The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 25 (Castres) · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. An Act againſt Debauchery.
FOraſmuch as the Wrath of God is viſibly revealed from Heaven againſt the Ungodlyneſs of Men, and is notoriouſly poured out upon thoſe who being once enlightned from above, and called to the knowledge of the Heavenly Truth have afterward kept it under Hatches through their Unrighteouſneſs, that ſo they might more freely wallow in the Abominations of this World, and turn the Grace of God into laſciviouſneſs: The National Synod of the reformed Churches of this Kingdom Aſſembled by His Majeſties Licence in the Town of Gaſtres, unable to behold, without weeping Eyes, and a wounded bleeding heart, after ſuch dreadful Judgments and Deſolations as have befallen us, the reigning Diſſolutions and Debauches of thoſe Perſons who ſtyle and own themſelves Members of Gods Church, though in very truth and deed they be horrible Profaners of his Holy Name, and diſhonourable Profeſſors of our moſt Holy Religion by their Impious and Licentious Lives, and do as much as in them lieth deny the power of Godlineſs by their open and ſhameleſs ingratitude to his Divine Goodneſs. Now for the avoiding of Gods burning Wrath and Indignation, and more and more to ſtir up the Bowels of his Fatherly Compaſſions (which he was pleaſed to remember for us even in the midſt of Judgment, yea, and then alſo, when as he ſmote his ſinful Heritage with his foreſt and ſevereſt ſtrokes,) and that upon our Converſion and Reformation his ſpecial Love and favour may be had and obtained, and that this peace, which againſt all hopes he hath given a ſtiff-necked and rebellious People (who have bitterly provoked him to Jealouſie, and as it is too too evident have nothing profited by his Rod of Diſcipline and Correction) may be preſerved and continued, This National Synod decreeth, That all the Churches of this Kingdom ſhall be ſollicited by the moſt powerful Motives and Arguments to humble themſelves deeply in a moſt ſerious Repentance before his Divine Majeſty, and utterly to abandon all Vanities, Luxury's, Fantaſticalneſs, and ſumptuous Superfluities in Apparel, thoſe unſeemly Ornaments and delights of laſcivious Curles, Paintings, Naked Breaſts, Dances, Balls, Maſquerades, Waſſaile-Feaſts, Carnevalls, and all other unfruitful works of Darkneſs, that ſo the Faithful, Reforming their Lives, and producing Fruits worthy of Repentance, may demonſtrate themſelves by their good Works to be the conſcientious Guardians of that pretious Jewel or ſaving Truths, which is depoſited with them. And all Conſiſtories are injoyned to exert that Authority given them of God diligently to ſuppreſs their Inſolencies, who glorying in their ſhame and ignominy may attempt in aftertimes to continue in any of their diſorderly and ſinful practiſes, and ſhould ſet themſelves to reſiſt thoſe Remonſtrances, which the Great and Holy God hath or may iſſue forth againſt them by his Sacred Word.
And that this moſt needful Canon may be executed with the greater Faithfulneſs, Care, and Facility, This Synod doth ordain that it ſhall be read publickly in all our Churches, and an Account of its Obſervation ſhall be given in unto Colloquies and Synods, on pain of being reſponſible in their own Perſons particularly for all its Tranſgreſſions and Violations.
The whole Church Diſcipline having been read, the Deputies of the Provinces promiſed both for themſelves, their Churches and thoſe who had Commiſſionated them to obſerve it in their own Perſons, and to ſee it moſt Religiouſly obſerved in their Reſpective Provinces.