---
title: 'Samuel Miller on the Mutual Importance of Prayer and Preaching in Public Worship'
type: post
author: 'R. Andrew Myers'
date: 2025-02-23
url: https://confessional.org/blog/2025-samuel-miller-on-the-mutual-importance-of-prayer-and-preaching-in-public-worship
---

# Samuel Miller on the Mutual Importance of Prayer and Preaching in Public Worship

“In prayer, we always *speak to God*, in the way of his own appointment; in preaching, *God speaks to us* by his commissioned servant, if that servant preaches the preaching which the Master bids him. And which is the more serious and solemn employment, our speaking to God, and imploring his favour, or God speaking to us, and communicating his will, either in the language of instruction, of threatening, or of promise? It is not wise, however, to exalt either of these exercises at the expense of the other. Both are required in the New Testament Church; and both have a value beyond our power to estimate.” — [**Samuel Miller**](/authors/samuel-miller), *Thoughts on Public Prayer* (1849), p. 14