tized in Christ, as St. Paul hath it, having put on Chrift: The Matter of this Sacrament, is true, natural, and common Water, as of the Sea, Rivers, Fountains, Lakes, or Rain, and no other, tho' never fo pure and clean; all others being Liquors, and not natural Water: The Form is, I Baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft. The Minister of this Sacrament is a Prieft, to whom it belongs by virtue of his Office; but in case of neceffity, not only a Prieft or Deacon, but a Lay-man, or Woman, nay an Infidel, a Mahometan, a Heretick, or Jew: In a word, any Person that can Baptize, ufing the Form of the Church, and intending to do what she does, may administer this Sacrament: For feeing none can be faved without being Baptized, therefore as our Lord ordained Water, than which nothing is more ready at hand, to be the matter of this Sacrament, fo he would exclude no Man from being the Minifter thereof; the effects and virtue of this Sacrament, is, the pardon and remiffion of all fins Original and Actual, and of all punishments due to them; for which reafon there is no Penance to be enjoyned those that are Baptized, for any fin they committed before Baptifm, all that die after Baptifm, before they have committed any fin, going directly to Heaven, where they enjoy the Divine Vision for ever.

Decree

Decree I.

Whereas in the Examination of the Forms of

the administration of the Sacraments of the Church in this Diocess, made by the most Reverend Metropolitan in his laft Vifitation, he found that in divers Churches there were different Forms used, and written in the Baptifteries, fome Curates using the Form following; * N. is Baptized and perfected, in the name of the Father, Amen; in the name of the Son, Amen; in the name of the Holy Ghoft, Amen: Others using the Greek Form, faying, Baptizetur fervus Chrifti, in nomine Patris, Amen; in nomine Filii, Amen; in nomine Spiritus Sancti, Amen. The Synod in virtue of Obedience, and upon pain of Excommunication to be ipfo facto incurred, doth command, that no Perfon fhall prefume hereafter to use either thefe, or any other Forms, but that which is ufed in the Holy Roman Church; I Baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; and that all other Forms be blotted out of their Baptifteries, and Books, and this be put in their place.

* The Ancient Form of Baptizing was by Prayer.

This

Decree II.

His Synod being informed, That at divers times they have ufed different Forms of Baptism in this Diocefs, which were introduced

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by Schifmatical and Ignorant Prelates, fome of which were not Legitimate, neither was the Sacrament adminiftred by them, as was declared by the most Illustrious Metropolitan, and others, after a strict Examination; and others were very doubtful, doth therefore in the name of the Holy Ghoft, defire and command all the faithful Chriftians of this Diocefs to declare to the faid Metropolitan at the Vifitation he intends to make of the Churches of this Diocess, or to Perfons deputed by him, the time when they were Baptized, that fo according to the Form that was then used, a faving remedy may be provided, in conformity to what fhall be ordained therein, and that all fubmit themselves to whatsoever he shall be pleased to order.

For

Decree III.

Orafmuch as the Synod is informed, that there are many Persons in this Diocefs, and efpecially among thofe that live in the Heaths, and are far from any Church, who tho' they are not Baptized, yet being of a Christian race, do profefs themselves Chriftians, and when they come where there is a Church, do go to it and receive the Holy Sacraments with others, and out of meer shame of letting it be known that they are not Chriftened, do die without Baptifm; and others because they will not pay the Fees, which are Simoniacally demanded of them: It doth therefore command all Vicars of Churches

ches to make diligent inquiry through their whole Parishes and the Heaths, to fee if there are any that are not Chriftened, befides the fearch that the most Illustrious Metropolitan does intend at his next Vifitation, as he did at his former; and that the faid Vicars on the high Festivals, upon which those that live in the Heaths do ufually come to Church, fhall admonish them all in general, that in cafe there are any among them that have never been baptized, or that have fome reason to doubt whether they have or not, that they go to them and acquaint them therewith in private, that fo they may be fecretly Chriftened, and without paying any Fee, letting them know that they are not Chriftians, nor capable of inheriting Eternal Life, nor of receiving the Holy Sacraments without being baptized; and all Preachers fhall frequently give the fame admonition, and all Confeffors must be careful to ask all rude Christians that live in the Heaths, whether they have been baptized, and in case it appear doubtful, they shall then baptize them privately. The Synod grants the fame License to all Priests within or without this Diocefs, to baptize all fuch fecretly, in what place foever they fhall think fit.

Decree IV.

THE Synod being informed that there are fome fmall Villages in this Diocess, which, by reafon of the great diftance they are at from any Church, and through the negligence of their

Pre

Prelates and Priests, tho' they call themselves Christians of St. Thomas, becaufe defcended of fuch, yet are not Baptized, having nothing of Christians but the bare name, doth command a diligent enquiry to be made into this matter, recommending the fame to the most Reverend Metropolitan, and commanding all Vicars of Churches to fearch all places bordering upon their Parishes, and to oblige all fuch to be Baptized: The Synod doth likewife command Chappels to be built in or near to all fuch Villages, and to be provided with fuch Curates as may inftruct them in all matters of Faith, that so there may be none in all thefe parts that call themfelves Chriftians of St. Thomas, but what are Baptized; and of fome Parish where they may receive the Sacraments.

B

Decree V.

Y reafon of the great negligence that is fo vifible in the Chriftians of this Bishoprick, in bringing their Children to be baptized within eight days after they are born, according to the Custom of the Church, but chiefly among thofe that live at a confiderable diftance from any Church, whofe Children are many times fome Months or Years old before they are Christen'd; the Synod doth strictly command, That all Children be baptized on the 8th. day after they are born, according to the custom of the Univerfal Church, without there fhould be fome dan

ger