1786 Proposed Book of Common Prayer: Marriage · 1786 Proposed Book of Common Prayer: Preface

The Book of Common Prayer

	1786 Proposed U. S. Book of Common Prayer

THE FORM OF
SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY
¶ The Laws respecting Matrimony, whether
by publishing the Banns in Churches or by Licence, being different in
several States; every Minister is left to the Direction of those Laws;
in every Thing that regards the civil Contract between the Parties.
¶ At the day and time appointed for
Solemnization of Matrimony, the Minister shall say to the Persons assembled:
DEarly
beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, to join together
this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony: 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, speaking unto the Persons who shall be married,
he shall say,
I Require
and charge you both (as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgment
when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed) that if either of you
know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony,
ye do now confess it. For be 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.
¶ And if no Impediment be alledged,
then shall the Minister 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 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 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 others, keep thee 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?
¶ 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.
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.
¶ 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,
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, and to obey, till death us do part,
according to God’s holy Ordinance;
¶ Then shall they again 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 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,
Let us pray.
O Eternal
God, Creator and Preserve 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 to thy laws; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
¶ Then shall the Minister join their right Hands together,
and say,
Those whom God hath joined together let no man put
asunder.
¶ Then shall the Minister speak unto the Company.
FOrasmuch
as M. and N. have consented together in holy Wedlock, and
have witnessed the same before God and this Company, and have declared
the same by giving and receiving a Ring, and by joining Hands; I pronounce
that they are Man and Wife together, In the Name of the Father, and 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 fill you with all
spiritual benediction and grace; that ye may so live together in this
life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen.

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