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work of our redemption, he gave his fanction to the original law of marriage, establishing its authority, and he honoured this institution by giving his own prefence at a marriage in Cana of Galilee, where he manifefted his power and glory. The apostle Paul, as he pronounces marriage in general honourable, fo fpeaking of the union that fubfifts betwixt Chrift and the church, he compares it to the union that should take place betwixt married perfons: “this is a great mystery," faith he, "but I fpeak concerning Chrift and the church, "nevertheless let every one of you in particular "fo love his wife even as himself, and let the "wife fee that the reverence her husband.”

As you, then, have your warrant and encouragement for entering into this state and relation in the word of God, fo from thence you have your duty to learn; and as you would defire to profper, to live in peace and comfort, and to die with well grounded hope, let the ftatutes of God be your counsellors, fet the Lord before you, acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will direct your paths.

Love, which is declared to be the fulfilling of the law, comprehending the duties which we owe both to God and man, doth likewise comprehend the fum of the duties which married perfons owe, one to another. And when this principle is feated in the heart, every duty belonging to the conjugal ftate, will naturally and easily flow from it. It is running a dangerous rifk to enter into the married state with one for whom we have not a fincere affection and efteem; nor is it enough that love should precede marriage, but there must be a mutual care and endeavour to preferve and cherish it afterwards for love is a tender, delicate plant, that requires to be cultivated with care, and fenced from all inclement blafts, otherwise it will foon droop and die.

Married perfons must be particularly careful to maintain their fidelity to each other in preferving the marriage bed pure and undefiled: a wound given in this refpect pierces deep, is moft feverely felt, and scarce curable.

Further, married perfons must be mutually affifting to each other in promoting their

worldly intereft. It is the part of the hufband to be active and industrious in making suitable provision for his family, nor must he waste and fquander in diffipated courfes what they have a right and title to. On the other hand, the wife must be frugal and induftrious in managing her domeftic concerns, that thus, she may deferve the amiable character which Solomon

gives of the virtuous woman, "She looketh "well to the ways of her household, and eat"eth not the bread of idlenefs, fo that the "heart of her husband doth safely trust in her." But while married perfons are careful to dif charge the duties of domeftic life, they muft be on their guard left their hearts be too much attached to the world, and to fuch a degree as to cause them forget the one thing needful, the care of their immortal fouls. They muft learn to dwell together as heirs of the grace of life, and be found walking in all the ordinances and commandments of God, blamelefs. Thrice happy the married pair who thus spend their lives together, for after death they fhall not be separated!

(Here the Minifter fhall defire the parties to join hands, &c.)

CONCLUDING PRAYER.

FOLLOW with thy bleffing O Lord that duty in which we have been engaged at this time. Enable the parties who have now been joined together in a marriage covenant, to live as becometh the candidates for a bleffed immortality. May it be their chief ambition and happy attainment to be found interested in that everlafting covenant which is well ordered in all things and fure. Grant O Lord that each of us who are here prefent, may seriously confider and lay to heart, that the time is drawing near when every earthly connection fhall be diffolved; may we therefore rejoice as though we rejoiced not, weep as though we wept not, buy as though we poffeft not, and use this world as not abufing it, feeing the fashion of it paffeth away. Be thou O God we humbly pray, our guide through life, our fupport in death,

and our portion for ever more, through Jesus Christ our Lord, AMEN.

MARRIAGE.

FORM III.

EXHORTATION.

MARRIAGE has been defined, (not improperly,) a ftate which enlarges the scene both of our comforts and our cares. A happy marriage affords all the pleasures of friendship, all the enjoyments of sense and reason, and indeed all the sweets of domeftic life. In this state, there is a certain fuperiority in one of the parties, fo tempored with an equality in other respects between both, by reason of the near union of their perfons and interefts, that it founds and requires certain duties common on both fides, as well as fome diftinct and peculiar to each. The whole duties of the conjugal state may be fummed up in one comprehenfive word, Love. It is true indeed that the fcripture enjoins women to reverence

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