there as a Refiner and a Purifier, providing for the Holy God an offering in righteousness, a Presence which it was given to the prophet by the eye of faith to see, which called from his lips the triumphant words before us-The glory of this latter House shall be greater than of the former; and in this House will I give peace saith the Lord of hosts!

So far of the verse in the text, as it is connected with the Jews' history. And even while reviewing that connection, we must have felt that there was a reflected meaning in it for ourselves. Granted the wide difference between our time and circumstances, and the time and circumstances when Haggai wrote his prophecy : granted that no close parallel can be drawn between the re-building of the temple at Jerusalem, and the restoration of your parish church here, still I think there is much in Haggai's book—much in the single verse I have selected out of it, which has reference to ourselves, and is especially suited to our meditation at this time.

For have we not had here both a former and a latter House? and is there not in the contrast which may be instituted between them, room for thankfulness-cause also for maintaining that the latter is the more glorious, conducive in every way to our good?

And when I speak of a former and a latter House, I have a double contrast in mind.-First, I would contrast this House as we see it now with what it was only six months ago and Secondly, I would contrast this Church as we see it to-day, and the religious service in which we have joined, with the same Church as it was centuries

ago, as it was on the day of its first opening, and with the services which at that time were performed in it.

I think in this double contrast, we shall find matter that may fitly occupy us on this occasion-matter for no proud self-righteousness or boasting, but for humble thankfulness and praise.

And first, contrast this church as it is, with what it was six months ago. You all remember what its appearance was then the broken sunk floor-the high inconvenient pews-the blocked up arches-the rent wallsthe flat depressed roof. And you see to-day what a change for the better has been wrought: what, in a few months, a skilful hand and judicious management has been able to effect-old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new! You have in your parish Church thus restored to you, a Church in every way fitted for Divine worship. You have it so arranged that all here assembled are on a level-so that- -as ought ever to be the case in God's House-the distinction of persons is as much as possible at an end. For the poor man is now placed equally well with his richer neighbour. All are better placed than they were before-better placed for hearing, better placed for praying.

This in itself must be no small joy to a Christian. From it we may expect great and lasting good will spring. You will henceforth worship God more as one family-high and low, rich and poor, one with another. Your prayers will be more in common-you will feel more united-more as if you belonged-as indeed is the case-to one communion and fellowship. And out of that

feeling will arise mutual kindliness and forbearance-a wish to think the best, and not the worst of each other -a desire to promote every man his brother's welfare.

Surely this alone warrants me in claiming for this latter House the preference.-Surely as compared with what it was before it was restored, its superiority will be unquestioned-it has the greater glory.

But not to dwell more on this contrast, palpable and evident as it must be to you all-let us go back to a more distant day, and compare this Church, as it now is, as far as we are able, with its appearance some four hundred years ago, when it was first opened for Christian worship in this town of Falkingham.

On that occasion there would be much to strike the eye-much to call forth admiring wonder. The walls were then no doubt, rich with paintings-the windows a blaze with coloured glass. Over the screen, which yet divides the chancel from the body of the Church, would be the Holy Rood: a large figure of our Lord, the size of life, upon the cross. There would be other figures, images of the Saints and the Virgin Mary-stoups for holy water-one or more altars high raised and richly dight. And then of those who formed the congregation. There would be present on that day-not one, but many bishops-mitred abbots from the great monasteries, which at that time were flourishing in this country—a long procession of priests-much chanting of choristers, much swinging of incense.

As a mere spectacle, that first opening-which I have endeavoured to describe-must bear the palm. Looked at only as a sight, something pleasing to the eye, and we

must reverse the order of my text, and allow that the former House was the more magnificent—or in the words of Haggai-Who is left among you that saw this House in her first glory? And how do ye see it now? Is it not in your eyes, in comparison of it, as nothing!

And yet, brethren, I hold that the gain is greatly on our side. I would not desire, nor would you desire to call back, even if it were possible, the gorgeousness and splendour of the medieval church.

It is against our Protestant feelings-against the simplicity of our reformed faith-to set too much store by what is outward and material. We do not think that the Godhead is like unto gold or silver, or stone graven by art and man's device-we do not wish to have the eye distracted and the attention arrested by any objects, however fair and beautiful, when the worship of the Lord and the hearing of His Word is the business on which our hearts are set, and for which we are assembled-still less do we bear that any rival should be set up in God's house, to compete, as it were, with Him for the homage of our individual prayers.

Bearing this in mind-looking at the church in which we are now gathered together-observing how, in all its arrangements, simplicity and fitness have been considered -observing how, with seemliness and decent beauty, it is yet free from any over-adornment—I am bold to assert -that this latter House, if it yield to the former in mere show, has greatly the advantage in the main-is a building of which you may reasonably be proud-a temple which none can enter without feeling at once that it is dedicated to the worship of the High God, and to His

worship only-to Him Who is a jealous God, and will not give His honour to another-Who-as our Lord has so solemnly told us—is a Spirit, and must be worshipped in spirit and in truth !

But again-take in another thought. Compare the services of the two Houses-what they were in the old, what they are in the new-and the balance will be still more in our favour.

In the former House-the House opened about one hundred years before the Reformation-the service was in Latin, the prayers were in Latin, the Scriptures-so much of them as was read-were in Latin, the Holy Sacrament or Mass, as it was then called-was in Latin.

I do not say but what, even under such circumstances, many souls might have found nourishment: but surely many must have been starved-many must have come to church, and gone out of it as empty as they enteredmany must have been fed with very questionable foodmany whose hearts, sin-oppressed, were aching for consolation, must have gone away uncomforted-many, if I may use the figure, must have had stones given them for bread-the doctrines of purgatory, and priestly absolution, instead of the pure Gospel-the saints, instead of the Saviour-acts of penance and mortification, instead of the righteousness which justifies—the righteousness which is of God by faith.

Now contrast with this our present means of grace in the Church. In the first place, all our service is in a tongue known to the people-we keep many of the old prayers which our forefathers used, but we have rendered them into English, so that the whole congregation,