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secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully united in matrimony, ye do now confess it. For be ye well assured, that so many as are joined together otherwise than God's word doth allow, are not joined together by God, neither is their matrimony lawful.

If no impediment be alleged, then shall the Minister say unto the Man,

M. WILT thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance, in the estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy; and forsaking all other keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?

The Man shall answer,

I will.

Then shall the Minister say unto the Woman;

N. WILT thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance, in the estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy; and forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?

The Woman shall answer,

I will.

Then shall the Minister say,

WHO giveth this woman to be married to this man?

Then 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

WITH this ring I thee wed; with all my worldly goods I thee endow; and to thee only do I promise to keep myself, so long as we both shall live. Amen.

ing to God's holy ordinance, and the laws of the land.

Then shall the Woman likewise say after the Minister;

I, 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 and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance and the laws of the land.

Then shall they loose their hands, and the Man shall give unto the Woman a Ring, putting it upon the fourth finger of her left hand. And the Man holding the Ring there, and taught by the Minister, shall say,

say,

Let us pray.

En

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, whom we bless in thy name. able them to perform the covenant which they have now made in thy presence. May they seriously attend to the duties of the new relation in which they stand to each other; that it may not be to them a state of temptation and sorrow, but of holiness and comfort; may they live together in peace and love; and wilt thou, the God of peace and love, be always with them, and lead them in the paths of innocence and virtue to

FORASMUCH as M. and N. have consented together in wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have engaged and pledged themselves to each other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving a ring, and by joining hands; I pronounce that they be Man and Wife; and those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.

Then shall the Minister say,

Let us pray.

O MERCIFUL God and heavenly Father, who art the guide, the support and the felicity of all who put their trust in thee; we beseech thee to bless these thy servants, and

give them grace to fear and serve thee all the days of their life. May their hearts be united in the closest bonds of love and purity; may they be blessings and comforts to one another, sharers of each other's joys, consolers of each other's sorrows, and helpers to one another in all the changes of the world; and grant that they may so faithfully discharge the duties which belong to the condition into which they have entered, that they, and all who may be committed to their care, may meet together in that world of perfect felicity which thou hast revealed to us by Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then shall he add this BLESSING.

THE Lord God Almighty bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favor 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.

EXHORTATION to the Parties after Marriage; to be read or omitted at the discretion of the Minister.

IT will become you to consider seriously the sacred and important engagement into which ye have now entered. Marriage is the union of one man with one woman for their joint happiness, and for the pious education of children, where God gives them; and by the original appointment of God, confirmed by our Saviour (Gen. ii. 24; Matt. xix. 4, 5, 6,) this union is to be perpetual, to be dissolved only by death. It was intended by the benevolent Parent of mankind, to be a source of the purest satisfactions, to soften the unavoidable cares, and increase the innocent pleasures of life, by affording opportunities of sharing them with a most intimate friend and partner. By Christians in particular it is to be looked upon as a state of perfect indissoluble friendship, in which ye are to car

ry your regards for each other beyond the grave, that ye may so live in virtue and holiness here, that ye may live hereafter in that state, where there will be no marrying nor giving in marriage, but ye shall be as the angels in heaven. Study then to correct what is amiss in your respective tempers and dispositions, which may disturb your mutual love and peace. And be severe censors of yourselves, but exact not too much one from another,

and bear with each other's infirmities, for there is nothing perfect here below. None are faultless, but all are to endeavor to become such. Cultivate in your

selves, and in each other, the knowledge and practice of virtue and true religion, as the only foundation of present comfort and future hopes. Study the Scriptures and the precepts and example of Christ, who alone hath the words of eternal life. And be not extravagant in your expectations from the world; for although it abound with many innocent joys and pleasures, yet it is not, nor is intended to be, a place of unmixed prosperity and enjoyment, but a transitory scene of trial and improvement for a better and more enduring state.

The other great end of marriage is for the well ordering of families and right education of children. This is a matter of the highest moment. For families are the nurseries and schools, in which the successive generations of men are to be instructed and fitted for their different stations and employments in life, to bear their part and burden in it, to be helpful to others, good citizens, useful magistrates, faithful husbands, virtuous wives, patterns of all that is excellent and worthy in every relation. of families united, nations are composed; and of all of them together, the whole community of mankind. And as these little seminaries are well tutored and governed, or neglected, kingdoms, nations, and the world, are happy or miserable.

Of a number

Take heed therefore to set an example of piety and virtue yourselves; and then ye may with authority re

quire those who belong to you, to follow it. Let the God of heaven be publicly acknowledged and worshipped each day in your family. At least let not his name and worship be forgotten in it on the Lord's day. Keep a strict watch over all who depend upon you; and suffer no vice to go unreproved, or to remain in your house persisted in and unamended. For this would be to encourage it, and put a snare before others. By this domestic care, and godly discipline, ye will ensure your own peace, and be a blessing to your family, your neighbors, and country; but, which is above all to be valued and sought for, ye will be approved by Almighty God, and rank with prophets and apostles in that future world, where we are told, that they who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they who turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.