O culto evangélico é um culto espiritual, conforme discutido em um sermão pregado perante o Muito Honrável o Senhor Prefeito, na Igreja de São Paulo, em 26 de agosto de 1660. Por Matthew Poole, ministro do Evangelho em Michael Quern, em Londres.

Evangelical Worship IS Spiritual Worship, As it was Discussed in a SERMON Preached before the RIGHT HONOURABLE THE Lord Maior, At Pauls Church, Aug. 26. 1660.

BY Matthew Poole Minister of the Gospel at Michael Quern in London The Second Edition LONDON, Printed for Sa.

Thomson at the Bishops-head in Pauls Church yard. 1660 To the Ingenuous Reader.

T Hat this Sermon is brought to light, it is not from my own choice & inclination, but by constraint, not only in respect of the importunities of many that pressed me to it, but in regard of the mis-constructions, censures, and scandalous aspersions of o thers, that forced me to it: It hath fa red with me as it did with David, They laid to my charge things that I knew not, Psal. 35. 11. and fastned such reports upon my Sermon, as never entred into my thoughts, being it seems, well instructed in that Diabolical Lesson, calum niare fortiter, adhaerebit aliquid: For my part, I thank the Lord, who hath taught me that it is a small matter to be judged of man or of mans judgment: I could not expect better measure than my Saviour had, of whom we read, John 7. 12.

Some said he is a good man, others said nay, but he deceiveth the people: It is sufficient to me that I have the Conscience of mine own integrity, and the uprightness of my aimes, that whatever was said, was not spoken out of a spirit of contention or bitterness, or opposition, nor with any other de sign that I know of (God is my witness) but from a Consci ence of my duty, and an abhorrency of that unchristian and antichristian spirit which breaths after the ruine of all those who cannot stretch to the length of their bed, and consent to them in every punctilio: To which I was the more encouraged, because his Majesty hath frequently expressed his dislike of that furious spirit, and his resolution that the affairs of the Church should be managed in a moderate way.

I intended not to meddle with Common-Prayer (of which I spake not one word, however I am traduced) nor Ceremo nies considered in themselves, but only as some endeavour that they may be pressed with an AEgyptian rigour, and violently imposed upon the Consciences of their Brethren: I supposed that there were divers of the Episcopal perswasion, of more sedate and peaceable dispositions, who were unconcerned in my Discourse, and I must needs do them that right, that some of that opinion (and those of considerable esteem in the world for Learning and Goodness) were pleased to pass a favourable construction upon my Sermon, and to acknowledge that I had reason for what I said.

I spake no more for substance than what some of the Bishops of England, however overborn by a more potent Party, have said in their Speeches and Writings, that have declared their dislike of those tyrannical proceedings whereby Learned and honest men were forced to forgo the ex ercise of their Ministry for some Ceremonies: As much was said by the B. of St.

Davids, in a Convocation, An. 1604. as it is ci ted in a Treatise called Beams of former Light, printed this year, p. 205.

Which is worthy of the perusal of all those that would not have the Ministers and people of England to bite and devour one another, and thereby make sport for the com mon Adversary.

I thought it was an hard case if a man should be accounted violent for dehorting men from violence, and immoderate for pressing them to moderation: I concluded that I could not do his Majesty better Service than by endea vouring to disswade men from those practises which might oc casion the dividing, distracting and unsetling of his Realms, and to perswade unto such a temper in which the generality of the people of the Land seem prepared to acquiesce, if they be not turned out of the way by the Pride, Cruelty and Tyranny of some exorbitant Persons.

As for what some have fastned upon me, that I had seditious passages, and Reflexions upon his Majesty, it is well that beside the witness of my own Consci ence, I have so many hundred Compurgators: I desire alwaies to abhor that sinful practise of speaking evil of Dignities: I have learned to fear God and honour the King, I am instructed in that Lesson that I must not curse the King, no not in my Bed chamber, much lesse defame him in a publick Assembly.

And other Sedition I am resolved by the Grace of God not to be guilty of than this, to offer up my most hearty and fervent Prayers publick and private for his Majesties long and happy Reign here and in Heaven, and that God would guide him to those counsels which conduce most to his own and the Nations Peace.

Amongst other Calumnies which have been cast upon me, one is this, that I wisht their fingers might rot that plaied up on the Organs; where I must not only condemn the falshood and impudence of those that raised and propagated so abomina ble a Lie, but also I must blame the imprudence and uncharita bleness of such as were ready to receive and believe so improba ble a report.

The Reader will see that I only declared my dislike of Organs in our Churches, and therein I think I have better Authority than those that are of another mind, forasmuch as in the Homily of the Place and time of Prayer (a Book esta blished and enjoyned by the Laws of the Land) p. 131. they bring in some superstitious Persons, complaining that they could not hear the like Piping, Singing, Chaunting and Playing upon the Organs, that they could before: To this is immediatly answered thus; But (Dearly Beloved) We ought greatly to rejoyce and to give thanks to God, that our Churches are delivered out of those things which displeased God so sore, and filthily defiled his holy House, &c.

Which, how our great Zealots for these things, who pretend to be the only genuine sons of the Church of England, can reconcile with their Principle and Practise, let themselves consider, and let the Indifferent judge.