John Owen on Prayer and the Word

A resource I used for several years and is still available online is Expositor's Quote of the Week. Building on one of his from John Owen, I found a longer quotation. Just know that Owen is not always the easiest to read, but he is always worthwhile. Here is richness, and please read to the end to get the memorable sentence found online at Expositor's Quote.

The second duty of a pastor towards his flock is continual fervent prayer for them. . . . Without this, no man can or doth preach to them as he ought, nor perform any other duty of his pastoral office. From hence may any man take the best measure of the discharge of his duty towards his flock. He that doth constantly, diligently, fervently, pray for them, will have a testimony in himself of his own sincerity in the discharge of all other pastoral duties. . . . And as for those who are negligent herein, be their pains, labor, and travail in other duties never so great, they may be influenced from other reasons, and so give no evidence of sincerity in the discharge of their office. In this constant prayer for the church, which is so incumbent on all pastors as that whatever is done without it is of no esteem in the sight of Jesus Christ, respect is to be had, [first] unto the success of the word, unto all the blessed ends of it, among them. These are no less than the improvement and strengthening of all their graces, the direction of all their duties, their edification in faith and love, with the entire conduct of their souls in the life of God, unto the enjoyment of him. To preach the word, therefore, and not to follow it with constant and fervent prayer for its success, is to disbelieve its use, neglect its end, and to cast away the seed of the gospel at random [emphasis mine]. 

“The True Nature of a Gospel Church and its Government.” From chapter 5, The Especial Duty of Pastors of Churches. In Works of John Owen, Volume 16.

Moving in on Sunday, here's a corrective and powerful word. God bless us all!