Finney was a spiritual pioneer, full of faith and the Holy Ghost, who was called to fulfil the duties of evangelist, pastor and theological professor. His effective ministry as a revivalist is legendary and his thoughts in this book are uniquely appropriate to all who aspire to preach the Gospel today.

Many of the chapters in this book, were originally published in "The Independent" in New York , from 1871-74 That series, in a somewhat different order with an additional article not published in The Independent, was published as 'Power From on High in 1944.

From time to time in the history of the Christian Church a work is penned which transcends time. James Burns' 'Revivals:Their Laws and Leaders' is such a book. This 312 page volume, written in 1909 and last published in 1960, is crammed with insights which are so relevant to the church in our day - particularly the sections on 'The Laws of Revival.'

Your faith will be quickened for true spiritual revival as you read this wonderful spiritual treatise, that our world may experience a new and profound wave of God's Spirit.

Jonathan Goforth's words from the book's 'Foreword' well describe the immense value and effect of this book. "Mr. Smith's book, 'The Revival We Need,' for its size, is the most powerful plea for revival I have ever read. He has truly been led by the Spirit of God in preparing it.

To his emphasis for the need of a Holy Spirit revival I can give the heartiest amen.

What I saw of revival in Korea and in China is in fullest accord with the revival called for in this book."

This book was written to encourage and stimulate ministers and workers in every branch of the Christian Church, and with the hope of stirring them up to pray for a world-wide revival. It was written at a time when many of God's people were greatly exercised about the work of revivals and for a national and universal outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

"One special object has been to point out the different ministries by which God in His good pleasure has seen fit on many occasions to make channels of blessing both to the Church and the world. It was not the writer's intention to deal with every topic in connection with this subject, but rather to show how revivals have been promoted. Also to give a record of spiritual awakenings which have taken place in the past history of the Church, and to supply some reminiscences of revivals which the writer has been privileged to take part in during the last thirty odd years in many different parts of the country. And should the following chapters of this work prove instrumental in God's hands in helping to bring about a world-wide revival, or in strengthening the faith of any Christian workers or stirring them up to pray, to God shall be ascribed all the glory."

Andrew Murray exercised a powerful ministry in South Africa in the latter decades of the 19th century. This book, along with all his writings, conveys Murray's deep spirituality, his knowledge of the Word of God and his confidence that obedience to it guarantees divine blessing. He was no stranger to Revival. Here's how one writer describes his early ministry:

"On the ensuing Whit Sunday, May 27, the Rev. Andrew Murray, late of Bloemfontein, was inducted to the pastorate of Worcester. He commenced his ministry on the afternoon of the same day with a sermon on " The Ministration of the Spirit." He was then thirty-two years of age, and his preaching was with great power: according to the testimony of one who heard him, it was as though one of the prophets of old had risen from the dead. A movement among the dry bones commenced at once, but when the noise of the shaking grew loud…" Quoted in 'God In Evidence' by Kate Drew.

"These Lectures of Charles Grandison Finney on 'Revivals of Religion,' constitute probably the most exhaustive analytical studies on the subject that can be found in any language. Their importance is enhanced, too, by the fact that Finney - who was much more than a theorist - demonstrated the force of his argumentative position by the application of his views, amid communities of widely differing character, through a long and distinguished career, which was crowded with astonishing experiences.

Finney was a spiritual pioneer, full of faith and the Holy Ghost, who was called to fulfil the duties of evangelist, pastor and theological professor. While his careful words evidenced his intimate knowledge of all that had to do with the winning of souls, the facts, which he marshalled, and the conclusions to which they pointed received powerful approval in the tears and prayers of vast numbers, who, responding to his moving appeals, pressed their way into the Kingdom of God. Thus, Finney the evangelist more than justified Finney the lecturer." From the Introduction to the second edition of the Lectures by W.H. Harding.

Jonathan Edwards wrote two books on discerning true and counterfeit spiritual experiences. The earlier was "Some Thoughts Concerning the Present Revival of Religion in New England," and the second, a much fuller work, was entitled "A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections" and was published in 1746.

Edwards recognized that true revivals are usually accompanied by human errors and carnal emotions. In this book he deals exhaustively with twelve things, which are not certain signs of a true work of God. Then he deals with twelve things, which are most certainly evidence of 'truly gracious and holy affections'.

This work is of immense value today to both those who decry the expression of any emotions in Christian experience, as well as those who equate emotional expressions as the only evidence of true spirituality.

The 'Distinguishing Marks, ' published in 1741, was based on a sermon Jonathan Edwards preached in Boston during the Great Awakening, which spread through New England and the British Isles. In it, he deals firstly; with nine revival characteristics which some were using to discredit the true work of God. One by one, he argues that these phenomena, whether good or bad, should not be employed to discredit an authentic move of the Spirit. In the second part he deals with five revival characteristics which are to be used to verify a true revival; namely, the exaltation of Jesus Christ, the overcoming of Satan's kingdom, a love of the Scriptures, people are convinced of the truth of the Gospel and there is an evident and expressed love to God and man. He concludes in the third part with a summing up and conclusion to the whole. Aside from Edwards's conviction that miraculous spiritual gifts, seen in the early church, would not be restored again, the wisdom in these pages can be applied to any professed spiritual revival.

First published in 1874 this excellent volume presents a complete and very inspiring overview of Revival history and Revival dynamics. The writer begins by explaining what Revival is and then gives a brilliant historical survey of Revival occurrences. With unrelenting zeal for God he proceeds to systematically deal with every conceivable Revival-related issue, covering such themes as Objections, Evangelists, Children, Hindrances, Preaching, Prayer, Handling Inquirers and Training Converts. Each chapter is copiously illustrated with stories and quotes from a vast host of Revival resources, as the writer carries the reader through to a place of personal decision to stand within the ranks of history's Revivalists. A great book!