each other's understanding and heart, and to travel together hand in hand the road which leads to heaven and thee. Enable them, by persevering affection, by a worthy deportment, and by united devotions, to soften to each other the unavoidable cares of life, to alleviate its sorrows, to increase its innocent enjoyments, and to edify their friends and all around them. Prosper, we beseech thee, their useful worldly pursuits, if thine infinite wisdom perceives this to be good for them; and, should they be visited with affliction, let them find a never-failing Friend and Supporter in thee. And, having been pious, virtuous, and happy in their connection here on earth, may they be at last united in the realms of everlasting love and bliss, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The following exhortation may be addressed to the parties after marriage.

It will be of great advantage and importance to you, my friends, to consider frequently and seriously the sacred engagement, which you have now made. Marriage is the union of one man with one woman for their joint happiness, and for the pious education of children, where God gives them; and, by the original appointment of the Almighty, confirmed by our Saviour, (Genesis ii. 24. Matthew xix, 4, 5, 6.) this union is to be dissolved only by death. It was intended by the benevolent Parent of mankind, not to be a hard yoke, but a means of promoting our true happiness, and of exercising us in the best and most amiable dispositions. Let the necessary care and diligence be, therefore, employed for the accomplishment of these momentous ends. Let it be always remembered by both of you, that your own welfare is concerned in the part which you act in this relation, and that you are accountable for your behaviour in it to the omniscient and righteous Judge of the living and the dead. Abhor and fly

from every thought, word, and deed, which m.ght have the slightest tendency to lessen your mutual esteem, to taint the chastity and purity of your hearts, and to tempt you to the violation of conjugal fidelity. Let piety, peace, concord, mildness, and forbearance, be your constant companions and guides. Expect not to find each other faultless; but recollect, that you are to endeavour to become so. Hope not for perfect and unmixed happiness: while you are in this world, a variety of trials must be borne; but, if you faithfully discharge the duties of the state into which you have entered, your afflictions will be mitigated and your satisfactions be multiplied by sharing them with each other as most intimate friends and partners. Be not ambitious of superiority and power; but be ambitious of the honour of bearing each other's burdens, of preventing each other's wishes, and of promoting each other's happiness by works of love. Prefer the pleasures of domestic society to all other earthly enjoyments, and rest assured that they are the most innocent and durable. Be particularly careful to sanctify your connexion by devotional exercises; let the God of heaven be acknowledged and worshipped in your family; be affectionate instructers, monitors, guardians, and supporters of each other's virtue, and examples to all who may dwell under your roof. Should God bless you with children, let it be your chief concern, not that they should be rich or great in the world, but that they should be educated as Christians; and let it be your highest delight and your noblest employment, to train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.-By following these counsels, you will be preserved from numberless evils, vexations, and sins. By obeying these dictates of religion, you will render your days on earth tranquil, possess a conscience void of offence, and secure the approbation of Almighty God. And, by advanc.

ing each other's best interests as immortal beings, you will be enabled to rejoice habitually in the precious hope, that, although you shall be separated by death for a little while, you will meet again, with new improvements, and in happier circumstances that shall admit of no termination. May God grant you such felicity, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

SECTION XVI.

THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD.

It is customary for the minister to make a short and suitable address to the family and others who join the procession, at the grave, in the church, or at the house of the deceased. After the corpse is laid in the grave, the minister may make use of the fol lowing form.

MAN, who is born of a woman, hath but a short time to live, and is full of misery. He cometh up, and is cut down like a flower; he fleeth as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one stay.

In the midst of life we are in death. Of whom may we seek for succour, but of thee, O Lord, who for our sins art justly displeased?

Yet, O Lord God most holy, O Lord most mighty. O holy and most merciful Saviour, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death.

Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts: shut not thy merciful ears to our prayers: but spare us, Lord most holy, O God most mighty, O holy and merciful Saviour, thou most worthy Judge eternal, suffer us not, at our last hour, for any pains of death to fall from thee.

To this

s prayer the minister may add any other

which he shall judge proper; or he may at his discretion, use one of the following prayers.

Almighty God, with whom do live the spirits of those who depart hence in the Lord; and with whom the souls of the faithful, after they are delivered from the burthen of the flesh, are in joy and felicity: we give thee hearty thanks for the good examples of all those thy servants, who, having finished their course in faith, do now rest from their labours. And we beseech thee, that we, with all who have loved and served thee, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul, in thine everlasting glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O merciful God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the life; in whom whosoever believeth shall live, though he die; who also hath taught us by his holy apostle St. Paul, not to be sorry, as men without hope, for those who sleep in him: we humbly beseech thee, O Father, to raise us up from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness; that, when we shall depart this life, we may rest in him; and that, at the general resurrection in the last day, we may be found acceptable in thy sight, and receive that blessing which thy well-beloved Son shall then pronounce to all that love and fear thee, saying, Come, ye blessed children of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. Grant this, we beseech thee, O merciful Father, through Jesus Christ our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen.

Eternal and unchangeable God, by whose Providence we have been called to witness this instance of mortality, and in whose hand is the life of every human being: enable us, we beseech thee, to lay to heart the serious lessons, which are now addressed to us. Teach us so to number our days, that we may apply ourselves unto wisdom, set our affections upon

the things which are above, perform without delay the great work which thou hast given us to do, live by the faith of thy Son, and habitually look forward to his second coming. Comfort and support the spirits of thy servants, who mourn over this afflicting dispensation. Let their hearts be stayed upon thee, and rejoice in the precious discoveries of thy word. And let them find by their own experience, that all things work together for good to them that love thee. Amen.

Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God, in his wise Providence, to take out of this world the soul of our deceased brother, (sister) we therefore commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust: looking for the general resurrection in the last day, and the life of the world to come, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall raise his followers to the participation of his own happiness and glory in heaven.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.