former sins, steadfastly Christ, with a thankful repurposing to lead a new membrance of his death; life; have a lively faith in and be in charity with all God's mercy through men. The Minister of every Parish shall diligently, upon Sundays and Holy Days, or on some other convenient occasions, openly in the Church, instruct or examine so many-Children of his Parish, sent unto him, as he shall think convenient, in some part of this Catechism. And all Fathers, Mothers, Masters, and Mistresses, shall cause their Children, Servants, and Apprentices, who have not learned their Catechism, to come to the Church at the time appointed, and obediently to hear and to be ordered by the Minister, until such time as they have learned all that is here appointed for them to learn. So soon as Children are come to a competent age, and can say the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, and can answer to the other questions of this short Catechism, they shall be brought to the Bishop. And whensoever the Bishop shall give knowledge for Children to be brought unto him for their Confirmation, the Minister of every Parish shall either bring, or send in writing, with his hand subscribed thereunto, the Names of all such Persons within his Parish, as he shall think fit to be presented to the Bishop to be Confirmed. THE ORDER OF CONFIRMATION, OR LAYING ON OF HANDS UPON THOSE WHO ARE BAP. TIZED, AND COME TO YEARS OF DISCRETION. Upon the day appointed, all that are to be then Confirmed, being placed and standing in order before the Bishop; he, or some other Minister appointed by him, shall read this Prefuce following. To firmation 10 the end that Con- That none shall be Confirmed, but such as can say the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments; and can also answer to such other Questions, as in the short Catechism are contained: which order is very convenient to be observed; to the end, that children, being now come to the years of discretion, and having learned what their Godfathers and Godmothers promised for them in Baptism, may themselves, Answer. Who hath made heaven and earth. Bishop. Blessed be the Name of the Lord; Answer. Henceforth, world without end. Bishop. Lord, hear our prayer. Answer. And let our cry come unto thee. Bishop. Let us pray. LMIGHTY and ever with their own mouth and Aliving God, who hast consent, openly before the Church, ratify and confirm the same; and also promise, that, by the grace of God, they will evermore endeavour themselves faithfully to observe such things, as they, by their own confession, have assented unto. T Then shall the Bishop say, by vouchsafed to regenerate these thy servants Water and the Holy Ghost, and hast given unto them forgiveness of all their sins; Strengthen theni, we beseech thee, O Lord, with the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, and daily increase in them thy manifold Do ye here, in the pie gifts of grace; the spirit of ence of God, and of this congregation, renew the solemn promise and vow that ye made, or that was made in your name, at your Baptism; ratify ing and confirming the same; and acknowledging yourselves bound to be lieve and to do all those things which ye then un dertook, or your Sponsors then undertook for you? wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and ghostly strength, the true godliness; and fill spirit of knowledge and them, O Lord, with the and for ever. spirit of thy holy fear, now Amen. ¶ And every one shall audibly DEFEND O Lord, this answer, I do. Bishop. UR help is in the Name of the Lord; thy Child [or, this thy Servant] with thy heavenly grace; that he may continue thine for ever; and daily increase in come. Thy will be done ever be over them; let thy Holy Spirit ever be with them; and so lead them in the knowledge and obedithe end they may obtain ence of thy Word, that in everlasting life; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without end. Amen. and everlasting God, ALMIGHTY Lord, vouchsafe, we beseech on earth, As it is in heaven. thee, to direct, sanctify, Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen. T And these Collects. ALMIGHTY and ever and govern, both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy commandments; that, through thy most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and Saviour living God, who Jesus Christ. Amen. makest us both to will and to do those things which T Then the Bishop shall bless are good, and acceptable them, saying thus, THE Blessing of God unto thy Divine Majesty; Almighty, the 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, Fa ther, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be upon you, and remain with you for ever. Amen. And there shall none be ad mitted to the Holy Communion, until such time as he be Confirmed, or be ready and desirous to be Confirmed. THE FORM OF SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY. The laws respecting Matrimony, whether by publishing the Banns in churches, or by License, being different in the several States, every Minister is left to the direction of those laws, in every thing that regards the civil contract between the parties. And when the Banns are published, it shall be in the following form: 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. At the day and time appointed for Solemnization of Matrimony, the Persons to be married shall come into the body of the Church, or shall be ready in some proper house, with their friends and neigh bours; and there standing together, the Man on the right hand, and the Woman on the left, the Minister shall say, EARLY beloved, we are ga- | D thered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is commended of Saint Paul to be honourable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace. I And also speaking unto the Per sons who are to be married, he shall say, REQUIRE and charge you both, as ye will answer at well assured, that if any persons are joined together otherwise than as God's Word doth allow, their marriage is not lawful. The Minister, if he shall have reason to doubt of the lawfulness of the proposed Marriage, may demand sufficient surety for his indemnification: but if no impediment shall be alleged, or suspected, the Minister shall say to the Man, M. WILT thou have this Woto live together after God's ordiman to thy wedded wife, nance in the holy estate of Mat- ¶ The Man shall answer, the dreadful day of judgment Then shall the Minister say unto N. the Woman, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either WILT thou have this Man of you know any impediment, to thy wedded husband, to why ye may not be lawfully live together after God's ordijoined together in Matrimony, nance in the holy estate of Matye do now confess it. For be yerimony? Wilt thou (obey him. and serve him love, honour, and keep him in sickness and in health: and, forsaking all others. keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both ghall live? I The Woman shall answer, 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. 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 hea'th, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance 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: 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 thereto I give thee my troth. 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, the Minister shall say, Let us pray. UR Father, who art in hea OUR whethy Name, Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in hea ven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen. 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 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 our Lord. Amen. ETERNAL God, Creator and Then shall the Minister join their right hands together, and say, Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder Then shall the Minister speak unto the company: FORASMUCH as M. and N Then shall they again loose their hands; and the Man shall give unto the Woman a Ring. And have consented together in the Minister taking the Ring shall holy wedlock, and have witdeliver it unto the Man, to put itnessed the same before God and upon the fourth finger of the Wo this company, and thereto have man's left hand. And the Man given and pledged their troth, holding the Ring there, and taught each to the other, and have de by the Minister, shall say, clared the same by giving and receiving a Ring, and by joining Ring I thee wed, WITH this in my worldly goods I thee endow: In the hands: 1 pronounce that they are Man and Wife, In the Name |