The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 27 (Alençon) · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV. Appeals and Complaints.
1. THE Complaints of the Sieur Genoyer againſt the Synod of Provence, and Monſieur Maurice his Brother, having been examined, and the ſaid Maurice heard ſpeak in his own Defence on each of the Articles brought againſt him: This Aſſembly judged that the ſaid Genoyer ought not to have troubled them about ſuch mean and ſlight Matters, and which alſo are not proved; and therefore from hence-forward interdicts him all ſuch manner of Proceedings; and in the mean while exhorteth the Provincial Synods to read over the Acts of the National, that ſo whatever Matters have been decided in them, may not be concealed from the Churches.
2. This Aſſembly conſerving the Honour of Monſieur Paſcard, permits him to exerciſe the Duties of his Miniſtry, whenas ever he ſhall be requeſted thereunto by the Paſtors and Conſiſtories in the Province of Xaintonge, and this according to the Diſcipline.
3. Although the Appeal of my Lady de Juigne is not of the Nature of thoſe Matters which ought to be preſented unto the National Synods, yet the Aſſembly taking Cognizance thereof, and weighing the Reaſons urged by the ſaid Lady, and the Motives oh which the Conſiſtory of Pringey hath founded its Cenſure, confirmed by the Judgment of the Synod of Anjou, it decreeth, That the ſaid Cenſure ſhall be taken off; and the ſaid Lady is exhorted to give unto the Church of Pringey the generous Fruits of her Chriſtian Charity and Bounty; and that ſhe would as liberally contribute to the Subſiſtence of that Church, and of the Goſpel there, according to that large and plentiful Eſtate with which God hath bleſſed her, as ſhe hath done formerly, &c. to continue it for the future, although ſhe may for her greater Conveniency join her ſelf in Communion with any other Church nearer to her.
4. The Sieurs le Mouſnier, de Caux, and de Bures, appealing on behalf of ſundry private Perſons, Members of the Church of Dieppe, the Appeal brought by them from the Judgment given by the Provincial Synod held at Caen, and the Provincial Deputies of Normandy, and the Acts of thoſe particular Perſons aforeſaid, and of the afore-mentioned Synod, and of their Commiſſioners, and of the Conſiſtory of Dieppe, together with the Letters of the ſaid Synod to the Church of Dieppe, and of their Commiſſioners ſent unto the ſaid Church, to ſee their Sentence executed in it, having been all read: This Aſſembly paſſing by the Defects in the Deputation of Monſieur le Mouſnier, and his Companions, which are contrary to the Forms uſually required and received in all Appeals, and commending their Love and godly Zeal, doth confirm the Judgment of the Synod of Normandy, as being grounded upon Prudence and Charity; and forbiddeth the Church of Diep, and all other Churches of this Kingdom, to receive unto the Exerciſe of the Miniſterial Office among them one called Deſchamps, who by his faſtious Pranks and Practices, yea, and ſince that the Synod of Caen had notified it by their judicial Decree, hath himſelf publickly demonſtrated, that his Miniſtry can never edify nor profit that Church; and the Conſiſtory of that Church is blamed for their Imprudence, for admitting him to preach among them, without ever demanding or peruſing his Atteſtations from the Churches in which he formerly ſerved, and from the Colloquies and Synods of which he was a Member, whereby they have ſuffered him very inconſiderately to inſinuate himſelf into the Affections of the People, who demanded him to be their Paſtor before they had any Knowledg of him. And farthermore, the Conſiſtory of that Church is forbidden hence forward, all Deliberations about either the Reception of any new, or Excluſion of any old Paſtor, without having firſt conſulted the Heads of Families belonging to their Church: and according to the Canons of our Diſcipline, it condemneth the Proceedings of the ſaid Conſiſtory, who through an Exceſs of Rigour, refuſed to grant unto the Plaintiffs their Liberty and Priviledg of Appeal, whereby they were, contrary to the Diſcipline, reduced to a Neceſſity of making a tumultuous Deputation. And whereas the Provincial Synod, in decreeing the Excluſion of the ſaid Des Champs, did omit what would have principally contributed to their Satisfaction, who demanded him for their Miniſter; this Aſſembly taking the Church of Dieppe into its moſt particular Conſideration, doth promiſe the ſaid Church of Dieppe to provide for them a third Paſtor, either within or without the Province, yea, and to ingage them to proceed unto the Reception of the Sieur du Bures, recommended by the Teſtimonial of their Deputies, and of the Province; and this according to the Canons of our Diſcipline, unto which that ſaid Church is adviſed to conform it ſelf, and by its Union with their Conſiſtory, to preſerve that Peace and Charity which ought to be among all Chriſtians; to the maintaining of which the ſaid Sieurs le Mouſnier, de Caux, and de Bures, have promiſed to lay themſelves out unto the utmoſt.
5. The Church of Pleſſis appealed, requeſting that their Paſtor Monſieur de Montigny might actually reſide in the Town of Pleſſis, according to the Diſcipline and the Canons of our National Synods; and that the Sentence of the Iſle of France which had diſpenſed with him, might be diſannulled and reverſed. This Aſſembly judged that, the ſaid Sieur de Montigny was of right obliged to reſide at Pleſſis, and ought not to be diſpenſed with: yet nevertheleſs his Church is intreated to allow him four Months in the Year to attend his private Affairs at his Houſe of Albon, provided he do not diſcontinue the Exerciſes of his Miniſtry.
6. Monſieur Fabas was heard in his Complaint about the non-executing of that Decree of the laſt National Synod, which had authorized and commiſſionated the Colloquy of Condommois to take Informations, and paſs a Judgment of the Contents in the Letters written by thoſe Gentlemen, Mr. de la Fitte, Gillot and Belard, unto Monſieur D' Abadie and Pommarede, during their Abode at Charenton, and the Defence of Monſieur Rivall, upon whoſe Report thoſe Letters were written, and to the Remonſtrance of the Colloquy of Condommois, who have not acquitted themſelves of the Commiſſion given them, becauſe the ſaid la Fitte and Gillot refuſed to ſubmit unto their Judgment, and to the Excuſe of the Province of Bearn, that their Union with the Churches of this Kingdom was not at that time ratified, and that they were not obliged to defray the Expences of the Deputies charged by the ſaid Colloquy of Condommois, to inform themſelves of the Facts of ſome particular Perſons, but only thoſe Perſons who were concerned. This Aſſembly declareth thoſe Accuſations brought in by the ſaid Rivall and Belard againſt the ſaid Fabas, to be null; and for this Reaſon, becauſe the firſt was grounded upon a Report ſpread abroad from a pretended Accuſation brought by a particular Perſon, who afterwards denied it, and was proved to be falſe by all the Perſons mentioned in it. And the ſecond conſiſts of an ill-taken Equivocation, alledged by one only Witneſs, who ought not in any wiſe to be admitted, it being expreſly againſt the Prohibition of the Apoſtle, 1 Tim. 1.5, 19. Nor had the Colloquy of Pau any reaſon to grant a Commiſſion unto Monſieur Rivall, to take Information againſt Monſieur Fabas, who oppoſed his Inſtitution and Induction into the Church of Morlas, and by conſequence was a profeſſed Party againſt him; and Mr. la Fitte and Gillot have to no good purpoſe, and only upon the ſingle report of the ſaid Rival, ſpread abroad a groundleſs and unproved Accuſation againſt a Miniſter of the Goſpel: Nor ſhould the Province of Bearn have tolerated ſuch Proceedings, nor have permitted the Church of Morlas to be divided, whenas they could have remedied it by fair and gentle Means, according to the Word of God, and the Order of our Diſcipline. And whereas Mr. Rival and Bellard have defamed a Miniſter of the Goſpel, and occaſion'd, by their manner of Proceedings, a great deal of unjuſt Reproach to be laid upon him, which cannot in the leaſt be juſtified; the ſaid Fabas, Rival and Bellard, are all enjoined to live in Peace and Brotherly Union, and to forbear all Civil and Criminal Proſecutions made, or hereafter to be made before the Magiſtrate upon the ſcore of their Differences, and to put a period and final iſſue unto thoſe which are already begun; whereunto the ſaid Fabas and Rival have promiſed ſubmiſſion reſpectively, and entred already into mutual Articles and Bonds for ſo doing.
7. The Province of Bearn complained of, and accuſed the ſaid Sieur Fabas of rebellion againſt the Canons of our Diſcipline, and of unlawful Proceedings, whereby he deſigned to invalidate the Cenſures of the Church; and that he did de facto moſt odiouſly traduce them before the Civil Magiſtrate. Whereupon, the ſaid Mr. Fabas was heard, complaining to the contrary, and accuſing the Province of Bearn, for that they did, without any lawful Cauſe, remove him from his Church, and deprive him of his Miniſtry in it, and have not aſſigned him any other, and have ſince ſuſpended him the Exerciſe of his Miniſtry, becauſe he had appealed from their unrighteous Cenſure. And ſecondly, for that divers particular Members of the Church of Morlas, after they had unjuſtly reproached him, had divided that poor Church, and abſtained ſchiſmatically from the Exerciſes of Religion performed in it. Whereupon, the Acts of the Synod of Bearn, and of the Colloquy of Pau, were peruſed, as alſo the Proceedings of the Lords in the Parliament of Navarre, at the Petition of the ſaid Fabas, and of ſundry others belonging to the Church of Morlas, and the Inquiſition made by the Commiſſioners of the ſaid Parliament, who were ſent to Morlas to learn and ſift out the Sentiments and Opinion of the ſaid Church; there were read alſo the Letters of the Conſiſtory of the Church of Morlas, humbly requeſting that Monſieur Fabas might be continued in his Miniſtry among them, and thoſe of Mr. Bellard, and other Elders and particular Perſons, demanding of the Conſiſtory that he might be removed elſewhere. This Aſſembly confirming the Miniſtry of the ſaid Mr. Fabas in the Church of Morlas, judgeth that the Province ſhould not by its Rigour have enforced him to make uſe of thoſe extraordinary Courſes which he did in his own juſt Defence, nor ſhould it have favoured by its connivency the Diſunion of thoſe particular Perſons, who have ſeparated themſelves from the Body of the Church of Morlas; whereas they ſhould have, according to their Duty, reconciled them with the reſt of their Brethren; much leſs ought they to have took that Courſe they did to ſuſpend the ſaid Fabas, after he had appealed. And the ſaid Mr. Fabas ought not in Duty to have departed from the Forms preſcribed by our Diſcipline; becauſe the way of appealing unto ſuperiour Eccleſiaſtical Aſſemblies was wide open to him. And therefore the ſaid Province is injoined for the future to refrain all violent Proceedings contrary to the Diſcipline, and to apply out of hand ſuitable Remedies, whereby the Schiſm in the Church of Morlas may be cured, and the Members thereof reconciled among themſeives, and with their Paſtor Mr. Fabas; and all others are to acquieſce and reſt contented with the Ways preſcribed by the Diſcipline, forbearing all Proceedings contrary to it, and bringing thoſe their Differences into Eccleſiaſtical Aſſemblies, there to be compoſed. And whereas ſome particular Members of the Church of Morlas have complained againſt the ſaid Mr. Fabas, their Paſſion and bitter Expreſſions are condemned, and they be exhorted to mind their preſent Duty, which is by a mutual Reconciliation to heal the Breaches, and reſtore the Peace of the Church of God. All which ſhall be ſignified unto them by Letters from this Synod.
8. Monſieur Chorets, a Member of the Church of Paris, complained unto this Aſſembly of a Judgment paſt againſt him by the ſaid Church, which was alſo confirmed by the Synod of the Iſle of France; as alſo for that they refuſed him an Atteſtation which he would have uſed for divers Ends and Purpoſes. The Aſſembly having heard the Deputies of that Province, told him, that his Affair was not of that nature as to be brought before a National Synod; however, out of ſpecial Favour to him, they did permit him to diſcover his Grievances, which being unfolded by him, and conſidered, occaſion was thereby given of remonſtrating to him his Offences committed by Words and Deeds, and Proceedings againſt the Paſtors and Conſiſtory of the Church of Paris. And farther, it was declared to him, that the Cenſures of the ſaid Church had been inflicted on him by reaſon of his ill Deportments. And farther, he was exhorted to pay all Reſpect and Obedience unto his ſpiritual Guides and Rulers? and to ſubject himſelf unto the Diſcipline of our Churches. And finally, he was injoined to acquieſce in what had been decreed concerning his Matters both by the ſaid Church, and the Provincial Synod. All which he did immediately.
9. The Judgment of the Province of Sevennes, concerning the Miniſtry of Monſieur Soleil, having been confirmed, the Appeal brought by Mr. Vignolles and Roux was declared null, and the Appellants worthy of Cenſure, for their unreaſonable Miſconſtruction of it.
10. The Appeal of the Church de la Fitte was rejected, becauſe it ought not to be brought unto, nor received in this Aſſembly: Wherefore they were injoined to acquieſce in the Judgment of their Province.
11. On reading that Clauſe, in the laſt Will and Teſtament of the Lord de la Fon, relating to the Legacy bequeathed by him for the educating a young Scholar in Humanity and the Arts, who may one day ſerve the Church of God in the Sacred Miniſtry, and the Judgment given by the Synod of Normandy upon it, and the Memoirs of the Church of Baaly: This Aſſembly diſannulled that Judgment of the ſaid Provincial Synod, as alſo the Appeal of the Church of Baaly; and confirmed the Decree of the laſt National Synod; and now declareth and ordaineth, That the ſaid Church hath only, nor ought it to have any other Intereſt in the ſaid Legacy than its bare Adminiſtration; for ſo the Lord de la Fon diſpoſed of it in his Teſtament aforeſaid, for the maintenance of a Scholar: and that it is the proper and ſpecial Duty of the ſaid Church to be accomptable for it unto the Colloquy of Caen, according to the Intention of the deceaſed Donor, expreſſed in that Clauſe of his Will, wherein he mentions the ſaid Legacy. And the ſaid Colloquy, or the ſaid Church of Baaly, are neceſſarily to be called in at that time, when the Election of the Scholar is to be made, and to be preſent at his Examen, to judg of his Progreſs; and the ſaid Church, if they pleaſe, and have need of him, may and ought, before any other, have the choice of him to be imployed in the Service of their Souls, in the Miniſtry of the Word and Sacraments.
12. The Deputies of Sevennes complained, that the Synod of Lower Languedoc had ſeveral times attempted to provide for their vacant Churches out of their Province, which is directly contrary to the Canons of our Diſcipline, and have thereby reduced thoſe two Reverend Miniſters Mr. du Mas and de la Coſle, to remain without employment. This Aſſembly, condemning ſuch Proceedings, doth recommend unto the Province of Lower Languedoc the Practice of the twenty fourth Canon made in the National Synod of Charenton in the Year 1623, Obſervation the ſecond upon the Diſcipline. And it being the deſire of the Church of Alez, as alſo of the Synod of Sevennes, whereunto that of Lower Languedoc doth freely conſent, that Monſieur Button ſhould be aſſigned to the Miniſtry of the Church of Alez, he is, by the Authority of this Synod, given and confirmed to them for their Paſtor.
13. The Appeal of Monſieur Rouzé, and of the Church of St. Andrew de l' Ancize, was diſannulled, becauſe the Affairs of their annexed Congregations ought to be ſoveraignly and finally determined by their own of the Neighbour-Provinces. And this Aſſembly recommends the ſaid Mr. Rouzé to the care of the Synod of Sevennes, to provide for his comfortable Subſiſtence, according to the Rules of Chriſtian Charity.
14. This Aſſembly paſſing by the Appeal of the Province of Xaintonge from the Judgment of that of Poitiers, according to the Decree of the National Synod of St. Maixant held in May, 1609, (Article the nineteenth about …ppeals) leaveth the Family of the Lord du Brueil Goulard at liberty to join themſelves unto the Church of Annay.
15. To regulate that Conteſt between the Provinces of Xaintonge and Poictou, the latter of theſe pretending to reunite the Church of Champagne Mouton with their Synod: This Aſſembly, confirming the Decree of the firſt National Synod of Charenton, ordaineth, That, the ſaid Church ſhall continue incorporated, as it hath been to this day, with that of St. Claud, until the next Synod of Xaintonge, which ſhall make ſome Proviſion for Monſieur Ferrand, and, by all fitting Means, for the Subſiſtence of the Church of St. Claud: and immediately after the breaking up of the ſaid Synod, the Church of Champagne Mouton ſhall be joined unto that of Courteilles, and provided for, to its liking and content, by the Synod of Poictou: and that ſaid Synod ſhall take a moſt particular care that the Church of Vigean be not left deſtitute of a Paſtor.
16. This Aſſembly ratified the Judgment of the Conſiſtory and Colloquy of Caen, approved by the Synod of Normandy, who declared the Appeal of Monſieur Fourneaux null, and not receivable; and ordaineth, That the ſaid Judicial Sentence be fully executed according to its purport and tenour, in due form, as to the depoſing of the ſaid Fourneaux. And whereas he had been publickly ſuſpended from the Lord's Supper, and ſince he hath acknowledged his Offence (for marrying his Daughter unto one of a contrary Religion) publickly before a whole National Synod; and he having been kept back from communicating at the Lord's Table this laſt Eaſter, the ſaid Suſpenſion ſhall be taken off both from himſelf and Wiſe, after that he ſhall have confeſſed in the Conſiſtory his Sorrow for the Sin which his Con…vency hath brought into his Family.
17. Upon peruſal of the Judgment paſt in the Synods of Sevennes and Lower Languedoc, and of the Letters of Monſieur Horle's Widow, and the Memoirs of the Church of Anduze; this Aſſembly declareth the ſaid Church to have well deſerved the ſharpeſt Cenſures, and therefore rejecteth their Appeal, and confirmeth the judicial Sentence of both thoſe Synods, and enjoined that ſaid Church to give full Satisfaction unto that poor and afflicted Widow.
18. This Aſſembly receiving the Appeal of the Lord Chabaſſier Judg of Anduze, and of Monſieur Couraut Paſtor of the Church of Quiſſac, and condemning the Facility of the Synod of Sevennes held at Sumene, who without hearing of the ſaid Lord Chabaſſier, had decreed, That the Cenſure juſtly pronounced againſt Mr. Poujade, Miniſter in the Church of St. Hippolyte, ſhould be razed out of the Acts of the Provincial Synod held at Alez, ordaineth, That the ſaid Cenſure ſhall be again inſerted into the Body of the Acts of the ſaid Synod; and that the Contents of this Ordinance may be ratified, and become more valid, all Paſtors, who extraordinarily aſſiſt any vacant Churches, are enjoined to reſt ſatisfied with the defraying of the Charges of their Journey, and ſojourning in it, as hath been hitherto conſtantly practiſed in all the Provinces; and they be ſtrictly and expreſly forbidden to exact ſo much as one Farthing from any one of thoſe Churches, becauſe they receive their Maintenance and Sallaries from their own particular Churches, unto which they ſtand related. And whereas the ſaid Poujade hath appealed from the Synodical Decree made at Anduze, this Aſſembly declareth, That the ſaid Synod had moſt juſt occaſion to charge the Conſiſtories of Sauve and Manobles to watch over the Deportments of the Conſiſtory of Niſmes; and the ſaid Conſiſtories ſhall be aſſiſted and ſtrengthned, if need be, with the Preſence of the Neighbour-Paſtors; and they be authorized to cite the ſaid Poujade before them, that he may give in Anſwer unto all Articles which ſhall be brought againſt him, and to proſecute him according to the nature of the Facts whereof he ſhall be found guilty, even unto Depoſition from the Sacred Miniſtry; and it ſhall be denounced to him, that in caſe he refuſe to appear before the ſaid Conſiſtory, that he is now this very inſtant ſuſpended his Miniſterial Function.
19. In explaining the Senſe of that Judgment paſt upon Monſieur Deſchamps above in the fourth Article of Appeals; this Aſſembly declares, That Miniſters and Elders may concert among themſelves in Conſiſtory, ſuch Matters as they ſhall eſteem and think to be moſt needful for the admiſſion or excluſion of any Paſtor of a Church, but they may not come to any final Reſolution, till they have firſt of all conſulted with the Heads of Families duly called, and Members of that Church; which Reſolution of them all ſhall be determined by plurality of Suffrages, according to the Order obſerved in all well-regulated Aſſemblies, and under the direction of the Conſiſtory.
20. The Aſſembly received the Appeal of the Faithful of Boiſgency, and diſannulled the Sentence of Suſpenſion from the Lord's Table, pronounc'd againſt them by the Synod Berry, becauſe the Church of Mer, whereunto they had joined themſelves, is well able to ſubſiſt of it ſelf, without any Relief or Aſſiſtance from them: And farther it doth ordain, That the ſaid Inhabitants ſhall have the Priviledg of taxing themſelves to all Church-Rates and Charges; and out of that Tax, whatever it be that they do or ſhall promiſe to pay annually unto the Church of Mer, there ſhall be deducted the Sum of fifty Livers, which, ſhall go to the diſcharging of the Arrears of Wages, owing by the ſaid Inhabitants of Boiſgency unto Monſieur Guerin, who was formerly their Paſtor, till the whole Debt be paid, according to the Accompt ſtated and concluded the 18th day of April in the Year 1632, unleſs there ſhoul be a neceſſity of reviſing it.
21. Although the Appeal brought in by the Inhabitants of St. Roman and of Val Franceſque, be not receivable, yet the Aſſembly, out of ſpecial Favour, took cognizance thereof, and decreed, That Letters ſhould be writ unto them, exhorting them to mutual Peace and Union in the Worſhip of God, and the Ordinances of Religion, with thoſe of Val Franceſque.
22. Monſieur Pejus was heard, declaring his Grievances, and petitioning for his Re-eſtabliſhment in the Church of Mer, and for payment of his Arrears due unto him from the ſaid Church. James Martincau, deputed by divers Members of the ſame Church, adhered to his Demands. There was heard on behalf of the Church of Mer, the Lord de la Bordechabin, ſent by the Conſiſtory, as alſo the Provincial Deputies of Berry: The Acts of the Provincial Synods from which the Appeal was formed, were ſeen and peruſed; the Judgments of the Commiſſioners ſent by the Church of Mer and Boiſgency, the Letters of Monſieur Jurieu reſigning his Miniſtry to the Diſpoſal of the Synod, the Memoirs of the Church of Mer repreſenting the Poverty whereunto they be at preſent reduced, and ſundry other Conſiderations which yet did not in the leaſt reflect upon the Honour of Mr. Pejus's Miniſtry, and other Memoirs from divers Heads of Families, who deſire he may be ſettled again among them, and the Letters and Memoirs from the Church of Argenton, petitioning that he may be abſolutely given to them for their Paſtor. After which the Synod rejecting all the Appeals, and confirming the judicial Sentences of the Province of Berry, decreed, That the Cenſures pronounced againſt Monſieur Pejus ſhould be razed out of the Body of the Acts of thoſe Synods, and that his Miniſtry is now granted unto the Church of Argenton; and exhorteth the Church or Mer aforeſaid, and the Province, to give him all Satisfaction, or to provide better for him; and all Caballings of particular Members in the Church of Mer, are interdicted them and forbidden. And whereas the ſaid Monſieur Pejus claimeth Arrears of Wages owing to him, foraſmuch as the Church of Mer proteſteth, that by Reaſon of their deep Poverty for theſe five Years laſt paſt, they are utterly diſabled from maintaining two Paſtors, and that they expreſs and reſtify a more than ordinary Reſpect and Affection to Monſieur Jurieu, and that the Province being obliged by this their Proteſtation, had provided for him for the preſent, till they could do more and better for him, and till ſuch time as the matter of his Appeal was determined, had lent him unto the Church of Boiſgency, which had exhibited to him as great and good a Maintenance as he could have had from the Church of Mer; and by his Refuſal of ſuch a comfortable Imployment, he had thereby deprived himſelf of that Aſſiſtance and Relief they had ſo charitably procured him, his Petition was rejected.
23. Letters being read from James de Valleroux Lord of la Gayerie, and the Acts produced by him, and the Cenſures denounced againſt him by the Conſiſtory of Vertueil, Colloquy of Augoumois, and Synod of Xaintonge; the Synod approving of thoſe Cenſures, r…jected his Appeal.
24. Mr. Daniel Loquet, heretofore Elder and Reader in the Church of Barbezieux, having ſent neither Letters nor Memoirs to defend his Appeal from the Sentence of the Synod of Xaintonge, the ſaid Appeal was declared null. But afterwards the Letters of the ſaid Loquet, before the Synod broke up, were preſented to it, who diſmiſſed his Cauſe to be finally judged by the Conſiſtory of Bourdeaux.
25. None appearing on behalf of the Church of Vangeau, to maintain their Appeal, oppoſing the ſending of Monſieur Twiſcard by the Province of Berry, unto the Church of Chamerolles and Bandaroy, it was declared null.
26. The Appeal of Monſieur Hommeau, who was deſigned by the Synod of Anjou, to be Paſtor unto the Church of Laſſay in the County of Maine, it was declared null.
27. Mrs. Judyth Guyot, the Wife of Mr. Laverdan, appealing from the Judgment pronounced againſt her by the Commiſſioners of the Synod of Burgundy, and not appearing to maintain her Appeal, the Aſſembly declared it null and void.
28. Whereas ſome private Perſons in the Church of St. Foy had appealed from the Colloquy of Lower Agenois, who oppoſed the re-eſtabliſhing of Mr. Duvall in his Office of Elder, decreed by the Synod of Lower Guyenne, their Appeal was declared null.
29. The Synod of Sevennes having cenſured Monſieur du Mas, and the Church of Ganges having appealed from that Judgment, but not appearing to defend their Appeal, it was declared null.
30. Monſieur de Monbonoux, and other Inhabitants of the Town of Anduze, appealing from a Judgment given by the Synod of Lower Languedoc againſt Monſieur Arnaud their Paſtor, their Appeal was declared null.
31. Monſieur Talaiſac appealing from a Judgment denounced againſt Monſieur Preudhomme, Paſtor of the Church of Cournontaeuail, his Appeal was declared null.
32. Although the Province of Normandy had ſufficient reaſon to ſet Monſieur Marchant at Liberty, and to beſtow his Miniſtry upon the Church of Giſors; yet nevertheleſs, becauſe of the importunate Petition of the Church of Athis, of Laſelle, and les Voutes, and for that they have all jointly promiſed to give full and intire Satisfaction unto the ſaid le Marchant, and for that he expreſſeth a great Inclination to continue his Service unto the ſaid Church of Athis; the Aſſembly leaving it to the Care of the Colloquy of Roven to provide for the Church of Giſors, ordaineth, That the ſaid Monſieur le Marchant ſhall be ſettled again in that of Athis and its annexed Congregations, who ſhall make him a full and compleat Paiment of all Arrears of Sallary due unto him: And in Default hereof, the next Synod ſhall execute upon them that Judgment formerly denounced againſt them.
33. On Sight and Peruſal of the Acts of the Synod of Dolphiny, as alſo of the Letters and Memoirs of Monſieur Aymin, Paſtor in the Church of Die; this Aſſembly judging his Appeals frivolous, declared on the firſt, that the Province of Dolphiny had very prudently judged that they ought not to be troubled about Sollicitings made in the Years ſixteen hundred thirty three and thirty four, for the Maintenance of the Univerſity of Die; that he ought not to have tarried at Paris after the Revocation of the Powers given for thoſe Sollicitings, and that he ought now to be accountable to the Council of the Univerſity of Die, who imployed him; and in caſe he were aggrieved, then ſhould he have carried his Complaint to the Conſiſtory of Lyons, who were commiſſionated to judg finally of this Affair: And on the ſecond, that he hath well deſerved the ſevereſt Cenſures for not acquieſcing in the Judgment of his Province, which is exhorted to oblige him and all others to a perſonal Reſidence with their Flocks, on Pain of having all Church-Cenſures inflicted on them; and in no wiſe to ſuffer the Monies deſtinated by the Churches for the Maintenance of the Univerſity of Die, to be diverted contrary to the Intention of the Donors, unto other Uſes.
34. The Memoirs of Monſieur de la Fitte, Paſtor of the Church of Pau and of de Mirau, Elder in the Church of Bourdeaux, and the Letters and Memoirs of the Lords de la Peyrette and du Bois, private Members of the ſaid Church of Bourdeaux, were all read, and their Appeal alſo from the Judgment of the Province of Lower Guyenne, which was reported by the Deputies of that Synod. Whereupon, the Aſſembly declared, that the Appellants had not any Grievance at all upon them, and that their Appeal was therefore groundleſs, and rejected.