MERCIFUL God and Heavenly Father, who hast taught us that thou dost not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men; look, with pity, we beseech thee, upon the sorrows of thy servant, for whom our prayers are desired. In thy wisdom thou hast seen trouble laid upon him, and distress become his portion. Remember him, O God, in mercy; purify his soul by these waters of affliction that have flowed over him. Give him patience under his sorrows, and resignation to thy blessed will. Lift up the light of thy countenance upon him and give him peace, now and forever more. Amen.

Marriage Service.

¶The Minister should first satisfy himself that he is authorized by the laws of the State to solemnize the Marriage, and that the requirements of the statutes have been complied with by the persons to be married.

When the Persons to be married are assembled with their friends, and are standing before the Minister, the woman at the left hand of the man, the Minister shall say to the congregation:

DEARLY beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join this man and this woman in the holy bonds of matrimony; this is an estate ordained of God, and therefore is not by any to be entered upon lightly or unadvisedly; but reverently, discreetly, soberly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons now desire to enter. If any man can show just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him

now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace.

I

Then, also, speaking to the Persons who are to
be married, he may say:

REQUIRE and charge you both, that, if either of you know any impediment why ye may not be lawfully united in matrimony, ye do now confess it. For be ye well assured that so many as are joined together otherwise than God's word doth allow, are not joined together by God, neither is their marriage lawful.

TIf no impediment be alleged, then shall the Minister say unto the man, addressing him by his Christian name:

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, in sorrow and in joy; 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, addressing her by her Christian name:

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 him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy; and, forsaking all other, keep ye 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 the Minister, receiving the Woman at her Father's hands, shall cause the Man, with right hand, to take the Woman by her right hand, and to say after him as follows:

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 the Woman 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 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 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 to thee only do I promise to keep myself, so long as we both shall live. Amen.

¶Then shall the Minister speak unto the People:

FORASMUCH as M. and N. have con

sented together in wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this