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 to the persons that shall be married, he shall say. I REQUIRE and charge you (as you will answer at the dreadful day of judgment, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed) that if either of you do know any impediment why ye may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, that ye confess it. For be ye well assured, that so many as be 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 doth' sustain to prove his allegation: then the solemnization must be deferred unto such time as the truth be tried. If no impediment be alleged, then shall the Curate say unto the man, 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 to her, so long as you both shall live? The man shall answer, I will. Then shall the Priest say to 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 you both shall live? The woman shall answer, Then shall the Minister say, Who giveth this woman to be married unto this man? [Grafton and 1596, do.] [ Grafton, to.] [1578, the Minister.] And the Minister receiving the woman at her father or friend's hands, shall cause the man to take the woman by the right hand, and so either to give their troth to other. The man first saying. 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 depart, according to God's holy ordinance: and thereto I plight thee my troth. Then shall they loose their hands, and the woman taking again the man by the right hand shall say. 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 depart, 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 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, the Minister shall say. 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 unto 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. [* 1578, the Minister. And so throughout the rubric.] [Grafton and 1596 add, Let us praye.] [ 1596, their hands.] Beati omnes. Deus misereatur. 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, and1 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 you may so live together in this life, that in the world to come you may have life everlasting. Amen. Then the Ministers or Clerks going to the Lord's table, shall say or sing, this Psalm following. ways. BLESSED are all they that fear the Lord, and walk in his For thou shalt eat the labour of thy 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. 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. &c. As it was in the. &c. Or else this Psalm following. GOD be merciful unto us and bless us and shew us the Peal. Ixvii. light of his countenance, and be merciful unto us. That thy way may be known upon the 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 flock righteously, and govern the nations upon the earth. Let the people praise thee (O God): let all the people praise thee. : Then shall the earth bring forth her increase and God, even our 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. &c. As it was in the. &c. ¶ The Psalm ended, and the man and the woman kneeling afore the Lord's table: the priest standing at the table, and turning his face toward them, shall say, Answer. Minister. Answer. But deliver us from evil. Amen. O Lord save thy servant, and thy handmaid. Minister. O Lord send them help from thy holy place. Answer. Minister. Answer. Minister. And evermore defend them. Be unto them a tower of strength. O Lord, hear our prayer. Answer. And let our cry come unto thee. The 10 Minister. O GOD of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, bless these thy servants, and sow the seed of eternal life in their minds, 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 [ A misprint for, folk.] [ 1596, our owne.] Sara 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 Jesu Christ our Lord. Amen. This prayer next following shall be omitted, where the woman is past child birth. 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's2 children, unto the third and fourth generation, unto thy praise and honour through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O God, which by thy mighty power hast made all things of nought; which 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 which 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 to her husband as Rachel, wise as Rebecca, faithful and obedient as Sara, and in all quietness, sobriety, and peace be a follower3 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, which 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, [1596, Jesus.] [ Grafton, childers.] |