FORM OF

SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY,

&c.

It is proposed, that at the time appointed, the persons to be married shall come into the body of the chapel with their friends, 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 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; signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his church; which holy estate Christ blessed with his presence, and first miracle, that he wrought in Cana of Galilee, and is also commended of the apostle Paul, to be honorable among all men, and therefore is not, by any, to be engaged in unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God.

It is proposed that the minister then address the following charge to the persons about to be married.

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 may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, ye do now confess it. For be ye well assured, that so many as are united together, otherwise than God's word doth allow, are not joined together by God; neither is their matrimony lawful.

Then the man shall say in the presence of the Registrar and witnesses,

I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, A. B. may not be joined in matrimony to C. D.

In like manner the woman shall say in the presence of the same persons,

I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, C. D. may not be joined in matrimony to A. B.

The minister shall then say to the man,

M. W`

WILT

VILT 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 other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?

The man shall answer, I will.

The minister shall then say to the woman,

N.

WILT

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

The woman shall answer, I will.

Then the minister shall cause the man with his right hand, to take the woman by her right hand, and to say after him as followeth, in the words prescribed by the Act.

I

CALL upon these

persons, here present, to witness, that I, A. B. do take thee, C. D. to be my lawful wedded wife.

Then, loosing their hands, the woman, with her right

I

hand, taking the man by his right hand, shall likewise say after the minister; also according to the words prescribed by the Act.

CALL upon these persons here present to witness, that I, C. D. do take thee, A. B. to be my lawful wedded husband.

Then (if the ring be used) the man, having put the ring on the fourth finger of the woman's left hand,

shall say,

THIS

HIS ring is given and received as the token and pledge of my having taken thee to be my wife.

The minister shall then say,

ORASMUCH as A. B. and C. D, have consented

FORA

together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before this company, agreeably to the word of God, and according to the Act of Parliament, in that case made and provided, I pronounce that they be Man and Wife together, in the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

It is proposed that the minister add this blessing:

OD the Father, God the Son, God the Holy

GOD

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.

The minister shall then read the following Scripture, unless he choose to deliver an address suitable to the occasion.

Ephesians v. 1-5.

E ye therefore followers of God, as dear chil

BE

dren;