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ever, and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more, until he come unto thy everlasting kingdom. Amen.

Then shall the Bishop say,

The Lord be with you;
Answ. And with thy spirit.

And (all kneeling down) the Bishop shall add,

Let us pray.

OUR Father, &c. to-But deliver us

from evil. Amen.

And this Collect.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who makest us both to will and to do those things that be good and acceptable unto thy divine Majesty; We make our humble supplications unto thee, for these thy servants, upon whom, after the example of thy holy Apostles, we have now laid our hands, to certify them (by this sign) of thy favour and gracious goodness towards them. Let thy fatherly hand, we beseech thee, ever be over them: let thy Holy Spirit ever be with them; and so lead them

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THE FORM OF

SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY.

First the Banns of all that are to be married together must be published in the Church three several Sundays or Holy Days, in the time of Divine Service, immediately before the Sentences for the Offertory; the Curate saying after the accustomed manner,

I

PUBLISH the Banns of Marriage between M. of · and N. of

If any of you know cause or just impediment, why these two Persons should not be joined together in holy Matrimony, ye are to declare it: This is the first, [second, or third] time of asking.

And if the Persons that are to be married

dwell in divers Parishes, the Banns must be asked in both Parishes; and the Curate of the one Parish shall not solemnize Matrimony betwixt them, without a Certificate of the Banns being

thrice asked from the Curate of the other Parish.

At the day and time appointed for Solemnization of Matrimony, the Persons to be married shall come into the Church, and there standing together, the Man on the right hand, and the Woman on the left, the Priest shall say,

DEARLY beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this Congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honour

able estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt 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 St. Paul to be honourable among all men; and therefore is not by any to be enterprized nor taken in hand unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly, to satisfy men's carnal lusts and appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God; duly considering the causes for which Matrimony was or

dained.'

First, it was ordained for the procreation of children, to be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the praise of his holy Name.

Secondly, it was ordained for a remedy against sin, and to avoid fornication; that such Persons as have not the gift of continency might marry, and keep themselves undefiled members of Christ's body.

Thirdly, it was ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort, that the one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity;

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

And also, speaking unto the Persons that

shall be married, he shall say,

I REQUIRE and charge you both (as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgement, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed) that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, ye 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.

At which day of Marriage, if any man do allege and declare any impediment, why they may not be coupled together in Matrimony by God's Law, or the Laws of this Realm; and will be bound, and sufficient sureties with him, to the Parties; or else put in a caution (to the full value of such charges as the Persons to be married do thereby sustain) to prove his allegation; then the Solemnization must be deferred until such time as the truth be tried.

If no impediment be alleged, then shall the Curate say unto the Man.

M. WILT thou have this Woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, 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, I will.

Then shall the Priest say unto the Woman,

N. WILT thou have this Man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the l:oly estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, serve him, love, honour, 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 shall the Minister say, Who giveth this Woman to be married to this man?

Then shall they give their troth to each other in this manner :

The Minister receiving the Woman at her Father's or Friend's hands, 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 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; | Then shall the Priest join their right hands and thereto I plight thee my troth.

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;

together, and say,

Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.

Then shall the Minister speak unto the People.

I N. take thee M. to my wedded FORASMUCH as M. and N. have con

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, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.

Then shall they again loose their hands; and the Man shall give unto the Woman a Ring, laying the same upon the Book, with the accustomed duty to the Priest and Clerk. And the Priest taking the Ring, shall deliver it unto the Man to put it upon the fourth finger of the Woman's left hand. And the Man holding the Ring there, and taught by the Priest, shall say,

WITH this Ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Then the Man leaving the Ring upon the fourth finger of the Woman's left hand, they shall both kneel down, and the Minister shall say,

Let us pray.

O 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:

sented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a Ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be Man and Wife together, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

And the Minister shall add this Blessing. GOD the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and his favour look upon you; and so fill keep you; the Lord mercifully with you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen.

Then the Minister or Clerks, going to the Lord's Table, shall say or sing either

Psalm cxxviii. Or, Psalm lxvii.

The Psalm ended, and the Man and the Woman kneeling before the Lord's Table, the Priest standing at the Table, and turning his face towards them, shall say,

Lord have mercy upon us.

Answer. Christ, have mercy upon us.
Minister. Lord, have mercy upon us.

The Lord's Prayer.

from evil. Amen.

Minister. O Lord, save thy servant, and thy handmaid;

that as Isaac and Rebecca lived faith- OUR Father, &c. to-But deliver us fully together, so these persons may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, (whereof this Ring given and received is a token and pledge;) and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws, through Jesus Christ

Lord. Amen.

our

Answer. Who put their trust in thee. Minister. O Lord, send them help from thy holy place;

Answer. And them.

evermore

defend

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O GOD of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, bless these thy servants, and sow the seed of eternal life in their hearts; that whatsoever in thy holy Word they shall profitably learn, they may indeed fulfil the same. Look, O Lord, mercifully upon them from heaven, and bless them. And as thou didst send thy blessing upon Abraham and Sarah, to their great comfort; so vouchsafe to send thy blessing upon these thy servants, that

they, obeying thy will, and alway being in safety under thy protection, may abide in thy love unto their lives' end, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This Prayer next following shall be omitted where the Woman is past Child-bearing. O MERCIFUL Lord and heavenly Father, by whose gracious gift mankind is increased; We beseech thee, assist with thy blessing these two Persons; that they may both be fruitful in procreation of children, and also live together so long in godly love and honesty, that they may see their children christianly and virtuously brought up, to thy praise and honour, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O GOD, who by thy mighty power hast made all things of nothing; who also (after other things set in order) didst appoint, that out of man (created after thine own image and similitude) woman should take her beginning; and knitting them together, didst teach that it should never be lawful to put asunder those whom thou by Matrimony hadst made one: O God, who hast consecrated the state of Matri

mony to such an excellent mystery, that in it is signified and represented the spiritual marriage and unity be twixt Christ and his Church; Look mercifully upon these thy servants, that both this Man may love his Wife, according to thy Word, as Christ did love his spouse the Church; who gave himself for it, loving and cherishing it even as his own flesh and also that this Woman may be loving and amiable, faithful and obedient to her Husband; and in all quietness, sobriety, and peace, be a follower of holy and godly matrons. O Lord, bless them both, and grant them to inherit thy everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then shall the Priest say,

ALMIGHTY God, who at the beginning did create our first parents, Adam and Eve, and did sanctify and join them together in marriage; Pour upon you the riches of his grace, sanctify and bless you, that ye may please him both in body and soul, and live together in holy love unto your lives' end. Amen.

After which, if there be no Sermon declaring the Duties of Man and Wife, the Minister shall read as followeth. ALL ye that are married or that intend to take the holy estate of Matrimony upon you, hear what the holy Scripture doth say, as touching the duty of husbands towards their wives, and wives towards their husbands.

St. Paul, in his Epistle to the Ephesians, the fifth chapter, doth give this commandment to all married men; "25. Husbands, love your wives, even 66 as Christ also loved the Church, "and gave himself for it; 26. that "he might sanctify and cleanse it "with the washing of water, by the "Word; 27. that he might present "it to himself a glorious Church, "not having spot or wrinkle, or any "such thing; but that it should be "holy, and without blemish. 28. So "ought men to love their wives as

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And in his Epistle to the Colossians, Saint Paul giveth you this short lesson; (iii. 18.) "Wives, submit your"selves unto your own husbands, as "it is fit in the Lord."

Saint Peter also doth instruct you very well, thus saying; (1 Pet. iii. 1.) " Ye "wives, be in subjection to your own "husbands; that if any obey not the "word, they also may without the "word be won by the conversation of "the wives; 2. while they behold

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your chaste conversation coupled "with fear. 3. Whose adorning, let "it not be that outward adorning of "plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4. but let it be the hidden man "of the heart, in that which is not "corruptible, even the ornament of

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It is convenient that the new married Persons should receive the Holy Communion at the time of their Marriage, or at the first opportunity after their Marriage.

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