Province for their Judgment, whereby it was manifeſt that the Differences between thoſe two Churches of Aulas and Breas, are rather bottom'd on the Paſſions of ſome particular Perſons, than on any real Intereſt of either. And whereas by the Canon of the National Synod of Caſtres, the Province of Sevennes was ſufficiently impower'd to paſs a final Sentence in this Affair; this Aſſembly condemneth Monſieur Nouis for quitting the exerciſe of his Miniſtry in his Church, and taking upon him the Office of a Sollicitor, which might have been better diſcharged by another; and enjoineth the Deputies of the Province of Sevennes to labour a Compoſition in the moſt amicable manner of the Differences between both thole Churches of Aulas and Breau; and in caſe they ſhould not be able to compoſe them, then they ſhall acquaint the Synod of Lower Languedoc therewith; before which the Deputies of both thoſe Churches ſhall appear, and receive their final Judgment. Moreover, the Synod of Sevennes is injoined to ſee to it, that Mr. Berlé, Paſtor of the Church of Breau, and all other Miniſters of the ſaid Province do actually and perſonally reſide with their Flocks. And foraſmuch as the National Synod of Caſtres had given full Power unto Provincial Synods to judg finally in the Caſe of Conjunction and Separation of the Churches and their Annexes, this Aſſembly confirming that Canon, ordaineth, That in caſe any Difficulties ſhould ariſe, and hinder the Provincial Synods from coming to a final Judgment, then thoſe Cauſes ſhall be diſmiſſed over to the Synod of the Neighbour Province; nor ſhall they be brought hereafter unto our National Synods.
2. This Aſſembly approving the Zeal of the Province of Burgundy, and the Motives inducing them to give Sentence on Monſieur Durand, Paſtor of the Church of Iſſurtille, doth however take off that Cenſure of Suſpenſion from him, and reſtoreth him with Honour unto the exerciſe of his Miniſtry; and ordereth, that the Act from which he appealeth, and that which follows it, ſhall be ſuppreſt, becauſe 'tis very clear the ſaid Durand had no Deſign to execute the Sentence denounc'd againſt himſelf, but that he proceeded in that Buſineſs with all ſimplicity and uprightneſs; wherein he is exhorted to continue, and to walk with more prudence and circumſpection, according to the Counſel of his Brethren.
3. This Aſſembly reviſing the Judgment given by the Province of Burgundy againſt Paul Sarazin, heretofore Paſtor in the Church of Viſon, declareth, That the ſaid Province proceeded in that Matter with exceſſive Severity; and for the future enjoineth, that they never inſert into the Cauſes of their Cenſures, Facts not verified; and that in no wiſe they depart from the wonted Forms. And farther, the ſaid Sarazin is judged worthy of the greateſt Cenſures, for abandoning his Church without leave firſt had and obtained; and for being negligent in conſerving the Honour of his Vocation, whereunto he had been called by God, and amending the Sentence from which he doth appeal; this Synod removeth him, the ſaid Sarazin, from his Miniſtry, which he ſhall not any more exerciſe.
4. The Judgment paſt by the ſame Province againſt Joſeph Aubery, formerly Paſtor in the Church of Coulonges in the Colloquy of Gex, is confirmed in every Point and Article thereof.
5. Mr. Chacerat, Paſtor of the Churches of Ponteau de Mar and Quillebeaf, having made his Complaints unto this Aſſembly, and praying that Right and Juſtice might be done him, the next Synod of Normandy was ordered to take ſpecial care of him, and with all love to provide for the Safety of his Perſon, and that his Life may be made comfortable to him. And the ſaid Cacherat is exhorted to continue in the Exerciſe of his Calling, with that Zeal and Conſcientiouſneſs he hath ever manifeſted. Yet afterward he revolted.
6. The ſaid Mr. Cacherat appealing from the Judgment of his Province, and declaring the Grievances pretended to have been ſuſtained by him: The Aſſembly repreſenting to him, that his Cauſe was not of their Nature, which ſhould be brought before the National Synods, did exhort him to reſt ſatisfied with the Teſtimonial given him unanimouſly by his Province, of his Probity and Fidelity in the diſcharge of his Miniſtry; and the rather, becauſe theſe Perſons, whom he accuſeth to have done him Wrong, being dead, 'tis utterly impoſſible that his Province ſhould procure him a more ample Satisfaction.
7. Although the Appeal brought by Monſieur Pejus from the Judgment of the Commiſſioners of the Province of Berry, be not of their Nature, which are to be brought unto theſe National Synod: Yet nevertheleſs this Synod taking to it ſelf the cognizance thereof, doth confirm that Judgment given by the ſaid Commiſſioners in all its Articles, and cenſureth the ſaid Mr. Pejus for not acquieſcing in it, and enjoineth him to yield full ſatisfaction to it, on pain of being ſuſpended from the Miniſtry.
8. Mr. Vinieux, Paſtor of the Church of Bazars, complaining, That the Decree of the National Synod of Caſtres relating to him, had not been executed. This Aſſembly ordained, that out of the firſt Monies belonging to the Province of Lower Guyenne, the Lord of Candall ſhall keep by him that very Sum promiſed unto the ſaid Vinieux. And he farther praying to be freed from the Service of his Church and Province: He was ordered to apply himſelf unto his Province, who ſhould take into their ſerious Conſideration his neceſſitous Condition, and the great Importance of his Requeſt and Appeal.
9. The Letters of Mr. Baux, appealing from the Judgment of the Province of Higher Languedoc, were read. Whereupon the Synod enjoineth the ſaid Province to preſent him unto a Church that may comfortably maintain him, and the Church of Mazemet is alſo enjoined to give him full Satisfaction for all his Arrears, on default whereof they ſhall be deprived of the ſacred Miniſtry, according to the Rigour of our Diſcipline.
10. In explaining that Canon of the National Synod of Tonneins, held in the Year 1614, and which is the ſeventh Obſervation on the foregoing Synod of Privas, whereby the Provinces were charged to defray the Expences of thoſe Churches whoſe Paſtors ſhould be deputed unto General Aſſemblies both Eccleſiaſtical and Political: This Aſſembly declareth, That whatſoever. Charges particular Churches may be at, in procuring Miniſters to ſerve them during their Paſtors Abſence, ought to be reimburſt them, not by their Paſtors out of their Sallaries, but by the Province which had deputed them, and this out of the Monies appertaining unto all the Churches of their Diviſion; and therefore diſannulleth the ſeveral Appeals of the Churches of Vignan, Sauve, Breau, Aulas, Caſtagnoles, St. Julian, and St. Privat to the contrary.
11. Whereas the Church of St. German hath refuſed to pay unto the Widow of their deceaſed Paſtor Monſieur de la Faye, the Penſion of the Year of her Widowhood, and appealed unto this Synod againſt her: this their Appeal is caſt out, becauſe we do not judg it equitable to invalidate the Canons made by the Provinces of both the Languedocs and Sevennes, for Payment unto the Widows of their late Paſtors without Exception, the Penſion of the ſaid Year of their Widowhood, as alſo all Arrearages of Stipend owing unto their Paſtors at their Death by the Churches in which they miniſtred.
12. The Appeals of the Churches of St. Julian and St. Andre, for the ſame reaſons are declared null and void.
13. The Appeal brought by Monſieur Perrynet, on behalf of the Church of Die, appealing from the Judgment of the Synod of Dolphiny, by which Monſieur Aymin had been lent unto the ſaid Church, was declared null.
14. Monſieur Belon appealing from the Judgment of the Province of Lower Guyenne, for confirming Mr. D'oze in the Miniſtry of the Church of Tournon, and not appearing to proſecute his Appeal, the Synod declared it null, and the Appealant worthy of Cenſure, for commencing ſuch an unjuſt Action.
15. The Church of Sommieres not proſecuting their Appeal from the Judgment of their Province, the ſaid Appeal was declared null, and the Judgment of the Province ratified, yet that Province is required not to let that important Church, nor any other of the ſame Nature to lie long vacant, but to ſee that it be ſpeedily furniſhed with an able Paſtor.
16. Whereas it evidently appears that the Church of Baiſly is much indebted unto their Paſtor Monſieur Bayeux, more through the Ingratitude of ſundry private Perſons than their Poverty and Inability: This Synod diſanulling their Appeal, and condemning their Defect of Duty, injoineth them to give full Satisfaction unto the ſaid Mr. Bajeux, and this without applying a Denier of thoſe Moneys given by Monſieur Laſſon, for the Maintenance of a Propoſan to this Purpoſe, which ſhall not for the future be at all diverted from that Uſe unto which it was at firſt appointed; without very great Neceſſity, and the Conſent of their Provincial Synod, unto whom the ſaid Mr. Bayeux is recommended from us, that they would be pleaſed to procure him a competent and comfortable Supply unto his Neceſſities.
17. The Appeal brought by the Church of Orbec, ſeparated by the Synod of Normandy from that of Meſnil Imbert, according to the Canon of the laſt National Synod of Caſtres, under that Article of Annexations, is remanded back unto the next Synod of the ſaid Province, which, having heard the Reaſons of the ſaid Church, ſhall proceed to a final Judgment in the caſe.
18. Monſieur Morrice, Paſtor of the Church of Fontaines and of Creſſy, was heard, unfolding the Grievances, of which he complained in his Appeal, and the Deputies of Normandy in the Declaration of the Reaſons of their Proceedings againſt him. Whereupon the Aſſembly ratified the Judgment of the ſaid Province, and jointly commiſſionated the Sieurs de la Naux, da Buiſſon, de Beauvais, and Herault, together with four Elders from the Churches of Montgobert, Sees, Alenſon, and the Conſiſtory of Fontaines and Creſſy, within one Month after the Return of the Deputies of the ſaid Province unto their Churches, to take new Informations in this Affair, and after exact Inquiries made about it, to give a final Judgment on Monſieur Morrice for the Fact of which he ſtands accuſed.
19. The Memoirs and Acts of that Appeal ſent by the Conſiſtory of Montagnac being read, the Synod gave Judgment, that the ſaid Appeal ought not to be admitted, and thoſe who firſt moved for it were worthy of a ſevere Cenſure. And foraſmuch as the Differences betwixt Monſieur Perery Paſtor in the Church of Calignac, and the Conſiſtory of Montagnac, are ſprung from the Licentiouſneſs of his Diſcourſes, and his frequent abſenting himſelf from his own home, he is expreſly injoined to be more moderate in his Diſcourſes, and to ſettle his Abode in the midſt of his Flock; and on Default hereof, the Province ſhall proceed againſt him according to the Diſcipline.
20. The Churches of Montdidier and Montagoux refuſing Payment of threeſcore Livers, ordained by the Synod of Sevennes, unto Mr. Jubert, for Augmentation of his Wages, their Appeal was rejected, and the Judgment of their Province confirmed.
21. The Letters and Memoirs of Monſieur Chavanon, appealing from the Judgment of the Synod of Sevennes, and of Mr. Rouvre, and of the Commiſſioners who were ſent by the ſaid Synod unto the Church of L'edignan, having been read, and the Deputies of the Province being heard: This Aſſembly exhorts the ſaid Province not to uſe its Power in lending Paſtors of Churches within their Diviſion, till they have firſt conſulted with their Churches, and ſeriouſly to conſider of their Importance; and it cenſureth the ſaid Chavanon for thoſe ſharp and bitter Expreſſions couched by him in his Letters: and as for thoſe Facts mentioned in the ſaid Memoirs, the Cognizance and Judgment of them is reſerved and diſmiſſed over unto the next Provincial Synod, which having maturely and exactly examined and debated them, ſhall paſs a befitting Cenſure upon the guilty and delinquent Perſons.
22. Although the Appeal of the Church of Sumaine was judged unworthy of our Acceptance, yet the Province of Sevennes is exhorted to take into their Chriſtian Conſideration the Neceſſities of the ſaid Church, and to eſtabliſh ſuch Officers in it, as are moſt capable of promoting its Edification, and not to ſuffer Churches of ſuch great Importance to be left any long time deſtitute of Paſtors, but that they be immediately ſupplied either from within or without the Province.
23. Monſieur de Fabas, Paſtor of the Church of Morlans, declared his Grievances in his Appeal; and the Deputies of the Province of Bearn produced the Reaſons inducing their Synod to paſs Cenſure upon him. After that both Parties had promiſed Subjection to the Judgment of this Synod, Monſieur de Fabas was cenſured by this Aſſembly for his extraordinary and irregular Proceedings; and his Appeal being admitted, the Province of Bearn was exhorted tor the future never to remove any Paſtors from their Churches, till they had firſt conſulted their Churches, according to the Canons of our Diſcipline; and it ordaineth, that ſince the Sentence of the Provincial Synod was barely proviſional, it ſhall ſtand and be in force till the Meeting of the next Synod, by which the ſaid Monſieur de Fabas ſhall be reſtored unto his Church of Morlans, and Monſieur Rivas, who ſerveth it at preſent, ſhall be provided of another Church which may be more to his Conveniency and Comfort. And till the ſitting of the ſaid Provincial Synod, the ſaid Monſieur de Fabas may live where he doth, and ſerve the Church of Nay; and in caſe the time of holding the ſaid Synod ſhould be prorogued beyond the term of one Year, beginning from the time of calling the ſaid Synod, that then the ſaid Monſieur de Fabas is declared to be reſtored unto the ſaid Church of Morlans.
24. This Aſſembly Cenſured the Church of St. Hyppolit, for thoſe tart and injurious Expreſſions uſed in their Letters againſt the Paſtors of the Province of Sevennes; and diſannulling their Appeal, doth confer Monſieur Buera upon that Church to be their Miniſter, whom they formerly requeſted with a great deal of Love and Importunity; and it ſetteth the ſaid Mr. Buera free and at Liberty from his Province; the Deputies of the Province of Lower Languedoc having thereunto conſented: and Monſieur Bel is licenſed to exerciſe his Miniſtry at St. Hippolyte in Conjunction with Monſieur Buera, until the next Provincial Synod, which ſhall provide another Church for Monſieur Bel; and Monſieur Falgueroles is commanded to depart from St. Hippolyte, and to reſide in the midſt of his own Flock, on Pain of being Cenſured according to the 13th Canon in the 1st Chapter of our Diſcipline. And whereas the ſaid Falgueroles is accuſed by divers Memoirs brought into this Aſſembly, all thoſe Papers were depoſited into the Hands of the Deputies of Sevennes, with an expreſs Charge and Injunction unto the Synod of the ſaid Province, that the ſaid Synod do make Inquiry into the Truth of them, and then to proceed to Judgment; and to bring an Account hereof unto the next National Synod.
25. Although Mr. Benoiſt hath juſt Cauſe of appealing from the Sentence of the Synod of Anjou, which had invalidated the Judgment of the Univerſity-Council of Saumur, for dividing the Profeſſion of the Greek Tongue between Monſieur Duncan and the ſaid Mr. Benoiſt, who having exerciſed the ſaid Profeſſion before its being ſuppreſs'd, might warrantably demand to be reſtored to it: yet nevertheleſs, becauſe both theſe Gentlemen are frequently hindred and diverted by their Practice of Phyſick from the ſaid Profeſſion, and for that the publick Intereſt requireth all Univerſity-Offices ſhould be conferred upon unincumbred Perſons, who may be free and at Liberty regularly to diſcharge them without any Interruption by other Functions and Buſineſs: This Aſſembly diſannulleth thoſe Appeals of the ſaid Benoiſt and Duncan, and confirmeth that Sentence of the Univerſity-Council, and of the laſt Synod of the ſaid Province, and ordaineth, that the Deputies of the ſaid Province of Poictou, in their Return homeward, ſhall viſit the City of Saumur, and endeavour to accommodate and reconcile the divided Parties, who are exhorted to live in all good Concord and Friendſhip, and to give publick Evidence of their having buried in oblivion all Reſentments of paſt Differences.
26. The Provincial Deputies of Bearn made, report, that they had received Letters from the Deputies of their, Synod, and from Mr. Belard Elder of the Church of Morlans, containing divers Complaints againſt Monſieur de Fabas: Whereupon, the ſaid de Fabas was called in, and anſwered unto all the Articles mentioned in the ſaid Letters: And the Aſſembly perſiſting in their former Judgment noted in the 23d Appeal, where the ſaid de Fabas had purged himſelf from all Matters objected againſt him, did farther ordain, That there ſhould be delivered to him, and to the Deputies of Bearn, Copies exactly collationed of thoſe Letters produced againſt him. And as for the Original, as ſoon as it ſhall have been marked, it ſhall be carried by the Lords of Aubas and Maſſelieres, Deputies of the Lower Guyenne, unto the Colloquy of Condommois, which is expreſly charged to make inquiry into that Accuſation ſo obliquely brought in againſt the ſaid de Fabas, and raiſing Suſpicions of him, as if he intended to revolt from the true Religion, and had received to this purpoſe Letters from the Monks of Morlans; that in caſe he be found guilty of this Wickedneſs, he may be proſecuted according to the Canons of our Diſcipline; but if not, that his Accuſers may be condemned to give him all befitting Satisfaction. And whereas in the Margent of one of the ſaid Letters it is ſaid, that the Colloquy of Nay hath begun its Proceſs againſt the ſaid de Fabas, upon ſuppoſition of having deſerted his Church; this Aſſembly being not able to believe that the Churches of Bearn would be ſo extreamly weak as to proceed againſt them, who had appealed from the Judgment of their Synods unto this, decreeth, That Letters ſhall be written both to the Colloquy of Nay, and to the Synod of Bearn, to adviſe them to be very careful, that the Union of the Churches in their Province with thoſe of this Kingdom, be not wounded directly nor indirectly by any Actions contrary to Chriſtian Charity. And whereas extraordinary Proceſſes have been managed and carried on againſt the ſaid Mr. de Fabas, or may be now begun or finiſhed, they be all declared to be in very truth and deed, as this Synod doth now declare them to be, null and void, and undertaken contrary to our Church-Diſcipline.
27. The Appeal of the Church of Bergerac, oppoſing the Incorporation of the Houſe of Tiraqueau with the Church of Cours, was rejected, and the Judgment of the Province of Lower Guyenne confirmed, according to the Canon of the Synod of Caſtres, which diſmiſſeth ſuch and the like Cauſes over to the Provinces, to be finally decided by them.
CHAP. XX. General Matters.
Article 1. IT having been reported in this Aſſembly, that the Magiſtrates in divers Places have commanded the Profeſſors of our Religion to hang their Houſes, and light out Candles on that Feſtival that goes by the Name of the Holy Sacrament, and that ſeveral Perſons thrô a deplorable Infirmity have ſo much forgotten themſelves, as to obſerve an Ordinance which obliges their Conſciences to yield unto the Creature that ſelf-ſame Honour which is due unto the Creator: This Aſſembly wanting Words with which it may expreſs its juſt Grief and Reſentment for ſuch an inexcuſable Cowardlineſs, doth adjure the Conſciences of thoſe Perſons, who have fallen into Sins ſo repugnant unto true Piety, by the Fear of the Living God, by the Zeal of his Glory, by the Bowels of his Mercy in the Son of his deareſt Love, and by that ſpecial Care the Faithful ought to have of their Salvation, that they would revive their Zeal, and ſhew themſelves Loyal Followers of the Faith and Conſtancy of their Fathers, and teſtify by their Perſeverance in Well-doing, the Sincerity and Soundneſs of their Repentance, and of their Affection to the Service of God. Moreover, the Conſiſtory of thoſe Places where ſuch Scandals do fall out, is injoined to rebuke them with an holy Vigour, who give ſuch an evil Example; and all Synods are to proceed againſt them with all Eccleſiaſtical Cenſures; and if they be Paſtors and Elders, who by their Connivance and Diſſimulation have, or for the future may favour ſuch Offenders, they ſhall not only be ſuſpended, but depoſed alſo from their Offices.
CHAP. XXI. An Act for a Publick National Faſt.
2. FOraſmuch as after a moſt deſolating Drought, which hath reduced the greateſt part of the Provinces of this Kingdom to an extream Famine, the Hand of God lifted, up againſt us is not yet called back, but continueth to viſit his People by contagious and mortal Diſeaſes, which have overſpread the whole Land, and are every day more and more growing upon us: This National Synod of the Reformed Churches of France, aſſembled by his Majeſty's Permiſſion at Charenton, (acknowledging that the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven, and poured but upon the Face of the Earth, becauſe of the Ungodlineſs of Men, and of the Impenitency and Hardneſs of their Hearts) to prevent the dreadful Judgment of this great and righteous Judg, who reſiſteth the Proud, and giveth Grace unto the Humble; and to turn away the Floods of his Vengeance, and to excite the Bowels of his fatherly Compaſſions, and to impetrate from his Divine Bounty the continuance of his gracious Favours for the Proſperity and Repoſe both of Church and State; doth exhort all the Faithful to bring forth Fruits worthy of Repentance, and to caſt off the unfruitful Works of Darkneſs, and to return unto the Lord with broken, humble and contrite Hearts. And to this purpoſe it ordaineth, That a Fart ſhall be celebrated in all the Churches of this Kingdom, the firſt Day of January next following, which ſhall be ſignified by the publick reading of this preſent Act.
3. Foraſmuch as divers Provinces have craved Advice how we ſhall proceed againſt thoſe Perſons who occaſion ſcandalous Reports, prejudicial to the Peace of the Church, and may hereafter propound Terms of Accommodation, by mingling and blending of both Religions into one: This Aſſembly recommendeth unto all the Churches, the obſervation of that Canon which was made two and thirty Years ago, in the National Synod of Montpellier, whoſe Tenour followeth. Syn. Montpel. gen. mat. v. Foraſmuch as 'tis the Duty of all the Faithful, heartily to deſire the Reunion of all the Subjects of this Kingdom into the Ʋnity of Paith, for the greater Glory of God, for the Salvation of millions Souls, and the ſingular Repoſe of the Common-wealth; yet becauſe of our Sins, this being a Matter rather of our Deſires than Hopes; and that under this Pretext, divers profane Perſons do openly attempt to blend and mingle both Religions together: All Miniſters ſhall admoniſh ſeriouſly their Flocks not in the leaſt to hearken unto any ſuch Notions, it being utterly impoſſible that the Temple of God ſhould hold Communion with Idols; as alſo for that ſuch Wretches deſign only by this Trick to debauch eaſy credulous Souls from the Belief and Profeſſion of the Goſpel. And whoever attempts ſuch a Reconciliation, be it either by Word or Writing, ſhall be moſt ſeverely cenſured.