The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 26 (2nd Charenton) · Chapter 23
CHAP. XXIII. Particular Matters.
Article 1. MR.*He is called in another Copy Lavent, in a third Lavand. Laurence, heretofore Paſtor in the Province of Bearn, preſenting himſelf in this Aſſembly with an Atteſtation of his Life, Carriage and Converſation, for theſe two Years now laſt paſt, and moſt humbly and importunately petitioning to be reſtored unto the Holy Miniſtry. This Aſſembly did not judg his Requeſt meet to be granted, but adviſed him to apply himſelf to ſome other Calling than the Miniſtry of the Goſpel, and to uſe ſuch means for a Livelihood, as the Providence of God may trace out and direct him to.
Article 2. Foraſmuch as Monſieur Eymard abuſing the Leave granted him by his Church of Ʋeyne in Dolphiny, hath for ſeveral Months withdrawn himſelf into the Province of Lower Guyenne, and is there ſince imployed in the Holy Miniſtry: This Aſſembly cenſuring the Church of Berbignieres for calling him unto their Service, and condemning the ſaid Province for their too great Facility in admitting and ſupporting him, doth injoin the ſaid Eymard to appear before the Synod of Dolphiny, which if the good Providence of God do permit, will be aſſembled the next Year; and he ſhall give an Account unto them of all his Actions and Deportments: and in caſe he refuſe Obedience and Submiſſion unto their Judgment, he ſhall be then, as he is now at this Inſtant, denounced ſuſpended from the ſacred Miniſtry.
Article 3. Mr. Harvey, Deputy from the Church of Bourdeaux, preſented himſelf to this Aſſembly with Letters and Memoirs from the ſaid Church, petitioning that Monſieur Vignier might be conferred upon them for their Paſtor, There was read alſo an Act of Oppoſition made againſt this Call, by ſeveral Heads of Families of the ſaid Church, and divers Letters alſo of the ſaid Mr. Vignier, and Letters from the Church of Nerac. There were heard alſo the Lords of Aulous and of Maſſilieres, petitioning on behalf of the Church of Nerac, that the ſaid Mr. Vignier might be beſtowed on them for their Miniſter; and the Lord Berdolin alſo ſpake in behalf of the Province. Whereupon, the Aſſembly beſtowed Monſieur Vignier upon the Church of Nerac to be their peculiar Paſtor, and ordered the Church of Nerac to reimburſe that of Bourdeaux of thoſe juſt and reaſonable Expences they had been at in their Endeavours for the getting of the ſaid Mr. Vignier; and the Church of Bourdeaux hath leave given it to provide for it ſelf either within or without the Province, according to the Forms preſcribed by the Diſcipline; and in caſe the ſaid Church ſhould meet with any Paſtor at Liberty, and one who may contribute beneficially to their Edification, the ſaid Church is now impowered to treat with him.
Article 4. The Church of Valance ſhall carry its Declaration unto the Synod of Lower Languedoc, which ſhall judg whether the ſaid Church ought to be rejoined to that of Soyon and the Province of Vivaretz.
Article 5. For the future the Church of Sr. Eſtienne in Foreſt, ſhall be reputed a Member of the Synod of Vivaretz.
Article 6. Mr. Conſtantin, Paſtor of the Church of Rochefoucauld, preſented himſelf unto this Aſſembly, with Letters from his Mother, petitioning that he might be diſcharged the Service of the ſaid Church, and drawn out of the Province of Xaintonge; and a Letter alſo was read from the Conſiſtory of the Church of Niſmes unto the ſaid Province, to the ſame purpoſe; and the Act of Diſmiſſion granted the ſaid Conſtantin by the Church of Rochefoucauld. After hearing of the Deputies of Xaintonge, and a mature Debate of all Arguments pro and con, this Aſſembly did conſent that the ſaid Mr. Conſtantin ſhould be ſet at Liberty, but did exhort him to make Conſcience of keeping to his Calling, and readily to embrace all Opportunities of ſerving the Church of God.
Article 7. The Deputies of the Province of Bearn having moved that their Right unto divers Scholars, whom they at their own Charges had educated for the Miniſtry, and were now imployed in the Paſtoral Office in Churches of this Kingdom, might be conſerved: This Aſſembly did aſſure them, that the Intereſt of the ſaid Province ſhould be equally regarded with that of the other Provinces, and that the Churches of this Kingdom ſhould be always ready upon all Occaſions to communicate unto them the ſenſible Effects of their Charity and Affection to their Preservation. ☞ The Commiſſioners nominated by the Synod to examine that Book made by Monſieur d'Aubus, intitled, Bellarmin Reformed, having made their Report of it, the Aſſembly conſidering that it would do good Service, and contribute greatly to the Edification of the Readers, approved the printing of its firſt Part, and exhorteth the ſaid Monſieur d'Aubus to imploy thoſe excellent Gifts which God hath ſo abundantly poured out upon him, to the Advancement of his Kingdom; and promiſed that if God did enable the Churches with a Supply of Monies, they would be at the Charges of the firſt Impreſſion. But this Act, as Monſieur Bollenat, one of the Deputies unto this Synod, relateth in his Copy of its Acts, was afterwards razed out; and that alſo by Order of the very Synod.
Article 8. Becauſe of the great Importance of the Church of Niſmes, and its preſent urgent Neceſſities, and for that the Provincial Deputies of Lower Languedoc have yielded their Conſent unto their Petition: This Aſſembly permits the Lord Cheyron, Elder of the ſaid Church, to diſcover to it any Paſtor by whoſe Miniſtry the ſaid Church may be edified, that ſo it it be poſſible they may be provided of a third Paſtor during the Seſſion of this Synod; and in caſe he cannot find one, Leave is given unto the ſaid Church to get it ſelf a Paſtor any where, either within or without the Province.
Article 9. Becauſe of the Inability of the Colloquy of Rovergue, and of the ſmall Numbers of its Paſtors, the Colloquy of Albigeois is ordered to take care that the Church of St. Affrique be ſupplied till the Meeting of the next Provincial Synod of Higher Languedoc.
Article 10. Leave is given by this Aſſembly to Mr. Baſtide, a Miniſter, freed from his Service in the Church of St. Affrique, and Province of Higher Languedoc, to addreſs himſelf unto any other Church or Province in this Kingdom, in which he may exerciſe his Miniſtry, and make his Abode, as may be beſt for his Advantage.
Article 11. The Synod being informed of the Innocency of Monſieur de Monbreueil; and touched with a deep Senſe of his many and great Sufferings, doth order the Lords General Deputies to take a moſt eſpecial Care of his Concern, and to ſollicit the expediting and ratifying of thoſe Atteſtations given him by the Churches of Paris, Nantes and Rennes, who have had a perfect Knowledg of his Life and Deportments, that ſo he may be fully juſtified and diſcharged.
Article 12. The Sieur Cottiere having preſented a Summary of Books compoſed by him, and of one eſpecially treating of the ancient Faith of the Churches in the three firſt Centuries: This Aſſembly being fully informed of thoſe many excellent Gifts with which God had indowed him, and applauding his Zeal and great Affection for the Advancement of Chriſt's Kingdom, doth exhort him to continue the devoting of himſelf and Labours to the Defence of God's Truth, and to carry his Writing unto the Synod of Anjou, which is expreſly ordered to peruſe them, and having approved of them, to take care about their Impreſſion, and the Churches ſhall defray the Charges thereof.
Article 13. Mr. Perrier, formerly Receiever of the Monies given by his Majeſty's Liberality unto the Churches in the Province of Vivaretz, making Report that the ſaid Province was indebted to him the Sum of two thouſand one hundred Livers paid by him before-hand unto the Churches for the Relief of their Paſtors, as is manifeſt from the Finito of his Account rendred unto the Synod held at Mirabel in the Year 1625. This Aſſembly, to do him Juſtice upon his Complaint, decreed, That if he will be pleaſed to quit his Expences, Damages and Intereſt, for Forbearance claimed by him, and the Province of Vivaretz reſtoring him to his Office of Receiver, upon the ſame Conditions that were accorded unto the preſent Poſſeſſor of it, that then he ſhall pay himſelf the whole Principal in the two next enſuing Years; and as for the Arrearages due unto him, provided he do make them appear to be real Debts, and that he hath not been ſatisfied for them out of the Obligation given him by the ſaid Province upon the Lands of Toulant and Baffre, they alſo ſhall be put upon Account in Order to his Satisfaction.
Article 14. The Province of Higher Languedoc, and Monſieur Berauld one of its Deputies, were cenſured for violating the Canons, which had taken Care that the Paſtors of particular Churches ſhould be deputed unto Synods alternatively, and that none ſhould be received into Provincial Synods without Letters of Commiſſion, and that no Profeſſors of Divinity ſhould appear in Synods, although they were Paſtors, without being ſent thither by their Churches, or called by the Synods, whenas Matters relating to their Univerſities, or important Points of Doctrine, were handled and debated.
Article 15. The Lords General Deputies are ordered to aſſiſt the Churches of Bearn in their Petition preſented unto his Majeſty for the re-eſtabliſhing of their Colledg.
Article 16. Mr. Robertſon, Principal of the Colledg of Rochefoucauld, reporting the conſiderable Sums he had advanced out of his own Pocket, towards the Maintenance of the ſaid Colledg: This Aſſembly ordained, That out of the Monies belonging to the Province of Xaintonge, upon the Account of that Colledg, the Lord of Candall ſhall keep in his own Hands ſo much as ſhall be found due unto the ſaid Mr. Robertſon, who was praiſed for his Angular Affection unto the publick Weal of the Churches, and is intreated to continue his Affection, good Service, and Faithfulneſs therein as formerly.
Article 17. This Aſſembly ratifying what was done by the Conſiſtory of Montpellier, in the Cauſe of Monſieur Ginmoux, which had been turned over to them by the Synod of Caſtres, in the Year 1626, judgeth that the Complaints of the ſaid Ginmoux were groundleſs; and this ſhall be ſignified to him by Letters.
Article 18. The Deputies of Normandy and Xaintonge petitioning, that ſome certain Sum of Monies taken out of the Churches Stock, might be imployed towards the Redemption of many poor Proteſtants kept in hard Captivity by the Turks: This Aſſembly having no Power to grant them their Requeſt, becauſe of that ſmall Stock which is at its Diſpoſal, doth adviſe them to petition all the Churches in thoſe and the Neighbour-Provinces, to contribute their Alms liberally for the Comfort and Deliverance of thoſe poor afflicted Chriſtians, whole Miſery is extream, and cries aloud for the Bowels of our Compaſſion.
Article 19. The Lady Dutcheſs of Tremouille having by Letters recommended Mr. Jouars unto the Care of this Aſſembly, and demanded that the Call ſhe had given him to be her Paſtor, might be ratified by our Authority: A Vote paſſed, that the ſaid Lady ſhould be commended for her Piety, and exhorted by Letters more and more to continue her Zeal for the Glory of God, and the Advancement of his Kingdom.
Article 20. Mr. Godfroy, the Civilian Profeſſor of the Laws in the Univerſity of Geneva, having writ unto this Aſſembly, that he would compoſe a Body of Church-Hiſtory, which would diſcover the Untruths in the five firſt Volumes of Cardinal Baronius, and this in Compliance with that Motion made him by the National Synod of Caſtres, in the Year 1626. A Vote paſſed, that the Thanks of this Aſſembly ſhould be returned him by Letters, and that he ſhould be intreated to bleſs the Churches with the Fruits of his Promiſes as ſoon as poſſible.
Article 21. Report being made in this Aſſembly of the grievous Perſecutions undergone by Monſieur de Surville, Paſtor of the Church of Vigan; the Sum of three hundred Livers was immediately voted him for his preſent Subſiſtence, and to be paid in to him by the Lord of Candall out of the beſt and cleareſt Monies in his Hands, and out of the reſt, which we hope to recover, another Sum of three hundred Livers more, and that one ſupernumerary Portion out of the Dividend for the Province of Sevennes, ſhall be offered to him free of all Taxes and Charges.
Article 22. This Aſſembly conſidering the Expences that Mr. Chambauld hath been neceſſitated unto by means of the Accuſation brought againſt Mr. Louis du Bois, Order was given unto the Province of Vivaretz, to inquire into the Truth of his Complaints, that in caſe they be made good and verified, the ſaid Province ſhall betwixt this and the next National Synod, give him one free Portion more to be added unto thoſe ſupernumerary ones already aſſigned to him.
Article 23. The Lord of Candall having freely remitted the Sum of eight hundred Livers, which were his proper Right, and due unto him from the Sous in a Liver, out of the Sum of ſixteen thouſand Livers granted by his Majeſty unto the Churches for defraying the Expences of this Aſſembly; and he having alſo quitted out of the Repriſals, which he might have taken in his Accompt, the Sum of fifteen hundred Livers: This Aſſembly did unanimouſly render his Lordſhip their moſt hearty Thanks for his generous and Chriſtian Charities to our poor Churches: And there was voted out of the ſaid Sum of fifteen hundred Livers, three hundred Livers to be given unto Monſieur de Tremblay, Paſtor in the Church of Paulin; and three hundred Livers more were to be delivered unto Monſieur de la Fon, Paſtor of the Church of Glenat and Calvinat, in Conſideration of their preſſing Wants; and fifty Livers to Daniel Chabord for his Aſſiſtance, who came on purpoſe to this Synod, to implore our Help towards the Redemption of his Son, who hath been ever ſince the laſt Troubles kept in Slavery aboard the Gallies: and the other eight hundred Livers remaining of the ſaid fifteen hundred, ſhall be paid in to the Lord Ramboullet, Elder of the Church of Paris, to be imployed by his Agent at Marſeilles, for the Comfort and Deliverance of the Faithful, who for Religion, and a good Conſcience Kept by them, have been there detained in Chains ever ſince the laſt Commotions.
Article 24. Foraſmuch as Mr. Duncan hath ſerved in the Profeſſion of the Greek Tongue in the Univerſity of Saumur, by Order of the Provincial Synod of Anjou, which had divided the ſaid Profeſſion betwixt him and Mr. Benoiſt, who did formerly enjoy it: This Aſſembly ordainineth, that one half of the Wages belonging unto, the Profeſſors of the ſaid Language, ſhall be paid him in Conſideration of the Service actually performed by him.
Article 25. Mr. Savoix, Paſtor of the Church of Caſtres, having complained by Letters unto this Aſſembly, of his being interdicted the Miniſtry: and that Act of the Conſiſtory of the Church of Caſtres being read, atteſting, That he had preached none other Doctrine but what was agreeable to our Confeſſion of Faith and Church-Diſcipline: This Aſſembly ordered the Lords General Deputies to proſecute in his Majeſties moſt honourable Privy Council, for the diſannulling of the Decree of Interdiction paſt againſt him in the Court of Caſtres, and to beſtir themſelves in this Affair with that Vigour as becomes them, it being a Caſe of great and general Importance to all the Churches.
Article 26. Thoſe free Portions which were granted the Churches of Auvergne by the 24th National Synod of Charenton, in the Year 1623, ſhall be detained in the hands of the Lord of Candall's Deputy, and be diſtributed by him among all the Paſtors, which have been ſent by the Province of Sevennes, proportionably to the Service performed by them, of which they ſhall bring good and valid Atteſtations.
Article 27. Out of the firſt Monies that ſhall be diſtributed to our Univerſities, the Lord of Candall ſhall pay in four hundred Livers unto Mr. Robertſon, Principal of the Colledg of Rochefoucauld, to reimburſe him in part of his own Monies advanced by him towards the Maintenance of the ſaid Colledg, but with this Condition, that he do give them ſatisfaction, who have had reciprocal Promiſes from him.
Article 28. The Synods of Lower Guyenne are moſt ſtrictly charged to call unto an Account Mr. Buſtanoby, for the Sum of three hundred Livers delivered unto his deceaſed Father, and to deduct from the ſaid Sum the Charges of his Impreſſion of the Catechiſm in the Biſcayan Language, according to that Promiſe made by the ſaid Mr. Buſtanoby ſome time before his Death, unto the former National Synods.
Article 29. Mr. Froger preſenting Letters from the Church of Pammiers, and declaring the deplorable Condition whereunto that poor Church is now reduced: This Aſſembly did, in a more eſpecial manner, recommend the Concerns of that afflicted Church of Chriſt, unto our Lords the General-Deputies; and to help defray the Charges of the ſaid Froger, there was order'd the Sum of one hundred Livers to be paid unto him immediately by the Lord of Candall.
Article 30. The Portion of Monies accruing from the Compoſition made with Mr. Palot, and appertaining to the Province of, Sevennes, ſhall be depoſited into the hand of Mr. Blachan, one of the Deputies of the ſaid Province, who having paid himſelf what he had advanced before-hand for the Churches of Auvergne, ſhall be accountable for the Remainder unto the next Provincial Synod.