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THE ORDER FOR

THE SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGE.

¶ Forasmuch as Marriage is a sacred relation, the ground of human fellowship and society, and most precious to mankind; although it be not a Sacrament nor peculiar to the Church of Christ, it is proper that it be solemnized by a lawful Minister, that he may give counsel from the Word of God to those entering holy wedlock, and invoke the Divine blessing upon them.

¶The Persons to be married shall present themselves before the Minister, the Woman standing at the left hand of the Man. Then, all present reverently standing, the Minister shall say,

DEARLY beloved, we are assembled here in the presence of God, to join this Man and this Woman in holy Marriage; which is instituted of God, regulated by His commandments, blessed by our Lord Jesus Christ, and to be held in honour among all men. Let us therefore reverently

remember that God has established and sanctified Marriage, for the welfare and happiness of mankind. Our Saviour has declared that a man shall forsake his father and mother and cleave unto his wife. By His apostles, He has instructed those who enter into this relation to cherish a mutual esteem and love; to bear with each other's infirmities and weaknesses; to comfort each other in sickness, trouble; and sorrow; in honesty and industry to provide for each other, and for their household, in temporal things; to pray for and encourage each other in the things which pertain to God; and to live together as the heirs of the grace of life.

Forasmuch as these two Persons have come hither to be made one in this holy estate, if there be any here present who knows any just cause why they may not lawfully be joined in Marriage, I require him now to make it known, or ever after to hold his peace.

¶Then, speaking unto the Persons who are to be married, he shall say,

CHARGE you both, before the great God the Searcher of all hearts, that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not lawfully be joined together in Marriage, ye do now confess it. For be ye well assured that if any persons are joined together otherwise than as God's Word allows, their union is not blessed by Him.

¶ Then, if no impediment appear, the Minister shall say,

Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY and ever blessed God, whose Presence is the happiness of every condition, and whose favour sweetens every relation; We beseech Thee to be present and favourable unto these Thy servants, that they may be truly joined in the honourable estate of Marriage, in the covenant of their God. As Thou hast brought them together by Thy providence, sanctify them by Thy Spirit, giving them a new frame of heart fit for their new estate; and enrich them with all grace, whereby they may enjoy the comforts, undergo the cares, endure the trials, and perform the duties of life together as becometh Christians, under Thy heavenly guidance and protection; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

M

¶ Then the Minister shall say to the Man,

wilt thou have this Woman to be thy wife, and wilt thou pledge thy troth to her, in all love and honour, in all duty and service, in all faith and tenderness, to live with her, and cherish her, according to the ordinance of God, in the holy bond of Marriage?

The Man shall answer,

I will.

N

Then the Minister shall say to the Woman,

wilt thou have this Man to be thy husband, and wilt thou pledge thy troth to him, in all love and honour, in all duty and service, in all faith and tenderness, to live with him, and cherish him, according to the ordinance of God, in the holy bond of Marriage?

The Woman shall answer,

I will.

Then the Minister may say,

WHO giveth this Woman to be married to this Man ?

Then the father, (or guardian or any friend,) of the Woman shall put her right hand into the hand of the Minister, who shall cause the Man with his right hand to take the Woman by her right hand and to say after him as follows:

I, witnesses,

M., take thee N., To be my wedded wife; And I do

To be thy loving and faithful husband, In plenty and in want, In joy and in sorrow, In sickness and in health, As long as we both shall live.

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 be my wedded husband; And I do

I, Promise and covenant, Before God and these witnesses,

To be thy loving and faithful wife, In plenty and in want, In joy and in sorrow, In sickness and in health, As long as we both shall live.

Then, if a Ring be provided, it shall be given to the Minister, who shall return it to the Man, who shall then put it upon the fourth finger of the Woman's left hand, saying after the Minister,

THIS Ring I give thee, In token and pledge, Of our constant faith, And abiding love.

Then the Minister shall say,

Let us pray.

MOST merciful and gracious God, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named; Bestow upon these Thy servants the seal of Thine approval, and Thy fatherly benediction: granting unto them grace to fulfil, with pure and steadfast affection, the vow and covenant between them made. Guide them together, we beseech Thee, in the way of righteousness and peace, that loving and serving Thee, with one heart and mind, all the days of their life, they may be abundantly enriched with the tokens of Thine everlasting favour, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

OUR Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

¶ Then shall the Minister say unto all who are present,

BY the authority committed unto me as a Minister of the Church of Christ, I declare that M. and N. are now Husband and Wife, according to the ordinance of God, and the law of the State: in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Then, causing the Husband and Wife to join their right hands, the Minister shall say,

WHOM therefore God hath joined together, let no man

put asunder.

¶ And the Minister shall pronounce this BLESSING:

The Lord bless you and keep you: The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you:

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace:

Both now and in the life everlasting. Amen.

THE ORDER FOR

THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD.

When all are assembled in the house or in the church, the Minister shall begin the Service with one or more of these SENTENCES from the Holy Scriptures.

OUR help is in the Name of the Lord, who made heaven

and earth. (Psalm cxxiv. 8.)

FOR we are strangers before Thee and sojourners, as

were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding. (1 Chronicles xxix. 15.) ALL flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: the grass withereth, the flower fadeth but the word of our God shall stand for ever. (Isaiah xl. 6-8.)

LIKE as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust. (Psalm ciii. 13, 14.)

I

AM the Resurrection, and the Life he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. (St. John xi. 25, 26.)

Then let the Minister say,

Let us pray.

Then shall he lead the People in the INVOCATION, using if he will one of the following Prayers, and ending with the LORD'S PRAYER.

ALMIGHTY God, the Fountain of all wisdom, who

knowest our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking; We beseech Thee to have compassion upon our infirmities; and those things, which for our unworthiness we dare not and for our blindness we cannot ask, vouchsafe to give us, for the worthiness of Thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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