"What is it, to afford?" asked Mr. Royden, perplexed by the old clergyman's decision.
"Have you the means to spare for the purpose?" suggested Mr. Corlis.
"Ay, that is the question," said Father Brighthopes. "I don't know but you have. I hope you have. But you must consider that to do this thing for your own glory, and not in the service of our Saviour, will be other than acceptable in his sight."
"We trust to do all things, connected with the church, to the praise and glory of God," returned Mr. Corlis.
"Then your labors will bring their reward. But there are still important considerations claiming our attention. I think the Lord is better pleased with other things than pretty meeting-houses. They who build up his CHURCH find more favor in his sight than the mere constructors of elegant place of worship."
"But, to build up the church, we must commence with the frame-work to shelter it," observed Deacon Dustan; "at least, it appears so to me."
"The true church of Christ is in our own hearts," returned the old man, with a gentle smile.
Deacon Dustan's mind was of too material a cast fully to appreciate this truth; so he only nodded mechanically, and said,
"In one sense, certainly."
"To build that up, should be our first care. That we can do without carpenter's tools, plank or plaster. Righteousness is the great building material, and Love is the head workman. Christ has not said, 'Rear me stately edifices, and make my houses pleasing unto me with velvet, gilding and paint.' But he has told his followers to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to visit the afflicted and comfort them, to lift up the downt-rodden. My brethren," said the old man, "this do as long as ye have any in poverty and distress among you; then, I say, if you can afford it, build a meeting-house of gold, and the Lord will be pleased with the work."