may snpposo the people &s gathered together on the site of the temple, tho barn foundations of which sil_ently testified against their inertness, and the prophet l\ppenring amongst them, addressing words of stem reproof to them, and then bidding them without longer delay go to the mountains and fetch the cedars, and build forthwith the house for God. Such he declared to be the will of God, obedience to which, on their part, would yield pleasure to the Most High, and bring glory to his Name, and would result in the promotion of their own temporal and spiritual well-being (ver. 8),- & n& . Ver. 4.-71,e house of the Lo1·d lyi,ng waste. The temple was designed to be the centre of hallowed influence to the Jewish nation. It was the recognized dwelling- place of God, the shrine where, in bright symbol, his glory was spooie.lly revealed. The pious Jew rejoiced to repair to it, and wherever his lot might be cast he looked towards it with ardent and longing desire. The desecration of it by the introduction pf idolatrous practices into its courts had materially contributed to the nation's collapse,. , It was of the utmost importance, therefore, that the work of its restoration should .be pressed torward with e.11 zest, no~ that the captives had been permitted to return, and at first 1t seemed ~ though this course ,vould have been pursued, but unhappily they soon allowed their zeal to flag, and year after year passed by and nothing was done. The house of the Lord lay "waste." The Divine Teacher, when he came to usher in a new dispensation, declared that God is a Spirit, and is to be worshipped" in spirit and ,in truth" (John iv. 23, 24). He taught tha.t place has but little to do with worship, and tha.t there is no spot we may not consecrate ,by our praises and prayers, and render to_us " hallowed ground." Stilll, he constantly resorted to the temple, and we read of his apostles how tha.t ,they went up to the temple "at the hour of prayer l' (Acts iii. I). The erection and maintenance of Christian sanctuaries is most thoroughly in harmony with his will, and is calculated to promote the truest interests of the race. Close all such sanctuaries, and (1) good men would be left to sigh for the holy fellowship they had lost; (2) spiritual darkness would steal over the land; (3) the streams of true benevolence would rapidly diminish; (4) men in general, losing sight of the,common relationship they sustain to the Eternal, would also overlook the interest they ought to feel in each other's weal; (5) iniquity would pass unreproved, and vice unchecked. As lovers of God, our coUDtry, and our fellow-men, we do well to sustain Christian sanctuaries, and not to allow them to "lie waste." Notice, " the house of the Lord'.' may " lie waste"- L L..- THE SENSE OF THE MATERIAL STRUCTURE BEING NEGLECTED. There should. be correspondence in respect of beauty and! adornment, comfort and cleanliness, between the houses in which we live and the sanctuary in which we meet for. worship, and where this is lacking, the want indicates a wrong state of mind and heart. II. JN THE BENSE OF ITS PECUNIAJlY RESOURCES BEING OVERLOOKED, AND THERE BEING THUS STRAITNESS IN RESPECT TO MEETING THE EXPENSES NECESSARILY INCURREl) IN ITS llLUNTENANCE. Giving should be regarded as an act of worship. "Bring an offerin"', and come into his courts" (Ps. xcvi. 8). Contributions for the maintenance of the wo~ship of God ought not to be regarded in the light of 9haritable gifts, but. as the discharge of bounden obligation. III. IN THE BENBE OF ITS BEA.TB BEING UNOCCUPmD. There is far too much of "waste" in this respect. '.l'he growing ha.bit of attending only one of the senices on the sabbath. and none during the week-days, needs to be checked. Personal influence should he brought more to bear upon the inhabitants of a. locality with a view to securing their presence. "Come, let us go up to the house of the Lord" (Ps. cxxii. 1). IV. {N THE SENSE OF THE EXERCISES CONDUCTED THEREIN BEING MARKED BY BALD- :t."ESS Al>"D INEFFICIENCY. The services should be marked by culture, variety, heart; the worshippers should throw their whole souls into all its engagements, and render each part of the service" heartily" and as "unto the Lord." V. 1N THE BENSE OF PAUCITY OF SPIRITUAL BESULTB. With a view to the prevention of this, let us "pray for Jerusalem," that its services may yield comfort to .the mourning and guidance to the perplexed. and that through these the cold in heart may regain the fervour of their "first love," and " the dead in trespasses and sins " be quickened to a new and heavenly lifo. "Save now, 0 Lord; 0 Lord. we beseech thee ijend u11 now on. 1. 1-16.J THE BOOK OF HAGGAI. 15
prospority" (Pe. ox viii. 25); '' Repair the waste places of Zion" (Isa. !viii. 12); "lluild thou the walls of Jerusalem" (Ps. Ii. 18).-S. D. H.