and thereto I plight thee my | ing to thy laws; through Jesus 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, N. take thee M. to my wed 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, laying the same upon the book with the accustomed duty to the Priest and Clerk. And the Priest, 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 Priest, shall say, WITH this Ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, 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 up. on the fourth finger of the Woman's left hand, they shall both kneel down; and 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, 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 accord Christ our Lord. Amen. Then shall the Priest join their right hands together, and say, Those whom God hath joined together let no man pnt asunder. Then shall the Minister speak unto the people. 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 troth either to other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a Ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be Man and Wife together, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. And the Minister shall add this GOD the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you; and so 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. Then the Minister or Clerks, going to the Lord's Table, shall say or sing this Psalm following. Beati omnes. Psalm cxxviii. LESSED are all they that fear the Lord and walk in BLE his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: O well is thee, and happy shalt thou be. Thy wife shall be as the fruitful vine: upon the walls of thine house; Thy children like the olivebranches: round about thy table. Lo, thus shall the man be blessed; that feareth the Lord. The Lord from out of Sion shall so bless thee that thou shalt see Jerusalem in prosperity all thy life long; Yea, that thou shalt see thy children's children and peace upon Israel. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen. Or this Psalm. Deus misereatur. Psalm lxvii. Go That thy way may be known upon earth thy saving health among all nations. Minister. O Lord, save thy servant, and thy handmaid; Answer. Who put their trust in thee. Minister. O Lord, send them help from thy holy place; Answer. And evermore defend them. Let the people praise thee, O God: yea, let all the people tower of strength, praise thee. Minister. Be unto them a : O let the nations rejoice and be glad for thou shalt judge the folk righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Let the people praise thee, O God: yea, let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth bring forth her increase and God, even our own God, shall give 'us his blessing. God shall bless us and all the ends of the world shall fear him. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen. The Psalm ended, and the Man and the Woman kneeling before the Lord's Table, the Priest standing at the Table, and turning his face towards them, shall say, Lord, have mercy upon us. Answer. Christ, have mercy upon us. Answer. From the face of their enemy. Minister. O Lord, hear our God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, bless these thy servants, and sow the seed of eternal life in their hearts; that whatsoever in thy holy Word they shall profitably learn, they may in deed fulfil the same. Look, O Lord, mercifully upon them from heaven, and bless them. And as thou didst send thy blessing upon Abraham and Sarah, to their great comfort, so vouchsafe to send thy blessing upon these thy servants; that they obeying thy will, and alway being in safety under thy protection, may abide in thy love unto their lives' end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. This Prayer next following shall be omitted, where the Woman is past child-bearing. Merciful Lord, and heavenly Father, by whose gracious gift mankind is increased; We beseech thee, assist with thy blessing these two persons, that they may both be fruitful in procreation of children, and also live together so long in godly love and honesty, that they may see their children christianly and virtuously brought up, to thy praise and honour; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. God, who by thy mighty power hast made all things of nothing; who also (after other things set in order) didst appoint, that out of man (created after thine own image and similitude) woman should take her beginning; and, knitting them together, didst teach that it should never be lawful to put asunder those whom thou by Matrimony hadst made one: God, who hast consecrated the state of Matrimony to such an excellent mystery, that in it is signified and represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ and his Church; Look mercifully upon these thy servants, that both this man may love his wife, according to thy Word, (as Christ did love his spouse the Church, who gave himself for it, loving and cherishing it even as his own flesh,) and also that this woman may be loving and amiable, faithful and obedient to her husband; and in all quietness, sobriety, and peace, be a follower of holy and godly matrons. O Lord, bless them both, and grant them to inherit thy everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. | Then shall the Priest say, ALMIGHTY God, who at the beginning did create our first parents, Adam and Eve, and did sanctify and join them together in marriage; Pour upon you the riches of his grace, sanctify and bless you; that ye may please him both in body and soul, and live together in holy love unto your lives' end. Amen. After which, if there be no Sermon declaring the duties of Man and Wife, the Minister shall read as followeth. ALL ye that are married, or that intend to take the holy estate of Matrimony upon you, hear what the holy Scripture doth say as touching the duty of husbands towards their wives, and wives towards their husbands. Saint Paul, in his Epistle to the Ephesians, the fifth Chapter, doth give this commandment to all married men; Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water, by the Word; that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself: for no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church: for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this canse shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife; and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great my stery; but I speak concerning Christ and the Church, Never theless, let every one of you in particular so love his wife, even as himself. Likewise the same Saint Paul, writing to the Colossians, speaketh thus to all men that are married; Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Hear also what Saint Peter, the Apostle of Christ, who was himself a married man, saith unto them that are married; Ye husbands, dwell with your wives according to knowledge; giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered. Hitherto ye have heard the duty of the husband toward the wife. Now likewise, ye wives, hear and learu your duties toward your husbands, even as it is plainly set forth in holy Scripture. their own husbands in every thing. And again he saith, Let the wife see that she reverence her husband. And in his Epistle to the Colossians, Saint Paul giveth you this short lesson; Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Saint Peter also doth instruct you very well, thus saying; Ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the Word, they also may without the Word be won by the conversation of the wives, while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible; even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the Saint Paul, in the aforenamed Epistle to the Ephesians, teacheth you thus; Wives, submit yourselves unto your own hus-holy women also, who trusted in bands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church: and he is the Saviour of the body. Therefore as the Church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to It is convenient that the new-married persons should receive the holy Com munion at the time of their Marriage, or at the first opportunity after their Marriage. God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands; even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord; whose daughters ye are as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. 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. Answer. Spare us, good Lord. Then the Minister shall say, Let us pray. Lord, have mercy upon us. OUR UR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in 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 tempt ation; But deliver us from evil. Amen. Minister. O Lord, save thy servant; Answer. Which putteth his trust in thee. Minister. Send him help from thy holy place; Answ. And evermore mightily defend him. Minister. Let the enemy have no advantage of him; Answer. Nor the wicked proach to hurt him. Minister. Be unto him, O Lord, a strong tower, Answer. From the face of his enemy. who is grieved with sickness. Sanctify, we beseech thee, this thy fatherly correction to him; that 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 person after this form, or other like. DEARLY beloved, know this, that Almighty God is the Lord of life and death, and of all things to them pertaining, as youth, strength, health, age, weakness, and sickness. Wherefore, whatsoever your sickness ap-is, know you certainly, that it is God's visitation. And for what cause soever this sickness is sent unto you; whether it be to try your patience for the example of others, and that your faith may be found in the day of the Lord laudable, glorious, and honourable, to the increase of glory and endless felicity; or else it be sent unto you to correct and amend in you whatsoever doth offend the know you certainly, that if you eyes of your heavenly Father; truly repent you of your sins, and bear your sickness patiently, trusting in God's mercy, Minister. O Lord, hear our prayers. Answer. And let our cry come unto thee. Minister. 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 sure 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 for his dear Son Jesus Christ's sake, and render unto him humble thanks for his fatherly visitation, submitting yourself wholly unto his will, it shall most merciful God and turn to your profit, and help you Saviour; extend thy accustom-forward in the right way that ed goodness to this thy servant leadeth unto everlasting life. |