SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY. 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 regards the civil contract between the parties. And when the Bans are published, it shall be in the following form:-I publish the Bans 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.] or DEARLY beloved, we are gathered 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 St. Paul to be honourable among all men; and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly 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. And also speaking unto the persons who are to be married, he shall say, I REQUIRE and charge you both (as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgment, 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 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 woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after GOD'S ordinance, in th the holy estate of matrimony ? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live ? 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, and serve him, love, honour, and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long Then the man leaving the ring upon the as ye both shall live? fourth finger of the woman's left hand, the Minister shall say, I The woman shall answer, I will. 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: T 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: I 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. 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, Let us pray. OUR 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. O 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 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) I N. take thee M. to my wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, and may ever remain in perfect for better for worse, for richer love and peace together, and for poorer, in sickness and in live according to thy laws, health, to love, cherisk, and to through JESUS CHRIST do part, Lord. obey, till death us 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 our Amen. Then shall the Minister join their right hands together, and say, Those whom God hath joined together, let no man putasunder. a ring. And the Minister taking the ring Then shall the Minister speak unto the 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 with all my worldly goods I thee endow: In the name of the FATHER, and of the Son, and of the HOLY GHOST. Amen. company: FORASMUCH as M. and N. have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth, each to the other, and have declared the same by giving SON, GOD the HOLY Ghost, and receiving a ring, and by bless, preserve, and keep you: joining hands; I pronounce, that they are man and wife; in the name of the FATHER, and of the Son, and of the HOLY GHOST. Amen. And the Minister shall add this Blessing: 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 this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen. THE ORDER FOR THE VISITATION OF THE SICK. 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 this house, and to all that dwell in it. When he cometh into the sick man's presence, he shall say, kneeling down, Min. O LORD, save thy servant; Ans. Who putteth his trust in thee. Min. Send him help from thy holy place; Ans. And evermore mightily defend him. REMEMBER not, Lord, our iniquities, nor the iniquities of our forefathers; Spare us, good LORD, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy proach to hurt him. Min. Let the enemy have no advantage of him; most precious blood; and be Ans. Spare us, good LORD. Ans. Nor the wicked ap Be unto him, O LORD, Min. Ans. From the face of his enemy. Min. O LORD, hear our prayer; Ans. And let our cry come unto thee. Minister. O 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 OUR 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 confidence in thee; defend him trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen. sure from the danger of the enemy; and keep him in perpetual peace and safety, through JESUS CHRIST Our Lord. Amen the right way that leadeth unto HEAR us, Almighty and and render unto him humble most merciful God and Saviour: thanks for his fatherly visitation, Extend thy accustomed good- submitting yourself wholly unto ness to this thy servant, who is his will, it shall turn to your grieved with sickness. Sanc-profit, and help you forward in tify, we beseech thee, this thy fatherly correction 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 with thee in life everlasting, through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. Amen. Then shall the Minister exhort the sick person after this form, or other like: 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 as with sons: for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. thermore, we have had fathers of our flesh, which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. These words, good brother, are written in holy Scripture, for Fur DEARLY beloved, know this, that ALMIGHTY GOD is the LORD of life and death, and of all things to them pertaining; as youth, 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, glorious, our comfort and instruction; and honourable, to the increase that we should patiently, and of glory and endless felicity; with thanksgiving, bear our or else it be sent unto you heavenly Father's correction, to correct and amend in you whensoever, by any manner of whatsoever doth offend the eyes adversity, it shall please his of your heavenly Father; know gracious goodness to visit us. you certainly, that if you truly repent you of your sins, and bear your sickness patiently, trusting in God's mercy, for his dear Son JESUS CHRIST's sake, And there should be no greater comfort to Christian persons, than to be made like unto CHRIST, by suffering patiently adversities, troubles, and sick nesses. For he himself went not cified, dead, and buried; that up to joy, but first he suffered he went down into hell, and pain: he entered not into his also did rise again the third glory, before he was crucified. day; that he ascended into So truly our way to eternal joy, heaven, and sitteth on the is to suffer here with CHRIST; right hand of God the Father and our door to enter into Almighty; and from thence eternal life, is gladly to die with shall come again at the end of CHRIST; that we may rise the world, to judge the quick again from death, and dwell and the dead? The sick person shall answer, All this I steadfastly believe. with him in everlasting life. And dost thou believe in Now, therefore, taking your the HOLY GHOST; The holy sickness, which is thus profitable catholic Church; The comfor you, patiently, I exhort you munion of saints; The remisin the name of God, to remem- sion of sins; The resurrection ber the profession which you of the flesh; and everlasting made unto God in your baptism. life after death? And forasmuch as after this life there is an account to be given unto the righteous Judge, by whom all must be judged, without respect of persons; I require you to examine yourself, and your estate, both toward God and man; so that, accusing and condemning yourself for your own faults, you may find mercy at our heavenly Father'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 thus: DOST thou believe in GOD the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth? 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 uttermost of his power. And if he hath not before disposed of his goods, let him then be admonished to make his Will, and to declare his debts, what he oweth, and what is owing unto him, for the better discharging of his conscience, and the quietness of his Executors. But men should often be put in remembrance to take order for the settling of their temporal estates, whilst they are in health. The Exhortation before rehearsed may be said before the Minister begin his prayer, as he shall see cause. The Minister shall not omit earnestly to move such sick persons as are of ability, to be liberal to the poor. And then the Minister shall say the Collect following. Let us pray, O MOST merciful GOD, who, according to the multitude of And in JESUS CHRIST his only begotten Son our Lord? And thy mercies, dost so put away that he was conceived by the the sins of those who truly HOLY GHOST, born of the repent, that thou rememberest Virgin Mary; that he suffered them no more; open thine eye under Pontius Pilate, was cru- of mercy upon this thy servant, |