A discourse concerning liturgies

Nor will the Inference hold, from prescribed Hymns to prescribed Liturgies, from a small part (for which there is a different reason) to the whole Ex. Gr. If Nicephorus his report were true, lib. 14. cap. 46. that Theodosius Junior, with his Sister Pulcheria, enjoined the [Greek or Hebrew] (a Hymn of six or eight Words) to be sung throughout the World (which yet he makes questionable, by adding such a Legend of its miraculous original) could it be inferred from thence, that they enjoined the whole World the same Liturgy? Besides, Hymns there were prescribed and so used (viz. the Psalms of David, and others of Divine Inspiration) in the Apostles times, when all our Liturgists in a manner, acknowledge there were no prescribed Liturgies.

Nor will the Inference hold, from prescribed Hymns to prescribed Liturgies, from a small part (for which there is a different reason) to the whole Ex. Gr. If Nicephorus his report were true, lib. 14. cap. 46. that Theodosius Junior, with his Sister Pulcheria, injoyned the 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 (a Hymn of six or eight Words) to be sung throughout the World (which yet he makes questionable, by adding such a Legend of its miraculous original) could it be inser'd from thence, that they injoyned the whole World the same Liturgy? Besides, Hymns there were prescribed and so used (viz. the Psalms of David, and others of Divine Inspiration) in the Apostles times, when all our Liturgists in a manner, acknowledge there were no prescribed Liturgies.

As for those two Hymns alleged, there is no evidence, that they were imposed, or so much as used, in any time, which will serve to prove the Antiquity of those Liturgies, which is pretended, or any which is for their reputation. That which begins with Te Deum, is found by the great ^aUsher, ⟨p. 178⟩in some Ancient Manuscripts ascribed to Nicetius (who, if it be he of Triers, lived till after an. 565.) He concurs herein with Menardus, that it is not mentioned in any Author ancienter than the Rules which Benet writ for the Monks of his Order, which was about the middle of the Sixth Age, as may be collected from Baronius; and those Rules had their first public approbation, an. 595. How long after this, that Hymn came to be used in the Church, and when it was thought fit to be imposed, is not worth the inquiring.