142 CONFIRMATION, OR Laying on of Hands upon those who 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 follow. ing: To Bishop. OUR help is in the name of the Ans. Who hath made heaven Bishop. Blessed be the name of the Lord; Ans. Henceforth, world with O the end that confirmation may be ministered to the and earth. more edifying of such as shall receive it, the Church hath thought good to order, that none shall be confirmed, but such as can say the out end. Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments; and can also answer to such other Ques Bishop. Lord hear our prayer; thee. tions, as in the short Catechism Bishop. Let us pray. are contained: Which order is A God, who hast vouchsafed to ALMIGHTY and everliving very convenient to be observed; to the end that children, being now regenerate these thy servants by come to the years of discretion, and Water and the Holy Ghost, and having learned what their God-hast given unto them forgiveness fathers and Godmothers promised of all their sins; strengthen them, for them in Baptism, may them- we beseech thee, O Lord, with the selves, with their own mouth and Holy Ghost, the Comforter; and consent, openly before the Church daily increase in them thy maniratify and confirm the same; and fold gifts of grace; the spirit of wisalso promise, that, by the grace of dom and understanding, the spirit God, they will evermore endeavour of counsel and ghostly strength, themselves faithfully to observe the spirit of knowledge and true such things as they, by their own godliness; and fill them, O Lord, confession, have assented unto. Then shall the Bishop say, D% and vow that ye made, or that was with the spirit of thy holy fear, now and for ever. Amen. Then all of them in order kneeling before tire Bishop, he shall lay his hands upon the head of every one severally, saying, DEFEND, O Lord, this thy Child [or, this thy Servant] made in your name, at your Bap-with thy heavenly grace; that he tism; ratifying and confirming the may continue thine for ever, and same; and acknowledging your- daily increase in thy Holy Spirit selves bound to believe and to do all more and more, until he come unto those things which ye then under- thy everlasting kingdom. took, or your Sponsors then undertook for you? And every one shall audibly answer, I do. ¶ Then shall the Bishop say, The Lord be with you. ¶ And all kneeling down, the Bishop shall add, 1 Let us pray. ever be with them: And so lead OUR Father, who art in Hea- them in the knowledge and obeven, Hallowed be thy Name; dience of thy Word, that in the Thy Kingdom come; Thy Will end they may obtain everlasting be done on Earth, as it is in Hea- life,through our Lord Jesus Christ; ven; Give us this day our daily who, with thee and the Holy Ghost, bread; And forgive us our tres- liveth and reigneth ever one God, passes, as we forgive those who world without end. Amen. 24 trespass against us; And lead us ALMIGHTY Lord, and not into temptation; But deliver everlasting God, vouchsafe, us from evil. Amen. we beseech thee, to direct, sanctiA LMIGHTY and everlasting bodies, in the ways of thy laws, fy, and govern both our hearts and God, who makest us both to and in the works of thy commandwill and to do those things which ments; that through thy most are good, and acceptable unto thy mighty protection, both here and Divine Majesty we make our ever, we may be preserved in body humble supplications unto thee for and soul, through our Lord and these thy servants, upon whom, Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. after the example of thy holy Then the Bishop shall bless them, saying thus: Apostles, we have now laid ourHE blessing of God Almighty, hands; to certify them, by this sign, of thy favour and gracious goodness towards them. Let thy Fatherly hand, we beseech thee, ever be over them: Let thy Holy Spirit the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be upon you, and remain with you for ever. Amen. And there shall none be admitted to the Holy or be ready and desirous to be confirmed. Communion, until such time as he be confirmed, erot THE FORM OF and barel anip SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY. The laws respecting Matrimony, whether by pablishing the Banns in Churches, or by License, being different in the several States; every Minister is left to the direction of those Laws, in every thing that regards the civil contract between the Parties. And when the Banns are published, it shall be in the following form:-I publish the Banns of Marriage between M. of, and N. of. If any of you know cause or just impediment, why these two persons should not be joined together in holy Matrimony, ye are to declare it. [This is the first, second, or third time of asking.] of Matrimony, the Persons to be married shall Minister shall say, At the day and time appointed for Solemnization creetly, advisedly, soberly, and in come into the body of the Church, or shall be the fear of God. Into this holy ready in some proper house, with their friends and estate, these two persons present neighbours; and there standing together, the Man on the right hand, and the Woman on the left, the come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause, why DEARLY beloved we are EARLY beloved, we are they may not lawfully be joined gathered together here in the together, let him now speak, or sight of God, and in the face of else hereafter for ever hold his this company, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is commended of Saint Paul to be honourable among peace. And also speaking unto the Persons who are to be married, be shall say, both as ye will answer at the REQUIRE and charge you all men; and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvised-dreadful day of judgment, when ly or lightly; but reverently, dis-the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed) that if either of you from this day forward, for better know any impediment, why ye for worse, for richer for poorer, may not be lawfully joined together in sickness and in health, to love, in Matrimony, ye do now confess cherish, and to obey, till death us it: For be ye well assured, that if do part, according to God's holy any persons are joined together ordinance; and thereto I give thee otherwise than as God's word my Troth. doth allow, their marriage is not lawful. The Minister, if he shall have reason to doubt of the lawfulness of the proposed Marriage, may demand sufficient surety for his indemnification; but if no impediment shall be alleged, or suspected, the Minister shall say to the Man, M. WI 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, ITH this Ring I thee wed, and with all my worldly VILT thou have this Woman to thy wedded goods I thee endow: In the name Wife, to live together after God's of the Father, and of the Son, and ordinance, in the holy estate of of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live? The man shall answer, I will. T Then the Man leaving the Ring upon the fourth Finger of the Woman's Left Hand, the Ministershall say, Let us pray. UR Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy Name; Thy Kingdom come; thy Will be T Then shall the Minister say unto the Woman, done on Earth, as it is in Heaven VILT thou have this Man Give us this day our daily bread to thy wedded Husband, And forgive us our trespasses, as we to live together after God's ordi- forgive those who trespass against nance, in the holy estate of Matri N. W mony? Wilt thou obey him, and us; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. serve him, love, honour, and keep Amen. him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only and Preserver of all mankind, unto him, so long as ye both shall live? ¶ The Woman shall answer, I will. Who giveth this Woman to be married to this Man? this Manner: ETERNAL God, Creator 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 ¶ Then shall they give their Troth to each other in and Rebecca lived faithfully toThe Minister receiving the Woman at her Fa-gether, so these persons may surely ther's or Friend's Hands, shall cause the Man perform and keep the vow and Right Hand, and to say after him as followeth : Covenant betwixt them made, M. take thee N. to my wedded (whereof this Ring given and reWife, to have and to hold, from ceived is a token and pledge) and this day forward, for better for may ever remain in perfect love worse, for richer for poorer, in and peace together, and live acsickness and in health, to love and cording to thy laws, through Jesus to cherish, till death us do part, Christ our Lord. Amen. according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my Troth. with his Right Hand to take the Woman by her Then shall they loose their Hands, and the Wo man with her Right Hand taking the Man by his Right Hand, shall likewise say after the Minister, a 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: NORASMUCH M. and Ñ. Go holy Wedlock, and have witnessed And the Minister shall add this Blessing: the same before God and this com- OD the Father, God the Son, pany, and thereto have given and God the Holy Ghost, bless, pledged their Troth, each to the preserve, and keep you: The Lord other, and have declared the same mercifully with his favour look upby giving and receiving a Ring, and on you, and fill you with all spiritby joining hands; I pronounce, ual benediction and grace; that ye that they are Man and Wife; in may so live together in this life, the name of the Father, and of the that in the world to come ye may Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. have life everlasting. Amen. THE ORDER FOR THE VISITATION OF THE SICK. When any Person is sick, notice shall be given EACE be to this House, and PEACE When he cometh into the sick Man's presence, he shall say, kneeling down, Min. Let the enemy have no advantage of him; Ans. Nor the wicked approach to hurt him. Min. Be unto him, O Lord, a Ans. From the face of his enemy. Min. O Lord, hear our prayer; Ans. And let our cry come unto thee. REMEMBER not, Lord, our strong tower, Ans. Spare us, good Lord. Then the Minister shall say, Ο HE Minister. LORD,look down from Heaven, behold, visit, and relieve this thy servant. Look upon him with the eyes of thy mercy; give him comfort and sure confidence in thee; defend him from the danger of the enemy; and keep him UR Father, who art in Hea- in perpetual peace and safety, ven, Hallowed be thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Thy Kingdom come; Thy Will be Amen. done on Earth, as it is in Heaven n; EAR us, Almighty and most Give us this day our daily bread; merciful God and Saviour: And forgive us our trespasses, as we Extend thy accustomed goodness forgive those who trespass against to this thy servant, who is grieved us; And lead us not into tempta-with sickness. Sanctify, we beseech tion; But deliver us from evil. thee, this thy Fatherly correction Amen. to him; that the sense of his weakMin. O Lord, save thy servant; ness may add strength to his faith, Ans. Who putteth his trust in and seriousness to his repentance: thee. That if it shall be thy good pleasure to restore him to his former health he may lead the residue of his life Min. Send him help from thy holy place; Ans. And evermore mightily de-in thy fear, and to thy glory: Or fend him. lelse give him grace so to take thy K visitation, that after this painful life which corrected us, and we gave ended, he may dwell with thee them reverence: Shall we not much in life everlasting, through Jesus rather be in subjection unto the FaChrist our Lord. Amen. esther of spirits, and live? For they Then shall the Minister exhort the sick Person af- verily for a few days chastened us ter this Form, or other like: EARLY beloved, know this, our profit, that we might be partaHow after their own pleasure; but he for Dthat Almighty God is the Lord persof his holiness. These words, of life and death, and of all things good brother, are written in holy to them pertaining; as youth, Scripture, for our comfort and instrength, health, age, weakness, struction; that we should patientand sickness. Wherefore, what-ly, and with thanksgiving, bear soever your sickness be, know you our heavenly Father's correction, certainly that it is God's visitation. whensoever, by any manner of adAnd for what cause soever this sick-versity, it shall please his gracious ness be sent unto you; whether it goodness to visit us. And there be to try your patience for the ex- should be no greater comfort to ample of others, and that your Christian persons, than to be made faith may be found, in the day of like unto Christ, by suffering pathe Lord, laudable, glorious, and tiently adversities, troubles, and honourable, to the increase of glory sicknesses. For he himself went and endless felicity; or else it be not up to joy, but first he suffered sent unto you to correct and amend pain: He entered not into his gloin you whatsoever doth offend the ry, before he was crucified. So eyes of your heavenly Father; know truly our way to eternal joy, is to you certainly, that if you truly suffer here with Christ; and our repent you of your sins, and bear door to enter into eternal life, is your sickness patiently, trusting in gladly to die with Christ; that we God's mercy, for his dear Son Je-may rise again from death, and sus Christ's sake, and render unto dwell with him in everlasting life. him humble thanks for his Father-Now, therefore, taking your sickly visitation, submitting yourself wholly unto his will, it shall turn to you, patiently, I exhort you in the ness, which is thus profitable for your profit, and help you forward name of God, to remember the proin the right way that leadeth unto fession which you made unto God everlasting life. ¶ If the Person visited be very sick, then the Minis-as after this life there is an account in your Baptism. And forasmuch ter may end his Exhortation in this Place, or else proceed: to be given unto the righteous BAKE therefore in good part Judge, by whom all must be judg the chastisement of the Lord: ed, without respect of persons; I For, as Saint Paul saith in the require you to examine yourself, twelfth chapter to the Hebrews, and your estate, both toward God Whom the Lord loveth he chasten- and man; so that, accusing and eth, and scourgeth every son whom condemning yourself for your own he receiveth. If ye endure chas- faults, you may find mercy at our tening, God dealeth with you as heavenly Father's hand for Christ's with sons:For what son is he whom sake, and not be accused and conthe Father chasteneth not? But if demned in that fearful judgment. ye be without chastisement, where- Therefore I shall rehearse to you of all are partakers, then are ye bas- the Articles of our Faith; that you tards, and not sons. Furthermore, may know whether you do believe we have had fathers of our flesh, as a Christian man should, or no. |