utterly in ruins—­its columns cracked—­its tower hurled from its place—­its ponderous roof laid low.  It was a mournful spectacle, and a terrible proof of the Divine wrath and vengeance.  Yes, my brethren, the temple of the Lord has been profaned, and it will be razed to the ground.  It has been the scene of abomination and impiety, and must be purified by fire.  Theft, murder, sacrilege, and every other crime have been committed within its walls, and its destruction will follow.  The ministers of Heaven’s vengeance are even now hovering above it.  Repent, therefore, ye who listen to me, and repent speedily; for sudden death, plague, fire, and famine, are at hand.  As the prophet Amos saith, ’The Lord will send a fire, the Lord will commission a fire, the Lord will kindle a fire;’ and the fire so commissioned and so kindled shall consume you and your city; nor shall one stone of those walls be left standing on another.  Repent, or burn, for he cometh to judge the earth.  Repent, or burn, I say!”

As soon as he concluded, Leonard Holt ran up the steps of the portico, and in a loud voice claimed the attention of the crowd.

“Solomon Eagle is right,” he cried; “the vengeance of Heaven will descend upon this fabric, since it continues to be the scene of so much wickedness.  Even now it forms the retreat of a profligate nobleman, who has this night forcibly carried off the daughter of a citizen.”

“What nobleman?” cried a bystander.

“The Earl of Rochester,” replied Leonard.  “He has robbed Stephen Bloundel, the grocer of Wood-street, of his daughter, and has concealed her, to avoid pursuit, in the vaults of the cathedral.”

“I know Mr. Bloundel well,” rejoined the man who had made the inquiry, and whom Leonard recognised as a hosier named Lamplugh, “and I know the person who addresses us.  It is his apprentice.  We must restore the damsel to her father, friends.”

“Agreed!” cried several voices.

“Knock at the door,” cried a man, whose occupation of a smith was proclaimed by his leathern apron, brawny chest, and smoke-begrimed visage, as well as by the heavy hammer which he bore upon his shoulder.  “If it is not instantly opened, we will break it down.  I have an implement here which will soon do the business.”

A rush was then made to the portal, which rang with the heavy blows dealt against it.  While this was passing, Solomon Eagle, whose excitement was increased by the tumult, planted himself in the centre of the colonnade, and vociferated—­“I speak in the words of the prophet Ezekiel:—­’Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffic.  Therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, and will bring thee to ashes upon the earth, in the sight of all them that behold thee!’”

The crowd continued to batter the door until they were checked by Lamplugh, who declared he heard some one approaching, and the next moment the voice of one of the vergers inquired in trembling tones, who they were, and what they wanted.