MATRIMONY.

When the Persons to be married are assembled with their Friends, the Minister shall say,

DEARLY beloved, we are gathered to

gether here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee; and therefore is not by any to be enterprised, or taken in hand, lightly or unadvisedly; but reverently, discreetly, soberly, and in the fear of God.

And also, speaking to the Persons who are to be married, he shall say,

J REQUIRE and charge you both, as ye

will answer at the 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 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 death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.

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 thereto I plight thee my troth.

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,

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.

Then the Minister shall say,

Let us pray.

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. Enable 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 eternal 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 the Minister speak unto the People.

FORASMUCH as M. and N. have con

sented 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 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.