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 day by 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.

O eternal God, creator and preserver of all mankind; the author and giver of all good things. Send thy blessing, we pray thee, upon these thy servants, this man, and this woman, whom we bless in thy name; and grant that as Isaac and Rebecca, of old, lived faithfully together, so this wedded pair may faithfully perform and keep the vow and covenant between them made, and may constantly remain together in peace, harmony, and sincere affection; and may live in obedience to thy holy will and commands. Grant them all things needful for life and godliness, and have them always in thy holy care and keeping.

Bless the company assembled on this joyful occasion. Crown us all with thy loving-kindness and tender mercies, and finally consummate the designs of thy love concerning us, in a happy and glorious union in thy heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

The minister then uniting their hands again, may say, as follows:

Forasmuch as this couple have consented together in holy matrimony, and have pledged their fidelity each to the other, in the presence of these witnesses, I pronounce them HUSBAND AND WIFE, in the name of God, and according to the laws of this State.

The minister may then close the ceremony with the Nuptial Benediction, as follows:

MAY God Almighty bless, preserve and keep you; and manifest his favour and goodness toward you, more and more, according to his abundant kindness, and his everlasting love; and to Him be ascribed all praise and glory, throughout all ages, world without end. AMEN.

Prayer for a Marriage Celebration.

FATHER of mercies and God of love-We would

bless and praise thee, as for all thy favours in general, so especially for that relation which we sustain to thee, and to each other. We adore thee that thou hast made us rational and intelligent beings, and hast implanted in our bosoms the elevated sentiments of friendship, affection and love; by which we are rendered capable of enjoying the endearing delights of society and social intercourse, in the interchange of kindred sympathies and attachments. We bless thee for those ties of affinity which here bind us together as parents and children, brothers and sisters, companions and friends; and which constitute us mutual partakers with each other in the joys and sorrows of this our mortal state.

Wilt

May thy richest blessings, O Lord, descend upon these persons who, by the marriage-covenant, are now about to enter into a new and endearing relation to each other. May they always have occasion to number this among the most propitious events, and happy periods of their earthly existence. thou, heavenly Father, give them grace faithfully to discharge all the relative, social, and moral duties and obligations which shall devolve upon them in life. Let the blessings of health, peace and happiness attend them, and the beams of thy love and

goodness shine brightly upon them, and illuminate and cheer their habitation.

Bless this union, O Lord, not only to this couple, but to all their relatives and friends. And grant that when this connexion on earth shall be dissolved, they may be bound together in a higher and holier union in thine immortal kingdom; where the celestial inhabitants neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. Mercifully hear and answer us, most merciful Father, in these our supplications and prayers; and do for us, and for the whole human family, exceeding, abundantly, above all that we ask or think; through Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Redeemer.

ΑΜΕΝ.

FUNERAL SERVICES.

Suggestions concerning the Manner of conducting the Funeral Services.

When these services are to be performed in the church (or when in a private house, if it be convenient) the minister, or person who shall officiate, may properly commence by reading a portion of the Holy Scriptures. One of the most appropriate portions for a funeral occasion, is thought to be the 15th chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians. If it should be deemed inexpedient to read the whole chapter, the portion may suitably commence at the 20th verse, and end with the close of the chapter.

As a matter of convenience, as it may sometimes be, the abovenamed portion is here inserted.

BUT now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of

the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority, and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. Else what shall they do, which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? and why stand we in jeopardy every hour? I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to-morrow we die. Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened except it die: and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain; it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh; but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celes

tial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption : it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul, the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit, that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us