CONFIRMATION,

OR LAYING ON OF HANDS UPON THOSE THAT ARE BAPTIZED AND COME TO YEARS OF DISCRETION.

Upon the day appointed, all that are to be then confirmed, being placed, and standing in order, before the Bishop; he (or some other Minister appointed by him) shall read this Preface following.

T the end that Confirmation

may be ministered to the more edifying of fuch as fhall receive it, the Church hath thought good to order, That none hereafter shall be Confirmed, but fuch as can fay the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments; and can also anfwer to fuch other Questions, as in the fhort Catechifm are contained: which order is very convenient

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your Baptifm; ratifying and con-
firming the fame in your own per-
fons, and acknowledging your-
felves bound to believe, and to do,
all thofe things, which your God-
fathers and Godmothers then un-
dertook for you?

¶And every one shall audibly answer,
I do.
The Bishop.

to be observed; to the end, that OUR help is in the Name of

children, being now come to the years of difcretion, and having learned what their Godfathers and Godmothers promised for them in Baptifm, they may themselves, with their own mouth and confent, openly before the Church, ratify and confirm the fame; and alfo promife, that by the grace of God they

will evermore endeavour themselves faithfully to obferve fuch things,

as they, by their own confeffion,

have affented unto.

¶ Then shall the Bishop say,

Dre
Do ye here, in the prefence of
God, and of this congregation,
renew the folemn promife and vow
that was made in your name at

the Lord;

Anfw. Who hath made heaven

and earth.

SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY.

¶ 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,

Publish the Banns of Marriage | between M. of—and N. of—, If any of you know cause, or just impediment, why these two perfons fhould not be joined together in holy Matrimony, ye are to declare it. This is the firft [second, or third] time of afking.

¶ 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.

honourable among all men and therefore is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly, to fatisfy men's carnal lufts and appetites, like brute beafts that have no understanding; but reverently, difcreetly, advisedly, foberly, and in the fear of God; duly confidering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained.

First, It was ordained for the procreation of children, to be

¶ At the day and time appointed for solemnization of brought up in the fear and nur

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,

DEA

EARLY beloved, we are gathered together here in the fight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honourable eftate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, fignifying unto us the myftical union that is betwixt Chrift and his Church; which holy eftate Chrift adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee; and is commended of Saint Paul to be

ture of the Lord, and to the praise of his holy Name.

Secondly, It was ordained for a remedy against fin, and to avoid fornication; that fuch perfons as have not the gift of continency might marry, and keep themselves undefiled members of Chrift's body.

Thirdly, It was ordained for the mutual fociety, help, and comfort, that the one ought to have of the other, both in profperity and adverfity. Into which holy eftate these two perfons prefent come now to be joined. Therefore if any man can fhew any just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now fpeak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace.

And also, speaking unto the persons that shall be married, he shall say,

Require and charge you both.

im

nance in the holy eftate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and ferve him, love, honour, and keep

live?

The Woman shall answer,
I will.

as ye will anfwer at the dread-him in fickness and in health; and, ful day of judgement when the fe- forfaking all other, keep thee only crets of all hearts fhall be disclosed, unto him, fo long as ye both shall that if either of you know any pediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, ye do now confefs it. For be ye well affured, that fo 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 alledge 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

¶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.

M. take thee N. to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from

as the persons to be married do thereby sustain) to this day forward, for better for

prove his allegation: then the solemnization must be deferred, until such time as the truth be tried. ¶If no impediment be alledged, then shall the Curate say unto 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 fickness and in health; and, forfaking all other, keep thee only unto her, fo long as ye both fhall 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 ordi

worfe, for richer for poorer, in ficknefs 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,

N. take thee M. to my wedded

from this day forward, for better
hufband, to have and to hold
for worfe, for richer for poorer, in
fickness and in health, to love, che-
rish, and to obey, till death us do
part, according to God's holy or-
dinance; 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

S

of this Ring given and received is BLESSED are all they that fear a token and pledge,) and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws; through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

FORASMUCH as M. and N. ed: that feareth the Lord.