maintained in the church of God. And ye deacons be diligent in collecting the alms, prudent and cheerful in the diftribution of the fame affift the oppreffed, provide for the true widows and orphans, thew liberality unto all men, but efpecially to the houshold of faith,

Be ye all with one accord faithful in your offices, and: "hold the mystery of the faith in a pure con-fcience," being good examples unto all the people.. In fo doing you will "purchafe to yourselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith, which is in: Chrift Jefus, and hereafter enter into the joy of your Lord." On the other hand, beloved chriftians, receive these men as fervants of God; count the el. ders that rule well, worthy of double honour, give yourfelves willingly to their inspection and govern-ment.. Provide the deacons with good means to› affift the indigent.. Be charitable, ye rich, give li berally, and contribute willingly. And ye poor, be: poor in fpirit, and deport yourselves refpe&fully towards your benefactors, be thankful to them and avoid murmuring; follow Chrift for the food of your fouls, but not for bread. "Let him that hath stole" (or who hath been burthenfome to his neighbours) "steal no more; but rather let him labour, working with his hands the things which are good, that he may give to him that needeth." Each of you doing thefe things in your refpectivé callings, fhall receive of the Lord," the reward of right coufnefs." Butt

fince we are unable of ourselves, let us call upon the name of the Lord, faying,

:

Lord God and heavenly Father, we thank thee that it hath pleafed thee, for the better edification of thy church, to ordain in it, befides the minifters of the word, rulers and affiftants, by whom thy church may be preferved in peace and porfperity, and the indigent affifted; and that thou hast at prefent granted us in this place, men who are of good teftimony, and we hope endowed with thy fpirit. We beseech thee replenish them more and more with fuch gifts, as are neceffary for them in their ministration with the gifts of wisdom, courage difcretion, and benevolence, to the end that every one may in his respective office, acquit bimself as is becoming; the elders in taking diligent heed unto the doctrine and converfation, in keeping out the wolves from the fheep-fold of thy beloved Son; and in admonishing and reproving diforderly perfons. In like manner, the deacons in carefully receiving and liberally, and prudently diftributing of the alms to the poor, and in comforting them with thy holy word. Give grace both to the elders and deacons, that they may perfevere in their faithful labour, and never become weary by reafon of any trouble pain or perfecution of the world. Grant alfo especially thy divine grace to this people,over whom they are placed, that they may willingly fubmit

themselves to the good exhortations of the elders, counting them worthy of honor for their work'sfake; give alfo unto the rich, liberal hearts towards the poor, and to the poor grateful hearts towards thofe who help and ferve them; to the end that every one acquitting himself of his duty, thy holy name may thereby be magnified, and the kingdom of thy Son Jefus Chrift, enlarged, in whofe name we conclude our prayers, &c.

The Form for the Confirmation of Marriage, before the Church.

WHEREAS married persons are generally, by

reafon of fin, subject to many troubles and afflictions; to the end that you N, and N. (who defire to have your marriage bond publicly confirmed, here in the name of God, before this church) may alfo be affured in your hearts of the certain affistance of God in your afflictions, hear therefore from the word of God, how honourable the married state is, and that it is an inftitution of God, which is pleafing to him. Wherefore he alfo will (as he hath promifed) blefs and affift the married perfons, and on the contrary judge and punish whoremongers and adul

terers.

In the first place you are to know, that God our Father, (after he had created heaven and carib,

and all that in them is) made man "in his own image and likeness," that he should have dominion over the beafts of the field, over the fish of the fea, and over the fowls of the air. And after he had created man, he said, "It is not good that man should be alone, I will make him an help meet for him.And the Lord caused a deep fleep to fall upon Adam, and he flept, and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof. And the rib which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, And Adam faid,

and brought her unto the man. this is now bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh : fhe fhall be called woman, because she was taken out of man. Therefore fhall a man leave his father, and his mother, and fhall cleave unto his wife, and they two fhall be one flesh. Therefore ye are not to doubt but that the married ftate is pleafing to the Lord,fince he made unto Adam his wife, brought and gave her himself to him to be his wife; witneffing thereby that he doth yet as with his hand bring unto every man his wife. For this reafon the Lord Jefus Christ did also highly honour it with his prefence, gifts and miracles in Cana of Galilee, to fhew thereby, that this holy state ought to be kept honourable by all, and that he will aid and assist the married perfons even when they are leaft expecting it.

But that ye may live godly in this state, you must know the reasons wherefore God hath instituted the

fame. The firft reafon is, that each faithfully affift the other in all things that belong to this life, and a better.

Secondly, That they bring up the children which they hall get, in the true knowledge and fear of God, to his glory, and their falvation.

Thirdly. That each of them avoiding all uncleanness and evil lufts, may live with a good and quiet confcience. For to avoid fornication, let every Man have his own wife, and every Wife her own hufband; infomuch that all who are come to their years and have not the gift of continence, are bound by the command of God, to enter into the marriage ftate, with knowledge and consent of parents, or tutors and friends; that fo the temple of God, which is our body, may not be defiled, for, whofoever defileth the temple of God, him shall God destroy.

Next, you are to know, how each is bound to behave respectively towards the other, according to the word of God,

Firft. You who are the bridegroom, fhall know, that God hath fet you to be the head of your wife, that you according to your ability, fhall lead her with difcretion; inftructing, comforting, protecting her, as the head rules the body; yea, as Christ is the head, wifdom, confolation, and affiftance to his church. Befides, you are to love your wife as your own body, as Chrift hath loved his church: you shall not be bitter against her, but dwell with