good pleasure to give us the kingdom." Strive we then more and more, when on our knees, to affix a definite force, and intention, to every separate petition in the Lord's Prayer. Let us take care to pray it over very slowly, in our private devotions, and to dwell upon every portion of its unbounded meaning. To begin our devotions sometimes with the Lord's Prayer, is a discreet practice, tending to correct indevout habits of mind. To meditate on some clause, in the course of the day, is a pious and useful exercise of the soul. Remember, above all, that no prayer will be fervent, into which the inspiration of the Holy Spirit doth not breathe life; and that no offerings will be accepted above, save those which are rendered in the name of that great High Priest, who "ever liveth to make intercession for us1."

1 Heb. vii. 25.

SERMON IX.

SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY.

EPHESIANS V. 24, 25.

AS THE CHURCH IS SUBJECT UNTO CHRIST, SO LET THE WIVES BE SUBJECT TO THEIR OWN HUSBANDS IN EVERY THING HUSBANDS, LOVE YOUR WIVES, EVEN AS CHRIST ALSO LOVED THE CHURCH, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR IT."

THE next service in course, is that, for the solemnization of Matrimony. Need I remind you, that our first parents were joined in marriage by God himself: yea, "God blessed them 1" "Marriage was ordained by God; instituted in Paradise; and the first blessing from the Lord. He gave man, not a friend, but a wife; that is, a

friend and a wife too."....." Marriage is the seminary of the Church. It was ministered unto by angels, and is a school and exercise of virtue; and though marriage hath cares, yet the single life hath desires which are more troublesome and more dangerous. Here is the proper scene for piety, and patience, of the duty of parents, and the charity of relatives. Here kindness is spread abroad, and love is united and made firm as a centre. Marriage is the nursery of heaven. The virgin sends prayers to God, but she carries but one soul to Him. Marriage is fuller of sorrows, and fuller of joys. Celibate, like the fly in the heart of the apple, dwells in a perpetual sweetness; but sits alone, and is confined, and dies in singularity: But, marriage, like the useful bee, builds a house, and gathers sweetness from every flower; and unites into societies, and keeps order, and feeds the world with delicacies, and promotes the interest of mankind. Single life makes men, in one instance, to be like angels; but marriage,

in very many respects, makes the chaste pair to be like to Christ "

It was the custom of the Primitive Church to require of those, who were desirous of entering into this covenant of love, to give notice beforehand in the presence of the congregation. By this observance, indiscreet marriages were prevented, and an interest was created among Christians, in behalf of their brethren, as members of Christ's family upon earth. Hence, arose the practice of publishing banns, an old word, signifying notice or proclamation. And the precautionary steps thus taken by the Church, have been often blessed, no doubt, in preventing new bonds of union, while both parties previously married were living; or checking marriage, where either close relationship existed, or, where the youth of the applicants creating a difficulty, the parents or guardians may have seen cause to withhold their consent. This service may not be solemnized, at

Bishop Jeremy Taylor. Serm.-Marriage Ring.

The

present, in any place but the Church: except on those special occasions, for meeting which, the chief minister of our Church is pleased to grant a dispensation. persons concerned, having duly presented themselves, at some reasonable hour fixed on, before noon, the service commences with the minister, from the altar, exhorting the congregation then assembled, to consider the sanctity of this rite, its divine origin, its sublime signification. He declares it, on the authority of St. Paul, to be "honourable among all men 1:" to have been instituted, not in our present degraded condition, but, while man was yet innocent in paradise. It is described according to Scripture, as setting forth the mystical union between Christ and His Church 2. Can we hear these things, and not deeply ponder on the solemnity of the nuptial bond? Can we recollect, that the ever blessed Saviour adorned and beautified

Heb. xiii. 4.

2

Eph. v. 32.