The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 26 (2nd Charenton) · Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII. An Act in favour of the Lutheran Brethren.
4. THE Province of Burgundy demanding, Whether the Faithful of the Auguſtane Confeſſion might be permitted to contract Marriages in our Churches, and to preſent Children in our Churches unto Baptiſm, without a precedaneous abjuration of thoſe Opinions held by them, contrary to the Belief of our Churches? This Synod declareth, That inaſmuch as the Churches of the Confeſſion of Ausbourg do agree with the other Reformed Churches, in the principal and fundamental Points of the True Religion, and that there is neither Superſtition nor Idolatry in their Worſhip, the Faithful of the ſaid Confeſſion, who with a Spirit of Love and Peaceableneſs do join themſelves to the Communion of our Churches in this Kingdom, may be, without any abjuration at all made by them, admitted unto the Lord's Table with us; and as Sureties may preſent Children unto Baptiſm, they promiſing the Conſiſtory, that they will never ſollicit them, either directly or indirectly, to tranſgreſs the Doctrine believed and profeſſed in our Churches, but will be content to inſtruct and educate them in thoſe Points and Articles which are in common between us and them, and wherein both the Lutherans and we are unanimouſly agreed.
5. If any Perſons ſhall be hereafter deputed unto the Court by the National Synods, during their ſitting, they ſhall be accountable for all Monies received by them for the defraying their Expenses, whether thoſe Sums do ariſe from their reſpective Churches, or from his Majeſty's Liberality; that ſo whatever good Monies come in clearly unto the Churches, being remitted into their common Stock, may be disburſed to their common Profit and Advantage by Order of theſe Synods.
6. Whereas, contrary to his Majeſty's Royal Word given unto the Deputies of the National Synod of Charenton, in the Year 1623, That Strangers employed in the Service of the Churches of this Kingdom, ſhould be continued: thoſe Reverend and Learned Paſtors, Mr. Martinius, and S. Sharpius are commanded to depart the Province of Dolphiny. The Lord Commiſſioner is intreated immediately to iſſue out Letters Patents, that may effectually hinder the execution of thoſe new Orders, and that all Foreigners received into the Miniſtry among us, both before that time and ſince, may not in any wiſe be moleſted or obſtructed, in performance of the Duties of their Charge and Calling.
7. The Lord Commiſſioner declaring, that it was his Maieſty's Intention, that for the future our National Synods ſhould beheld in this Place, and nowhere elſe; This Aſſembly in all humility ſubmitting to his Majeſty's good Pleaſure, and hoping that he will be graciouſly pleaſed to permit our ancient eſtabliſh'd Order to take place, doth earneſtly intreat the Lord Commiſſioner to preſent our moſt humble Petitions unto his Majeſty, that he would be pleaſed to grant, that our next National Synod may be held at the end of three Years, in the Town of A…anſon in the Province of Normandy.
8. Hereafter no Monies belonging unto the Churches ſhall be diverted to the printing of any Books, unleſs ſuch as ſhall be written by expreſs Order of our National Synods.
9. The Deputies unto this Synod having been on their Journey hither put unto extraordinary Expences, by reaſon of the Contagion which reigneth univerſally in all parts of the Kingdom; this Aſſembly exhorts all the Provinces to have reſpect unto it, and therefore have rated the Charges of every day's Travel, going and coming, at an hundred Sous, which is eight Shillings and eight Pence per diem.
10. The Province, of Burgundy having made report of the deplorable Neceſſities whereunto the Miniſters and Paſtors of Churches in the Colloquy of Gex are reduced, for want of the Monies granted heretofore by his Majeſty's Bounty for their Maintenance, not one of their People contributing any thing towards their Subſiſtence: This Aſſembly touched with a juſt Reſentment of ſuch baſe Ingratitude, doth injoin all the Churches of that Colloquy to return unto their Duty, and maintain their own Paſtors, or elſe they ſhall be deprived of the Miniſtry of the Bleſſed Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus; and this according to the 34th Canon in the firſt Chapter of our Diſcipline.
11. Whenas the Lords General-Deputies ſhall aſſiſt in Perſon in theſe National Synods, they ſhall take place above all the Deputies of the Provinces.
12. The Synod enjoineth all the Provinces to diſtribute, with their wonted Charity, thoſe ſupernumerary Portions attributed to them, that they may redound unto the Benefit of the poorer Churches, and of the more neceſſitous Miniſters.
13. The Conſiſtory of the Church of Paris is ordered to adminiſter the accuſtomed Oaths unto the Lords General-Deputies, immediately upon their being accepted by his Majeſty, and to keep by them a Copy of their Warrant.
14. The Lord Commiſſioner remonſtrated, that through the Prerogatives of Precedency claimed in the Churches of Noblemens Houſes, divers Quarrels had ariſen, and ſeveral Murders had been committed: therefore his Majeſty hath ordained, That in ſuch Places where the Publick Worſhip of God, according to our Religion, is exerciſed, the Proprietors of thoſe Houſes may not, under colour of that Propriety, pretend to any Place of ſitting than is otherwiſe due unto them, by reaſon of the Dignity of their Birth, or the Honour of their Offices; and forbids all Miniſters to pray for them in Publick by their particular Names or Qualities. Whereupon his Lordſhip the Commiſſioner being intreated, that after we had prayed for his Majeſty, it might be lawful for us, in general terms, to pray for thoſe Lords, under whoſe Juſtice the Church of that Place was gathered: He replied, that he would in no wiſe hinder it.
15. The Deputies for the Province of Sevennes, may receive their part of the Monies granted us by his Majeſty's great Liberality for the defraying of our neceſſary Expences in this Synod, without their having recourſe unto the Lord of Candall's Deputy for it, provided that they be accountable for that Sum ſo received unto their Province. And all the other Provincial Deputies may likewiſe do the ſame if they pleaſe.
16. After many and divers Delays and Shiftings, this Aſſembly being at laſt come to a Treaty with Sir John Palot, Counſellor and Secretary to the King, about the Monies claimed by the Paſtors of the Reformed Churches in this Kingdom, from him the ſaid Palot; for which a Suit was brought againſt him before his Majeſty's moſt honourable Privy-Council, and divers preparatory Decrees had out againſt him: This Aſſembly hath commiſſionated and deputed the Lords, Marqueſs of Clermont and Galland, General-Deputies of our Churches; the Lord of Candall Receiver-General of the Monies granted by his Majeſty's great Bounty unto theſe Churches; the Lords Banage and de Champvernon, Paſtors; De Maſchelieres, Dupuy, Gilbert and Beraud, Elders; and have given them full Power to treat with the ſaid Sir J. Palot, about the Monies ſo claimed by our Paſtors, on ſuch Conditions and Clauſes as they ſhall judg moſt advantagious unto our Paſtors aforeſaid, and to ſign Contracts and Articles of Agreement before Publick Notaries; this Aſſembly promising, that they will ſtand to, approve and ratify whatever ſhall be ſo determined by the ſaid Lords Commiſſioners.
17. This tenth day of October, in the preſence of the ſaid Lords Commiſſioners before-named by this Aſſembly, to treat with the before-named Sieur Palot, upon the Suit commenc'd againſt him for Monies claimed by our Churches from him. After that the Contract paſs'd by the ſaid Lords was read in the Aſſembly, it was agreed to, approved, and ſigned by the Moderator, Aſſeſſor, and Scribes thereof. And there having been a thouſand Livers promiſed unto the Lord Malat by a ſeparate Act, and with which he remained fully ſatisfied, he was duly diſcharged of thoſe Powers formerly given him for proſecution of the ſaid Palot; and lie ſhall deliver into the Hands of the Lords General-Deputies, all the Papers, Decrees, and Memoirs in his cuſtody concerning this Affair.
18. The Lord of Candall having received from the ſaid Sir John Palot the Sum of eight thouſand Livers, in purſuance of the Agreement made with him, the ſaid Sum ſhall be paid out in that manner as hath been ordered by this Aſſembly: Nor may the Deputies of the Provinces lay any Claim or Pretence whatſoever of Right to the receiving of the ſaid Monies.
19. This Aſſembly authorized the Conſiſtory of the Church of Paris, to treat with the Lord Mallet, and to diſcharge him from all Proſecutions of the Sieur Palot, and to ſatisfy him for his paſt Travel and Pains, to the Sum of thouſand Livers, which ſhall be paid him by the Lord of Candall; and this in full of all Demands, Debts, Dues, or Pretenſions whatſoever, either for himſelf, or his late deceaſed Uncle the Lord Mallet, the ſaid Mallet bringing in an Inventory unto the Lords General-Deputies, and depoſiting it with them, of all Papers, Decrees, and Memoirs in his keeping, concerning this Affair.