William Burns

PRAYER MAKES HISTORY by David Smithers

In September of 1840 Scotland's famous praying pastor, Robert Murray M'Cheyne, wrote a letter to William C. Burns: "I am deepened in my conviction, that if we are to be instruments in (A TRUE REVIVAL) we must be purified from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. Oh cry for personal holiness, constant nearness to God by the blood of the Lamb! Bask in His beams, - lie back in the arms of love, - be filled with the Spirit, or all success in the ministry will only be to your own everlasting confusion."

Like M'Cheyne, William Burns was not a man of hopeful theories and empty words. Through his fervent praying and preaching, literally thousands witnessed the tangible glory of God. From an early age, William C. Burns heart was broken for a lost and dying world. At seventeen on a shopping trip with his mother, away from the quiet town of KiIsyth in the bustling city of Glasgow, they became separated. After retracing her steps she discovered him in an alley with tears streaming down his face, suffering great agony. In a fright, she asked, "Willie my boy, what ails you? Are you ill?" With broken cries he replied, "Oh, mother, mother - the thud of these Christless feet on the way to hell breaks my heart." Even at this early age, the spiritual eyes of young Burns caught a glimpse of the everlasting horrors of a Christless eternity.

This vision no doubt helped shape this young man who would later become one of the key instruments in the great Kilsyth Revival of 1839. Often, he was driven to his knees in almost constant intercession. "He wept for hours in deep soul agony on behalf of a backslidden church and the lost souls going to hell." His ministry was consistently marked by a divine urgency and intensity. The result: His preaching produced extraordinary results. Indeed! During the Kilsyth Revival strong men fell powerless under the power of the Gospel hammer. "During the whole time that I was speaking, the people listened with the most solemn attention. At last their feelings became too strong and broke forth in weeping and wailing, tears and groans, intermingled with shouts of glory and praise from some of the people of God. . . . Some were screaming out in agony. Strong men fell to the ground as if they were dead."

All during those wonderful days of revival glory it was not uncommon for Mr. Burns and many others to fervently pray and travail throughout the night. As a result the glory of God fell day after day. William Burns described the miraculous affect: "At the conclusion of a solemn address to some anxious souls suddenly the power of God seem to descend, and all were bathed In tears. It was like a pent-up flood breaking forth. Tears were streaming from the eyes of many and some fell on the ground crying for mercy... The whole town was moved. The ungodly raged but the word of God grew mightily and prevailed."

After turning Scotland upside-down, Burns went off to preach the gospel in China. Though recognized as the premier revivalist of his day, he joyfully surrendered himself to a life of obscurity and hardship on this neglected mission field. No other episode in his life reveals more about his sterling character than this one decision. He left popularity, prestige, wealth and loved ones, all behind. When asked how soon before he would be ready to leave for China, he answered, "NOW". Boldly declaring, "I am ready to burn out for God. I am ready to endure any hardship, if by any means I might save some. The longing of my heart is to make known my glorious Redeemer to those who have never heard." On another occasion he was heard to say, "The longing of my heart would be to go once around the world before I die, and preach one gospel invitation in the ear of every creature." His mother likened him to a sharp knife that would be worn out by cutting, rather than by rusting; and the young Burns wished that it might be so!

In 1855, Burns unexpectedly met a young missionary in China: James Hudson Taylor. This seemingly random meeting resulted in a great blessing for both men. William found in Hudson a man after his own heart, and for seven months they walked together laboring as kindred souls. He took notice of the warm reception Taylor received as he ministered in the native Chinese dress, and was quick to learn from his new friend. Not long after he adopted this practice for himself. The impact he made upon the youthful Taylor is evident through his journals and letters. "Never had I had such a spiritual father as Mr. Burns. Those happy months were an unspeakable joy and privilege to me. His love for the Word was delightful, and his holy, reverential life and constant communings with GOD made fellowship with him satisfying to the deep cravings of my heart. His accounts of revival work and of persecutions in Canada, and Dublin, and in Southern China were most instructive, as well as interesting; for with true spiritual insight he often pointed out GOD'S purposes in trial in a way that made all life assume quite a new aspect and value. His views especially about evangelism as the great work of the Church, and the order of lay evangelists as a lost order that Scripture required to be restored, were seed-thoughts which were to prove fruitful in the subsequent organization of the China Inland Mission." (Hudson Taylor, "A Retrospect"). When asked, "Do you know William Burns?," another missionary to China replied, "Know him? All China knows him to be the holiest man alive!"

Driven by an all-consuming passion for the Lamb of God, in Burns, God found a man who cared enough to listen, obey, and stay on his knees. Recognizing that shallow and superficial praying was one of the greatest hindrances to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, he believed that a lack of true endurance in the secret place of prayer gives the victory to Satan. Burns writes, "Oh, how is it that the Lord's own people have so little perseverance? How is it that when they do enter into their place of prayer to be alone, they are so easily persuaded to be turned away empty; instead of wrestling with God to pour out His Spirit, they retire from the secret place without the answer, and submit to it as being God's will."

Ezekiel (22:30,31) the prophet warns of what happens when God cannot find true men and women of broken-hearted prayer and obedience. - "So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found no one. Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads, says the Lord God." Whom among us will STAND In the gap and pray, and then pray again until heaven comes down to earth?

An edited version of “Prayer Makes History,” by David Smithers. The full article is available for viewing at Revival Fires.