Imatges de pàgina
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ye

one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if love one another." John xiii. 34, 35. Finally, forget not that, as christians, all our knowledge and endowments are only to be esteemed in proportion as they make us wiser and better in our different relations in life, more pious and dutiful to God, more just and kind to others, more strict in the virtuous government of ourselves, our appetites, passions, and af fections, and more extensively serviceable to others in their present and future interests.

And may the supreme Father and Go vernor of all things direct and bless you in all your ways, that you may be finally approved by him, and be made a partaker of his heavenly and eternal kingdom, which he hath promised by Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE

THE FORM

OF

SOLEMNIZATION

OF

MATRIMONY.

The form of publication of the Banns of
Marriage.

I PUBLISH the banns of marriage be

tween 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 publication.

When the persons to be married, and their friends, are assembled, the Minister 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 honourable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his

presence,

presence, and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee; and it is commended of St. Paul to be honourable among all men; and therefore none ought to engage therein unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God.

Then 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.

If no impediment be alleged, then shall the
Minister 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,

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?

I will.

The man shall answer,

Then shall the Minister say unto the woman, N. WILT thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance, in the holy 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 ?

I will.

The woman shall answer,

¶ Then shall the Minister say, Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?

¶ Then shall they engage themselves 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 righthand, and to say after him as followeth :

I M. take thee N. to my wedded wife,

to

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 the laws of this land.

¶ 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 Mi nister,

I N. take thee M. to 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, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance, and the laws of this land.

¶Then shall they again loose their hands, and the man shall give unto the woman a ring, laying the same upon the book. And the Mi nister 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 Minister, shall

say,

With this ring I thee wed; and to thee only do I promise to keep myself, so long as we both shall live. Amen.

Then

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