O ETERNAL God, we humbly beseech thee, favourably to behold
these thy servants now (or about to be) joined in wedlock according
to thy holy ordinance; and grant that they, seeking first thy
kingdom and thy righteousness, may obtain the manifold blessings
of thy grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Epistle. Ephesians v. 20.
GIVE thanks always for all things unto God and the Father
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one
to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto
your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head
of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he
is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject
unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every
thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the
church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse
it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present
it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle,
or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that
loveth his wife loveth himself. 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 cause shall a man leave his father and
mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall
be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning
Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular
so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence
her husband.
The Gospel. St. Matthew xix. 4.
JESUS answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that
he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother,
and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore
God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.