A discourse concerning liturgies

So that we may conclude, either the greatest wits and judgments of those times were not wise enough to discern the best advantages they had from ⟨p. 25⟩Humane Testimony, such as were obvious to every eye; and either could not manage them, as those of ordinary capacities amongst us can do; or would not improve them, as the interest of the truth they contended for, and their faithfulness to it required; and so were either injudicious or unfaithful; or else that they had no such advantages to make use of, and so no such Liturgies.

Further, if there were such Liturgies, how comes it to pass, that we meet with no intelligence of any changing of them, or alterations made in them, upon such occasions, as we may well conceive would necessarily draw on such changes, and in all probability bring us some account thereof. Quisquis unquam, says one, Religionem mutavit, & orandi rationem mutavit: nulla unquam Haeresis fuit, quae non continuo suas essinxerit preces. Mald. in Luc. 11. This being so, we may expect to meet with frequent mention of rejecting old Liturgies, and composing new, of altering or correcting them, if the ancient mode of Praying was by prescribed Liturgies. But I have not yet met with any mention thereof, no not in those circumstances, wherein, if any where, it might be expected.

Further, if there were such Liturgies, how comes it to pass, that we meet with no intelligence of any changing of them, or alterations made in them, upon such occasions, as we may well conceive would necessarily draw on such changes, and in all probability bring us some account thereof. Quisquis unquam, says one, Religionem mutavit, & orandi rationem mutavit: nulla unquam Haeresis fuit, quae non continuo suas essinxerit preces. Mald. in Luc. 11. This being so, we may expect to meet with frequent mention of rejecting old Liturgies, and composing new, of altering or correcting them, if the antient mode of Praying was by prescribed Liturgies. But I have not yet met with any mention thereof, no not in those circumstances, wherein, if any where, it might be expected.