_Then shall the Minister say_,
Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?
_Then shall they give their troth to each other in this manner_.
_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 _N_. 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 they loose their hands; and the woman, with her right
hand taking the man by his right hand, shall likewise say after
the Minister_,
I _N_. take thee _N_. 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, 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 upon the fourth finger of the
woman's left hand, they shall both kneel down, and the Minister
shall say_,
Let us pray.
O 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 according to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
_Then shall the Priest join their right hands together, and say_,
Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.
_Then shall the Minister speak unto the people_.
Foreasmuch as _N_. 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 Blessing_.
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.
Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: and walk in 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 thy house;
Thy children like the olive branches: 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 miser eatur_. Psalm lxvii.
God be merciful unto us, and bless us: and shew us the light of his
countenance, and be merciful unto us:
That thy way may be known upon earth: thy saving health among all
nations.
Let the people praise thee, O God: yea, let all the people praise
thee.
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.
_Minister_. Lord, have mercy upon us.
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 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. Amen.
_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.
_Minister_. Be unto them a tower of strength;
_Answer_. From the face of their enemy.
_Minister_. O Lord, hear our prayer;
_Answer_. And let our cry come unto thee.
_Minister_.
O 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_.
O 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_.
| _Or this prayer following may be used_.
|
| O almighty God, Creator of mankind, who only art the well-spring
| of life: Bestow upon these thy servants, if it be thy will, the
| gift and heritage of children; and grant that they may see their
| children brought up in thy faith and fear to the honour and glory
| of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.
O 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: O 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 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.
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 learn your duties toward your
husbands, even as it is plainly set forth in holy Scripture.
Saint Paul, in the aforenamed Epistle to the Ephesians, teacheth
you thus; 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 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 holy women also, who trusted in 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 concluding address may be omitted, and unless the holy
Communion_ _immediately follow, the congregation may be dismissed
with_ _a Benediction_.
_It is convenient that the new-married persons should receive the
holy Communion at the time of their Marriage, or at the first
opportunity after their Marriage_.