g Then fhall the Pricft fay, Almighty God, who at the beginning did create our first parents, Adam and Eve, and did fanctifie and oyn them together in marriage; Pour upon you the riches of his grace, fanctifie and bless you, that ye may pleafe him both in body and foul,and live together in holy love, into your lives end. Amen. After which, if there be no Sermon declaring the duties of man and wife, the Minister shall read as followerh. LI All ye that are married, or that intend to take the holy eftate of matrimony upon you,hear what the holy fcripture doth fay as touching the duty of husbands towards their wives, and wives towards their husbands. Saint Paul in his Epiftle to the Ephefians, the fifth Chapter, doth give this commandment to all married men, Husbands, love your wives, even as Chrift alfo loved the Church, and gave himself for it, that he might fanctifie and cleanse it with the wahing of water, by the word; that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having pot or wrinkle, or any fuch thing; but that it fhould be holy, and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives, as their own bodies: He that loveth his wife, loveth himfelf. 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 caufe fhall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joyned unto his wife, and they two fhall be one flesh. This is a great mystery; but I fpeak concerning Chrift and the Church. Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular fo love his wife,even as himself. Ephef.5.25. Likewife the fame Saint Paul writing to the Coloffians, fpeaketh thus to all men that are married, Husbands love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Col. 3. 19. Hear alío what Saint Peter the Apostle of Chrift, who N was himfelf a married man, faith unto them that are married, Ye husbands, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vellel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindred. 1 S. Per. 3. 7. Hitherto ye have heard the duty of the Husband toward the wife. Now likewife, ye wives, hear and learn your duties toward your husbands, even as it is plainly fet forth in holy Scripture: Saint Paul in the aforenamed Epistle to the Ephefians, teacheth you thus; Wives, fubmit your felves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Chrift is the head of the Church and he is the Saviour of the body. Therefore as the Church is fubject unto Chrift, fo let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. And again he faith,Let the wife fee that the reverence her husband. Ephef. 5. 22. And in his Epiftle to the Coloffians, Saint Paul giveth you this fhort leflon, Wives, fubmit your felves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Col. 3. 18.. Saint Peter alfo doth inftruct you very well, thus fay ing, Ye wives, be in Subjection to your own husbands that if any obey not the word, they alfo may without the word be won by the converfation of the wives; while they behold your chafte converfation coupled with fear Whofe 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 fpirit, which is in the fight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time, the ho ly women alfo who trufted in God, adorned themfelves, being in fubjection unto their own husbands; even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord; whofe daugh ters ye are as long as ye do well,and are not afraid with any amazement. I S.Pet. 3. I. It is convenient that the new married perfons fhould receive the holy Communion at the time of their Marriage, or the firft opportunity after their Marriage, The Order for the Vifitation of the When any perfon is fick, notice fhall be given thereof to the Minifter of the Parish, who coming into the fick perfons houfe, fhall fay, Eace be to this houfe, and to all that dwell in it. Place When he cometh into the fick mans prefence, he shall fay, kneeling down, Rties of our forefathers, Spare us, good Lord, fpare Emember not, Lord, our iniquities, nor the iniqui thy people, whom thou haft redeemed with thy most precious blood, and be not angry with us for ever. Anfwer. Spare us, good Lord. Then fhall the Minister say, Let us pray. Lord, have mercy upon us. Chrift, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. Ur Father, which art in heaven; Hallowed be thy in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily Anfwer. Which putteth his truft in thee.. Anfwer, From the face of his enemy. Minifter. Lord, look down from heaven, behold,vifit and relieve this thy fervant. Look upon him with the eyes of thy mercy, give him comfort and fure confidence in thee, defend him from the danger of the enemy, and keep him in perpetual peace and fafety, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen. HE Ear us, Almighty and most merciful God and Saviour; extend thy accustomed goodness to this thy dervant, who is grieved with fickness. Sanctifie, we befeech thee, this thy fatherly correction to him; that the fenfe of his weakness may add strength to his faith, and ferioufnefs to his repentance. That if it fhall be thy good pleafure to reftore him to his former health, he may lead the refidue of his life in thy fear, and to thy glory: or elfe give him grace fo to take thy vifitation,that after this painful life ended, he may dwell with thee in life everlafting, through Jefus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then fhall the Minifter exhort the fick perfon after this form, or other like. Dthe Lord of life and death, and of all things to them Early beloved, know this, that Almighty God is pertaining, as youth, ftrength, health, age, weakness,ard ficknefs. Wherefore, whatsoever your ficknefs is, know you certainly that it is Gods vifitation. And for what caufe foever this fickness is fent unto you, whether it be to try your patience for the example of others, and that your faith may be found in the day of the Lord,laudable, glorious, and honourable, to the increase of glory and endlefs felicity; or else it be fent unto you to correct and amend in you whatsoever doth offend the eyes of your heavenly Father; know you certainly, that if you truly repent you of your fins, and bear your fickness patiently, ifting in Gods mercy, for his dear Son Jefus Chrifts fake fake, and render unto him humble thanks for his fatherly vifitation, fubmitting your felf wholly unto his will, it fhall turn to your profit, and help you forward in the right way that leadeth unto everlasting life. If the perfon vifited be very fick, then the Curate may end his Exhortation in this place, or elfe proceed. in faith in the twelfth Chap "Ake therefore in good part the chaftifement of the ter to the Hebrews) whom the Lord loveth he chaftneth, and fcourgeth every fon whom he receiveth. If ye endure chaftning, God dealeth with you as with fons, for what fon is he whom the father chafteneth not? But ye be without chaftifement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye baftards, and not fons. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh, which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: fhall we not much rather be in fubjection unto the Father of fpirits,and live? For they verily for a few days chaftned us after their own pleafure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. These words, good brother, are written in holy Scripture for our comfort and inftruction, that we fhould patiently, and with thanksgiving bear our heavenly Fathers correction, whenfoever by any manner of adverfity it fhall pleafe his gracious goodness to vifit us. And there fhould be no greater comfort to Chriftian perfons, then to be made like unto Chrift, by fuffering patiently adverfities, troubles, and fickneffes. For he himself went not up to joy, but firft he fuffered pain; he entred not into his glory before he was crucified. So truly, our way to eternal joy, is to fuffer here with Chrift; and our door to enter into eternal life,is gladly to die with Chrift; that we may rife again from death, and dwell with him in everlafting life.Now therefore taking your fickness, which is thus profitable for you, patiently, I exhort you in the name of God, to remember the profeffion which you made unto God in your baptifm. And forafmuch as after this life there is an account to be given unto the righteous N |