MATRIMONY.

THE FORM FOR THE

Solemnization of Matrimony.

¶ The parts in brackets throughout may be used or not at discretion.

¶ At the day and time appointed for the Solemnization of Matrimony, the persons to be married-having been qual ified according to law-standing together, the Man on the right hand and the Woman on the left, the Minister shall say:

DEARLY BELOVED, we are gathered together here in

the sight of God, and in the presence of these witnesses, to join together this man and this woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that exists between Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee, and is commended of Saint Paul to be honorable among all men; and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly, but reverently, discreetly, and in the fear of God.

Into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore if any can show just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else. hereafter forever hold his peace.

[¶ And also speaking unto the persons that are to be married, the Minister shall say:

REQUIRE and charge you both, that if either of you know any impediment why you may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, you do now confess it: for be ye well assured,

that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God's word doth allow, are not joined together by God, neither is their Matrimony lawful.]

¶ If no impediment be alleged, then shall the Minister say unto the Man,

M..

WILT thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife,

to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live? ¶ The Man shall answer,

N..

I will.

¶ Then shall the Minister say unto the Woman,

WILT thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?

¶ The Woman shall answer,

I will.

[¶Then the Minister shall cause the Man with his right hand to take the Woman by her right hand, and to say after him as followeth :

I,

M., take thee, N., to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my faith.

¶ Then shall they loose their hands, and the Woman, with her right hand taking the Man by his right hand, shall likewise say after the Minister :

I,

N., take thee, M., to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to

cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my faith.]

¶ Then shall the Minister pray thus:

ETERNAL God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, Giver of all spiritual grace, the Author of everlasting life: send thy blessing upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy name; that as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together, so these persons may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant between them made, and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

[¶If the parties desire it, the Man shall here hand a Ring to the Minister, who shall return it to him, and direct him to place it on the third finger of the Woman's left hand. And the Man shall say to the Woman, repeating after the Minister:

WITH this ring I thee wed, and with my worldly goods I

thee endow, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.]

¶ Then shall the minister join their right hands together, and say,

FORASMUCH as M. and N. have consented together in

holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have pledged their faith either to other, and have declared the same by joining of hands; I pronounce that they are husband and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. Amen.

¶ And the Minister shall add this Blessing : GOD, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favor look upon you, and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and

grace, that ye so may live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen.

¶ Then shall the Minister offer the following Prayer: GOD of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, bless this

man and this woman, and sow the seed of eternal life in their hearts, that whatsoever in thy holy word they shall profitably learn, they may indeed fulfill the same. Look, O Lord, mercifully on them from heaven, and bless them: as thou didst send thy blessings upon Abraham and Sarah to their great comfort, so vouchsafe to send thy blessings upon this man and this woman, that they, obeying thy will, and always being in safety under thy protection, may abide in thy love unto their lives' end, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

AL

LMIGHTY GOD, who at the beginning didst create our first parents, Adam and Eve, and didst sanctify and join them together in marriage, pour upon these persons the riches of thy grace, sanctify and bless them, that they may please thee both in body and soul, and live together in holy love unto their lives' end. Amen.

¶ Here the Minister may use extemporary Prayer.

¶ Then the Minister shall repeat the Lord's Prayer:

OUR

UR FATHER who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread: and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us: and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

BURIAL OF THE DEAD.

I

THE FORM FOR

The Burial of the Dead.

We will on no account whatever make a charge for burying the dead.

The Minister, going before the Corpse, shall say,

AM the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. [John 11. 25, 26.]

I

KNOW that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another. [Job 19. 25-27.]

WE brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. [1 Tim. 6.7; Job 1. 21.]

¶ In the House or Church may be read one or both of the following Psalms, or some other suitable portion of the Holy Scriptures.

I

Psalm 39:

SAID, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.