The laws respecting Matrimony, whether by publishing the Bans 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 re gards the civil contract between the parties. And when the Bans are published, it shall be in the following form: I publish the Bane of Marriage between M. of, and N. ofIf 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 neighbours; and there standing together, the Man on the right hand, and the Woman on the left, the Minister shall say, EARLY beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of 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, discreetty, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man cau show just him no cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, Jet speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace. 641 And also speaking unto the Persons who are o be married, he shall say, who are of REQUIRE and charge you both, as ye will answer at the dread I ful day of judgment when the secrets of all hearts shall be die closed, that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not he lawfully joined together in Matrimony, ye do now confess it. For be ye well assured, that if any persons are joined together otherwis 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 eurely for his indemni fication: but if no impediment shall be alleged, or suspected, the Min ister shall say to the Man, WILT thou have this Woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrianony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only xnto her, so long as ye both shall live?!! The Man shall answer, I will ass N. Then shall the Minister say unto the Woman, 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, 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 shall live? 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 honds, shall cause the Man with his right hand to take the Woman by her right I hand, and to say after him as followeth. so won ony To You 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; and thereto I plight thee my troth. I 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:d 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. ¶ Then shall they again loose their hands; and the Man shall give unto the Woman a Ring. And the Minister 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, shail say, W the endow. In the Names of the Father, and of the Bon, and WITH this Ring I thee wed, and with all my worldly goods 1 of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Then the Max, 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 heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. 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. ETERNAL God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, Giver Spiritual grace, the Author of everlasting life; Bend ly blessing upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy Name; that, as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully Bogether, 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. 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 ORASMUCH as M. and N. have consented together in holy company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth, each to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving a Ring, and by joining hands; I pronounce that they are Man and Wife, In the Name of the Father, and of the Sou, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. the And the Minister shall add this Blessing: OD the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, G and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace; that ye may so live together in have life everlasting. Athelife, that in the world to come ye may When any person is sick, notice shall be given thereof to the Minister of the Parish; who, coming into the sick person's house, shall say, PEACE be to t be to this house, and to all that dwell in it. When he cometh into the rich man's presence, he shall say, kneeling down, hire) good Lord, epare thy people, whom thou EMEMBER not, Lord, our iniquities, nor the iniquities of our REMEMBER hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and be not angry with us for ever. Answer. Spare us, good Lord. T Then the Minister shall say, Let us pray. Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have merey upon us. UR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy done on 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. Minister. O Lord, save thy servant; Anemer. Who putteth his trust in thee. Minister Atom thy holy place; pestke vs T Answer.end! mightily defend him. Minister. Let the enemy have no advantage of him; Answer. Nor the wicked approach to hurt him. Houmdan Answer. From the face of his enemy. Minister. O Lord, hear our prayer. Answer. And let our cry come unto thee. Minister. LORD, look down from heaven, behold, visit, and relieve this thy servant. Look upon him with the eyes of thy mercy, give him comfort and sure confidence in thee, defend him from the dan ger of the enemy, and keep him in perpetual peace and safety; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. HEAR us, Almighty and most merciful God and Saviour; extend thy accustomed goodness to this thy servant, who is grieved with sickness. Sanctify, we beseech thee, this thy fatherly correc tion to him; that the sense of his weakness may add strength to his faith, and seriousness to his repentance: That, if it shall be thy good pleasure to restore him to his former health, he may lead the residue of his life in thy fear, and to thy glory: or else, give him grace so to take thy visitation, that, after this painful life ended, he may dwell Lord, I wish thee in life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Then shall the Minister exhort the sick Person after this form, or other like. EARLY beloved, know this, that Almighty God is the Lord of yertaining; as strength, health, age, weakness, and sickness. Wherefore, whatsoever your sickness be, know you certainly that it is God's visitation. And for what cause soever this sickness be sent unto you; whether it be to try your patience for the example of others, and that your faith may be found, in the day of the Lord, laudable, glo. rious, and honourable, to the increase of glory and endless felicity; or else it be sent unto you to correct and amend in you whatsoever doth offend the eyes of your heavenly Father; know you certainly, that if you truly repent you of your sins, and bear your sickness pa tiently, trusting in God's mercy for his dear Son Jesus Christ's sake, and render unto him humble thanks for his fatherly visita. tion, submitting yourself wholly unto his will, it shall turn to your profit, and help you forward in the right way that leadoth unto everlasting life. TA the Person visited be very sick, then the Minister may end his Br hortation in this place, or clse proceed. TAKE therefore in good part the chastisement of the Lord: For (as Saint Paul saith in the twelfth Chapter to the Hebrews) whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you 28 with sons; for what sou is he whom the Father chasteneth not! But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not mons. Furthermore, we have had father of our flesh, which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall the Father of spirits, and we not much rather be in subjection untened us after their own live? For they verily for a few days pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. These words, good brother, are written in holy Scripture for our comfort and instruction; that we should patiently, and with thanksgiving, bear our heavenly Father's correction, whensoever, by any manner of adversity, it shall please his gracious goodness to visit us. And there should be no greater comfort to Christian persons, than to be made like unto Christ, by suffering patiently adversities, troubles, and sicknesses. For he himself went not up to joy, but first he suffered pain; he entered not into his glory before he was crucified. So truly our way to eternal joy is to suffer here with Christ; and our door to enter into eternal life is gladly to die with Christ; that we may rise again from death, and dwell with him in everlasting life. Now therefore, taking your sickness, which is thus profitable for you, patiently, I exhort you, in the Name of God, to remember the profession which you made unto God in your Bap tism. And forasmuch as after this life there is an account to be given nnto the righteous Judge, by whom all must be judged, without respect of persous, I require you to examine yourself and your estate, both toward God and man; so that, accusing and condemuing your. self for your own faults, you may find mercy at our heavenly Fa ther's hand for Christ's sake, and not be accused and condemned in that fearful judgment. Therefore I shall rehearse to you the Articles of our Faith; that you may know whether you do believe as a Christian man should, or no. Here the Minister shall rehearse the Articles of the Faith, saying Youthus, ther pifdeman at im 19. DOST thou believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth? And in Jesus Christ his only-begotten Son our Lord? And that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; that he anffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; that he went down into hell, and also did rise again the third day; that he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; and from thence shall come again, at the end of the world, to judge the quick and the dead ? And dost thou believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints; the Remission of sins; the Resurrection of the flesh; and everlasting Life after death? The sick person shall answer, All this I steadfastly believe. Then shall the Minister examine whether he repent him truly of his sins, and be in charity with all the world; exhorting him to forgive from the bottom of his heart, all persons that have offended him; and if he hath offended any other, to ask them forgiveness; and where he hath done injury or wrong to any man, that he make amends to the us-* |