1662 1604 S. L. Minister. O Lord, save thy servant and thy handmaid; 2 Minister. O Lord, send them help from thy holy place; Minister. Be unto them a tower of strength. Answer. And let our cry come unto thee. Minister. GOD of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, bless these thy servants, and sow the seed of eternal life in their hearts; that whatsoever in thy holy Word they shall profitably learn, they may in deed fulfil the same. Look, O Lord, mercifully upon them from heaven, and bless them. And as thou didst send thy blessing upon Abraham and Sarah, to their great comfort; so vouchsafe to send thy blessing upon these thy servants, that they obeying thy will, and alway being in safety under thy protection, may abide in thy love unto their lives end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. This Prayer next following shall be omitted, where the woman is past 'child-beartaz, MERCIFUL Lord, and heavenly Father, by whose gracious gift mankind is increased; We beseech thee, assist with thy blessing these two persons, that they may both be fruitful in procreation of children, and also live together so long in godly love and honesty, that they may see their children Chris- they may see their children's chiltianly and virtuously brought up, dren, unto the third and fourth to thy praise and honour; through generation, unto thy praise and Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. honour, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. GOD, who by thy mighty power hast made all things of nothing "who also (after other things set in order) didst appoint, that out of man, (created after thine own image and similitude) woman should take her beginning; and knitting them together, didst teach that it should never be lawful to put asunder those whom thou by matrimony 'hadst made one: O God, who hast consecrated the state of matrimony to such an excellent mystery, that in it is signified and represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ and his Church; Look mercifully upon these thy servants, that both this man may love his wife, according to thy word, (as Christ did love his spouse the Church, who Presbyter [S. L.] 2 Which [1604] [S. L.] Child-birth [1604] [S. L.] Minister. O Lord, save thy servant, and thy handmaid; Minister. O Lord, send them help from thy holy place. Minister. Be unto them a tower of strength. Answer. From the face of their enemy. Minister, O Lord, hear our Minister. O Lord, hear my prayer. prayer. Answer. unto thee. And let our cry come The Minister. Let us pray. GOD of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, bless these thy soever in thy holy word they shall profitably learn, they may in deed fulfil the same. Look, O Lord, mercifully upon them from heaven, and bless them. And as thou didst bless them. And as thou didst send send thy blessing upon Abraham and Sara, to their great comfort; so vouchsafe to send thy blessing upon these thy servants; that they, obeying thy will, and alway being in safety under thy protection, may abide in thy love unto their lives' end; through Jesu Christ our Lord. Amen. thy angel Raphael to Thobie and Sara, the daughter of Raguel, to their great comfort, so vouchsafe to send thy blessing upon these thy servants; that they, obeying thy will, and alway being in safety under thy protection, may abide in thy love unto their lives' end; through Jesu Christ our Lord. Amen. This ~ Prayer next following shall in omitted, where the woman is past child-birta, MERCIFUL Lord, and heavenly Father, by whose gracious gift mankind is increased; We beseech thee, assist with thy blessing these two persons, that they may both be fruitful in procreation of children, and also live together so long in godly love and honesty, that they may see their children's children unto the third and fourth generation, unto thy praise and honour; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. GOD, which by thy mighty power hast made all things of nought; which also after other things set in order, didst appoint that out of man (created after thine own image and similitude) woman should take her beginning; and knitting them together, didst teach that it should. never be lawful to put asunder those whom thou by matrimony hadst made one: O God, which hast consecrated the state of matrimony to such an excellent mystery, that in it is signified and represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ and his Church; Look mercifully upon these thy servants, that both this man may love his wife, according to thy Word, (as Christ did love his spouse the Church, who 5 which [1604] [S. L.] 7 hast [S. L.] 6 nought [1604] | S. L.] 8 Prayer following [1549] 1662 1604 S. L. gave himself for it, loving and cherishing it even as his own flesh,) and also that this woman may be loving also that this woman may be loving and amiable, faithful and obedient and amiable to her husband, as to her husband; and in all quiet- Rachel, wise as Rebecca, faithful ness, sobriety and peace, be a fol- and obedient as Sara, and in all lower of holy and godly matrons. quietness, sobriety, and peace, be a O Lord, bless them both, and grant follower of holy and godly matrons. them to inherit thy everlasting O Lord, bless them both, and grant kingdom; through Jesus Christ them to inherit thy everlasting kingour Lord. Amen. dom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Then shall the Priest say, LMIGHTY 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 ye may please him both in body and soul, and live together in holy love unto your lives' end. Amen. After which, if there be no Sermon declaring the duties of man and wife, the Minister shall read as followcth. Then shall begin the Communion. And after the Gospel, shall be said a Sermon, wherein ordinarily (so oft as there is any marriage) the office of a man and wife shall be declared, according to holy Scripture. Or if there be no Sermon, the Minister shall read this that followcth. LL ye that are married, or that intend to take the holy estate of touching the duty of husbands towards their wives, and wives towards their husbands. Saint Paul in his Epistle to the Ephesians, the fifth chapter, doth give this commandment to all married men : "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 it 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. 1 which [1604] [S. L.] 3 Presbyter or Minister [S. L.] * of a husband and wife [S. L.] 4 which be married, or which intend, &c. [1604] [S. L.] 5 what holy Scripture [1604] [S. L.] 1559 1552 1549 gave himself for it, loving and cherishing it, even as his own flesh) And also that this woman may be loving and amiable to her husband as Rachel, wise as Rebecca, faithful and obedient as Sara, and in all quietness, sobriety, and peace, be a follower of holy and Godly matrons. O Lord, bless them both, and grant them to inherit thy everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then shall the Priest say, Then shall the Priest bless the man and the woman, saying, LMIGHTY God, which at the beginning did create our first in marriage; Pour upon you the bless you; that ye may please him both in body and soul; and live together in holy love unto your lives' end. Amen. Then shall begin the Communion. And after the Gospel, shall be said a Sermon, wherein ordinarity, (so oft as there is any marriage) the office of a man and wife shall be declared, according to holy Scripture, or if there be no Sermon, the Minister shall read this that followeth, A riches of his grace, sanctify and bless you, that ye may please him both in body and soul, and live together in holy love unto your lives' end. Amen. Then shall be said, after the Gospel, a sermon, wherein ordinarily (so oft us there is any marriage) the office of man and wife shall he declared, according to holy scripture. Or if there be no sermon, the Minister shall read this that followeth, LL ye which be married, or which intend to take the holy estate of Matrimony upon you, hear what holy Scripture doth say, as touching the duty of husbands toward their wives, and wives toward their husbands. Saint Paul, (in his Epistle to the Ephesians, the fifth chapter), doth give this commandment to all married men ; Ye husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church, and hath given himself for it, to sanctify it, purging it in the fountain of water, through 'the word; that he might make it unto himself a glorious congregation, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and blameless. So men are bound to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife, loveth himself: for never did any man hate his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord doth the congregation; for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This mystery is great; but I speak of Christ and of the congregation. Nevertheless, let every one of you so love his own wife, even as himself. Ye husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church; and hath given himself for it, to sanctify it, &c. The remainder of this Exhortation in [1604] as it corresponds to that of [1559] except in two places marked in the notes, is to be read according to the Liturgy of [1559] 7 thy word [1552] RR Likewise, the same Saint Paul, writing to the Colossians, speaketh thus to all men that 'are married; Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Hear also what Saint Peter, the Apostle of Christ, who was himself a married man, saith unto them that are married: Ye husbands, dwell with your wives according to knowledge; giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered. Hitherto ye have heard the duty of the husband toward the wife. Now likewise, ye wives, hear and learn your duties toward your husbands, even as it is plainly set forth in holy scripture. Saint Paul, in the aforenamed Epistle to the Ephesians, teacheth you thus: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own 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. And again he saith, Let the wife see that she reverence her husband. 5 And in his Epistle to the Colossians, Saint Paul giveth you this short lesson, Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Saint Peter also doth instruct you very well, thus saying: Ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 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; even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord; whose daughters ye are as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amaze |
