Is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God.

This sentence is best known from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer’s marriage liturgy, where it describes the solemnity with which “holy Matrimony” should be undertaken. In the traditional service, it appears in the minister’s address to the congregation immediately before the exchange of vows, warning against treating marriage as a casual arrangement or merely a means to satisfy desire. The phrasing reflects Reformation-era English church language and was widely disseminated through repeated use in parish worship and later through cultural quotation, often detached from its explicit reference to marriage.

The line insists that certain commitments—especially marriage in its original liturgical setting—require deliberate moral seriousness. The sequence of adverbs (“reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly”) emphasizes reflection, self-restraint, and spiritual accountability rather than impulse or social convenience. “In the fear of God” frames the decision as made under divine judgment and guidance, not merely personal preference. More broadly, the quote has been used as a general admonition against rash entry into any weighty covenant or responsibility, underscoring that enduring bonds demand intention and ethical preparation.

1) “...not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly...”
2) “...but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God...”
3) “...duly considering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained.”