The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, Introduction 2 · Section 12 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X. Chap. X. Of Religious Exerciſes.Of Religious Exerciſes performed in the Aſſemblies of the Faithful
CANON I. THat great irreverence, which is found in divers Perſons, who at publick and private Prayers do neither uncover their Heads, nor bow their Knees, ſhall be reformed, which is a matter repugnant unto Piety, and giveth ſuſpicion of Pride, and doth ſcandalize them that fear God. Wherefore all Paſtors ſhall be adviſed, as alſo Elders and Heads of Families, carefully to overſee, that in time of Prayer, all Perſons without exception or acceptation, do evidence by thoſe exteriour ſigns the inward humility of their hearts, and of that homage yielded by them unto God, unleſs any one be hindred from ſo doing by ſickneſs or otherwiſe; the judgment of which ſhall be remitted to the teſtimony of their own particular Conſciences.
CAN. II. Singing of God's praiſes being a divine Ordinance, and to be performed in the Congregations of the Faithful, and for that by the uſe of Pſalms their hearts be comforted and ſtrengthned; Every one ſhall be advertiſed to bring with them their Pſalm-Books unto thoſe Aſſemblies; and ſuch as through contempt of this holy Ordinance do forbear the having of them, ſhall be cenſured, as alſo thoſe, who in time of ſinging, both before and after Sermon, are not uncovered, as alſo when the Holy Sacraments are Celebrated.
CAN. III. In times of ſore Perſection, and of War, Peſtilence, or Famine, or any other grievous affliction; Item, when as Miniſters of the Goſpel are to be Ordained, and when as queſtion is moved about calling a National Synod, one day or more may be ſet a part for publick and extraordinary Prayers, and Faſting; yet without any ſcruple or ſuperſtition, and all this ſhall be done upon mature conſideration of the grounds and cauſes of theſe Providences. And the Churches ſhall be adviſed to celebrate the Faſt, as much as poſſible they can, unanimouſly at the ſame time, provided they have conveniency of times and places for it.
CAN. IV. Whereas divers Churches have been accuſtomed to uſe publick Prayers on ſome particular day, they may, if they like it, retain this their practice, which for many years they have ſo happily obſerved, and others alſo may conform to it according to thoſe means which God may graciouſly afford them, and which their edification may require. And all Paſtors in the careful and faithful diſcharge of the duties of their Function, ſhall by their moſt ſerious Remonſtrances and Exhortations, remove that contempt, of which too many are guilty, who diſdain to frequent Sermons, and neglect that Ordinance of Family-Prayers, which ought daily to be performed in private Houſes by the reſpective Heads of Houſes, with their Families and Domeſticks. And all Churches in which over and beſides Preaching of God's holy Word, there hath been uſually performed Morning and Evening Prayers on thoſe days in which they had Sermons, or in the Evenings of every day are exhorted to conform herein unto thoſe Churches which have no ſuch Cuſtom; that ſo Superſtition may be nipt in the bud, and that common careleſneſs, and notorious neglect of Sermons and Family Prayers, may be quite baniſhed. Becauſe the uſage of common publick Prayers ſhould only be reſerved for times of distreſs and affliction, as the general publick Fast is an Ordinance only to be uſed upon extraordinary occaſions, and therefore ought not to be brought into ordinary common practice. For which cauſes thoſe of our people who have had this Custom, ſhall be advertiſed by their Paſtors to lay them down quietly, that no ſcandal may be taken at them. And all Heads of Families ſhall be carefully admoniſhed to pray ordinarily twice a day in the Morning and Evening with their Houſholds. N.B. That this part of the Canon, which is in a different Character from the former, is not to be found in my Copies and Editions of 1653, 1666, and 1676. But it is in expreſs words in the Editions of Paris and Quevilly, in the Year 1663. What were the grounds of the omiſſion, I know not, gueſs I do. Thoſe of Geneva might not have a perfect Copy of the Synodical Acts, and ſo Printed it according to what they had. The Reverend Paſtors of Paris and Rouen, were obliged, at least their Conſiſtories, to overſee all the Impreſſions and Editions of the Confeſſion and Diſcipline, and they having in their Archives the beſt and most authentick Acts of their National Synods, might therefore ſee that this Canon ſhould be Printed in its fulleſt and moſt comprehenſive expreſſions. Sure I am this Canon was made and ratified in the Synod of St. Foy, 1578. Canon 12. and in the Synod of Montpellier, 1598. Canon the 18th of General Matters, and in the Synod of Tonneins, 1614. Canon the 4th of General Matters.
CAN. V. At Funerals there ſhall be neither Prayers, nor Sermons, nor any dole of publick Alms; that ſo all Superſtitions, and other inconveniences may be avoided; and thoſe who attend the dead Corps unto its Sepulchre, ſhall be exhorted to behave themſelves modeſtly whileſt they follow it, meditating according to the object preſented to them, upon the miſeries and brevity of this Life, and the hopes of one more happy in the World to come.
CAN. VI. Foraſmuch as Mourning conſiſteth not in habits but in heart, the Godly ſhall be admoniſhed to demean themſelves with a modeſt decency, and to reject all Ambition, Hypocriſy, Vanity and Superſtition.