So.

And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery. Mat. 19:3-9.

DEARLY beloved, you have heard in what honor our Lord doth hold the estate of matrimony, from the beginning appointed of God for the union of one man with one woman unto purity of life in the sanctification of both body and spirit.

Seeing therefore that marriage is of so great moment that it cannot without sin be dissolved except by death, they who enter into this bond may not do so lightly, but must with serious forethought and gravity of purpose promise fidelity to each other in all that pertains to this holy estate.

Then may the Minister address the Witnessing Company saying:

If any man can show just cause, why this man and woman may not be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace.

Also addressing those who are to be married he may say:

I require and charge you both, as you 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 you may not be joined together in matrimony, you do now confess it. For be you well assured, that if any persons are joined together otherwise than as God's word doth allow, their marriage is not lawful. (In place of "lawful" the word christian may be used.]

Here let the Minister say:

The Lord bless Thee, and keep thee :

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

The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Amen.

A

Let us pray.

LMIGHTY God

our heavenly Father; who knowest

all hearts and from whom no secrets are hid, we beseech thee of thy boundless grace to give unto these thy servants true hearts and godly purposes, that taking upon themselves the marriage vows sincerely, they may ever rejoice in fulfilling the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

After the Prayer the Minister should say to the Man and Woman:

Join your right hands.

And when their hands are joined he should address the Man by name, saying:

You, N., do now take her whose right hand you hold to be your wedded wife. You promise to love her, protect her, and sustain her; and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as you both shall live.

Do you so promise?

Then shall the Man answer:

I do.

Then should the Minister address the Woman by name, saying:

You, M., do now take him whose right hand you hold to be your wedded husband. You promise to love him, to cherish him, to yield him honor and reverence, and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as you both shall live.

Do you so promise ?

Then shall the Woman answer:

I do.

If the parties will use the marriage ring, let the Man give the ring to the Woman, and let her give it to the Minister; and the Minister shall restore it to the Man to place on the fourth finger of the Woman's left hand, and holding it there the Man shall say after the Minister :

WITH this ring I thee wed, 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. When these vows and pledges have been given the Minister shall say:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; I pronounce you N. and M. to be lawful husband and wife. Those whom God hath joined together let not man put asunder.

Let us pray.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who 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.

FTERNAL and ever faithful Lord, who hast heard the

vows which thy servants have made before thee; bountifully bestow upon them thy grace, that the things which they have promised to do may never seem burdensome to them, but that the doing of them may bring continually increasing joy; through Jesus Christ, who for us was faithful unto death. Amen.

BOUNTEOUS Giver of all good, who knowest how to re

ward the innocent and to bless thy faithful ones, we entreat thee to bestow upon this husband and this wife thy benediction. Graciously lead them in the way appointed by thy mercy, bless them with such measure of worldly good as may be expedient for them, keep them in health and peace, in mutual trust and comfort, and at the end of this earthly life vouchsafe unto them a glad entrance into thy heavenly dwelling; through our only Mediator and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

After the Prayers the Minister should pronounce the Benediction.

THE grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be

with you all. Amen.

AS AN ALTERNATE FORM THE FOLLOWING IS GIVEN FROM THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

At the day and time appointed for Solemnization of Matrimony, the persons to be married shall come into the body of the church, or shall be ready in some proper house, with their friends and neighbors; and there standing together, the Man on the right hand, and the Woman on the left, the Minister shall say:

DEARLY beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony; which is commended of St. Paul to be honorable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show 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 who are to be married, he shall say:

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 if any persons are joined together otherwise than as God's word doth allow, their marriage is not lawful.

The Minister, if he shall have reason to doubt of the lawfulness of the propo proposed marriage, may demand sufficient surety for his indemnification; but if no impediment shall be alleged, or suspected. the Minister shall say to the Man :

M. 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, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health: and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?

The Man shall answer:

I will.

Then shall the Minister 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, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, 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 M. 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.