142 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP, 



three sermo7is a-week from dijferent Jimids. But 

 fts all these turns in the Minster were chiefly 

 supplied by the members of it, the Prebendaries 

 or Vicars-Choral, that he might also exercise 

 and know the talents of the City Clergy, and 

 those of the 7ieighbourmg patishes, he set up an 

 Evening Lecture, to be preached on every Fri- 

 day, at All Saints' Church, in the Pavement. 



He entered himself into the combination, and 

 took his tiir?i among them. This lecture was 

 opened in 1693, the second year of his residence 

 in his diocese, and was kept up with a large 

 resort, chiefly of the Clergy in and about York, 

 till the year 1707. During which whole time 

 he attended almost constantly while he resided 

 in the country, and brought thither preachers 

 at length from all parts of his diocese. By 

 which he had not only a better knowledge of 

 their several abilities, but an opportunity of im- 

 proving them by his advice, which he would 

 freely give them when he judged it would prove 

 useful. If there were any thing in their com- 

 posures or stile not well suiting the pulpit, or 

 remarkably unacceptable in their tone or man- 

 ner of delivery, he would kindly caution them 

 to avoid it in their preaching, and give them 

 proper directions how to do so. That this was 

 one great use he made of his attendance on this 

 lecture, appears from his constantly mentioning 



II 



