s a general rule,
consecrate all the Bread and Wine that he offers. And in judging
the quantity, it is to be remembered that on the one hand the
consecration of an excessive amount of the elements involves a
serious risk of irreverence in the consumption of what remains
after Communion; so on the other hand, the error of consecrating too
little is to be deprecated, as necessitating a second consecration,
and thereby breaking the continuity of the service.

Many such points in the service are left without direction, or with
inconsistent directions, in consequence of the old Liturgical order
having been so broken and distorted in the revision of 1552, that
subsequent revision has been, and probably will be, unsuccessful
in removing the inconsistencies.

104. If there be no alms or oblations, then shall the words [_of
accepting our alms and oblations_] be left out unsaid.

105. When the Minister giveth warning for the celebration of the
holy Communion, (which he shall always do upon the Sunday, or some
Holy-day, immediately preceding), after the Sermon or Homily ended,
he shall read this Exhortation following, Dearly beloved, on, &c.

106. Or, in case he shall see the people negligent to come to the
holy Communion, instead of the former, he shall use this Exhortation,
Dearly beloved brethren, on, &c.

These exhortations are in anticipation of Communions on subsequent
occasions, and are clearly distinct from the notice of Communion
directed, in the rubric after the creed, to be given before the
sermon, since they must come after the sermon. It is very difficult
to say whether they should be read before or after the offertory and
prayer for the Church Militant. Probably it was intended to group
them generally with the sermon, without disturbing the offertory
and prayer for the Church Militant.

We have here an example of inconsistency in the rubrics of our
Communion Office referred to in the comment on the last rubric,
and which is caused by successive attempts at patching (instead of
revoking) the alterations made at the revision of 1552.

These two exhortations, with the third, which is appointed for use
on the occasion of Communion, form a great feature of the English
rite, but are more appropriate when Communions are rare, than when
they are frequent. It is, indeed, somewhat inconsistent to use a
prospective exhortation on the occasion of the Communion. It is
possible that the expression 'warning' may be taken t