First,
the Banns of all that are to be married together must be published in
the Church three several Sundays, during the time of Morning Service, or
of Evening Service, (if there be no Morning Service,) immediately after
the second Lesson; the Curate saying after the accustomed manner, I
publish the Banns of Marriage between M. of - and N. of -. If any of you
know cause, or just impediment, why these two persons should not be
joined together in holy Matrimony, ye are to declare it. This is the
first [second, or third] time of asking.
And if the
persons that are to be married dwell in divers Parishes, the Banns must
be asked in both Parishes; and the Curate of the one Parish shall not
solemnize Matrimony betwixt them, without a Certificate of the Banns
being thrice asked, from the Curate of the other Parish.
At the day and
time appointed for solemnization of Matrimony, the persons to be married
shall come into the Body of the Church with their friends and neighbours:
and there standing together, the Man on the right hand, and the Woman on
the left the Priest shall say,
Dearly 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 honourable 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 adorned and
beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought, in Cana
of Galilee; and is commended of Saint Paul to be honourable among all
men: and therefore is not by any to be enterprized, nor taken in hand,
unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly, to satisfy men's carnal lusts and
appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding; but reverently,
discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God; duly considering
the causes for which Matrimony was ordained.
First, It was
ordained for the procreation of children, to be brought up in the fear
and nurture of the Lord, and to the praise of his holy Name.
Secondly, It was
ordained for a remedy against sin, and to avoid fornication; that such
persons as have not the gift of continency might marry, and keep
themselves undefiled members of Christ's body.
Thirdly, It was
ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort, that the one ought
to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity. Into which holy
estate these two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore if any
man can shew any just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined
together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace.
And also,
speaking unto the persons that shall be married, he shall say,
I Require and
charge you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgement,
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 coupled together otherwise than God's Word doth allow are not joined
together by God; neither is their Matrimony lawful.
At which day of
Marriage, if any man do allege and declare any impediment, why they may
not be coupled together in Matrimony, by God's law, or the laws of this
Realm; and will be bound, and sufficient sureties with him, to the
parties; or else put in a caution (to the full value of such charges as
the persons to be married do thereby sustain) to prove his allegation:
then the solemnization must be deferred until such time as the truth be
tried.
If no impediment
be alleged, then shall the Curate say unto the Man,
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N. wilt 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, honour,
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.
Then shall the Priest say unto the Woman,
N. wilt 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 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 Minis- ter shall say,
Let us pray.
0 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.
Forasmuch 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 128
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.
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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 67
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 always 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.
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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 him- self 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.
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.
