A discourse concerning liturgies

Augustine mentions the public Prayers against Pelagians; but no otherwise, then as he might have alleged the extemporary petitions of such, who seeking the same things that Christians usually do, use not the same words; and agreeing in the subject, vary other ways in the expressions; without any intimation, that they were prescribed or in variable Forms. And elsewhere with some note of uncertainty, whether they did so pray, or whether those were their words in public; whereas if they had been in a common written Liturgy, he would have known it, and might have been positive; or some intimation of liberty they had to use those words or not, those or others; si voluerimus.

Augustine mentions the publick Prayers against Pelagians; but no otherwise, then as he might have alleadged the extemporary petitions of such, who seeking the same things that Christians usually do, use not the same words; and agreeing in the subject, vary other ways in the expressions; without any intimation, that they were prescribed or in variable Forms. And elsewhere with some note of uncertainty, whether they did so pray, or whether those were their words in publick; whereas if they had been in a common written Liturgy, he would have known it, and might have been positive; or some intimation of liberty they had to use those words or not, those or others; si voluerimus.

Finally, it cannot with any reason be supposed, but, if there had been such Liturgies, they would have been made use of against the Errors, and for deciding the Controversies, wherewith the Church was exercised in the Ages we are concerned in. To wave others, there were two especially as to which they might have been this way apparently serviceable; viz. That concerning the Godhead of Christ, opposed in the first, second, third and fourth Age especially. And that concerning the [Greek or Hebrew] of the faithful; and other errors, with which Pelagius and his adherents troubled the Churches in the beginning of the fifth Age, and afterwards. His Tenet see August. contr. 2 ep. Pelag. l. 4. c. 2. p. 239.

Finally, it cannot with any reason be supposed, but, if there had been such Liturgies, they would have been made use of against the Errours, and for deciding the Controversies, wherewith the Church was exercised in the Ages we are concerned in. To wave others, there were two especially as to which they might have been this way apparently serviceable; viz. That concerning the Godhead of Christ, opposed in the first, second, third and fourth Age especially. And that concerning the of the faithful; and other errors, with which Pelagius and his adherents troubled the Churches in the beginning of the fifth Age, and afterwards. His Tenet see August. contr. 2 ep. Pelag. l. 4. c. 2. p. 239.