On Prayer

Of William C. Burns, another fellow-soldier, it is said, “His whole life was literally a life of prayer, and his whole ministry a series of battles fought at the mercy seat.” Very early in his ministerial course he gave it as his judgment that, “The great fundamental error, as far as I can see, in the economy of the Christian life, which many, and alas! I for one commit, is that of having too few and too short periods of solemn retirement with our gracious Father and His adorable Son, Jesus Christ.” From this opinion he never swerved. He spent his days and sometimes nights “before the Lord,” and sighed, “Oh, for a day every week to spend entirely in the secret of His presence.” For weeks before the Kilsyth Awakening, as his brother informs us, “he was full of prayer: he seemed to care for nothing but to pray. In the daytime, alone, or with others, it was his chief delight, and in the night watches he might be heard praying aloud.” And the Lord, whom he sought, came to His temple suddenly. “Whoever is diligent in public prayers, and yet negligent in private, it is much to be feared he rather seeks to approve himself to men than to God” (--The Whole Duty of Man).