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THE MINISTER'S POCKET RITUAL.

PART FIRST.

SCRIPTURE LESSONS AND FORMS OF SERVICE FOR VARIOUS OCCASIONS.

CHAPTER I.

MARRIAGE SERVICES.

SECTION I.

The full Marriage Service.*

At the day and time appointed for Solemnization 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 neighbors; and there standing together, the Man on the right hand, and the Woman on the left, the minister shall say:

EARLY 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 honorable among all men and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, 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

* The service here given is that now in use in the Protestant Episcopal Church in this country, as found in the Book of Common Prayer.

lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace.

I

And, also, speaking unto the persons who are to be married, he shall say:

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.

¶If no impediment shall be alleged, the minister shall say to the

M.,

WILT
W wedded

man:

to

ILT 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, honor, 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.,

I will.

¶ The man shall answer :

Then shall the minister say to the woman:

WIL

ILT 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, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?

I will.

The woman shall answer :

¶ Then shall the minister say:

HO giveth this woman to be married to

W this man?

I

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 follows:

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.

I

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 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, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, 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 a ring. And the minister taking the ring 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:

WIT

ITH this ring I thee do 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.

¶ Then, the man leaving the ring upon the woman's left hand, the

minister shall say:

Let us pray.

UR 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 them that 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, 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:

THE

HOSE whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.

¶ Then shall the minister speak unto the 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 faith, each to the other, and have declared the same

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