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declared Excommunicate, and fhall not be Abfolved, until he hath redeemed the faid Chriftian, tho' he should coft him more than what he fold him for; or until it fhall be manifest to the Vicar of the Church, and to other Curates, and the whole People, that it cannot be done; in which cafe he fhall not be Absolved until by way of Penance he has refunded the Money that he received, with which the Vicar and Church-wardens fhall buy an Infidel,

whom

they fhall Chriften, great numbers of such being fold daily in Malabar; and the Perfon fo bought fhall have his liberty, and fhall be cemmitted to the care of fome devout fubftantial Chriftian that will Educate him for God's fake. Moreover, the Synod in virtue of Obedience, doth prohibit all Chriftians to Sell any Boys or Girls, tho' they are not Baptized, to any Mahometan, Jew, or Heathen; it being certain, that fuch when fold to Infidels, will never come to the knowledge of the Faith; tho' when it is neceffary, and they are their lawful Slaves, they may fell them to other Chriftians: Whofoever fhall tranfgrefs herein, fhall be feverely punished, except the Perfon that was fold was Twenty Years of Age; and it is manifeft to the Vicar, to whom he shall be carried before he is fold, that he refused to be Baptized.

Decree

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Decree XI.

He Heathens of these Parts being fo ftrangely addicted to Auguries, and Superstitions, as fometimes to kill their Children which are born on those days which they reckon to be Unlucky, imagining they must be miserable if they live, the Mothers, that they may not Murther them with their own hands, leaving them in Heaths, or at the bottom of fome Tree, or in a Ditch, there to perish; wherefore the Synod doth command all the faithful Chriftians of this Bishoprick, That whereas living among fuch Heathens, and being their Neighbours, they cannot for the most part but know what pafles in their Houses, to be very watchful in this cafe; and whenfoever they fhall know of any Infants being thus expofed, or fhall find them at any time in the Heaths, to carry them home to their Houses, and cherish them with Chriftian Charity, either Baptizing them themfelves, or procuring it to be done; and if when they find them, they fhall apprehend them to be near dying, notwithstanding they may know that their Parents will take it ill of them, who by thus expofing them have loft their dominion over them, they fhall Baptize them immediately, whereby the Church will acquire a right in them, and as a Holy Mother, is glad to receive them; and if it fhould fo happen that thofe by whom they are found, are not in a condition to breed them

up,they shall then carry them to the Vicar,and the other Curates of the Church, whom we command in the name of Chrift, to call together the chief Men of the Parish, to take fome courfe about the bringing up of the Child; and if there is no well-difpofed Perfon that will for the love of God, take the charge thereof upon him, they hall then procure a Nurse, and whatsoever elfe is neceffary, if there can be no other way found, out of the Alms and Fabrick of the Church,

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Decree XII.

He Synod commands, That the Infants that are left at the Gates of the Churches, or in any other place, if it does not manifeftly appear that they are already Chriftned, fhall be Baptized, and fhall be brought up in the fame manner as is prefcribed for the Children of Infidels that are found expofed in the Heaths, the Vicars doing all they can to prevail with fome to undertake the charge of their Education for God's fake.

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Decree XIII.

LL that shall be converted from Heathenifin to Chriftianity, being of Age, fhall be well inftructed in the matters of Faith, before they shall be admitted to Baptism, and fhall know at leaft how to Crofs themselves, and be able to fay the Pater Nofter, Ave Mary, the

Creed,

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 fuch in the Faith before they Chriften them, without they should happen to be in danger of Death before they have learn'd those things; in which cafe their making a profeffion of Faith, and the neceffary Mysteries thereof, and fignifying a defire to be Baptized, fhall be fufficient: And whereas the Synod is inform'd, that great numbers of Infidels living among Chriftians, have long defired Baptifm 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, fpeedily to fet about instructing such, according to the fervour of those that defire it, that fo they may be brought to the Sacred Font of Baptifm, defiring all other Christians likewise to be diligent and zealous in that Matter.

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Decree XIV.

He Holy Oils having hitherto not been used in this Bishoprick in any of the Sacraments, and if any have been used, it having been without any diftinction, and without being Bleffed by the Bishop'; wherefore for remedy thereof, the most Illustrious Metropolitan, in his Refor mation of the Affairs of this Church, having on the Thursday of the laft Holy Week bleffed the

Oils, and furnished all the Churches therewith, inftructing them in their Holy Ufes and Distinctions; the Synod doth therefore command all Vicars in virtue of holy obedience,to use the faid 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 fign of the Crofs thereon with their Thumb dipt in the Holy Oils, or with a Feather kept in the Veffel for that use, wiping the Oil off afterwards with a Cloth or Towel, which fhall likewise be kept in the fame place: The Synod doth alfo command under the fame Precept, That all Curates and Vicars do celebrate this Sacrament, with the Rites and Ceremonies, Exorcifms and Prayers, that are contained in the Roman Ceremonial; which the most Illuftrious Metropolitan has order'd to be Tranflated into Syrian for the administration of all the Sacraments, and is to be kept in all Churches; and that the Priefts when they administer Baptifm folemnly in the Church, fhall have on a Surplice, and a Stole about their Necks, for the more decent administration of that Sacrament, and fhall not perform it in their ordinary wearing Habit, as they have done hitherto.

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Decree XV.

Hereas hitherto the ancient Custom of the Church of having Godfathers and Godmothers, has not been in ufe in this Bishoprick, by

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