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which means there has been no knowledge therein, of the Spiritual Affinity that is contracted betwixt the Party Baptized, and the Parents thereof, and the Godfathers and Godmothers; therefore the Synod does command, That all that are Baptized, shall have one or two Godfathers and Godmothers, to prefent them in the Church, and to touch them on the Head before Baptifm, and to receive them from the Holy Font: The Men must be fourteen Years of Age at least, and the Women twelve; neither shall any be admitted under thofe Ages. The Synod doth likewife declare, That there is fuch a clofe Spiritual Affinity betwixt the Godfathers and Godmothers, and their God-children, and the Parents of the Children, that they can never Marry with one another, without a Dispensation from the Pope, or from one empowered by him, and which is feldom granted, and never but when there is a very urgent cause for it; and that fuch Marriages celebrated without a Difpenfation, are void, and of no effect. The Synod furthermore declares, That this Spiritual Affinity reacheth no further than to the one or two Godfathers, and one Godmother, but not to those that shall stand for them, tho' they touch the Heads of the Children, neither fhall the Prieft admit above two.

Decree

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Decree XVI.

Eeing that by our Lord Jefus Chrift, and his Death, we are paffed from the Old Law, to the New Law of Grace, it is therefore reasonable, that we should in all things be ingrafted into the fame and whereas in this Bishoprick Chriftians do take several of the Names of the Saints of the Old Teftament, as also several of the Names of the Country, infomuch that there are but very few called by any of the Names of the Law of Grace; wherefore the Synod doth command the Priests to do all they can to have the Names of the Law of Grace given in Bap, tifm, but chiefly thofe of the Holy Apostles, and of the Saints that are most celebrated in the Church, not intending hereby to take them from any Devotion that feveral among them may have for fome of the Saints of the Old Teftament, whofe Names have been hitherto very common in the Diocess, such as Abraham, Jacob,Zacharias, and others; nevetheless from henceforward they fhall not prefume to take the Name of Hijo, which has been very common among them, neither fhall the Priests ever give it to any, it being the most fweet

Name of Jelus.] The Portuguezes had the leaft reafon of any Chriftians that I know of,

Name of JESUS, to

to be offended with fuch a Name; Emanuel being by much the most common Name in Portugal.

which that Respect and † Reverence is due, that none ought to take it upon them; for that in the naming thereof, all Knees both in Heaven and Earth, and under the Earth, ought to bow themfelves, and every Tongue ought to confefs, that it is from that Divine Name that we defire all the good things that we enjoy on Earth; commanding all that are called by that Name, to change it for another when they come to be Confirmed; and as for the common Names of the Countrey, they may ftill retain them, if they are fuch as have, been used only among Chriftians, but not among the Heathens, for as to those Names which the Heathens have || in common with Chriftians, the Synod will not have them to be given in Baptifm, charging the Vicars and Priefts that Baptize, to take care thereof.

+ Reverence] Francisco Roz, and the other Jefuits, ought to have had their Order excepted here; for if the Synod's Reafon why none ought to be called by that Bleffed Name holds good, it will reach their Order no lefs than particular Perfons.

In common.] The Popes, among whom we have had fo many Alexanders and Julius's, have had little regard to this Rule.

Decree

Decree XVII.

He Synod being informed, That there are fome Chriftians fo far unmindful of their Duties in this Matter, as to give other Names to their Children, than the Chriftian Names they received in Baptifm, and fometimes fuch as are not used among Christians; it doth therefore strictly command, that no Chriftian fhall prefume to give their Children, or to call them by any other Names, than those that were given them when they were Christened; or when there shall happen to be any just cause for the changing of their Baptifmal Names, it shall be done only at their Confirmation, and whosoever fhall tranfgrefs herein, fhall be feverely punished by the Prelate; and the Priests must not be wanting frequently to admonish their People thereof.

* Chriftian Names.] This is what feveral Popes have done, who upon their Creation, have

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left their Baptifmal Names which were Chriftian, and have taken thofe that were rank Heathen.

Decree XVIII.

The Synod being informed, That when many Children are brought together to be Baptized, there are great heats, which shall be first Christened; and that after having lay'd Wagers, they give Money to the Curates for the

preference, all which are intolerable diforders, and fuch fcandalous abominations as the Church ought not by any means to give way to, and which might be eafily prevented, if People could but be perfwaded to bring their Children to be Christened upon the eighth day, it being their deferring of their Baptifm fo long, that is the cause of so many coming together; wherefore for the removing of thefe diforders in the Church, the Synod doth command that the Children be baptized as they come, without any distinction of first or laft, and that the Priests do accustom themselves, either to baptize the poorest first, or all indifferently; and the Vicar or Priest that shall be found to have taken Money, or any Fee, before or after Baptifm, tho' it should be voluntarily offer'd, and of never fo fmall value, or only what is to be Eat, fhall be condemned of Simony, and punished according to the Canons.

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Decree XIX.

N all Parochial Churches there fhall with all poffible expedition be Fonts provided for Baptifm, which may be built with the Fabrick Money, or with the Alms Money of the Church, or by a Collection among the Parishioners; it must be erected in a decent place, in a corner of the Church, and fhall have a hole in the bottom, through which the Water may be conveyed away, that fo it may not be thrown

out

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