_Answer_. Who put their trust in thee. _Minister_. O Lord, send them help from thy holy place; _Answer_. And evermore defend them. _Minister_. Be unto them a tower of strength; _Answer_. From the face of their enemy. _Minister_. O Lord, hear our prayer; _Answer_. And let our cry come unto thee. _Minister_. O God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, bless these thy servants, and sow the seed of eternal life in their hearts; that whatsoever in thy holy Word they shall profitably learn, they may in deed fulfil the same. Look, O Lord, mercifully upon them from heaven, and bless them. And as thou didst send thy blessing upon Abraham and Sarah, to their great comfort, so vouchsafe to send thy blessing upon these thy servants; that they obeying thy will, and alway being in safety under thy protection, may abide in thy love unto their lives end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_. _This Prayer next following shall be omitted, where the woman is past child-bearing_. O merciful Lord, and heavenly Father, by whose gracious gift mankind is increased: We beseech thee, assist with thy blessing these two persons, that they may both be fruitful in procreation of children, and also live together so long in godly love and honesty, that they may see their children christianly and virtuously brought up, to thy praise and honour; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_. | _Or this prayer following may be used_. | | O almighty God, Creator of mankind, who only art the well-spring | of life: Bestow upon these thy servants, if it be thy will, the | gift and heritage of children; and grant that they may see their | children brought up in thy faith and fear to the honour and glory | of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_. O God, who by thy mighty power hast made all things of nothing; who also (after other things set in order) didst appoint, that out of man (created after thine own image and similitude) woman should take her beginning; and, knitting them together, didst teach that it should never be lawful to put asunder those whom thou by Matrimony hadst made one: O God, who hast consecrated the state of Matrimony to such an excellent mystery, that in it is signified and represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ and his Church: Look mercifully upon these thy servants, that both this man may love his wife, according to thy Word, (as Christ did love his spouse the Church, who gave himself for it, loving and cherishing it even as his own flesh,) and also that this woman may be loving and amiable, faithful and obedient to her husband; and in all quietness, sobriety, and peace, be a follower of holy and godly matrons. O Lord, bless them both, and grant them to inherit thy everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_. _Then shall the Priest say_,