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and peaceful exercise of my ministry , in my bouse , in my chapel , and in every pulpit that may be open to me , " .
After hearing these replies , the Consistory , considering that the affirmatives of M . Malan were but disguised negatives ; that he assumed the right of authorising catechumens and Catholics to communicate in whatever
congregation they might choose , without a proper admission , without previous abjuration ; that he set himself up for the only interpreter of the regulations * the only judge in matters of faith and discipline ; in a word , that the facts established in the
interrogatory of the 24 th of April were by n ^ p means contradicted , decreed—that the resolution taken to suspend M . Malan from the ministry should be confirmed , and should be submitted to the approbation of the Government . The Moderator was directed to
make known to the Council of State tke result of the steps taken , at their instance , with regard to M . Malan ; to submit to their inspection the writings and interrogatories ; to represent to them that sufferance ought to have its limits ; that the Consistory
cannot regard with equal complacency the observance and the transgression of discipline , nor appear to . confess that / they are not evangelical nor Christian , by silently hearing themselves , thus accused by a man calling himself a member of the Church of
Geneva , over whom , as such , the Consistory ouglit to have full authority " . The limits of indulgence are determined by the dangers of the Church , which is already too much injured by so many discussions ; by the duties imposed on us ; by the oath we have taken ^ s eiders and as pastors .
"To persevere in shewing forbearance towards a man who practically , and in consequence of the principles he avows , recognizes no other rule than his own decisions , would be no
longer charity on our part $ it would be weakness , oblivion of duty and guilty connivance ; in short , it would be ? a justification , in the eyes of strangers , of the contempt which is cast on us and on our flock . . ** In fine , it is aur duty to enlighten the faithful and to preserve them from
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a dangerous snare ; since many resort to M . Malan as to a minister of our Church , &c . » On the 8 th of the following August , the Council of State transmitted to the Moderator the confirmation of
the decree of the Consistory : "Seeing it is proved by the replies ctT-IMk Malan , that after having on variqiis Occasions infringed the discipline of the Church , he is persevering in a system which clearly indicates a refusal to submit to it . ' *
On the 14 th of the same month , ML Malan received in the Consistory the communication of the decree , from the extract of the records of the Council of State , prohibiting his perfoririance of any ecclesiastical function iu the Canton . The Moderator ettcjekl with this exhortation :
" You have declare ^ , Sir , that you are , and that you will remain , $ meoi r ber of our National Church ; you should , therefore , feel the necessity of submitting to your superiors in that Church , and of abstaining in every part of the Canton from the exercise
of the ministry . But we desire , we expect , still more from you :. we conjure you in the name of the gospel , retire within yourself ; no longer yield to impulses inconsistent with real Christianity . Become what you once were ,
a friend of peace and order . We have not required any sacrifice of your religious opinions ; we profess , and we hope by the help of God ever to profess , true Christian toleration . We likewise declare , that if we have ever
the happmess of seeing you restored to sentiments more worthy of a minister of Jesus , and subjected to those rules which are essential to the preservation of the Church , we shall
hasten to offer you again the right hand of fellowship , and to invite you to resume the sacred office . May that day , which we all earnestly desire , be at hand ! May the Lord himself influence your mind , and restore you
speedily t ; o us 1 Such is the prayer of this Consistory ^ such is the prayer which each one of us will perseveringly offer to heaven , till we have the consolation of seeing you truly numbered among our children and our brethren /* M . Malan is not capable of feeling an address like this : on a former oc-
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74 The late Theological Controversies at Geneva .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1824, page 74, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2521/page/10/
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