The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 28 (3rd Charenton) · Chapter 15

The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France · 28 (3rd Charenton) · Chapter 15

p. 476CHAP. XV. Particular Matters.

ARTICLE 1. ON the Firſt Day of January, being the Seventh after the opening of the Synod, the Sieur de la Milletiere having diſtributed ſome certain Copies of a ſmall Script of his juſt then Publiſhed, in which he acquainted the World with the Reaſons moving him to print another of greater bulk (whereof he preſented Two Copies unto this Aſſembly,) Intituled Inſtruction a la Foy Catholique, and farther demanded, that the Letters written by him unto this Aſſembly, and left in the Hands of the Scribes might be read; but they were not read, the Lord Commiſſioner having deſired the Tueſday following that they might be depoſited with him, to be ſent unto his Majeſty. And the ſaid Sieur de la Milletiere having on Monday the Eighteenth Inſtant, obtained his Majeſties leave to be preſent at this Aſſembly, he was admitted into it, when and where he diſcourſed of his Deſign, and of the Subject of his Book, and demanded that Commiſſioners might be appointed by the Synod for its examination, which was abſolutely refuſed him. The Synod remembred the Judgment paſt againſt him by that of Alanſon, which had Seven Years agoe expreſly ordred the Conſiſtory of Paris to threaten him, that unleſs he abandon'd his Opinions and Deſigns ſo very contrary to the Peace of our Churches, to his own Conſcience, and to God's Truth, he ſhould not be owned as a Member of theſe our Reformed Churches. Beſides, the Synod conceived that it was not reaſonable to take off any of the Deputies from their Service, and to imploy them in ſuch an unprofitable Occupation; or that they ſhould conteſt with a Fellow who would not ſubmit himſelf unto their Judgment and Authority, and who hath told the World that for theſe Two laſt Years he had no other Intention than to incorporate himſelf into the Communion of the Church of Rome, and to form a Party againſt all the Reformed Churches, impugning with might and main the common Confeſſions of all Proteſtants, perpetually accuſing them of contemning the Catholick, that is, his Romiſh Church, and of Schiſm from it, and propounding to them for the Rule of their Faith, the Acts and Canons of the Council of Trent; againſt which they have all unanimouſly proteſted, and do to this very Day proteſt againſt, both them and it. But the ſaid de la Milletiere having given it under his own Hand in Writing that he would ſubmit himſelf unto the Judgment of this Synod; when as the Commiſſioners, whom he himſelf had nominated, brought in their report, and the reſult of all their Conferences and Diſcourſe had been read, he changed the form of his Petition, and varying from what he promiſed of receiving a Charitable Inſtruction, he fell into a Contentious Diſpute full of Wranglings, upon the points in Controverſie, particularly upon that of Juſtification, and would needs have two whole Days allowed him for this Debate with them. However the Synod pittying his Weakneſſes, and deſirous by all means poſſible to reclaim him back unto his Duty, yeilded to his deſires, and ordered the Sieurs de Croy and de Langle Paſtors of the Churches of Beziers and Rouan to confer with him. And whereas the ſaid de la Milletiere had begun to debate the point of Juſtification with Monſieur Amyraud, Paſtor and Profeſſor of Divinity at Saumur, the Synod thought meet p. 477that their Conference ſhould be continued in preſence of thoſe Two forementioned Commiſſioners the remaining Thurſday, and part of the Day following; When the ſaid de la Milletiere importunately demanding that now in his turn he might oppoſe and produce the Arguments in defence of his Opinions confirmed, as he pretended by the Council of Trent; tho this was far wide from what he at firſt requeſted, yet was it freely granted him: And he having continued Writing till Evening, and for that it was needful he ſhould be anſwered, Monſieur Amyraud ſpent a great part of the Fryday night, and of the Saturday Morning in making a Reply unto him. Whereupon the ſaid de la Milletiere finding that the time allotted him was expired the Fryday Evening, he came and demanded a longer time for continuing the Conference: Which the Synod did once more refuſe him, eſpecially, becauſe that he had fully opened his Intentions, and in formal Words declared, that by that Writing ſubſcribed with his own Hand, he never promiſed to ſubmit his Doctrin, but Himſelf and Perſon to the Judgment of the Aſſembly; who taking, as in truth they could not but take this diſtinction, ſuch an one as it was, in any other Senſe than a notorious Scorn of their Juſt and Charitable Endeavours for his Eternal Welfare; They told him plainly, that neither they nor any of their Commiſſioners would waſte a moment more of their precious time about him, and adjured him by the Mouth of the Sieur Garriſſoles their Moderator, to give Glory unto God, and to relinquiſh his moſt impious Deſigns; and added farther, that they did as the National Synod of Alanſon had done before them, declare, that for divers Years paſt he was not to be reputed a Member of our Reformed Churches. After which, the ſaid de la Milletiere, demanded a Copy of the Conference, collation'd with the Original, and Sign'd by Monſieur Amyraud, and the Two other Commiſſioners, that he might make ſuch Reflections on it, as he thought beſt; which was readily accorded him by the Synod. But before the ſaid Copy was finiſhed, on Monday the 23d of January, the ſaid de la Milletiere accompanied with one de Nardeau Huiſſer des Eaux & Foreſts de France, Overſeer of the Waters and Foreſts, of France, living at Paris, came unto Charenton, and applying himſelf to Monſieur Blondel, one of the Scribes delivered to him by the Hands of the ſaid Nardeau an Act ſubſcribed with his own Hand, ſummoning the Synod to cauſe the ſaid Conference began at Charenton (by their Commiſſioners, whom he all accuſed, but eſpecially Monſieur Amyraud of Ignorance and Falſe Dealing,) to be continued in Paris: And Secondly, in caſe of Refuſal, that then they conſign unto them the Acts ſigned by the ſaid Commiſſioners, that he might examine them at his leiſure and pleaſure. Which ſaid Summons being brought in, and reported to the Synod by Monſieur Blondel, a Vote paſt, that Copies of thoſe Acts Collationed and Subſcribed by the ſaid Commiſſioners, and by Monſieur Amyraud, ſhould be delivered unto the ſaid de la Milletiere according to his deſire: And that Monſieur Amyraud ſhould be in readineſs to refute him, in caſe he ſhould attempt, as he threatned, to make any further oppoſition by his Scribbles againſt that ſound and ſaving Doctrin of Juſtification profeſſed in all the Proteſtant Churches. And whereas by theſe laſt actings of his, the ſaid de la Milletiere hath diſcovered himſelf to be immovably fixed in his Deſigns, of impugning the Truth profeſſed in all the Churches of this Kingdom, which he now treateth as his avowed Adverſaries; and that for theſe Twelve Years laſt paſt, notwithſtanding all Admonitions and Remonſtrances made him, he hath wholly eſtranged himſelf from our Communion, altho he hath frequently aſſiſted at the Sermons which have been during all that time, and ſtill are Preached at Charenton. This p. 478Synod confirming the Decree of the laſt National Synod held at Alanſon in the Year 1637. doth now ordain, that on the next Lord's Day, being the Nine and Twentieth of this Inſtant January, after the Morning Sermon is ended, and before the laſt Prayer is poured out before God, the ſaid Sieur de la Milletiere ſhall be denounced by the Paſtor from the Polpit in the Face of the whole publick Aſſembly an Excommunicate Perſon, and cut off from the Body of our Reformed Churches, and not at all to be reputed a Member of them.

A Copy of the Act of Excommunication, to be Publiſhed the 29th of January, 1645. againſt the Sieur De la Milletiere.

Moſt dear Brethren,

YOƲ have ſeen with very much Regret, how Theophilus Brachet Sieur de la Milletiere hath made it his buſineſs for ſeveral Years by his Publick Writings to combat the Faith profeſſed in all our Churches, and you have been a long time grieved in your Souls for his ſcandalous Actings and Proceedings, which are directly contrary to the bounden Duty of a Perſon educated from his Cradle in the knowledge and profeſſion of the True Religion, now utterly deſpiſed by him. He had rather abound in his own Senſe, and ſuffer himſelf to be ſeduced by his own Prejudices, than yield the leaſt tittle of Deference and Reſpect unto thoſe Remonſtrances and Admonitions, which the Chriſtian Charity of the Conſiſtory of this Church did in the firſt place make him, and which were again and again repeated to him by the expreſs Order of the National Synod of Alanſon, held in the Year 1637. and with this particular Clauſe, That in caſe he did not return unto himſelf, and give Glory unto God, within the ſpace of Six Months, by renouncing of his corrupt Opinions, and deſiſting from his ſinful Practices, that he ſhould be no more owned nor acknowledged for a Member of our Reformed Churches, thoſe juſt and needful Admonitions having wrought no Impreſſions upon his Heart, nor hitherto produced their long deſired and much expected Fruit and Effect, but that he is ſince the more hardened, obstinate and inexcuſable. The National Synod of the Reformed Churches in this Kingdom, which is now breaking up in this place, deſirous to apply a proper Remedy to ſo long a continued Scandal, and as much as in it lieth to procure your Edification, doth now ratiſie and confirm that Decree of the former Aſſembly held at Alanſon, and declareth to you by our Mouth, that the ſaid Sieur De la Milletiere, who hath been for Ten Years together ſuſpended from the Lord's Table, and Communion with the Church of God in that moſt holy Sacrament, and hath been ever ſince the Year 1638. cut off from the Number of the Faithful of our Confeſſion, ought not any longer to be reckon'd or reputed by you as a Member of the Reformed Amen.

This very Act was accordingly pronounced at the Cloſe of the Morning Sermon upon the Lord's Day, January 29. 1645. by Mr. Theophilus Roſſel, Paſtor of the Church of Xaintes, in the Church of Charenton, before that great and numerous Congregation.

p. 479ARTICLE II.The Petition of Monſieur du Mais, upon the account of his Services unto the Churches of Auvergne, is diſmiſſed over to the Province of Sevennes, who are to ſee him ſatisfied.

ARTICLE 3. The Petition of the Province of Sevennes concerning the Church of Dourbiez, ſhall be brought before the next Synod of Higher Languedoc, which is entreated to take it into their particular Conſideration.

ARTICLE 4. This Aſſembly declareth, that thoſe free Portions, which were by the National Synod of Castres put upon the Dividend of the Province of Sevennes to be diſtributed among the Churches of Auvergne, having not been payed into the ſaid Province, it is not at all accountable for them.

ARTICLE 5. Whereas the Widow of Monſieur Garnier deceaſed, complaineth, that the Wages of her late Husband were not paid him by the Church of Lorges: The Sieur de Cleſles Elder of that Church, and Deputy of the Province of Berry, anſwereth, That there was a courſe already taken for the diſcharge of that Debt; and he promiſed that the Quarter of Meſſac ſhould bring in their portion without delay unto the next Synod of Berry? and the ſaid Synod is enjoyned to ſee this Widow fully and entirely ſatisfied.

ARTICLE 6. The Sieur de la Lauſe petitioned by Letters, that his Son-in-law the Sieur Boronet might be ſet at Liberty from his ſerving the Churches in the Province of Xantonge, becauſe of his great Age, and that he needs him to look after the Concerns and Affairs of his Eſtate and Family: An Order paſſed, that this Petition of his ſhould be carried unto the next Synod of Xaintonge, which is charged to take it into their Godly Conſideration, and to deal with him according to the Rules of Charity and Equity.

ARTICLE 7. The next Synod of Berry ſhall take Cogniſance of the Petition of the Sieur Gueren, and in caſe he be oppreſſed, the Province of Burgundy is ordered by their final Judicial Sentence to redreſs his Grievances.

ARTICLE 8. Letters written by Monſieur Percy, Paſtor of the Church of Monflanquin, and Deputy for the Province of Lower Guyenne were read, in which he gave an Account of thoſe Cauſes which hindred him from attending on this Synod, as alſo the Titles of thoſe Works begun by him in defence of the Truth. This Aſſembly admitted his Excuſes, and ordered him to carry the Manuſcript Copies of his Works unto the Provincial Synod, which ſhall carefully examin them, that ſo with their Approbation they may be publiſhed.

ARTICLE 9. The Sieur Daubus, Paſtor of the Church of Nerac, Petitioned by Letters, that this Aſſembly would be pleaſed to conſtitute ſome certain Commiſſioners to examin a Book written by him, and preſented to the Synod of Lower Guyenne, and which was now brought hither unto this Nationa Synod. It was Voted that the ſaid Manuſcript Book of his ſhould be examined by Commiſſioners choſen in the Synod of that Province, who having approved of it, ſhould take Care about it's Impreſſion and Publication.

ARTICLE 10. This Synod being well informed both by the Letters of Monſieur Falquett a Paſtor Emeritus, and by the Speech of Monſieur Taby, of the deplorable Eſtate whereunto he is reduced: An Ordinance paſſed, That the ſaid Falquett ſhould be recommended to the Charity of the Churches, who have hither relieved him; with oar deſire, that they would be pleaſed to continue their Offices of Love and Chriſtian Kindneſs to him. p. 480And this Ordinance ſhall be ſent unto the Church of Maringues, whether the ſaid Mr. Falquett is ordered to retire.

ARTICLE 11. According to thoſe reſpective Letters written by the Paſtors and Conſiſtories of the Colloquies of Rouan and Caux, the Si…urs de L'Angle and Gueſdon having petitioned that thoſe two aforeſaid Colloquies might be ſundred, to make up each of them a particular Synod; the Sieurs Baſnage and Caillars, who ſpake for the four Colloquies of the Lower Normandy, which oppoſed this Separation, being alſo heard; The Aſſembly, after a mature Debate and ſerious Conſideration of the Reaſons pro & con, of the Conveniences and Inconveniences which might enſure upon this diſmembring, and for denying or granting their Requeſt, made this Decree, That the Separation demanded by them could not be allowed. And whereas the ſaid Sieurs Baſnage and Caillard have on their ſide requeſted, that without any reſpect had unto that diſtinction of Higher and Lower Normandy, this Aſſembly would be pleaſed to ordain, that whenever an Election ſhould be made of Deputies unto the National Synods, that it might he carried by Number of Perſons and Plurality of Suffrages, and not by that Cuſtom of deputing one tor the Higher, and another for the Lower Normandy: It was again reſolved, that the ancient Cuſtom ſhould not be abrogated, nor that any thing ſhould be innovated in the Form and Manner of their Elections.

ARTICLE 12. The Complaint of Monſieur des Marez in his Letters, was brought hither by the Deputies of the Lower Languedoc, and exaggerated by their Remonſtrances in this Synod, whereunto the Deputies of the Province of Vivaretz alſo did make Reply in their own Defence. Upon hearing of both Parties, the Conſiſtory of Montlimard (which was accepted by both Parties for their Umpire) was empower'd with Authority from this National Synod to determin finally of this Affair.

ARTICLE 13. Report was made by the Deputies of Normandy of a Suit at Law commenced by a certain Head of a Family belonging to the Church of Rouen againſt a Woman eſpouſed, without their Permiſſion, or the Conſent of his Parents, unto his Son. This Aſſembly decreed, that the Son, who by reaſon of this difference had been ſuſpended the Lords Table, ſhould humble himſelf unto his Father, and by all the Ways and Duties of Submiſſion and Reverence endeavour to regain his Favour and Bleſſing; and the Father ſhall be intreated and conjured by the Conſiſtory to limit a certain time when he will put an end unto this Proceſs. Which term being laps'd, the Son ſhall be received unto Communion at the Lord's Supper.

ARTICLE 14. The Complaint of Monſieur Gravier ſhall be brought before the next Synod of Burgundy, who ſhall take Care about it.

ARTICLE 15. Whereas Monſieur de la Fite hath repreſented, that there was a Clauſe inſerted into the Act of the Synod of Alanſon, fram'd upon the Account of the Sieur Fabas, and which concerned both him the ſaid La Fite, and the Sieur Gillott Advocate in the Parliament of Navarre, this Aſſembly decreeth, That the ſaid Sieurs ſhall appear before the Provincial Synod of Lower Guyenne, which is to determin finally of this their Affair.

ARTICLE 16. That Act made in the Synod of Lower Guyenne, held at St. Foy, on behalf of Monſieur Larigorrie, ſhall be executed according to its Form and Tenor; and the ſaid Sieur Larigorrie is according to the Intention of that Synod, recommended to the Charity of the Churches of Lower Guyenne, that from them he may receive the aſſiſtance promiſed to him.

ARTICLE 17. Till the Meeting of the Provincial Synod of Berry, unto which the Sieur L'Eufant ſhall preſent himſelf to be examined, the Church of p. 481B…e ſhall be ſupplied by the Paſtors of Orleans, Blois, Chaſteaudun, M…noir, Chillieure, D'Angeau and Mer, who ſhall take care of its Co… and Edification.

ARTICLE 18. Monſieur Drelincourt, one of the Paſtors of the Church of Paris, and Deputy for the Iſle of France, having preſented to this Aſſembly the books written by him upon that great Queſtion, about the Religious Worſhip paid by the Church of Rome unto the Bleſſed Virgin, and maintained by the Biſhop of Bellay, received the Thanks of the whole Aſ…mbly for his Deference and Reſpect given to it; his Zeal alſo in d…nce of God's Truth was praiſed and applauded by all the Members, and he was entreated to conſecrate the reſidue of his Labours and Studies to the common Edification of God's Church, and the Confutation of its Adverſaries.

ARTICLE 19. The Sieur de Morande Deputy for the Province of Burgundy, petitioned on behalf of the Church of Buſſy, that this Aſſembly would be pleaſed to direct them what Courſe they ſhould take to recover divers Legacies bequathed to it, and to cauſe ſeveral Perſons, which owe the Monies, to make payment of thoſe Sums aſſeſſed on them for the Maintenance of the Holy Miniſtry among them. A Decree paſſed, That he ſhould carry his Petition unto the next Synod of his Province, who ſhall adviſe them to uſe their beſt Prudence in choice of thoſe Means which will be moſt effectual and expedient for them in their preſent Circumſtances.

ARTICLE 20. The Complaint of Monſieur Ramet, Paſtor of the Church of Pontigny, about certain Letters very injurious to him, and written by an unknown Perſon under the feigned Name of Philarque, is diſmiſſed over to the Cogniſance of the Sieurs Baſnage and de L'Angle, and of the Commiſſiones their Colleagues, nominated by this Aſſembly, to paſs over unto Vitre, and there to labour conjunctly in the ſetling and reſtoration of Peace and good Order in the Church of Chirſt gathered in that Town.

ARTICLE 21. The Provincial Deputies of Poictou having preſented the firſt Tome of reconciling thoſe Texts of Scripture which ſeemingly differed and diſagreed, written by the Sieur D'Artois Paſtor of the Church of St. Hillary, and Dedicated by him unto this Aſſembly; and the Letters of the ſaid Sieur D'Artois being read, in which he requeſted, that by Order of this Aſſembly his Book might, be examined and approved, and then in conſequence thereof printed and publiſhed, it was reſolved that Letters ſhould be written him in commendation of his Zeal and good Affection towards the clearing up of God's Truth. But inaſmuch as he had been already prejudiced by the Sieurs de Perſy and D'Aubus, who had offered to communicate their Labours on this Subject to him, and that the Straits of Time, and multitude of Buſineſs could not permit this Aſſembly to examin and reviſe his Book, the Province of Poictou was charged to deliver the Meſſage of this Aſſembly to him, and praiſing him for his great Pains and Undertaking, to aſſure him, that when they had examined and approved of this Work of his, they would take care for its Impreſſion and Publication.

ARTICLE 22. The Sieur Bernardin, Paſtor of the Church of Cartays, petitioned this Aſſembly by his Letters to aſſiſt him in the purchaſe of Books needed by him in proſecution of his great Deſign of refuting the Annals of Cardinal Baronius; a Work which he hath undertook from that Evidence and Knowledge God hath given him of the many Weakneſſes and Failures in the Adverſary. An Anſwer was Voted to be ſent him, That foraſmuch as the Churches had no Fund at their Diſpoſal, this Aſſembly was not in any condition to ſatisfie his Demand. And touching his p. 482Work, if he pleaſed to go on with it, he ſhould render an account of it unto the Province of Lower Guyenne, who are to judge how uſeful and ſerviceable it may be unto the Churches.

ARTICLE 23. The Sieur Richard was upon his Petition admitted to be heard give the Reaſons why he had varied from that Act, made on his Occaſion in the laſt National Synod of Alanſon; and the Aſſembly allowing his Plea of Bodily Indiſpoſition, which did not ſuffer him to perform any Duties of his Miniſterial Calling, hath abſolutely diſcharged him from it, and freeing him from that neceſſity of returning to the County of Vaux, doth again recommend him to that Charity, which hath been uſually extended to him by the Iſle of France, and that he might be enabled to return unto his own Houſe, there were ſome Effects of their Bounty imparted to him by this Aſſembly, with an expreſs Injunction laid upon him, that he ſhould never for the future trouble theſe Synodical Meetings with Complaints of his Poverty and Neceſſities.

ARTICLE 24. The Sieur Arnaud came in Perſon unto this Aſſembly, and demanded its aſſiſtance and advice in his perplexed condition; and he was directed to ſteer this courſe, that if he intended to have his Majeſty's Interdiction removed from him, he ſhould ſolely addreſs himſelf unto his Majeſty's Courts of Juſtice; and in caſe the King ſhould be pleaſed to releaſe and acquit him, and reſtore him once again unto his Miniſtry, that then he ſhould go unto the Conſiſtory of Niſms, who having ſent their Deputies upon the Place to take cognizance of the Carriage of the Church of Anduſa towards him, and of the Sieur Bouit, who was ſince inducted into it, and calling in to their aſſiſtance, for the confirmation and ſtrengthening of their Act, four of their Neighbour Paſtors, they ſhall by Authority of this preſent Synod proceed unto the Reſtoration of the ſaid Sieur Arnaud, and to cenſure thoſe Perſons who have ſo baſely and unworthily forſook him in his Troubles; and they ſhall cenſure the Sieur Bouit, who is ſince gotten into his place: And if upon a ſtrict Examination, they find him to have intruded himſelf into the Church of Anduſa, they ſhall deal with him according to the Rigour of the Diſcipline. And the Expence and Charges of thoſe Deputies from the Conſiſtory of Niſms ſhall be defrayed both by the Church of Anduſa, and by the Sieur Bouit.

ARTICLE 25. The Expences which the Sieurs Arnaud, Bland, and others, have been neceſſitated to make through the Wiles and crafty Practices of their Adverſaries, ſhall according to the Order paſſed in this Aſſembly, be repayed them by the Churches of Sevennes, and thoſe Churches, which had called them, ſhall every one of them bear their proportions of one Third, and the Colloquies in whoſe Diviſion they are another third, and the Province the laſt third.

ARTICLE 26. Mr. Blondel, who when he was choſen Deputy for the Iſle of France, ſtood related as Paſtor to the Church of Houdan, and hath been ſince removed by the laſt Synod of the Province, who permitted him to reſide in Paris, that he might with the more conveniency intend his Studies, as appeareth by the Act of that Synod, which was now read, did petition the Synod to determin the Nature and Quality of his Function by ſome particular Act made by it, and to be inſerted into the Body of the Acts of this National Synod, and to take it into their Conſideration, whether they do approve of his Reſidence at Paris. Secondly, That inaſmuch as he hath frequent Intelligence given him from divers parts, that there be ſome at work to anſwer his Treatiſe De Primatu, whether it would be proper for him to be ready to defend it, or whether they would lay that Task upon another, which he leaveth, as he doth all his Concerns, to the diſpoſal of the Churches. And he deſired that the Synod would be pleaſed to order thoſe Perſons who made any Remarks upon the ſaid p. 483Treatiſe to communicate it to him for his better Information. Thirdly, Whether thoſe Treatiſes compoſed by him on ſeveral Subjects both in Divinity and Hiſtory, the Catalogue of which he now produced, might be any ways uſeful and ſerviceable to the Publick. Fourthly, and in caſe thoſe Helps and Aſſiſtance which he hath hitherto had at Paris ſhould come to fail him, or he ſhould be too much diverted, from his Studies, by looking after a Maintenance, he might not be licenſed to accept of … Call in a Foreign Land, and to quit his Paſtoral charge, that ſo he might be the better inabled to attend upon that great work of defending the Truth, a Province conferr'd upon him by Decrees of the National Synods of Caſtres, Charenton and Alanſon, and to ſpend the remainder of his Life in ſerving God and his Church in this weighty Imployment. The Synod acknowledging the great … the Publick received by his Learned Labours, and that they might be perfected, he could not be ſetled in a more convenient place than in Paris, becauſe of the great confluence of Learned Men, and the oppo… … of correſponding with Learned Foreigners, and for that the cho… … braries of all France are in this City, did judge, that it was beſt for … that according to the decree of the Synod of the Iſle of France, he do continue his Reſidence here, and that he retain his Quality of Miniſter of the Goſpel, which is ſo juſtly due unto him. And he was injoyned to be in readineſs to reply unto ſuch as ſhould undertake to anſwer his Book de Primatu, as being the fitteſt Perſon in the World to do it, and who will acquit himſelf moſt worthily thereof to general ſatisfaction. And he was exhorted to Publiſh as ſoon as poſſible he could theſe Treatiſes in Divinity and Hiſtory, whoſe Catalogue was … Aſſembly, which we are fully perſwaded will very much contribute to the Edification of Gods Church. And in particular he is ord… to haſten the publication of his Treatiſe concerning Biſhops and P…ſts, and of that alſo wherein he proveth, that there is little or no Evidence that St. Peter was over at Rome. And becauſe we are well acquainted with his great Abilities, excellent Gifts and Talents eſpecially with his vaſt knowledge in the Antiquities of the Chriſtian Church, for which he is moſt highly valued by all our Churches, we cannot in any wiſe conſent that he ſhould depart the Kingdom; and therefore we do moſt earneſtly exhort him to take up his Dwelling in Paris, and there he may injoy thoſe helps which the good Providence of God doth afford him for the accompliſhment of his deſigns. And ſith it is unreaſonal ſo that he ſhould always work for the Publick, and lay himſelf out to painfully and laboriouſly upon a tails impoſed on him by the …at…al Synods, without ever receiving any benefit, this preſent Synod conſidering him as an Honorary Profeſſor, have by the …ammous conſent of all the Deputies of the Provinces, over and above what is paid him by the Province of the Iſle of France, decreed to him the …ual Penſion of a Thouſand Livers, which ſhall be carefully paid in unto him by the Provinces, according to that account hereunder couched, and in the ſame manner and proportion as they pay our Univerſities; and they ſhall be obliged all and every of them to ſend in their reſpective Quota's Yearly unto the Conſiſtory of the Church of Paris, The Synod being exceeding ſorry that they cannot gratifie him ſuitably to their own Deſires, and his great Deſerts by thoſe many excellent Endowments he is Owner of, and thoſe incomparable Works that he hath given to the Publick.

p. 484A Dividend of the Sum of a Thouſand Livres granted by the National Synod to Monſieur Blondel, Miniſter of the Holy Goſpel, to be taken from theſe Thirteen Provinces hereafter Named.

There be Two and Twenty Livers, Fifteen Sous more than the Thouſand Livers ordered to Monſieur Blondel, which are to be laid by in Stock.

ARTICLE 28. Monſieur Gautier Paſtor of the Church of Archiac, having in Obedience to that order given to all the Provinces by the National Synod of Alanſon, compiled the Canons of our National Synods into a body, and applied them to the reſpective Canons of our Diſcipline, preſented his work unto the Synod of Xaintonge, which charged their Deputies to tender it unto this Aſſembly, together with the Letters of the ſaid Gautier. The Synod ordained that his Letters ſhould be anſwered, and his Godly Zeal for the Publick Service of the Church commended, and that his Province which hath firſt experimented the utility of his Labour, ſhould be exhorted to expreſs before all others their gratitude unto him.

ARTICLE 29. Monſieur Catelon having laboured in the explication of the Canons of our Diſcipline, by applying to them the Canons of our National Synods, which expounded and confirmed them; and this in purſuance of that Counſel given by the laſt National Synod, preſented his Collection unto the Synod of Vivaretz, who cauſed it, together with the Authors Letters, to be brought unto this Aſſembly by their Deputies, and craved that the ſaid Catelon might be reimburſed of his Charges. The Aſſembly judged that the ſaid Province who imployed him in this work for the Publick Service of the Churches in their Diviſion, ſhould give him all Satisfaction; and in the mean while he ſhould be applauded for contributing his good Intentions to the edifying of the Faithful, and promoting the exerciſe of our Diſcipline.

ARTICLE 30. The Church and Univerſity of Sedan having repreſented by their Letters how gracious and favourable their Majeſties have been unto them ever ſince they incorporated the Principalites of Sedan and Raucourt with the Crown of France; and that this Aſſembly would be pleaſed to give forth their Order, that our Scholars might ſtudy in their Univerſity, as well as in others of this Kingdom. A Decree paſſed, that an Anſwer ſhould be return'd them, expreſſing the Joy of all our Churches p. 485at their Proſperity; and to aſſure them that there ſhall be an equal reſpect had unto their Univerſity, as unto the Four others erected in this Kingdom.

ARTICLE 31. That Complaint made by Monſieur de la Fonds, formerly a Miniſter, but now a Schoolmaſter at Cajare, againſt his Siſter, and Monſi…e de la Roche Paſtor of the Church of Card…illac, ſhall be carried by him unto the Conſiſtory of Montauban, which ſhall ſummon the Parties before them, and judge finally of the difference between them, by the Authority of this Aſſembly.