278] 
the work of divine wisdom, that 
things may not be conducted rash- 
ly and. at the pleasure of chance, 
and that nations be not agitated 
by.contrary waves.—Paul says, ac. 
cordingly, not with regard to a 
particular prince, but speaking of 
the subject in general, that ail 
power is of God, and that he who 
resists power, Eoaicts the will of 
God; beware, therefore, dear chil- 
dren, of going astray, and under 
appearance of piety afford to the 
authors of innovation, a pretext to 
defame the Catholic religion, for 
you would load yourselves with a 
great crime which would not only 
be avenged by the secular powers, 
but also, which is much more se- 
rious, would draw down upon yeu 
the severest vengeaice of God, for 
those who resist authority gain to 
themselves damnation. We ex- 
hort you then, dear children, by- 
our Lord Jesus Christ, to study to 
obey those who govern with ali the 
affeftion, all the ardour, and all 
the efforts of which you are capa- 
ble, for so you will render to God 
the obedience which is due; and 
those who govern, perceiving more 
and more that the orthodox reli- 
gion is by no. means so constituted 
as to involve the overthrow of civil 
Jaws, will be led to encourage it, 
and to defend it by the accomplish- 
ment of the divine precepts, and 
by the culture of ecclesiastical dis- 
cipline. In five, we desire to ap- 
prize you that you shou'd put no 
faith in those who shall publish a 
contrary doctrine as emanating 
from the Holy See. We heartily 
bestow upon you the apostolic be- 
nediGtion. 
Given at Rome, at St. Mary 
Major, under the fisher’s ring, 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
the sth day of July, r7g6, and. 
1796. 
22d of our yontificate, 
(Signed R. Carp Brascui 
pi ONESTI. | 
Substance of the Edi& published by his 
Holiness, on the Reception which 
his Subjects. ought to give to the 
French. 
HIS holiness enumerates to slices 
a variety of motives which ought 
to induce them to respect and treat 
the French with the utmost kind. 
ness, such as ‘* the principles of 
our holy religion, the laws of na- 
tions, the interests of the people, 
the will of their sovereign,’ &c. 
le assures them that the cessa. 
tion of hostilities is the immediate 
gift of God; and reminds them of — 
the necessity of parting with a 
small portion of their worldly 
riches for the security of the rest, 
and, what is of more importance, 
for the preservation of the Catholic 
religion. He admonishes them not 
to listen to any perfidious insinua- 
tions tending to disturb the public 
peace ; and declares, that whoever 
shall insult by words or actions, in, 
the slightest manner, the French 
commissioners, their ageats, or do, 
mestics, shall. be punished . wit 
death, their goods confiscated, and 
their famrilies pronounced infas 
mous, as in cases of treason against 
the state. 
Those who shall by their harangues, 
writings, or counsels, provoke in- 
sults against the French, shall be 
liable ro the same punishment. 
Such as shall be spectators or 
participators in proceedings of the 
above description, and shall not 
announce the traitors before the 
‘ordinary tribunals, shall be con. 
demned to ten years slavery in the 
galleys. 
