A discourse concerning liturgies

Thus we have gone through the disadvantages, of proving a ^mNegative: Let us now see, how they acquit themselves, upon whom the proof lies; affirming, That the Liturgies they contend for, have been ever, from the beginning. And here, if any where, it would be an easy matter, to give the ⟨p. 136⟩World abundant satisfaction, that what they assert is true, if indeed it were so: He that takes notice, what clear and full evidence may be easily had, from the Writers of some one Country, in a part of the last Age, for prescribed Liturgies; or what convincing and unanswerable proof may be brought for them, from the few Writers, which were in part of the Eighth or Ninth Centuries, when they had got place in the World; may justly expect, that, from that multitude of writings, in those many Ages, which this question concerns; such ample and evident testimony, for imposed Forms, would be found by those who have laboured for it, as would have no place for the least doubt, but there were such in use all along, if they had been really, as is pretended, the usage of the Churches, from the Apostles times. And if no such thing be produced, by those, whose interest led them to ransack all antiquity for it; even this, if there were no more, will be a convincing argument, that the ancient Church had no such Custom. Let us then view, what the learned Advocates for these Liturgies, have collected out of the Ancients, and published for the satisfaction of the World, in this point; and impartially examine, whether it amount to such proof, as may be reasonably looked for in those circumstances, or whether it came not short of any just and competent proof at all.

Thus we have gone through the disadvantages, of proving a ^mNegative: Let us now see, how they acquit themselves, upon whom the proof lies; affirming, That the Liturgies they contend for, have been ever, from the beginning. And here, if any where, it would be an easie matter, to give the ⟨p. 136⟩World abundant satisfaction, that what they assert is true, if indeed it were so: He that takes notice, what clear and full evidence may be easily had, from the Writers of some one Country, in a part of the last Age, for prescribed Liturgies; or what convincing and unanswerable proof may be brought for them, from the few Writers, which were in part of the Eighth or Ninth Centuries, when they had got place in the World; may justly expect, that, from that multitude of writings, in those many Ages, which this question concerns; such ample and evident testimony, for imposed Forms, would be found by those who have laboured for it, as would have no place for the least doubt, but there were such in use all along, if they had been really, as is pretended, the usage of the Churches, from the Apostles times. And if no such thing be produced, by those, whose interest led them to ransack all antiquity for it; even this, if there were no more, will be a convincing argument, that the antient Church had no such Custom. Let us then view, what the learned Advocates for these Liturgies, have collected out of the Antients, and published for the satisfaction of the World, in this point; and impartially examin, whether it amount to such proof, as may be reasonably looked for in those circumstances, or whether it came not short of any just and competent proof at all.