A discourse concerning liturgies

2. No Prayers at all are forbidden, but such as were against the Faith; nec aliae omnino, contra fidem, proferantur; by which we may judge what Prayers both the Synod and the prudent would allow. They were not so scrupulous about words, if wholesome, though not accurate; they could better bear with some incommodious expressions or incongruities of speech, if the prayer was affectionate, and had such oratory as the great ^mGod is pleased to listen to, though the niceness and curiosity of a vainly critical ear would not be pleased ⟨p. 51⟩with it. Noverint (sayes Augustine) etiam non esse vocem ad aures Dei, nisi animi affectum, ita enim non irridebunt, si aliquos Antistites & ministros ecclesiae forte animadverterint, vel cum barbarismis vel solaecismis Deum invocare. De catechizand. rudibus c. 9. tom. 4. pars poster. p. 330. Let them understand, that God attends not so much to the voice, as the inward affection; and so they will not jeer, if perhaps they observe some Bishops and Ministers of the Church do call upon God with some (were these prescribed?) barbarisms and solecisms.

1. m[Greek or Hebrew]. Chrysost. in Ps. 8. p. 527, 524. Basil. [Greek or Hebrew]. Dii non tam accuratis adorantium precibus, quam innocentia & sanctitate laetantur: gratiorque existimatur, qui de labris eorum puram castamque mentem, quam qui meditatum carmen intu•erit. Plin. in Panegvr. ad Trajan. [Greek or Hebrew]. Is•dor. l. 1. ep. 386.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Chrysost. in Ps. 8. p. 527, 524. Basil. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Dii non tam accuratis adorantium precibus, quam innocentia & sanctitate laetantur: gratiorque existimatur, qui de labris eorum puram castamque mentem, quam qui meditatum carmen intu•erit. Plin. in Panegvr. ad Trajan. . Isdor. l. 1. ep. 386.