A discourse concerning liturgies

There had been no occasion for any part of this Canon, if such Liturgies, as we speak of, had been in use; or if they had thought fit to have imposed any. A few words would have served the turn, instead of those they multiply; (Let no Prayers be used, in Celebrating the Sacrament, but what the Church prescribes). But the wisdom of Africa, and the great Augustine, thought that course more advisable, which is utterly inconsistent with such restraint, and which left the most insufficient of their Ministers at greater liberty; for such evidently is the course they take in this Canon. The severals of which, if they can be reconciled with any kind or degree of confinement to prescribed Forms; then may we reconcile light and darkness.

There had been no occasion for any part of this Canon, if such Liturgies, as we speak of, had been in use; or if they had thought fit to have imposed any. A few words would have served the turn, instead of those they multiply; (Let no Prayers be used, in Celebrating the Sacrament, but what the Church prescribes). But the wisdom of Africa, and the great Augustine, thought that course more adviseable, which is utterly inconsistent with such restraint, and which left the most insufficient of their Ministers at greater liberty; for such evidently is the course they take in this Canon. The severals of which, if they can be reconciled with any kind or degree of confinement to prescribed Forms; then may we reconcile light and darkness.

That no Ministers were limited to any prescribed Forms, in the administration of the Lords Supper, is manifest also, by the Seventieth Canon in the Collection called the African Council; which being the same in effect with that which passeth for the twelfth Canon of the Council of Milevis, runs thus.

Placuit etiam hoc, ut preces quae probatae fuerint in Concilio, sive praefationes, sive commendationes, seu manus impositiones, ab omnibus celebrentur; nec aliae omnino contra fidem proferantur; sed quaecunque