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Also the book entitled Camiz; wherein it is said, That SESSION the Divine Word, and the Son of the virgin are not the same; and that our lady brought forth with pain.

Also the book intituled Menra,' wherein it is said, that our Lord Christ is only the image of the Word; that the substance of God dwelt in Christ as in a temple; that Christ is next to the divinity; that Christ was made the companion of God.

Also the book of Orders; wherein it is said, that the form, and not the matter, is necessary to orders; and the forms therein are likewise erroneous; that there are only two orders, Diaconate and priesthood; that altars of wood, and not of stone, are to be consecrated; there are also prayers in it for those that are converted from any other sect to Nestorianism, in form of an absolution from the excommunication they had incurred for not having followed Nestorius, and of a reconciliation to the Church.

Also the book of Homilies; wherein it is said, that the holy eucharist is only the image of Christ, and is distinguished from him, as an image is from a true man; and that the body of our Lord Jesus Christ is not there, nor any where else but in heaven; that the whole Trinity was incarnate; that Christ is only the temple of the Divinity, and God only by representation; that the soul of Christ descended not into hell, but was carried to the paradise of Eden; that whosoever affirms the contrary, errs, and that we therefore err in our creed: there are therein likewise some letters of some heretical synods, in which it is said, that the Patriarch of Babylon is not subject to the Roman Bishop; with an oath to be taken to the said patriarch, as the head of the church, wherein people swear to obey him, and him only, and not the Bishop of Rome.

Also a book entitled, An Exposition of the Gospels;' wherein it is everywhere pretended to be proved, that there are two persons in Christ, and that Christ as a pure creature, was obliged to adore God, and stood in need of prayer; that he was the temple of the most holy Trinity; that Christ's soul when he died, descended not into hell, but was carried to the paradise of Eden; which was the place he promised to the thief on the cross that our lady, the Virgin, deserved to be reproved for having vainly imagined, that she was mother to one that was to be a great King; looking upon Christ as no other than a pure man; and presuming that he was to have a temporal empire, as well as the rest of the Jews: that the evangelists did not record all Christ's actions in truth as they were, they not having been present at several of them; which was the reason why they differed from one another so much : that the wise men that came from the East, received no favour

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SESSION from God, for the journey they took; neither did they believe in Christ; that Christ was the adopted Son of God, it being as impossible that he should be God's natural Son, as it is that just men should be so; that he received new grace in baptism, which he had not before; that he is only the image of the Word, and the pure temple of the Holy Spirit; that the holy Eucharist is only the image of the body of Christ, which is only in heaven at the right hand of the Father, and not here on earth that Christ, as pure man, did not know when the day of judgment was to be that when St. Thomas put his hand into Christ's side, and said, My Lord and my God!" he did not speak to Christ; for that he that was raised was not God; but it was only an exclamation made to God upon his beholding such a miracle: that the authority that Christ gave to St. Peter over the church, was the same that he gave to other priests; so that his successors have no more power or jurisdiction than other bishops: that our lady, the Virgin, is not the mother of God: that the first Epistle of St. John, and that of St. James, are not the writings of those holy Apostles, but of some other persons of the same name, and therefore are not canonical.

Also the book of Hormisda Raban, who is styled a saint, wherein it is said, that Nestorius was a saint, and martyr, and suffered for the truth; and that St. Cyril, who persecuted him, was the priest and minister of the devil, and is now in hell: that images are filthy and abominable idols, and ought not to be adored; and that St. Cyril, as a heretic invented and introduced them there are also many false miracles recorded in this book, which are said to have been wrought by Hormisda in confirmation of the Nestorian doctrine, with an account of what he suffered from the catholics, for being obstinate in his heresy.

Also the book of Lots, into which they put that they call the ring of Solomon, with a great many more superstitions, for the choice of good days to marry upon, and for several other uses; wherein are contained many blasphemies, and heathenish observances; as also all other books of Lots, and for choosing of days, the Synod prohibits under the same

censure.

Also the book written after the manner of Flos Sanctorum, wherein are contained the lives of a great many Nestorian heretics, 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, styled 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 ex- SESSION III. positor, 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 heretics, 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, 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 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, joining 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 diocese; most curates having this book, and making use of it to this very day; all which sort of books the Synod prohibits in this diocese under the fore-mentioned 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.

SESSION
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DECREE XV.

ERRORS AND HERESIES IN THE BREVIARIES AND COMMON
PRAYER TO BE CORRECTED.

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 heretics, 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 everywhere 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 the whole offices of the Advent and Nativity are little else than pure blasphemy.

In the book of Prayers for the great fast, it is frequently said, that there were two persons, a divine and human in Christ. It contains also several commemorations of Nestorius, and other heretics his followers, affirming Marndeay, Theodorus and Diodorus, and other Nestorian heretics, to have been the followers of St. Ephrem.

In the greater Breviary, which they call Hudre and Gaza, or The Treasure of Prayers,' it is everywhere said, that there are two persons in Christ, and one representation of the Son of God; that he is the image of the Word, and the temple of the same; that the Divine Person did enlighten the human, and that Christ advanced in grace and knowledge by degrees; that our lady never carried God in her womb, as heretics affirm, Christ being a man like to others, and that she ought not to be called the mother of God, but only the mother of the second Adam; that the whole Trinity assumed humanity, and that St. Matthew taught the Hebrews so; that God did not make himself flesh, which he only took as a dwelling to cover his glory; that God accompanied Christ on the cross, but had

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not taken the humanity, neither was it God that suffered; SESSION that the Word of the Father changed itself into humanity, and by the Son of Mary redeemed mankind; that the Father Eternal took flesh in the same manner as the Son; that the angel delivered his message to the Virgin in the temple, and not at Nazareth; that the pains of travail opened the womb of the Virgin, who brought forth with labour after the manner of other women; that in the most holy sacrament of the eucharist, there is not the true body of Christ;' with a thousand more blasphemies about it; that Nestorius was a preacher of truth; and in several places God is praised for having declared the truth to Theodorus and Diodorus, who was master to Nestorius; and in several prayers they beseech God to chastise those that believe otherwise than Nestorius and his followers, whose faith they say is founded on St. Peter's and the rest of the Apostles; moreover it is said, that the holy Virgin, and her spouse Joseph, appeared before the priests, who could not tell how she had conceived; and that images are idols, and ought not to be adored, nor so much as kept in churches or in houses of Christians; there are likewise offices of Nestorius and his followers, and commemorations of several heretics.

In the office for priests departed, it is sung, that in the most holy sacrament of the altar, there is only the virtue of Christ, but not his true body and blood; all which books and breviaries, though they do well deserve to be burnt, for these and other errors that they contain, yet there being no other at present in this diocese, for the keeping up of divine service, and the celebration of religious offices, until such time as they shall be furnished with new breviaries, which the Synod desires they may speedily, and that some may be printed for them at St. Peter's in Rome; the Synod doth order them to be corrected and purged from all their errors, and commemorations of heretics, and the entire offices for all such; and the offices of advent and the nativity to be entirely torn out of their breviaries and burnt, entreating the most illustrious Metropolitan to see it done at his next visitation in all the churches of the diocese, commanding all curates in virtue of obedience, and upon pain of excommunication to be ipso facto incurred, to produce the said books, and all the other books that they have, as well of public as of private use, and of prayers, as well as of the mass, before the said lord Metropolitan at his visitation, in order to their being corrected by persons appointed for that work, in conformity to what is here ordained.