The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 2 (Poitiers) – Table of contents 3
THE Synod of Poictiers.1560. Synod II.
SYNOD II.General Matters.
Articles of the Second Synod held at Poictiers, the tenth Day of March, in the Year of our Lord One thouſand five hundred and ſixty,The firſt Year of Charles the Ninth. a little before Eaſter, and in the first Year of the Reign of Charles the Ninth.
CHAP. I.
Monſieur Le Bailleur Moderator. Monſieur Reland Scribe.LE Bailleur choſen Preſident.
Roland Scribe.
CHAP. II. A Memorial to be preſented unto the States of FRANCE.
MEMORANDUM,
Extract out of the C. of the Fr. Ch. of L.WHenas the States of France ſhall be aſſembled at the Day appointed, there ſhall be this propounded unto the King's Majeſty, to the Queen Mother, and to the Princes of the Bloud, That they cannot be in a Capacity to ſatisfie the Requeſts tendered by the King of Navar at Orleance, till ſuch time as there be a lawful Counſel eſtabliſhed for his Majeſty: Becauſe there will otherwiſe be no Security for the performance of any Contracts and Ordinances that may paſs between the King and his Subjects, or between the Subjects themſelves, as hath been at all times done, and by thoſe of the last Aſſembly, who declared, That none could be his Majeſty's Privy-Counſellors, nor in his Council of State for any of his Affairs, unleſs they had been appointed and approved according to Law. For the Powers of thoſe in being expired at the Death of the late King, ſo that they are now only in the nature of a Committee, nor can they be reckoned among thoſe Counſellors, whoſe Commiſſion is irrevocable, as is theirs who are Counſellors in Soveraign Courts, and ſuch like inveſted with ordinary Juriſdiction: And at preſent his Majeſty hath no Will in Law, being a Minor, nor hath his Majeſty conſtituted them of his Council; nor hath the Queen Mother any Power to make them ſuch. Wherefore none other but the States of the Kingdom can nominate unto the Princes of the Bloud, thoſe Perſons whom they judge ſit to be Counſellors of State: nor do the ſaid States hereby in the least deſign or intend to revoke the Power and Authority of their Highneſſes the Princes of the Bloud; but only they deſire this, That they would be pleaſed to take their Advice in providing fit and worthy Perſons, Perſons of Quality and Honour, to take upon them, as Privy-Counſellors, the Management of the Affairs of this Kingdom, who ſhall be recommended to them, and choſen from among the Nobility and Lawyers. Nor do the ſaid Eſtates intend to propoſe or anſwer any thing till ſuch time as the ſaid Council be thus conſtituted by the Wiſdom of their Highneſſes the Princes of the Bloud, and be confirmed according to Law. And they do protest, That if any thing be attempted, or ordained by any others, that they will Appeal from them unto the next Aſſembly of the States, which ſhall be lawfully called, of the Nullity of their Powers and Actings. And farther, they do require, That the Lord High Chancellor, L'Hoſpital, do forbear acting in his Office as Chancellor, becauſe he hath not been nominated and recommended by the Eſtates, nor thereupon choſen and appointed by their Highneſſes the Princes of the Bloud.
CHAP. III. Obſervations, Corrections, and Additions to the Church-Diſcipline, couched and compriſed in the Acts of the first National Synod of the Reformed Churches of France, held at Paris, May 25th, 1659.
ARTICLE I. WHereas the Third Article of our Church-Diſcipline began with theſe words: [Every Miniſter ſhall come accompanied unto the Synods Provincial or National, with one Elder or Deacon of their Churches or more; and they ſhall all have their Votes in thoſe Synods.] There ſhall be this added as is now decreed, That Miniſters who come unto the National Synod, may bring with them one or two Elders or Deacons, but not more, choſen by their Conſiſtory, who ſhall have their, Votes in the ſaid Synod: And the Elders and Deacons, or others of that Church, where the Aſſembly ſhall be held, may be preſent at the Debates, and in their order they may give in their Opinions, and Arguments upon the Queſtion debated, but two of them only ſhall have power of Voting to avoid Confuſion, nor ſhall any Deputy depart the Synod without leave first had from the Moderator.
ART. II. To the Fifth Article, which ran thus: A Miniſter accompanied with one Elder or Deacon at least from every Church, ſhall meet together at least once a Year in every Province; there ſhall be this added, And they ſhall chooſe the most commodious Time and Place that may be for their Meeting.
ART. III. The Sixth Article was thus altered and amended: No Miniſter ſhall be now elected by one only Miniſter or his Conſiſtory, but with two or three Miniſters together with the Conſiſtory of the vacant Church, or if it may be the Provincial Synod, or by the Colloquy, which ſhall be called to ſit as much as may be in thoſe places where Conſiſtories be already inſtituted, and unto this the Miniſter who is to be ordained, ſhall make his Addreſſes, and from the Colloquy he ſhall be preſented unto the People to be accepted by them; but in caſe any one oppoſe his Admiſſion, the Conſiſtory ſhall judge hereof, and if neither part conſenteth, ſenteth, the whole ſhall be referred to the Provincial Synod, which ſhall take cogniſance as well of the Miniſter's Juſtification as of his Reception, provided the Conſiſtory and the greater part of the People do approve and conſent unto it.
ART. IV. There ſhall be this added to the Cloſe of the Twelfth Article, Ʋnleſs in in whichthoſe places where the Colloquy is made up of ſix Miniſters at least, caſe the Colloquy may take cogniſance of this Intruding Miniſter.
ART. V. Foraſmuch as it is in no wiſe expedient that our People ſhould bear Popiſh Preachers, or any others who are not lawfully called to preach the Goſpel in thoſe Churches which have a ſettled and ſtanding Miniſtry; therefore all true Paſtors are to hinder as much as in them lieth, the wandring of their People after them.
ART. VI. And whereas the Sixteenth Article begins thus: Such as teach unſound Doctrine, and being admoniſhed will not forbear; there ſhall be this Addition to it, And thoſe who ſhall diſobey the godly Counſels of God's holy Word given them by the Conſiſtory.
ART. VII. The Twenty Second and Twenty Third Articles of the ſaid National Synod of Paris ſpeaking of Elders and Deacons, and of their Office, were thus explained: The Elders Office as now uſed by us is not perpetual. And the Deacons Office is to Collect and Diſtribute the Poors Monies unto them, and to the Priſoners, and to the Sick, and to Viſit them in their Afflictions, and to go from Houſe to Houſe, and to Catechize the Members of thoſe Families: and in caſe any one of theſe Deacons be fit and qualified, and promiſe to devote himſelf for life to the Service of God in the Miniſtry of the Goſpel, then he may be choſen by the Paſtor and Conſiſtory to Catechize publickly according to the Form received in our Churches, and this by way of Tryal of their Gifts only, without giving them any power of Adminiſtring the Holy Sacraments.
ART. VIII. Upon the Twenty Fourth Article it was ſaid, That it did not belong to the Office of Elders and Deacons to Catechize in publick, and that their Office was not perpetual; yet notwithſtanding, neither the one nor other may depart from it, without leave firſt had and obtained from the Church.
ART. IX. Whereas the Thirty Third Article begins thus: Marriages ſhall le propounded, after thoſe words Notary Publick, ſhall be added, Or ſufficient Atteſtation where there is no Publick Notary.
CHAP. IV. New Articles added unto the Church-Diſcipline, framed in the First Synod of PARIS, May 1559.
ART. X. IT is now unanimouſly concluded, That in the Cloſe of every National Synod, one certain particular Church ſhall be inveſted with full Power to call within the Year a General Council of all the Provinces; in which there ſhall meet one Miniſter, and one Elder or Deacon at leaſt, for every Province; and other Miniſters have liberty to come if they pleaſe, and obtain leave from their Churches for ſo doing: And this General Council ſhall determine of all Church-Matters, nor ſhall there be any Appeal admitted from it, excepting in ſuch Points as itſelf ſhall judge needful to be turned over to the next General Council of all the Churches of this Kingdom, and of other Perſons who may think fit to come unto it. And it is left wholly to the Prudence of the General Council in being, to aſcertain the time when the next General Council ſhall be Aſſembled, which ſhall be according as the neceſſity of our Churches Affairs may require it.
ART. XI. And all Conſiſtories ſhall be admoniſhed by their Miniſters, that they do ſtrictly forbid all Dancing, Mummeries, and Tricks of Jugglers.
ART. XII. And whoſo is once denounced an Heretick or Schiſmatick, ſhall alſo be declared ſuch unto the other Churches, that they may be aware of him.
ART. XIII. Item, The Doctor in a Church may not Baptize, nor Adminiſter the Lord's Supper, unleſs he be ordained a Miniſter as well as Doctor at the ſame time.
ART. XIV. In every Church the Candidates for the Miniſtery ſhall Preach upon Tryal, and their Text ſhall be ſome certain Portion of God's holy Word, and this as time and place may conveniently bear.
ART. XV. Item, Whatever ſhall be decreed by the Provincial Synods concerning the Suſpenſion of Vagrant Miniſters, who intrude themſelves into Churches, it ſhall be as valid and effectual as if it had been ordained by the National Synod.
ART. XVI. All the Churches ſhall be admoniſhed to Maintain and Relieve their Miniſters in their Neceſſities. And in caſe they ſhould refuſe a Competency unto their Paſtors for their Subſiſtance, and having been warned of this their Duty, it may be lawful for thoſe Paſtors to remove from them, and to engage themſelves unto the Service of ſome other Church.
CHAP. V. General MATTERS.
ARTICLE I. IT is thought needful that in every Church there be a Conſiſtory, conſiſting of Miniſters, Deacons and Elders, exerciſing their Offices, who when Affairs ſo require may call in whom they think good to conſult withal.
ART. II. The Conſiſtories of the reſpective Churches ſhall be adviſed, that for time to come they do better diſcharge their Duty towards their Miniſters, by ſuccouring them in their Neceſſities, and raiſing Maintenance for them and their Families; becauſe Forreign Countries have been exceedingly ſcandalized at the Neglect and Ingratitude of divers Churches even in this particular.
ART. III. No Matters ſhall be propounded unto the National Synods, but ſuch onelyonly as could not be reſolved in the Provincial, nor ſhall any Caſes be brought unto them, but what are of general concernment to all the Churches.
ART. IV. When as Contention or Debate may ariſe about Articles of Faith,In Articles of Faith, Doctrin or Hereſie, the Votes of Miniſters, Deacons and Elders equal. But in Matters of Government the Votes of all ſhall be vallid notwithſtanding the inequality of Numbers. Doctrine or Hereſie, which cannot be decided by Diſputes either in the National or Provincial Synods, the Deacons and Elders ſhall be reduced to an equal number in voting with the Miniſters. And in other Matters relating to the Government of the Churches, although the Elders and Deacons exceed in number the Miniſters, yet their Suffrages ſhall be collected.
ART. V. In the firſt Conſtitution of a Church, he may be choſen for an Elder, who hath formerly, or doth as yet hold Communion with the Idolatry of Rome, provided always that he promiſe never to return more unto it.
Art. VI. A Miniſter newly choſen ſhall bring with him a Teſtimonial to be delivered into the hands of the Conſiſtory unto whom he is ſent, which ſhall be kept by them very carefully.
ART. VII. This Order ſhall be obſerved by him who begins to Preach in Publick, and to gather a Church, viz. That as ſoon as poſſible he can, he ſhall take their Names and Number who will ſubmit unto Diſcipline, and who are to be owned as Sheep of that Flock, that ſo all may not be received higly-pigly without diſtinction unto the Lord's Table; and over theſe there ſhall be had a moſt diligen… Inſpection.
ART. VIII. All Violences and Injurious Words againſt the Papiſts,No Injuries ſhall be offered unto the Popiſh Church Men. as alſo againſt their Chaplains, Prieſts, and Monks ſhall not only be forborn, but to the utmoſt of the Church's Power ſhall be ſuppreſſed.
ART. IX. The Church of Orleance is deputed to call the next National Synod within an Year, or thereabout, and to give notice thereof unto all the Churches three Months before of the Place, Day, and of all thoſe difficult Queſtions which are to be handled in it: And in order hereunto the other Churches ſhall within nine Months ſend unto them thoſe Difficulties which they would have debated and decided by them.
CHAP. VI. Particular MATTERS.
An Abjuration before the Magiſtrate muſt be repaired publickly.I. OUr Brother of Poictiers propounded this Caſe, Whether a Perſon having Abjured the Goſpel before a Judge and his Clerk, he be not bound to publick Pennance? To which it was anſwered, That inaſmuch as the Magiſtrate is a publick Perſon, the Abjuration done before him was publick, and therefore it muſt be repaired by a publick Repentance.
Promiſes of Marriage by words de praeſenti or de fufuturo, ought to be kept inviolate.II. Whether plain and ſincere Promiſes of Marriage made by word de futuro, may by conſent of the Parties be diſſolved? We anſwer, That ſuch Promiſes whether by words de proeſenti or futuro, ought inviolably to be performed: for although by thoſe words de futuro, the Accompliſhment be delaid, yet the Parties are nevertheleſs bound and obliged before God to fulfil them.
Touching the Baptiſing of Papiſts Children, ſee Partie. Matters, c. 3. of the firſt Synod at Paris.III. The Children of Popiſh Parents ſhall not be admitted unto Baptiſm in our Reformed Churches, although they were preſented by a believing Surety, unleſs the Father or Mother will deveſt themſelves of their Authority, and devolve it upon the Surety, yeilding up and releaſing to him their Right, and ſolemnly ingage that they will allow their Child to be Educated in the true Religion.
IV. Whether for Warning unto others ſuch Perſons may not be debarred the Lord's Supper, whoſe Repentance is only Exteriour? That may be ordered according to the Grievouſneſs of the Fact.
Whether we may lawfully ſerve ourſelves of Papal Diſpenſations.V. Whether a Monk who hath quitted his Monaſtery, may make uſe of the Pope's Diſpenſation, that ſo he may enter again upon his Eſtate? We anſwer, That the Monk hath done very ill in uſing ſuch unjuſt Means whereby to recover his Eſtate.
Whoſo makes a Trade of Dancing, after divers Admonitions, ſhall be excommunicated.VI. Upon mature Deliberation it is decreed, That whoſo profeſſeth a Trade of Dancing, and hath been divers times admoniſhed, and doth not quit it, ſhall be excommunicated, and principally becauſe of his Obſtinacy and Rebellion.
VII. It being demanded, What Courſe ſhould be taken with ſuch who having been a long time Members of the Church, yet do not Communicate at the Lord's Table, leſt they ſhould be obliged to a total Renunciation of Idolatry. We anſwer, That if after ſome convenient Time and Admonitions given them, they do not reform this their neglect, they ſhall be …nt off from all Communion with the Church.They are to be Excommunicate who refuſe to partake with the Church at the Lord's Table. Whether a dying Child may be baptiſed.
VIII. As to that Queſtion, Whether Baptiſm may be lawfully adminiſtred extraordinarily where the Child is ready to die? It was reſolved, That in thoſe places where the Word of God is ordinarily preached, the eſtabliſhed Order ſhall be obſerved; but in ſuch places where Sermons are had only extraordinarily, at an undue Hour, it is left to the Miniſter's Diſcretion to accommodate themſelves to the Infirmities of Parents, yet to be very careful that they do not nouriſh them up in Superſtition.
I…s not lawful to marry the Siſter of the deceaſed Wiſe.IX. May a Man lawfully Eſpouſe the Siſter of his deceaſed Wife, who hath left him Children begotten on her Body by him? To which was anſwered, That this is in no wiſe lawful nor expedient, and the Church muſt ſee to it, that no ſuch Marriages be ſolemnized in it.
X. May a Woman kept by a Prieſt as his Concubine, although ſhe proteſt he is her Husband, and the Prieſt alſo ſecretly owns her for his Wife, yet before Witneſſes denies it, may ſhe be continued in, or cut off from the Communion of the Church? We anſwer, That ſhe ought to uſe all Diligence in ſummoning the Prieſt to get their Marriage celebrated, and bleſſed in the face of the Church; and in caſe of refuſal by the Prieſt, ſhe ſhall ſeparate herſelf from him; and having given ſatisfactory Proofs of her Repentance, ſhe ſhall be received into the Fellowſhip of the Church.
Baptiſm by a private Perſon is null.XI. What is to be done in caſe a Child has been baptized by a private Perſon? It's anſwer'd, That to avoid the Scandal given and taken, there ſhall be Sermons preached for the better Information of the People, who ſhall alſo be acquainted with the Nullity of ſuch Baptiſm; and that this may be imprinted upon their Hearts, the Child ſhall be brought publickly into the Church there to receive the true Baptiſm.
XII. In a Church already conſtituted, may he be choſen for an Elder, who through weakneſs hath defiled himſelf with Idolatry, ſince his Admiſſion into Church-fellowſhip? It's anſwered, In caſe his Fall has been lately committed, and is freſh in memory, he ought not to be choſen.
May a Popiſh Prieſt adminiſter the Lord's Supper, ſince we do not diſannul his Baptiſm.XIII. May the Lord's Supper be received from a learned Popiſh Prieſt, ſince the Baptiſm adminiſtred by him is not repeated? It's anſwered, The Caſe is greatly differing; for he that Communicates is of Age, come to Years of Diſcretion, and capable of rejecting all the Impurities of his Miniſtration; whereas this cannot be done by the baptized Infant: wherefore it is in nowiſe lawful to receive the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper from the Hands of ſuch a Man.
Whether they ought be rebaptized who had been baptized by a Monk.XIV. Ought they to be rebaptized who were baptized by Monks? We anſwer, That Baptiſm adminiſtred by one deſtitute of Commiſſion and Calling is altogether Null: wherefore inaſmuch as Monks have no Call, neither from the Reformed Churches nor elſewhere, ſuch as have been baptized by them ought to be rebaptized, unleſs the Monk have been received by a People to preach the Goſpel to them, in which caſe there is the appearance of a Call.
XV. Should a Miniſter pay ſo much Deference to his Conſiſtory as to refuſe Preaching the Goſpel to another People, when he can do it without prejudicing his own Church? We anſwer, He ought to conſider what is moſt expedient for the Glory of God, and apply himſelf thereunto, and indeavour with his utmoſt power to keep Peace and good Underſtanding with his Conſiſtory.Whether they may be inform'd againſt who have been guilty of a Crime puniſhable by the Laws.
XVI. May the Faithful turn Informers againſt ſuch Church-Members as are guilty of Crimes puniſhable by the Laws? We anſwer, That as for ſcandalous Sins, and dangerous to the Commonwealth, the Faithful ought to aſſiſt the Magiſtrate in his Proceedings againſt the Impenitent, that perſiſt in their Wickedneſs: but w reiterated, the Cenſure of the Church ſhall be ſufficient.
XVII. May Prieſts and beneficed Perſons, yet now become Members of the Church, and ſerving in the Miniſtry, receive the Revenue of their Cures?Prieſts tho' Converts, and in the Miniſtry, may not receive a Penny of Revenue from their Benefices. Whether a Man having eſpouſed a Maid, and abſents himſelf from her three Years, upon his return her finds married, ought re-demand her. We anſwer, No; by no means.
XVIII. A Man having made promiſe of Marriage to a certain Maid; upon Diſcontent given him by her Parents, and to deſpight them, utters theſe words, You ſhall not ſee me in three Years time; and accordingly he leaves the Country for that time: Being returned at three Years end, he finds her married, Is he bound in Conſcience to re-demand her, or may he marry himſelf unto another? It was anſwered, That if it appear unto the Conſiſtory, that ſhe had re-married herſelf lightly, without having juſt and ſufficient cauſe to believe her Husband dead, becauſe ſhe hath falſified her Faith plighted to him by joyning herſelf unto another, he is not bound to re-demand her: But it ſhall be ſufficient for him to deſire the Magiſtrate, that he would declare him Diſcharged of his Promiſe. But if through falſe Reports ſhe had occaſion to believe him dead, and ſhe would not have plaid the Harlot, nor have violated her Faith given him, he muſt demand her, and be importunate that ſhe be reſtored to him.
May a Judge together with his Office exerciſe the Miniſtry.XIX. As to that Caſe, whether a Judge may together with his Judicial Office exerciſe the Miniſtry; it's anſwered, This is tolerated for a time, but not approved, becauſe the Miniſtry requires the whole Man, and therefore he ought to lay down his Judicial Office.
Advocates may not plead in the Officials Court.XX. Advocates of the Reformed Religion ſhall neither poſtulate nor plead in the Officials Court, unleſs it be in ſuch Caſes where Right only is to be had and obtained from them.
A Prieſt having ſold his Cure, can't be admitted to the Lord's Supper without a Recognition. Proceedings againſt an Elder for Uncleanneſs.XXI. A Prieſt having ſold his Benefice, though he hath not received the Monies, ſhall not be received unto the Lord's Table, unleſs he will proteſt never to touch or take a Farthing of that Sum, and for the Fault committed by him in ſelling his Benefice, he ſhall do Pennance before the Conſiſtory.
XXII. An Elder is accuſed of Adultery, which yet is denied by him: and although there be no ſufficient proof of his Crimes, yet becauſe of the great noiſe about it, and that the Woman proteſts the truth of it, that he hath had carnal Knowledge of her, and a Child by her, it is demanded, What Courſe is to be taken with him? It was anſwered, That he ſhould be ſuſpended his Office, and the Cogniſance of the Fact ſhould be referred to the Provincial Synod, to whoſe Juriſdiction this Buſineſs doth properly belong, and from whence there ſhall be no Appeal.
How he is to be dealt with, who hath had a Child by his Couſin-German.XXIII. A Man having promiſed Marriage to the Couſin-Geman of his deceaſed Wife, before his Marriage with her has carnally known her, and had a Child by her; but now ho deſires to be received into Communion with, and married in the Church. It was anſwered, That foraſmuch as the Marriage of Couſin-Germans is not prohibited by the Word of God, although it be by our Magiſtrates, it is adviſed, That they ſhall ſeparate for ſome time, and make publick Confeſſion of their Fault before the Church; and then the Miniſter reproving it, and admoniſhing that none offend for the future in this manner, they ſhall be then married.
Whether Women may preſent Children to Baptiſm.XXIV. The Queſtion being ſtarted, Whether Women might preſent Children unto Baptiſm? It was anſwered, That this Cuſtom ſhould not be introduced. Yet nothing hindred but that for ſome conſiderable Reaſons it might be upon times admitted.
XXV. It was thought meet to Adviſe the Churches, that in Matters of general concern to them, they ſhould ſend from every Province, upon a common Purſe, ſome particular Perſon, who follows the Court, to ſolicite the Affars of the Churches in that Province, at Court: and all theſe Soliciters are to communicate their Counſels together, that ſo they may be found unanimouſly agreeing in thoſe Suits which they proſecute. They ſhall alſo carry with them the Confeſſion of Faith, and conſult of ſome means how to Preſent it unto the King in the Name of all the Churches. Yet none of them ſhall pretend unto any Superiority over another: Moreover, every of them ſhall be admoniſhed by the Province, who diſpatched him with its Memoirs and Inſtructions, that in Matters of importance they decline not in the leaſt from them, without firſt imparting it unto their Province, or in caſe of great and urgent Neceſſity, without having took Advice from ſuch Miniſters as are then in Court, and the neareſt Church: Yet all theſe together ſhall have no Command nor Power over any Church, but only ſend their Advice unto their reſpective Provinces; and the Provinces upon thoſe Advices ſhall take that care and courſe which they ſhall judge moſt expedient.
XXVI. An Elder having collected Monies to be given unto Prieſts or others, that may ſing Maſſes for the Dead, is he to be depoſed from his Office? We anſwer, Let him be firſt heard in the Conſiſtory ſpeak for himſelf, before they proceed unto his Depoſal.
XXVII. It was demanded, Whether the Word of God might be preached publickly, without Authority from the Civil Magiſtrate? Anſwer was given, That there ſhould be ſpecial care had of the Time, and Publick Peace, and above all that there be no Tumults nor Sedition.
XXVIII. The Churches of Paris, Orleance, and Rouan are deputed by this preſent Synod, to Proteſt againſt the Popiſh Council now held at Trent, and of the Nullity of all its Deciſions and Decrees; and their Proteſtation ſhall be done either by Printed Books, or Oral Remonſtrances unto the King's Majeſty, or by any other way, as they ſhall judge needful.
XXIX. It is now Decreed, That the Deputies of the Provinces when they go to Court, ſhall take with them our Confeſſion of Faith; and conſult among themſelves how to preſent it unto His Majeſty, together with the Petitions of our Churches; and to this purpoſe they ſhall make Application unto thoſe Lords, who they know to be Favourers of our Cauſe and Religion.
XXX. Whereas divers Perſons do ſolicite this National Synod to ſupply the Congregations, who have ſent them hither, with Paſtors; they are all anſwered, That at preſent we are utterly unable to gratifie them; and that therefore they be adviſed to ſet up Propoſitions of the Word of God, and to take ſpecial care of Educating hopeful young Men in Learning, in the Arts, Languages, and Divinity, who may hereafter be imployed in the Sacred Miniſtry; and they are moſt humbly to Petition the Lord of the Harveſt to ſend Labourers who may get it in.
XXXI. May he be admitted to communicate in the Bread only at the Lord's Table, who hath an Antipathy againſt Wine? Yes, he may, provided that he do his utmoſt to drink of the Cup; but in caſe he cannot, he ſhall make a Proteſtation of his Antipathy.
The End of the Synod of Poictiers.
THE ACTS, DECISIONS, and DECREES OF THE III. National Synod OF THE Reformed Churches of Chriſt. IN The KINGDOM of FRANCE, HELD At ORLEANCE, in the Year of our LORD, 1562.
The Contents of this Synod.
Chap. I. A Moderator, and two Scribes choſen.
Chap. II. General Matters. The Synod to be called the General or National Church-Council of the Kingdom.
Chap. III. Diſcipline exerciſed upon Delinquents.
Chap. IV. Various Matters; Caſes of Conſcience, &c.