THE ORDER OF CONFIRMATION. ¶ Upon a day appointed, all that are to be then confirmed, being placed, and standing in order before the Minister, he shall read this preface following. T NO the end that confirmation may be ministered to the more edifying of such as shall receive it, the Church hath done well to order that none hereafter shall be confirmed, but such as can say the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments; and can also answer to such other questions as may be put to them; in order to ascertain that they of their own accord do now desire to fulfil the pious wishes expressed for them in their baptism; and do earnestly hope to become partakers of the blessings of Christian communion and fellowship. In carrying out this most solemn dedication in their baptism, it may be presumed that their parents will have not only gradually instructed them in the knowledge of Christian truth, but also will have accustomed them to attend the ordinances of public worship: and then by the grace of God they will, it is trusted, have early become desirous fully to share the benefits of Church fellowship, joining in all its devotional services, receiving its instructions, and partaking of the Lord's supper, in order to bind themselves faithfully to obey and devoutly to love him, who is their pattern and Saviour, and their guide to eternal life. Then the Minister shall, in a suitable address, set forth the privileges and duties of those who are in full communion as members of the Church of Christ. ¶ The Minister shall then say, Dreilly and sincerely desire to confirm the object O you here, in the presence of this congregation, which your parents most earnestly coveted; and to secure which they bound themselves solemnly to instruct you in the knowledge of salvation by Jesus Christ our Lord? And every one shall audibly answer, I do. A ND are you willing and desirous to become members of the Church, and by your faith and good conduct, your hatred of sin, and your love of all things holy, pure, and good, are you determined, with the blessing of God, and the assistance of his good Spirit, which will be given to all who pray for it, to endeavour to live a Christian life, and to adorn your profession by your behaviour in the family to which you belong, and by your conduct in the world? And every one shall audibly answer, I am. The Minister. Our help is in the name of the Lord. Minister. Blessed be the name of the Lord; Answer. Henceforth, world without end. A The Minister. Let us pray. LMIGHTY and everliving God, who hast vouchsafed to sanctify these thy servants, by the means which thou hast appointed; making them effectual to dispose their hearts to love thee, to trust in thy goodness, and to unite themselves openly to thy Church: Strengthen them, we beseech thee, O Lord, and daily increase in them thy manifold gifts of grace; the spirit of wisdom and understanding, of knowledge and true godliness, and fill them, O Lord, with thy holy fear, now and for ever. Amen. Then all of them in order kneeling before the Minister, he may lay his hands upon the head of every one severally, or spread out his hands over them all, in token of recognizing them as living members of the Church, and say, The Lord be with you. Answer. And with thy Spirit. ¶Then all kneeling shall repeat the Lord's Prayer. UR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy 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, for ever. A ¶The Minister shall then repeat this Collect. Amen. LMIGHTY and everliving God, who makest us both to will and to do those things that be good and acceptable to thy divine Majesty; We make our humble supplications unto thee for these thy servants, who intreat thy blessing to make them in their early life members of thy spiritual kingdom; and to enable them to praise and serve thee all their lives, for thy gracious goodness towards them. With a deep sense of their great obligation to thy providence and grace in furnishing the means of their obtaining the knowledge of thee and of thy merciful goodness in Christ Jesus, may they resolve to devote their lives to promote thy glory; and grant, O heavenly Father, that they may become pillars in thy Church, and useful members in their station in the world. Protect them from all temptations from the world or from their own hearts. Assist them to live pure and holy lives; and when their course is run may they enter into the joy of their Lord, and with him reign in the Unity of the Spirit in thy presence in glory everlasting. Amen. The Minister may here use the Collect No. ix. in the Prayers and Thanksgivings, or the Collect for the Third Sunday after Easter. ¶Then the Minister shall pronounce this Benediction. THE HE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen. 117 THE FORM OF THE SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY. The previous steps necessary to render the marriage lawful, and to justify the Minister in performing the ceremony, having been taken; the persons to be married, the Man standing on the right hand and the Woman on the left, and their friends being present, the Minister shall say, EARLY 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; all the moral and natural obligations of which Christ most solemnly set forth and sanctioned in his gospel; and St. Paul pronounced this state to be honourable in all so that it is not by any to be thought of, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, or lightly, but reverently, discreetly, soberly, and in the fear of God; duly considering its divine appointment, its irrevocable character, and its solemn obligations. I And also, speaking unto the persons that shall be married, he shall say, 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. ¶If no impediment be alleged, then shall the Minister say unto the Man. I You must repeat this declaration after me. M. (naming the Man's name) do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I may not be joined in Matrimony to N. (naming the Woman's name.) I ¶Then shall the Minister say unto the Woman, You must also repeat this declaration after me. N. (naming the Woman's name) do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I may not be joined in Matrimony to M. (naming the Man's name.) ¶Then shall the Minister say, Who giveth this Woman to be married to this Man? Then shall they pledge themselves to each other in this manner. The Minister shall cause the Man with his right hand to take the Woman by her right hand, saying, I Take her right hand in yours, and repeat after me, CALL upon these persons here present to witness, that I M. take thee N. to be my lawful and 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 the laws of this land. ¶Then shall they loose their hands; and the Woman, directed to take with her right hand the Man by his right hand, shall likewise say after the Minister, I CALL upon these persons here present to witness, that I N. take thee M. to be my lawful 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 the laws of this land. Then shall they again loose their hands; and the Man shall give unto the Woman a Ring; and shall 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, W ITH this Ring I thee wed, and do promise before God to keep myself faithful to thee as long as I live. Amen. Then the Man and Woman shall both kneel down, and the Minister shall say, Let us pray. 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 these persons may surely perform and |