A discourse concerning liturgies

This will yet further appear, by Epiphanius's answer. Noli nos in tantum putare Rusticos, ut hoc tam aperte dicere poterimus, &c. He takes no notice, that what was objected, was inconsistent with the custom and practice of that Church, and so groundlessly suggested. He appeals not to the known form, to which they were precisely confined, refers him not to their Service Book for his satisfaction; which yet, if there had been any such thing, a duller person then Epiphanius would have discovered, to have been the best way, to stop the mouth of his Accuser. He denies not, but they ordered their Prayers according to such occasions; but only tells him, they were not so rustical, as to do it so bluntly.

This will yet further appear, by Epiphanius's answer. Noli nos in tantum putare Rusticos, ut hoc tam aperte dicere poterimus, &c. He takes no notice, that what was objected, was inconsistent with the custom and practice of that Church, and so groundlesly suggested. He appeales not to the known form, to which they were precisely confined, refers him not to their Service Book for his satisfaction; which yet, if there had been any such thing, a duller person then Epiphanius would have discovered, to have been the best way, to stop the mouth of his Accuser. He denyes not, but they ordered their Prayers according to such occasions; but only tells him, they were not so rustical, as to do it so bluntly.

We have, in the English Service Book, a Prayer for the whole state of Christs Church, pretended to be answerable to this Prayer we are upon; and indeed the only Prayer in the Book, that can pretend to any footsteps of Antiquity, so high as the fourth Age. Now suppose the Bishop of L. should be accused, in that prayer to prefer such a petition for the Primate of Ireland, Domine praesta I., ut recte credat; what course would the Bishop take, to clear himself of this accusation? Would not the dullest of his Chaplains appeal to the prayer it self, being invariably used, as the best way to demonstrate ⟨p. 64⟩the charge was false; which yet the Bishop of Cyprus, supposed to be just in the same circumstances, did not offer at? Nay he denies not, &c. ut supra.