A discourse concerning liturgies

By prescribed Forms are meant such as are imposed upon the Administrator, so as those must be used, and no other, nor otherwise, without adding, detracting, or transposing. The Favourers of such Forms suppose, they have been the constant usage of the Church, every where, ever since extraordinary gifts ceased. Their Opposites judge this hath been rather taken for granted, then proved; and suspect they are [Greek or Hebrew]; and that this opinion had not got entertainment, but upon a presumption, that things were so of old, because they are so now; ^band that the mistake had not so long prevailed, if it had been sooner examined.

By prescribed Forms are meant such as are imposed upon the Administrator, so as those must be used, and no other, nor otherwise, without adding, detracting, or transposing. The Favourers of such Forms suppose, they have been the constant usage of the Church, every where, ever since extraordinary gifts ceased. Their Opposites judge this hath been rather taken for granted, then proved; and suspect they are 〈non-Latin alphabet〉; and that this opinion had not got entertainment, but upon a presumption, that things were so of old, because they are so now; ^band that the mistake had not so long prevailed, if it had been sooner examined.

1. b[Greek or Hebrew]. Isid. Pelul. l. 25. ep. 18. [Greek or Hebrew]. Isid. l. 3. ep. 191.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Isid. Pelul. l. 25. ep. 18. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Isid. l. 3. ep. 191.

It is not denied, but there were some Forms of Prayer of old, viz. arbitrary and particular, such as this or that Person composed himself, or made choice of composed by others, for his use in public. There is an intimation of this later sort, Can. 23. Con. Carthag. 3. held in the conclusion of the fourth Age; and it is the first that I meet with. But common Forms (though arbitrary) viz. such as many Churches made use of in the same words, I cannot discover till many years after; unless the Lords Prayer be made an instance hereof