The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 25 (Castres) · Chapter 25
CHAP. XXV. GENERAL MATTERS.
Theſe poor Churches prayed for, and rejoyced at the birth of the greateſt Scourge and Plague, that ever was upon them.1 WHereas all Paſtors, and Heads of Families, and Members of our Churches ought dayly to implore the Throne of Grace for all Spiritual and Temporal Benedictions to be poured down upon the Perſon of His Majeſty Our Dread Soveraign, and for the Glory of His Crown, the Peace and Proſperity of His Kingdom and Government, they be all Exhorted in their Publick and Private Prayers importunately to beg of God, that he would be graciouſly pleaſed to bleſs the Kings Majeſty with Children of his own Body, and to this purpoſe all the faithful ſhall with one accord joyn together in Common Prayers and Supplications, that the Lord would hear and Anſwer the Requeſts of his poor Children who live under the Sh dow of his Anointed, that the Scepter may be ſtrengthned in his hand, his Houſe eſtabliſhed from Generation to Generation, and that over and above thoſe Divine Graces and Favours which he hath already vouchſafed to him, he may after a long and happy Life be honoured in ſucceeding Ages with the Glorious Title of Father of Kings, as he is now with that of Father of his People.
2. The Synod conſidering that through the Soveraign Mercy of God, inclining His Majeſties heart by his Holy Spirit thereunto, the Churches of this Kingdom do injoy that great Bleſſing of Peace; and yet nevertheleſs there remain in the hearts of many Perſons very deep reſentments of their paſt Sufferings, which may prove hereafter the Seeds of new Broils and Diſſenſions, whereby the Honour of God, and of our King, and the Publick Tranquillity of the Nation may be exceedingly prejudiced and endammaged, It exhorteth in the Name and Authority of God Almighty all the faithful to ſuppreſs and ſtifle thoſe bitter Animoſities, which the unhappyneſs of our late Civil Wars, may have enkindled in them, and that none of Our Members do trouble their Neighbours for Matters done during thoſe Troubles, ſith the Remembrance of them is aboliſhed by His Majeſties Edicts and Declarations of Peace, and that they would embrace each other with a Cordial Love and Affection, and live for the future as Members of one and the ſame Body, contending mutually and moſtly who ſhall do His Majeſty the beſt and greateſt Service, and repair the woful breaches in the Houſe of God. And in particular the Inhabitants of this populous City ate Exhorted to render all Reverence a… Obedience unto their Magiſtrates and Superiours, as being eſtabliſhed over them by the Authority of God; and the Magiſtrates alſo are to exert their Duties towards them who be ſubjected to their Government with all due and becoming Moderation, and Fatherly Affection; That ſo all ſorts of Perſons both Superiours and Inferiours may aim and level in all their Actions at the Glory of God, the Service of the King, and the Peace and Safety of the Commonwealth
3. The Synod confirming the Canons of former Synods about an exhibition unto Monks, decreeth, that in caſe a Monk cannot be maintained by that Province in which he was born, and that the ſaid Province will not contribute any thing towards his ſubſiſtence, then the Province which is charged with him ſhall make application to the Lord of Candal, and take his allowance out of the Moneys belonging to that Province, where he firſt lived, and quitted his Frock and Idolatrous Religion.
4. Hereafter in the breaking up of theſe National Synods the Deputies ſhall carry home with them the Accompts rendred by the Lord of Candal for Moneys diſtributed by him unto every Province, that ſo all ſuſpicions of partiality in the Dividends of His Majeſties Bounty may be ſuppreſſed.
5. All the Provinces are expreſly enjoyned by this Synod, that they do not prefer our Propoſans before Ancient Paſtors unto vacant Churches, and in caſe any Moderators of Colloquies or Synods ſhall ſuffer this Canon to be violated, they ſhall be ſuſpended from their Charges.
6. That no Paſtor diſcharged by Colloquies or Synods may hereafter aſſume unto himſelf a liberty of wandring from one Province unto another and ſo intrude himſelf into a particular Church without the conſent of Colloquies and Synods, a matter which redounds exceedingly to the diſhonour of the Miniſtry, and is become a moſt Notorious Scandal: The Synod ordaineth, that when as a Paſtor ſhall be taken off the Service of his Church and can not be preſently ſetled in another, yet ſhall he be obliged to live within the bounds of that Province, either as a Paſtor diſcharged, or elſe as one imployed in ſuch a manner as the Province ſhall judge convenient, until ſuch time as he meet with a Call unto ſome other Church, whether within or without the Province, deſiring him to be their fixed Paſtor.
7. The Paſtors of the Church of Paris are ordered to reviſe the Marginal Texts in our Confeſſion of Faith, and to inform the Churches which have Printers to take ſpecial notice of their Remarks, and to ſee that it be printed according to their corrected Copy without any difference.
8. Such Churches as have Printing-Houſes belonging to them ſhall adviſe our Printers to be careful that they inſert no Hiſtorical Remarks into the Calendars, which may occaſion trouble unto the Churches, and irritate the rage and malice of our Adverſaries.
9. There ſhall not be inſerted into the Lett…s of Deputation unto Colloquies and Provincial Synods from particular Churches thoſe ſelfſame clauſes of abſolute ſubmiſſion which are uſed in the Provincial Letters unto the National Synod.
10. 'Tis left wholly to the Diſcretion of Conſiſtories what cenſures they ſhall inflict on ſuch who aſſiſt in Perſon at Baptiſms, Marriages, or Funerals ſolemnized by the Church of Rome.
11. That Canon of the National Synod of Gap about Burying in Temples and Church-yards ſhall be moſt exactly obſerved by all the Churches.