The National Preacher, Vol. 2. No. 6., Nov. 1827 | Page 4

and had seen the grace of
God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they
would cleave unto the Lord." So great was this work, so important this
field of usefulness, that to secure the best assistance, "Barnabas
departed to Tarsus to seek Saul; and when he had found him, he
brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they
assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people." So
powerful was this work of God, as to demand, for a whole year, the
special labours of two of his most favoured servants.

The other Antioch, mentioned in the Acts, was the capital of Pisidia; a
place where many things opposed the advance of holiness. But there
also Paul and Barnabas laboured; and there souls were born into the
kingdom. The record is, "They came to Antioch, in Pisidia, and went
into the synagogue on the Sabbath day." And Paul preached of Jesus
and the resurrection, and faithfully warned against lightly esteeming the
work of God. "Beware, therefore, lest that come upon you, which is
spoken in the prophets: Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish;
for I work a work in your days, which ye shall in nowise believe
though a man declare it unto you. And when the Jews were gone out of
the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be
preached unto them the next Sabbath. And the next Sabbath day came
almost the whole city together, to hear the word of God. And when the
Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord;
and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of
the Lord was published throughout all the region, and the disciples
were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost."
Ephesus, too, was visited by the Holy Spirit. This was one of the most
famous cities of Asia Minor. By historians, it has been called the
ornament of Asia--the greatest and most frequented emporium of the
continent. Here stood one of the seven wonders of the world--the
idolatrous temple of Diana. Paul paid two visits to this city: the first, a
very short one. After some months, he returned, and continued for three
years, and had great success. Many things opposed the influence of
truth. Iniquity was deeply rooted: their established religion was a
source of revenue; and countenanced them in unhallowed courses. But
the Spirit of grace prevailed. The result was, "that many that believed,
came, and confessed, and showed their deeds. Many of them, also,
which used curious arts, brought their books together, and burned them
before all men. And they counted the price of them, and found it fifty
thousand pieces of silver;" or, according to our currency, nearly
twenty-eight thousand dollars. Thus multitudes made a public
renunciation of idolatry, and a public profession of their faith in Christ.
"So mightily grew the word of God, and prevailed."
The last city that we shall mention, as blessed with a revival, is Corinth,

the capital of Achaia. Here stood the temple of Venus; for the support
of whose 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,