The Directory for the public worship of God, ratified by the parliament, 1645, forbad the use of the ring in marriage.

The Puritans made particular objection to those words used in the marriage service, "with my body I thee worship."

(Commonwealth, 1653.) The solemnizing of matrimony had hitherto been engrossed by the clergy, but this convention considered it as an evil contract, and put it into the hands of the justices of the peace, by an ordinance, which says, "That after the 29th of September, 1653, all persons who shall agree to be married within the Commonwealth of England, shall deliver in their names, and places of abode, with the names of their parents, guardians, and overseers, to the registrar of the parish where each party lives, who shall publish the banns in the church or chapel three several Lord's Days, after the morning service; or else in the market-place, three several weeks successively, between the hours of eleven and two, of a market-day, if the party desire it. The registrar shall make out a certificate of the due performance of one or the other, at the request of the parties concerned, without which they shall not proceed to marriage; it is further enacted, that all persons intending to marry shall come before some justice of the peace, within the county, city, or town corporate, where publication has been made as

aforesaid, with their certificate, and with sufficient proof of the consent of the parents, if either party be under age, and then the marriage shall proceed in this manner.

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The man to be married shall take the woman by the hand, and distinctly pronounce these words. I, A. B. do here, in the presence of God, the searcher of all hearts, take thee, C. D. for my wedded wife, and do also, in the presence of God, and before these witnesses, promise to be to thee a loving and faithful husband.

"Then the woman, taking the man by the hand, shall plainly and distinctly pronounce these words. I, C. D. do here, in the presence of God, the searcher of all hearts, take thee, A. B. for my wedded husband, and do also, in the presence of God and these witnesses, promise to be to thee a loving, faithful, and obedient wife.

"After this, the justice may and shall declare the said man and woman to be from henceforth husband and wife, and from and after such consent, so expressed, and such declaration made of the same, as the form of marriage, it shall be good and effectual in law; and no other marriage whatsoever within the Commonwealth of England, after the 29th of September, 1653, shall be held or accounted a marriage according to the law of England."

This ordinance was confirmed by the Protector's parliament in the year 1656, except the clause, "That no other marriage whatsoever, within the Commonwealth of England, shall be held or accounted a legal marriage."

G g

The Moravians published the following accounts of their custom respecting matrimony.

"We highly reverence marriage, as greatly conducive to the kingdom of Christ; but neither our young men nor women enter into it till they assuredly know that they are married to Christ. When any know it is the will of God that they should change their state, both the man and woman are placed some time with some married persons, who instruct them how to behave, so that their married life may be pleasing to God. Then their design is laid before the whole church, and after about fourteen days they are solemnly joined, though not otherwise habited than they are at other times. If they make any entertainment, they invite only a few intimate friends, by whose faithful admonition they may be better prepared to bear the cross, and fight the good fight of faith."

This passage Wesley inserted in the second part of his journal, without any comment or further explanation.

Ridley, Cranmer, Latimer, and the rest of the English Reformers, were unanimously of opinion, that the retaining altars would serve only to nourish in people's minds the superstitious opinion of a pro

pitiatory mass, and would minister an occasion of offence and division among the godly. But some of the bishops refused to comply with the council s order ; as Day, bishop of Chichester, and Heath, of Worcester; insisting on the Apostle's words to the Hebrews, "We have an altar;" and rather than comply, they suffered themselves to be deprived of their bishopricks for contumacy, October, 1551.

Neal's History of the Puritans.

(See Note on 1 Cor. x. 21.)

No. 2.

(ROMAN CATHOLICS.)

"We make a reverence to the altar upon which mass is said, because it is the seat of these divine' mysteries, and figure of Christ, who is not only our Priest and Sacrifice, but our Altar too, inasmuch as we offer up our prayers and sacrifices through him. ، Upon the altar we always have a crucifir, that, as the mass is said in remembrance of Christ's passion and death, both priest and people may have before their eyes, during this sacrifice, the image that puts them in mind of his passion and death. And there are always lighted candles upon the altar during mass; as well to honour the victory and triumph of our great king (which is there celebrated) by these lights, which are tokens of our joy and of his glory, as to denote the light of faith, with which we are to approach to him."

See" the Garden of the Soul, or Manual of Spiritual Exercises and Instructions for the Roman Catholics."

"The Epistle to the Hebrews is the first of those books which are distinguished by Eusebius as háving been disputed in the primitive ages of Christianity, and which, therefore, are not to be received as of equal authority with the rest. This Epistle, however, which contains many important observations, and many wholesome truths, mingled, indeed,. with some far-fetched analogies and inaccurate reasonings, was probably written before the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, for it contains no allusion to those calamitous events. But by whom it was written is uncertain. Origen says that no one can tell who was the author of it. It has been ascribed to Paul, to Barnabas, to Luke, and to Timothy; but if Origen, the most learned and inquisitive writer in the third century, could not discover the author, it is in vain for us to attempt it, and we must be content to remain in ignorance."

Note to the Unitarian Version.