rained down fire upon Sodom,
and poured it heavily upon Gomorrah; and thus saved millions from the
contagion of their wickedness!

But suppose that all the influence of cities were of an heavenly
character--suppose the intelligence could be circulated along all our
navigable rivers and canals--suppose it could be communicated from
village to village, and from family to family, throughout the country,
that the Spirit of God, as on the day of Pentecost, had come down in
awful majesty and power among us; that all our men of business, and
youth of folly, had been arrested in their worldly career; that all our
theatres and resorts for vain pleasure had been forsaken; that our
temples were crowded and overflowing with devout worshippers, and
anxious inquirers; that the universal voice of our city's population had
become, What shall we do, that we may glorify God and extend his
kingdom? Suppose, I say, that this mighty change in our city could be
told throughout the country; who can estimate the overwhelming influence
it would carry along with it? Where is the solitary village that would
not feel the impulse, and have its eye and heart lifted to Heaven, in
view of the bright cloud of incense, ascending from these hundred
temples, and these thrice ten thousand family altars? And to extend our
view still further; suppose that every city of our land--that every city
of the world--should experience such a change; what almighty strength
and zeal would it give to the Angel having the everlasting Gospel to
publish! How soon would the universal acclamation of mankind be, "Glory,
and honour, and power be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne!" And how
soon would that blessed voice be heard from the heaven of heavens, "The
kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of the Lord, and his
Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever!"

These are not mere pictures of the imagination. The realities are at
hand. And the influence of cities, in introducing them, must be felt.
For "they of the city shall flourish like the grass of the earth." "The
name of the city from that day shall be, _The Lord is there_." "Thus
saith the Lord of hosts, it shall yet come to pass, that there shall
come people, and the inhabitants of many cities; and the inhabitants of
one city shall go to another, saying, let us go speedily to pray before
the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts." Thus the day shall yet be,
when the presence and power of the Holy God in