THE FORM OF
SOLEMNIZATION OF
MATRIMONY.
-----------------------------------
¶
The laws respecting Matrimony, whether by publishing the Banns in churches, or
by License, being different in the several States, every Minister is left to
the direction of those laws, in every thing that regards the civil contract
between the parties.
¶
And when the Banns are published, it shall be in the following form: 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.
¶ 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
neighbours; 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 [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 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
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
honour 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 Gods
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
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.
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 M. 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 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. And the Minister 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 Minister, shall say,
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.
¶
Then the Man, leaving the Ring upon the fourth finger of the Woman's left hand,
the Minister shall say,
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. Amen.
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 Minister 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 company:
FORASMUCH
as M. 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, each to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving a
Ring, and by joining hands; I pronounce that they are Man and Wife, 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 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.
Formatted by Lee Chapel on the Southfork,
Order of Centurions, from an 1869 BCP