What is a national revival? How may one be brought about? William Sprague defines it thusly: "Wherever you see religion rising up from a state of comparative depression to a tone of increased vigor and strength, wherever you see professing Christians becoming more faithful to their obligations and behold the strength of the church increased by fresh accessions of piety from the world, there is a state of things which you need not hesitate to denominate a revival of religion." God puts the burden on His people, to repent, to turn from their wicked ways and to humble themselves and to seek His face. When they do all these things, then God will heal them from heaven and answer their prayer and heal their land.