ginal of the faid Synod being Signed by the molt Reverend Metropolitan and all the other Members thereof, fhall be put in the Archives of the Jefuites College of Vaipicottain this Diocefs, from whence fo many Copies as fhall be thought neceffary, fhall be tranfmitted to the Churches; there fhall alfo 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 thofe Originals; and the Synod doth furthermore recommend it to all Vicars, Priefts, and Curates, and to all and every Chriftian of this Diocefs, and commands them all in the Lord to conform themselves to the Decrees of this Diocefan Synod, and fo far as is in their power, to obferve and cause them to be obferved 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 leffer as was judged to be moft convenient for the adminiftration of the Holy Sacraments, and the Spiritual Food of the Faithful; Vicars were alfo nominated to them all, and the Churches that were not able to maintain a Vicar were united: The Vicars after they were named, were brought in one

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by one to kifs the Metropolitan's Hand, who at the fame time gave them their Collation, declaring to them the greatness of their Authority, and of the Obligations of their Office, and commanding the People to acknowledge them as their Parish-Priefts and the Shepherds of their Souls. After they had all, one after another, performed this Ceremony, they were admonished all together in the prefence of the People by the most Reverend Metropolitan, to comply with the Obligations of their Function, and being all upon their Knees before him, he delivered the following Charge to them.

Venerable and beloved Brethren, and fellow Priefts, and particular Paftors of the Faithful, We let you all to understand, that we, tho' unworthy of it, are in the place of Aaron, and ye of Eleazar and Ehitaman, the lower Priefts ; we are in the place of the Apostles of our Lord Chrift, ye in that of the Seventy-two Difciples; we are to give a ftrict Account of you at the tremendous Day of Judgment, you of the People that are now committed to you: Now that we may be all found good and faithful Stewards in our Master's Houfe, we do admonifh and befeech you, beloved Brethren in Chrift, to remember what we are about to fay unto you, and which is of moft importance, be fure to obferve it and put it in execution. In the first place we do admonish and befeech you in the Lord, to have your Life and Conver, in f fations unblamable; yielding the favour of a

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good Name, and Example to the People of "God, in fuffering no Women, and especially thofe of which the World may entertain any fufpicion, tho' Slaves, to live in your Houses, neither are you to converfe with any of the 'Sex; you must not fail to rife every Night to ' recite the Divine Office in the Church, which must be performed at fome certain hour; and after that is done, none of you must fay Mass "otherwise than Fafting, and after Midnight forward, and in the Holy Habits, which muft always be kept clean, ye fhall receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jefus Chrift, with all Reverence and Humility, confeffing your Sins to fome approved Confeffor, with great contrition and forrow for them, but especially if "your Confciences do check you for any fault you have committed. The Corporal and Palls must be made of Linen, neither can they without an Apoftolical difpenfation, be made of any other Cloth, and must be always kept clean. The Holy Veffels you are always to wash with your own hands, and that in other clean Veffels dedicated to that ufe; putting the Water wherein they were washed, either into the Font or into fome Cistern dug for the purpofe in the Church-yard, and drying them with all diligence. The Altar must be covered with clean Towels, of which at the time of Celebration, "there must be at least three with a Corporal, neither must any thing befides Reliques or Sacred things belonging to the Altar be laid upon it.

• The

The Miffals, Breviaries, and Prayer-Books, mult be perfect and entire: Your Churches must be well covered, and both the Walls and Pavements must be kept clean. In the Sacrifty, or * fomewhere near to the High Altar,there must be a place to hold Water, wherein the Corporals and Holy Veffels are to be washed, as also the Hands of 'thofe that have touched any of the Holy Oils; and in the Sacrifty there must be a Vellel with clean Water for the Priests and others that have miniftred at the Altar, to wash their Hands, and a clean Towel to dry them; the Gates and Porches of the Churches must be 'ftrong and well fhut. None of you shall take the cure of a Church upon you without the 'Prelate's knowledge and order, notwithstanding you should be called to it by the People; neither fhall any of you leave the Churches you have a Title to, nor be tranflated to another 'Church without his Order. None fall prefume to hold more than one Church, contrary 'to the difpofition of the Holy Canons. The Jurifdiction of no Church fhall be divided among many, but every Church fhall have its own Parish-Prieft and Paftor. None fhall Ce lebrate any where but in a Church, or with any fort of Arms. None fhall give the Holy Sa'crament to any of another Parith, without leave 'from their Parish-Prieft. In the celebration of the Mafs ye shall all obferve the fame Ceremonies,that there may be no Confufion nor Scandal. The Chalice or Patten must be of Gold, Silver,

Brafs or Tinn, and not of Iron, Glafs, Copper, or Wood. The Parish and other Priests must vifit and comfort the Sick in their Parishes, Confeffing them and giving them the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, and the Holy Unction, with their own hands, admonishing the Sick when they visit them to defire thofe Sacraments, when they shall judge them neceffary. None 'fhall take any Fee for baptizing or for the ad'miniftring of any Sacrament, or for burying the 'Dead. No Child fhall die without Baptifm through your negligence, nor no fick Perfon without Confeffion, and the Holy Communion. "None of you fhall Drink to excefs, or be noted for the fame, or for being quarrelfom; None of you must bear Arms, nor eat and drink in Taverns and Inns. Ye fhall not eat with an Infidel, Mahometan, Jew, or Heathen; neither 'fhall you imploy your felf in Hawking, Hunting, or Shooting. What you know of the Gofpel of Chrift, of the Holy Scriptures, and of good Examples join'd with pure Catholick Doctrine, ye fhall deliver to the People on the Lord's-day and Holy-days, preaching the word 'of God, to the edification of your Flocks. You must take care of the Poor, and of Strangers and Widows, of the Sick and the Orphans of your feveral Parishes. You must be sure to keep Hofpitality, inviting Strangers to your Tables, therein giving good Example to others. Upon every Lord's day before Mafs ye fhall Elefs "the Water with Salt in the Church, with which

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