The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 28 (3rd Charenton) · Chapter 10
CHAP. X. Obſervations made on Reading the National Synod of Alenſon, held in the Year 1637.
1. IN compliance with that Petition of the Deputies of Vivaretz, and of the Church of St. Stephen in Foreſt, which had agreed in a particular Treaty made with the Church of Bonlieu, and by Conſent of the Province of Burgundy, that the ſaid Church ſhould be united as it hath been for divers Years laſt paſt with it; this Aſſembly doth approve both of their Reunion with the ſaid Province of Vivaretz, and of its being incorporated with that of Bonlieu.
2. In Confirmation of the promiſes made by the National Synods of Charenton, held in the Year 1631, the Second time at that Place; and of Alenſon, in the Year 1637, unto Monſieur Chamier, this Aſſembly reſolveth ſtedfaſtly as ſoon as God ſhall have inabled the Churches, that they ſhall be punctually performed.
3. A Decree paſt, that the Sieurs Conſtant and Bellot ſhould be effectually paid what had been promiſed them by the foregoing Synods, as ſoon as ever the Churches may recover a Fund for it; and it ſhall be returned unto the Province of Xaintonge, who had advanced before-hands the ſaid Monies.
4. For as much as the whole written Will and Teſtament of Monſieur Scoffier, the Father produced in this Aſſembly, hath not been in the leaſt fulfilled, although the National Synod of Alanſon had ſtrictly injoyned his Executors to perform it; the Conſiſtory of the Church of Niſmes is ordered once again to call before them the Widow of Mr. John Scoffier Deceaſed, who had applied to his own private uſes, the Monies belonging to Jaquemine his Siſter, tho ſhe was by their own Father made Joint-heir with him, that ſo ſhe may make Reſtitution of what ſhe had unjuſtly taken to her ſelf, and that by a falſe Information brought in by her unto the National Synod of Caſtres: And in caſe ſhe refuſe to Diſcharge her Conſcience in this particular, then ſhall the ſaid Conſiſtory proſecute her with all the Cenſures of the Church according to the Diſcipline.
5. Monſieur du Freſne producing Teſtimonials from the Province of Higher Languedoc, of his Godly Life, and moſt exemplary Converſation ever ſince the laſt National Synod, and out of reſpect to his moſt Humble and Importunate Petition, this Aſſembly granteth him his Deſire, and reſtoreth him to the Honour and Exerciſe of his Miniſtry, of which he had been deprived theſe Fourteen Years. And it was farther Decreed, that the Act of the National Synod of Alanſon relating to him, ſhall be Raſed; and whereas his Name was enrolled among the Depoſed, it ſhall be now taken off the File, and he ſhall be ſent unto the Churches of Iſſoire, Paillac, Chazelle, and Gazelle, to ſerve them as their Ordinary Paſtor. All which ſhall be ſignified unto him by Letters.
6. Complaints being brought in againſt Monſieur Amyraud, Paſtor and Profeſſor in Theology, at Saumur, for Violating the Canons of the National Synod of Alanſon, by Printing his Book of Reprobation, and ſome other of his Works; and the Province of Anjou, and the ſaid Monſieur Amyraud, who was deputed by the ſaid Church and Univerſity of Saumur, and charged with the Delivery of their Letters, having remonſtrated unto this Synod many and ſundry Tranſgreſſions of thoſe very Canons, by ſeveral Provinces. And the Provincial Deputies of Poictou being heard, and alſo the ſaid Amyraud, both as to the Publiſhing of his Books, and the Doctrin contained in them, this Aſſembly being very well ſatisfied with his Explications and Senſe given of his Doctrin agreeable to that of the Synod of Alanſon; and judging it beſt to bury in the Grave of Oblivion all thoſe reciprocal Complaints brought in from all Parties, hath, as formerly, diſmiſſed the ſaid Sieur Amyraud, with honour to the Exerciſe of his Profeſſorſhip, wherein he is exhorted to employ himſelf with Courage and Chearfulneſs. Moreover this Synod deſirous for the future to ſettle a good arid laſting Peace in all the Churches, and to ſatisfy the Requeſts of all the Provinces, which have unanimouſly demanded the ſtrict and punctual Confirmation and Obſervation of the Canons of the National Synod of Alanſon, doth moſt expreſsly forbid on pain of all Church Cenſures, yea, and of being depoſed from their Offices all Paſtors and Profeſſors to go beyond thoſe bounds in Writing, Preaching or Diſputing one againſt another upon thoſe points declared and explained in the ſaid Synod of Alanſon, or to publiſh any Books on thoſe Subjects. Moreover the ſaid Profeſſors ſhall be reſponſible for all their Lectures, Theſes and Diſputations; and their Provincial Synods ſhall be accomptable for them onto the National. And all Students in Divinity are moſt expreſly injoyned, upon pain of being declared unworthy of ever ſerving in the Sacred Miniſtry, to raiſe any Stirs or Debates about unneceſſary Queſtions, as concerning the Order of God's Decrees, of Univerſal Grace by the Preaching of Nature, which may lead and bring Men unto Salvation, Points only propounded and advanced by pure Curioſity, and for the Exerciſe of Mens Wits. And all Examiners of our Propoſans in order to the Miniſtry, ſhall proceed in that buſineſs with very much Charity, exacting from them nothing but what is demanded by the Canons of our Diſcipline; and provided they give that Satisfaction which is requiſite, by ſigning the Confeſſion of Faith, the Liturgy of our Churches, and the Canons of Alez, Charenton, and Alenſon, and this preſent Act, they ſhall be approved and admitted.
7. After Reading of this Canon, which Monſieur Amyraud promiſed to obſerve and obey, he petitioned the Synod, that in caſe his Works might be oppoſed by Books printed in Foreign Parts, without the Kingdom, to the blaſting of his Reputation, Licenſe might be given him to defend his own Innocency, and to make uſe of his Natural right in repelling injury, and purging himſelf from all Blame and Reproach. An Order paſſed, that if any ſuch thing fell out, he ſhould demand leave to vindicate himſelf from the Provincial Synod of Anjou, who ſhall conſider whether it will be expedient for his Conſolation, and the Churches Edification.
8. Monſieur Grace producing his Accompts of Monies received, and diſtributed to the Churches of Rochel, Montauban and Caſtres, ſhall carry them to the next Provincial Synod of Burgundy, where upon his Bringing forth of the Acquittances, this Accompt ſhall be concluded and paſt by the Authority of this Aſſembly.