Page images
PDF
EPUB

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.]

¶ At the day and time appointed for Solemniza tion of Matrimony, the persons to be married shall come into the body of the church, or shall be ready in some proper house, with their friends and neighbours; and there standing together, the man on the right hand, and the woman on the left, the Minister shall say,

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.

DEARLY beloved, we are gathered together here in the The Minister, if he shall have reason to

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 or 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

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 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? The man shall answer,

I will.

[blocks in formation]

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 T Then the man leaving the ring upon the

as ye both shall live?

T The woman shall answer,

I will.

T 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 :

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,

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, cherisk, and to obey, till death us do part, according to GoD's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.

fourth finger of the woman's left hand, the Minister shall say,

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.

and Preserver of all mankind, O ETERNAL GOD, Creator 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) and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws, through JESUS CHRIST our

Lord. Amen.

¶ Then shall the Minister join their right hands together, and say,

Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.

company :

Then shall they again loose their hands; and the man shall give unto the woman 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.

FORASMUCH as M. and N. have consented together in holy wedlock, and have wit nessed 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, The Lord mercifully with his 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:
GOD the FATHER, GOD the

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, REMEMBER not, LORD, our iniquities, nor the iniquities of our forefathers; Spare us, good LORD, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood; and be not angry with us for ever, Ans. Spare us, good LORD.

Then the Minister shall say,

Let us pray.

[blocks in formation]

Ans.

LORD, have mercy upon us. CHRIST, have mercy upon us. unto thee. LORD, have mercy upon us. 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.

And let our cry come

Minister.

sure

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 confidence in thee; defend him from the danger of the enemy; and keep him in perpetual peace and safety, through JESUS CHRIST Our Lord.

Amen

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 the right way that leadeth unto fatherly correction to him; that everlasting life.

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

¶ If the person visited be very sick, then the Minister may end his Exhortation in this place, or else proceed:

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 person after this form, or other like: without chastisement, whereof DEARLY beloved, know all are partakers, then are ye this, that ALMIGHTY GOD is the bastards, and not sons. FurLORD of life and death, and of thermore, we have had fathers all things to them pertaining; of our flesh, which corrected as youth, strength, health, age, us, and we gave them reverence: weakness, and sickness. Where- shall we not much rather be in fore, whatsoever your sickness subjection unto the Father of be, know you certainly that it spirits, and live? For they is God's visitation. And for verily for a few days chastened what cause soever this sickness us after their own pleasure; but be sent unto you; whether it he for our profit, that we might be to try your patience for the be partakers of his holiness. example of others, and that your These words, good brother, are faith may be found, in the day written in holy Scripture, for 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 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,

gracious goodness to visit us. And there should be no greater comfort to Christian persons, than to be made like unto CHRIST, by suffering patiently adversities, troubles, and sick

also did rise again the third day; that he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; and from thence shall come again at the end of the world, to judge the quick and the dead?

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 glory, before he was crucified. So truly our way to eternal joy, is to suffer here with CHRIST; and our door to enter into eternal life, is gladly to die with CHRIST; that we may rise again from death, and dwell 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?

And in JESUS CHRIST his only begotten Son our Lord? And that he was conceived by the HOLY GHOST, born of the Virgin Mary; that he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was cru

T The sick person shall answer,
All this I steadfastly believe.

¶ 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 be
may
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.

T And then the Minister shall say the Collect following.

Let us pray,

O MOST merciful God, who, according to the multitude of thy mercies, dost so put away the sins of those who truly repent, that thou rememberest them no more; open thine eye of mercy upon this thy servant,

« PreviousContinue »