A36061:143
A Directory for the Public Worship of God
A directory for the public worship of God, throughout the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland together with an ordinance of Parliament for the taking away of the Book of common-prayer, ... die Jovis, 13. Martii, 1644 / ordered by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, that this ordinance and directory be forthwith printed and published.A directory for the publique worship of God, throughout the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland together with an ordinance of Parliament for the taking away of the Book of common-prayer, ... die Jovis, 13. Martii, 1644 / ordered by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, that this ordinance and directory bee forthwith printed and published.
London: printed for Evan Tyler, 1644
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
After the purpose or contract of marriage hath been thus published, the marriage is not to be long deferred. Therefore, the Minister, having had convenient warning, and nothing being objected to hinder it, is publicly to solemnize it in the place appointed by Authority for public Worship, before a competent number of credible witnesses, at some convenient hour of the day, at any time of the year, except on a day of Public humiliation. And we advise that it be not on the Lords Day.
After the purpose or contract of marriage hath beene thus published, the marriage is not to be long deferred. Therefore, the Minister, having had convenient warning, and nothing being objected to hinder it, is publiquely to solemnize it in the place appointed by Authority for publique Worship, before a competent number of credible witnesses, at some convenient houre of the day, at any time of the year, except on a day of Publique humiliation. And we advise that it be not on the Lords Day.
And because all Relations are sanctified by the Word and Prayer, the Minister is to pray for a blessing upon them, to this effect:
Acknowledging our sins, whereby we have made our selves less then the least of all the mercies of God, and provoked him to embitter all our comforts, earnestly in the name of Christ to entreat the Lord (whose presence and favour is the happiness of every condition, and sweeten's every Relation) to be ⟨p. 61⟩their Portion, and to own and accept them in Christ, who are now to be joined in the honourable Estate of Marriage, the Covenant of their God: and that as he hath brought them together by his Providence, he would sanctify them by his Spirit, giving them a new frame of heart fit for their new estate; enriching them with all Graces, whereby they may perform the duties, enjoy the comforts, undergo the cares, and resist the temptations which accompany that condition, as becometh Christians.