ffords no ground for the opinion that Communions
should not be more frequent than weekly. The direction that the
Clergy when numerous should all receive the Communion every Sunday
at the least, so far from debarring them or any one else from the
privilege of more frequent Communions, implies that a weekly
Communion is the lowest standard in such cases. Any other principle
of interpreting the words 'at the least,' in this and in the
later paragraph of this rubric (where the laity are required to
receive three times in the year at the least), would involve a
prohibition to the laity against receiving more than three times
in the year.

Bishop Cosin was of opinion that when the Church enjoined her
Priests and Deacons to communicate every Sunday at least, she
supposed it "ought and should be done by them oftener. And from
hence was it that the Collects, Epistles, and Gospels were appointed
upon the Sundays and Holy-days, and a rubric made at the beginning
of the Service Book for the Collects, Epistles, and Gospels to
serve all the week-days, that were used on the Sunday--that is, at
any time when there is a Communion on the week-day. And, certainly,
though it be no fault to read the Collects, Epistles, and Gospels
either upon Sundays or week-days; yet to read them, and not to go
on with the Communion, is contrary to the intent of our Church,
that, if there were any company, intended a Communion every day,
for the continuing of the daily sacrifice in the Church, ever used
till Calvinism sprung up, and leaped over into England."[i]

It was a principle affirmed by Hooker and Archbishop Laud as well
as by Bishop Cosin, and still later by Archbishop Sheldon in 1670,
that the practice of cathedrals or mother churches was intended to
be a pattern for that of parochial churches. Wherever, therefore,
the Clergy form a company sufficient for communion they ought not
to communicate less often than every Sunday, and may well do so
oftener, even daily; and wherever a company of communicant laity
desire a like privilege, they are not debarred from it by this
rubric.

138. And to take away all occasion of dissension, and superstition,
which any person hath or might have concerning the Bread and Wine,
it shall suffice that the Bread be such as is usual to be eaten;
but the best and purest Wheat Bread that conveniently may be gotten.

The words 'shall suffice' do not exclude a higher alternative, as
may be seen in the rubric of admini