Account of the Persecutions of the Protestants in France, Profession
The Profeſſion of the Catholick, Apoſtolick, and Roman Faith, which the Revolting Proteſtants in France are to Subſcribe and Swear to.
IN the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, Amen. I Believe and Confeſs with a firm Faith, all and every thing and things contained in the Creed which is uſed by the Holy Church of Rome, viz I receive and embrace moſt ſincerely the Apoſtolick and Eccleſiaſtical Traditions, and other Obſervances of the ſaid Church. In like manner I receive the Scriptures, but in the ſame ſenſe as the ſaid Mother Church hath, and doth now underſtand and expound the ſame, for whom and to whom it only doth belong to judge of the Interpretation of the Sacred Scriptures; and I will never take them, nor underſtand them otherwiſe than according to the unanimous conſent of the Fathers.
I profeſs that there be truly and properly ſeven Sacraments of the New Law, inſtituted by our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and neceſſary for the Salvation of Mankind, altho not equally needful for every one, viz. Baptiſm, Confirmation, the Euchariſt, Penance, Extream Unction, Orders and Marriage; and that they do confer Grace; and that Baptiſm and Orders may not be reiterated without Sacriledge: I receive and admit alſo the Ceremonies received and approved by the Catholic Church in the ſolemn adminiſtration of the forementioned Sacraments.
I receive and embrace all and every thing and things which have been determined concerning Original Sin and Juſtification by the holy Council of Trent.
I likewiſe profeſs, that in the Maſs there is offered up to God, a true, proper, and propitiatory Sacrifice for the Living and Dead; and that in the Holy Sacrament of the Enchariſt, there is truly, really and ſubſtantially, the Body and Blood, together with the Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; and that in it there is made a change of the whole ſubſtance of the Bread into his Body, and of the whole ſubſtance of the Wine into his Blood, which change the Catholick Church calls Tranſubſtantiation. I confeſs alſo, that under one only of theſe two Elements, whole Chriſt and the true Sacrament is received.
I conſtantly believe and affirm, that there is a Purgatory, and that the Souls there detained, are relieved by the Suffrages of the Faithful.
In like manner, I believe that the Saints reigning in Glory with Jeſus Chriſt, are to be worſhipped and invocated by us, and that they offer up Prayers to God for us, and that their Reliques ought to be honoured.
Moreover, I do moſt ſtedfaſtly avow, that the Images of Jeſus Chriſt, of the Bleſſed Virgin the Mother of God, and of other Saints, ought to be kept and retained, and that due Honour and Veneration muſt be yielded unto them.
Alſo I do affirm, that the power of Indulgence was left to the Church by Chriſt Jeſus, and that the uſe there of is very beneficial to Chriſtians.
I do acknowledg the holy Catholick, Apoſtolick and Roman Church, to be the Mother and Miſtreſs of all other Churches; and I profeſs and ſwear true obedience to the Pope of Rome, Succeſſor of the Bleſſed St. Peter, Prince of the Apoſtles, and Vicar of Jeſus Chriſt.
In like manner I own and profeſs, without doubting, all other things left defined and declared by the Holy Canons and General Councils, eſpecially by the moſt holy Council of Trent; and withal, I do condemn, reject, and hold for accurſed, all things that are contrary thereto; and all thoſe Hereſies which have been condemned, rejected, and accurſed by the Church.
And then ſwearing upon the Book of the Goſpel, the Party recanting muſt ſay: I promiſe, vow and ſwear, and moſt conſtantly profeſs, by God's aſſiſtance, to keep intirely and inviolably, unto death, this ſelf ſame Catholick and Apoſtolick Faith, out of which no perſon can be ſaved; and this I do moſt truly and willingly profeſs, and that I will to the utmoſt of my Power, endeavour that it may be maintained and upheld as far as any ways belong to my charge; ſo help me God and the holy Virgin.
The Certificate which the Party Recanting is to leave with the Prieſt, before whom he makes his Abjuration.
IN. N. of the Pariſh of N. do Certifie all whom it may Concern, That having acknowledged the falſeneſs of the pretended Reformed, and the Truth of the Catholick Religion, of my own Free-will, without any Compulſion, I have accordingly made Profeſſion of the ſaid Catholick and Roman Religion in the Church of N. in the hands of N. N. In Teſtimony of the Truth whereof, I have ſigned this Act in the preſence of the Witneſſes, whoſe Names are under written, this— day of the Month of the—year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord the King, and of our Redemption—
FINIS.
End of the text · Jean Claude, Account of the Persecutions of the Protestants in France (1686)