A discourse concerning liturgies, and their imposition

Another added to what he had found out, which was the easier task. Future Additions gave some completeness to their beginners. Those in the Greek Church, which bear the names of Chrysostom and Basil, seem to be the first that ever extended themselves to the whole Worship of the Church; not that by them whose Names they bear they were Composed as now they appear, unless we shall think that they wrote them after their decease; but probably they Collected some Forms into Order that had been by others Invented; making such Additions themselves as they judged needful, and so commended the use of them, to the Churches wherein they did preside. The use of them being arbitrarily introduced, was not by any Injunction we find, made necessary. Much less did any one single Form plead for a general Necessity. In the Latin Church, Ambrose used one Form, Gregory another, and Isidore a third. Nor is it unlikely but the Liturgies were as many as the Episcopal Churches of those days. Hence in the beginning of the Fifth Century in an African Council, Can. 70. which is the 103d in the Codex Can. African; it is provided, that no Prayers be read in the Administration of the Eucharist, but such as have been approved in some Council, or have been observed by some Prudent men formerly; which Canon with ⟨p. 31⟩some Addition is confirmed in the Second Milenitan Council Can. 12. and the Reason given in both is, least there should any thing contrary to the Faith, creep into their way of Worship. But this, as I said, was in the beginning of the Fifth Century, after diverse Forms of Administration of holy things in the Church, had by divers been invented. The finding out of this Invention was the act of some particular men, who have not been pleased to acquaint us with the Reason of their undertaking. As yet it doth not appear unto us, that those Reasons could possibly be taken from the Word, the practise of the Apostles, or the Churches by them planted, or those which followed them for some Generations, nor from any Council held before their days; & so it may be we are not much concerned to enquire what they were. Yet what is at present pleaded in the behalf of the first Composers of Liturgies may in the way be chiefly considered. Necessity is the first thing usually pretended.

Another added to what he had found out, which was the easier task. Future Additions gave some compleatness to their beginners. Those in the Greek Church, which bear the names of Chrysostome and Basiil, seem to be the first that ever extended themselves to the whole Worship of the Church; not that by them whose Names they bear they were Composed as now they appear, unless we shall think that they wrote them after their decease; but probably they Collected some Forms into Order that had been by others Invented; making such Additions themselves as they judged needful, and so commended the use of them, to the Churches wherein they did preside. The use of them being arbitrarily introduced, was not by any Injunction we find, made necessary. Much less did any one single Form plead for a general Necessity. In the Latine Church, Ambrose used one Form, Gregory another, and Isidore a third. Nor is it unlikely but the Liturgies were as many as the Episcopal Churches of those dayes. Hence in the beginning of the Fifth Century in an African Councel, Can. 70. which is the 103d in the Codex Can. African; it is provided, that no Prayers be read in the Administration of the Eucharist, but such as have been approved in some Councel, or have been observed by some Prudent men formerly; which Canon with