DECREE XII.

FOUNDLINGS TO BE TREATED IN LIKE MANNER.

The Synod commands, That the infants that are left at the gates of the churches, or in any other place, if it does not manifestly appear that they are already christened, shall be baptized, and shall be brought up in the same manner as is prescribed for the children of infidels that are found exposed in the heaths, the vicars doing all they can to prevail with some to undertake the charge of their education for God's sake.

DECREE XIII.

CONVERTS TO BE INSTRUCTED AND BAPTIZED.

All that shall be converted from heathenism to Christianity, being of age, shall be well instructed in the matters of faith, before they shall be admitted to baptism, and shall know at least how to cross themselves, and be able to say the Pater Noster, Ave Mary, the Creed, and the commandments, as well as they can be taught; in which matter there has been hitherto a great neglect, commanding the vicars to examine all such in the faith before they christen them, without they should happen to be in danger of death before they have learned those things; in which case their making a profession of faith, and the necessary mysteries thereof, and signifying a desire to be baptized, shall be sufficient: and whereas the Synod is informed, that great numbers of infidels living among Christians, have long desired baptism of them, but through the coldness of priests and others, have had none that would be at the pains to instruct them, it doth therefore charge the consciences of the vicars therewith, speedily to set about instructing such, according to the fervour of those that desire it, that so they may be brought to the sacred font of baptism, desiring all other Christians likewise to be diligent and zealous in that matter.

in

DECREE XIV.

HOLY OILS COMMANDED TO BE USED.

The holy oils having hitherto not been used in this bishopric any of the sacraments, and if any have been used, it having

SESSION
IV.

IV.

SESSION been without any distinction, and without being blessed by the bishop; wherefore for remedy thereof, the most illustrious Metropolitan, in his reformation of the affairs of this church, having on the Thursday of the last holy week blessed the oils, and furnished all the churches therewith, instructing them in their holy uses and distinctions; the Synod doth therefore command all vicars in virtue of holy obedience, to use the said oils in baptism, anointing all that are baptized therewith on the breast and the sides, and after they are baptized, anointing them with the holy chrism on the head, and making the sign of the cross thereon with their thumb dipt in the holy oils, or with a feather kept in the vessel for that use, wiping the oil off afterwards with a cloth or towel, which shall likewise be kept in the same place: the Synod doth also command under the same precept, that all curates and vicars do celebrate this sacrament, with the rites and ceremonies, exorcisms and prayers, that are contained in the Roman ceremonial; which the most illustrious Metropolitan has ordered to be translated into Syrian for the administration of all the sacraments, and is to be kept in all churches; and that the priests when they administer baptism solemnly in the church, shall have on a surplice, and a stole about their necks, for the more decent administration of that sacrament, and shall not perform it in their ordinary wearing habit, as they have done hitherto.

DECREE XV.

SPONSORS APPOINTED TO BE USED.

Whereas hitherto the ancient custom of the church of having godfathers and godmothers, has not been in use in this bishopric, by which means there has been no knowledge therein, of the spiritual affinity that is contracted betwixt the party baptized, and the parents thereof, and the godfathers and godmothers; therefore the Synod does command, that all that are baptized, shall have one or two godfathers and godmothers, to present them in the church, and to touch them on the head before baptism, and to receive them from the holy font: the men must be fourteen years of age at least, and the women twelve; neither shall any be admitted under those ages. The Synod doth likewise declare, that there is such a close spiritual affinity betwixt the godfathers and godmothers, and their godchildren, and the parents of the children, that they can never marry with one another, without a dispensation from the pope, or from one empowered by him, and which is seldom granted,

IV.

and never but when there is a very urgent cause for it; and SESSION that such marriages celebrated without a dispensation, are void and of no effect. The Synod furthermore declares, that this spiritual affinity reacheth no further than to the one or two godfathers, and one godmother, but not to those that shall stand for them, though they touch the heads of the children, neither shall the priest admit above two.

DECREE XVI.

OLD TESTAMENT NAMES TO BE DISCONTINUED, AND THOSE OF
THE NEW TESTAMENT GIVEN.

Seeing that by our Lord Jesus Christ and his death, we are passed from the old law to the new law of grace, it is therefore reasonable, that we should in all things be ingrafted into the same and whereas in this bishopric Christians do take several of the names of the saints of the Old Testament, as also several of the names of the country, insomuch that there are but very few called by any of the names of the law of grace; wherefore the Synod doth command the priests to do all they can to have the names of the law of grace given in baptism, but chiefly those of the holy apostles, and of the saints that are most celebrated in the church, not intending hereby to take them from any devotion that several among them may have for some of the saints of the Old Testament, whose names have been hitherto very common in the diocese, such as Abraham, Jacob, Zacharias, and others; nevertheless from henceforward they shall not presume to take the name of Hijo, which has been very common among them, neither shall the priests ever give it to any, it being the most sweet name of Jesus, to which that respect and reverence is due, that none ought to take it upon them; for that in the naming thereof, all knees both in heaven and earth, and under the earth, ought to bow themselves, and every tongue ought to confess, that it is from that Divine name that we desire all the good things that we enjoy on earth;" commanding all that are called by that name, to change it for another when they come to be confirmed; and as for the common names of the country, they may still retain them, if they are such as have been used only among Christians, but not among the heathens, for as to those names which the heathens have in common with Christians, the Synod will not have them to be given in baptism, charging the vicars and priests that baptize, to take care thereof.

SESSION
IV.

DECREE XVII.

CHILDREN TO BE CALLED ONLY BY THE NAME RECEIVED AT
BAPTISM.

The Synod being informed, that there are some Christians so far unmindful of their duties in this matter, as to give other names to their children, than the Christian names they received in baptism, and sometimes such as are not used among Christians; it doth therefore strictly command, that no Christian shall presume to give their children, or to call them by any other names, than those that were given them when they were christened; or when there shall happen to be any just cause for the changing of their baptismal names, it shall be done only at their confirmation, and whosoever shall transgress herein, shall be severely punished by the prelate; and the priests must not be wanting frequently to admonish their people thereof.

DECREE XVIII.

CHILDREN TO BE BAPTIZED IN ORDER, WITHOUT RESPECT OF
PERSONS.

The Synod being informed, that when many children are brought together to be baptized, there are great heats, which shall be first christened; and that after having laid wagers, they give money to the curates for the preference, all which are intolerable disorders, and such scandalous abominations as the church ought not by any means to give way to, and which might be easily prevented, if people could but be persuaded to bring their children to be christened upon the eighth day, it being their deferring of their baptism so long, that is the cause of so many coming together; wherefore for the removing of these disorders in the church, the Synod doth command that the children be baptized as they come, without any distinction of first or last, and that the priests do accustom themselves, either to baptize the poorest first, or all indifferently; and the vicar or priest that shall be found to have taken money or any fee, before or after baptism, though it should be voluntarily offered, and of never so small value, or only what is to be eat, shall be condemned of simony, and punished according to the canons.

DECREE XIX.

INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE FONTS AND WATER OF BAPTISM.

In all parochial churches there shall with all possible expedition be fonts provided for baptism, which may be built with the fabric money, or with the alms-money of the church, or by a collection among the parishioners; it must be erected in a decent place, in a corner of the church, and shall have a hole in the bottom, through which the water may be conveyed away, that so it may not be thrown out where it may be trod upon, or treated with any irreverence, it shall also be close covered at top, and locked up, and until such time as a font shall be provided, they shall have a vessel of some metal or other, which shall be put to no other use, and shall be always kept in some decent place in the church, or sacristy; neither shall they hereafter make use of any common vessel, as has been the custom hitherto; and the water they have baptized with, shall be thrown in some place of the church, where it will not be trod upon, and all the water that shall be made use of in baptism, whether it be in a font or a vessel, shall be blessed with the holy chrism, according to the Roman ceremonial, which they are to make use of.

DECREE XX.

BAPTISMAL REGISTERS.

This Synod, conforming itself to the decrees of the holy Council of Trent, and the universal usages of the church, doth command every parish church to provide a book, wherein the vicar shall register the names of all that are baptized, together with the names of the parents, and of the place where they live, and of the godfathers and godmothers, naming the place also where they were christened, the day of the month, and the year, in this form: on such a day of the month, in the year N. I, N. vicar of the church of N. baptized there, or in such a place, N. the son of N. and of N. naming the father and mother natives of such a place, and the godfathers and godmothers were N. and N. the vicar signing his name to it at the bottom; and when any priest that is not the vicar shall christen a child, which shall never be done without the vicar's leave, he shall register it thus: I, N. curate, with leave from the vicar of such a church, naming both the vicar and the

SESSION

IV.