O Almighty, ever-living God, who, after thou hadst made all things out of nothing, and man after thy own divine image, didst say, “It is not good that man should be alone, I will make him an help meet for him;” look down, O Lord, on the work of thine own hands, and hearken to the voice of my humble request. O Lord, chuse a help meet for me. Thou Lord, art acquainted with my wants. Thou dist once chuse a Rebecca for Isaac. Thou art the same today as thou wast yesterday. Bless me, even me also, in like manner, O my Saviour. Suffer me not, O Lord, to be unequally yoked with an unbeliever. O let me not be in the number of the sons of God, who saw the daughters of men, that they were fair, and took them wives of all which they chose. Lord, do thou chuse for me, and direct me to a child of thine own, adorned with a meek and quiet spirit. O suffer me not to fall by the hand of a woman. For, Lord, thou knowest I desire to take a wife, not for lust, but uprightly; therefore, mercifully ordain, that I may have one after thy own heart. When I mary, let it be only in and for thee, O Lord. Let not lust or passion pervert or blind my eyes; but Lord, give me to watch unto prayer, and let thy providence point out the person thou hast appointed for me. Thou didst direct Abraham’s servant; Lord, for thy mercy’s sake, direct me. Behold, I call thee, O blessed Jesus, to my marriage. Direct me also, when I consult my friends, thy disciples. O bless their advice unto me in this important change of my life, and let all know my marriage is of thee, my God. All of which I humbly beg in thy name, and through my merits, O blessed Lamb of God, thou heavenly bridegroom of thy church, to whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and forevermore. Amen, and Amen.
George Whitefield, from The Works of George Whitefield, published 1771