# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_November 1862_S340
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

340 On Betrothal and Wedding Sermons.

first the parents of the couple to be betrothed, if present, for their
consent, or attests to the written consent of the absent. Then, naming
them, he puts to the couple to be betrothed the question whether the one
will have the other as a Christian betrothed, and, once the "yes" is given,
confirms their betrothal — without, however, letting them join hands to
each other — in the name of the Triune God, prays over them the holy
Our Father, and pronounces the blessing. At the close a few verses are
sung further.

As texts for betrothal addresses, passages such as the following are
suitable.

Genesis 24. The betrothal of Rebecca to Isaac.

Ps. 37:5. Commit thy way unto the Lord and trust in him, and he
will bring it to pass.

Matt. 19:6. What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

1 Cor. 7:39. Marrying should take place in the Lord.

Col. 3:17. Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of
the Lord Jesus, and give thanks to God
and the Father through him.

Tob. 4:19. Bless God at all times, and desire of him that thy ways may
be directed, and that all thy counsels may abide in him.

Tob. 8:5. We are the children of the saints, and we may not be joined
together like the heathen that know not God.

The content of the betrothal address should relate especially to three
points: what betrothal is, how Christians become betrothed, and how
Christian betrothed persons should conduct themselves. Next, one should
show the difference between secret and public betrothals, and likewise
the curse attending the former and the blessing attending the latter.
In particular, one should show from Holy Scripture how necessary
parental consent is to the making of a valid betrothal. Further, the
wonderful leadings of God toward his saints, who through him have found
a godly spouse, serve as proof that God-pleasing marriages are made in
heaven, and as encouragement to recognize God's work in similar
leadings and to praise him for it. Finally, attention might be drawn to the
importance of the public banns and of the intercession of the Christian
congregation.

Rich material for such addresses is to be found in Dr. Luther's sermon
on the estate of marriage from the year 1525, with Buchholzer's dedicatory
letter — namely in Part 1, which treats of the eightfold honor of the
estate of marriage, as well as in Part 2, which teaches how the estate of
marriage is to be entered upon in a godly manner; likewise in what he
wrote against secret betrothals, especially in his treatise on marriage
matters from the year 1530 (Walch's edition, 10, 896), and in his two
opinions against secret marriage-betrothals from the years 1544 and
1545 (W. edition, 10, 825). Finally, in the Table Talk, chapter 66, § 21,
where the following mighty words occur: "Therefore I, Doctor Martinus,
command, in the name of the Lord our God, that no one betroth himself
secretly and afterward, once it has already happened, seek the parents'
consent, and thus