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,
Whereat with one accord

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
Betroth'd them each to each,
And, as the sacred pledge was given,
Resumed his aweful speech;

Pronouncing them before high Heaven
This hour espoused to be,

Now and for ever more, for time
And for eternity.

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;
And on the Crowning-day,

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,
The coronals are borne,

Composed of all sweet flowers of spring!
By virgin hands that morn.

With lighted tapers in array
They enter the Holy Door.
And the Priest with the waving thuribule
Perfumes the way before.

He raised his voice, and call'd aloud
On Him who from the side
Of our first Father, while he slept,
Form'd Eve to be his bride;

Creating Woman thus for Man
A helpmate meet to be,
For youth and age, for good and ill,
For weal and woe, united still
In strict society,

Flesh of his flesh; appointing them
One flesh to be, one heart;
Whom God hath joined together,
Them let not man dispart!