cil in the present decree, does in any respect derogate from the glory of God and the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord; or that the truth of our faith is not thereby clearly explained, and the glory of God and of Christ Jesus promoted: let him be ac cursed."

SESSION SEVENTH, HELD MARCH 3, 1547.

Decree concerning the Sacraments-Introduction. "In order to complete the exposition of the wholesome doctrine of justification, published in the last session by the unanimous consent of the fathers, it hath been deemed proper to treat of the holy sacraments of the church, by which all true righteousness is at first imparted, then increased, and after'wards restored, if lost. For which cause the sacred, holy, œcumenical and general Council of Trent, lawfully assembled, &c. abiding by the doctrine of the sacred scriptures, the tradition of the apostles, and the uniform consent of other councils, and of the fathers, hath resolved to frame and decree these following canons, in order to expel and extirpate the errors and heresies respecting the most holy sacraments, which have appeared in these times— partly the revival of heresies long ago condemned by our ancestors-partly new inventions-and have proved highly detrimental to the purity of the Catholic church and the salvation of souls. The remaining canons, necessary to the completion of the work, will be published hereafter, by the help of God.

"Canon 1. Whoever shall affirm that the sacra

ments of the new law were not all instituted by Jesus Christ our Lord, or that they are more or fewer than seven, namely, baptism, confirmation, the eucharist, penance, extreme unction, orders, and matrimony, or that any of these is not truly and properly a sacrament: let him be accursed.

"2. Whoever shall affirm that the sacraments of the new law only differ from those of the old law, in that their ceremonies and external rites are different: let him be accursed.t

3. Whoever shall affirm that these seven sacráments are in such sense equal, that no one of them is in any respect more honourable than another: let him be accursed.

"4. Whoever shall affirm that the sacraments of the new law are not necessary to salvation, but superfluous; or that men may obtain the grace of justification by faith only, without these sacraments, although it is granted that they are not all neces sary to every individual: let him be accursed.

"5. Whoever shall affirm that the sacraments were instituted solely for the purpose of strengthening our faith: let him be accursed.

"6. Whoever shall affirm that the sacraments of the new law do not contain the grace which they signify; or that they do not confer that grace on those who place no obstacle in its way; as if they were only the external signs of grace or righteousness received by faith, and marks of Christian profession, whereby the faithful are distinguished from unbelievers let him be accursed.

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"7. Whoever shall affirm that grace is not always conferred by these sacraments, and upon all persons, as far as God is concerned, if they be rightly

received; but that it is only bestowed sometimes, and on some persons: let him be accursed.

"8. Whoever shall affirm that grace is not conferred by these sacraments of the new law, by their own power ex opere operato; but that faith in the divine promise is all that is necessary to obtain grace: let him be accursed.

"9. Whoever shall affirm that a character, that is, a certain spiritual and indelible mark, is not impressed on the soul by the three sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and orders; for which reason they cannot be repeated: let him be accursed.

"10. Whoever shall affirm that all Christians have power to preach the word and administer all the sacraments: let him be accursed.

"11. Whoever shall affirm that when ministers perform and confer the sacrament, it is not necessary that they should at least have the intention to do what the church does: let him be accursed.

"12. Whoever shall affirm that a minister who is in a state of moral sin, does not perform or confer a sacrament, although he observes every thing that is essential to the performance and bestowment thereof: let him be accursed.

"13. Whoever shall affirm that the received and approved rites of the Catholic church, commonly used in the solemn administration of the sacraments, may be despised, or omitted without sin, by the minister, at his pleasure, or that any pastor of a church may change them for others: let him be accursed."

OF BAPTISM.

· Canon 1. Whoever shall affirm that the baptism

of John had the same virtue as the baptism of Christ: let him be accursed.

"2. Whoever shall affirm that real and natural water is not necessary to baptism, and therefore that those words of our Lord Jesus Christ, 'Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost,' John iii. 3, are to be figuratively interpreted: let him be accursed.

"3. Whoever shall affirm that the true doctrine of the sacrament of baptism is not in the Roman church, which is the mother and mistress of all churches: let him be accursed.

"4. Whoever shall affirm that baptism, when administered by heretics, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, with the intention to do what the church does, is not true baptism let him be accursed.

"5. Whoever shall affirm that baptism is indifferent, that is, not necessary to salvation: let him be accursed.

"6. Whoever shall affirm that a baptized person cannot lose grace, even if he wishes to do so, how grieviously soever he may sin, unless indeed he becomes an infidel : let him be accursed.

"7. Whoever shall affirm that the baptized are by their baptism brought under obligation to faith only, and not to the observance of the whole law of Christ let him be accursed.

"8. Whoever shall affirm that the baptized are free from all the precepts of holy church, either written or delivered by tradition, so that they are not obliged to observe them, unless they will submit to them of their own accord: let him be accursed.

"9. Whoever shall affirm that men are so to call to mind the baptism they have received, as to understand that all vows made after baptism are null and void, by virtue of the promise made in that baptism; as if by such vows any injury were done { to the faith which they professed, or to their baptism itself: let him be accursed.

"10. Whoever shall affirm that all sins commit ted after baptism are forgiven, or become venial, solely by the remembrance of that baptism, or faith therein: let him be accursed., or 01 600

"11. Whoever shall affirm that baptism, truly and regularly administered, is to be repeated when a man is brought to repentance, who has denied the faith of Christ, after the manner of the infidels let him be accursed..

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12. Whoever shall affirm that no one ought to be baptized, but at the age at which Christ was baptized, or in the article of death: let him be açcursed.

"13.. Whoever shall affirm that children are not to be reckoned among the faithful by the reception: of baptism, because they do not actually believe; and therefore that they are to be re-baptized when they come to years of discretion; or that, since they cannot personally believe, it is better to omit their baptism, than that they should be baptized only in the faith of the church let him be accursed.

14.. Whoever shall affirm that when these baptized children grow up, they are to be asked whether they will confirm the promises made by their godfathers in their name at their baptism; and that if they say they will not, they are to be left to their own choice, and not to be compelled in the mean