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SERMON XXV.

BY WILLIAM PATTON, A.M.

NEW-YORK.

THE DUTY AND IMPORTANCE OF SPECIAL EFFORTS FOR THE CONVERSION OF CITIES.

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 of
the chief cities of the world the great business of preaching the gospel
to mankind. The fulfilment of prophecy required them to begin at
Jerusalem. "Out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord
from Jerusalem." "And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall
go out from Jerusalem." But there were other and more special reasons.
It was at Jerusalem that the death and resurrection of the Son of God
took place:--facts, on which Christianity rested all its claims: and it
was fit that the enemies of truth should have every possible advantage
for controverting those facts. In commencing at Jerusalem, an immediate
and striking illustration was also afforded of the forgiving spirit of