established his authority in Rome, that that mystical Babylon became
"the mother of harlots," and "made the nations drunk with the wine of
the wrath of her fornications." And not until the angel shall "cry, with
a mighty and strong voice, _Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen_,"
will the strong man armed be vanquished, and the earth be encompassed
with glory. Not until the evil influence of cities shall be arrested,
will the mighty obstacles to the world's redemption be removed. How
immeasurably important then, that great efforts be made for their
conversion; and how merciful in God to destroy such of them as will not
repent. Oh, it was mercy infinite, that 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