The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 5 (2nd Paris) – Table of contents 6
The Second Synod of PARIS.1565. Synod V.
SYNOD V.
Articles Decreed in the National Synod held the ſecond time at Paris, the twenty fifth of December 1565; and in the fifth Year of the Reign of King Charles the Ninth.
CHAP. I.
NIcholas de Galars, Miniſter of the Church of Orleance, being choſen Preſident; and Lewis Capel, Miniſter of Meaux, and Peter Le Clere, Elder of the Church of Paris, Scribes; after the Invocation of the Name of GOD.
CHAP. II. An Explication of the Canons of the CHƲRCH-Diſcipline, and an Addition of ſeveral others. General MATTERS.
I. FOraſmuch as the Church of God ought to be governed by a good and holy Diſcipline, and that no other may be introduced but what is grounded upon the Word of God; the Miniſters and Elders deputed from the Provinces of this Kingdom, to confer about Eccleſiaſtical Affairs, and met together in the Name of the Lord, after diligent Peruſal of the Book, and other Writings of M. J. Morelly, concerning the Polity and Diſcipline of the Church, and ſufficient Conferences had with him from the Holy Scriptures about it, do by this preſent Act condem his ſaid Books and Writings, as containing evil and dangerous Opinions, ſubverting that Diſcipline which is conformable unto the Word of God, and at this day received in the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom: and whereas delivering up the Government of the Church unto the People, he would bring in a new tumultuary Conduct, and full of Confuſions, upon it, from whence would follow many great and dangerous Inconveniencies, which have been remonſtrated unto him, and he once and again admoniſhed to abandon theſe Matters, which yet he will not do, but perſiſts in his Aſſertions, ſaying, That he is perſwaded thoſe his Opinions are built upon God's Holy Word. We having divers times exhorted him to approve and conſent unto that Order which is received and conſerved in theſe our Churches, as appointed by our Lord Jeſus Chriſt and his Apoſtles, and proved to him from their Sacred Writings; becauſe we hope that the Lord will be gracious to him, and alſo becauſe he does not differ from the Church in any of the fundamental principal Articles of our Faith, the Brethren of this Aſſembly ſupporting him with Chriſtian Charity, are of Opinion, that he be received to the Peace and Communion of the Church, provided that as he hath formerly promiſed by Writing, and now again proteſted to ratifie and ſign with his own Hand this his Promiſe, ſo that for time to come he do carry himſelf peaceably, and ſubject himſelf to the Order and Diſcipline eſtabliſhed in the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom, without ever any manner of ways publiſhing thoſe his ſaid Opinions neither by Word of Mouth nor Writing, contrary to the ſaid Diſcipline, or to a Treatiſe in confirmation of it, which may ſhortly be printed; provided alſo that according to his former Promiſes, and at the requeſt of the Lords of the City and Church of Geneva, to whom he hath not yet given ſufficient Satisfaction, though he is bound in Duty to reconcile himſelf unto them, which is evident from his own Letters, that he do once more by new Letters of his own Writing, confeſs and acknowledge to have offended them, and do beg their Pardon, becauſe that being an Inhabitant of their ſaid City, he did contrary to the Orders of the Seignory print and publiſh his ſaid Book, without having firſt demanded and obtained their Licenſe, and being called both by them and the Conſiſtory of that Church to give an account of that his Contempt, he did not appear at the day aſſigned him. Theſe conditions being performed by him, and the Conſiſtory of that Church whereunto he ſhall joyn himſelf, muſt take knowledge whether he hath fulfilled them or no, and they accordingly may receive him as a Member of the Church, and admit him into Communion with them, or elſe proceed againſt him by Eccleſiaſtical Cenſures.
CHAP. III.
The manner of Proceeding in Eccleſiaſtical Cenſures.II. FOraſmuch as Sins committed in the Church ought to be corrected by the Word of God, and according to the Rule of Charity, and all Sins are not alike grievous and ſcandalous, ſome being more enormous, others of a leſſer nature, ſome ſecret and others publick, we muſt therefore according to their quality and aggravations accommodate the Cenſure and Reprehenſion: ſo then ſecret Sins, whereof the Sinner by means of Brotherly Admonitions ſhall be brought unto Repentance, and hath reformed them, ſhall not be brought into the Conſiſtory; but thoſe only which theſe firſt means cannot reform nor amend, or Sins publickly known, the cogniſance of which belongs unto the ſaid Conſiſtory, who muſt proceed to the Reformation of them by proper and convenient Cenſures, conſidering theſe ſins with all their circumſtances, that ſo according as the caſe requireth, they may apply either a ſevere and rigorous Reprehenſion, or a more moderate one in the Spirit of Meekneſs, as may be moſt expedient to bring the Sinner to Repentance; who to this end ſhall by the Authority of the Conſiſtory be for ſome time deprived of the Lord's Supper, if it be needful, that ſo he may be humbled,Excommunication muſt not be uſed but in extream neceſſity. or finally excommunicated, and totally cut off from the Body of the Church, according to that Order hereafter declared, if ſo be he ſhew himſelf rebellious to the Holy Admonitions and Cenſures inflicted on him, and continue obſtinate and impenitent. But inaſmuch as this is the laſt and moſt rigorous of all Remedies, it ſhall never be uſed but in caſe of extremity, when all fair and gentle Means have proved ineffectual. And whereas even unto this day in divers places this diſtinction between this laſt Excommunication, and temporary Suſpenſion, or ſimple Privation of the Lord's Supper, hath not been obſerved as it ought; that both the one and the other may be duely uſed, the Miniſters and Elders interpreting theſe words of Excommunication and Suſpenſion from the Lord's Table,The words Excommunication and Suſpenſion explained. No Miniſter of his private Authority can deprive a Man of the Lord s Supper. do give it as their Opinion, That no Perſon ſhould be deprived or ſuſpended the Lord's Table by the ſingle Authority of the Paſtors, or of any other, but only by the Conſiſtory, which ſhall prudently conſider and judge, whether the Crime related to them, and whereof the Sinner hath been firſt of all admoniſhed, deſerve for its heinouſneſs Suſpenſion or no: and if it do, then he who ſhall have committed ſuch a ſin ſhall for ſome time be deprived of the Lord's Supper, in order to his Humiliation, and the Tryal of his Repentance: But if the ſin be known only to a few Perſons, this Suſpenſion, nor its cauſe may not be ſignified unto the People, leaſt the Sinner be the more defamed,See the Synod of Niſmes, Art. 5. and his ſin made more ſcandalous and notorious than it was; and it ſhall be ſufficient if in this caſe, he do only acknowledge his ſin unto the Conſiſtory, that ſo he may be received unto the Table of our Lord Jeſus. But as for thoſe, who having been oftentimes admoniſhed of their ſins, ſhall ever ſhew themſelves Diſobedient to the Conſiſtory, and thoſe alſo who being guilty of great and enormous Crimes, puniſhable by the Civil Magiſtrate, and which bring publick Scandal upon the Church, altho' there may be obſerved ſome beginnings of Repentance in them, ſhall nevertheleſs be out of hand ſuſpended the Lord's Table, and the ſaid Suſpenſion ſhall be publiſhed unto the People, that ſo the Church of God may be diſcharged of all Blame and Reproach, and that ſuch Sinners may be the more deeply humbled in the exerciſe and proof of their Repentance, and an Holy Terrour ſtruck into the hearts of others: and if after ſome good ſpace of time, there appearing ſolid proofs and evidences of their Converſion and Repentance, atteſted to by ſufficient Witneſſes, the Judgment whereof belongs unto the Conſiſtory; they ſhall be publickly reconciled unto the Church by Confeſſion of their Offences, and Expreſſions of true Repentance, that ſo they may purge away and repair the Scandal they had given unto the whole Church, and then they ſhall be admitted unto the Lord's Table. But and if it ſhould happen,Degrees of proceeding to the laſt Excommunication. that after along and patient waiting, and divers Admonitions made by the Conſiſtory, and the aforeſaid Proceedings obſerved and practiſed, and all charitable Endeavours uſed for the regaining of the Sinner, he nevertheleſs abide obſtinate and impenitent, then the Paſtor in the Name of the whole Church ſhall proceed againſt him by publick Admonitions, declaring unto the whole Church his Offences, proteſting alſo of their due and religious Care for him, and Carriage towards him, tho' without any fruit or benefit, exhorting the whole Church to ſeek God earneſtly on his behalf, and to uſe all means that may bring him to a ſight and ſence of his ſin, that ſo that dreadful Sentence of Excommunication and Cutting off from the Church of God (whereunto ſhe cannot proceed but with the greateſt Regret and Grief,) may be prevented. And the ſaid Paſtor ſhall in his Sermon from the Word of God declare the true, right and lawful Uſe of this Cenſure, that every one may be inſtructed in his Duty both towards God and his Neighbour; and that all may underſtand that this laſt Remedy is uſed with this Sinner for the Glory of God, the Honour and Reputation of the Church, and the Salvation of his Soul in particular: And theſe publick Admonitions and Denunciations ſhall be proſecuted and continued three ſeveral times, on three ſeveral Lord's Days; on the firſt of which the Sinner ſhall not be mentioned by Name, that ſo in ſome ſort he may be ſpared, though he be already too well known unto the People; but on the two ſucceeding Sundays he ſhall be particularly named. And if after all this he does not repent, nor become a Convert, but perſiſteth obſtinately in his ſinful Courſes, then on the fourth Lord's Day, in the face and preſence of the whole Congregation, ſuch a one, mentioning him by Name, ſhall be declared and pronounced Excommunicate and cut off as a rotten Member, from the Body of the Church; the Paſtor declaring it authoritatively from the Word of God, in the Name, and with the Conſent of the whole Church.
Thoſe who are thus excommunicate and cut off, ſhall be deprived of all Communion with the Church, and of all it's Priviledges; and the Faithful ſhall be admoniſhed neither to converſe familiarly with them, nor to frequent their Company, that ſo they may be aſhamed, humbled, and brought unto Repentance; the truth whereof ſhall be demonſtrated by good Fruits, and unexceptionable Evidences, known unto the Conſiſtory, who ſhall judge whether they ought to be received again into the Church; and having called, ſeen, and heard them, and found them truely penitent, it ſhall be publiſhed by the Paſtor unto the whole Congregation, that ſo they may be ſtirred up to praiſe God for touching their hearts with Remorſe, and recovering them unto Repentance. And then theſe Penitents ſhall come before the whole Church to give ſatisfaction for their paſt Scandal, confeſſing and deteſting their former Sins and Rebellions, begging humbly Pardon of God and the Church for them; and thus ſhall they be received unto the Church's Peace and Fellowſhip with Joy and Publick Thankſgiving.
CHAP. IV.
III. FOraſmuch as the Holy Apoſtle hath ordained, That ſuch as approach unto the Lord's Table, ſhould examine themſelves; and this being a principal Point of that Examination, that we ſearch into ourſelves diligently to ſee and diſcover whether we have truely renounced all ſins, and thoſe ſins eſpecially which are moſt contrary to God's pure and holy Worſhip, as Idolatry, and its Appurtenances are; and becauſe ſuch as are beneficed by Papal Proviſions, tho' of different degrees, notwithſtanding their Knowledge and Profeſſion of the Goſpel-Truth, and retaining the quality of Incumbents, or injoying the Fruits of their Benefices, no matter how it be, they do ſeem to us not to have diſcharged this their Duty: The Queſtion having been put in general, Whether they ſhould be received unto the Lord's Supper?Wheeher beneficed Perſons ought to be received to the Lord's Table, they profeſſing the Truth of the Goſpel. The Brethren are of Opinion, That we muſt here diſtinguiſh, there being ſome who having deveſted themſelves of all Title to their Benefices, do yet reſerve unto themſelves Penſions out of them, which they injoy either by Proviſion from Rome, or by private Compact between themſelves and thoſe to whom they have reſigned, or ſome other way, be it what it will; theſe ſhall be told, That they cannot uſe this Traffick without greatly offending GOD. Becauſe one of theſe Parties grounding this Reſervation upon the Pope's Grants, and maintaing himſelf in it by his Authority, doth as much as in him lieth, own and avow his Supremacy: And the other Party, becauſe he receiveth Wages from the Evil he hath done his Neighbour, and receiveth an yearly Tribute from him; who by this means is ſubjected unto Conditions full of Impiety and Idolatry; by which Fact they approve of that Evil they have already done, and continue in it; and therefore they ſhall from the Word of God be admoniſhed not to approach the Table of the Lord Jeſus, nor ſhall they be admitted to it, becauſe they would wound their own conſciences not only by their adherance to, but participation in Sin.
Such as hold Benefices under a feigned Name, may not be admitted to the Lord's Table.Much leſs can they do it, who uſing a falſe Name, or borrowing one from their Servants or familiar Friend, do in the mean while keep intirely to themſelves the Revenue of thoſe Benefices either in whole or part, and vacate, change, ſell and diſpoſe of them at their pleaſure: For 'tis ſuch a Diſſembling as is utterly inconſiſtent with Chriſtian Truth and Simplicity; thus a Man under the Mask of another in his own Name and Perſon he durſt not, without expoſing himſelf to a juſt Reproof and Scorn. But as for them, who retaining the Name and Title of their Benefices together with their Fruits and Profits, if they can in their Enjoyment of them, uſe them piouſly, abſtaining from all Superſtitions, nor participate in Idolatries adhearing to them, theſe be the more excuſeable: However, it were better that they did totally deveſt themſelves of them, eſpecially Biſhops and Curates, becauſe of their Inſufficiency for their Office, and by reaſon that in theſe evil Times they cannot be ſuffered to perform the true Duties of their Charge and Calling. But where this may not be obtained, they ſhall be at leaſt exhorted that by a well-ordered Life, utterly eſtranged from all Idolatry and Scandal, and by a ſincere and apparent Profeſſion of the Goſpel, they give every one fully to underſtand, That they do totally renounce the Pope and all his Superſtitions, and that they have nothing to do with him, nor hold any thing by or from him; and in caſe of being troubled in the Poſſeſſion of their ſaid Benefices, they will rather quit them all, than relieve themſelves by his Bulls and Proviſions, which alſo it were fitting they committed unto the Flames; thereby demonſtrating that they would never make any advantage of them. In the mean while as much as in them lieth, and as the Times and Places will bear they ſhall do their utmoſt endeavour by all lawful means to purge their Benefices, and; their Houſes, and their Dependancies from all Idolatry and Superſtition, and to eſtabliſh the pure Worſhip of God by the Miniſtry of his Holy Goſpel: And where they cannot wholly hinder thoſe Exerciſes which are cuſtomarily done and practiſed contrary to the true Service of God; they ſhall neither, by their perſonal Preſence, nor by their Conſent, nor by their Name, nor in the leaſt manner of ways intervene to approve or authorize them, nor ſhall another be by them ſubſtituted in their ſtead to do it for them.Beneficed Perſons not admitted to the Lord's Table unleſs they imploy the third part of their Profits to holy and pious Uſes.And we do adviſe them to employ the Revenues of their Benefices to holy Uſes, whereunto at firſt they were deſigned, to wit, the relieving of the Poor, the Maintenance of God's Holy Worſhip, the Erecting of Colledges, the Education of Schollars in Learning for the Service of the Church and Miniſtry, and other ſuch-like Uſes, and that at leaſt they expend the third part of the ſaid Revenue to theſe Purpoſes according to the ancient Conſtitutions, and as they are bound in conſcience ſo to do. And on theſe Conditions, and not otherwiſe may they be admitted to the Lord's Table.
CHAP. V.
Care taken that Vagrants by feigned Certificates may not rob the Churches Charity.IV. THat Abuſes committed by divers Vagrants may be prevented, who wander up and down with Atteſtations from Miniſters whereof they ſerve themſelves at all times and places, ſhameleſly begging from the Churches, and thereby robbing God's true Poor of their neceſſary Relief: This Aſſembly adviſeth Miniſters for time to come, rarely to give ſuch Atteſtations, and when they do, to none but thoſe who upon their particular knowledge they are aſſured to be Perſons of true Godlineſs, and of an upright Conſcience, and groaning under preſſing Neceſſities, ſpecifying in their Atteſtations the Name, Quality and Abode of thoſe to whom they give them, and what Relief has been adminiſtred to them, mentioning alſo the Day and Place from whence they parted, and whether they go, and upon what occaſion: And ſuch as bear them ſhall bring them forth, and get them renewed in every Church through which they paſs by the Miniſters, who ſhall always ſpecifie what hath been given them, and the Day when, until ſuch time as they be come unto their Journey's end. And before May next all the Churches ſhall be advertiſed of this preſent Canon, that ſo all former Certificates given in any other Form than this abovementioned, may be accounted null and void, and torn in pieces.
V. Foraſmuch as divers debauched Perſons of very wicked Lives,Such as will not ſubmit to Church-Diſcipline are not to be reckoned Church-members. do mingle themſelves with us in our publick Meetings, to the great Diſhonour of God, and great Scandal of the Church; and becauſe Diſcipline cannot be exerciſed againſt theſe, who will not ſubject themſelves unto it, yet nevertheleſs they ſhall be frequently and perſonally admoniſhed of their ſins, and ſolicited to ſubmit unto the Churches Order: which if they refuſe, and continue in their Wickedneſs, that ſo the Crimes and Scandals committed by them may not be imputed to the Church, nor redound to its Diſhonour, and that the Enemies of the Goſpel may not take occaſion thence to Calumniate it, the Miniſter ſhall from the Pulpit ſignifie unto the Faithful that ſuch vicious Perſons (without naming any) are not to be accounted true Members of the Church; which alſo ſhall be done by the Elders in their particular Charges, and reſpective Quarters, informing every one particularly, that ſuch and ſuch, naming them by their Names, belong not unto the Church. And this Aſſembly doth farther judge it meet and expedient, that the Order obſerved in ſome Churches be obſerved in all;Such as would be received into the Church, muſt firſt acquaint the Eider of their Quarter with it. that the Novices who deſire to be received into the Church, and liſted among her Members, do intimate this their deſire unto the Elder of their Diviſion, who ſhall inform himſelf of their Life, and make report of it unto the Conſiſtory; which being unexceptionable, he ſhall at the cloſe of his Sermon or Catechiſing, preſent them unto the Paſtor, who ſhall cauſe them make the Promiſes and Proteſtations that are uſual, viz. To embrace the Doctrine of the Goſpel, which ſhall be taught them, and to ſubmit themſelves to the Order and Diſcipline of the Church, and by this means they ſhall be counted Members of the Church: Further, they muſt be admoniſhed to give their Attendance ordinarily at Sermons and Catechiſings, that being inſtructed in the Faith, they may be judged capable and fit to participate of the Lord's Supper. And if after having been inſtructed, they ſhall too long time defer their Communicating, and it be known that their refraining is from Contempt of that Holy Sacrament, they ſhall be proceeded againſt according to the Diſcipline: but if their forbearance ſpring from infirmity, they ſhall be born withal for ſome time, till they have gotten more Soul-ſtrength. As for thoſe who conform not to the Rules of our Church, and yet frequent Sermons, and be not of an ill Life, nor ſcandalous, they ſhall be admoniſhed and enticed by all means to conform to them.
Whether another Counceil beſides the Conſiſtory may be established in the Church.VI. Whereas ſome certain Churches, and in particular that of Sens, earneſtly demand, that it may be permitted them to eſtabliſh a Council in their City, compoſed of wiſe and experienced Perſons, not being Officers of the Church; urging for it, the multitude of their Enemies neceſſitating them to ſtand upon their Guard, and that hourly divers Affairs of great importance do occur, calling for prompt and ſpeedy Succours to the Conſervation of the Church; that their Paſtors and Elders dwell not in Town, who might prevent thoſe Diſcontents brought upon them by Monſieur de la Croix, their Paſtor, who would neither countenance nor authorize any ſuch Council. This Aſſembly in purſuance of the Article of the Diſcipline relating to this matter, and expounding it, is of Opinion, That for time to come no ſuch Council be eſtabliſhed, excepting that compoſed of Miniſters, Elders and Deacons, being confident, that God will ever bleſs their Labours and Councils, whom he hath called to Office in the Church, and better ſerve himſelf by their Simplicity, than by the Prudence of Worldly Politicians: Beſides, it ſhall be always lawful for the Paſtors and Elders on any great and difficult Affair, to call unto them, ſuch Perſons as by whoſe Counſel they may be any ways aided: Not hereby debarring particular Perſons the benefit of mutual Counſel which they may one afford another upon emergent occaſions, for their better Preſervation. But we do not hereby intend to authorize any company of Men, beſides the Conſiſtory, to be ſtiled the Council of the Church.
CHAP. VI.
Impoſition of Hands ſhall be practiſed in thoſe places where it hath not as yet been obſerved.VII. BEcauſe that in the ninth Article of the Diſcipline, it's ſaid, That when Miniſters are to be confirmed, there ſhall be Impoſition of Hands upon them, yet not as of pure neceſſity: It is demanded, whether the Churches that have no ſuch Cuſtom ſhould for time to come ſubmit unto the Uſage of it? The reply was, That there being neither Precept nor Promiſe touching this matter, therefore no neceſſary Obligation ſhall be eſtabliſhed about it: However, this Ceremony being of ancient Uſage in the Church, practiſed by the Apoſtles, and tending to Edification, the Churches ſhall do their endeavour to promote Conformity unto it, as far as poſſible they may.'Tis left to the Prudence of the Conſiſtory to call in their Propoſans at their Debates.
VIII. The Churches Council conſiſting of Miniſters, Elders and Deacons, it is demanded, Whether unordained Preachers, not having any particular Charge, may be called in to aſſiſt the Conſiſtory, without ever granting them power of Suffrage, that ſo they may be moulded and prepared for the better managing of Church-affairs, when God ſhall call them thereunto? We anſwer, There being no Inconveniency in it, 'tis left to the prudence and diſcretion of the Paſtors, who may to try their Abilities, demand alſo their Opinions.
Parents are exhorted to bring Sureties for their Children at Baptism.IX. There being no Commandment from the Lord, that we ſhould take Godfathers and Godmothers to preſent our Infants unto Baptiſm, we cannot therefore impoſe an expreſs Neceſſity on any one to uſe them: nevertheleſs, this Cuſtom being very ancient, and brought into the Church on a good Intent, viz. To teſtifie the Parents Faith, and Baptiſm of their Child, and to take upon them its Education in caſe of their death, and for that it maintains Chriſtian Society with a Bond of Love and Alliance. Such as will not follow this practiſe, but will in their own Perſons preſent their Children unto Baptiſm, are earneſtly deſired not to be conceited, but to conform to this ancient and accuſtomed Order, which we find both good and very beneficial. However, Women ſhall not be ſuffered to preſent Children. And this is the true ſence of the ſecond Article of the Synod of Lions.Counſellors and Advocares of the Reformed Religion muſt not plead in beneficiary Matters.
X. Judges, Notaries, Scriveners, and others who by the Duty of their Callings are bound to Judge, Sign, and Seal all matters indifferently brought to them, ſhall not be cenſured for giving Judgment, or receiving a laſt Will, or paſſing a Contract, or diſpatching Writings about Idolatrous Concerns. But Advocates, Arbitrators, and all others, whoſe Offices are free, ſhall be admoniſhed, that they ought wholly to forbear Pleading for, or any other ways to treat of beneficiary Cauſes, or ſuch-like Matters.
CHAP. VII.
All the Churches muſt be conformable in point of Common, Publick Prayers.XI. CHurches which beſides their ordinary Sermons are accuſtomed to Morning and Evening Common-Prayers, on ſuch Days whenas there is no Preaching, or once a day towards night, when there has been a Sermon, are intreated to conform themſelves unto thoſe Churches which have no ſuch Cuſtom, that ſo Superſtition which is like to follow hereupon may be prevented, and that viſible Neglect and Contempt of Sermons may be avoid, and Family-Prayers, which every Houſholder is bound to perform, may be no more neglected: Moreover, Publick Extraordinary Common-Prayers ought to be reſerved for Times of Neceſſity and Afflictions, becauſe it is an extraordinary Remedy, as Publick Faſting whoſe uſage ought not to be common. And Miniſters ſhall inform their Churches, which have daily Common-Prayer, why they are laid down; that ſo all Scandal and Muttering at their Suppreſſion may be removed, and they ſhall admoniſh the Heads of Families ordinarily to call upon God in their Hoſes by Morning and Evening-Prayers.
No Perſon to be married without a ſufficient Certificate.XII. Such as come from one Church unto another to be married, ſhall not be ſuffered without a ſufficient Atteſtation from that Church whence they departed; and the Banes ſhall be called in thoſe very places where both the Parties have their reſidence, and are known.
XIII. Foraſmuch as divers Churches having borrowed a Miniſter from another, do truſt unto it, and uſe no diligence elſewhere to gain one for themſelves, yea, and will not permit him when re-called by his own Church, to return again unto it, whereby they would ſeem to claim him for their own by Preſcription, who was only a Loan unto them; ſo that hereby many and great Troubles may every day grow upon us: and though Conſiſtories ought to be adviſed not to prefer their own particular Profit to the common Benefit and Edification of the Churches of Chriſt, nor to leave a Church unprovided, when they can conveniently ſpare a Miniſter, or ſend another: Yet if this may not be done, that the aforementioned Inconveniencies may be obviated, and that Churches living upon borrowed Miniſters may be ſpurred up to a diligent diſcharge of their Duty in getting one for themſelves; This Aſſembly adviſeth, That in caſe a Church which had borrowed a Miniſter hath been for ſix Months, warned and required to provide itſelf, the lent Miniſter ſhall be obliged to return unto his own Church, in Obedience to the Summons of his Conſiſtory, whatever Interpoſals there may be to the contrary by Provincial Synods.
Synods and Colloquies ſhall be eſtabliſhed according to the extent of the Governments in the State.XIV. It's ordained for time to come, That Provincial Synods and Colloquies ſhall be eſtabliſhed according to the Provincial Gorvernments of the Kingdom, without any one's uſurping Authority upon the other; excepting that if one Government be too great, and the number of Miniſters in it too many, they may divide themſelves into two Provinces, and as many Synods.
CHAP. VIII.
XV. THis Synod having heard Monſieur*Another Copy calls him du Gar, a third du Gast. John du Bard retracting and abjuring thoſe Errours he had formerly vented and defended at Poictiers, concerning the Divinity and Humanity of Jeſus Chriſt, and the Divinity of the Holy Ghoſt, which Retractation of his ſpecified with all Plainneſs, and its Particulars he had given in Writing, and the Deputies of this Aſſembly to whom it was committed for their Peruſal, making Report that it was ſolid, pertinent and ſatisfactory, as proceeding from a compoſed and well-reſolved Mind; It is ordained, That this Retractation ſhall be ſent unto Monſieur de L'eſtrang, and other Miniſters of the Churches in Poiſtou, with Letters from this Aſſembly, that they may conſider whether it will be a ſufficient Reparation of the Scandal and Trouble cauſed by him in thoſe Parts, and to know whether they have any other Matters to object againſt him, or whether they would have him in Perſon there upon the place to recognize his Offence: And in caſe they deſire it, the ſaid Monſieur John du Bard ſhall be exhorted to appear perſonally before them; in the mean while the Miniſters of Picardy are adviſed not to proceed to a ſudden Election of him, till ſuch time as he hath given full Satisfaction unto the Churches of Poictou.
CHAP. IX.
All ſecret Promiſes of Marriage null.XVI. FOraſmuch as Controverſies ariſe daily about Marriage-Promiſes, we do Decree, That for time to come, all clandeſtine Promiſes made even by Perſons of full Age, and at their own diſpoſal ſhall be null; and thoſe be clandeſtine Promiſes which are not made in the preſence of three or two Witneſſes at the leaſt; and it's fitting they be made after ſolemn ſeeking of God by Prayer, and in preſence of Parents, provided they live in thoſe places where the Promiſes are made.
XVII. Churches which are accuſtomed upon Sacrament-days, or other Sabbaths, after the Confeſſion of Sins, to pronounce a general Abſolution, may if they pleaſe continue in it; but where this Cuſtom is not introduced, this Synod adviſeth the Churches not in the leaſt to admit it, becauſe of the dangerous Conſequences which may enſue.
What Courſe ſhall be taken with Miniſters complaining of their Peoples Unkindneſs to them.XVIII. A Miniſter complaining of his Church's Ingratitude, the Provincial Synod ſhall take cogniſance thereof, weighing diligently the Poverty of that Church, and the Temporal Eſtate of the Miniſter: and in caſe that Church be guilty of very great and notorious Ingratitude, the Synod ſhall have full power to remove him for his better Accommodation elſewhere. And all the Churches ſhall be deſired to ſhun Ingratitude to their Miniſters, (a Sin too rife among us) and to take ſpecial care that they be more reſpected, and their Labours better rewarded; not to enrich or fatten them, but to give them a becoming and ſufficient Maintenance.
Perſons under Twelve not to be admitted to the Lord's Table.XIX. 'Tis the Judgment of this Synod, that Children under twelve Years of Age ought not to be received to the Lord's Supper; and as for thoſe which are above it, Miniſters ſhall judge of their fitneſs for it. And having been once Communicants, they may be admitted alſo Sureties for Children at Baptiſm.
The Siſter of a dead Spouſe may be married.XXI. It being demanded, whether a Man might marry the Siſter of her to whom he was betrothed, becauſe ſome conceived, he might as well marry his Wife's Siſter, and that the Rights of the Spouſe are as great as thoſe of the married Woman. This Aſſembly anſwers, That there is between theſe two Facts a very wide difference; becauſe Affinity is only contracted by mixture of Blood and Seed: Yet nevertheleſs care muſt be taken that neither the Magiſtrate nor the weak Chriſtian be offended.
The Accounts of the Poor's Money ſhall be given up before the Miniſters and all the People.XXI. Miniſters ſhall be preſent, iſ poſſible, at the diſtributing of Monies unto the Elders for the Poor; but at the Inbringing of their Accounts they ſhall in no wiſe be abſent: And their Cuſtom is approved, who adviſe the People before-hand to be preſent at the Audit, that ſo the Elders who have managed thoſe matters may be diſcharged with more Honour, and alſo that they themſelves knowing the neceſſities of the Church and Poor, may be the more enlarged in their Contributions to them.
Conſiſtories ſhall not execute Divorces.XXII. Whereas great Difficulties are raiſed about Divorces for Adultery verified before the Magiſtrates, we judge, that Conſiſtories may lawfully declare unto the innocent Party, its liberty according to God's Word; but they ſhall not in the leaſt intermeddle with the Execution of that Divorce and Diſſolution of the Marriage, to enable the wronged Party to proceed unto a new Marriage; becauſe it of right belongs unto the Civil Magiſtrate.
CHAP. X
XXIII. THis following Order ſhall be obſerved in the calling of our National Synods for the future:
The Method to be kept in convocating National Synods.In the firſt place, as was uſual, there ſhall be one certain Church choſen which ſhall have power of ſignifying unto the Provinces the Day and Place of Meeting. Whatever Matters are to be debated in this Aſſembly, ſhall be ſent by the ſeveral Provinces unto that Church. The ſaid Church ſhall call the National Synod within the Year, in convenient Time and Place, and give notice thereof three Months before to all the Provinces; and ſhall ſend a Duplicate of the difficult Matters which are to be debated, unto the ſaid Provinces, to be conſidered by them. And that ſuch as are charged with the Power of calling the ſaid Aſſembly, may know how to direct their Letters, it's fitting that one particular Church be nominated in every Province to receive thoſe Letters, and according to their Tenor to Aſſemble the Provincial Synod within three Months, where the tranſmitted Difficulties ſhall be maturely examined, and the Arguments on both ſides urged being fair and carefully written down, ſhall be ſent unto the National Synod. And foraſmuch as our preſent Circumſtances will not admit any great Number of Miniſters and Elders in this National Synod, we are of Opinion, that for this time only, and during theſe Difficulties, that the Brethren aſſembled in each Provincial Synod ſhould chooſe from among them one or two Miniſters, and as many Elders, of the ableſt and moſt expert in Church-Affairs, to be ſent in the Name of the whole Province, who ſhall come furniſhed with good Memorials and premeditated Thoughts upon thoſe Difficulties which had been communicated to them. The Provinces ſhall not preſcribe any ſet time or term unto theſe their Deputies for returning, but ſhall let them tarry in the ſaid Synod as long as there may be need of them; and the Charges of the ſaid Deputies ſhall be defrayed by their reſpective Provinces. And that the National Synod may be no more imployed in Matters already decided by former Synods, the Provinces ſhall be adviſed to read over carefully the Acts of the paſt Synods before they prepare their Memorials, and to ſend nothing but what is general …n… of common concern to all the Churches, or elſe that which merits the Reſolution of the ſaid National Synod. And the Churches of Poictiers which is charged with the calling of the next National Synod, ſhall be informed of all this, that they may intend their Duty.
CHAP. XI. General Advertiſements unto the Churches.
XXIV. THE Printers in every Province ſhall be adviſed, That whereas at the end of Pſalm-Books and Catechiſms, they do add the Confeſſion of Faith of our French Churches, that they do eſpecially this which begins with theſe words, We believe and confeſs, that there is but One GOD, &c. and which hath an Epiſtle pr…fixed to it, dedicated to the King; and not that other Confeſſion which begins thus, Foraſmuch as the Foundation of Faith, &c. not but that both are conformable in Doctrine. And hereof alſo Notice ſhall be given to the Printers of Geneva.
Elders not to be diſplac'd without great cauſe.XXV. Although the Elders Office as now uſed by us be not perpetual, as is expreſt in the 35th Article of the Diſcipline, nevertheleſs the Churches ſhall be admoniſhed, not to diſcharge their Elders but for great Cauſes, whereof the Conſiſtories ſhall take Cognizance, that ſo the Church may be be conducted after the bed manner, by Perſons well verſt in her Government.
XXVI. Miniſters in places appointed by the King, and in all others, are adviſed not to receive the Members of any other Churches unto the Lord's Supper, without a ſufficient Atteſtation produced by them under the hand of their Paſtors or Elders, if it may be had.
No Books muſt be written ridiculouſly; but Modeſty is to be obſerved in them.XXVII. Miniſters and others whom God hath endowed with Gifts and Abilities to write in Defence of the Truth, are requeſted not to publiſh their Thoughts in a ridiculous or injurious manner; but to keep to that Modeſty and Gravity which becomes the Majeſty of God's Word; and to obſerve that ſelf-ſame Modeſty and Majeſty in their Sermons, and in their ordinary Stile to uſe the Language of God's Spirit in the Holy Scripture.
Schollars to be maintained by the Churches in the Univerſities.XXVIII. Becauſe there is every-where a viſible decay, and a great want of Miniſters, and that ſome proviſion may be made for a Succeſſion, the Churches ſhall be admoniſhed by our Brethren the Provincial Deputies, that ſuch as are rich would maintain ſome hopeful Schollars at the Univerſities, who being educated in the Liberal Arts and Sciences, and other good Learning, may be fitted for, and employed in the Sacred Miniſtry.
XXIX. Altho' in our Churches, for the moſt part, the Lord's Supper is adminiſtred only ſour times a Year; yet the more frequent Celebration of it is very deſirable (due Reverence in approaching to it being always obſerved) becauſe it's moſt beneficial for God's Children to be exerciſed, and grow in Faith, which is done by the frequent uſage of the Sacraments; as alſo becauſe this was the Practice of the Primitive Church.
N…e m…n may not carry with them in their Journeys the Miniſters of the Churches, leaving, them …upplied.XXX. Miniſters being given to the Service of the Church, and not to the Perſons and Palaces of Great Lords, altho' their Families may equallize in Numbers ſome Churches; yet their Lordſhips ſhall be deſired not to carry away with them in their Removals, or Travels abroad, with their Families, the Churches Miniſters, leaſt thereby they be left unprovided.
XXXI. Lords and Gentlemen ſhall be cenſured according to the Diſcipline of our Churches, if after frequent Admonitions, they entertain in their Houſes ſcandalous and incorrigible Perſons, eſpecially if they ſuffer Prieſts to ſing Maſs, or by Dogmatizing to debauch their Domeſticks, or if having caſhiered them, they ſhall again receive them into their Service.
XXXII. The Churches ſhall be admoniſhed to beware of a Book written by Mr. Charles Du Moulin, Entituled, Ʋnio quatuor Evangeliſtarum: becauſe in it there be divers Errors, as about Limbus, Free-will, and the Sin againſt the Holy Ghoſt, and the Lord's Supper, and in particular about the Calling of Miniſters, and Church-Diſcipline, which he treats with ſcorn, and would totally ſubvert. The Faithful alſo are warned not to aſſiſt at any of his Sermons or Sacraments, it being againſt the Diſcipline of our Church.
Modeſty to be kept in Attire. See the Synod of St. Foy, General Matters, Art. 2. The Faithful muſt uſe Charity towards their Brethren or Siſters that have forſook their Monaſtries.XXXIII. Miniſters ſhall exhort their People to be modeſt in their Habits, and that they themſelves do in this and all other Matters, give them the beſt Example, forbearing all Gaudery in their own Perſons, and in their Wives and Children.
XXXIV. They whoſe Brethren and Siſters have quitted their Monaſtery, that they might ſerve God in freedom of Conſcience, ſhall be exhorted to admit them unto a part of their Eſtate, at leaſt they ſhall be compelled by all Cenſures to afford them Maintenance, and a competent Penſion according to their ability: For they would otherwiſe ſhew themſelves void of Natural Affection.
The End of the Second National Synod of Paris.
THE ACTS, DECISIONS, and DECREES OF THE VI. National Synod OF THE Reformed Churches of Chriſt. IN The KINGDOM of FRANCE, Held in the Town of VERTƲEIL, and Province of AƲGOƲLMOIS, the Firſt Day of September, 1567.
THE CONTENTS of this SYNOD.
CHap. I. Moderator, Alterations, and Annotations upon the Church-Diſcipline.
Chap. II. Marriage of Excommunicated Perſons and Infidels, Provincial Synods, Reading of the Holy Scriptures, Bread in the Lord's Supper to be taken by them who can't the Cup, Church-Government, Loan of Miniſters, Paſtors deſerting their Churches, Rejection of Church-Officers.
Chap. III. A Caſe of Conſcience about a Deaf and Dumb Man's communicating at the Lord's Table, and a Womans cohabiting with her Leprous Husband, Elders and Deacons ſubſcribe the Confeſſion and Diſcipline.
Chap. IV. Of Vagrants, Care of the Widows and Children of deceaſed Miniſters.
Chap. V. Particular Matters, Appeals by Miniſters, a Miniſter reſtored to his Reputation, Clopet an accuſed Miniſter highly cenſured, Monks and Prieſts revolting.
Chap. VI. Notes about a Book ſeller, Poverty of the Church of Pamiers, and care for it, Reſtoration of Roberty a cenſured Miniſter, Reflections upon an Intruder into the Miniſtry.
Chap. VII. Roll of Vagrants.
Chap. VIII. General Advertiſements unto the Reformed Churches of France, in eighteen Articles.
Chap. IX. Fifteen Caſes of Conſcience reſolved by Mr. Calvin.
Chap. X. Twelve Orders and Decrees concerning Marriages.