CONVERTING THE CITIES.
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THEYmust be brought to know that they must be revolutionized, created anew, conformed to Christ, and then taught to worship according to the Scriptures. The work is not to be done by wholesale, nor by the device of man. Nor need we think we can take the great cities by getting a few rich or popular men. We must preach the gospel tothe people, thewhole people, and turnthem. The gospel invariably commences with the humbler classes, and works up through them till it reaches all grades. It did not commence by converting emperors, kings, or governors; nor did it reach these for a long time. It did not commence by converting rich men, but mainly with the poor; but in time reached the rich. It did not commence with converting priests, but after a time we read that a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.
In the main, this has been the case in our time. We commenced with the humbler people in the cities and have reached through to every class. We gained the attention of vast numbers of people in the country, andturned them to the Lord, when they were poor. They have been prospered, and gained wealth; gone to the cities, and thus augmented the churches there; but, in many instances, they are not the good people they were, nor loving and maintaining the truth as they once did.