sion he hath made for them in the Lord's supper, which being the food of the soul, to strengthen and refresh it for the business of our heavenly calling, it answers to the like provision that is made by masters and parents for the maintenance and support of their children and servants, in the life of nature, to fit and prepare them for their business. N. B. If the reader desires to see this apostolic rite largely explained, and its necessity proved, he would do well to peruse bishop Taylor's Discourse of Confirmation, among his Polemical Tracts; and bishop Hall's Treatise of the Apostolic Institution of the imposition of Hands; and especially Dr. Hobart's alteration of Mr. Nelson's Companion for the Festivals and Fasts of the Church.

CHAPTER XII.

Of the Form of Solemnization of Matrimony.

HEBREWS xiii. 4.

Marriage is honourable in all.

I. Of Matrimony in general.

WHAT is matrimony?

A. It is a contract, both civil and religious, between a man and a woman, by which they engage to live together, in mutual love and friendship: Or, it is an indissoluble union, contracted by mutual consent, between one man and one woman, in a lawful manner, by which they are obliged to live together until separated by death..

Q. By whom was marriage instituted?

A. By God himself, as is evident from the two first chapters in the Bible. Whence it came to pass, that amongst all the descendants from our first parents, the numerous inhabitants of the different nations in the world, there has been some religious

way of entering into this state, in testimony of its divine institution. Among Christians, especially, from the very first ages of the church, those who have been married have been always joined together in a solemn manner by an ecclesiastical person. It is certain, that in both the Greek and Latin churches, there were offices in the most early times, for the religious celebration of this ordinance; but being afterwards mixed with superstitious rites, the compilers of our liturgy not only laid them aside, but drew up a form more agreeable to the usage of the primitive church.

Q. Why ought marriage to be made a religious rite?

A. Because it is the bond, as well as foundation of good society; and it is the interest of mankind it should be inviolable.

Q. Why ought it to be performed by a lawful mi-* nister?

A. Because the minister is God's representative; to take the securities, and bless the parties in his name; for as God himself married the first man and woman, so the covenant is made to him; and for this reason the primitive Christians also did not account it a lawful marriage, unless it was celebrated by a lawful minister.

Q. Who is the lawful minister?

A. The bishop is the lawful minister of the whole diocese; and the presbyter or parish-priest is the lawful minister of all those who are immediately under his charge: and when the parties belong to different congregations, the lawful minister of e her congregation marries them, though the common custom is, that it be done by the lawful minister of the place to which the woman belongs. Deacons, in our church, are always permitted to solemnize the bonds of marriage.

2. But have not magistrates a right to marry? A. No; it may perhaps be lawful in a civil point of view, but not in a religious sense; I mean, that

A a

by the laws of a state it may be allowed, but not by the laws of God; and besides, it is contrary to the decrees and practice of the Christian church from the earliest ages.

Q. But are they not the ministers of God?

A. By virtue of their civil commission they are the ministers of God to men for good; the avengers to execute wrath on such as do evil, and rewarders of such as do well; but not the ministers of God to officiate in the performance of religious rites and ceremonies. And, therefore, we may observe, that, for this reason, very few decent people will go to a magistrate when a clergyman can be had to solemnize their marriage.

Q. When were justices of the peace first empowcred to perform this rite?

A. In the time of Oliver Cromwell, above 1600 years after our Saviour was upon earth.

Q. Why is a particular office requisite to the celebration of matrimony?

A. Because it has been so universally reputed an act of religion, that it is very fit it should have a peculiar office for the performance of it. In the western church there is still extant, in the sacramentary of St. Gregory, an ancient form of marriage, composed above 1000 years ago. The Greek church has three several offices, one at the espousals, another at the marriage, which they call the coronation, and a third for those who are married a second time. But no church can show a more suitable form than this of ours, which is composed with equal judgment and piety, and instructs those who are to be joined by it, in the several parts of their duty.

II. Of the Rubrics concerning the Banns.

Q. What is meant by the banns?

A. The public notice which is given in the church to the congregation, concerning the intention of

those who mean shortly to enter the holy state of matrimony.

Q. What direction does the rubric give?

A. That "the laws respecting matrimony, whether by publishing the banns in churches, or by licence, being different in the several States, every minister is left to the direction of those laws, in every thing that regards the civil contract between the parties.

2 When the banns are published, how often are they to be repeated?

A. The church orders that they should be published three several times before the marriage shall be celebrated; a custom as ancient as the days of Tertullian, and used in most Protestant churches in the world.

Q. Why are the banns of matrimony to be published immediately after the morning service, and before sermons?

A. To give the greater publicity to them; for at that time it is to be presumed the whole congregation is assembled.

III. Of the Rubric before the Preface.

Q. At what time of day are marriages to be solemnized?

A. Our church has appointed no particular time, but left it altogether to the parties concerned; owing, probably, to a particular custom of this country, where night marriages generally prevail.

Q. How is it in the church of England?

A. In that church all marriages are ordered to be celebrated in the day time.

2 Where are marriages to be solemnized?

A. At the day appointed for solemnization of matrimony, the persons to be married are to come into the body of the church, or to be ready in some proper house.

Q. Who are required to be present at the time of marriage?

A. It is enjoined that it be done in the presence of the friends and neighbours of the parties married, who are competent witnesses, and who are to attend on this solemnity, to unite with the minister for a blessing on it. Though it is probable that by the word friends here used, are to be understood some select friends or acquaintances, called by the ancients paranymphs or bridemen. Some traces of which custom we find as old as Samson's time, whose wife was delivered to his companion, (Judges xiv. 20) who, in the Septuagint version, is called brideman. And that bridemen were in use among the Jews in our Saviour's time, is evident from John iii. 29. From the Jews the custom was received by Christians, who used it at first rather as a civil form, and something that added to the solemnity of the occasion, than as a religious rite; though it was afterwards countenanced so far as to be made a part of the sacred solemnity.

2. What is the position of the two parties?

the

A. The bridegroom and bride being thus attended to the church, or some other place appointed, are there to stand, the man on the right hand and the woman on the left; which is expressly so ordered in the Latin and Greek churches. But among Jews the woman stands on the right hand of her intended husband, in allusion to that place of the Psalms, At thy right hand did stand the queen in a vesture of gold. Psalm xlv. 10. Yet since the right hand is the most honourable place, it is in all Christian churches assigned the man, as being the head of the woman.

IV. Of the Preface, or general Exhortation.

2. How does this office begin?

A. To prevent the vain and loose mirth too frequent at these solemnities, the church begins this