The Council of Arles in the Year 1260.
THis Council was Held by Florence Arch-Bishop of Arles, and consisted of the Bishops of his Pro∣vince. * 1.1 In the Preface there is an Account of the Errors of those who are styl'd Joachites, who defended the Doctrine of a Book call'd, The Eternal Gospel, and they are Condemn'd in the First Canon.
In the Second 'tis order'd, That the Curates shall Teach their Parishoners the Form of Baptizing In∣fants in Case of Necessity.
In the Third 'tis order'd, That they who Administer and those who Receive the Sacrament of Con∣firmation ought to be at the Fast.
In the Fourth 'tis forbidden to Contract Marriage without the Authority of the Church.
In the Fifth 'tis order'd, That there shall be at least, perpetual Vicars in all Parish-Churches.
In the Sixth, That the Office of the Trinity shall be Celebrated the Sunday after Whitsuntide.
By the Seventh 'tis prohibited to make use of Torches of Wood in Churches; and 'tis order'd, That they shall make use of Wax-Tapers.
In the Eighth 'tis order'd, That the Jews shall be distinguish'd from the Christians by some Mark.
In the Ninth, The Clerks who have Benefices are prohibited from Exercising the Functions of Ad∣vocates in a Lay-Court.
In the Tenth, The Monks and Regular Canons are prohibited from receiving any Salary for their Preaching.
In the Eleventh, The Regular Canons are order'd to live according to the Rule of St. Augustine, to Eat in Common in one and the same Refectory, and to Wear a Habit agreeable to their Condition.
The Twelfth is against an Abuse which was then Practised by the Knights-Templars, who being themselves and their Servants exempted from the Jurisdiction of Ordinaries, bestow'd that Quality on several Clerks who still retain'd their Habit, that so they likewise might be exempted from the Jurisdiction of their Bishop. This Council orders, That the Exemption shall only extend to those who are really of that Order, and that the others shall be subject to the Correction and Jurisdiction of the Ordinaries.
In the Thirteenth 'tis order'd, That Religious Persons shall be settled in the Hospitals to take care of them.
The Fourteenth imports, That no Credit shall be given to the Deeds by which the Bishops raises Money, unless seal'd with his own Seal.
In the Fifteenth, The Monks are prohibited from admitting Laicks into their Churches on Sundays or Holy-Days, and from Preaching in the time of the Parochial Divine Service.
In the Sixteenth, The Penitentiaries who are sent into Parishes to Absolve Men in such Cases as are reserv'd to the Bishop, are enjoin'd not to hear any Confessions, but in such Cases; and to re∣fer them in other Cases to the Curate.
The Seventeenth, is against those who use any force to keep their Relations or Friends in Benefices, or to cause them to be Elected into them.
The other Canons of this Council are lost.