nounced against you; and I do receive you into "the communion of the church, that you may be a partaker of all the benefits of the Lord Jefus, to your eternal falvation.'

The whole fhall be concluded with prayer, and the people difiniffed with the usual blefling.

CHAP. XI.

Of the Solemnization of Marriage.

Sect. I.

MAR

ARRIAGE is not a facrament ; nor peculiar to the church of Chrift. It is proper that every commonwealth, for the good of fociety, make laws to regulate marriage; which all citizens are bound to obey.

Sect. II. Chriftians ought to marry in the Lord; therefore it is fit that their marriage be folemnized by a lawful minifter; that special inftruction may be given them, and fuitable prayers made, when they enter into this relation.

P

Sect. III. Marriage is to be between one man and one woman only; and they are not to be within the degrees of confanguinity or affinity prohibited by the word of God.

Sect. IV. The parties ought to be of such years of difcretion as to be capable of making their own choice; and if they be under age, or live with their parents, the confent of the parents,. or others, under whofe care they are, ought to

be previously obtained, and well certified to the minister, before he proceeds to folemnize the marriage.

Sect. V. Parents ought neither to compel their children to marry contrary to their inclinations, nor deny their confent without just and important reafons.

Sect. VI. Marriage is of a public nature. The welfare of civil fociety, the happiness of families, and the credit of religion, are deeply interested in it. Therefore the purpofe of marriage ought to be fufficiently published a proper time, previoufly to the folemnization of it. It is enjoined on all minifters to be careful that, in this matter, they neither tranfgrefs the laws of God, nor the laws of the community: And that they may not deftroy the peace and comfort of families, they must be properly certified with rẻspect to the parties applying to them, that no juft objections lie against their marriage.

Sect. VII. Marriage muft always be performed before à competent number of witneffes; and at any time except on a day of public humiliation. And we advife that it be not on the Lord's day. And the minifter is to give a certificate of the marriage when required.

Sect. VIII. When the parties prefent themfelves for marriage, the minifter is to defire if there is any perfon prefent who knows any law

ful reafon why these perfons may not be joined together in the marriage-relation, that they will now make it known, or ever after hold their peace.

No objections being made, he is then feverally to addrefs himself to the parties to be married,. in the following or like words:

" You, the man, declare, in the prefence of. 'God, that you do not know any reafon by pre'contract or otherwife, why you may not lawfully marry this woman.'

Upon his declaring he does not, the minifter. fhall addrefs himself to the bride, in the fame or fimilar terms:

'You, the woman, declare, in the prefence of "God, that you do not know any reason, by pre'contract or otherwife, why you may not lawfully, marry this man.'

Upon her declaring the does not, he is to begin with prayer for the prefence and blefling of, God.

The minifter fhall then proceed to give them some instruction, from the fcriptures, refpecting the inftitution and duties of this ftate, fhewing

"That God hath inftituted marriage for the 'comfort and happinefs of mankind, in declaring a man shall forfake his father and mother and 'cleave unto his wife; and that marriage is ho'nourable in all; that he hath appointed various duties, which are incumbent upon those whɔ "enter into this relation; fuch as, a high esteem

and mutual love for one another; bearing with each others infirmities and weakneffes, to which 'human nature is fubject in its prefent lapfed 'ftate; to encourage cach other under the various ills of life; to comfort one another in ficknefs; in honesty and industry to provide for ' each others temporal fupport; to pray for and encourage one another, in the things which pertain to God, and. to their immortal fouls; and to live together as the heirs of the grace 'of life.'

Then the minifter fhall cause the bridegroom and bride to join their hands, and fhalk pronounce the marriage covenant, first to the man, in these words:

"You take this woman, whom you hold by 'the hand, to be your lawful and married wife; and you promise, and covenant, in the presence of God and thefe witneffes, that you will be unto her a loving and faithful husband, until 'you fhall be feparated by death.'

The bridegroom fhall express his confent, by faying, 'Yes I do.'

Then the minifter fhall addrefs himself to the woman in these words:

'You take this man, whom you hold by the hand, to be your lawful and married husband; ' and you promife, and covenant, in the prefence ' of God and these witneffes, that you will be un to him a loving, faithful, and obedient wife, until you shall be feparated by death.'.

The bride shall exprefs her confent, by laying, "Yes I do.'

Then the minifter is to fay:

"I pronounce you hufband and wife, accord ing to the ordinance of God; whom therefore God hath joined together, let no man put a 'funder.'

After this the minister may exhort them, in a few words, to the mutual discharge of their duty. Then let him conclude with prayer fuitable to the occafion.

Let the minifter keep a proper register for the names of all perfons whom he marries, and of the time of their marriage, for the perufal of all whom it may concern.

Sect. I.

CHA P. XII.

Of the Vifitation of the Sick.

WH

HEN perfons are fick, it is their duty, before their strength and understanding fail them, to fend for their minifter, and to make known to him, with prudence, their fpiritual ftate; or to confult him on the concerns of their precious fouls: And it is his duty to vifit them, at their request, and to apply himself, with all tenderness and love, to adminifter fpiritual good to their immortal fouls.

Sect. II. He fhall inftruct the fick out of the scriptures, that diseases arife not out of the