For fruitfulness, and perfect love, And constant peace, they pray'd, On Eleëmon the Lord's Servant, And Cyra, the Lord's Handmaid. They call'd upon the Lord to bless Their spousal celebration, And sanctify the marriage rite To both their souls' salvation. A pause at every prayer they made, The Choristers took up their part, And sung in tones that thrill'd the heart, "Have mercy on us, Lord!" Then with the marriage rings the priest Pronouncing them before high Heaven Now and for ever more, for time This did he in the presence Of Angels and of men; And at every pause the Choristers Intoned their deep "Amen!" Then to that gracious Lord, the Priest His supplication made, Who, as our sacred Scriptures tell, Did bring Rebecca to the well When Abraham's servant pray'd. He call'd upon that gracious Lord To stablish with his power The espousals made between them, In truth and love, this hour; And with his mercy and his word Their lot, now link'd, to bless, And let his Angel guide them In the way of righteousness. With a Christian benediction, The Priest dismiss'd them then, And the Choristers, with louder voice, Intoned the last " Amen!" The days of Espousals are over; To the sacred fane the bridal train, A gay procession, take again Through thronging streets their way. 1 "Formerly these crowns were garlands made of flowers or shrubs; but now there are generally in all churches crowns of silver, or other metals, kept for that purpose."-Dr. King's Rites, &c. p. 232. "A certain crown of flowers used in marriages," says the excellent Bishop Heber, (writing from the Carnatic,) "has been denounced to me as a device of Satan! And a gentleman has just written to complain that the Danish Government of Tranquebar will not allow him to excommunicate Before them, by the Paranymphs, Composed of all sweet flowers of spring! With lighted tapers in array He raised his voice, and call'd aloud Creating Woman thus for Man Flesh of his flesh; appointing them |