A discourse concerning liturgies

And it will be granted, that if those who were judicious had the managing of those Controversies, if they thought it requisite to make use of Humane Testimony, they would make choice of that which is most cogent and convictive.

Now they did make use of Humane Testimony, as we find both that unnamed Author in Eusebius, l. 5. c. ••. p. 145. who confuting Artemon's error, who maintained Christ was only [Greek or Hebrew], alleges Justin Martyr, Miltiades, Tatian, Clemens, Irenaeus, Melito, and the Hymns composed by the Brethren of old, [Greek or Hebrew]; but not a word of any Prayers, ancient or written, by Brethren or Fathers; which yet (by one who, as it is apparent, industriously sought out all sorts of confirmations) would not have been omitted; as tending as much, if there had been some written of old; but contributing much more, to the confirming of that truth, if there had been any enjoined to be publicly and generally used. Also Athanasius against the Arians, and Augustine against the Pelagians^*, two of the ⟨p. 24⟩most judicious Writers that those Ages afforded, make use of the Testimonies of their Predecessors and Contemporaries; but allege not one passage out of a Service-Book, or any Prayers written, or so as to give us occasion to think there were any such used publicly, and authorized; whereas they could not but apprehend as well as we, that one clear allegation out of an ancient and commonly received Liturgy would have been more cogent and convictive, then any, or all the particular Testimonies, they produce; (since the judgment of whole Churches, in several Ages too, is far more considerable, then of many particular persons).

Now they did make use of Humane Testimony, as we find both that unnamed Author in Eusebius, l. 5. c. ••. p. 145. who confuting Artemons error, who maintained Christ was only 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, alleadges Justin Martyr, Miltiades, Tatian, Clemens, Irenaeus, Melito, and the Hymns composed by the Brethren of old, ; but not a word of any Prayers, antient or written, by Brethren or Fathers; which yet (by one who, as it is apparent, industriously sought out all sorts of confirmations) would not have been omitted; as tending as much, if there had been some written of old; but contributing much more, to the confirming of that truth, if there had been any injoyned to be publickly and generally used. Also Athanasius against the Arrians, and Augustine against the Pelagians