A discourse concerning liturgies

But 2. If we understand hereby other Prayers, then such as the imaginary Liturgy contained; then so much liberty is hereby granted, for the use of those other Prayers, that the pretended Liturgy might never be used: For these Fathers authorize any other (with a quaecunque) which prudent Brethren might think fit for public use. And so leave none under the restraint of any prescribed Forms, either in other parts of Worship, or (in precibus ad altare dicendis) in the Eucharistical Service^o

But 2. If we understand hereby other Prayers, then such as the imaginary Liturgy contained; then so much liberty is hereby granted, for the use of those other Prayers, that the pretended Liturgy might never be used: For these Fathers authorize any other (with a quaecunque) which prudent Brethren might think fit for publick use. And so leave none under the restraint of any prescribed Forms, either in other parts of Worship, or (in precibus ad altare dicendis) in the Eucharistical Service^o

1. oI am the more satisfied with this evidence of the African Councils, because Bellarmine hath nothing to oppose here, but what renders it more unquestionable. Chemnitius had alleged, Con. Afric. can. 70. Milevit. c. 12. to prove, apud veteres ordine ne•lebrandi fuisse arbitrarium; the order of celebrating the Eucharist of old was arbitrary. Hinc colligitur, sayes Bellarmine, non fuisse antiquo tempore praescriptum certum canonem orationum, qui omnes obligaret, sed permissum fuisse, ut quisque componeret preces, modo eae analogae essent fidei, de miss. l. 2. c. 18. Chemnitius thus, Non enim conceptis verbis praescripta fuit una quaedam certa forma—sed liberum fuit uti quacunque forma, modo analoga esset fidei. Examen pars 2. p. 358. Bellarmin answers, Canons Conciliorum citatorum non loquuntur de canone missae; sed de collectis, quae semper fuirant multiplices & vary, Id. ibid, p. 817. Where he denies not, but that those African Decrees show, that all other Prayers, even in the Eucharist, were then arbitrary; only the Canon of the Mass, says he, they speak not of. And no wonder, since the Canon, which he is so tender of, was not in being till near two hundred years after these Decrees were made. And there's not a syllable in them, for the excepting of any other, more then that. Vid. Albaspin. ante.