The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 26 (2nd Charenton) · Chapter 3
CHAP. III. The Lord Galland's Speech to the Synod.
23. THE aforeſaid Letters Patents having been read by the Lord Galland, his Majeſty's Commiſſioner, he made this Speech unto the Synod.
That the King having buried in the Grave of Oblivion all former Actions, which had fallen out in the laſt Troubles to the great Affliction of the Kingdom, his Majeſty gave him in charge to aſſure his Subjects of the Religion of his Royal Affection and good Will towards them; and that whilſt they continued within the Bounds of Duty, and abſtained from all bitter Reflections againſt the Government, and Repoſe of the Publick, and from all Intelligences and Correſpondencies, either with Natives or Foreigners, and were ſorely addicted to the Service of his Majeſty, they ſhould experience the Kindneſſes of a good Father, and of a good King in his Majeſty, and injoy the free Exerciſe of their Religion, and the Liberty of calling and holding their Synods Provincial and National. But whereas in divers Years laſt paſt, the Orders given by him, and accepted of by his ſaid Subjects, have been differently interpreted; His Majeſty deſireth by reviving them, to take away for the future all Grounds of Miſconſtruction and Miſunderſtanding.
24. Therefore in the firſt Place, His Majeſty requireth, that whereas Commiſſioners were eſtabliſhed in all Synodical Aſſemblies, both National and Provincial, by his Letters Patents in the Year 1623, founded upon the Practice obſerved in the Primitive Church, and the Government of the beſt-ordered Kingdoms, there ſhall be an intire and abſolute Obedience yielded hereunto by his ſaid Subjects of the Reformed Religion, and that they do refrain and forbear all Proteſtations and Remonſtrances to the contrary.
25. In the ſecond Place, By thoſe aforeſaid Orders, and agreeable to the Laws of the Kingdom, it was decreed and enacted, That no Strangers ſhould be admitted into the Paſtoral Office in any of the Churches which are reſerved for natural French-men and Ancients of the Kingdom, in bar of whom, and to whoſe Prejudice divers Strangers have been received. Wherefore his ſaid Majeſty renewing his Ordinance aforeſaid, doth inhibit his ſaid Subjects to admit into the Miniſtry any one except a French-man born; and as for others who have been admitted ſince the Year 1623, contrary to it, his Majeſty promiſeth to diſpenſe with them, provided Application be made unto him for that Grace. And whereas ſome have made Exceptions againſt this his general Reſolution, on behalf of thoſe Miniſters, who are born in thoſe Kingdoms and Common-wealths, or Cities, which are the Allies of his Majeſty, or under his Royal Protection, the ſaid Lord Commiſſioner declared, That by Strangers we were to underſtand all ſorts of Perſons without Exception, who were not born in the Kingdom, or out of his Majeſty's Dominions and Government, although they were Natives of ſuch Kingdoms, Common-wealths and Cities as were his Majeſty's Allies, or under his Protection.
26. In the third Place, All Miniſters are forbidden to depart the Kingdom without his Majeſty's Licence; and particularly Monſieur Salbert, Miniſter in the Church of Rochel, hath not only gone out of the Kingdom without his Majeſty's Permiſſion, but in Contempt of his Royal Authority. Wherefore the ſaid Prohibitions are once more reiterated and reimpoſed, and the ſaid Salbert is injoined by his Majeſty to reſide in that Place appointed him, and he is expreſly forbidden all Exerciſe of his Miniſtry, either in publick or private; nor may this National Synod put him upon the Roll of Miniſters to be preſented by it unto vacant Churches.
27. In the fourth Place, By the National Synods of Charenton and Caſtres, all Miniſters were expreſly forbidding to intermeddle with State-Matters; yet notwithſtanding Monſieur Beraud, Miniſter of Montauban, and Profeſſor of Divinity in that Univerſity, did not only intermeddle with State, but military Affairs, and was ſo bold as to maintain by a Book, which he read unto his Auditory, That Miniſters have a Call to bear Arms, and to ſhed Blood; which is a Doctrine quite contrary to the Word of God, the Decrees of Councils, and the Laws of the Kingdom, and the more dangerous in this Doctor, becauſe he inſtils theſe his wicked Notions into the tender Minds of Youth committed to his Charge and Education; and 'tis much to be feared that he will continue to poiſon them by ſuch or the like Inſtructions, which are foreign and contrary to the publick Peace and Tranquillity. And therefore the ſaid Manuſcript is judged unworthy of publick View, as being croſs to the Word of God: And his Majeſty hath ordered its Suppreſſion, forbidding all Printers and Bookſellers either to print or ſell it, and commandeth all the Members of this preſent National Synod, to cenſure and condemn both it and its Author.