Then shall be said or sung :

Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good-will toward men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks unto thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only begotten Son Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Then the Elder, if he see it expedient, may put up an extemporary prayer; and afterward shall let the people depart with this blessing :—

May the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, and the blessing of God Almighty, the

Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be among you, and remain with you always.

Amen.

N. B. If the Elder be straitened for time, he may omit any part of the service, except the Invitation, the Confession, and the Prayer of Consecration.

Matrimony..

1495. FORM OF THE SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY.

[The parts in brackets throughout may be used or not at discretion.]

At the day and time appointed for the solemniza tion of matrimony, the persons to be marriedhaving been qualified according to law-standing together, the man on the right hand and the woman on the left, the Minister shall say :—

DEARLY BELOVED: We are gathered tʊgether here in the sight of God, and in the presence of these witnesses, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is between 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 St. Paul to be honorable among all men; and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly, but reverently, discreetly, and in the fear of God.

Irto which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore if any can slow just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forver hold his peace.

And also speaking unto the persons that are to be married, he shall say :—

I require and charge you both, that if ither of you know any impediment why you may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, you do now confess it, 1or 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.]

If no impediment be alleged, then shall the Minister say unto the man,—

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, honor 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 Minister say unto the woman,—

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 love, honor, 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 the Minister shall cause the man with right hand to take the woman by her right hand and to say after him as followeth :

I, M., take thee, N., to be 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