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Until he come to God's everlasting kingdom. "The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom." (2 Tim. iv. 18.)

40. Repeat the two short verses which follow, and say where they are to be found.

Then shall the Bishop say,

The Lord be with you.

Answer. And with thy spirit.

The first verse is taken from 2 Thess. iii. 16. The second from 2 Tim. iv. 22.

41. When these verses have been said, what follows?

¶ And (all kneeling down) the Bishop shall add,

Let us pray.

OUR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; Bnt deliver us from evil. Amen.

42. Repeat the Collect which follows the Lord's Prayer.

Let

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, who makest us both to will and to do those things that be good and acceptable unto thy divine Majesty; we make our humble supplications unto thee for these thy servants, upon whom (after the example of thy holy Apostles) we have now laid our hands, to certify them (by this sign) of thy favour and gracious goodness towards them. thy fatherly hand, we beseech thee, ever be over them; let thy Holy Spirit ever be with them; and so lead them in the knowledge and obedience of thy Word, that in the end they may obtain everlasting life; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

43. What does the Almighty and everlasting God enable us to will and to do?

Those things that be good and acceptable unto his divine Majesty. "It is God that worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Phil. ii. 13.)

44. Why does the bishop make humble supplications for those who are confirmed?

Because St. James exhorts us to "pray one for another. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James v. 16.) 45. After whose example does the bishop lay his hands upon the confirmed?

After the example of the holy apostles. "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word

of God, they sent unto them Peter and John. Then they laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost." (Acts viii. 14. 17.)

46. What does the bishop pray may ever be over those now confirmed?

God's fatherly hand. "The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him." (Ezra viii. 22.)

47. What does he pray may ever be with them?

The Holy Spirit. "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth." (John xiv. 16, 17.)

48. How does he pray they may be led in the knowledge and obedience of God's word?

So that in the end they may obtain everlasting life. “From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim. iii. 15.)

49. Through whom will this be accomplished?

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who with the Father, and Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth ever one God, world without end. "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy; to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory, and majesty, dominion, and power, both now and ever." (Jude 24, 25.)

50. Repeat the concluding Collect.

O ALMIGHTY Lord, and everlasting God, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to direct, sanctify, and govern, both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy commandments; that, through thy most mighty protection both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

51. What do we beseech God to do?

1st. To direct our hearts and bodies in the way of his laws, and in the works of his commandments. "The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ." (2 Thess. iii. 5.)

2ndly. To sanctify them. "And I pray your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thess. v. 23.)

52. Through whose most mighty protection are our bodies and souls preserved here and ever?

Through the protection of God. "The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve the soul." (Ps. cxxi. 7.)

53. Through whom will this be accomplished?

Through our Saviour Jesus Christ. "Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth." (Ps. cxxiv. 8.) 54. How does the bishop conclude the Service?

Then the Bishop shall bless them, saying thus,

THE Blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the

Holy Ghost, be upon you, and remain with you for ever. Amen.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.

55. Repeat the Rubric at the conclusion of the Service.

And there shall none be admitted to the holy Communion, until such time as he be confirmed, or be ready and desirous to be confirmed.

THE FORM OF SOLEMNIZATION OF

MATRIMONY.

1. HAS it always been customary to have some religious ceremony at the celebration of Matrimony?

Yes; amongst all the descendants from our first parents, there has always been some religious way of entering into this state, in consequence of its divine institution, and Christians have always been joined together by a minister of the Church, and offices were drawn up in the earliest times for the religious celebration of this holy ordinance.

2. Repeat the Rubric respecting the Banns.

First the Banns of all that are to be married together must be published in the Church three several Sundays, during the time of Morning Service, or of Evening Service, (if there be no Morning Service,) immediately after the second Lesson; the Curate saying after the accustomed manner,

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.

3. What is the meaning of the word banns?

It means a public proclamation, which is made before the Church for the purpose of preventing clandestine or illegal marriages, and that the Church may be satisfied whether there be any cause or just impediment why the parties may not be joined together in matrimony.

4. What are the impediments to a legal marriage?

1st. A preceding marriage or pre-contract still existing. 2ndly. Consanguinity or affinity, that is relationship either by blood or marriage within the degrees prohibited by the Church, in accordance with the law of God. (Lev. xviii.)

3rdly. In cases of minority, where there is want of consent of parents or guardians.

5. Is there no other legal way of marriage except by banns? Yes; by licence obtained from a surrogate appointed to grant them.

6. What is the other Rubric relating to the banns?

And if the persons that are to be married dwell in divers Parishes, the Banns must be asked in both Parishes; and the Curate of the one

Parish shall not solemnize Matrimony betwixt them, without a Certificate of the Banns being thrice asked, from the Curate of the other Parish.

7. Repeat the next Rubric?

At the day and time appointed for solemnization of Matrimony, the persons to be married shall come into the body of the Church with their friends and neighbours: and there standing together, the Man on the right hand, and the Woman on the left, the Priest shall say,

8. Where is the marriage to be celebrated?

In the Church. Since God himself is said to join those that are lawfully married, certainly the house of God is the fittest place wherein to make this religious covenant.

9. How many witnesses are required to a valid marriage?

By the Statute 26 George II., all marriages shall be solemnized in the presence of two or more credible witnesses, besides the minister who shall celebrate the same.

10. Why does the man stand "on the right hand," and the woman" on the left?"

Because the right hand is the most honourable place; and is, therefore, both by the Latin and Greek, and all Christian churches assigned to the man as being the head of the wife. The Jews, however, place the bride on the right hand of the bridegroom, in allusion to that expression in Psalm xlv. "At thy right hand did stand the Queen in gold of Ophir."

11. What is the priest's address to the congregation?

DEARLY beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honourable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee; and is commended of Saint Paul to be honourable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly; to satisfy men's carnal lusts and appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God; duly considering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained.

First, It was ordained for the procreation of children, to be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the praise of his holy name.

Secondly, It was ordained for a remedy against sin, and to avoid fornication; that such persons as have not the gift of continency might marry, and keep themselves undefiled members of Christ's body.

Thirdly, It was ordained for the mutual society, help, and

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