The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 3 (Orleans) – Table of contents 4
THE Synod of Orleance.1562. Synod III.
SYNOD III.
Articles of the National Synod held at Orleance, the Twenty fifth Day of April, in the Year One thouſand five hundred ſixty and two, after Eaſter, in the Second Year of K. Charles IX.
CHAP. I.
Monſieur De Chandieu, was a very learned French Divine: His Works are, 1. The Marks of the True Church. 2. De L'Ʋnique Sacrifice. 3. Contra les Traditions, &c. in Follo. He was Lord of Chandieu, and Baron of Chabot, choſen by the Church of Paris to be their Paſtor at Twenty Years of Age, and Moderator of this National Synod at Twenty three: A Gentleman of eminent Piety and Gravity. He was deſired by the King of Navary to be his Paſtor; and upon his Death removed to Geneva, where he was called to the Paſtoral Office in that City, and diſcharged it with very great fidelity. He never took any Wages for his Work in the Miniſtry. He wrote himſelf, Sadeel; which is the Hebrew of Chandieu, The Field of GOD. He died of an Hectick Fever, in the 57th Year of his Age, ſaith Mr. Du Thou; but he was miſtaken, for it was in the 63d, Anno 1591. Melchior Adams hath writ his Life, among his Theolog. Exteri.ANthony de Chandieu, Miniſter in the Church of Paris, choſen Preſident. Robert le Macon, Lord La Fountaine, Miniſter in the Church of Orleance, and Peter Sevin Deacon of the Church of Paris, choſen Scribes by General Conſent of the Deputies.
CHAP. II. General MATTERS.
This Synod bears the Name, and has the Authority of a General Council, by the Advice of the Aſſembly.I. THE Miniſters and Elders Convocated in this Aſſembly of Orleance, for the General Council of France, following the Determination of the laſt Synod held at Poictiers, are of Opinion, That the preſent Aſſembly ſhould have, and bear the Name and Authority of the Council General of the Deputies of this Kingdom, notwithſtanding that ſeveral Deputies are abſent, who ſhall be ſufficiently informed of Matters debated and reſolved in this Council, together with the Reaſons for which, notwithſtanding their abſence, we were conſtrained to proceed without them; all which ſhall be more largely declared in the next General Council; where alſo ſhall be heard the Reaſons of thoſe abſent Deputies, for their Non-attendance, and their Arguments, if need be, againſt the Deciſions of the preſent Council.
Miniſters of Princes and great Lords ſhall ſign the Confeſſion of Faith.II. The Princes, and other great Lords following the Court, in caſe they would have Churches inſtituted in their Houſes, ſhall be deſired to take ſuch for their Paſtors, as are Miniſters in Churches truly Reformed, bringing with them ſufficient Teſtimonials of their Lawful Call unto the Miniſtry; who ſhall before their Admiſſion, ſubſcribe the Confeſſion of Faith of the Churches in this Kingdom, and our Church-Diſcipline. And that the Preaching of the Goſpel may be more ſucceſsful, the ſaid Proteſtant Lords ſhall be requeſted, every one of them, to erect a Conſiſtory,There ſhall be a Conſiſtory in their Houſes. compoſed of the Miniſters and other Perſons moſt eminent for Piety in their ſaid Family; by which Conſiſtory all Scandals and Vices ſhall be ſuppreſt, and the Rules of Diſcipline obſerved. Moreover, thoſe Miniſters ſhall be preſent at Provincial Synods, if it may poſſibly conſiſt with their occaſions: And that this may be effected, the Council hath ordained, That the Province in which the Synod ſhall be aſſembled, ſhall be obliged to call them to it: And thoſe Miniſters eſpecially, or a part of them ſhall be there preſent, being deputed by the reſt unto the General Synods together with their Elders, who may inform the ſaid General or Provincial Synods, of their Lives and Converſation. And in caſe the ſaid Lords and Princes have divers Houſes, they ſhall be advertis'd,None to have preheminence over another. that none of their Miniſters may pretend domination or preheminence over another; according to that Article of our Church-Diſcipline in this caſe expreſly provided. And when as the ſaid Lords and Princes ſhall reſide in thoſe Houſes of theirs, where there is a Church already formed, we deſire for the preventing of all Diviſions, that the Church in their Family would joyn itſelf unto the Church of that place, and for that time to make but one Aſſembly.
III. Whenas the Lord's Supper ſhall be celebrated in the cloſe of every Synod, according to the Fourth Article of our Church-Diſcipline, in the Acts of the Firſt National Synod: The ſaid Sacrament ſhall not be adminiſtred privately to the Miniſters and Elders only deputed unto theſe Synods, but in publick, and to the whole Church, in which they be aſſembled.
A Biſhop or Curate may not be received into the Miniſtry, till they have firſt renounced all their Benefices, and long tryal had of them.IV. If it happen that a Biſhop or Curate, deſire to be promoted unto the Miniſtry of the Goſpel, they may not be received, till ſuch time as they are firſt admitted Members of the Church, renouncing all their Benefices, and other Rights depending on the Church of Rome, profeſſing alſo publickly Repentance for their paſt ſins, as they ſhall be ordered by the Conſiſtory; and after long tryal and proof had of their Repentance, and Godly Converſation, they may be choſen into the Miniſtry of the Goſpel, according to the Canons of our Church-Diſcipline, 6 & 8. of the Synod of Paris, and 3. of Poictiers.
A Miniſter muſt be ordained to a particular Flock. Miniſters may not quit their Churches, nor joyn themſelves unto any other, without the Authority of the Provincial Synod, or without the Conſent of the Neighbour-Miniſters, or of that Church unto which they were ſent. Miniſters preſide by Turns. Provinces may not be divided without the Advice of Synods.V. Miniſters ſhall not be ordained without aſſigning them to ſome particular Flock. If they be ſent any where for a certain time, that time being expired, they ſhall return unto the Church from whence they parted, and be under her power: And in caſe they were not accepted by the Church, unto which they were ſent, they ſhall be at liberty to return unto the Church from which they parted, or elſe to wait the Determination of a Provincial Synod concerning them; during which time they may not Preach, but by the Advice of two or three Neighbour-Miniſters. And this alſo ſhall be obſerved by them, who having leave do depart their Churches, without ever being ſent elſewhere, that ſo no Miniſters may be Vagrants, nor by their own Authority intrude themſelves where beſt liketh them.
VI. Miniſters ſhall preſide by Turns in their Conſiſtories and Synods, that ſo none may preſume to any ſuperiority over another.
VII. The Diviſion of Provinces, as they relate unto Provincial Synods, ſhall remain in their firſt Eſtate: And in caſe the ſaid Provinces have too great a number of Churches, they may be divided according to the Advice of thoſe Provincial Synods, which ſhall conſider the conveniency of thoſe Churches, complaining of their too great diſtance, and recommend them to another Province nearer to them, and more commodious for them; and giving them to this purpoſe Letters of Diſmiſſion unto that Province, into which they ſhall be incorporated. And as for Churches erected ſince the laſt Provincial Synods, and others that may be hereafter conſtituted, they ſhall be obliged to joyn themſelves unto the neareſt Province.
VIII. The Faithful ſhall be exhorted not to Scandalize the Papiſts by working upon Holy-days.Works may not be done on Feſtivas. Spiritual Kinred not compriſed in the words of Affinity and Conſanguinity. Rule for Marriages diſſolved by Adultery. And as concerning that which they call Spiritual Kinred, this Council is of Opinion, That it is not compriſed nor underſtood by the words of Affinity and Conſanguinity in the laſt Edict of January: However, it adviſeth, That the Deputies of the Churches do, upon the firſt occaſion preſented to them, endeavour to obtain the King's Declaration as to this and other matters.
IX. And as for Marriages diſſolved for Adultery, it is now Ordained, That the Churches may not marry thoſe Perſons without obſerving this Order: The wronged Perſon, who hath not offended, ſhall be bound to Proſecute at Law before the Magiſtrate its offending Party, ſo long till that by his final Sentence he be convicted;See the 53d Article of the Synod at Vert…til. which ſaid Sentence he ſhall produce before the Conſiſtory, demanding leave and permiſſion to marry. Which Conſiſtory having called the Parties concerned before them, may grant them Licenſe to marry. But the offending Party ſhall not be permitted Marriage till ſuch time as the Offended be firſt married; and then this Offender having done publick Pennance according to the Prudence of the Conſiſtory, may have Licenſe to marry. And this Canon ſhall be in force till the Churches have greater Liberty. This ſhall hold alſo in the caſe of Fornication after Promiſes of Marriage, where the Whoredom was not known unto the eſpouſed Party.
Such as cohabit before Marriage ſhall do publick Penance, or before the Conſiſtory.X. Whoſo ſhall have cohabited together as Man and Wife without having been firſt lawfully and ſolemnly married, and now demand to be married, ſhall do publick Penance, or at leaſt before the Conſiſtory, according to its Diſcretion: and then the Marriage may be celebrated, all requiſite Solemnities being firſt obſerved; excepting ſuch Perſons who ſhall have cohabited together during the time of their Ignorance, and not deſpiſed contemptuouſly the Orders of our Churches. And it ſhall hold alſo in their Caſe who have cohabited together, where there was no Church conſtituted in the places of their abode: Theſe ſhall only be called into the Conſiſtory, that their Marriage may be ratified.
None may with a good Conſcience adviſe the buying of an Office Judicial. Care muſt be had about Modeſty in Garments.XI. It being expreſly forbidden us by the Kings to purchaſe any Eſtate or Office of Judicature; no Church ſhall adviſe the doing of it.
XII. The Churches ſhall admoniſh the Faithful of both Sexes to be very Modeſt in their Apparel, and to retrench all Exceſſes and Superfluities, which are originally committed in and about it: However, the Churches ſhall make no Decrees concerning it, becauſe 'tis a matter belonging to the Civil Magiſtrate; but they ſhall cauſe the King's Ordinances relating hereunto diligently to be obſerved. Nor may the Churches excommunicate any Man or Woman for uſing ſuch Habits and Faſhions as are common and cuſtomary in this Kingdom.
Benefices may not be purchaſed for fear of countenancing Idolatry. No Paſtor may be deputed to Viſit the Churches.XIII. The Faiſthful cannot with a good Conſcience purchaſe any Benefices, nor part of their Revenue, leaſt by this means they ſhould be intangled with ſome kind of Idolatry, or in the leaſt ſort be Favourers of it.
XIV. Whereas ſome Miniſters have been deputed by certain Provincial Synods to viſit the Churches; this Council doth adviſe, That the Order formerly uſed to diſcover Scandals, ariſing in the Churches being ſufficient for that purpoſe, is now again ratified and approved by this Council, and this new-found Office is condemned, becauſe of its dangerous Conſequence.
No Prayers at the Grave.XV. That all Superſtition may be avoided, Miniſters ſhall not uſe any Prayers at the Interment of our Dead.
When the Diſcipline is to be read in the Conſiſtories.XVI. The Articles of our Eccleſiaſtical Diſcipline ſhall be read in the Conſiſtories of the Reformed Churches, at ſuch times at leaſt when as the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is adminiſtred.
XVII. The Churches ſhall ſuppreſs Uſuries, and all manner of Extortions, as much as lieth in their Power: yet they may not condemn thoſe who receive a moderate Profit for the Loan of their Monies, provided it be conformable to the King's Ordinance, and the Rule of Charity.All Uſury is ſharply to be reproved. See the Synod of Lyons, p. 9.
XVIII. Prieſts, Monks, and other Eccleſiaſticks of the Romiſh Church, before they be received unto Communion with us at the Lord's Supper, ſhall manifeſt their Repentance before the Conſiſtory, and for ſome particular cauſes, if the Conſiſtory do judge it requiſite, they ſhall teſtifie it before the whole Aſſembly.
Concerning Monitories. See the Synod of Montpeillier, Obſervations on the Diſcipline, Art. 24. The Faithful may do nothing that may favour Idolatry.XIX. The Faithful may not take out Admonitions, or execute Excommunications from the Church of Rome, nor obtain a Diſpenſation for Swearing from the Official, or any other belonging unto that Church; and though there hath been a Recompenſe given, the Oath cannot hinder the Reſciſſion of the Contract.
XX. Printers, Bookſellers, Painters, and in general all the Faithful, eſpecially ſuch as bear Office in the Church, ſhall be admoniſhed, not to exerciſe their Arts, Office, or Calling in or about the Superſtitions of the Romiſh Church, or their Dependencies, nor in the leaſt to ſavour them: and the Cogniſance of particular Matters, that may happen hereupon, and their Correction and Reformation ſhall belong unto the Conſiſtories.
What Names may be given or rejected in Baptiſm.XXI. Concerning Names, impoſed upon Children, Miniſters ſhall reject thoſe which yet remain of old Paganiſm; nor ſhall they give unto Infants ſuch as are attributed unto God in Holy Scripture; nor Names of Office, as Baptiſt, Angel, Archangel: moreover, Parents and Sureties ſhall be admoniſhed, as much as in them lieth, to take thoſe which are approved by God's ſacred Word.
XXII. Although a Church having lent a Miniſter for a time, and that expired, may re-demand him back unto its Service; yet ought it to have reſpect unto the Neceſſities of that Church where the ſaid Miniſter hath been ſent, and ſhall ordain herein what will make moſt for the Glory of God, and the Edification of his Church.
XXIII. No Church ſhall marry any Perſons without having firſt received ample Information and Approbation of and about them.
XXIV. The Inconveniencies which have already riſen, and may in time to come ariſe from the uſual publick Catechiſings by Deacons having been heard and conſider'd, the Council hath remitted the intire Deciſion of this Matter unto the next National Synod; and in the mean while Exhorts thoſe Churches which have not received that Cuſtom, never to admit it; and in other places where it is practiſed, the Churches are likewiſe exhorted to deal with their Deacons in caſe they be fitted for it, to enter into the Miniſtry as ſoon as poſſible they can.
One may be adjured in Conſiſtory to declare the Truth. Bookſellers may not print any thing againſt Religion, nor may the Hawkers vent any ſcandalous ones.XXV. The Faithful may by their Conſiſtories be adjured to declare the Truth, becauſe this doth not in the leaſt derogate from the Authority of the Civil Magiſtrate.
XXVI. Churches having Printers and Bookſellers, ſhall carefully adviſe them to print no Books concerning Religion, or the Diſcipline of the Church, before they have communicated them unto their Conſiſtories, becauſe of the Inconveniencies that have arriv'd: Nor may many Bookſellers or Hawkers ſell ſcandalous Books, nor may they in the ſale of their Books take unto themſelves immoderate Gains.
CHAP. III. Diſcipline exerciſed upon Delinquents.
Particular Matters.
THe Council having heard and conſidered the Proceedings againſt James le Fevre, his Excommunication, and the publick Penance impoſed on him by the Authority of the laſt Provincial Synod held at Gien, and the Deportment of the ſaid Le Fevre in undergoing publick Penance, together with its Conſequences; and having underſtood the whole of that Affair partly from the Relation of the Brethren, and partly from his own Confeſſion; the Council is of Opinion, That the ſaid James le Fevre hath not well nor duely made that publick Confeſſion which was injoyned him, nor given Teſtimony of his Repentance; and for this cauſe the Excommunication denounced againſt him, ſhall abide in its full power and vigour: and therefore the Council hath declared, and doth now again declare him a Man uncapable of ſerving the Church of God until ſuch time as he ſhall have firſt undergone publick Penance in the Church of Bourges; in which Penance ſhall be declared the Facts contained in the Article of the ſaid Synod of Gien touching this matter: And moreover, this ſhall be added, That by his Replies and Murmurings he had ſhewn himſelf Refractory and Diſobedient to the Diſpline of the Church: And whenas there ſhall be good Evidences of his Repentance, he may be received into the Communion of the Lord's Supper.
II. As to thoſe matters concerning David de Broſſes, who calling himſelf Miniſter of the Church of Melun; after hearing the Charge brought in againſt him by the Deputies of the Church of Paris, who had oppoſed his Election, becauſe of the wicked Doctrine formerly broach'd by the ſaid David, and becauſe of the Troubles and Schiſms excited by him, particularly in the Church of Melun, and becauſe of his wicked and debauched Life, which hath occaſion'd a Proceſs of Enormous Crimes to be commenced againſt him, and from which he hath not purged himſelf before the Conſiſtory; the proofs of all theſe matters having been laid down in Writing, read and diligently conſidered, divers Brethren, Miniſters of God's Holy Word, having been heard alſo, both as to the Doctrine publiſhed by the ſaid David, and his Life and Converſation: The Council judgeth the Oppoſition founded by the Church of Paris againſt him, to be good and valid; the Election of the ſaid David made by the Church of Melun to be null, void, and of no force nor effect: And farthermore, the ſaid Council hath declared, and doth delare the ſaid David uncapable of the Miniſtry of the Goſpel, until ſuch time as he ſhall have manifeſted his Innocency before a National Synod of the Reformed Churches in this Kingdom: Yea, moreover, the ſaid Council hath excommunicated him out of the Church, until ſuch time as he ſhall have teſtified publickly his Repentance, by confeſſing publickly his Sin, and that in the Church of Melun, which he hath troubled by his Schiſm, in caſe he return unto it, or in any Church unto which he would hereafter joyn himſelf; and that Church having good Evidences and Teſtimonials of his Repentance, may receive him unto Communion with it in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. But and if the ſaid David deſpiſing the preſent Decree of this Council, ſhall hereafter intrude himſelf into any Church, and cauſe new Troubles and Diviſions in it; then this Council commands that Province, in which the ſaid David ſhall be, and reſide, to Formalize itſelf againſt him: and upon this account the Church of Paris ſhall be obliged to furniſh the ſaid Province with Proofs which it hath now, or may have had heretofore lying by againſt the ſaid David; that ſo he may be proceeded againſt in ſuch a manner as ſhall be thought moſt adviſable for the Repoſe of the Church.
III. Touching the matter propounded by the Miniſter of Paris, the Council is of Opinion, That the Marriage pretended to be broken by reaſon of Spiritual Kinred, doth remain firm, and in its full power: and therefore the ſecond Marriage which hath ſince intervened is null, and theſe ſecond married Perſons are excommunicated becauſe of their Adulteries, until ſuch time as they have done publick Penance, and ſhall have duely evidenced their Repentance.
IV. Whereas our Brother the Miniſter of Varennes, in Picardy, doth uſually adminiſter the Lord's Supper every Month, the Council doth adviſe, That our Brother of Mont-mejor do admoniſh him in the Council's Name, to follow the general Practice of our Churches, that ſo there may be no Diverſity among us, and our Uniformity may be preſerved.
V. The Churches are advertiſed, to take notice of a Fellow called Frederick Thierry, formerly an Auguſtin Fryar; as alſo of another called Marmande, as being Vagrants.
VI. 'Tis the Judgment of this Council, That a Miniſter being imployed in the Church, may not ordinarily exerciſe any other Calling, nor receive Wages for it. Our Brother of Britain moved this Queſtion.
VII. As to that Book entituled, A Treatiſe of Chriſtian Diſcipline and Polity; compoſed and publiſhed by John Morelly, the Council judges, That as to the Points concerning the Diſcipline of the Church, by which he pretends to condemn and ſubvert the Order received in our Churches, ſounded upon the Word of God, that the ſaid Book contains wicked Doctrine, and tends to the Confuſion and Diſſipation of the Church; and therefore the ſaid Council cautions the Faithful to take heed of the aforeſaid Doctrine.
VIII. A Remonſtrance being made by the Church of Poictiers, about an Appeal brought by the People of the City of Loudun, from a Decree of the Provincial Synod of Poictou, held at Niort, concerning the Fact of Maturin Sibileau, the ſaid Appeal having been ſignified to the Church of Poictiers, on behalf of the ſaid People of Loudun; the Decrees both of the Provincial Synod held at Partinay, and of the Synod of Niort, were read and conſidered. Whereupon this preſent Council hath, and doth ſend back the Knowledge of the ſaid Cauſe unto the next Provincial Synod of Touraine, which by the Authority of this Council, ſhall paſs a Definitive Judgment upon theſe Perſons, although they were abſent, provided their Abſence be not out of Contumacy, and they had been duely informed of the meeting of that Synod. And in the mean while it is ordained, That both the ſaid Sibileau, and the ſaid People of Loudun, ſhall yeild Obedience to the Synod of Niort: And to this purpoſe the Church of Poictiers is required to ſignifie this preſent Sentence; and the Church of Tours is to Aſſemble the ſaid Provincial Synod.
IX. A Petition being preſented by Madam Margaret de la Voirie, concerning a Marriage pretended to have been contracted between her and the Noble William de Schilhant: The Council has approved, and doth approve of that Sentence given by the Provincial Synod of Touraine, held at Mans the laſt October, by which the ſaid Marriage was declared Inceſtuous, becauſe the ſaid De Schilhant had formerly eſpouſed the Siſter of the ſaid Petitioner, whereunto it does injoyn the ſaid Lady quietly to ſubmit, and to obſerve it with Repoſe and Tranquility of Conſcience; moreover, the Council exhorts her to return unto her own Church, there to make ſuch Acknowledgment of her Fault, as the Conſiſtory ſhall think meet.
X. Having heard the Remonſtrance made by our Brother the Deputy of Poictou, concerning Peter Boulay, who had intruded himſelf into the Miniſtry of the Church of Niort: The Council ratifies and approves the Determination of the Provincial Synod held at Niort, by which the ſaid Boulay was declared uncapable and inſufficient to be choſen into the Miniſtry of the Goſpel, until ſuch time as he had given proofs of his Sufficiency before the Provincial Synod of Poictou. Moreover, this preſent Council hath ordained, That this very Advice ſhall be ſignified both unto the ſaid Boulay, and to all thoſe who do abett him, by our Brethren La Forest and De Thire, who making report unto the next approaching Synod of Poictou, of the Obedience or Rebellion of the ſaid Boulay, and his Abettors; a final Period ſhall be put unto this Affair according to the Rules of our Church-Diſcipline. And the Council leaves it to the Wiſdom of the next …ynod, whether it be expedient for the common Edification, of the Church, that our brother De la Fayole be not alſo removed from Niort.
XII. There ſhall be no Alteration made in that Article of our Diſcipline touching the Choice of Miniſters: and the Council hath ordained, That*In the Book of Niort he is called M John Vi…ier. Mr. John Rebitt do ſign the Confeſſion of Faith, and Articles of Diſcipline; and moreover, doth expreſly forbid him ſo Teach in his Lectures Doctrine contrary unto them; that ſo there may be no Diſunion in the Church: and if he ſhould refuſe Submiſſion to this Adviſe of the Council, he ſhall be ſent back to the Conſiſtory of that City, to be dealt withal according to the Canons of our Church-Diſcipline.
XII. As to that Queſtion moved by our Brother of Orleance, the Council hath, and doth leave it to the liberty of the reſpective Conſiſtories, to judge of thoſe who may be ſit to aſſiſt at the Examination of Candidates for the Miniſtry, as may be moſt expedient for their Edification, yet ſo as they ſhall not ſuffer any beſides the Members of the ſaid Conſiſtory to examine them.
XIII. The Council judgeth it inconvenient to publiſh from the Pulpit, the Articles of our Diſcipline; yet they may be given unto ſuch as deſire them by the Conſiſtories.
XIV. Whereas the Letters ſent unto this preſent General Council of the Reformed Churches of France, aſſembled at Orleance, by*The Book of Niort calls him Jod…. Maurice Joequin, are fraught with heavy Complaints againſt David Vivian, Miniſter of Bourges, and divers others of the Conſiſtory of the ſaid Church; and becauſe both Parties are abſent, the ſaid Council remands them unto the next approaching Provincial Synod Berry, that there the ſaid Vivian, and the other Members of the Conſiſtory may be dealt withal as is juſt and ſitting. In the mean while, conſidering the outragious and prophane Words mentioned in the ſaid Letters, and the Contumacy of the ſaid Joequin, diſdaining to come unto this preſent Council, after he had been lawfully ſummoned, and the Threatnings contained in his Anſwer; divers of our Brethren having been heard on this Affair, reporting his continual Rebellions againſt the Conſiſtory of the ſaid Church, for near ſix Months together: The Council doth injoyn the Conſiſtory to call the ſaid Joequin before them, and to give him a very ſevere Reproof for the ſorementioned Crimes; and in caſe of his Contempt and continued Rebellion, to depoſe him from his Office of Deacon without delay, as alſo to cut him off from the Communion of the Church, and to denounce him publickly Excommunicate, until ſuch time as he ſhall have given publick ſatisfactory Evidences of his Repentance.
The End of the Synod of Orleance.
Thus Subſcribed in the Original, Chandieu, Lord of La Roche, Preſident of the Council. Le Maſſon, Lord of La Fountaine, Scribe of the Council.
THE ACTS, DECISIONS, and DECREES OF THE IV. National Synod OF THE Reformed Churches of Chriſt. IN The KINGDOM of FRANCE, HELD At LIONS, in the Year of our LORD, 1563.
THE CONTENTS of this SYNOD.
CHap. I. Moderator choſen.
Chap. II. Of Synods, in Five Canons.
Chap. III. Of Conſiſtories, in Five Canons.
Chap. IV. Of Cenſures. Two Canons.
Chap. V. Of Miniſters. Three Canons.
Chap. VI. Of Baptiſm. Three Canons.
Chap. VII. Of Marriage. Four Canons.
Chap. VIII. Of Interest for Money.
Chap. IX. Of Hereticks, and Schiſmaticks, and Vagrants.
Chap. X. Of the Lord's Supper.
Chap. XI. General Matters.
Chap. XII. A Caſe of Conſcience about the Marriage of Couſin-Germans.
Chap. XIII. A Book Cenſured. See alſo Cap. 9.
Chap. XIV. Particular Matters. A Delinquent Miniſter Cenſured.
Chap. XV. Advice to the States of Languedoc.
Chap. XVI. Very many curious Caſes of Conſcience reſolved.
Chap. XVII. Memorials for the Service of the Churches.
Chap. XVIII. Diſtinction of the Provinces; Nine at first.
Chap. XIX. Books Cenſured.
Chap. XX. Vagrants and Depoſed Miniſters Regiſtred.
Chap. XXI. Caſes of Conſcience, 1. About Marriage. 2. Conſiſtories. 3. Baptiſm. 4. And the Lord Supper, Reſolved by Mr. Calvin, and ſent unto the National Synod of Lyons, at their deſire.