Let no unseemly strife

Break out 'twixt man and wife,

Hallow the earthly tie

By heavenly harmony.

Observe the solemn troth
Here witnessed by you both-
One mind, one soul, one heart,
One faith, till death shall part.

God grant you rich increase!
God grant you joy and peace,
Health, length of years, and love,

• Eternal life above!

TAKING THE VEIL.

"That ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction."

Virgin daughter, who art led

To this altar to be wed,

Who thy heart and soul hast given

Freely to the God of Heaven,

Christ thy husband thou dost choose,
Christ thy love will not refuse;

Thou shalt be his holy bride,

He shall be thy Lord and Guide :

Clad in raiment white as snow,
None more beautiful than thou;
Faithfulness, and truth divine,
Spotless purity, are thine.

Hark! a thousand thousand times Sound the everlasting chimes;

Angels, unperceived by men,

Throng the glorious wedding train.

Virgin daughter, from this hour Know the Heavens are thy dower ; Earth has nothing to compare With the glories treasured there.

Lowly, lowly, lowly bow,

Ere thou take the solemn vow;
Then to earth for ever dead,

Then to Christ for ever wed.

HOLY COMMUNION.

"Ye do shew the Lord's death till he come."

A spotless lamb, by God's command,
Was on the Jewish altar slain,
That men might know that blood alone
Could take away the sinner's stain:

But none, save Jesus, God's own Son,
Could cleanse from sin, or stop the curse;
His body broken, blood poured forth,
Redeemed the guilty Universe.

The work he finished: now no more
Jesus himself is offered up,

Yet still, in thankful memory,

We break the bread, and take the cup;

And, as in love and joy and peace

His people in communion meet,

They hail by faith that better feast,
When Christ himself with them shall eat.

O Lord, thy dying love exceeds

What men or angels can declare ;

Teach us, while here thy death we shew,
For thy bright presence to prepare.