EVERLASTING Father, who didst make _Eve_ out of the rib of _Adam_, and didst give her to him to wife, accept my thanks for calling me to the marriage-state, and blessing me with a husband fearing thee. O, for thy mercy’s sake, make me a help meet for him. Grant, as _Sarah_ called _Abraham_, so I may call and honour him as my lord. Let me always remember, I am the weaker vessel, that man was first made, and not woman, and suffer me not at any time to usurp authority over him. O let me always take heed to reverence, and be in subjection to my husband; and let not my adorning be the outward adorning of plaiting the hair, or of wearing of gold, or of putting on fine apparel, but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of thee, my GOD, of great price. O let me be grave, discreet, chaste, a keeper at home. Suffer me not to be a busy-body, or to wander about from house to house. Keep me from being a tatler, speaking the things which I ought not. And if thou dost bless me with children, LORD, teach me to guide them in the right way, and manage my house with such meekness and wisdom, that I may give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. Though in the marriage-state, enable me, O LORD, to serve thee without distraction, and let me never be so cumbered about the many things of this life, as to neglect the one thing needful. May I with _Mary_, continually sit at thy feet, and learn of thee, O JESUS, to be meek and lowly in heart. Keep me from being a snare to my husband. Make me willing to part with him whensoever thou shalt call him from me. Into thy hands, O LORD, I commend both our spirits, souls and bodies. O sanctify us throughout, and let our seed be blessed. O let our marriage-bed be undefiled, and give us to live together as heirs of the grace of GOD, that our prayers be not hindered. Help us to love one another, like thee and thy church. Give us freedom to pray with and for each other, and grant I may be the glory of my husband, as the church is the glory of thee my Saviour. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, according to the multitude of thy mercies in JESUS my Redeemer; to whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, I desire here and hereafter to ascribe all power, might, majesty, and dominion, for ever and ever. _Amen_, and _Amen_.
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_A Prayer for a Man, convinced that it is his Duty to marry, for Direction in the Choice of a Wife._
O ALMIGHTY, ever-living GOD, who, after thou hadst made all things out of nothing, and man after thy own divine image, didst say, “It is not good that man should be alone, I will make him an help meet for him;” look down, O LORD, on the work of thine own hands, and hearken to the voice of my humble request. O LORD, chuse a help meet for me. Thou LORD, art acquainted with my wants. Thou didst once chuse a _Rebecca_ for _Isaac_. Thou art the same to-day as thou wast yesterday. Bless me, even me also, in like manner, O my Saviour. Suffer me not, O LORD, to be unequally yoked with an unbeliever. O let me not be in the number of the sons of GOD, who saw the daughters of men, that they were fair, and took them wives of all which they chose. LORD, do thou chuse for me, and direct me to a child of thine own, adorned with a meek and quiet spirit. O suffer me not to fall by the hand of a woman. For, LORD, thou knowest I desire to take a wife, not for lust, but uprightly; therefore, mercifully ordain, that I may have one after thy own heart. When I marry, let it be only in and for thee, O LORD. Let not lust or passion pervert or blind my eyes; but, LORD, give me to watch unto prayer, and let thy providence point out the person thou hast appointed for me. Thou didst direct _Abraham_’s servant; LORD, for thy mercy’s sake, direct me. Behold, I call thee, O blessed JESUS, to my marriage. Direct me also, when I consult my friends, thy disciples. O bless their advice unto me in this important change of my life, and let all know my marriage is of thee, my GOD. All which I humbly beg in thy name, and through thy merits, O blessed Lamb of GOD, thou heavenly bridegroom of thy church, to whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and for evermore. _Amen_, and _Amen_.
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_A Prayer for a Woman, desiring Direction of GOD, after an Offer of Marriage is made to her._