A discourse concerning liturgies

Certainly, if they had been abolished, or such alterations made in them, we should have heard of ⟨p. 28⟩it, some where or other. And if there were no changes made therein, upon so great changes of the Christian Religion, it was because there was none to be changed, no such Liturgies extant.

In general, that they had no such public Liturgies for the administration of the Sacraments, appears by this; that they thought themselves obliged, with all care to conceal the Symbols, the Rites, the Prayers used in these administrations, from the sight and knowledge of all that were not initiated. The Christians, in the fourth and fifth Ages especially, counted it a heinous crime, to have any of the Heathen or Catechumens acquainted therewith; some of them make it no less ^*then Sacrilege, ^†one of the greatest crimes, and ^‖worthy of the highest censure, prolixiori anathemate.

In general, that they had no such publick Liturgies for the administration of the Sacraments, appears by this; that they thought themselves obliged, with all care to conceal the Symbols, the Rites, the Prayers used in these administrations, from the sight and knowledge of all that were not initiated. The Christians, in the fourth and fifth Ages especially, counted it a hainous crime, to have any of the Heathen or Catec••umens acquainted therewith; some of them make it no less ^*then Sacriledge, ^†one of the greatest crimes, and ^‖