And as I hope, and presume you are come to receive this Sacrament with purity of conscience and purity of intention: so you must also take care not to admit of any thing in the celebrating of your marriage, which may be either inconsistent with your religion, or contrary to that modesty decency, and sanctity, which becomes Christians at all times, and more especially on so sacred and solemn an occasion.

A

As to your mutual obligations and the duties you owe to each other, in the state which you are now entering into, you are to learn them from the word of God. St. Paul says, Ephes. v.Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the Church, and delivered himself up for it-so also ought men to love their wives, even as they love themselves.1 Pet. i 3. Dwelling with them according to knowledge, giving honour to the woman as to the weaker vessel. And, let wives be subject to their husbands as to the Lord: for the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the Church. Therefore as the Church is subject to Christ, so also let wives be

subject to their husbands in all things. And the same Apostle in the seventh chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians, has inculcated other duties which they owe to each other: but we will now proceed to the solemnization of your marriage, to which you will endeavour to bring your best attention and devotion.

After the Nuptial Benediction has been given, the Priest shall make the following Exhortation to the new-married Couple.

You

YOU are now joined together in a holy band, made and sanctified by God himself, and not to be dissolved but by death. You should therefore endeavour with all your power to preserve and cultivate in your souls the grace of this great Sacrament which you have received, and to live up to the sanctity of it in all respects. You must be faithful to each other: you must love each other: you must bear with each others weaknesses: you must mutually cherish and assist each other: you must

endeavour to walk hand in hand to heaven: you must preserve unviolated the solemn promises of fidelity, which in the presence of God and his Church, you have now made to each other: and even between yourselves must admit of no other liberties than what the law of God, and the holy ends for which Matrimony was instituted ordains or allows of: for such would be criminal violations of the sanctity of your state; they would give Satan power over you; and would remove God far from you. If it should please God hereafter to bless you with children: let it be your first, your immediate care after they are born to make an offering of them to him; and as soon as possible, without the least delay, procure them to be washed from their original sin, and enrolled amongst the number of his adopted children by the Sacrament of Baptism and afterwards, in their earliest infancy, as soon as they can speak, begin to teach them the principles of the Christian faith, and the duties of a Christian life. Watch over them with carefulness and dili

gence: keep them out of evil company and all the dangerous occasions of sin, and train them up in the fear and love of God, always remembering, that you will one day have to give an account to God concerning your discharge of these duties; and if any of them should perish through your neglect of giving them a proper education, he will require their souls at your hands. Live therefore in the fear of God: faithfully observe all his divine commandments: be regular in your public and pri vate devotions: and may the blessing of Almighty God, the Father,

the Son, and the Holy Ghost, descend upon you, and remain always with you. Amen.

Exhortation to a Convert, who is to be received into the Church.

DEA

EAR Brother [or dear Sister] I cannot but express my satisfaction at seeing you come to acknowledge your submission to the evidence of Truth. It is undoubt, edly the duty of every rational crea

ture to seek for Truth: you have sought it: you have found it: and are now happily come to embrace and profess it. The most important thing for man to know in this world, is, the kind of worship which the Supreme Being expects from him. The Son of God himself came down from heaven to establish the promised new Covenant with mankind: and to teach them the Religion which was most pleasing to him: and which he commanded to be received, believed, and professed throughout the whole world. This command was so express, that he pronounced a peremptory sentence against all who should reject it: He that believes not, (Mark vi 16.) shall be condemned. He commissioned his Apostles to preach the same Doctrine, and they used their utmost endeavours to convince mankind of the necessity of submitting to it, with exclusion of all other doctrines. There is, says St. Paul, Eph. iv. 5. but one Lord, one Faith, and one Baptism. The successors of the Apostles have in every age, continued to teach the same, and to hold fast the form of