Advice to Ministers

"The most useful servants of God have always been men of much prayer. With Whitfield it was the agony of previous prayer, far more than the intensity of thought, which made his eloquence the wonder of his day. The spiritual triumphs of Brainerd, in the wilderness, were begun and sustained by extraordinary prayer. One living minister who has been instrumental, unquestionably, in the conversion of thousands, describes his own course as one of knee-work.

"I was with a minister some time since, who had on his desk a list of the names of his young people, for whose conversion he was offering frequent and particular supplications. And he has not many superiors as a useful writer and preacher of the word. These facts are given because of the instruction they contain. Brethren, if you would be ready for using the sword of the Spirit, and courageous for thrusting it to the hilt in consciences and hearts, that men may fall before Christ; if you would, in signal victories, be like David's mighty men, your spiritual weapon, besides being oiled with affection, and polished with use, must be sharpened by much prayer; your own arm must be nerved by very much prayer; and an unseen, but omnipotent Helper brought to your side in answer to constant prayer"—Burton on Ministerial Usefulness.