SERMON XXV. FROM REV. MR. PATTON. Vol. 2. No. 6. Nov. 1827. THE NATIONAL PREACHER: OR _ORIGINAL MONTHLY SERMONS_ FROM LIVING MINISTERS. EDITED BYREV. AUSTIN DICKINSON, _No. 144 Nassau-street, _NEW-YORK. * * * * * SPECIAL NOTICE. --Subscribers in cities, as well as in the country, areexpected to _send in_ their payments, agreeably to terms stated on thenext page, either to the Editor, or to some Agent named on the lastpage. To candid men this notice need not be repeated. * * * * * POSTAGE. This Periodical contains but one sheet: the monthly Postage is, ofcourse, _One Cent and a half_, not over 100 miles;_Two Cents and a half_, any distance over 100. * * * * * NEW-YORK: PRINTED BY J. & J. HARPER, 82 CLIFF-STREET. 1827. Persons receiving this gratis, are desired to give it circulation. TERMS OF THE NATIONAL PREACHER. I. Each Monthly Number to contain one long Sermon, or two of moderatelength, on superfine paper. The Volume to commence annually the lastweek in June. II. 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LUKE xxiv. 47. --_And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations_, BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM. Here the apostles receive from Christ a commission to commence in one ofthe chief cities of the world the great business of preaching the gospelto mankind. The fulfilment of prophecy required them to begin atJerusalem. "Out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lordfrom Jerusalem. " "And it shall be in that day, that living waters shallgo out from Jerusalem. " But there were other and more special reasons. It was at Jerusalem that the death and resurrection of the Son of Godtook place:--facts, on which Christianity rested all its claims: and itwas fit that the enemies of truth should have every possible advantagefor controverting those facts. In commencing at Jerusalem, an immediateand striking illustration was also afforded of the forgiving spirit ofChristianity--'Go at once, and preach unto these mine enemies repentanceand remission of sins. Let them have the opportunity of salvationthrough my blood--even that blood which their own wicked hands haveshed. ' This direction to the first preachers of the cross, to begin atJerusalem, suggests the general thought, THAT IT BECOMES CHRISTIANS, IN ALL AGES, TO MAKE SPECIAL EFFORTS FOR THECONVERSION OF CITIES AND LARGE TOWNS. This thought may be illustrated and enforced, from the example andinstructions of Christ and his apostles; from the early and signalvisitations of the Spirit on cities; from the power with which Satanreigns in them; and from their relative importance, and influence on theworld. I. _Our Saviour devoted his personal ministry very much to cities andlarge towns. _ Says Matthew, "And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end ofcommanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and topreach in their cities. " Mark speaks of Him as follows: "And in themorning, rising up a great while before day, he departed into a solitaryplace, and there prayed: and Simon, and they that were with him, followed after him. And when they had found him, they said unto him, Allmen seek for thee. And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. " Luke informsus, that, on another occasion, He said unto those who sought him, andwho urged him that he should not depart from them, "I must preach thekingdom of God to other cities also, for therefore am I sent. " From many other passages of Scripture, also, we learn of Christ'spreaching in cities. "And behold, the whole city came out to meetJesus. " "And all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?" "And many ofthe Samaritans of that city believed on him. " He is also found inJericho, and in Capernaum. His wonders are made known at Chorazin andBethsaida. His walks are along the shores, where commerce and trade hadcongregated vast multitudes. Jerusalem he repeatedly visits--especiallyon the anniversaries of religious festivals; when his instructions mightfall upon the ear of assembled thousands; and through them be conveyedto every town and village of the land. On one occasion, when he was comenear to the city, "he beheld and wept over it, saying, if thou hadstknown, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong tothy peace; but now are they hid from thine eyes. --Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them that aresent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"On another occasion, it is said, "Then began he to upbraid the cities, wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not. Wo unto thee, Chorazin; wo unto thee, Bethsaida; for if the mighty workswhich were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would haverepented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. And thou Capernaum, which artexalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell; for if the mightyworks which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it wouldhave remained until this day. But I say unto you, that it shall be moretolerable for the land of Sodom, in the day of judgment, than for thee. "Thus it appears that the All-wise Saviour thought it proper to devotemuch of his ministry to cities and large towns. II. _Christ, in his instructions to his disciples, particularly directstheir attention to cities and large towns. _ "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Intowhatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; andthere abide till ye go thence. And whosoever shall not receive you, norhear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off thedust of your feet. Verily, I say unto you, it shall be more tolerablefor the land of Sodom and Gomorrah, in the day of judgment, than forthat city. " How solemn, yet well defined were these instructions. Howstrongly must the twelve have been impressed with the importance ofspecial exertion in large towns and cities. "After these things, theLord appointed seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face, into every city and place, whither he himself would come. And he saidunto them, Into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat suchthings as are set before you, and heal the sick that are therein, andsay unto them, the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But intowhatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways outinto the streets of the same, and say, even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you. But I say unto you, itshall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom and Gomorrah, than forthat city. " Wherefore should so much stress be laid upon cities, unlessit was peculiarly important that they should be converted? And whereforeso heavy a curse, unless the power of their example was great? But still more particular and urgent are his instructions--Thedisciples, when sent forth, were admonished that they would be "as sheepin the midst of wolves;"--that they would be exposed to many and severetrials. And surely, under such circumstances, human nature would plead, that, when persecuted in the city, they might turn to the lessprejudiced inhabitants of the country. But no: the command is, "Whenthey persecute you in one city, flee ye into another; for, verily, I sayunto you, ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Sonof Man be come. " It is true, that in the last great commission, in which the world wasspread before them as the field, every limitation was taken off, savethat they should begin at Jerusalem. Still the example of the apostlesis worthy of notice. For whilst several of them continued for years inJerusalem, --notwithstanding the persecutions which theyexperienced--others went forth, and immediately preached the gospel oftheir ascended Saviour in other great cities of the world. Paul and Barnabas are found at Antioch, the capital of Pisidia. FromAntioch they went to Iconium, the metropolis of Lyconia. Thence toDerbe, another city of Lyconia. In that embassy, they also preached atLystra, and Perga, and many other cities. Soon after this, Paul saidunto Barnabas, "Let us go again, and visit our brethren in every citywhere we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. " Paulexpressed an ardent desire to be at Jerusalem on the feast-days:--"Forhe hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem, the day ofPentecost;" for then thousands of strangers would be thereassembled--"Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers ofMesopotamia, " and of many other places. In Rome, too, that imperialcity, did this apostle continue for two years, preaching the gospel ofChrist. There he established a Christian church, to which he addressedthe noblest epistle ever written. Of Philip it is recorded, that"passing through, he preached in all the cities, till he came toCesarea. " The apostles and disciples, then directed their attention veryparticularly to cities. III. _Cities were the theatres of the Holy Spirit's first and mostillustrious achievements. _ Open the book of the Acts, and mark how and where the Spirit of Godaccompanied the labours of the apostles. It was at Jerusalem, the citywhose million voices had just before demanded the death of their Lord, and imprecated his blood upon their own heads, that the first andgreatest effusion of the Holy Spirit took place. _There_ was spiritualwickedness in high places. There iniquity was strongly intrenched. Thestrong arm of the civil as well as ecclesiastical power was its defence;and human calculation could look for no visits of mercy. Still theSavior's command, to begin at Jerusalem, was obeyed. Nor was it longbefore that city was filled with the presence of the Most High--beforethe Spirit came down in power, and thousands were converted to Christ. But this is not a solitary case. At Antioch, also, the Spirit was pouredout. Indeed, there are two places of this name mentioned in the Acts ofthe Apostles;--both visited in saving mercy. One, the capital of Syria, a city of great note. It was about ten miles in circumference; and, inpopulation, wealth, and splendour, esteemed the third city of the age. Here Paul and Barnabas preached. Here the disciples were first calledChristians. Here the Church continued long to flourish. Here theeloquent Chrysostom, at the close of the fourth century, preached withgreat power and success: and here the Holy Spirit descended. "Now they, which were scattered abroad, upon the persecution that arose aboutStephen, travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preachingthe word to none but the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprusand Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto theGrecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was withthem: and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord. Then tidingsof these things came unto the ears of the Church which was in Jerusalem;and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted themall, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. " Sogreat was this work, so important this field of usefulness, that tosecure the best assistance, "Barnabas departed to Tarsus to seek Saul;and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came topass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, andtaught much people. " So powerful was this work of God, as to demand, fora whole year, the special labours of two of his most favoured servants. The other Antioch, mentioned in the Acts, was the capital of Pisidia; aplace where many things opposed the advance of holiness. But there alsoPaul and Barnabas laboured; and there souls were born into the kingdom. The record is, "They came to Antioch, in Pisidia, and went into thesynagogue on the Sabbath day. " And Paul preached of Jesus and theresurrection, and faithfully warned against lightly esteeming the workof God. "Beware, therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken inthe prophets: Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish; for I work awork in your days, which ye shall in nowise believe though a man declareit unto you. And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, theGentiles besought that these words might be preached unto them the nextSabbath. And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together, to hear the word of God. And when the Gentiles heard this, they wereglad, and glorified the word of the Lord; and as many as were ordainedto eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was publishedthroughout all the region, and the disciples were filled with joy andwith the Holy Ghost. " Ephesus, too, was visited by the Holy Spirit. This was one of the mostfamous cities of Asia Minor. By historians, it has been called theornament of Asia--the greatest and most frequented emporium of thecontinent. Here stood one of the seven wonders of the world--theidolatrous temple of Diana. Paul paid two visits to this city: thefirst, a very short one. After some months, he returned, and continuedfor three years, and had great success. Many things opposed theinfluence of truth. Iniquity was deeply rooted: their establishedreligion was a source of revenue; and countenanced them in unhallowedcourses. But the Spirit of grace prevailed. The result was, "that manythat believed, came, and confessed, and showed their deeds. Many ofthem, also, which used curious arts, brought their books together, andburned them before all men. And they counted the price of them, andfound it fifty thousand pieces of silver;" or, according to ourcurrency, nearly twenty-eight thousand dollars. Thus multitudes made apublic renunciation of idolatry, and a public profession of their faithin Christ. "So mightily grew the word of God, and prevailed. " The last city that we shall mention, as blessed with a revival, isCorinth, the capital of Achaia. Here stood the temple of Venus; for thesupport of whose costly and debasing services, a thousand human victimswere continually kept!--The multitude in this city were given to aspecies of crime, most deadening to the conscience, and damning to thesoul. Yet all this did not discourage the intrepid apostle. For, aboutthe year of our Lord fifty-two, he came to Corinth, and "reasoned in thesynagogue every Sabbath day, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. " Thepersecuting spirit of the Jews was marshalled against him. Yet he wassuccessful, for _God was with him_. "Crispus, the chief ruler of thesynagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of theCorinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized. Then spake the Lord toPaul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold notthy peace, for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurtthee; for I have much people in this city. " And so great was the work, and so important the station, that "he continued there a year and sixmonths, teaching the word of God among them. " Here a large church wasgathered, to which he addressed two epistles. We could mention other ancient cities as blessed with revivals. We couldtell you of Athens, the eye and glory of Greece; of Philippi, the chiefcity of Macedonia; of Iconium, "where a great multitude, both of theJews and also of the Greeks, believed;" of Rome too, and many others;but we forbear, since enough is already before you to illustrate theposition, that cities were the theatres of the Holy Spirit's first andmost illustrious achievements. Indeed, what is the book of the Acts, butone continued history of revivals in cities and populous places? IV. _We should seek the conversion of Cities, because in them theAdversary reigns with peculiar power. _ Experienced Generals bend their most powerful forces against thosepositions most strongly intrenched; well knowing, that if these aresubdued, the courage of the enemy is daunted, his plans marred, and thatwhat remains may fall an easy conquest. Why then should Christians leaveto Satan the quiet dominion of cities? He would rather give up athousand inland posts, than these strong holds of his empire. But, Oh, could he be dislodged from these, how paralyzed would be his arm--howfeeble his resistance--how lost his influence! Would you see the powerof Satan in cities? Cast your eye back upon the past. What were Sodomand Gomorrah? What were Tyre, and Sidon, and Ninevah? What was Babylon?What was Jerusalem in its latter days, when given up accursed of God?What were they, but sinks of pollution and fountains of ruin? And couldwe draw aside the curtains of darkness, what might we see in moderncities! Oh, the pollution, and dark waters, that are open to the eye ofGod! Oh, the thousand lures to vice! Oh, the frauds, the oppressions, the numberless wrongs, which break down the integrity of the young;which harden the middle-aged, and cover gray hairs with shame, andwretchedness, and ruin! Oh, the dissipations, over which custom hasthrown an influence well nigh omnipotent! Oh, the tauntings, and thehigh looks, the stiff neck, and the contemptuous sneer, with whichwealth and station conduct themselves towards the lowliness of Christianmeekness! Oh, the power that nerves itself against holiness! Wealth andimposing splendour, eloquence and numbers, are in its ranks. Perjury andcruel mockings are among its weapons. Oh, the chains of darkness andgates of death, with which the strong man armed here holds hisprisoners! How loudly then do these demand the commiseration and specialeffort of those, who would proclaim liberty to the captives, and life tothe dead! And for the encouragement of the faithful, we add, V. _There are peculiar advantages for the promotion of Religion incities. _ God is wont to accompany the efforts of his people with special grace, whenever they are exposed to extraordinary hazards. So, where peculiardifficulties obstruct the advance of truth, there will also be foundother circumstances, which, if properly seized, will greatly facilitatethe work of reformation. In cities, ministers and good men can readily and effectually co-operatein plans of usefulness. The inhabitants of smaller towns and villagesare too scattered to allow of ready co-operation; but in our cities, afew minutes may assemble many of those who love the Lord. The dangerswhich threaten, or the hopes which gladden, quickly circulate. Theweakness of one portion may be readily sustained by the greater strengthof some other portion. In the multitude of professing Christians, may befound men of wisdom, of wealth, of enterprise, of leisure, ofdevotedness; all of whose varied gifts and talents may be concentratedfor good. Surely these are advantages peculiar to cities. Too long havewe looked upon the might of opposing interests, and neglected the powerwhich God hath given us. Too long have churches stood alone, and feeblyexerted their separate influences. But in a union of the efforts ofchurches the increase of power may be immense; for whilst "one shallchase a thousand, two shall put ten thousand to flight. " It is by the means which cities afford for ready co-operation, thatSatan and his followers have in all ages achieved so much. _They_ makecommon cause. They suffer no differences to divide their strength;knowing "that an house divided against itself cannot stand. " Theycombine their forces, in any plan which promises injury to the Christianinterest. Cities furnish to Christians the very same opportunities forunited effort, and thus present peculiar advantages. Again, cities also furnish advantages for individual exertion. Here aminister's influence may at once reach, not merely to his owncongregation, but far beyond. Every month he is brought in contact withsome thousands, who may be affected by his faithfulness. And under hisinfluence, many benevolent and pious institutions may rise and shine tobless the world. But it is not to ministers alone, that cities present large fields forexertion. Private Christians also have abundant opportunities forusefulness. In the walks of business, the influence of one inflexiblyjust man is felt as far as his name is known. If Christians, in ourcities, would conduct themselves agreeably to the Bible, how awful tothe wicked would be their example! What reformations would be wroughtamong the worldly and profane! How many haunts of poverty andwretchedness would be searched out! How many souls, once in communionwith the saints, would be brought back from their wanderings! How manychildren, rescued from vice, would be brought to the Sabbath school; andthere, perhaps, be taught of God to become themselves angels of mercy!How many meetings for prayer and exhortation would every week besustained among the poor and the wretched! How many of these degradedimmortals might be rescued from temporal and eternal darkness, to becomelights in the world, and stars in the kingdom of our Father's glory!What field then offers so rich and large an harvest to faithful labour?The same exertion, that would instruct hundreds in the country, mayreach thousands in the city. Public sentiment has too long checked themovements of sympathy for these congregated thousands. A voice, almostunbroken, has sounded out; 'Peculiar and insuperable difficultiesprevent a general revival in cities: such are the occupations, such thehabits, such the temptations, and such the superabounding iniquity, thatit were visionary to hope for any general and powerful work of mercy. 'Well, then, had we not better give all up; and let human nature heresink into its natural channels; and let multitudes before our eyescontinue to crowd the gates of the second death! O God, forbid suchcowardice, cruelty, and treachery in thy servants! No; we will not thussurrender immortals. While there is grace or even nature in our hearts, we will not. We have, indeed, heard of difficulties, till the heart ispained, and the soul is wearied. But where are these insuperabledifficulties to be found? Not in the Scriptures of God, surely; not inthe result of apostolic labours; but in the unbelief and inaction ofmodern Christians. "God is no more hostile to cities than to villages:his Spirit is as free, and his offers of salvation as full, to thepeople of the crowded city, as of the open country. " Let the advantagesthen be embraced. Let the power be concentrated. Let the sacramentalhost arise; and the work is done. And instead of being overwhelmed withshame and deserved reproach, we may joyfully say to such as pass by;"Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof; markye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to thegeneration following. For this God is our God for ever and ever. " "Thenthe sons also of them that afflicted Zion shall come bending unto her;and all they that despised her shall bow themselves down at the soles ofher feet; and they shall call her the City of the Lord--the Zion of theHoly One of Israel. " VI. _A sixth reason for special efforts in behalf of Cities is, theinfluence which they exert on the country and on the world. _ Look to any nation, whether ancient or modern; throw the map before you;fix your eye upon the spots that bear rule; that command the attentionof the enterprising, and busy the thoughts of statesmen. You have fixedit upon the cities of the world. Where was the strength of Italy, if notin Rome, once mistress of the world? Where the strength of Greece, ifnot in Athens, the mother of arts and refinement? And where is thestrength of our Republic, if not in our cities and large towns? Theretalent in every art and profession is fostered, and exerts peculiarinfluence. There wealth concentrates its millions upon millions, toexert extensively a blasting or brightening influence on society. Therethe press daily sends out its thousands and its tens of thousands ofwinged messengers, to excite the passions, to influence the opinions, tocontrol the energies of a nation. Powerful as is this engine, forcorrupting or sanctifying the people, who does not know that itsmunitions and magazines of strength are placed principally in cities;and that the character which the press there sustains is diffusedthroughout the land? In cities, commerce is concentrated. The productsof the soil flow from every county, town, and village, to the cities;and thence they are distributed to the world. The riches, the luxuries, the products of other climes and nations are brought to cities, andthence distributed through the land. How manifest then, that cities mustexert a mighty influence on the country and on the world. Who, thatreflects on their extended intercourse, does not know, that theyregulate the prices of commodities; that their fashions are imitated;that their maxims of trade are common law; and that their moral habitsand opinions, good or bad, have an influence on the whole community?Their influence is great, whether we consider them in a moral orpolitical point of view. The capture of a city has decided the destinyof nation. When Babylon was taken, a mighty empire was given to theinvader. When Jerusalem was vanquished, all Judea was subdued. Whenill-fated France was tossed with revolutions and counter-revolutions, the possession of her metropolis gave to either party the supremecommand. Now suppose that all this influence of cities is of a worldly, immoral, irreligious character; what must be its blasting power on the generalinterests of religion! It was when the pretended successor of Peterestablished his authority in Rome, that that mystical Babylon became"the mother of harlots, " and "made the nations drunk with the wine ofthe wrath of her fornications. " And not until the angel shall "cry, witha mighty and strong voice, _Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen_, "will the strong man armed be vanquished, and the earth be encompassedwith glory. Not until the evil influence of cities shall be arrested, will the mighty obstacles to the world's redemption be removed. Howimmeasurably important then, that great efforts be made for theirconversion; and how merciful in God to destroy such of them as will notrepent. Oh, it was mercy infinite, that rained down fire upon Sodom, and poured it heavily upon Gomorrah; and thus saved millions from thecontagion of their wickedness! But suppose that all the influence of cities were of an heavenlycharacter--suppose the intelligence could be circulated along all ournavigable rivers and canals--suppose it could be communicated fromvillage to village, and from family to family, throughout the country, that the Spirit of God, as on the day of Pentecost, had come down inawful majesty and power among us; that all our men of business, andyouth of folly, had been arrested in their worldly career; that all ourtheatres and resorts for vain pleasure had been forsaken; that ourtemples were crowded and overflowing with devout worshippers, andanxious inquirers; that the universal voice of our city's population hadbecome, What shall we do, that we may glorify God and extend hiskingdom? Suppose, I say, that this mighty change in our city could betold throughout the country; who can estimate the overwhelming influenceit would carry along with it? Where is the solitary village that wouldnot feel the impulse, and have its eye and heart lifted to Heaven, inview of the bright cloud of incense, ascending from these hundredtemples, and these thrice ten thousand family altars? And to extend ourview still further; suppose that every city of our land--that every cityof the world--should experience such a change; what almighty strengthand zeal would it give to the Angel having the everlasting Gospel topublish! How soon would the universal acclamation of mankind be, "Glory, and honour, and power be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne!" And howsoon would that blessed voice be heard from the heaven of heavens, "Thekingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of the Lord, and hisChrist; and he shall reign for ever and ever!" These are not mere pictures of the imagination. The realities are athand. And the influence of cities, in introducing them, must be felt. For "they of the city shall flourish like the grass of the earth. " "Thename of the city from that day shall be, _The Lord is there_. " "Thussaith the Lord of hosts, it shall yet come to pass, that there shallcome people, and the inhabitants of many cities; and the inhabitants ofone city shall go to another, saying, let us go speedily to pray beforethe Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts. " Thus the day shall yet be, when the presence and power of the Holy God in cities shall so absorbthe affections, and command the energies of their inhabitants, that, throughout the land, they shall be known and celebrated, not for theirwealth, their splendour, their numbers, or their worldly enterprise, but_as the places where God has fixed his tabernacle_. Yes, the day shallyet come when the intercourse between cities shall be chiefly forpurposes of religious improvement--when combinations for politicalintrigue, or mercantile speculation, which now waken such intensity ofinterest in our cities, shall dwindle to their comparative nothingness;and when the world's redemption shall assume its proper magnitude; andall be stimulated to more holy devotedness, and more heavenly effort. Oh, what a day, when all our increasing facilities of intercourse withthe land, and with foreign nations, shall be used mainly for advancingthat kingdom which consists in righteousness and peace!--when thousandsshall prayerfully wait the arrival of every post, and hail the coming inof every vessel, for intelligence, not of this world's riches andglories, but of the glories and victories of Zion. Such, however, is the present power of the adversary in cities, that noordinary effort will dispossess him. Still it must be done. The triumphof the cross, the salvation of the world can never be perfected withoutit. I know there are difficulties;--that cities do congregate vastassemblies of active depravity;--that they present multipliedenchantments to ruin;--that in every city wickedness displays a sternand lofty front. But I also know, that before the coming Spirit of Godthese obstacles shall melt away like wax, and vanish like smoke; "forstrong is his hand and high is his right hand. " It was when revivals prevailed in cities, that the gospel spread withsuch amazing rapidity: and so, when the Spirit shall again descend uponthem, will the work of reformation move forward with such power andgrandeur, as shall make manifest that God is in Zion; "that the chariotsof God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels;" and that "theLord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. " Let all, then, wholove Zion, seek for the reviving influences of the Spirit upon cities. While every hand is faithful in the discharge of duty, let every heartbe impressed with the sentiment, _Not by might, nor by power, but by my_SPIRIT, _saith the Lord of hosts_; and let every eye be directed to Himwho hath promised, that _when iniquity cometh in like a flood, theSpirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard_. In urging the importance of special effort and prayer for the renovationof cities, we do not overlook the interests of the country; but wouldthus guard every town and village from an influence heavily impregnatedwith moral poison and death. The merchants of the interior, in theprosecution of their business, regularly visit the metropolis. Many ofthem, on the enticement of friends and acquaintance, attend thetheatres, and other places of vain amusement and sin; they becomefamiliar with their glare and dissipation. They return, and tell whattheir eyes have seen, and what their ears have heard, and thus create inthe bosom of the young, the ardent, the rich, and the worldly, a thirstfor similar pastimes, and a disrelish for sober realities. Many faithfulpastors in the land weep over the growing immoralities occasioned by theinfluence of cities. Many churches lament the defection of theirmembers, having become worldly in their spirit, and vain in theirimaginations, by reason of their frequent intercourse with cities. Ifsuch, then, is their influence upon the country, well may the churches, planted throughout the land, feel deeply interested in the moralcharacter of cities, and pray for their conversion to God. Let our cities become places of holiness: let holiness to the Lord bewritten upon the heart of every merchant, of every mechanic, of everystatesman, of every counsellor, of every officer, upon every hall oflegislation, and every splendid edifice; and an influence sweet, holy, and happy, shall go forth to revive the hearts of God's people, to aweand confound opposers, and to dress up the wilderness "like the gardenof God. " O, what a scene of grandeur and glory, when the thousands of the saintsshall wrestle in the spirit of Jacob for the blessing: when they shallrise up in the spirit of their Master, and display an untiring zeal forthe salvation of man! O, what a scene, when the immense crowds ofimmortal beings, who throng our streets, shall be deeply impressed withthe conviction of their accountability!--When every man shall feel thathe is acting continually under the eye of God, and in full prospect ofthe judgment. Let these scenes be realized, and already I see "the holycity, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared asa bride adorned for her husband. " And I hear "a great voice out ofheaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he willdwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall bewith them, and be their God. " Friends of the Redeemer, the hastening of this blessed consummationdepends very much upon your will. God has intrusted great power in yourhands. In the revelation of his Son, he has given you that word, whichis "as a fire, and like a hammer, that breaketh the rock in pieces. " Inshedding down a spirit of union, and guiding to the formation of greatbenevolent associations, he has given you facilities for extendedinfluence hitherto unparalleled. He has given you wealth, and knowledge, and all the means for using these facilities. And in the article ofprayer, he has endued you with a power well nigh omnipotent. Hiscondescending language is, "Concerning the work of my hands COMMAND YEME. " I see among you men of wealth, who can count your tens, yourfifties, and your hundreds of thousands, --all of which has been solemnlyconsecrated to God. I see among you men of talent, --"capable ofintimidating the collective vices of a nation or an age. " I see amongyou men of enterprise, and courage, and resistless perseverance. I seeamong you men, who have strong confidence in God. And shall these variedpowers of resistance and aggression be circumscribed by the walls ofindividual churches? Shall they not rather be combined for raising ahigher and higher tone of moral feeling, and Christian enterprise? Shallthey not send a strong, concentrated light into every dark retreat ofwickedness? Shall not the tide of dissipation, and crime, that wouldoverflow and mar every thing sacred, be met and turned back? Shall notthousands and tens of thousands on our borders, and in our midst, berescued from the iron sway of the destroyer, and be saved from goingdown to the pit? Shall not new temples be opened for their reception?and shall not "God, even our God, be a wall of fire round about them, and a glory in the midst of them?" Do you ask more particularly, how this shall be done? Plant, forinstance, an able and devoted minister in the most degraded portion ofour city. Let him employ his time in the cultivation of one thousand ofthese minds. Let him, by the aid of self-denying brethren, assemble themin one place on the holy sabbath. Let him visit their houses, and praywith them, every month. Let him collect the children and youth intosabbath schools and bible classes. Let him encourage among them everymeans of intellectual as well as spiritual elevation; and howastonishing will be the change wrought, even in the course of one year. Instead of being objects of pity, shame, and aversion; many of thembecome pillars of light, and exert a purifying influence upon others. Isnot this elevation worth more than all the necessary expense, evenleaving out of the account all the eternal results? Let, then, anotherand another degraded portion be selected, and in like manner beregenerated and ennobled. Especially let no one who feeds at the tableof our common Lord, and lives from week to week on the provisions of hishouse, refuse, promptly and vigorously to co-operate in the work ofmercy, while a soul is perishing in ignorance and sin! In the mean time, let our civil fathers look well to the execution oflaws, which themselves have made, for the suppression ofsabbath-breaking and immorality. And let them inquire seriously, Whetherall our children and youth may not be brought under the influence ofinstructors of good character, and other moral restraints, athousand-fold more efficacious, for preventing crime, than statutes, andprisons, and chains. Our hearts rejoice to see new blocks of buildings going up to decorateour city. But what is that to the present and eternal elevation ofthese thousand minds? Should we not then exult in the privilege oflifting all the degraded portions of our city, and of our land, intointellectual and moral grandeur? What object of ambition could there be, equal to that of thus creating an empire of righteousness--a world ofintellect? Such monuments of glory shall remain, when earthlygovernments shall be no more, and the earth itself shall have passedaway. Never, methinks, was the language of God more distinct, than at thepresent crisis. To the rich he is manifestly saying, "Bring ye all thetithes into the store-house, that there may be meat in my house, andprove me now herewith, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, andpour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receiveit. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes; and all nations shallcall you blessed. " To the ministers of religion, and to all his chosen, he is manifestly saying, "O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get theeup into the high mountain: O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, liftup thy voice with strength; lift it up; be not afraid; say unto thecities; Behold your God! Behold the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and hiswork before him. " "When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear inhis glory. He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despisetheir prayer. This shall be written for the generation to come: and thepeople which shall be created, shall praise the Lord. For he hath lookeddown from the height of his sanctuary, to hear the groaning of theprisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; to declare thename of the Lord in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem. " These are great privileges for God to confer on such worms as we are. Yet God has indeed placed them within reach. And if we will but do ourduty here, we are only ripening for infinitely greater privileges andhigher honours. He that is _faithful over a few things_, shall be made_ruler over many things_. Yes; when all our cities, and the earthitself, and these heavens shall be "wrapt in consuming fire, " we may, "with the great multitude found faithful, " enter that _City, which hathfoundations, whose Builder and Maker is God_. In _that_ City, "THERESHALL BE NO MORE CURSE, BUT THE THRONE OF GOD AND THE LAMB SHALL BE INIT, AND HIS SERVANTS SHALL SERVE HIM. AND THERE SHALL BE NO NIGHT THERE;AND THEY NEED NO CANDLE, NEITHER LIGHT OF THE SUN; FOR THE LORD GODGIVETH THEM LIGHT: AND THEY SHALL REIGN FOR EVER AND EVER. " APPENDIX. The population of New-York city, in 1820, was 123, 706. In 1825, it was166, 086: making an increase, in 5 years, of 42, 380. Allowing the sameratio of increase, there is now a population of 185, 000. There are inthe city 101 churches, or houses of public worship: Of which 4 are RomanCatholic, 1 New-Jerusalem, 2 Unitarian, 2 Universalist, 2 Jews'Synagogues, 15 Baptist, 13 Methodist, 17 Episcopalian, and 34Presbyterian churches, including the Scotch and Reformed Dutch. Theremainder are Lutheran, Moravian, Friends, German Reformed, andIndependents. The average number of regular attendants is estimated, bysuch as have made it a subject of special examination, not to exceed 400to each house; which makes the number of those statedly attending publicworship 40, 400. After deducting 50, 000, for children, for the sick, andfor others necessarily absent, there will still remain NINETY-FOURTHOUSAND AND SIX HUNDRED, or _more than half the population, absentingthemselves from the public worship of God!_ There are in the city 4 theatres and 2 circuses: most of which areopened from 4 to 6 nights every week. The number of shops and otherplaces licensed to sell liquor by the small measure, is three thousand;or about one to every SEVENTH DWELLING-HOUSE! In addition to theviolations of holy time, occasioned by steam-boats, and other publicconveyances, by butchers, grocers, and other traders purchasing theirstock from boats arriving from the country, upwards of ONE THOUSAND_shops, and other places, are opened for the sale of liquor or otherthings on the Sabbath_! Nor is this view peculiar to New-York. A critical investigation of factsin other cities will develop similar results. In London, the wholenumber of churches and chapels of all denominations is estimated at 400. "If we calculate, " says a late English writer, "that the averageattendance is 500; which is certainly the greatest extent we can allow, and add 250 more for the fluctuating hearers, it will give a result of300, 000 persons. The population of this metropolis is estimated at1, 274, 800. From which subtract the feeble minority above, and we findNINE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FOUR THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED _persons neglectingthe public worship of God_! It appears that of the commercial paperspublished in London on the Sunday, there are circulated, on the lowestestimate, 45, 000 copies; and that upon the most moderate computation, between two and three hundred thousand readers of these papers are to befound in the metropolis alone. While the great number of pressmen, distributers, master-venders, hawkers, and subordinate agents, of bothsexes, and of all ages, who are employed on the Sabbath, all tend to themost flagrant breach of the day of rest. " In the mean time, the number of deaths in New-York is about _fivethousand_ annually: in London, about _thirty-three thousand_. CONTRIBUTORS. The following Gentlemen, (of five different Denominations, ) amongothers, are expected to contribute Sermons for this Work: _Rev. Drs. Mason_, _Milnor_, _Mathews_, _Spring_, and _Bangs_, and _Rev. Mr. De Witt_, New-York City; _Rev. Dr. Richards_, Professor in theTheological Seminary at Auburn; _Rev. Dr. Proudfit_, Salem; _Rev. Dr. Chester_, Albany, and _Rev. Mr. Beman_, Troy; _Rev. Dr. M'Dowell_, Elizabethtown, N. J. ; _Rev. Dr. Miller_, Professor in PrincetonTheological Seminary; _Rev. Drs. Green_, _Staughton_, _Janeway_, and_Skinner_, and _Rev. Mr. Bedell_, Philadelphia; _Rev. ProfessorM'Clelland_, Dickinson College, Pa. ; _Rev. Dr. Taylor_, Professor inNew-Haven Theological Seminary; _Rev. Mr. Fitch_, Professor of Divinity, Yale College; _Rev. Mr. Hawes_, Hartford, and _Rev. Asahel Nettleton_, Killingworth, Con. ; _Rev. Dr. Wayland_, President of Brown University;_Rt. Rev. Bp. Griswold_, Bristol, R. I. ; _Rev. Dr. Griffin_, President ofWilliams College; _Rev. Dr Humphrey_, President of Amherst College;_Rev. Dr. Beecher_, Boston; _Rev. Professors _Porter_, _Woods_, and_Stuart_, of Andover Theological Seminary; _Rev. Daniel A. Clark_, Bennington, Vt. ; _Rev. Dr. Bates_, President of Middlebury College;_Rev. Dr. Matthews_, Shepherdstown, and _Rev. Dr. Rice_, Prince Edward, Virg. ; _Rev. Dr. Tyler_, President of Dartmouth College, N. H. _Rev. Dr. Leland_, Charleston, S. C. * * * * * Those to whom this work is forwarded gratuitously, are respectfullyrequested to promote its circulation. RECEIVING AGENTS. 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