The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, Introduction 2 · Section 46
SECT. XLVI.
1. That in the Head of theſe booted and armed Apoſtles, beſides their own Military Officers and Commanders, there marched the Intendants of every Province and Diſtrict, together with the Biſhops of the Dioceſs accompanied with a Troop of fiery Zealots, Miſſionaries, Monks, and other Romiſh Churchmen. The Intendants gave out ſuch Orders as they conceived would moſt effectually promote and facilitate the converſion of the Hereticks, and ſuppreſs natural Bowels and Pity, in caſe any ſuch ariſe and move in the Dragoons or their Officers. The Prelates kept open Houſe to receive Abjurations, and to have a ſtrict and careful eye, that nothing might be done contrary to the Intentions of the Clergy.
2. When the Dragoons had made ſome to relent and yield by their inhumane Cruelties, they preſently change their Quarters, and are ſent to plague thoſe of the Reformed who do yet perſevere in their fidelity to Chriſt and the Goſpel. So that often times theſe had at once all the Dragoons quartered upon them, which were before diſperſed among all the Inhabitants of that place. This was a burden inſupportable.
3. That in the moſt eminent Cities and Towns of the Province they were careful by the Intendants or ſome other means to procure ſome perſons to change their Religion, before they ſent their Troops thither, and theſe new Converts muſt be aiding and aſſiſting in perverting others. So that when the Dragoons had done their part as effectually as they could, the Intendant, with the Biſhops and the Military Commander do once again aſſemble theſe miſerable Inhabitants totally ruined, and exhort them to obey the King, and become Catholicks; adding, in caſe of obſtinacy, moſt terrible Threats. And the new Converts never failed in this juncture to execute what they had promiſed, to entice and ſeduce them from the true Religion. This they could do the more ſucceſsfully, becauſe the Reformed had yet ſome kindneſs for, and confidence in them.
4. When the Maſter of a Family, thinking to get rid of the Dragoons, had obeyed and ſigned an Abjuration, yet, for all this, he was not freed from his Tormentors, unleſs that his Wife, Children, and the meaneſt of his Servants did not alſo follow his example. And if Wife, or Children, or any of his Domeſticks eſcaped their hands, and fled for their Lives, they renewed their Perſecutions upon him till ſuch time as he had brought them back again; which being ſometimes utterly impoſſible, their change of Religion did not in the lead benefit or avail them.
The Form of Abjuration impoſed upon the Proteſtants when they turn'd Papiſts, and which they ſtiled, The Mark of the Beast, I here offer to my Reader's peruſal.
THE Mark of the Beaſt: OR, The Profeſſion of the Catholick, Apoſtolick, and Romiſh Faith, which the Proteſtants in France were inforced to make and ſubſcribe, through the Violence of Perſecution in France.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoſt, Amen.
I … do believe, and profeſs with a firm Faith, all and every thing and things contained in that Creed which is uſed by the holy Church of Rome, to wit:
I believe in one God the Father Almighty, who hath made Heaven and Earth, and all things viſible and inviſible.
And in one Lord Jeſus Chriſt the only begotten Son of God, and born of the Father before all Ages, God of God, Light of Light, True God of the True God, Begotten not made, of one ſubſtance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us Men and our Salvation, came down from Heaven and was Incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made Man, and was Crucified alſo for us under Pontius Pilate, he ſuffered and was buried, and the third day he roſe again, according to the Scriptures, and aſcended into Heaven, and ſitteth on the right hand of the Father, and he ſhall come again with Glory, to judge both the quick and the dead: whoſe Kingdom ſhall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father, and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is Worſhipped and Glorified, who ſpake by the Prophets. And I believe one Catholick and Apoſtolick Church. I acknowledge one Baptiſm for the Remiſſion of Sins, and I look for the Reſurrection of the Dead, and the Life of the World to come. Amen.
I receive and embrace moſt firmly the Apoſtolick, and Eccleſiaſtical Traditions, and the other Obſervations and Conſtitutions of the ſame Church.
In like manner I receive the holy Scripture, but with that ſence which the holy Mother Church hath, and doth now underſtand it, to whom it doth, belong to judge of the true ſenſe, and interpretation of the Sacred Scriptures, and I ſhall never take it, nor interpret it otherwiſe than according to the unanimous Conſent of the Fathers.
I profeſs alſo, that there be truly and properly ſeven Sacraments of the new Law, inſtituted by our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and needful for the Salvation of Mankind, although not alike needful to every one, to wit, Baptiſm, Confirmation, the Euchariſt, Penance, Extreme Ʋnction, Orders, and Marriage, and that they do confer Grace. And that Baptiſm, Confirmation, and Orders, cannot be reiterated without Sacriledge.
I receive and admit alſo the Ceremonies received and approved by the Catholick Church, in the ſolemn Adminiſtration of all theſe for-mentioned Sacraments.
I receive and imbrace all and every thing and things, which have been determined and declared concerning original Sin and Justification by the holy Council of Trent.
I likewiſe profeſs, that in the Maſs there is offered unto God a true, proper, and propitiatory Sacrifice for the living and the dead, and that in the moſt holy Sacrament of the Euchariſt, there is truly, really, and ſubſtantially, the Body and Blood, tog…her 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 thoſe two Elements, whole Chriſt and a true Sacrament is received.
I constantly affirm, that there is a Purgatory, and that the Souls there detained are relieved by the Suffrages of the Faithful.
In like manner the Saints reigning with Jeſus Christ are to be Worſhipped, and Invocated, and that they offer up Prayers unto God for us, and that their Relicks are to be honoured.
I do most stedfastly avow, that the Images of Jeſus Chriſt, and of the Ever-Virgin Mother of God, and alſo of the other Saints, ought to be had and retained, and that due honour and veneration muſt be yielded to them.
Moreover I affirm, that the power of Indulgences was left unto the Church by Jeſus Chriſt, and that their uſage is very beneficial unto Chriſtians.
I acknowledge the Holy Catholick, Apostolick, and Roman Church, to be the Mother and Miſtreſs of all other Churches.
And I promiſe and ſwear true Obedience to the Pope of Rome, Succeſſor of Bleſſed St. Peter, Prince of the Apoſtles, and Vicar of Jeſus Christ.
In like manner, I receive and profeſs, without doubting all other things left, defined, and declared by the holy Canons, and General Councils, and eſpecially by the moſt holy Council of Trent.
And withal, I do condemn, reject, and accurſe all things which are contrary, and whatever Hereſies have ken condemned, rejected, and accurſed by the Church.
And ſwearing upon the Book of the Goſpels, he muſt ſay,
I promiſe, vow, and ſwear, and moſt conſtantly to confeſs (God aiding me) and to keep intirely and inviolably unto the death, this ſelf-ſame Catholick Faith, out of which no Perſon can be ſaved, which I do now moſt willingly and truly profeſs, and that I will endeavour, to the utmoſt of my Power, that it ſhall be held, taught and preached by my Vaſſals, or by thoſe who ſhall belong unto my charge. So help me God, and theſe holy Goſpels. So be it.
I … of the Pariſh of … do Certifie unto 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, and without any Compulſion, I have made Profeſſion of the Catholick, Apoſtolick, and Roman Religion in the Church of … in the hands of … In Teſtimony of the Truth hereof, I have ſigned this Act in preſence of theſe Witneſſes, whoſe names are hereunto ſubſcribed this … day of the Month of … and in the year of our Lord …