It is also commended by the Apostle, and declared to be honourable in all. Therefore, it is not to be taken in hand unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently and soberly, and in the fear of the Lord, duly considering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained.

It was ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort that the one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity; and that children might be brought up in the fear and admonition of the Lord, and to the praise of his holy name. In this holy estate, these two persons present come now to be joined together.

Therefore, if any one can show just cause, why they may not awfully be joined together, let him now testify the same.

And I require and charge you both, as in the presence of God, that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, ye do now declare it. For be well assured, that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God's word doth allow, are not joined together of God, neither is their Matrimony lawful.

(Then shall the man make this declaration; saying after the Minister :)

"I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, M. M., may not be joined in Matrimony to N. N., here present."*

(Then shall the woman make this declaration; saying after the Minister :)

"I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, N. N., may not be joined in Matrimony to M. M., here present.'

(The Congregation then standing up, the Minister shall say:) Let us pray. Bless us, O Lord, in all our doings, with thy most gracious favour and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works, begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy name, and, finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life. Amen.

Our 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

This is required by Act of Parliament.

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: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. (Then shall the Minister say unto the man :)

M. M., Wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded Wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour and keep her, in sickness and in health; and keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?

(And the man shall answer :) I will.

(Then shall the Minister in like manner say unto the woman :)

N. N., Wilt thou have this man to be 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 cherish him, in sickness and in health; and keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?

(And the woman shall answer :) I will.

(Then taking each other by the right hand, the man shall say after the Minister:) I, M. M., do take thee, N. N., to be my wedded Wife; to live together after God's word and ordinance, in the holy estate of Matrimony, till death us do part.

(And the woman shall say after the Minister :)

I, N. N., do take thee, M. M., to be my wedded Husband; to live together after God's word and ordinance, in the holy estate of Matrimony, till death us do part.

(Then loosing their hands, the man shall put a ring upon the fourth finger of the woman's left hand; and holding it there, shall say :)

"I give this ring as a pledge and token of our union; and I call upon these persons here present to witness, that I, M. M., do take thee, N. N., to be my lawful wedded Wife."

(And the woman shall say :)

"I receive this ring as a pledge and token of our union; and I call upon these persons here present to witness, that I, N. N., do take thee, M. M., to be my lawful wedded Husband."

(Then the Minister shall say :)

Forasmuch as M. M. and N. N. have consented together in holy

wedlock, and have testified the same before God and this company, with joining of hands and giving and receiving a ring: 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 joining their right hands the Minister shall say :)

Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee;

The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace: In the name of Jesus: Amen.

(Then the Minister shall say:) Let us pray.

Lord, Lord God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, who hast thyself instituted the holy estate of Matrimony; since it hath pleased thee that this man and woman are joined together in the bonds of holy Matrimony, jointly to live unto thee, and to serve thee in holiness and righteousness all their days; we pray thee to confirm thy word upon them; that both this man may love and cherish his Wife, and also that this woman may be loving and obedient to her Husband in all things, according to thy word; that whilst they both shall live, they may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant made between them.

Look, O Lord, mercifully upon them from heaven, and bless them. Sanctify their marriage state. Grant them ever to remain in love and peace together. Cause them to walk together in thy ways, to be in all things devoted to thee, and conformed to thine image in the love that is between thee and thy church; that they, obeying thy will, dwelling as heirs together of the grace of life, and being always in safety under thy protection, may abide in thee unto their lives' end, and finally, by thy mercy, inherit thy everlasting kingdom. Amen.

(After which the Minister shall read as follows :)

In the Epistle to the Ephesians, the 5th Chapter, St. Paul says:— 'Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, 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 their own husbands in everything. 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 cause 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 mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself, and the wife see that she reverence her husband." T. 14. Now may the very God of peace

Us wholly sanctify,

And grant us such a rich increase
Of unction from on high,
That spirit, soul, and body may,
Preservèd free from stain,

Be blameless until thy great day,
Lord Jesus Christ: Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with us all: Amen.

LITANIES AT BAPTISM.

BAPTISM OF CHILDREN. No. 1.

(After the singing of a suitable hymn, and a short discourse,)

CHRIST, thou Lamb of God, which takest away the sin of the world, Leave thy peace with us. Amen

By thy holy sacraments,

Bless us, gracious Lord and God.

Baptism was instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ. It sets forth the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which is promised to us and to our children, and is shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Children, therefore, may be made partakers of this grace;

For Christ hath said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

T. 96. An infant we present to thee,
As thy redeemed property,
And thee most fervently entreat,
Thyself this child to consecrate
By baptism, and its soul to bless
Out of the fulness of thy grace.

(The child having been brought in, the Minister offers up a prayer.)

Ye who are baptized into Christ Jesus, how were ye baptized ? Into his death.

N. N., into the death of Jesus, I baptize thee, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

(During the imposition of hands, the Minister continues:)

Now art thou buried with him by baptism into his death

In the name of Jesus: Amen.

Now therefore live, yet not thou, but Christ live in thee; and the life which thou now livest in the flesh, live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved thee, and gave himself for thee.

T. 132. pt. 2. This grant according to thy word,
Through Jesus Christ our only Lord,
O Father, Son, and Spirit.

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee;

The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace: In the name of Jesus: Amen.

(Questions which may be put to the children and answered by them:)

1. What is baptism?

2. May children also be made partakers of this grace? 3. What is the ground of this hope?