desired may be handled publickly and in the Congregation those Meetings only excepted which are kept by the People in order to their proposing of Matters to be consulted about according to ancient Custom and the Order of the said Metropolitan ACTION II. ON the second Day after the singing of the Antiphony Psalm Prayers and Hymn as they are in the Roman Pontifical the most Reverend Metropolitan being seated in his Chair said Venerable and Beloved Brethren the Priests and you my dearest Sons in Christ the Procurators and Representatives of the People We having done little more Yesterday than celebrate the Divine Offices and Preach to the People it is fit we should begin to Day to Treat of Matters appertaining to the Synod In the first place of those that belong to the Integrity and Truth of our Holy Catholick Faith and the Profession of the same which before we go about I do again admonish you in our Lord Jesus Christ that all such things as you shall judge to stand in need of Reformation in this Bishoprick or any part thereof may be signified to us or to the Congregation that so with the Divine favour and assistance all things by your Diligence and Charity may be brought into so good Estate as is desired for the praise of the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ Decree II. THat this Synod may in all things Govern it self according to the Directions of the Holy Canons and tread in the Footsteps of the Holy General Councils and particularly of the Holy Council of Trent upon the knowledge it has of the Necessities of this Church and of the diversity of Opinions that have been hitherto therein concerning Matters of our Holy Catholick Faith and of the Errors contrary thereunto which have been sowed in this Diocess by Hereticks and Schismaticks it doth command all Persons Ecclesiasticks and Seculars called hither either in their own Name or in the Name of others Ecclesiasticks or Laicks of this Bishoprick to make Profession and Oath of the following Faith in the hands of the most Illustrious Metropolitan President of this Synod And for the more effectual execution of this Decree and to provoke others by his own Example the most Illustrious Metropolitan having robed himself in his Pontificals but without his Mitre kneeling down before the Altar and having laid his hands upon a Cross that was upon a Book of the Gospels did in his own Name as the present Prelate and Metropolitan of the Diocess and in the Name of all the Christians belonging to the same and every Person thereof Secular and Ecclesiastick make Profession and Oath of the Faith following which was immediately declared to all that were present The Profession and Oath of the Faith IN the Name of the most Holy and undivided Trinity the Father Son and Holy Ghost one only true God in the Year of our Lord 1599 in the Seventh Year of the Pontificate of our most Holy Lord Clement VIII Bishop of Rome in the Town of Diamper in the Kingdom of Malabar in the East-Indies in the Church of All Saints on the 21st of June in a Diocesan Synod of the Bishoprick of Serra Assembled by the most Illustrious and Reverend Lord Dom Frey Aleixo de Menezes Arch-Bishop Metropolitan of Goa and the Oriental Parts and the See being vacant of the said Bishoprick I N. do of my own free Will without any manner of force and constraint for the Salvation of my Soul believing it in my heart protest that with a firm Faith I do believe and confess all and every one of the Articles contained in the Symbol of Faith which is used in Holy Mother Roman Church I believe in one God the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth and of all things visible and invisible And in one Lord Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God begotten of his Father before all Worlds God of God Light of Light very God of very God begotten not made being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made Who for us Men and for our Salvation came down from Heaven and was Incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary and was made Man and was Crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate He suffered and was buried and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of the Father and he shall come again with Glory to Judge both the Quick and the Dead whose Kingdom shall have no end And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord and giver of Life who proceedeth from the Father and the Son who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified who spake by the Prophets And I believe one Catholick and Apostolick Church I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of Sins and I look for the Resurrection of the Dead and the Life of the World to come I do firmly receive and embrace all Apostolical and Ecclesiastical Traditions and all the Observances and Constitutions of the said Church I admit the Holy Scriptures in that sence wherein it has ever been and is still held by Mother Church to whom it belongeth to judge of the true Sence and Interpretation of the Holy Scriptures neither will I either receive or interpret it but according to the unanimous consent of the Fathers I do confess likewise that there are Seven true and proper Sacraments of the New Testament instituted by Christ our Lord which are all necessary to the health of Mankind tho' not to every particular Person they are Baptism Confirmation the Eucharist Order Penance Matrimony and Extream Unction which do all conferr Grace on those that receive them worthily and of these seven Sacraments that Baptism Confirmation and Orders are to be received but once neither can they be repeated without great Sacrilege I admit and receive all the Customs Rites and Ceremonies received and approved of in the Roman Church in the solemn Administration of the said seven Sacraments and do also receive and embrace all in general and every thing in particular that has been defined and declared concerning Original Sin and Justification in the Holy Council of Trent I do likewise confess that in the Mass there is offer'd to God a true and proper Sacrifice of Pardon both for the Quick and the Dead and that in the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist there is the true real and substantial Body and Blood together with the Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ and that the whole substance of the Bread is by Consecration turned into the Body of Christ and the whole substance of the Wine into his Blood which Conversion the Catholick Church calls Transubstantiation Moreover I do confess that under each Species Christ is entire and the true Sacrament is received I do constantly hold and confess that there is a * Purgatory John Fisher Bishop of Rochester in his 18th Article against Luther does acknowledge the Doctrine of Purgatory to be an Article of Faith of no long standing in the Church Multa
notwithstanding he knew him to be an Infidel The King who could not help standing amazed at the Arch-Bishop condemning the Arch-Deacon so much for endeavouring to interest him in a thing which he himself at the same time was swaggering him into perceiving that the more they talked the Arch-Bishop grew the more furious and talked the louder put on a pleasant Countenance and told him with great sweetness That there was nothing he had ever studied so much as to please His Lordship With this the Arch-Bishop's Passion being something mitigated he replied It was what he had always expected from His Highness and that he hoped he would not wonder to see him put into so great a Passion in a case wherein Christianity was so much concerned for the least of whose Interest he was bound in duty to sacrifice his Head The King told him That if he knew of any that sought after his Head they should not keep their own long upon their Shoulders After they had made an end of this hot business they talked for some time of indifferent matters and when the King was for going the Arch-Bishop accompanied him to the Caiz where they are said to have parted very good Friends which if they did the King considering how he had been treated was certainly the best natured Prince that ever wore a Crown and in a very substantial point a much better Christian than the Arch-Bishop This rancounter was of no small advantage to the Arch-Bishop in the reduction of that Christianity for the King fearing to provoke one of the Arch-Bishop's Character and Temper so soon as he had left him writ away immediately to the Arch-Deacon to come and submit himself to the Arch-Bishop he writ also to the King of Mangate in case he found the Arch-Deacon not willing to do it to oblige him to it Upon the receipt of this Letter the Arch-Deacon sent away immediately to the Arch-Bishop to let him know That he was ready to throw himself at his Grace's Feet and to obey all his Commands and that within the time he had prefixed but withal desired to wait upon him some where else than in Cranganor which being a Fortress belonging to the Portuguezes he was afraid to trust himself in there being nothing that he dreaded so much as being some time or other kidnapped for Goa However the Arch-Bishop complyed so far with his Fears as to order him to meet him at the Jesuites-College in Vaipicotta They met first in the Church where the Arch-Deacon threw himself at the Arch-Bishop's Feet with the words of the Prodigal in his mouth Father I have sinned against Heaven and against thee and am no more worthy to be called thy Son I do humbly beg Pardon for all my Errors which have been great The Arch-Bishop lifting him up and embracing him tenderly told him all that was past was forgot and that God's Mercy in reducing him to the Catholick Church was greater than the Malice of the Devil which had been the cause of his returning no sooner that he would certainly have that great Reward that is reserved in Heaven for those that bring so many Souls to the purity of the Faith as he was confident he would do by his Example that he would therefore have him subscribe the Profession of Faith and ten Articles immediately The Arch-Deacon beg'd to speak one word first with His Grace in private promising after that to do whatsoever His Grace should command him and being alone he told him That if His Grace would have it so he was ready to subscribe the Profession and Articles publickly tho' with submission he thought it would be better if he would allow him to do it in private for the sake of that Christianity who were not as yet so well instructed as they ought to be but that before the meeting of the Synod at which he promised to sign them publickly he hoped to be able to prepare them for the receiving of whatsoever should be therein determined which he believed he should be able to do the more effectually if they knew nothing of his having already submitted to the Roman Church The Arch-Bishop answered That notwithstanding a Profession of the Faith was by so much the better as it was the more publick nevertheless he so far approved of his Reason as to dispense with his making it openly Whereupon they and the Jesuite Francisco Roz repaired to the Arch-Bishop's Lodgings and having shut the doors the Arch-Deacon kneeled down before a Crucifix that stood on the Arch-Bishop's Table and laying his hands upon the Missal swore to the Ten Articles and to the Profession of Faith to which the Arch-Bishop obliged him to put his hand to prevent his denying it afterwards Next Morning all the Caçanares being called together the Arch-Bishop acquainted them with his intention of calling a Synod very speedily which they all agreed to It was then debated where it should meet some were for its being held at Angamale the Metropolis of the Diocess but the Arch-Bishop would not hear of its being held there for three Reasons the first was That the Christians of Angamale were the Christians of the whole Bishoprick that were most addicted to their old Religion Secondly It was not in the Dominions of the King of Cochim the Prince of Malabar that had the greatest dependence upon the Portuguezes And Lastly Because it was at too great a distance from the Portugueze Garrison of Cochim It was carried therefore that it should be held in the Town of Diamper which was but a little way from Cochim and should begin on the 20th of June being the 3d. Sunday after Whitsuntide In pursuance whereof the Arch-Bishop and Arch-Deacon did both issue forth their Ollas commanding all Priests and Procurators of the People who were four from every Town to assemble together at the Town of Diamper on the 20th of June next there to celebrate a Diocesan Synod The Ollas bore date the 11th of May so that there were six Weeks allowed for the preparing of business which the Arch-Bishop made good use of Before the Arch-Bishop left Vaipicotta the Caimal of Angamale who was called the black King of Malabar came to give him a visit The Arch-Bishop received him kindly and at parting presented him with some pieces of very rich Cloath which was what he went well furnished withal from Goa having laid out 18000 Pardaos in Goods to make Presents of in the Serra The Caimal who was a boisterous and bloody Prince was so well pleased with his Present that he promised the Arch-Bishop to see him obeyed in all things After which the Arch-Bishop returned to Cranganor where he composed the Decrees of the Synod which were all writ with his own Hand word for word as they are published As soon as he had finished them he had them translated out of Portugueze into Malavar He likewise Consecrated there a Stone Altar for every Church in the Serra which was what they all wanted What
Reverend in Christ Father George Archdeacon of the Christians of St. Thomas in the Serra of the Kingdom of Malabar and to all other Priests Curates Deacons and Subdeacons and to all Towns Villages and Hamlets and to all Christian People of the said Bishoprick Health in our Lord Jesus Christ We give you all and every one of you in particular to understand that the most Holy Father Pope Clement VIII our Lord Bishop of Rome and Vicar of our Lord Jesus Christ upon earth at this time presiding in the Church of God having sent two Briefs directed to Vs one of the 27th of Jan. in the Year 1595 and the other of the 21st of the same Month in the Year 1597 in which by virtue of his Pastoral Office and that Vniversal Power bequeathed to the Supream Holy and Apostolical Chair of St. Peter over all the Churches in the World by Jesus Christ the Son of God our Lord and Redeemer he commanded us upon the death of the Archbishop Mar-Abraham to take Possession of this Church and Bishoprick so as not to suffer any Bishop or Prelate coming from Babylon to enter therein as has been hitherto the Custom all that come from thence being Schismaticks Hereticks and Nestorians out of the Obedience of the Holy Roman Church and Subject to the Patriarch of Babylon the Head of the said Heresy and to appoint a Governour or Apostolical Vicar to Rule the said Diocess both in Spirituals and Temporals until such time as the Holy Roman Church shall provide it of a proper Pastor which being read by us we were desirous to execute the Apostolical Mandates with due Reverence and Obedience besides that the same was incumbent on us of right the said Church having no Chapter to take care of it during the vacancy of the See as Metropolitan and Primate of this and all the other Churches of the Indies and the Oriental Parts But perceiving that our Mandate in that behalf had no effect what we had ordered not having been obeyed in the said Diocess so that what our most Holy Father the Bishop of Rome had designed was like to be frustrated after having laboured therein for the space of two Years Schism and Disobedience to the Apostolical See having been so rooted in that Diocess for a great many Years that the Inhabitants thereof instead of yielding Obedience to the Apostolical and Our Mandates on the contrary upon the intimation thereof did daily harden themselves more and more committing greater Offences against the Obedience due to the Holy Roman Church after having commended the Matter to God and ordered the same to be done through our whole Diocess and after mature Advice by which Methods the Apostolical Mandates might be best executed and being also moved by the Piety of the People and the Mercy God had shewn them in having preserved so many thousand Souls in the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ from the time that the Holy Apostle St. Thomas had Preached to them until this day notwithstanding their having lived among so many Heathens and been scattered in divers places their Churches and all belonging to them having been always subject to Idolatrous Kings and Princes and incompassed with Idols and Pagods and that without holding any correspondence with any other Christians before the coming of the Portuguezes into these Parts we being likewise desirous that the Labours of the Holy Apostle St. Thomas which still remained among them should not be lost for want of sound Doctrine and that the Apostolical Mandates might not be frustrated did determine and having provided for the Government of our own Church during our absence did prepare to go in Person to take Possession of the said Bishoprick to see if by our Presence we might be able to reduce them to the Obedience of the Holy Roman Church and purge out the Heresies and false Doctrines sown among them and introduced by the Schismatical Prelates and Nestorian Hereticks that had governed them under the Obedience of the Patriarch of Babylon as also to call in and purge the Books containing those Heresies and according to our Pastoral Duty so far as God should enable us to Preach to them in Person the Catholick Truth Accordingly going into the said Bishoprick we set about visiting the Churches thereof but at that time Satan the great Enemy of the good of Souls having stirred up great Commotions and much opposition against this our just intent great numbers departing from us and forming a Schism against the Holy Roman Church after having passed through many troubles and dangers out of all which God of his great mercy not remembring our sins and evil deeds was pleased to deliver us and to grant us an intire Peace for the Merits of the glorious Apostle St. Thomas the Patron of this Christianity but chiefly of his own great Clemency and Mercy which makes that he doth not delight in the death of a sinner but rather that he should return and live and by coming all to the light of the Truth may joyn with us in the Confession of the Catholick Faith approving our Doctrine and Intention and submitting themselves to the Obedience of the Holy Roman Church which being by us observed after having returned Thanks to God we thought fit in order to the compassing and securing of all those good Effects to assemble a Diocesan Synod in some commodious place near the middle of the said Diocess there to Treat of all such Matters as are convenient for the honour of God the exaltation of the Holy Catholick Faith and Divine Worship the good of the Church the extirpation of Vice the Reformation of the Christians of the said Diocess and the profit and peace of their Souls to which end having pitched upon the Town and Church of Diamper We do hereby let all the Inhabitants and Christians of the said Bishoprick as well Ecclesiasticks as Laicks of what State or Condition soever to understand that we do call and assemble a Diocesan Synod in the said Town of Diamper on the 20th of June of this present Year 1599 being the Third Sunday after Whitsuntide and do therefore by Virtue of holy Obedience and upon pain of Excommunication latae Sententiae Command the Reverend the Arch-Deacon of this Diocess and all the other Priests of the same that shall not be hindered by Age or some other just Impediment to be present in the said Town of Diamper there with us to celebrate a Diocesan Synod conformable to the Holy Canons And whereas by immemorial Custom and a Right introduced into this Diocess from its Beginning and consented to by all the Infidel Kings of Malabar the whole Government as it were and the Cognizance of all Matters wherein Christians are any ways concerned has belonged to the Church and the Prelate thereof and it having likewise been an ancient Custom in the same to give an Account to the People of whatsoever has been ordained in the Church in order to its being the
most Learned and most Orthodox Bishops of all the East and in short who was Master to St. Chrysostom should be guilty of so gross an Error as that of Nestorius 'T is true that he had for his Scholar Theodorus of Mopsuestia and that he was accused of the same Error with Nestorius and that he was condemned as convicted of this Error after his Death in the 5th Council But besides that there have been some Persons who have undertaken to justifie him Yet if it should be granted that he was guilty of this Error it would not follow that he learned it of his Master since we daily see Heretical Disciples who have had Orthodox Masters Should not the Faith of St. Chrysostom rather serve to justifie Diodorus than the Error of Theodorus to condemn him Diodorus and all that have and do follow it who being perswaded and seduced by the Devil do impiously maintain That our Lord and Saviour Christ consists of Two Persons affirming the Divine Word not to have taken the Flesh into a Unity of Person with it self but only to have dwelt therein as in a Temple and so will not say that God was Incarnate or that our Lady the most Blessed Virgin Mary was the Mother of God but only the Mother of Christ all which I reject condemn and anathematize as Diabolical Heresies and do believe and embrace and approve of all that was determined about this Matter in the Council of Ephesus consisting of two hundred Fathers in which by order of Celestine 1st Bishop of Rome the Blessed St. Cyril Patriarch of Alexandria was President whom I acknowledge to be a Saint now enjoying God and that all that blaspheme him are in a state of Damnation Moreover I do condemn all that say that the Passion of our Saviour ought not to be mentioned and that it is an Injury to him to do it on the contrary I do believe and confess that the Consideration and Discourses thereof are holy and of benefit to Souls I do likewise confess and believe that in pure Christianity there is only one Law of our Lord Jesus Christ true God and true Man in like manner as there is no more than one only true God one only Faith and one only Baptism which one only Law was preached by all the holy Apostles and their Disciples and Successors after the same manner I do therefore condemn and reject all those who ignorantly teach That there was one Law of St. Thomas and another Law of St. Peter and that they are so different as not to have any thing to do with one another as also all other Heresies and Errors condemned by Holy Mother Church This true and Catholick Faith out of which there is no Salvation and which at present I do of my own free Will profess and truly hold and believe I shall with the help of God endeavour to keep entire and undefiled to my last breath and constantly to hold and profess and to procure its being held professed preached and taught by all that are subject to me or that shall be any ways under my care I N. do promise and vow to God and Swear to this Holy Cross of our Lord Christ So help me God and the Contents of this Gospel * Pagninus Gaudentius a Learned Papist in his 2d Book De Vita Christianorum makes this Judicious reflection upon the Church of Rome's long Creed Mirabitur aliquis cum tam latè pateant limites Theologiae Christianae Scriptores Vetustissimos quique floruerunt ante Constantinum brevi admodum ratione non multisque effatis complecti praecipua Capita Christianae Religioni◠Summamque Mysteriorum quae tradita sunt ab Apostolis Lege Justinum Tertullianum observa quà m parci sunt dum referunt quid divinâ fide sentiant Christiani Sed subsecuta secula tam multa definierunt addiderunt ut ingentia Volumina nunc nostram complectantur Theologiam ei ergo qui de vitâ Christianorum ante tempora Constantini agit danda opera est ut exponat incrementum Dogmatum Catholicorum quod tamen nescio annon offensurum set aures nostras I do also Promise Vow and Swear to God this Cross and these Holy Gospels never to receive into this Church and Bishoprick of the Serra any Bishop Archbishop Prelate Pastor or Governour whatsoever but what shall be immediately appointed by the Holy Apostolical See and the Bishop of Rome and that whomsoever he shall appoint I will receive and obey as my true Pastor without expecting any Message or having any further dependance upon the Patriarch of Babylon whom I condemn reject and anathematize as being a Nestorian Heretick and Schismatick and out of the Obedience of the Holy Roman Church and for that reason out of a state of Salvation And I do swear and promise never to obey him any more nor to communicate with him in any Matter All this that I have professed and declared I do promise vow and swear to Almighty God and this Holy Cross of Christ So help me God and the Contents of these Gospels Amen The most Reverend Metropolitan after having made this Protestation and Confession of Faith rose up and seating himself in his Chair with his Mitre on his Head and the Holy Gospels with a Cross upon them in his hands the Reverend George Archdeacon of the said Bishoprick of the Serra kneeling down before him made the same Profession of Faith with a loud and intelligible Voice in the Malabar Tongue taking an Oath in the hands of the Lord Metropolitan and after him all the Priests Deacons Subdeacons and other Ecclesiasticks that were present being upon their Knees Jacob Curate of Pallarty and Interpreter to the Synod read the said Profession in Malabar all of them saying it along with him which being ended they all took the Oath in the hands of the Lord Metropolitan who asked them one by one in particular Whether they did firmly believe all that was contained in the Profession as also whether they did believe and confess all that is believed and professed by the Holy Mother Church of Rome and did reject all that she rejects and if they did anathematize the cursed Heresie of the Néstorians with all its falsities and all the Authors and Cherishers of the same Namely the perverse Nestorius Theodorus and Diodorus together with all their Followers and whether they did acknowledge the Holy Roman Church to be the Mother and Mistress * There is no Christian Church besides the Roman and a handful of Maronites who put together are not the fourth part of Christendom but what deny this Supremacy and do with Pope Gregory I. condemn i◠as an Antichristian and Heretical Usurpation It is nothing so much as this Magisterial Pride of the Roman Church that makes the Papists to be by much the most generally hated Sect of People in the whole World for not to speak of the Jews Mahometans and Heathens who hate them infinitely beyond all other Sects
nor no need of any created assistance to help her to bring forth or afterwards there being nothing in her but what was pure the Eternal Word made Flesh springing out of her Womb the Claustrum of her pure Virginity being shut when the time determined in the Consistory of the Holy Trinity was come to the great Spiritual Joy and satisfaction of the said Blessed Virgin for which reason she ought truly to be stiled the Mother of God and not only the Mother of Christ and that when she departed this Life she was immediately carried up into Heaven where by a particular privilege due to her Merits she enjoys God both in Body and Soul without waiting for the general Resurrection there being no reason why that Body out of which there was most Holy Flesh formed for the Son of God made Man should as other Bodies be dissolved into Dust and Ashes but that it should be immediately exalted and glorified and placed high above all the Quires of Angels as Holy Mother Church sings and confesseth concerning the whole of which matter the Impious Nestorian Hereticks have spoke and writ even in the Breviaries used in this Bishoprick a great many Blasphemies and Heresies Decree VII THe Synod is with great sorrow sensible of that Heresy and perverse Error sown by the Schismaticks in this Diocess to the great prejudice of Souls which is That there was one Law of St. Thomas and another of St. Peter which made * Two different By all this which the Synod calls Two Laws the Christians of St. Thomas meant only That the Churches planted by the Apostles in divers Regions had nothing of Superiority or Jurisdiction over one another which is a most certain and ancient truth two different and distinct Churches and both immediately from Christ and that the one had nothing to do with the other neither did the Prelate of the one owe any obedience to the Prelate of the other and that they who had followed the Law of St. Peter had endeavoured to destroy the Law of St. Thomas for which they had been punished by him all which is a manifest Error Schism and Heresy there being but one Law to all Christians which is that which was given and declared by Jesus Christ the Son of God and preached by the Holy Apostles all over the World as one Faith one Baptism there being but one Lord of all and one Catholick and Apostolick Church of which our Lord Christ God and Man who Founded it is the only Spouse and one only Universal Pastor to whom all other Prelates owe obedience the Pope and Bishop of Rome Successor in the Chair of St. Peter the Prince of the Apostles to whom our Lord Jesus Christ bequeathed that Supream Authority and by him to his Successors which Catholick Doctrine is necessary to Eternal Life Wherefore the Synod doth command all Parish Priests and Preachers to Treat often of this matter by reason of the great need there is of having this Bishoprick well instructed therein Decree VIII FOr that till the very time of the most Illustrious Metropolitan entring into this Diocess there was a certain Heresy twice repeated in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and twice more in the Divine Office in calling the Patriarch of Babylon the Universal Pastor and Head of the Catholick Church in all places and as often as they happen to name him a Title that is due only to the most Holy Father the Bishop of Rome Successor of the Prince of the Apostles St. Peter and Vicar of Christ on Earth the Synod doth therefore command in virtue of Obedience and upon pain of Excommunication to be ipso facto incurred that no Person of this Bishoprick Secular or Ecclesiastical shall from henceforward presume by Word or Writing either in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass or in the Divine Office or in any other occasion to bestow that Title on the said Patriarch of Babylon or on any other Prelate besides our Lord the Bishop of Rome and whosoever shall dare to contravene this Order shall be declared Excommunicate and held for a Schismatick and Heretick and shall be punished as such according to the Holy Canons And whereas the Patriarchs of Babylon to whom this Church was subject are Nestorians the Heads of that cursed Sect and Schismaticks out of the Obedience of the Holy Roman Church and Aliens from our Holy Catholick Faith and are for that reason Excommunicate and accursed and it not being lawful to joyn with such in the Church in publick as stand Excommunicate Wherefore this Bishoprick upon its having now yielded a perfect Obedience to the most Holy Father the Pope Christ's Vicar upon Earth to which it was obliged by Divine Authority and upon pain of Damnation shall not from henceforward have any manner of dependance upon the said Patriarch of Babylon and the present Synod does under the said precept of Obedience and upon pain of Excommunication to be ipso facto incurred prohibit all Priests and Curates from henceforward to name the said Patriarch of Babylon in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass or in any other Divine Office in the Prayers of the Church even without the false Title of Universal Pastor but instead thereof shall name our Lord the Pope who is our true Pastor as also of the whole Church and after him the Lord Bishop of the Diocess for the time being and whosoever shall maliciously and knowingly act the contrary shall be declared Excommunicate and otherwise punish'd at the pleasure of his Prelate according to his contumacy Decree IX WHereas all the Breviaries used in this Church are Nestorian and by the commands of Prelates of the same Sect on a certain day the impious and false Heretick Nestorius is Commemorated in this Bishoprick and a Day is kept to his Honour and at other times Theodorus Diodorus Abbaratho Abraham Narsai Barchauma Johanan Hormisda and Michael who are also Nestorian Hereticks were likewise Commemorated Nestorius Theodorus and Diodorus being commemorated on the Friday after the Nativity and on the seventh Friday after that Abraham and Narsai and all the above-named and all of them on every Thursday in the Year in the said Nestorian Office and every day in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Divine Office and notwithstanding in some places they have not of late named Nestorius Theodorus and Diodorus but do still continue to name Abraham Narsai Abba Barchauma Johanan Hormisda and Michael in the Blessing that the Priest gives to the People at the end of the Mass wherein they desire Hormisda to deliver them from evil being his Disciples as also on all Fridays in the Year they commemorate as Saints the said Hormisda Joseph Michael Johanan Barchauma Barianda Rabba Hedsa Machai Hixoiau Caurixo Avahixo Lixo Xaulixo Barmun Lixo Metidor Cohada Israel Ezekiah Lixo David Lixo Barai Israel Julianus Haudixo c. who were all Nestorian Hereticks and as is evident from the said Masses and from their Lives Commemorations
to be made speedily by the most Illustrious Metropolitan in the Churches of this Bishoprick all Men and Women that are above seven years old do come to be Christen'd or Confirmed those only excepted who were confirmed by the said Lord in his former Visitation or at some other or on some other occasion by some other Bishop this Sacrament as well as that of Baptism being never to be repeated in so much that all that receive it a second time wittingly are guilty of a great piece of Sacrilege besides that they receive no Sacrament thereby But in case any are doubtful whether they have ever been confirmed or not or should not remember that they were ever they shall declare so much to the said Lord or to the Bishop that is to confirm them that they may order the matter according to the merit of their doubts But if any which God forbid should sacrilegiously and obstinately despise the said Sacrament it being proved upon them they shall be declared Excommunicate until such time as they have done condign Penance and shall be punished at the pleasure of the Prelate Decree II. THe Synod to its great sorrow having been informed that some ignorant Persons in Sacred Matters and the Doctrine of the Holy Sacraments of the Church being instigated by the Devil to persist in their cursed Schism did in several places resist the most Illustrious Metropolitan in his former Visitation of these Churches so far as not only to refuse to receive the Holy Sacrament of Confirmation from him but did also oppose him publickly in the Churches and that many did absent themselves some whereof excused themselves by pretending that it was an unnecessary thing and that they had never seen nor heard of it before and others that they should be affronted by the Holy Ceremony of the Prelates touching their Cheek scurrilously upbraiding those that had received it with base provoking words telling them that they had suffer'd themselves to be affronted and buffeted with other such Sacrilegious Expressions full of Infidelity and Heresy arising from the Schism wherein they have been brought up Whole Towns conspiring together so far in this Mutiny that the despising or receiving this Holy Sacrament became the Test of their obedience or disobedience to the said Metropolitan doth therefore notwithstanding it knows they have all in common and every one in particular repented of this and being sensible of the greatness of the error they committed therein have beg'd pardon for it and upon their having confess'd their Ignorance have been graciously received by the said Lord Metropolitan and having submitted themselves to the obedience of the Holy Roman Church are ready to do all that shall be enjoyned them to prevent the life however that none for the time coming may commit the like faults or Sacrileges command That if any which God forbid shall dare to do or say any such thing against this Sacrament or the Holy Ceremonies and Rites wherewith it is administred to the Faithful that they be declared Excommunicate and be separated from the Church and the Communion of the Faithful until such time as they have undergone condign Penance at the pleasure of the Prelate and shall demonstrate their due subjection to the obedience of the Holy Church and have taken the Oath of the Faith contained in this Synod and declared that all that reject and despise the Rites and Ceremonies approved of and received in the Church in the solemn administration of this and the other Sacraments are Hereticks and Apostates from our Holy Catholick Faith as was determin'd in the Holy Council of Trent and ought to be proceeded against and punished as such according to the Sacred Canons Decree III. THe Synod doth declare That in the Sacrament of Confirmation or Chrism there must be a Godfather and Godmother as well as in Baptism to present such as are to be Confirmed according to the ancient Custom of Holy Mother Church but there shall be but only one Godfather and Godmother who must themselves have been Confirmed it being very indecent that any Person should present one to have that done to him which they have not had done to themselves and that the Man shall be above 14 and the Woman above 12 Years Old or one of them at least shall be of that Age and in this Case the Godfathers and Godmothers do contract the same Spiritual Affinities and the same Impediments that the others do in Baptism the said Spiritual Affinity being equally contracted in both these Sacraments ACTION V. Of the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist and of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass The Doctrine of the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist THe third Sacrament in the Order of the Spiritual Life is the Holy Eucharist tho' in Veneration Sanctity and Dignity it is the first and most excellent for containing in it the true real and substantial Body and Blood together with the Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God true God and true Man our Saviour and Redeemer which was instituted by him the day before he suffer'd for us as the most sweet Remate or Conclusion of all his Works and a Memorial of his Passion the fulfilling of all the ancient Figures the greatest of all the Miracles that ever he wrought and for the singular Consolation of the Faithful in his absence The Matter of this Sacrament is Bread of Wheat and Wine of the Grape only so that all that Consecrate in Bread made of Rice or of any thing else but the Flower of Wheat or of Wine that was not pressed out of the ripe Grape of the Vine do not make the Sacrament there must also be Water mixed with the Wine before it is Consecrated but in a much smaller quantity than the Wine that so it may easily * Turn For Water to turn it self into Wine is as great a Miracle as for the Priest to turn Wine into Blood turn it self into Wine before the Consecration which mixture is therefore made because from the Testimony of Holy Fathers Holy Mother Church believes that our Lord Christ himself did so whose having mixed Water with the Wine that he Consecrated makes it a great Sin to omit to do it It is also agreeable to the representation of the Mystery of what passed on the Cross and of our Lord Christ out of whose precious Side flowed Water and Blood as also to signifie the Effect of this Sacrament which is the Vnion of the Faithful with Christ the Water signifying the Faithful and the Wine our Lord Christ and the conversion of the Water into the Wine the Union of our Souls with Christ by means of this Divine Sacrament according to what our Lord said He that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood dwelleth in me and I in him The Form of this Sacrament is the words of our Saviour by which the Sacrament is made for tho' the Priest pronounceth many and divers words in the Mass and
to the Holy Canons And whereas in this Diocess there are many that have two or three Churches which they have had commended unto them in several parts either because they were built by their Relations or for some other Reason all which being a great Abuse the Synod doth declare That after the division of the Parishes is made none shall have any Jurisdiction therein besides their proper Vicars to whom only it shall belong to order all the Affairs of their Churches and to whom whosoever shall deny to yield Obedience shall be declared Excommunicate and shall be punished at the pleasure of the Prelate as disturbers of the Church and all such Priests as are in present possession of the Churches if qualified and there be no just Impediment the Synod will have it be instituted Vicars of one of their Parishes as the most Reverend Metropolitan shall think fit not that the Synod intends to prohibit the Prelate in case he is not provided of a sufficient number of able Priests or where there is not a sufficient maintenance to recommend two Churches to one Vicar provided they are at such a distance that he can look after both without any wrong to the administration of the Sacraments However this shall never be done but when there is an urgent and necessary Reason for it Decree IV. WHereas there are a great many Churches in this Diocess that have no Priests to the great detriment of the Faithful who by that means are for several Years without Mass or any to administer the Sacraments to them as has appeared to the Reverend Metropolitan in his Visitation of the Churches in some of which he found there had been no Masses said in five or six Years and that there are Children of that or a greater Age that have never been Baptized therefore the Synod both command That there be no Church that is made Parochial how poor and inconsiderable soever the People may be for any long time without a Curate or Vicar to administer the Sacraments to the Faithful of which the Prelate is to take special care and if it should so happen as it does too often that he cannot have a Priest to supply such Cures in that Case the Synod declares that the Prelate may oblige whomsoever he pleaseth by Penalties and Censures to serve such Churches that so the Necessities of the Faithful may be provided for giving them whereon to subsist in the said Churches Decree V. THe Synod being informed that there are many Villages in this Diocess which by reason of their great distance from any Church have little of Christianity left in them besides the Name of the Christians of St. Thomas which has been occasioned through the great negligence of the former Schismatical Prelates of this Bishoprick wherefore the Synod doth in virtue of Holy Obedience command all Priests that are nominated Vicars so soon as they shall come to their Churches to make a strict inquiry into the Christians that live in the Skirts of their Parishes and to report what they shall discover as to this Matter to the most Reverend Metropolitan that so he may take such course therein as shall be most for the Service of Christ and the Benefit of Souls and the same diligence shall be used in all Parts where there are such People found and have never been Baptized and where it is thought necessary there shall be New Churches built and Vicars appointed for the reducing such to true Christianity and the use of the Holy Sacraments of the Church Decree VI. WHereas the Church of Travancor is at this time totally demolished the greater part of its Parishioners having above forty Years ago turned perfect Heathens all which has happened through the negligence of sending Priests among them by reason of their great distance from any other Church there being nevertheless several good Christians there still therefore the Synod doth command that a Vicar be forthwith collated to that place who shall set immediately about rebuilding the Church there shall likewise be some Preachers sent along with him to reduce the said People into the bosom of Holy Mother Church and to the Holy Catholick Faith of Christ according to the Orders given therein by the most Reverend Metropolitan and the Vicar shall continue there baptizing and receiving all according to the necessity of the Church for which an Olla or License has been already obtained from the King of Travancor and shall from henceforth continue in the Church according to the necessity thereof Decree VII THe Synod being informed That upon the borders of the Territories belonging to the Samorim King of Calecut at the distance of four leagues from any Church in this Bishoprick there is a Country called Tadamalla in which there are certain Villages of Christians who were anciently of this Church but at present have nothing of Christianity but the bare Name doth command that Priests and Preachers be sent thither immediately from this Church to reduce them to the Catholick Faith and baptize them in which matter through the diligences that have been used by the most Reverend Metropolitan they will meet with no difficulties on the part of those who have lost their Christianity only for want of Instruction and the Synod doth recommend this People as a Member of their Church to the Spiritual Care of the most Reverend Metropolitan Decree VIII WHereas the use of the Holy Oils was instituted by Christ in the Church who made the Oil of Chrism the matter of the Sacrament of Confirmation and Extream Vnction and did furthermore appoint other Holy Unctions for the Catechumeni delivering the Doctrine of the Consecration of such Oils in his last Supper to his Disciples as we are taught by Holy Tradition from the Apostles and the Doctrine of the Holy Fathers of the Church and there having notwithstanding this been no such thing in use or known in this Church to this day Therefore the Synod doth command that in all Parish Churches there be a Box that shall hold three Vessels of Plate Tin or Glass in which the Holy Oils shall be kept with due Decency and Reverence with their several Names upon each Vessel so that they may not be used one for another commanding the Vicars that are to be nominated not to go from hence without carrying these Boxes along with them to their respective Churches which the most Reverend Metropolitan will furnish them withal and with the Holy Oils which he consecrated on Holy Thursday last for this purpose in the Church of Carturte in this Diocess which Boxes they shall put under Lock and Key in their Repositories either in the chief Chapel of the high Altar or in their Vestries or near to the Font having them always decently covered with Silk or in case the Vicars live at a considerable distance from their Churches or in the Heaths in some decent place in their Houses for fear of Infidel Robbers and that they may be always at hand
shall meet with no Priests in the Church they shall then assemble as many Christians together as conveniently they can and bury the Corps in the Church-yard praying for their Souls with Christian Charity And whosoever shall neglect to bring their Dead to the Church and shall bury them in Profane Ground shall be severely punished by the Bishop Decree XXXIII WHereas the Small-Pox is looked upon in these parts as a very dangerous and infectious Distemper for which reason a great many Christians dying thereof are not carried to the Church nor buried in Holy ground herefore the Synod doth very much recommend it to the Vicars to take order that the Corps of such as die of that Sickness may be brought with due caution to the Church-yard where they with the rest of the Clergy at some distance are to recommend them and pray for them as they do for others and to see them interr'd all which Christian Charity will teach them to do according to the Obligation of their Office Decree XXXIV THe Synod doth order that no Town or Village wherein there is a Church dedicated to any Saint shall dedicate the same to any other or if they do they shall appoint another Orago or Wake so as to have two Festivals to prevent those Emulations that are common in these parts The Synod also condemns the * Ignorance Upon S. Teresa being joyned with St. James in the Patronage of Spain by Pope Vrban the VIIIth how loud did a great many people complain of the Indignity done to St. James their old Patron and General in all their Wars by that Partnership Among others Quivedo as in Honour bound being a Knight of the Order of St. James drew his pen in his Patron 's Quarrel and having laid down this as an undeniable position That St. James must necessarily be disparaged by having one joyned with him and especially a Woman in a Patronage he had enjoyed solely for so many Ages did manfully maintain that its being said in the Pope's Bull That nothing was granted therein to S. Teresa that should be in any wise to the prejudice or diminution of St. James did make that whole grant null and void for that joyning her with St. James in such an Office must necessarily lessen him 2dly That the Saints in Heaven did resent such Affronts 3. That it was monstrous Ingratitude in Spain to treat a Patron thus who had fought personally on Horseback for her in all her Battels with the Moors among whom to this day the Captain on the Whitehorse was formidable As to the Text in Scripture urged by S. Teresa's Friends for such a partnership viz. It is not good for man to be alone I will make him an help meet for him He saith That considering what was the true intent of those words when they were spoke such an application of them was profane and Heretical Ignorance of those Christians who imagine that they do an injury to a Church in dedicating a New one in the same Country to a different Saint from whence it is that all the Churches in the same Country are as it were called by the same Name and doth furthermore command That upon the Orago's of Churches where there are Sermons people having no Sermon in their own Parish do repair thither that so there may be no divisions among Churches to the prejudice of Charity and Christian Unity as the Synod is informed there is in many places all which it is desirous to remove as not becoming Christians and for the further service of the Church commands Fraternities to be erected but especially for the festivities by which means such things as are necessary for the Church may be greatly advanced Decree XXXV THe Synod doth very much recommend it to the Vicars of Churches and other Priests to labour much in the Conversion of Infidels and that by just and gentle methods namely by the preaching of the Gospel to bring them to the Catholick Faith and to omit no opportunity of instructing as well the Naires as the Chegos or baser sort of People in the knowledge of the Truth but above all the poor Malleans who live in the Heaths who as the Synod is informed are less wedded to their Errors particularly that of the Adoration of Idols and are much better disposed to receive the Evangelical Doctrine than others and whensoever any Infidel is converted the Priest shall advise the Prelate thereof that he may take such order therein as he shall judge most convenient and to be most for the service of Christ earnestly entreating that the Conversions that are begun in some parts by the most Reverend Metropolitan may be carried on by the Clergy of this Diocess by providing themselves continually of such Priests as are fit to advance the same and where-ever there is any considerable number of Converts they shall immediately build Churches and appoint Vicars to take the Cure of their Souls Decree XXXVI VVHereas the Synod is informed That the meaner sort of People are much better disposed to receive the Faith than the Naires or Nobles and being extreamly desirous to find some way whereby such well disposed People may be made Christians so as to assemble together with the old Christians as why should they not since they all adore the same God with whom there is no distinction of Persons and are all of the same Faith and do all use the same Sacraments and whereas after mature deliberation and having oftentimes recommended the matter to God and conferred about the most proper methods for the effecting of it in the Congregations we have not been able to find any that are effectual by reason of the Heathen Kings and Lords to whom all the Christians in these parts are subject who if they should observe that we withdraw their common Subjects from their Religion would correspond with us no longer to the loss of the Trade and Commerce we do at present maintain with them all which being observed by the Synod it doth command that if any of the poorer sort of People shall desire to turn Christian that they be received to Baptism and the Prelate shall be advised thereof that he may give order for the building of distinct Churches for them and may appoint Priests to take the Cure thereof that so the meaner sort of People may not have the Gate of Christianity and Salvation shut against them as it has been hitherto in this Church and in case they have not a Church to themselves they shall then hear Mass without doors in the Porch until Christ shall provide some better way for them and the Heathen Kings shall be brought to allow the mean People that turn Christians to be esteemed as Noble upon the account of the Relation that all Christians stand in to one another and the Synod doth beg it of His Majesty the King of Portugal that by means of the great Power he has in these parts he would procure this privilege of
for their Son whereupon the Bishop passeth an Olla or Certificate and so the Adoption is perfected the Synod doth command That from henceforward the Prelate do not accept of an Adoption from any that have Children of their own or in case they have none yet it shall be declared in the Olla That if they shall afterwards happen to have any that the said Olla shall be void to all intents and purposes by which means the great Injustices that are now so common in this Diocess will be prevented Decree XXIII THe Synod being desirous to have all the Christians of this Diocess to live together in Villages by reason of the great inconveniencies they are under that live in the Heaths as well by reason of the great communication they must have with Infidels as for wanting opportunities of going to Church and Sacraments whereby they are kept in ignorance of Christianity doth in order thereunto very earnestly recommend it to all Christians that live in Heaths to do all they are able either to come and live in some Village or to build new Villages with Churches that so they may live more civilly and be separated from the communication of Infidels and be the better instructed in the Customs of our Holy Catholick Faith recommending it earnestly to the Vicars to persuade their Sheep thereunto for the Spiritual profit they will receive thereby which the Prelate shall also endeavour with all his power Decree XXIV THe Synod having taken into consideration the manifold Injustices Oppressions and Grievances wherewith Infidel Kings and Governours do often treat the Christians of this Bishoprick and that out of enmity to our Holy Catholick Faith and observing the necessity they are in of Defence and Protection doth with great instance desire That his Majesty the King of Portugal would be graciously pleased to take all the Christians of this Bishoprick under his Favour and * Protection By this we see the King of Cochim was not jealous without reason that the Arch-Bishop had a State design in the great pains and charge he was at in the reduction of his Christian Subjects and tho' nothing was talked of but the Pope and the Roman Obedience that the King of Spain and the augmentation of his strength in the Indies by the accession of so many new Subjects was the main Spring in the Enterprize I will not say tho' it is probable enough that the Arch-Bishop by magnifying this Service at the Court of Spain got first to be Governour of the Indies and afterwards to be Governour of all the Dominions of Portugal and President of the Council of State at Madrid but this we are sure of that that Service to the Crown of Spain was much boasted of here in Europe by others For the Jesuit Ilayus in his Book De Rebus Japonicis speaking of this very thing â—â—ith Cuae res quanto Regie Majestati emolumento sit latura nôrunt qui non ignorant quanti sit momenti gentem in tota India lectissimam à temporibus B. Thomae Christiano cultui deditum támque numerosum potentem ut armatos ad Triginta Millia in promptu habeat cum Lusitanis unire ad Ecclesiae Romanae obedientiam revocare in Fidem ditionemque Regis Catholici accipere But as it is visible that the increasing of the Portugueze strength in the Indies by the accession of so many new Subjects was what both the Arch-Bishop and Spanish Government aimed at chiefly in the troublesome and chargeable reduction of this Church So it is certain that from this very Year 1599 the Portugueze Historians do begin to reckon the declination of their strength in those parts who give the following Account of the three Ages of their Indian Government that it was in its Infancy till the Year 1561 and from that time till the Year 1600 in its Manhood or full strength and ever since has been in its Old declining Age and is now in truth become so decrepid as to be only the Ghost of a great Name Neither is this to be wondred at considering how common a thing it is for God to blast the most promising Securities when obtained by such violent and unlawful Methods Protection he being the only Christian King or Lord in all these Oriental Parts and the Christians of this Diocess shall on their parts be ready at all times to sacrifice their Lives to their Holy Catholick Faith the preservation of Christianity and the defence of Christians which they shall be always prepared to do with their Lives and Fortunes beseeching the most Reverend Metropolitan President of this Synod to present this their Petition to his Majesty and to let him know how ready all the Christians of this Bishoprick are to serve him Decree XXV WHereas in this Synod Matters pertaining to our Holy Catholick Faith the Holy Sacraments of the Church the Reformation of Affairs thereof and the Customs of Christian People have been handled the Synod doth command all Vicars of Churches not to fail to have all its Decrees Transcribed from the Original Malabar and to have a Copy thereof in all their Churches Signed by the Reverend the Arch-Deacon of this Diocess and the Rector of the College of Vaipicotta and upon every Sunday and Holy-day when there is no Sermon nor no Lecture upon the Catechism set forth by the most Reverend Metropolitan that a portion of this Synod be read to the People but on the Seasons when the said Catechism is ordered to be read it shall be read on Sundays and the Synod upon Holy-days that so all that is decreed therein may come to the knowledge of the People and may be remembred and observed by them the Original of the said Synod being Signed by the most Reverend Metropolitan and all the other Members thereof shall be put in the Archives of the Jesuites College of Vaipicotta in this Diocess from whence so many Copies as shall be thought necessary shall be transmitted to the Churches there shall also be another Original Signed by the most Reverend Metropolitan the Arch-Deacon and other Members kept in the Archives of the Church of Angamale called the Arch-Bishop's See that all Copies may at all times be Corrected according to either of those Originals and the Synod doth furthermore recommend it to all Vicars Priests and Curates and to all and every Christian of this Diocess and commands them all in the Lord to conform themselves to the Decrees of this Diocesan Synod and so far as is in their power to observe and cause them to be observed inviolably and to govern themselves by them in all things which the Synod is confident they will do with the help of God the Father Son and Holy Ghost who liveth and reigneth for ever Amen After the Decrees were read the Bishoprick was divided into Seventy-five Parishes whose Bounds were greater or lesser as was judged to be most convenient for the administration of the Holy Sacraments and the Spiritual Food
God and of Holy Mother Church the Fasts of the â—our Seasons and the Vigils And before â—ent ye shall call upon your People to Confess and shall hear their Confessions with â—â—eat charity and zeal for their Spiritual profit Upon the Feasts of the Nativity Easter and â—hitsuntide ye shall exhort all the Faithful to reâ—eive the most Holy Sacrament of Christ's Body â—nd at Easter at least ye shall take heed that all â—hat are capable do receive it All quarrels diffeâ—â—nces and enmities that shall arise among your â—â—bjects ye shall endeavour to compose and â—blige them all to live as Friends in Christian Charity and if there be any that give offence by refusing to speak to their Neighbours being so malice with them ye shall admonish them thereof and so long as they continue to behave themselves so ye shall not suffer them to receive the Holy Sacrament of the Altar At certain times but chiefly upon solemn Festivities and Fasts ye shall admonish Married Men according to a Holy Council to abstain from their Wives None of you shall wear coloured Cloaths oâ— any Habit but what is grave and decent for Priests to wear Ye shall instruct your People to forbear Working on Sundays and Holy-days neither shall ye suffer Women to Sing or Danâ—â— in the Church Ye shall not communicate wiâ—â— any that are Excommunicate nor presume 〈◊〉 much as to Celebrate where any such are prâ—sent Ye shall admonish your People not 〈◊〉 Marry with any that are contracted to otheâ— nor with their near Kinswomen nor with aâ—â— they have stole out of their Fathers Houses neither shall ye suffer the solemnities of Marriage and of carrying home a Bride to be 〈◊〉 a time prohibited by the Church Ye shall constrain Shepherds and other Servants to heâ—â— Mass at least every Lord's-day and shall aâ—monish God-fathers and God mothers to teaâ—â— their God-children the Creed and Pater Nosteâ— or to appoint others to instruct them The Chrism or Holy Oil of the Catechumeni and Sick shall be kept in the Church under Lock and Key and in a decent and secure place of which ye shall give none away no not by way of Alms it being a most grievous Sacrilege to do it Every one of you must have a Catechism an Exposition of the Creed and of the Prayers of the Church conformable to the Exposition of the Holy Catholick Doctors by which ye may both edifie your selves and others Ye must also have this Synod that so you may govern both your selves and your People by its Rules Ye shall declare the Catholick Faith â—o all that will learn it The Introitus to the Mass the Prayers Epistles Gospels and Creed 〈◊〉 the Mass shall be read with a loud and â—â—telligible Voice but the Secret Prayers of the â—anon and Consecration shall be spoke slowly â—nd distinctly but with a low Voice When â—â—e recite in the Quire ye must let one Verse 〈◊〉 ended before ye begin another and not â—onfound the Service by chopping it up and â—umbling it together Ye must study to have 〈◊〉 Athanasius's Creed which contains the Caâ—holick Faith by heart and repeat it dayly â—he Exorcisms Prayers the order of Baptism â—â—nction of the Sick the recommendation of â—he Soul and the burial of the Dead ye must â—nderstand and practise according to the Holy â—anons and the use of the Holy Roman Church â—â—e Mother and Mistress of all the other Churches 〈◊〉 the World as also the Exorcisms and the â—â—secration of Salt and Water Ye shall study 〈◊〉 understand Singing and the things that are â—hanted in the Church as also the Rubricks of the Breviary and Missal that ye may be able to find what you look for as also the Account of the Moveable Feasts and of Easter in which that you may not be mistaken ye must be sure to have the Martyrology of the Saints in all your Churches which we will take care to have translated into Syrian All which ye shall observe that so by these and your other good Works ye may by the help of God bring both your selves and your People to that Glory which shall endure for ever and be bestowed on you through the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ who with the Father and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth for ever and ever Amen The Speech and Admonition to the Vicars and Priests being ended the most Reverend Metropolitan commanded them all to Sign the Original Decrees of the Synod translated into Malabar desiring them if they had the least scruple concerning any thing commanded or declared in the Synod those excepted that have been decreed and decided already that they would signifie them openly before they Subscribed that there might be no doubt or controversie about any thing hereafter So after several Doubâ— had been considered and satisfied they did all unanimously Subscribe to the Synod Then the Books of the Synod were delivered to the most Reverend Metropolitan who being in his Pontificals and seated on his Throne with a Mitre on his Head Subscribed the said Decrees which being done a Table was set in the middle of the chief Chappel and the Decrees being laid upon it all that were called to the Synod as well Ecclesiasticks as Secular Procurators Signed and Subscribed them with their own hands before the whole Synod and People The Synod consisted of 813 viz. 133 Priests besides Deacons and Sub-Deacons and others of the Clergy and 660 Procurators of the People and other principal Men of the Laity besides the Inhabitants of the Town of Diamper where the Synod was held and of several other neighbouring Villages there were likewise present a great number of Portugnezes who came along with Don Antonio De Neronha Governour of Cochim who together with all the other Magistrates of the City assisted at the Synod The Decrees being Signed the most Reverend Metropolitan rose up and having taken off his Mitre kneeled down before the High Altar and begun the Te Deum with which to the great joy of all that were present a solemn Procession â—ound the Church was begun the Quire singing that and some other Psalms the Latines in Latin and the Native Priests in Chaldee and the People their Festivity in Malabar proceeding to praise God with abundance of tears and joy in three Tongues in the Unity of the Faith and Good-will among them all for having at last obtained that which they had so long desired of Almighty God Three Persons and One Nature the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost who liveth and reigneâ—â— for ever Amen After the Procession was over the most Reverend Metropolitan going to the High Altar read the Prayer Exaudi quaesumus Domine as it is in the Pontifical which being ended he seated himself upon his Throne with the Mitre on his Head and his Pastoral Staff in his Hand and directing his Discourse to the People said I give many thanks to Almighty God the Author of all good things for this great favour
Doctrines of Faith and Manners after which Discourse the chief Decrees of the Synod were published and a Procession for the Dead was made round the Church to which such vast multitudes of Heathens resorted to see the Novelty and the Pontifical Vestments that they filled the Church-yard and Windows After the Procession for the Dead was ended and the Doctrine of Purgatory and the benefits of praying for them declared the Metropolitan having seated himself began a Discourse of the Sacrament of Confirmation according to the necessities of the People and after that Anointed all that were present then he Baptized all the Children of Christian Parents in his Pontificals and such of the adult Heathens as desired it who were called together the day before to that purpose The Metropolitan whenever he came to the words Ingredimini Sanctam Dei Ecclesiam beginning a Discourse to the Heathens and Naires that flocked to see the Ceremony performed who tho' all Armed with Bows and Arrows and other Weapons and in their own Country remote from the Portuguezes did quietly and chearfully hear all that he said to them not only concerning the Faith of Jesus Christ but also the indignities and hard words which he bestowed upon their Idols and Priests in order to undeceive them When the Sermon and Baptism was over the Ecclesiasticks that were not present at the Synod made a profession of the Faith before the People in the hands of the Metropolitan and having called all the Children together and ordering them to kneel round his Chair he began a Chamaz or set of Prayers in their own Tongue which they all said after him and having Blessed them all made a Discourse to them suitable to their Age to the great satisfaction of their Parents teaching them the Veneration that is due to the most sweet Name of Jesus to which agreeable to the Nestorian Doctrine wherein they had been educated they had payed no manner of Respect After that he inducted the Vicar in the presence of the People charging him with the Flock which received him for their Pastor and where there were any to be Married he Married them great numbers also Confessed themselves to him and received the most Holy Sacrament at his hands among whom were abundance of Ancient People who had never Confessed themselves before In the Evening the People assembled together and agreed about the Stipend they determined to settle upon their Vicar which was Registred in Ollas that were to be kept in the Church and having opened the Money-Box of the Church they distributed such Alms as they thought necessary The Metropolitan and the Fathers that were in his Company having examined the Caçanares to such as he found to be qualified for it he granted a Licence in writing to be Confessors after that he heard all the Complaints and Controversies that were among Christians and having those four principal Men with the consent of the Parties they decided them all according to the Customs of the Country and the Judgment of the Metropolitan so as to exclude all farther Process or Appeals be then Absolved all that were Excommunicate and several that had lain twenty or thirty Years under that Censure there being several Cases wherein they were so barbarous as never to grant Absolution no not at the hour of Death injoyning every one such Penances as were suitable to their Faults omitting nothing that he judged necessary to the good of the Church and People in all which he was accompanied and assisted by five Jesuites who were all zealous for the Salvation of Souls and well skilled in the Malabar Tongue and two of them in the Chaldee also they were Father Hieronymo Cotta Father Jorgye de Crasto Father Francisco Roz who is now the most worthy Bishop of that Diocess Father Antonio Toscano and Brother John Maria Father Frey Braz de Santa Maria a Divine of the Order of St. Austin was Confessor to the most Illustrious Metropolitan there were also three Canons of the Metropolitan Church of Goa and the Metropolitan's two Chaplains and several Caçanares that were Natives who celebrated the Divine Offices both in Chaldee and Syrian whom the most Illustrious Metropolitan made great use of in several Occasions In the reduction of this Church to the Catholick Faith many remarkable things happened in which God manifested how much that Work was for his Service and in the Visitation of the Churches there were several Successes of great edification and that were much for God's Praise which shall God willing be written in another place for his Glory wâ—â— liveth and reigneth for ever Amen The Letter of Dom Andre Bishop of Cochiâ— to the Synod being Assembled BRethren in my judgment all you who are called the Christians of St. Thomas do owe much to God for his having by means of thâ— Apostle chose you from among such multitudes 〈◊〉 Infidels as the East is filled with to enlightâ—â— your understandings with the Truth and for having made you as St. Peter saith a Holy Nation 〈◊〉 purchased People For you are not to imagine that your Forefathers did deserve more at the hands of God than the other Infidels that were their Contemporaries and yet you see how God was pleased to chuse them and you by their means when 〈◊〉 the same time he left others and their Posterâ—â—â— in their natural Misery for which there can be no other Cause assigned but that it was the Wiâ—â— of God to extend that Mercy to you and your Forefathers which he denied to all the other People of these Parts and what makes this Mercy 〈◊〉 be the greater and more Illustrious is That Goâ— was pleased to bring you to the Faith not by 〈◊〉 Ministry of some obscure Person of small Authority which has been the Case of many other Christians but by sending two chosen and beloved Apostles to you for your greater Honour and that this Church might justly stile it self Apostolical a privilege that was granted but to few Churches that are now in being in the World and which the Metropolitan of Constantinople was long ago ambitious of usurping to himself if he might have been permitted But Satan the great Enemy to all that 's Good envying the great Glory of this Church laboured to sow the Tares of Errours and Heresies in this Field of Christ's and the Apostle St. Thomas and so coming from Babylon and the Land of the Chaldeans he brought along with him some of the Disciples of the perfidious Nestorius to pervert this Churchâ— This Nestorius was condemned as a Heretick in Asia minor in the City of Ephesus in a Council of 200 Bishops and afterwards in a Council of 630 Bishops He was so wicked and perverse an Heretick that besides the punishment inflicted on him for his Sins by Men God also begun to punish him in this Life giving him as it were an earnest of those Punishments and Torments which he is now suffering in Hell for besides his being deposed and deprived of his
Bishoprick and Condemned by the forementioned and other following Councils and Banished by the Sentence of the Emperour Theodosius the II. who then Reigned in the Desarts of Aegypt and his having his Books â—â—rned by the command of the said Emperour before his death his Tongue with which he hâ—d uttered such great Blasphemies rotted in his Mouth as did also his whole Body and being eat up with Lice he expired surrendring his Soul to the Devil as Evagrius a Noble Writer who lived at the same time relates and the same is reported of him by Nicephorus Cedrenus and other Greek Writers The Disciples of this cursed Heretick being brought into this Church by the Devil sowed their Errours in it without being observed by you who were a simple sincere People insomuch that St. Thomas when he was on Earth might have said the same that St. Paul did to those of Ephesus where Nestorius was afterwards Condemned I know that after my departure greedy Wolves shall come among you not sparing the Flock And well might the Pastors you have had among you be called devouring Wolves who being a base and inconsiderable People had no other intent but to rob you of all they could taking Money for Orders * Dispensations What could the poor Malavars conclude from hence but that either no such thing as the taking of Money for Dispensations c. was ever heard of in the Roman Church or that the Declamer was one of a strange assurance to condemn the doing of it at such a Tragical rare as he does Dispensations for Absolutions and for all Sacraments and Sacred things as you very well know a thing so abominable in the sight of God that St. Peter the Prince of the Apostles for this Sin only threw Simon Magus out of the Church and Excommunicated him as you may see in the Acts of the Apostles insomuch Brethren that we see that fulfill'd in you and in your Prelates who came from Babylon which was foretold by God so many Years before by the Prophet Isaiah The Shepherds themselves had no understanding they have all gone out of the Way and from the first to the last are all turned to Covetousness For God's sake Brethren tell me what sort of Prelates and Bishops could they be who sought nothing but their own Interest and who gave Orders and Dispensations and did every thing that belongs to a Bishop without being Bishops themselves or so much as Priests or Clerks but were pure Laicks as they themselves afterwards confessed What Dispensation what Sacrament what Grace could he who was dispensed with and ordained receive from those who were no Bishops nor so much as Clerks but pure Laicks nay Lascares in whose Habit they came out of their own Country Brethren this is the Fruit which they send you from Babylon Hereticks and pure Laicks and Barbarians for Bishops Tell me what has Malabar to do with Babylon and what correspondence is there betwixt the most pure Doctrine of Christ which was preached to you by the great Apostle St. Thomas and the barbarous Errours which were brought hither by Arabians and Chaldeans from Babylon and from their Master the Apostate Nestorius Believe me Brethren these are they of whom St. Paul spoke in his Epistle to his Scholar Titus That there should come Men teaching what they ought not to teach for filthy lucre And so it fell out for these Men that they might not lose the Profits and Honours they were unjustly possessed of did all they could to put into your heads that the Doctrine of St. Peter was different from that which had been taught you by St. Thomas It is true that the Doctrine of the Apostle St. Peter is contrary to the Heresies that have been brought hither from Babylon but not what was preached here by St. Thomas For what St. Thomas that also St. Peter taught and Christ himself and all his other Disciples taught for as St. Paul saith there is one Lord one Faith one Baptism and one Church of which Christ is the Head and that on Earth St. Peter and his Successors the Bishops of Rome For that St. Peter and his Successors are the Head of the whole Church * On earth Bishop Andre did not so fair in quoting And on Earth St. Peter and his Successors the Bishops of Rome c. as St. Paul's words on Earth is plain from what Christ before his Passion promised St. Peter as it is recorded in the 16. Chap. of St. Matthew where Christ after having examined his Faith said to him Thou art Peter and upon this Rock I will build my Church and I will give thee the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven c. Words which he spoke to ‖ None This is a mistake for he gave the same Commission to all his Apostles after his Resurrection none of the rest of the Apostles but to St. Peter only And St. John in the last Chapter of his Gospel tells us That Christ after his Resurrection having asked St. Peter if he loved him more than all other things and St. Peter had answered that he knew very well that he did said to him three several times Feed my Lambs feed my Lambs feed my Sheep By which words he made him the universal Pastor of his Sheep and after him all the Bishops of Rome who were to succeed him in that Office for Christ hâ—s but one Fold for all his Sheep and one only Church and so in the Creed that is sung in the Mass we say I believe in one Holy and Apostolical Church and so Christ her Spouse said of his Church in the Canticles My Dove my perfect is but one that is to say my Dove my perfect which is the Church is but one And St. John in his 10th Chapter tells us that the Son of God speaking to his Disciples concerning his intent of calling the Gentiles to his Faith said I have other Sheep which are not of this Fold whom I must bring in that there may be one Fold and one Shepherd Now that Fold wherein the Jews and Gentiles were to concurr in one only Faith is the Catholick Church and that Shepherd was St. Peter and all his Successors the Bishops of Rome every one of which as he is Bishop of Rome is the universal Pastor of the * Whole If this had been the Faith of the whole Christian Church at the time when the Creeds were made the compilers of them would and ought to have added Roman to Catholick in the Creed whole Church of God insomuch as that all who will not be subject to him are not of the number of the Sheep of Christ but are without the Fold of the Church being Schismaticks and Hereticks for such are all who are disobedient to the Roman Church in which Roman Church there never was nor will be any error in Faith by reason of Christ's promise who as St. Luke reports speaking to St. Peter said to him I have prayed for
thee Peter that the †Faith Here the Bishop makes very bold with the Scripture again in quoting the Faith of thy Church as St. Luke's words Faith of thy Church may never fail The Faith of other particular Churches as we have seen may fail but the Faith of the Roman Church has never failed nor never will Wherefore Brethren fasten your selves close to this firm Pillar of the Roman Church against which according to our Saviour's promises the Gates of Hell shall never prevail which Gates are the Heresies that are and have been in the World You ought therefore to render many thanks to God for his having relieved you at this time by sending you the Lord Arch-Bishop for a Spiritual Pastor and Master who having left his Dwelling and quiet is at all this Trouble only for the sake of your Salvation and to rescue you from the errors you have hitherto lived in For I know and am certain that he is one of those Pastors which God spoke of by Jeremiah And I will give you Pastors according to my heart and they shall feed you with Knowledge and Doctrine Hitherto you have been fed with Errors and Ignorances and your Pastors have sought gain and not the Salvation of your Souls This Pastor as you see does not come to take any of your Goods from you but to spend his own for your profit and to put you in the right way to Heaven and Salvation From ‖ Whence I do not believe that the Arch-Bishops of Malabar made half so much of their Bishoprick as Bishop Andre did of his of Cochim or as Father Rez the Jesuit made of Malabar after he was preferr'd to it by the Pope whence you may clearly perceive the great difference there is betwixt him and those other Pastors or to speak more properly those Wolves which you have had hitherto among you as our Lord saith in Sheeps cloathing Hitherto your Errors have had some excuse because you could know no more but what your Masters taught you whereas from henceforward you shall have no manner of excuse neither before God nor Man if you do not become such as all that love you desire you to be The Faith and Doctrine that has been preached to you by the Arch-Bishop is the Faith of all the Christians in the Indies and of all Clerks and Religious in these Parts and which all Portugal Spain and in a word all * Christendom The Reformed the Greek the Muscovite the Georgian the Armenian the Antiochian Alexandrian and Abyssin Church are it seems no part of Christendom with this Declamer Christendom holds This is the Faith that was taught by the Son of God the Faith that St. Thomas preached and was preached also by St. Peter and the rest of the Apostles and if any shall teach the contrary let him be as St. Paul saith Anathema and Excommunicated and expelled the Society of the Faithful as he is from Christ his Faith and Grace The Lord give you a perfect knowledge of himself as it is desired by your Brother in the Lord. Writ at Cochim the 28th of June 1599. Your Brother in the Lord Bishop FREY ANDRE The SYNOD'S Answer The Lord Assist Us. To the most Illustrious and Reverend Lord Dom Andre the most worthy Bishop of Cochim The Diocesan Synod of the Christians of St. Thomas of the Bishoprick of the Serra assembled in the Town of Diamper wisheth eternal Health and Prosperity in our Lord. OVr most Reverend Metropolitan ordered your most Illustrious Lordship's Letter to this Synod to be read in a full Assembly of the Priests and People and having heard and understood it we rejoiced exceedingly in the Lord to perceive that the Holy Doctrine taught us by your Lordship is the same with that our Metropolitan has preached in all our Churches and has declared in this Synod as also the same that is preached by the Fathers all over this Diocess by which means we are the more confirmed in the Catholick Faith and the Obedience we owe to the Holy Roman Church our true Mother and to our Lord the Pope the Successor of St. Peter and Christ's Vicar upon Earth as is manifest from the Acts of the said Synod Signed by Vs as your Lordship may see and if we have hitherto been wanting to our Duty in these Matters it did not proceed from any Obstinacy of Mind or from any Inclination we had to be Hereticks or Schismaticks but purely for want of the Light of true Doctrine and healthful and Catholick Food which was not given us by our Prelates but who did instead thereof poyson us with the false Doctrines of Nestorius and several other Errors from which we are now by the Divine Mercy rescued and by the goodness of God and the Ministry of our Metropolitan enlightened from whence also rose the Rebellion which was made by us when the Truth began to be first preached to us as also all the Troubles and Vexations that we gave to our Metropolitan and the manifest Dangers we exposed him to for all which we are now heartily sorry and do dayly more and more lament it But whereas God has been pleased to enlighten us with his Doctrine the Metropolitan being discouraged by none of those things to go on preaching in our Churches the light of the Truth coming to us by that means we have cordially embraced and have with an unanimous consent and great alacrity made profession thereof in this Synod having also put the Affairs of our Church in the best Order we were able and submitting our selves to the Judgment of our Metropolitan Mar Aleixo who as our Master has instructed us in all things But whereas his Lordship after his Visitation of this Diocess is over is to go to reside in his * Own Diocess The Arch-Bishop cured them of these fears for some time at least at the end of his Visitation when he made a solemn renunciation of the Arch-Bishoprick of God and as solemn an acceptation of that of the Serra and that judicially and in Form desiring the Christians of St. Thomas to whom he delivered both those Instruments to sollicite the Pope and King of Spain to give way to the Translation and promising withal to employ all his own interest in both to perswade them to it but it seems all would not do for the next News we hear of him is That instead of being gratified with the Arch-Bishoprick of the Serra he was condemned to be Governour-General of the Indies for three Years and after that translated to the Primacy of Portugal own Diocess which we take notice of to our great Sorrow by which means we shall want a Special Protection we do therefore beg that until such time as God shall be pleased to send the Pastor among us which we expect from the Holy Apostolical See your Lordship as being the Prelate that lives nearest to us and from whom and your Predecessors this Church has received so many
Trent Council suffer'd to preach p. 173 Dec. XVIII All Priests that have delivered any Errors or fabulous Stories in their Sermons are ordered to recant them publickly upon pain of Excommunication p. 174 Dec. XIX Makes Void all Oaths against yielding Obedience to the Roman Church under pain of the greater Excommunication p. 175 Dec. XX. Contains the Profession of the Synod p. 177 Dec. XXI The Synod resolves to be governed in all things by the last Trent Council p. 178 Dec. XXII Submits to the Inquisition p. 179 Dec. XXIII All Persons who shall Act Speak or Write against the Holy Catholick Faith to be prosecuted and punish'd by the Prelate p. 181 ACTION IV. Of the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation p. 182 Of the Doctrine of the Holy Sacrament of Baptism 187. Dec. I. New form for Baptism and the old ones abrogated p. 189 Dec. II. All Baptized according to the old Forms to submit themselves to the Metropolitan at his Visitation for his Directions p. 189 Dec. III. Orders all Priests to make enquiry who have not been Baptized through any Default and to baptize all such privately without taking any Fees p. 190 Dec. IV. To the same Purpose p. 191 Dec. V. Children to be Christened on the 8th Day with some Limitations p. 192 Dec. VI. The Error Condemn'd of not Baptizing the Infants of Excommunicate Parents p. 194 Dec. VII Exhortation to all Parents and such as are present at Womens Labours not to suffer an Infant to die without Baptism Allowance to any Man Woman or Child that knows the Form to Baptize such in case of eminent Necessity How the Child is to be order'd if it recover p. 194 Dec. VIII Christian Daia's or Midwives recommended and Vicars exhorted to instruct them in the Form of Baptism p. 196 Dec. IX Infidel Slaves ordered to be Baptized p. 197 Dec. X. Christians not to be sold to Infidels for Slaves p. 197 Dec. XI Forbids Auguries p. 199 Dec. XII Foundlings how to be ordered p. 200 Dec. XIII Converts how to be order'd p. 200 Dec. XIV Holy Oils commanded with the manner of using them p. 201 Dec. XV. Commands the use of God-Fathers and God-Mothers in Baptism not used before p. 202 Dec. XVI Prohibits Old Testatament some few excepted and Heathenish Names to be given to Children ordering those of the New according to the Christian Oeconomy p. 204 Dec. XVII Orders Children to be called by no other Names than those they were Christened by p. 206 Dec. XVIII Commands that Children be Christened in order as they are brought to Church without any distinction of Persons p. 206 Dec. XIX Commands the building of Fonts p. 207 Dec. XX. Register-Books to be used in all Churches and their Use p. 208 The Doctrine of the Sacrament of Confirmation p. 209 Dec. I. The Sacrament of Confirmation commanded to be used p. 213 Dec. II. Denounces Excommunication against all those that speak against it or vilify it p. 214 Dec. III. God-Fathers and God-Mothers of what 〈◊〉 to be used in Confirmation 〈◊〉 Chrism as well as Baptism p. 216 ACTION V. The Doctrine of the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist p. 217 Dec. I. The Holy Eucharist when to be Celebrated p. 220 Dec. II. All Christians above the Age of 14 commanded to Receive this Sacrament once a Year at least p. 222. Dec. III. None to Receive before Confession to a Lawful Priest p. 223 Dec. IV. Commands to Receive Fasting with some Limitation p. 224 Dec. V. The Sacrament to be received as a Viaticum in danger of Death The Vicar that suffers any to die without it though his Fault to be suspended for six Months p. 225 Dec. VI. Women with Child to Confess and Receive a little before their time p. 226 Dec. VII Priests to Communicate once a Month at least in their Surplice and Stole p. 227 Dec. VIII Priests not to Receive the Sacrament before Confession nor say Mass having any scruple of Mortal Sin p. 227 Dec. IX Deacons and Subdeacons when to Receive the Sacrament p. 228 The Doctrine of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass p. 228 Dec. I. Directions for saying Mass and many things in the Chaldaean Missals to be rectified p. 231 Dec. II The Missals of Nestorius Theodorus and Diodoâ—â—s to be burnt p. 245 Dec. III. A grand Error of the Nestorians condemn'd p. 246 Dec. IV. The Roman Mass to be translated iâ—to Syrian and used on particular Occasions c. p. 247. Dec. V. Who to handle the Holy Vessels p 248 Dec. VI. Permits the Stole to none but Deacons p. 248 Dec. VII Orders Stamps to be made in all Churches for the Host p. 249 Dec. VIII Orders what Wine is to be used in celebrating the Eucharist p. 250. Dec. IX The King of Portugal to send a Pipe and an half or two Pipes of Muscatel Wine for the Use of the Sacrament and how to be used p. 250 Dec. X. Stones of the Altar to be consecrated by the Metropolitan p. 252 Dec. XI Holy Vestments to be provided by the Metropolitan out of the Alms of the Parish p. 253 Dec. XII All Persons not having lawful impediment commanded to hear a whole Mass every Sunday and Holyday if c. p. 253 Dec. XIII Directs how often to hear Mass to be capable of the Blessing and such as hear it not so often as directed to be Excommunicate p. 255 Dec. XIV Prohibits Heathen Musicians to remain in the Church after Creed or Sermon is ended p. 256 Dec. XV. Exhorts all to procure Masses to be said for the Souls of their deceased Friends p. 256 ACTION VI. Of the Holy Sacrament of Penance and Extream Unction p. 261 Dec. I. Non-Confession declared a Mortal Sin p. 265 Dec. II. All Persons to come to Confession from Eight Years old and upwards p. 268 Dec. III. All Masters of Families admonished to cause all in their Families to Confess p. 269 Dec. IV. Confession injoin'd upon probable Danger of Death or any great Sickness p. 270 Dec. V. Obliges Women with Child to Confess p. 271 Dec. VI. Orders how those are to be confessed that have the Small-Pox p. 272 Dec. VII Exhorts to frequent Confession p. 272 Dec. VIII Who to take Confessions p. 273 Dec. IX Absolution upon Confession how to be Administred and by whom p. 274 Dec. X. Directs in what Cases Confessors may absolve Penitents p. 275 Dec. XI Excommunication and Absolution when prope p. 277 Dec. XII Priests Confessors to have a written Licence from the Prelate p. 278 Dec. XIII Confessors that understand the Malabar Tongue to be made Use of and why p. 281 Dec. XIV None can absolve in the Sacramental Court but such as took the Confession p. 281 Dec. XV. The Sacramental Form of Absolution not to be used as a Prayer but in its proper Place p. 282 The Doctrine of the Sacrament of Extream Unction p. 282 Dec. I. The use of the Extream Vnction recommended with directions therein p. 285 Dec. II. Confessors
well and faithfully to discharge the said Office and truly and exactly to relate all that should be said by his Lordship or any other Person in the Synod without any addition or diminution as also to read in the Congregations all the Decrees and Determinations of the Synod which were to be in the Malabar Tongue And whereas Truth it self has testified That in the mouth of two or three there is all Truth therefore for the greater security there were given to the said Interpreter by the most Reverend Metropolitan as Assistants the Reverend Fathers * He was afterwards made Bishop of the Christians of St. Thomas Francisco Roz and Antonio Toscano of the Society of Jesus in the College of Vaipicotta in this Diocess who being well skilled in the Malabar Tongue were to observe all that was related by the Interpreter and in case he was at any time faulty to correct him there were besides several others present Natives as well as Portuguezes that were well vers'd in both Languages Decree I. THe Congregation being met and all placed according to their Order the Metropolitan seated in his Chair said In the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Three Persons and One only True God Amen My beloved Brethren you the Venerable Priests and my most dear Sons in Christ you the Representatives and Procurators of the People Does it please you that for the Praise and Glory of the Holy and undivided Trinity the Father Son and Holy Ghost and for the Increase and Exaltation of the Catholick Faith and the Christian Religion of the Inhabitants of this Bishoprick and for the destruction of the Heresies and Errors which have been sown therein by several Hereticks and Schismaticks and for the purging of Books from the false Doctrines contained in them and for the perfect Union of this Church with the whole Church Catholick and Universal and for the yielding of Obedience to the Supreme Bishop of Rome the Universal Pastor of the Church and Successor in the Chair of St. Peter and Vicar of Christ upon Earth from whom you have for some time departed and for the extirpation of Simony which has been much practised in this Bishoprick and for the regulating of the Administration of the Holy Sacraments of the Church and the necessary Use of them and for the Reformation of the Affairs of the Church and the Clergy and the Customs of all the Christian People of this Diocess We should begin a Diocesan Synod of this Bishoprick of the Serra They answered It pleaseth us Then the most Reverend Metropolitan asked them again Venerable Brethren and most beloved Sons in Christ since you are pleased to begin a Synod after having offered Prayers to God from whom all Good proceedeth it will be convenient that the Matters to be treated of appertaining to our Holy Faith the Church the Divine Offices the Administration of the Holy Sacraments and the Customs of the whole People be entertained by you with Benignity and Charity and afterwards by God's Assistance complied with with much Reverence and that every one of you should faithfully procure the Reformation of such things in this Synod as you know to be amiss and if any that are present shou'd happen to be dissatisfied with any thing that shall be said or done therein let them without any scruple declare their Opinion publickly that so by God's Grace it may be examined and all things may be truly stated as is desired but let not Strife or Contention find any room among you to the perverting of Justice and Reason neither be ye afraid of searching after and embracing the Truth Decree II. THe Synod by Virtue of Holy Obedience and upon pain of Excommunication to be incurred ipso facto does command all Persons whatsoever Ecclesiastical and Secular that have been called to and are present at this Synod not to depart the Town of Diamper where the said Synod is celebrated without express leave from the most Illustrious Metropolitan before the Synod is ended and they have signed the Decrees thereof with their own Hand or till all the rest are dismiss'd The Synod does likewise Request and Command all that have any Matter that is fitting to be offered to it for the Advancement of God's Honour and the Good of the Christians of this Bishoprick to acquaint the Metropolitan therewith either by Word or Writing or some Third Person that so what is convenient may be determined therein Decree III. BE it known and declared to all present and absent That no prejudice shall be done or follow to any Town Corporation or Village as to any Preeminence they may pretend to by the celebration of this Synod in the Town of Diamper as also that no Church or Person shall suffer by reason of the Places they sit in in this Synod but shall have their Rights and Privileges in the same state and vigour that they were in before and if any Doubts should happen to arise about this or any such Matter let them be brought before the Illustrious Metropolitan where both Parties being heard they shall have Justice done them Decree IV. THis Synod knowing that all that is Good is from God and that every perfect Gift cometh down from the Father of Light who giveth perfect Wisdom to those that with an humble Heart pray for it and being withal sensible that the beginning of true Wisdom is the fear of the Lord we do admonish and command all Christians as well Ecclesiasticks as Seculars gathered together in this Place to confess their Sins with a true contrition for them and all Priests to say Mass and others to receive the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar beseeching our Lord with humble and devout Prayers for good Success to all that shall be Treated of in this Synod to which intent there shall be two solemn Masses said in the Church every day during the Session of the Synod one of the Latins to the Holy Spirit and the other of the Syrians to our Lady the Blessed Virgin Mary whose Praise and Honour is to be particularly Treated of which Masses shall be said at such hours as to be no hindrance to the Congregations which henceforward shall meet every day in the Church at Seven in the Morning They shall likewise Latins as well as Syrians every day after Sun-set Sing the solemn Litanies of the Church with a Commemoration of our Lady for the good intention of the Synod Decree V. THE Synod for the preventing of some Inconveniences that may otherwise happen and to leave no room for unnecessary and hurtful Debates does command by virtue of Obedience and upon pain of Excommunication to be ipso facto incurred That while the Congregations last no Person whatsoever Ecclesiastick or Secular presume to meet together in any Junctoes with any Persons Ecclesiasticks or Seculars to Treat of any Matters appertaining to the Synod or this Church without express Licence from the most Illustrious Metropolitan that so all that is
of Religion the Greek and Alexandrian Christians have them in such detestation as to reckon an Altar defiled by a Roman Priest's having celebrated thereon And for the Muscovites Possevinus tells us their greatest imprecation is I hope to live to see thee so far abandoned as to turn Papist The Abbyssin Christians as Godinus tells us do not only condemn the Romanists as Hereticks but do affirm that they are worse than Mahometans and in the 28th Chap. of the first Book of Archbishop Menezes's Visitation it is said that the Chaldaean and Malabar Christians did so abhorr the Pope that they could not endure so much as to hear him named and Head of all the Churches in the World and confess that all that were not obedient to her were out of a state of Salvation and if they did promise and swear true Obedience and subjection to the most Holy Father the Pope and Bishop of Rome as Universal Pastor of the Church and Successor of St. Peter the Prince of the Apostles and Vicar of Christ upon Earth without any manner of dependance upon the Schismatical Patriarch of Babylon to whom tho' contrary to Justice they had hitherto been subject and if they did promise never to receive any other Bishop into this Diocess but what shall be sent by the Holy Roman Church by the appointment of our Lord the Pope and that whomsoever he shall ordain they will acknowledge and obey for their Prelate as becomes true Catholicks and Sons of the Church anathematizing the Patriarch of Babylon as a Nestorian Heretick out of the Obedience of the Holy Roman Church and promising and swearing never to obey him more in any matter nor to have any further Commerce or Communion with him in things appertaining to the Church To all which and every particular they did all and every one of them for themselves with their hands upon the Cross and the Gospel swear and protest to God by the Holy Gospel and the Cross of Christ After the Ecclesiasticks had made this Profession and Oath the Procurators and Representatives of the People by virtue of the Powers they had made the same in their own Name and in the Name of the People of the Bishroprick as did also all the other Christians that were present Decree III. THe Synod doth command all Priests Deacons and Sub-Deacons of this Bishoprick that were not present at this Solemnity to make the foresaid Oath and profession of Faith in the hands of the most Illustrious Metropolitan at the Visitation of their Churches which he intends to make speedily or in the hands of such as he shall depute for those that shall be absent at the time of the Visitation that so there may be none in Holy Orders in this Bishoprick but what has made this Profession in the manner aforesaid The Synod doth likewise declare That hereafter none shall be capable of undertaking any Vicaridge or Cure of a Church until they have made the said Profession in the hands of their Prelate or of some Commissionated by him for that purpose as also that all that take Holy Orders do first make the said Profession in the same manner and if any of the forementioned which God forbid shall refuse to do it that they shall thereupon be declared Excommunicate until they comply and withal be vehemently suspected of Heresy and be punished according to the Sacred Canons ACTION III. BEcause without Faith it is impossible to please God and the Holy Catholick Faith without which none can be saved is the beginning of true Life and the foundation of all our Good the Purity thereof being that that distinguishes Christians and Catholicks from all other People wherefore the Synod being sensible that by means of some Heretical Persons and Books scattered all over this Bishoprick many Errors and Falsities have been sown therein with which many are poisoned and more may be doth judge it necessary besides the profession of Faith that has been made further to declare to the People in some Chapters the chief Articles of our Holy Catholick Faith and to point at and observe the Errors contained in their Books and to have them Preached against in this Bishoprick that so knowing the mischief and falsehood of them they may avoid them CHAP. I. The Doctrine of Faith OUr Holy Faith that is believed with one unanimous consent by the Catholick Church spread all over the World is That we believe in One only True Almighty Immutable Incomprehensible and Ineffable God the Eternal Father Son and Holy Ghost One in Essence and Three in Persons the Father not begotten the Son begotten of the Father and of the same substance with him and equal to him and the Holy Ghost proceeding eternally from the Father and the Son not as from two Principals or two Inspirations but from both as from one only Principal and one only Inspiration the Father is not the Son nor the Holy Spirit the Holy Spirit is not the Father nor the Son but the Father is only the Father the Son is only the Son and the Holy Spirit is only the Holy Spirit none of them being before another in Eternity nor superiour to another in Majesty nor inferiour to another in Power but were all without beginning or end the Father is he who begot the Son is he who was born and the Holy Ghost he who proceedeth Consubstantial Equal alike Almighty and alike Eternal These three Persons are one only God and not three Gods one only Essence and Substance one Nature one Immensity one Principal one Creator of all things Visible and Invisible Corporal and Spiritual who when he pleased created all things with his goodness and would that they should be all very good CHAP. II. FUrthermore That the only begotten Son of God who is always with the Father and the Holy Spirit Consubstantial to the Father at the time appointed by the profound Wisdom of the Divine Mercy for the redeeming of Men from the sin of Adam and from all other sins was truly Incarnate by the operation of the Holy Spirit in the pure Womb of our Lady the most Blessed Virgin Mary and in her took our true and intire Nature of Man that is a Body and rational Soul into the Unity of the Divine Person which Unity was such that our Lord Jesus Christ is God and Man and the Son of God and the Son of Man in as much as he was the Son of the Blessed Virgin so that the one Nature is not confounded with the other neither did the one pass into nor mix it self with the other neither did either of them vanish or cease to be but in one only Person or in one Divine Suppositum there are two perfect Natures a Divine and Humane but so that the properties of both Natures are still preserved there being two Wills the Divine and Humane and two Operations Christ still continuing one for as the Form of God does not destroy the Form of a Servant so the
of Beasts or of some other Men which besides that it is a great Ignorance is also an Error contrary to the Catholick Faith which teacheth That our Souls after Death are carried to Heaven or Hell or Purgatory or Limbus according to every ones Merits and that there is no such fabulous and false Transmigration The second is That all things come necessarily to pass or through * I am very apt to believe that they are here falsely accused of attributing all things to Fate for no other reason but because they believed Predestination which if it was so Arch-Bishop Menezes who was himself an Austin Fryar shewed but little respect to the Memory of his pretended Father in making Predestination and Fate to be equally destructive of humane Liberty Fate or Fortune which they call the Nativity of Men who they say are compelled to be what they are and that there is no help for it which is a manifest Error and condemned by Holy Mother Church for as much as it destroys that Liberty of Will with which God created us leaving us in the power of our own Will to do Good or Evil to obey his Holy Inspirations and Internal Motions by which he excites to Good or to resist Evil so that as it depends on his Divine mercy and goodness to move us to Good so it depends on our Free-Will whether by his assistance we will obey those Inspirations and will profit our selves of his Internal Motions or of our own free Will refuse to do it or in a word do Well or Ill so that if we perish for doing any thing that is Ill it is the fault of our own Free-Will as the Catholick Faith teaches us and not from the fate of our Nativity as the ignorant Heathens will have it The third is †This is an Error that Justin Martyr Clemens Alexandrinus and others of the Philosophical Fathers seem to have been in That every one may be saved in his own Law all which are Good and lead Men to Heaven Now this is a manifest Heresy there being no other Law upon earth in which Salvation is to be found besides that of our Saviour Christ for that he only teacheth the Truth so that all that live in any other Sect are out of a state of Salvation and shall be condemned to Hell there being no other Name given to Men by which we can be saved but only the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God who was Crucified for us All which Errors the Synod commandeth the Vicars and Preachers often to preach against in the hearing of the ignorant People and all Confessors to examine their Penitents concerning them and to teach them the Catholick Truth Decree V. THis Synod being informed that there is a dangerous Heresy and very injurious to our Lord Jesus Christ sown and preached through this Diocess which is That it is a * Grievous Sin How does this consist with their having so many Crosses in their Churches and Houses as they tell us they had or with their administring the Sacrament of the Eucharist or with their Preaching that it was Christ and not the Son of God that suffered upon the Cross grievous sin so much as to think or speak of our Saviour's Holy Passion and as there are a great many of this Opinion so the doing of it has formerly been prohibited by impious Censures all which is a manifest Error and extreamly prejudicial to the Souls of all faithful Christians and the fruit and profit of Souls arising from such Considerations and Discourses which is very great as well for that love and affection which they beget in us for our Saviour who suffer'd for our Salvation as for the Example of those Vertues which were so Illustrious in his Holy Passion and the hatred of Sin for which he suffer'd so much and the fear of the Divine Justice which he so rigorously satisfied and the confidence of our Salvation by such a plenteous Redemption and the use of the Sacraments to which he applyed the virtue of his Holy Passion and other infinite benefits which are derived from thence to our Souls which Error included another no less prejudicial and which is also common among the Nestorians the condemning of Holy Images for that if it were an Impiety to think of the Passion of our Lord Christ it must follow that all those things are unlawful that move or contribute thereunto as the Sign of the Holy Cross and all Images of the Holy Passion all which is a gross and manifest Heresy Wherefore the Synod doth recommend it to all Preachers Confessors and Rectors of Churches frequently to perswade their People to the consideration of those Divine Mysteries and to that end they shall advise them to the Devotion of the Rosary of our Lady the most Blessed Virgin Mary wherein are contained all the principal Mysteries of the Life of our Lord Christ with profitable Meditations upon them Decree VI. AMong the many Errors sown in this Diocess and left in the Books thereof by the perfidious Nestorian Hereticks there being several against our Lady the most Blessed Virgin Mary the Mother of God the only Remedy of Christians the Mother of Mercy and the Advocate of Sinners the Queen of Angels The Synod doth therefore declare That it is the Doctrine of the Catholick Faith that the Holy Virgin was never at any time stained with the guilt of any actual sin and that it is Pious to believe that she was also Conceived without Original Sin it seeming to be most agreeable to the Dignity of the Mother of God that it should be so tho' it is true that Holy Mother Church †Has not as yet determined It is much she has not since the Invention of the Holy Reliques in the Mountains of Granada among which there was a Book in Arabick of S. Cecilius who was consecrated Bishop of Eliberis by St. Peter and St. Paul at Rome with this Title De Dono Gloriae Dono Tormenti in which there is the following Definition of the Immaculate Conception made by all the Apostles being met together to Solemnize the Exequies of the Blessed Virgin Illa Virgo Maria Illa Sancta Illa electa à primo Originarioque peccato praeservata fuit ab omni culpâ libera atque haec veritas Apostolorum Concilium est quam qui negaverit maledictus excommunicatus erit salutem non consequetur sed in aeternum damnabitur All which Reliques and this Book among the rest were after a severe and impartial Examination approved of and received as genuine by a late Provincial Synod in Spain has not as yet determined any thing about that matter Furthermore the Catholick Faith teacheth that she was always before in and after Child-birth a most pure Virgin and that she brought forth the Son of God made Man without any Pain or Passion having none of those things which are common to other Women after Child-birth
Learning having never been taught that the Devil tempted Christ before his Fast of forty days which is contrary to the Gospel that St. Joseph to be satisfied whether the Virgin had committed Adultery carried her before the Priests who according to the Law gave her the Water of Jealousie to drink that our Lady brought forth with pain and parting from her Company not being able to go farther she retired to a Stable at Bethlehem that neither our Lady nor any other Saint is in Heaven enjoying God but are all in a Terrestrial Paradise where they are to remain till the day of Judgment with other Errors too many to be related But it is the Synod's pleasure to instance in some of the chief Errors contained in the Books that it condemns that so all may be satisfied of the reason why they are prohibited to be read or kept upon pain of Excommunication and that all may avoid and burn them with the greater Horror and for other just and necessary respects Also the Book of John Barialdan wherein it is said in divers places That there were two Persons a Divine and Humane in Christ which is contrary to the Catholick Faith which confesses one only Divine Person It is also said That the Names of Christ and Emanuel are the Names of the Humane Person only and for that reason that the most sweet Name Jesus is not to be adored that the Union of the Incarnation is common to all the Three Divine Persons who were all Incarnated that our Lord Christ is the adopted and not the Natural Son of God that the Union of the Incarnation is accidental and is only that of Love betwixt the Divine and Humane Persons Also the Book intituled The Procession of the Holy Spirit wherein it is endeavoured to be proved at large that the Holy Spirit proceedeth only from the Father and not from the Son which is contrary to the Catholick Truth which teaches that he proceeds from the Father and the Son Also the Book entituled Margarita Fidei or The Jewel of Faith wherein it is pretended to be proved at large That our Lady the most Holy Virgin neither is nor ought to be stiled the Mother of God but the Mother of Christ that in Christ there are two Persons the one of the Word and the other of Jesus that the Union of the Incarnation is only an accidental Union of Love and Power and not a substantial Union that there are three distinct Faiths which is divided into three Professions the Nestorian Jacobite and Roman that the Nestorian is the true Faith that was taught by the Apostle and that the Roman is false and Heretical and was introduced by force of Arms and the Authority of Heretical Emperors into the greatest part of the World that to Excommunicate Nestorius is to Excommunicate the Apostles and Prophets and the whole Scripture that they that do not believe his Doctrine shall not inherit Eternal Life that they that follow Nestorius received their Faith from the Apostles which has been preserved to this day in the Church of Babylon of the Syrians That Matrimony neither is nor can be a Sacrament that the sign of the Cross is one of the Sacraments of the Church instituted by Christ that the Fire of Hell is Metaphorical not real that the Roman Church is fallen from the Faith condemning it likewise for not celebrating in leavened Bread according to what the Church has received from the Apostles for which it is said the Romans are Hereticks Also the Book of the Fathers wherein it is said That our Lady neither is nor ought to be called the Mother of God that the Patriarch of Babylon of the Nestorians is the Universal Head of the Church immediately under Christ that the Fire of Hell is not real but spiritual that it is Heresie to say that God was born or dyed that there are two Persons in Christ Also a Book of the Life of Abbot Isaias commented by a Nestorian wherein it is said That the Union is common to all the Three Persons that St. Cyril of Alexandria who condemned Nestorius was an impious Heretick and is now in Hell for having taught that there is but One Person in Christ whereas as often as Nestorius Theodorus and Diodorus are named they are stiled Saints and blessed by whose Authority it is there proved that the Saints shall not enjoy God before the day of Judgment and that till then they shall be in an obscure place which they call Eden near to the Terrestrial Paradise and that by so much the worse as any one has been he is tormented * The less for it in Hell This of fixing something that is justly abominable to all Mankind upon her Adversaries has been the constant practice of the Church of Rome So the Emperor Michael Balbus because he was an Enemy to Image-worship is said to have laughed at the Prophets not to have believed there were any Devils and to have placed Judas among the Saints the Templars upon the Pope and the French Kings conspiring together to destroy their Order are said to have obliged all their Novices to blaspheme God to renounce Christ the Virgin Mary and all the Saints in Heaven to spit and trample upon the Crucifix and to declare that Christ was a false Prophet the Albigenses are said to have held it lawful to deny their Faith when interrogated upon it by a Magistrate to have held that promiscuous Venery was lawful but that Matrimony was Hell and Damnation that the Souls of Men were as Mortal as their Bodies that the way of choosing their chief Priests was by tossing an Infant from one to another and that he in whose hands the Infant expired had that Office and that the Devil was unjustly thrown out of Heaven the less for it in Hell by reason of his greater conformity and friendship with the Devils that the Word was not made Man and that it is Blasphemy to affirm it that Christ conquer'd all the Passions of Sin by a Power derived from God and not by his own strength that St. Cyril was a Heretick in teaching that there was but One Person in Christ that the Divine and Humane Nature were united in Christ accidentally by Love that the whole Trinity was incarnated that God dwelt in Christ as in a Rational Temple giving him power to do all the good things he did that the Souls of the Just will be in a Terrestrial Paradise till the day of Judgment that the Wicked when they dye in Mortal Sin are carried to a place called Eden where they suffer only by the sense of the punishments they know they are to undergo after the day of Judgment Also the Book of Synods wherein there is a forged Letter of Pope Caius with false Subscriptions of a great many other Western Bishops directed to those of Babylon wherein it is acknowledged that the Church of Rome ought to be subject to that of Babylon which with
Flos Sanctorum Let their Legends â—e as fabulous as they will I am sure they cannot be worse than those of the Church of Rome namely her Flos Sanctorum which is certainly the dullest Romance that ever saw the Sun Melchior Canus the Bishop of Canaâ—ies in his 11th Book de Locis Theologicis gives this just Character of them Dolenter hoc dico potiùs quà m contumeliosè multo à Laertio severius vitas Philosophorum scriptas quà m à Christianis vitas Sanctorum longéque incorruptiùs integriús Suetonium res Caesarum exposuisse quà m exposuerint Catholici non res dico Imperatorum sed Martyrum Virginum Confessorum Illi enim in prâ—bis aut Philosophis aut Principibus nec vitia nec suspiciones vitiorum tacent in improbis etiam colores virtutum produnt Nostri autem plerique vel affectibus inserviunt vel de industriâ quoque ità multa consingunt ut eorum me nimirum non solùm pâ—deat sed etiam taedeat In illo enim Miraculorum monstra saepiùs quà m vera miracula legas hanc auream sc legendac homo scripsit serrei oris plumbei cordis animi certè parùm severi prudentis Flos Sanctorum wherein are contained the Lives of a great many Nestorian Hereticks who are there called Saints and not only that entire Book but also any of the Lives contained therein which may be current separately namely those of Abraham stiled the Great of George Abbot Cardeg whom they call a Martyr Jacob Abban Saurixo Johanan Gauri Raban Sabacat Ocama Daniel Barcaula Raban Nuna Jacob Rabai the Great Dadixo Jomarusia Schalita Ihab Abimelech the Expositor Abraham another Abraham Natpraya Jobcarder John Ircasca Nestorius Jaunam Barcurra Raban Gabarona Schabibi Barcima Titus Raban Sapor Gregory the Metropolitan George Monach Xahucalmaran Joseph Nathanael Simon Abbot Chabita Zinai Abbot Audixo John Crascaya Barcahade Italaah John Sahadui Aha Xalita Joanacoreta Xari another John Elias Joadarmah Ananixo another John Barhetta Rabai Simeon Narsai Naban Raban Theodorus Rabai Doctor Abda Abolaminer Rabantarsaha of Cadarvi Xuuelmaran Sergiududa Xuuealmaran Dadixo another Abraham Ezekieldasa Rabai Perca David Barnutar Hormisda Pition Salomon Abbot Raban Machixo another George Muchiqua another Abraham Apuimacan Xaurixo Ixosauran Josedec Raban Camixo Bardirta Abbot Abraham Barmaharail George Raban Zliva Abbot Guiriaco Rabanbaut Joseph Abbot Zaca Nasbian Jesus Abbot Aaron Bucatixo Ascan another Abraham Xonxa Abbot Amanixo Gasraya Sahedona Bishop Joseph Azaya Isahaha Bishop Jacob whom they call a Prophet Ixaiahu Eunuco Ramain Jobar Malchi Who were all Nestorian Hereticks and the chief followers of that cursed Sect as is evident from their Lives which are full of Heresies Blasphemies and false and * Fabulous Miracles For people not only to condemn that in others which they themselves are visibly and infinitely more guilty of but to do it with the Air and assurance of an unquestionable Innocency cannot be denied to be no common privilege for were all the false Miracles that have been pretended to be wrought by all the other Sects of Religion put together they would fall infinitely short of what may be met with in any single Saint's Life or in confirmation of any single Doctrine of the Church of Rome most of which too are what Canus said of them rather Monstra Miraculorum than vera Miracula or any thing else fabulous Miracles with which they pretend to Authorize their Sect. Also the Book called Parisman or the Persian Medicine which is full of Sorceries teaching certain Methods whereby one may do mischief to their enemies and may gain Women and for a great many other lewd and prohibited purposes there are likewise in it strange Names of Devils of whom they affirm that whosoever shall carry the Names of seven of them about him writ in a Paper shall be in no danger of any Evil It contains also many * Superstitious Exorcisms I do not think they had an Exorcism in any of their Books that was more absurd than that we meet with in the Sacerdotale Romanum printed at Venice no longer ago than the Year 1576. where the Priest when he meets wiâ—h a sullen Devil that will not tell his Name nor give any account of himself is order'd to fall upon him with Praecipio tibi sub poenâ Excommunicationis majoris minoris ut respondeas dicas mihi Nomen Diem Horam exicûs tui I shall not make that reflection upon this Exorcism which is very obvious at the first hearing of it It was with some such Exorcism as this doubtless that they got out of the Devil that raised the terrible Persecution in Japan that he was sent thither from England where he had been employed a great many Years in persecuting of Roman Catholicks upon which the Jesuit Luys Pineyro the Writer of the Persecution makes this grave Remark That doubtless it is with Devils as it is with Men that some of them have particular Talents for some particular works and that this Devil's Talent must doubtless have lain chiefly towards the raising of bloody Persecutions against Catholicks and the Christian Faith Superstitious Exorcisms for the casting out of Devils mixing some Godly words with others that are not Intelligible and with the Invocation of the most Holy Trinity oftentimes desiring the doing of lewd things and enormous sins joyning the Merits of Nestorius and his followers many times in the same Prayer with those of the blessed Virgin and those of their Devils with those of the Holy Angels all which is very common in this Diocess most Curates having this Book and making use of it to this very day all which sort of Books the Synod prohibits in this Diocess under the forementioned censures and whosoever from henceforwards shall be found to have any of them besides the censure they have incurred thereby shall be severely punished by their Prelate Decree XV. BUt the forementioned Heresies are not only to be met with in these Books but are likewise in the Common Prayer and Breviaries that they use in their Churches which having been composed by Nestorian Hereticks are full of Blasphemies Heresies Fables and Apocryphal stories whereby instead of praising God they are continually blaspheming him in their Divine Offices In the Book called the Great Breviary it is said That the Divine Word did not assume Flesh ignorantly pretending to prove it thus because if the Word had assumed Flesh to what purpose was the Holy Spirit 's overshadowing the Virgin In the same Breviary the whole Office of Advent is Heretical it being every where affirmed therein that Christ had two Persons and calling him continually only the Temple of God and in the Feast of the Nativity there is a proposition in one of the solemn Antiphona's that directly contradicts St. John in which it is said that the Word was not made Flesh and that all that believe the contrary are disobedient to the Church and are obstinate Rebels against the Faith so that
Priests and faithful People of this Diocess doth embrace all the Holy General Councils received by Holy Mother Church believing and confessing all that was determined in them anathematizing rejecting and condemning all that they have rejected and condemned but especially it doth with great Veneration receive and embrace the first Holy Council of Ephesus consisting of 200 Fathers firmly believing all that was therein determined and rejecting and condemning whatsoever it condemned but above all the Diabolical Heresy of the Nestorians which has been for many Years preached and believed in this Diocess which together with its Author Nestorius and all his Followers the said Council did reject and anathematize who being taught by the Devil held that there were Two Persons in our Lord Christ affirming also that the Divine Word did not take Flesh into the Unity of its Person but only for an Habitation or Holy Dwelling as a Temple and that it ought not to be said that God was Incarnate or that he Died nor that our Lady the Glorious Virgin was the Mother of God but only the Mother of Christ with other Diabolical Heresies all which this Synod does condemn reject and anathematize embracing the Holy Catholick Faith in that purity and integrity that it is believed and professed in by the Holy Mother Roman Church the Mistress of all Churches to which in all things it submits it self according to the profession it has made Furthermore this Synod does acknowledge the Glorious Cyril Archbishop and Patriarch of Alexandria who by Order of the Bishop of Rome †Presided St. Cyril presided in the Ephesan Council in his own right being the only Patriarch that was present at it presided in the Holy Ephesan Council to be a Blessed Saint at this time enjoying God in Heaven and that his Doctrine in the said Council against the Nestorians is Holy and universally received in the Catholick Church professing all that reject it to be Excommunicated Hereticks Decree XXI FUrthermore This present Synod with all the Priests and faithful People of this Diocess doth embrace the last * Holy Council of Trent Justinianus a Noble Venetian in the 15th Book of his History of Venice gives the following account of the Holiness of the Trent Council Religionis causa in Tridentino Concilio parum prosperos successus habebat ob dissentientes animos coecamque Praelatorum ambitionem Solus autem Cardinalis Lothoringius Vir pietatis Studio dicendi arte clarus que ad Dei honorem veram Ecclesiae reformationem essent fuadebat cui plerique ex Concilii Patribus humanarum potius rerum quà m divinarum curam habentes refragabantur variisque opinionibus Sanctâ Synodâ— dissidente nil quod rectum sanctum piúmque foret decerni potuit omniaque confusione coecitate plena erant tantaque Praelatos ambitio coeperat ut nulla apud eos fidei Religionisque pro verâ Ecclesiae reformatione ratio haberetur Holy and Sacred Council of Trent and does not only believe and confess all that was determined and approved of therein and reject and anathematize all that that Council rejected and condemned but doth moreover receive and embrace the said Council as to all matters therein determined relating to the reformation of the Church and all Christian People promising and swearing to Govern it self according to the Rules thereof and to observe the same Forms that are observed in the Catholick Church and as are observed in this Province of the Indies and in all the other Provinces and Suffragans to the Metropolis of Goa in order to the removing of all Abuses and Customs that are contrary to the Decrees of the said Council of Trent by which only it is resolved to Govern it self as to all matters relating to the Government of the Church and the Reformation of the Manners of this faithful and Catholick People any Customs tho' immemorial in this Bishoprick to the contrary notwithstanding Decree XXII THis present Synod together with all the Priests and faithful People of this Diocess doth with great submission and reverence submit it self to the Holy Upright Just and Necessary Court of the Holy Office of the †Inquisition This agrees with what Paul the IIId said of â—he Inquisition upon his Death-â—ed that it was the Pillar of the Church of Rome if he had been in his Chair he could not have delivered a greater truth A Heathen Roman Synod would never have been guilty of calling that an Upright and Just Court which neither suffers its Prisoners to know the particular Crime whereof they are accused nor the Persons that accuse them nor the Witnesses that depose against them Acts 25. ver 16. I referr those that have a mind to be satisfied of the Justice of this Court to the History of the Inquisition of Goa which was the Inquisition this Synod put the Church of Malabar under published by a French Papist who was himself a Prisoner in it tho' I must tell them that as bad as his Treatment was therein that it was but Play to what it would have been had he profess'd himself a Protestant or not to have been of the Roman Communion tho' he had once been of it Bulenger tho' otherwise a fierce Papist gives this following account of this Holy Office Inter haec actum à Pontifice cum Hâ—spaniae Rege ut Inquisitio Hispanica Mediolanum inserretur quod tam acerbè tulêre Insubres ut defectionis consilia inierint Ea quaestio in Hispaniâ Mauris deprehendendis instituta est per cujâ—â— causam nomen crebrò innocentes ac sceleris integri custodiae mancipaâ—tur opibus evertuntur vitâ dignitate falsis criminibus circumventi spoliantur Si vocula fortè à Delatoribus excepta est Majestatis illicò postulantur in ultimae sortâ—â— hominibus crimina praetentata mâ—â— in Viros Principes districta sunt Jacent plerumque tres annos in fitâ— paedore carceris priusquam libeâ—â—â— aut noto crimine arcessantur alâ—â— nullius criminis comperti judicio affliguntur quidam in squalore carcerâ— ignorati contabescunt Auricularii frumentarii quadruplatores subdâ—â—â— grassantur qui rei faciendae Stâ—dâ—â— in Divitum capità involant 〈◊〉 tam crimina judicio qùam objectâ— menta jurgio prolata quaerunt Sermones inter familiares habitos in reâ— non modo seriam sed capitalem ducuâ— And Mazeray a Papist too 〈◊〉 the Life of Henry II. calls the Inquisition a Dreadful Monster Inquisition in these Parts Established and being sensible how much the Integrity of the Faith depends upon that Tribunal it does promise and swear to be obedient to all its Commands in all things thereunto pertaining being after the Example of all other Bishopricks in this Province willing that all matters of Faith should be judged of by the same Court or by such Persons as it shall depute And notwithstanding the said Holy Office has not hitherto by reason of this Church's having been separated and had little or no
correspondence with the Apostolical See or with any of the Churches that are subject to it medled with any Persons belonging to this Bishoprick yet now for the benefit of their Souls as to Absolutions in cases of Faith which are known to be reserved to that Court This present Synod doth beseech the Lords Inquisitors to Authorize some Learned Men within this Bishoprick or the Jesuits of the College of Vaipicotta and of other residences of the same Religion in the said Diocess to Absolve all such as shall stand in need thereof and that with such limitations as they shall think fit considering how difficult it is for the People inhabiting the Serra to have recourse to the Tribunal at Goa neither can it be otherwise considering that they live in the midst of Infidels but that such necessary Cases will sometimes happen and especially to rude and ignorant People Decree XXIII THe Preservation of the Purity of the Faith and the prevention of Peoples being corrupted with false and strange Doctrines being a thing of the greatest importance this Synod doth therefore command all Persons of what Quality or Condition soever in this Bishoprick that whensoever they shall happen to know of any Christians doing speaking or writing any thing that is contrary to the Holy Catholick Faith or of any that shall give assistance or countenance thereunto to * What a Confusion must this is newly and forcibly converted to practice needs make in a place that the Roman Church dilate them with all possible Expedition and Secrecy to the Prelate or to the Vicars of the Church or to some other faithful Person who will immediately give an account thereof that so such a course may be forthwith taken as the necessity of the Matter shall require the Synod in virtue of Obedience commanding the said Vicars and Persons to whom such things shall be denounced to intimate them with all possible speed ACTION IV. Of the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation THe Holy Sacraments of the Gospel instituted by our Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ the Son of God for the Remedy and Salvation of Men and to which he hath applyed the Virtue of his Holy Passion and infinite Merits and by which all true Holiness begins in us and being begun is encreased and being lost is recovered are †Seven The Doctrine of the Seven Sacraments is so great a Novelâ—â—n the Church of Rome for it is in no other Church that Bellarmine with all his reading was not able to produce the testimony of one Father for it Greek nor Latin Peter Lombard who lived above a thousand years after the Apostles being the first he quotes for it This is a long time for an Apostolical Tradition to run under ground and which is yet more wonderful that it should break out in an Age that knew nothing of Ecclesiastical Antiquity or indeed of any other sort of Learning but this was the common fate of all the Roman Doctrines and Rites which they pretend to have received from the Apostles only by the way of the dark and uncertain conveyance of Oral Tradition Seven to wit Baptism Confirmation the Eucharist Penitence Extream Vnction Order and Matrimony All which do differ much from the Sacraments of the Old Law which did not cause but did only signifie the Grace that was to be given by the Passion of Christ whereas our Sacraments do contain Grace and give it to all those that receive them worthily the first five were ordained for the Spiritual perfecting of every Man only with relation to himself the two last were appointed for the good Government and encrease of the Church by Baptism we are spiritually born again to God by Confirmation we are advanced in Grace fortified in the Faith and being Regenerated and strengthened we are supported by the Divine Food of the Eucharist and Sacrament of the Altar and when we chance by Sin to fall into any distemper of Soul we are Spiritually restored by Penitence and both Spiritually and Corporally by Extream Vnction by the Sacrament of Order the Church is governed and Spiritually multiplied and by Matrimony Corporally All these Sacraments are perfected by three Causes that is Things as their matter Words as their form and the Person that is to administer them with an †Intention This Doctrine after all their talk of the necessity there is of an infallible certainty in all matters of Religion must make them to be very far from having any such certainty of their being Christians or of their having either a Priest or a Bishop in their Church For as they cannot be infallibly certain of any Bishop or Priest's Intention in the Administration of the Sacraments so they may be certain that it is possible that Bishops and Priests may be so wicked as not to intend what the Church does in such administration nay to intend the contrary for there was a Parish-Priest burnt not many Years ago at Lisbon who confessed at his Death that whenever he baptized or consecrated he had a formed Intention not to administer those Sacraments Intention of doing what the Church doth and where any of these three Causes are wanting they are not perfect neither indeed is any Sacrament administer'd all the Ceremonies and Rites approved and made use of by Holy Mother Church in the administration of the Sacraments are holy and cannot be despised neglected or * Changed This is very strange considering that most of those Rites are but new even in the Roman Church that of the Elevation of the Host not excepted Of the Elevation of the Host Cardinal Bona in the 13th Chap. of his 2d Book of Liturgies saith Non enim liquet quae prima Origo fuerit in Ecclesiâ Latinâ elevandi Sacra Mysteria statim ac consecrata sunt in antiquis enim Sacramentorum libris in codicibus Ordinis Romani tam excusis quà m MSS nec in priscis rituum Expositoribus Alcuino Almario Walfrido Micrologo aliis aliquod ejus vestigium reperitur As to Peoples being present at Mass that did not communicate at the same time the same Cardinal saith in the 14th Chap. of his first Book Primi Secundi post Christum saeculi foelicitas haec fuit cum multitudo credentium quorum erat Cor unum animae una ardentissimo Dei amore succensa nihil impensius desiderabat quà m ad hoc supercoeleste convivium accedere in quo anima de Deo saginatur ut loquitur Tertullianus at propè finem Tertii coepit fervor ille languescere numerus communicantium imminui quam tepiditatem aegrè ferentes Patres Concilii Illiberitani Cap. 28. Statuerunt Episcopum non debere munera ab eo accipere qui non communicat Patres item Conc. Antioch Can. 2. Omnes qui ingrediuntur Ecclesiam se à perceptione Sanctae Communionis avertunt ab Ecclesiâ remover decreverunt Patres denique Conc. Tolet. Cap. 13. Eos abstineri praeceperunt qui intrant
In a word any Person that can Baptize using the Form of the Church and intending to do what she does may administer this Sacrament For seeing none can be saved without being Baptized therefore as our Lord ordained Water than which nothing is more ready at hand to be the matter of this Sacrament so he would exclude no Man from being the Minister thereof the effects and virtue of this Sacrament is the pardon and remission of all sins Original and Actual and of all punishments due to them for which reason there is no Penance to be enjoyned those that are Baptized for any sin they committed before Baptism all that die after Baptism before they have committed any sin going directly to Heaven where they enjoy the Divine Vision for ever 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 last Visitation he found that in divers Churches there were different Forms used and written in the Baptisteries some Curates using the Form following * The Ancient Form of Baptizing was by Prayer 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 Ghost Amen Others using the Greek Form saying Baptizetur servus Christi in nomine Patris Amen in nomine Filii Amen in nomine Spiritûs Sancti Amen The Synod in virtue of Obedience and upon pain of Excommunication to be ipso facto incurred doth command that no Person shall presume hereafter to use either these or any other Forms but that which is used 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 Baptisteries and Books and this be put in their place Decree II. THis Synod being informed That at divers times they have used different Forms of Baptism in this Diocess which were introduced by Schismatical and Ignorant Prelates some of which were not Legitimate neither was the Sacrament administred 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 Ghost desire and command all the faithful Christians of this Diocess to declare to the said Metropolitan at the Visitation he intends to make of the Churches of this Diocess or to Persons deputed by him the time when they were Baptized that so according to the Form that was then used a saving remedy may be provided in conformity to what shall be ordained therein and that all submit themselves to whatsoever he shall be pleased to order Decree III. FOrasmuch as the Synod is informed that there are many Persons in this Diocess and especially among those that live in the Heaths and are far from any Church who tho' they are not Baptized yet being of a Christian race do profess themselves Christians 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 Christened do die without Baptism and others because they will not pay the Fees which are Simoniacally demanded of them It doth therefore command all Vicars of Churches to make diligent inquiry through their whole Parishes and the Heaths to see if there are any that are not Christened besides the search that the most Illustrious Metropolitan does intend at his next Visitation as he did at his former and that the said Vicars on the high Festivals upon which those that live in the Heaths do usually come to Church shall admonish them all in general that in case there are any among them that have never been baptized or that have some reason to doubt whether they have or not that they go to them and acquaint them therewith in private that so they may be secretly Christened and without paying any Fee letting them know that they are not Christians nor capable of inheriting Eternal Life nor of receiving the Holy Sacraments without being baptized and all Preachers shall frequently give the same admonition and all Confessors 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 same License to all Priests within or without this Diocess to baptize all such secretly in what place soever they shall think fit Decree IV. THE Synod being informed that there are some small Villages in this Diocess which by reason of the great distance they are at from any Church and through the negligence of their Prelates and Priests tho' they call themselves Christians of St. Thomas because descended of such 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 same to the most Reverend Metropolitan and commanding all Vicars of Churches to search all places bordering upon their Parishes and to oblige all such to be Baptized The Synod doth likewise command Chappels to be built in or near to all such Villages and to be provided with such Curates as may instruct them in all matters of Faith that so there may be none in all these parts that call themselves Christians of St. Thomas but what are Baptized and of some Parish where they may receive the Sacraments Decree V. BY reason of the great negligence that is so visible in the Christians 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 those that live at a considerable distance from any Church whose Children are many times some 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 Universal Church without there should be some danger of their dying before in which case they ought to be Christened immediately or that it should so happen that if they are not baptized sooner they cannot be in a long time in which case also they ought to be presently Christened and for those that live in Heaths and far from any Church if they should not be able to bring their Children to be baptized on the eighth day they must not fail to bring them betwixt the fifteenth and the twentieth and all that are found to be negligent herein let them be punish'd severely and whosoever shall neglect to bring their own Children or others that they have the charge of tho' their Slaves to Baptism for above a Month let them be thrown out of the Church neither shall it be lawful for any Priest to go to their Houses or to give them the Casturi or a Visit no not in order to
Matters may not be so in the dark as they have been formerly when there was no certain way of coming to the knowledge of Peoples Age which must needs create great scruples in the Minds of such as were to be Married or Ordained The Doctrine of the Sacrament of Confirmation THe Second Sacrament is Confirmation which our Lord Christ instituted in order to the confirming and establishing of Christians in the Faith so that nothing might be able to separate them from it through the Power of the Holy Ghost which is given therein particularly to that effect besides the sanctifying Grace which it gives in common with the other Divine Sacraments the Matter of this Sacrament is the Holy Oyl of Chrism made of the Oyl of the Olive-tree signifying the light and purity of the Conscience and of Balsam which signifies the sweet smell of a good Name both mixed together and blessed by the hand of the Bishop the Form are the words spoke by the Bishop when he dips his Thumb into the said Chrism making therewith the Sign of the Cross on the Forehead of the Person that is confirmed saying I sign thee with the sign of the Cross and do confirm thee with the Chrism of Health in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost to which the Bishop subjoyns three holy and wholsome Prayers wherein he beseeches God to fill those that are confirmed with his Divine Spirit The ordinary Minister of * The English Jesuits who could not endure that the Pope should put a Bishop over them here in England in their Books wherein they laboured to prove that there was no need of one spoke very slightingly of Confirmation affirming it to be a Sacrament that was not enjoyned but only where it might be had very easily that the effects thereof might be abundantly supplyed by the other Sacraments nay by ordinary Assistances that the Chrism in Baptism had not only the signification but all the effects of Confirmation so far at least as to make it not to be very necessary In a word that Confirmation was not simply necessary neither Necessitate Medii nor Necessitate Praecepti so that it was not likely that the want of it in Eâ—â—land was the cause of so many Peoples apostatizing from the Catholick Faith So little do either the Sacraments or the Hierarchy not excepting the Papacy it self signifie when they stand in the way of the Jesuits ambition I do not except the Papacy because when it was generally believed that Clement the VIIIth was resolved to condemn Molina's Book of Scientia Media the Spanish Jesuits endeavoured to ward off that blow by affirming in their publick Conclusions in their College at Complutum that it was not a matter of Faith to believe that Clement the VIIIth was true Pope for which Luisius Turrianus the President of the Disputation the Rector of the College and Vasquez who were present at the Act were all summoned to appear before the Inquisition of Toledo as Gaspar Hortadus Gregory de la Camara and Alvarez de Villegas were to appear at Rome before the Pope for having defended the same Conclusion publickly in the said University much about the same time so that had Clement the VIIIth condemned Molina's Book after the whole order of the Jesuits had espoused the merits thereof so publickly which the Dominicans say he would certainly have done had he but lived a few Months longer Ignatius Loyola appearing to some Jesuits in Spain and assuring them that Molina's Book would never be condemned by any Pope notwithstanding we should have had Simony or some other Nullity found in his Election by the Jesuits before this time By this we see that Jesuits have wherewith to intimidate Popes as well as Princes and Bishops Confirmation is the Bishop for tho' simple Priests may perform several other Unctions this can be done only by a Bishop the Bishops being the Successors of the Apostles by the imposition of whose hands the Holy Ghost was given in the place of which imposition of hands the Church gives Confirmation Christ having so ordained it wherein the Holy Ghost is given likewise Nevertheless by a dispensation from the Holy See and by no other way when there is any very urgent Occasion or when it happens to be necessary for the good of the Faithful simple Priests may confirm with Chrism that has been consecrated by a Bishop in the forementioned Form the effect of this Sacrament is that therein the Holy Ghost is given to the strengthening and fortifying of the Soul as it was given to the Apostles on the day of Pentecost that Christians may with boldness confess the Name of Christ and his Catholick Faith for which reason the Person confirmed is anointed on the forehead with the Sign of the Cross that being the most open place of the Body and the Seat of Shame and Confusion which is very different from what is done to People when they are baptized who are anointed on the Head People are confirmed on the forehead that they may not be ashamed to confess the Name of Jesus Christ and his Cross which as the Apostle saith is to the Jews an Offence and to the Heathens foolishness this Sacrament differs much from that of Baptism for as by Baptism we are born into the Faith so by this we are confirmed therein for as in the Natural Life to be born is different from growing so in the Spiritual Life it is one thing to be born to Grace and Faith which is done in Baptism and another to encrease and grow stronger therein which is done in Confirmation and so in Baptism we are born to a Spiritual Life and are afterwards prepared and confirmed for our Warfare and do receive so much strength that no dangers or terrors of Punishments or Losses or Torments or Deaths are able to separate us from the Confession of the Name of Christ and of the true Faith we profess Decree I. FOrasmuch as hitherto there has been no use nor so much as Knowledge of the Holy Sacrament of Confirmation among the Christians of this Bishoprick the Heretical Prelates that governed it having neglected to feed the People in a great many cases with wholsome Catholick Food therefore the Synod doth declare That all Persons who are come to the use of reason ought to receive this Holy Sacrament having the opportunity of receiving it at the hands of a Bishop and that all Masters of Families and others having the Charge of Children are in Duty bound to command their Children and Slaves to receive the said Sacrament and that all who out of contumacy or contempt shall refuse to receive it or to order such as belong to them to go to it are guilty of a Mortal Sin and if they neglect it out of a conceit of it 's not being a Sacrament they are Hereticks and Aliens from the true Catholick Faith wherefore the Synod doth command that in the Visitation that is
Patriarchae totius Ecclesiae Catholicae pastoris naming the Patriarch of Babylon by Name instead thereof he shall say Praecipuè oportet nos orare pro incolumitate patrum nostrorum Domini Papae naming him also Episcopi hujus Metropolis naming him also Furthermore when the Deacon a little before saith Commemoramus autem beatissimam Mariam virginem Matrem Christi salvatoris it shall be said Sanctam Matrem Dei vivi salvatoris Redemptoris nostri c. because the perverse Nestorians do impiously deny the Blessed Virgin to be the Mother of God as has been observed Furthermore when the Deacon a little lower saith Commemoramus quoque Patres nostros sanctos veritatis Doctores Dominum Sanctum Nestorium c. all which is Heretical it being an impious thing sacrilegiously to pray to God to preserve the Doctrine of Nestorius and of other Hereticks his followers in the Church all the forementioned having been such except St. Ephraim wherefore instead of them he shall say Commemoramus quoque Patres nostros sanctos veritatis Doctores S. Cyrillum c. And tho' in some Missals the Names of Nestorius Theodorus and Diodorus are already left out yet they do still remain in some and the Names of Abraham and Narcissus two of the Ringleaders of that cursed Sect are in all of them Wherefore there must be care taken to have them also left out Furthermore in the beginning of the Prayer wherein the Deacon saith Oportet nos orare exaltare unum Deum Patrem Dominum omnium adoratione dignissimum qui per Christum fecit nobis bonam spem it shall be said Qui per Jesum Christum filium suum Dominum nostrum fecit nobis bonam spem Furthermore where the Priest pouring the Wine into the Cup saith Misceatur pretiosus Sanguis in Calice Domini nostri Jesu Christi it shall be said Misceatur Vinum in Calice Domini nostri that no occasion may be given to the Error of calling the Wine before it is consecrated The Precious Blood of Christ alluding to the condemned Custom of the Greeks who as they offer the Bread and Wine before they are consecrated so they adore them too saying they do it for what they are to be and presently after where the Priest saith Expectans expectavi Dominum Corpus Christi sanguinem ejus pretiosum super sanctum altare offeramus it shall be said for the same reason Panem Sanctum Calicem pretiosum offeramus and immediately after where the Deacon saith Edent pauperes saturabuntur Corpus Christi Sanguinem ejus pretiosum super sanctum altare offeramus He shall say for the same reason Ede◠pauperes saturabuntur Panem sanctum Calicem pretiosum c. Furthermore where the Priest with a low Voice in the Prayer which begins Offeratur gloriae immoletur saith Christus qui oblatus est pro salute nostrâ he shall say Jesus Christus Dominus noster Dei filius qui oblatus est c. And where the Priest raising his Voice saith Gloria Patri c. Fiat Commemoratio Virginis Mariae Matris Christi he shall say Fiat commemoratio Virginis Marie Matris ipsius Dei Domini nostri Jesu Christi And a little lower where the Deacon saith In saecula usque in saecula Amen Amen Apostoli ipsius filii amici unigenti he shall say Apostoli ipsius filii Dei amici And where the Priest begins Pusilli cum majoribus and saith Resurrectione tuâ supergloriosâ resuscitabis eos ad gloriam tuam he shall say Per Resurrectionem tuam supergloriosam suscitabis eos Furthermore where the Deacon saith Effundite coram illo corda vestra jejunio oratione poenitentia placaverunt Christum Patrem quoque Spiritum ejus sanctum where in saying Spiritum sanctum ejus they seem to allude to the Error of the Greeks that the Holy Spirit proceedeth only from the Father and not from the Father and the Son as from one principal as the Catholick Faith confesseth and because the Nestorians by reason of the great Communication they have had with the Greeks have imbibed some of their Errors that there may be therefore no countenance given to such an Error it shall be reformed thus Placaverunt Patrem Filium Spiritum Sanctum Furthermore In the Prayer where the Priest saith Dominus Deus fortis tua est Ecclesia sancta Catholica quae admirabili Christi tui passione empta est it shall be said Quae admirabili Christi filii tui c. Furthermore near the end of the Gospel taken out of that Chapter of St. John which as has been observed is corrupted in the Syrian Translation where it is read quoniam venit hora in quâ omnes qui in monumentis sunt audient vocem ipsius it shall be read audient vocem filii Dei as it is in the Gospel Furthermore in the Creed that is sung in the Mass there are wanting several substantial words where speaking of our Lord Christ and saying that he was born of the Father before all Worlds there is wanting God of God light of light very God of very God all which shall be added to it as also the word consubstantial to the Father leaving out the words that are in its place in the Syrian filius essentiae Patris and the whole shall be reformed and translated into the same words as it is sung in the Catholick Church in the Roman Missal Furthermore presently after the Creed where the Deacon praying for and making a Commemoration of the Holy Apostles Martyrs and Confessors desires of God that he would raise them up that they may be Crowned with Glory at the Resurrection of the Dead saying Oremus in quam ut resurrectione quae est ex mortuis à Deo coronâ donentur which besides that it is not the Custom of the Church to pray for the Holy Apostles Martyrs and Confessors nor to desire any good thing for them whom we believe to be in possession of Bliss but much rather to * Pray to them The Malabar Custom in this is much the ancienter as appears from all the ancient Liturgies in all which Petitions Christians prayed for the Dead no otherwise than as we pray for them in the Lord's Prayer in the Petition Thy Kingdom come and in the Office for the Burial of the Dead where we beseech God of his gracious goodness shortly to accomplish the number of his Elect and to hasten his Kingdom Pray to them to intercede for us and to obtain for us of God whose familiar Friends they are all that we stand in need of and is of importance both as to all our Spiritual and just Temporal Concerns it seems to allude to the Nestorian Opinion That the Souls of the Saints are not to see God until after their Bodies are raised at the day of Judgment and that till then they are in a Terrestrial Paradise which is Impious
Families to be very watchful over the Lives and Manners of their Slaves and Servants and the rather for having been informed that most of the Black Women belonging to Christians in this Bishoprick do lead very ill Lives in being publick Whores and known to be such by their Masters never going to Mass or Confession and being totally ignorant of the Christian Religion their Mastâ—â— taking no care to have them instructed thereiâ— or of the good of their Souls notwithstandinâ— the Obligation they are under of doing it Sâ— Paul having told us that he that does not taâ—â— care of his Family is worse than an Infidel Wherefore the Synod doth very much recommend it to the Vicars of Churches to be very watchful oveâ— and to make diligent Inquiry into the Lives oâ— the Slaves that are in their Parishes and as they shall see occasion to exhort their Masters and oblige them not to suffer their Slaves to live in a sinful State Decree XIII WHereas several poor wretched Christians following the Custom of the Heathen among whom they live when they find themselves pinched with any want do contrary to all right and reason sell their Children Wherefore the Synod doth in Virtue of Obedience and upon pain of the greater Excommunication prohibit all Christians to sell their Children or any of their Kindred no not to other Christians and doth under the same Precept and censure forbid all Christians to buy any such or to keep them as Slaves except when they see Parents so far despise this prohibition as to be ready to sell their Children to Infidels in which case they may buy them to keep the Christian Children from coming under the power of Heathens whom nevertheless they shall not keep as Slaves but shall forthwith signifie what they have done to the Prelate that he may take such course therein that the Buyer may have his Money and the Child its liberty and the Seller may be punished all that shall buy such Children in any other case as well as those that sell them shall be held Excommunicate until they have effectually dissolved all such Bargains and if the Child do happen to be made an Infidel he that sold it shall not be absolved until he has ransomed the said Child or at least until the Vicar and People are satisfied of his having done all that he is able to have redeemed it and the Synod doth furthermore recommend it to the Vicars and Curates of Churches and to all Christian People that whenever any such thing happens they do all that is in their power to recover such Children and to ransom them whatever it cost by contributing Money towards it and by complaining thereof to their Kings and advising the Prelate of it leaving no means untried to rescue such Children that so they may not be bred up Infidels Decree XIV THe Synod doth approve of the laudable Custom of this Diocess of Mens giving the Tenth part of their Wives Portion when they are Married to the Church as also of that of making a repartition of the said Alms betwixt the Fabrick of the Church and the Priests thereof and whereas this Custom does not obtain all over the Diocess and especially in the Southern Parts the Synod doth intreat and command all People to conform themselves to the same and willeth that the People among whom this Custom is not as yet introduced may be obliged to it by their Procurators there being no reason since it is observed in the greater part of this Diocess why it should not be established all over it Decree XV. WHereas by the ancient Custom consented to by the Infidel Kings of Malabar the whole Government of the Christians of this Bishoprick not only in Spirituals but in Temporals also is devolved to the Church and the Bishop thereof who is to determine all differences that are among Christians and that some dreading the Justice and Judgment of the Prelate in their Controversies do without any fear of God carry them before Infidel Kings and their Judges who are easily bribed to do as they would have them to the great prejudice of Christianity the said Kings taking occasion from thence to intrude themselves into the Affairs of Christians by which means besides that they do not understand such Matters being Tyrants and Idolaters they become very grievous and vexatious to Christians for the avoiding of which and several other mischiefs arising from thence to Christianity the Synod doth strictly command all the Christians of this Diocess not upon any pretence whatsoever to presume to carry any of their Causes before Infidel Kings or their Judges without express Licence from the Prelate which whensoever it shall be judged necessary shall be granted to them as shall be thought fit in the Lord but all Causes shall be first carried before the Prelate that he may judge or compose them according to Reason and Justice and all that shall do otherwise shall be severely punished for the same at the pleasure of the Prelate and be thrown out of the Church for so long time as he shall think fit Decree XVI WHereas the Christians of this Bishoprick are subject to Kings and Lords that are Infidels by whom they are many times obliged to handle Bars of hot Iron or to thrust their Hand into boyling Oil or to swim thorow Rivers that are full of Snakes reckoning that if they are Innocent none of those things can hurt them but will certainly if guilty of what they are accused And seeing there are not wanting some ill-minded Christians who finding themselves unjustly accused do voluntarily offer themselves to undergo the said Ordeals for the manifestation of their Innocency and notwithstanding that it is true that God has sometimes concurr'd with Peoples Innocency and Simplicity in such Cases by not suffering them to be hurt by such things nevertheless since for any to offer themselves to undergo such Ordeals is to tempt God and to pretend to work a Miracle which is not lawful and may sometimes so succeed as to be a great affront to our Catholick Faith therefore the Synod doth prohibit all Christians to presume to offer themselves to undergo any such Ordeals knowing that they sin mortally in so doing in being guilty therein of tempting God commanding all that shall transgress therein to be severely punished And when it shall happen that any such Ordeals shall be so imposed upon them by their Infidel Princes that there is no avoiding it in such Cases they shall submit themselves to the Will of God as to the Injustices and Violences laid upon them by Infidel Tyrants and in case of any Oath being tendred to them by Infidels wherein they must swear by their Pagods they must know that they ought rather to suffer death than take any such Oath the taking of an Oath being an act of Worship and Veneration that is due to God alone Neither shall Christians use any Ordeals among themselves or Oaths but such as were in use
he has vouchsafed to me and you and all the faithful People of this Bishoprick in permitting us to celebrate this Synod maugre all the impediments which Satan the enemy of Souls had created to obstruct it by stirring up Contentions and Debates on purpose to separate this Christianity from the Vnion of the Catholick Church and to keep them in their old Errors as you all very well know I do also give many thanks to God for his having been pleased to order Matters so that this whole Affair should end with so much Joy Peace and Concord as you all see it does and so much to the sorrow of Infidel and Idolatrous Kings and of all the other Enemies of our Holy Catholick Faith I do also thank you my most dear Brethren and fellow Priests and Coadjutors and you my beloved Sons the Procurators of the People and all the other principal Persons who have been present at this Synod that not regarding the troubles of the Ways and Times nor the displeasure of the Kings to whom you are subject you have as true Christians desirous of Salvation over-looked all those Inconveniencies and obeyed our Precept in assembling your selves together to treat about the good of your Souls for which God will reward you with Eternal Life if you persevere in the purity of the Faith you have here profest and which you have been taught by this Synod and shall conform your Lives and Manners to its Decrees I trust in the Lord that he will carry you back safe to your Houses and bless you and your Families and Posterity for ever which God of his infinite Grace and Mercy grant Amen This Discourse being ended the most Reverend Metropolitan rose up and with abundance of tears gave his solemn Blessing to the People and after that the Arch-Deacon with a loud voice said Let us depart in peace to which the whole Synod answered in the name of Christ Amen And thus the Diocesan Synod ended the 26th of June in the Year 1599 to the Honour and Praise of our Lord Jesus Christ who with the Father and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth for ever Amen The Synod being ended in conformity to what had been ordained therein there was given to every one of the Vicars that was nominated to any Church by the most Reverend Metropolitan a Stone Altar Consecrated by his Lordship for that purpose their former Altars not having been duly Consecrated as also a Box with the Vessels of Holy Oils together with Directions how to use them There was moreover a Book of the Administration of the Sacraments according to the Roman use translated into Chaldee and Syrian given to every Vicar and another which contained the whole Christian Doctrine in the Malabar Tongue for the instruction of Children and others as also a Surplice to be used in the administration of Sacraments which was what had never been in use among them the Churches were also furnished with Corporals Vestments Frontals Cups and what-ever else was necessary to the Ministry of the Altar all which were wanting in most Churches and all the Controversies whether betwixt Corporations or particular Persons that were brought before the Synod were decided by the most Reverend Metropolitan and his Assessors after which they all departed in peace The most Reverend Metropolitan as soon as the Synod was ended begun his Visitation of all the Churches in the Diocess in order to put the Decrees of the Synod in execution reciting the principal and most necessary of them in every Church and delivering the Books Breviaries and Missals as well of th◠Churches as of particular Persons every where and burning the Books condemned by the Synod and correcting others puting the Vicars in possession of their Churches who were every where received as such by the People who settled Revenues upon them of which together with what was given them by the most Reverend Metropolitan they made Ollas or Instruments in the Churches creating four Church-wardens and opening the Church Boxes and in a word ordering whatever was necessary to be done The Clergy who had not been present at the Synod made a profession of the Faith the Confessors were examined and had Licences given them in writing according to their abilities and the necessity of the Church prohibiting all others to hear Confessions Where there was a Font they also Baptized all the Children that they found unchristened and had those brought in that were in the Heaths where there were many that were Eight and Ten Years old unchristened They Confirmed the whole People and Absolved all that were Excommunicate many of which according to their custom had continued so for twenty or thirty Years and especially for Murther for which they never grant Absolution no not at the hour of death the Metropolitan preached every day to Christians in the Church and to Infidels who flocked to see him in the Church Porch treating with them about Baptism when he came to say Ingredimini in Sanctam Dei Ecclesiam several of which he persuaded to turn Christians who after having learned their Catechism were Baptized by him at other places He Catechized the Children in the Malabar Tongue and finding there was none of them that understood their Catechism he ordered them to be taught it every day out of Books that were kept in the Church Finally where he met with any that were disposed to Marry he Married them and gave Orders about every thing else relating to the Synod which he did in the Form following After the most Reverend Metropolitan had been received by the whole People with great Joy and Festivity according to their fashion and carried in Procession to the Church the way as he went being covered with Cloth or Mats or Boughs of Trees after the common Ceremony of Blessing and Absolution the whole People both Men and Women came with a most profound Humility and Reverence to kiss his Hands and to yield Obedience to him he went to Church betimes in the Morning with the whole Clergy and People where after having Confessed himself before the High Altar which he did for the great need there was of having those Christians instructed in the Sacrament of Confession which was in use among them but in few places he said Mass When Mass was ended Father Francisco Roz Master of the Chaldean and Syrian Languages in the Jesuites College at Vaipicotta with the rest of the Fathers deputed to that Work and some of the most learned Caçanares assembled together in the Sacristy or in some other place appointed where in obedience to the Excommunication of the Synod all the Syrian Books were brought before them as well those that belonged to the Churches as those belonging to private Persons all which were emended delivering those which were condemned by the Synod to the Metropolitan who burnt them all The Metropolitan having in the mean time put on his Pontificals sat down and Preached at length to the People all the necessary