[ 130 ]
The minister speaking to the persons that are to be married.
I now require and charge you both, as you 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 you may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, you do now confess it, for be ye well assured, that so many as are coupled together, otherwise than God's word doth allow, and they are not joined together by the word of God, neither is their matrimony lawful.
Then if there is no impediment, the minister says unto the man:
Mr.——— wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife—to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony ? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor her, and keep her in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others and keep thee only unto her so long as ye both shall live? The man shalt answer "I will."
The minister then says unto the woman:
M.——— wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband—to live together after God's ordinance, in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, serve him, honor him, love him 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."
Now the man with his right hand, takes the woman by her right hand, and they say after the minister Mr.——— will you take M. to be thy wedded wife, to have, to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for riches, for poorness, in sickness and in health, to love her, and to cherish her until death doth part us, according to God's holy ordinance; and here unto the answer I plight thee my faith?
The minister then says unto the woman:
M.——— will you take Mr.——— to be thy wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for riches, for poorness, in sickness and in health, to love him, to cherish him, and to obey him, until death doth separate you, according to God's holy ordinance; and hereunto this answer, I give thee my faith.
Math. 19: 6. "What therefore God hath joined
