The layman's ritual containing practical methods of Christian duties both religious and moral drawn out of H. Scripture, the Roman ritual, the catechism ad parchos &c. / by C.T.

CHAP XI. Of Matrimony.

This is a great Sacrament in Christ, and in the Church.

Eph. 5.32.

MAtrimony is an inseparable Conjunction (or, Joining together) of a Man and a Woman for the end of Wedlock, ordain'd and made by God himself, Sanctified by Christ, and made a

great Sacrament [representing and resembling the Spiritual Union be-Christ and his Church]: Which gives Special Grace to Man and Wife, e••••bling them to discharge Holily their respective Duties towards one another, and towards their Chil∣dren. See Chap. XXVII.

For Receiving and Retaining of which Matrimonial Grace, the fol∣lowing Dispositions are necessary.

§ I. Before Marriage.

1. A good Intention is required; which consists in Desiring and Re∣solving to Marry for one or more of the ends for which God Ordain'd, and Christ Sanctified Wedlock: As,

First, and Principally, for the love of Children and Posterity, in which the Name of God may be Blessed for ever. Gen. 1.27, 28. Tob. 6.22. ch. 8. v. 9.

Secondly, For the sake of mutual Society, and Assistance of one ano∣ther. Gen. 2.18. Eccles. 4.9, &c.

Thirdly, For a remedy against Concupiscence, and Sins of the Flesh. 1 Cor. 7.2.8.9.

2. A good Intention must be pur∣sued, and carried on with Vert••••••s Conversation, and Modest Beh••••i∣our (throughout the whole S••••••es of Courtship) as the best means to Succeed in the Choice of a good Wife or Husband: For House and Riches are the Gifts of Parents; but of our Lord properly, a good Wife (a). A good Woman is a good Portion; in the good Portion of them that fear God, shall she be given to a Man for good Deeds (b). Thus Sara was reserved and given to Tobie, as the Angel declared to Raguel, her Fa∣ther, saying, Fear not to give her to this Man; for to him, fearing God, is thy Daughter due to be his Wife, therefore another could not have her. Tob. 7.12. See Ecclus 7.27.

Hence, in the time of Courtship, all Pretenders to Marriage, and espe∣cially Women, must imitate Sara's

Conduct; who Appeals to God, as Witness of her Modesty and Inte∣grity, saying, Thou knowest, Lord, that I never Coveted a Husband, and have kept my Soul clean from all Con∣cupiscence; never have I companied my self with Sporters; neither have I made my self partaker with them, that walk in Lightness; but a Hus∣band I Consented to take, with thy Fear, not with my Lust. Tob. 3.16, &c.

3. A little before Marriage, the Parties (having prepared them∣selves diligently before-hand) must go to Confession, in order to put their Souls in the State of Grace, necessary for Receiving Worthily the Holy Sacrament of Matrimony; and they would do well to Communi∣cate either before or after Marriage, according as occasion best Serves.

§ II. At Marriage.

Not only the State of Grace, but also Interior Devotion, and Exte∣rior Decency and Reverence are ne∣cessary; because Matrimony is a Ho∣ly

thing, and ought to be treated Holily (by the Parties themselves) and respectfully (by all present thereat). And as true Deuotion, and pious Desires of those concern'd in the Marriage at Cana, were the principal Invitations, that moved Jesus and Mary to honour it with their Presence, and induced Her to represent Affectionately, and Him to supply Miraculously their want of Wine. Jo. 2.1, &c. so, doubt∣less, true Devotion and due Reve∣rence, are the best Means you can use for obtaining of the Mother and Son of God, Spiritual Blessings up∣on your Nuptials.

§ III. After Marriage.

According to the direction of the Angel Raphael, and the Example of Tobie and Sara, the new Married Couple are advised to be Continent for Three Days and Nights, and give themselves (that while) to Prayer, that God may give a bles∣sing to them in the State of Life, they have undertaken: This done,

and the Priest's Benediction being receiv'd, after Mass said for them, they may Consummate their Mar∣riage, not like Brutes or Heathens, but with the fear of our Lord; and with the fear of our Lord must they likewise Celebrate the Marriage-Feast. Tob. 6.17, &c. c. 8. v. 4, &c. 1 Thes. 4.3, &c. Tob. 9.12.

{inverted ⁂} Note here, First, That Parents must not Match their Children a∣gainst their Wills, nor Children Marry contrary to the Rational Sen∣timents of their Parents. Gen. 24.57. c. 26. v. 34, 35.

Secondly, That the Church pro∣hibits the pompous Solemnities of Marriage in Advent and Lent, as un∣seasonable Entertainments at those Times of Publick Mourning and Penance: For Musick in Mourning is a Tale out of Time: But Scourges and Doctrin are at all Times [and espe∣cially in Advent and Lent] Wisdom, Ecclus 22.6.

Thirdly, That the want of due Preparations and Dispositions afore∣mentioned,

is the occasion, that ma∣ny now-a-days are so unfortunate and miserable in the State of Wed∣lock.

Fourthly, That they do well, who keep the Anniversary-Day of their Marriage; by reflecting then, How they have complied with the Obli∣gations of their State; by Repent∣ing for, and Resolving to Amend what has been Amiss; by craving Grace for better Management of their Vocation, &c.

Notes

• Gen. 2.22.24. Mat. 19.6.
• (a)

  Prov. 19.14.
• (b)

  Ecclus 26.3.