I take you all, who are met here to witness, that there is brought no lawful impediment.

If no impediment is alleged, the minister proceeds to pray. The prayer being finished, he says to the couple before him :

You are now to attend to the covenant of your marriage. Give therefore your hands, with your hearts, to one another.

Hereupon they join hands together, and the minister speaks first to the bridegroom to this effect:

N., Do you acknowledge, before God and this company, that you now take to your wedded wife, N., here present, promising to be a loving and faithful husband unto her, so long as you both shall live?

And then to the bride :

N., Do you acknowledge, before God and this company, that you now take to your wedded husband, N., here present, promising to be a loving, obedient, and faithful wife unto him, so long as you both shall live?

A consent to this covenant being some way signified, the minister adds:

I then declare you to be married, according to the laws of God, and of this commonwealth.

Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.

The minister now offers up a brief prayer, after which he says:

HEAR what the Holy Scripture doth say as touching the duty of husbands towards their wives, and wives towards their husbands.

Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word; that he might present to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives, as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife, loveth himself: for no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so love his wife, even as himself.—Eph. 5: 25.

Wives submit yourselves unto your husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church; and he is the Saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Eph. 5: 22. Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands.-1 Pet. 3: 1.

NUPTIAL BENEDICTION.

Almighty God, who 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,

sanctify and bless you, that you may please him both in body and soul, and live here together as heirs of life everlasting. Amen.

VISITATION OF THE SICK.

FOR THE CONSOLATION OF SICK AND DYING BELIEVERS.

THE following passages of Scripture suggest instruction and comfort.

SIN AND DEATH.

WHEREFORE as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.-Rom. 5: 12.

What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave?-Ps. 89: 48.

The living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.-Eccl. 9: 5.

For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.-Heb. 13: 14.

It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.-Heb. 9: 27.

My days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.-Job 9: 25.

Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreath; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily, every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Surely every man walketh in a vain shew surely they are disquieted in vain he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.-Ps. 39: 4—7.

Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.-Ps. 31: 5.

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.-Acts 7: 59.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.-Heb. 11: 13.

If a man die shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.-Job 14: 14.

JUSTIFICATION OF BELIEVERS IN CHRIST.

BEING justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Therefore we conclude, that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Seeing it is one God which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith.-Rom. 3: 24, 28, 30.

To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. Acts 10: 43.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.-Rom. 5: 1.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Rom. 8: 1.

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.-Gal. 3: 13.

Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren; that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.-Heb. 2: 17, 18.