The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 28 (3rd Charenton) · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV. 10. Article of General Matters.
THere was a Report made in the Synod of a certain Writing, both Printed and Manuſcript, holding forth this Doctrin,Mr. De la Place that the whole Nature of Original Sin conſiſted only in that Corruption, which is Hereditary to all Adam's Poſterity, and reſiding originally in all Men, and denieth the Imputation of his firſt Sin. This Synod condemneth the ſaid Doctrin as far as it reſtraineth the Nature of Original Sin to the ſole Hereditary Corruption of Adam's Poſterity, to the excluding of the Imputation of that firſt Sin by which he fell, and interdicteth on pain of all Church-Cenſures all Paſtors, Profeſſors, and others, who ſhall treat of this Queſtion, to depart from the common received Opinion of the Proteſtant Churches, who (over and beſides that Corruption) have all acknowledged the Imputation of Adam's firſt Sin unto his Poſterity. And all Synods and Colloquies, who ſhall hereafter proceed to the reception of Scholars into the Holy Miniſtry, are obliged to ſee them ſign and ſubſcribe this preſent Act.
11. Foraſmuch as that Religious Adoration given by the Church of Rome to their pretended Conſecrated Hoſt, hath in its Publick Service, and when-ever it is carried in Proceſſion unto the Sick for its ſole Foundation, this falſe Suppoſition, That it is by the Prieſts Conſecration properly made the ſelf ſame Body, which was taken out of the Womb of the Bleſſed Virgin by the Eternal Son of God, and united unto his Divine Perſon, unto which belongeth both before and ſince his Incarnation the Empire of Glory, and Religious Worſhip moſt ſtrictly and properly ſo called, and not unto his Humanity ſeparated from it: That the Church of Rome neither rendreth to, nor requireth for its Conſecrated Hoſt any other Adoration than that of Latria; and the Profeſſors of our Religion are in this Point of another Faith, believing this Hoſt after Conſecration to be that very ſelf-ſame inſenſible and inanimate matter which it was before, and cannot, if they will follow the Dictates of their own Conſciences, and the prime Fundamental Verities of Chriſtianity aſcribe Divine Adoration unto a thing which by Nature is not God, nor tranſfer the Glory of the Eternal God from him unto the baſeſt of Creatures.
This Synod therefore doth adjure all of them, by that Profeſſion they make of ſerving the Lord in Purity and Sincerity, and by that irreparable Prejudice they do the truth, by their raſh and inconſiderate oppugning of it; and to their own Conſciences, which are ſhamefully betrayed by them; and to their Countrymen of the Romiſh Communion, whom they confirm in their Superſtitions; and to the weaker Chriſtians among our ſelves, whom by ſuch a vile Example, utterly unbecoming that worthy Name that is called upbri them, they learn to prevaricate in Religion, that they would once again return unto themſelves, and mourn bitterly in the Preſence of the Great God, and of our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, for that by this Sin of theirs they have profaned his Glory. And the Synod ordaineth, that when as the Hoſt ſhall be carried in Proceſſion, or to the Sick by thoſe of the Romiſh Church, every one do withdraw himſelf from the ſight of it, that ſo no Scandal may be given unto their Neighbours. And whereas ſome, who do not ſtep out of the way, do feed themſelves with this frivolous Imagination, that they may tarry and ſee it, tho they do not, as thoſe of the Romiſh Church, let out their Thoughts to a Religious Adoration of the Hoſt; yet if their bodily Preſence be voluntary at it, it is a kind of Approbation of it. And whereas ſome, out of a ſordid, ſervile Spirit, do comply with the received Cuſtom in taking off their Hats when as the Hoſt paſſeth by, which, ſay they, is not for its ſake, or any Reverence to it, but only out of Reſpect and Honour to the Curate or Vicar who carrieth it, or of the Perſons which accompany it; this is ſinful, becauſe they do not conform themſelves to their Intention whom they pretend to gratifie; and they yield only a Civil Salutation, where the Romiſh Church ordaineth Religious Worſhip to be payed and performed, beſtowing it on another Object beſides that propoſed by her; which Acts of theirs are directly contrary to the received Maxims of Civility among all Men, in that they honour, tho not as the Church of Rome profeſſeth to do, the Lord of Glory, but in his Preſence, and to his Contempt, a Prieſt, who ſaith he is called to ſerve him, and this in that very proper Act of Worſhip, yielded by him as he pretendeth unto his God. Beſides, this is contrary to all Chriſtian Sincerity, which requireth our Actious to be true Copies and Tranſcripts of our Hearts, and not fallacions Feignings of that which is not only not in our Intentions, but is formally contrary to them, which is a moſt miſchievous trick and abuſe put upon thoſe who ſee and converſe with them. Yea laſtly, this is contrary to thoſe glorious Patterns and Examples of the Primitive and Ancient Chriſtians, who being in no wiſe able to brook ſuch Diſguiſes, did repute and eſteem them moſt Sacrilegious Impieties, and would rather expoſe themſelves to many Deaths, than to ſwerve from the leaſt Tittle of that Fidelity and Allegiance they had ſworn unto God in their Baptiſm.
Wherefore this Synod ordaineth, that ſuch Offenders be ſtrictly and carefully admoniſhed not to perſiſt in this their Hypocriſie; for with whatſoever gloſſes and fine pretexts they may colour it over, it is an open Mockage and Scorn both of God and Man, a grievous Scandal unto their Brethren, and a Mortal Wound unto their own Conſciences. And in caſe they ſhall obſtinately abide in their Impious Reſolution, then all Conſiſtories are injoyned to purſue and proſecute them with all Church-Cenſures, as being Perſons utterly unworthy of Communion with the Saints of God. And that none may pretend Ignorance of this Act, let it be Read and Notified publickly in all Places and Congregations where it may be judged needful.
An Act for the National Paſt.12. Foraſmuch as the Patience and Long-ſuffering of God which leadeth Men unto Repentance, hath been horribly deſpiſed by them, ſo that his juſt Wrath and Indignation hath burnt like Fire againſt them for their great Ungodlineſs in every Nation and Country of Chriſtendom, and yet this fierce Anger of God is not turned away, but his Almighty Arm is ſtretched out ſtill; and that Devouring Wars by reaſon of the Obdurateneſs and Impenitency of Sinful Men, do menace them with utter Ruins and Deſolations: The National Synod aſſembled by his Majeſties Permiſſion at Charenton, conſidering that the only means for removing ſo great and ſore Judgments, is the Converſion of Sinners, and the humbling and abaſing of their Haughty Hearts before the glorious Tribunal of that great God whom they have ſo much provoked unto Jealouſie: And whereas it is the indiſpenſable duty, and ſhould be the perpetual practice of all Chriſtians to become new Creatures, to purge themſelves from Dead Works, and to ſerve the moſt holy God in all Holineſs, Righteouſneſs and true Godlineſs: The National Synod exhorts all the Faithful in general and particular, to offer unto the Lord of Glory, whom they have exceedingly diſhonoured, the reaſonable Sacrifice of a contrite and a broken Heart, and to lie proſtrate in all Humility and Sincere Repentance, at the Feet of his Divine Majeſty. And Provincial Synods are all of them required to proclaim publick and ſolemn Faſts in their reſpective Diviſions, according as their publick or private Neceſſities may demand. And now that the Grace and Mercy of our Infinite and Almighty God may be implored, and his Bleſſing and favour obtained for the eſtabliſhing of an Univerſal Peace, for the ſetting of the Kingdom, for the conſervation of his Majeſties Sacred Perſon, for his Divine Benedictions upon his Youth, for the glory of his Crown, and the happy Succeſs of his Armies under the lawful Government of the Queen Regent, and for the proſperity of the whole Royal Family; it is decreed, that a ſolemn Day of Faſting and Prayers ſhall be Obſerv'd and Celebrated in all the Churches of this Kingdom upon the Fourth Day of May now next enſuing; and that the Faithful may be prepared for the Religious Obſervation of it, publick Notice ſhall be given to them by all Paſtors from their Pulpits, by reading of this preſent Act.