Page:Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent Buckley.djvu/284

Rh any eagerness of covetousness, or any want of consideration, violate that immunity of the Church and of ecclesiastical persons, which, by the ordinance of God, and by the sanctions of the canons, has been established; but that they render, together with the princes themselves, due observance to the sacred constitutions of Sovereign Pontiffs and of councils. It decrees, therefore, and enjoins, that the sacred canons, and all the general councils, as also all other apostolic sanctions, published in favour of ecclesiastical persons, of the liberty of the Church, and against the violators thereof,—all which it also renews by this present decree,—be exactly observed by all men. And on this account it admonishes the emperor, king, republics, princes, and all and each, of what state and dignity soever they be, that, the more abundantly they are adorned with temporal goods, and with power over others, so much the more religiously should they respect whatsoever is of ecclesiastical right, as being commanded by God, and as being under the cover of his protection; and that they suffer not much to be injured by any barons, lords, governors, or other temporal masters, and above all by the immediate officers of the masters themselves; but animadvert severely on those, who obstruct her liberty, immunity, and jurisdiction. Unto whom let they themselves be an example in regard of piety, religion, and the protection of the churches, imitating those most excellent and religious princes their predecessors, who not only defended from injury at the hands of others, but, by their own authority and munificence, especially advanced the interests of the Church. And therefore let each one herein earnestly discharge his duty; that so the divine worship may be devoutly exercised, and prelates and other clerks remain, quietly and without hindrances, in their own residences and in the discharge of their duties, to the profit and edification of the people.

CHAPTER XXI.

In all things the Authority of the Apostolic See shall remain untouched.

Lastly, the holy synod declares, that all and each of the things which, under what clauses and words soever, have been ordained in this sacred council, touching the