costly and debasing services, a thousand human victims
were continually kept!--The multitude in this city were given to a
species of crime, most deadening to the conscience, and damning to the
soul. Yet all this did not discourage the intrepid apostle. For, about
the year of our Lord fifty-two, he came to Corinth, and "reasoned in the
synagogue every Sabbath day, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks." The
persecuting spirit of the Jews was marshalled against him. Yet he was
successful, for _God was with him_. "Crispus, the chief ruler of the
synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the
Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized. Then spake the Lord to
Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not
thy peace, for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt
thee; 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 six
months, teaching the word of God among them." Here a large church was
gathered, to which he addressed two epistles.

We could mention other ancient cities as blessed with revivals. We could
tell you of Athens, the eye and glory of Greece; of Philippi, the chief
city of Macedonia; of Iconium, "where a great multitude, both of the
Jews and also of the Greeks, believed;" of Rome too, and many others;
but we forbear, since enough is already before you to illustrate the
position, that cities were the theatres of the Holy Spirit's first and
most illustrious achievements. Indeed, what is the book of the Acts, but
one continued history of revivals in cities and populous places?

IV. _We should seek the conversion of Cities, because in them the
Adversary reigns with peculiar power._

Experienced Generals bend their most powerful forces against those
positions most strongly intrenched; well knowing, that if these are
subdued, the courage of the enemy is daunted, his plans marred, and that
what remains may fall an easy conquest. Why then should Christians leave
to Satan the quiet dominion of cities? He would rather give up a
thousand inland posts, than these strong holds of his empire. But, Oh,
could he be dislodged from these, how paralyzed would be his arm--how
feeble his resistance--how lost his influence! Would you see the power
of Satan in cities? Cast your eye back upon the past. What were Sodom
and Gomorrah? What were Tyre, and Sidon, and Ninevah? What was Babylon?
What