TO THE
MOST REVEREND
Father in GOD
RICHARD
By the Divine Providence
Lord ARCHBISHOP
OF
YORK,
Primate of ENGLAND and
METROPOLITAN.

May it please your Grace,
I Have often with much pleasure
and admiration, observed how
rarely every part of Divine Service

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is suited to its proper Subject:
whereof there needs no better instance
than that which is under our
present Consideration: The Communion
is the most sublime Duty of
Christianity, the Compendium of
Religion, the best opportunity for
Repentance, the highest exercise of
Faith, and the strongest engagement
to our Charity; and accordingly it
is fitted with an Office agreeable to
its usefulness and grandeur, wherein
the Directions are full and perspicuous,
the Exhortations vigorous
and importunate, the Devotions fervent
and expressive of more than
ordinary affections; an Office,
wherein equal regard is had to the
Majesty of the Ordinance, and the

advantage of the Receivers, to the
Custom of the Antient and the benefit
of the present times: So that
the illustration of this one Part of
Liturgy, will contain Arguments
to convince the Negligent, Instructions
to teach the Ignorant, and be the
properest method to prepare us for
this Sacrament, to assist us in Receiving,
and to confirm us in all Holiness
and Vertue afterwards: yea
I dare affirm, that he who will conscientiously
practise by these measures,
can neither be an Ill Man, an
Unworthy Receiver, or an Enemy
to that Church which affords him
such excellent means of Salvation.
Wherefore that these endeavours
may be made publick with more Advantage,

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I have been bold to recommend
them to your Graces Patronage,
and that with great reason.
For their subject being of the highest
Mystery, and their design to adorn
the most eminent Office of the Church,
could no where be more justly presented
than to your Grace, who beside
the Dignity of your Primacy, and
the honour of so High a Station in
this Church, are so known a Lover
and Patron of all its Primitive Administrations:
Besides, your Grace
hath a peculiar title to the Author,
as well as a Right in the subject of
this Discourse; for he first received
the Holy Order of Priesthood, and
the Power of Dispensing this Sacrament

from your Graces
Hands, to whom
therefore he will ever
pay the Reverence
and Observance due to
a Spiritual Father.
In fine, I am obliged
to make this Tender,
by my Condition and my Duty, by
Gratitude and Affection: And your
Graces fair Approbation of my first
Essay, encourageth this to hope for
a Candid acceptance, both as it is
a Testimony of my Respect, and as
it may minister to the Devotion of
those who approach to Gods Altar.
My Lord,
There is nothing more useful to
the friends of this Church, nor more

convincing to the dissenters from it,
than to present her pure and Primitive
Order of Worship in its natural
and lovely splendor, whereof by
the Divine mercy, I have seen some
Experiments from my former attempt,
and if this may prevail also
to undeceive the seduced, to amend
the prophane, and to elevate the devotion
of Pious Men, I shall have
all I aimed at in this Work, only I
most gladly comply with this Opportunity
to testifie my self

Your Graces

Most dutiful Son
and most humble Servant,

Tho. Comber.
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