William W. Bennett, A narrative of the great revival which prevailed in the Southern armies during the late Civil War

Remember, brethren, wherever you are, that you are ministers of the Lord Jesus; never let the Christian minister be merged in the soldier. You will, doubtless, in camp, be surrounded by those who will have little sympathy with your religious views and feelings, and who will closely and constantly scrutinize your whole conduct. Oh, do not, by any inadvertence of act or speech, give occasion for the enemies of Christ to blaspheme; but let your walk be such as to constrain them to glorify your Father in heaven. Oh, be witnesses for Jesus!

“There is no position in which a Christian can be placed in which he may not exert much influence for good. It will be necessary to reprove those who sin, and it is an important lesson to learn how to give reproof in love and gentleness, and yet with faithfulness, and a proper measure of Christian dignity. Many opportunities will be afforded you of strengthening the weak, and recovering those who are just on the verge of falling. And should you so deport yourselves as to command the confidence and respect of your companions in arms, you will find many unexpected calls for advice. Strive to prepare yourself to give it. In a word, be a thorough and consistent Christian yourself, and you will be always prepared to help others. Yet once more, the voice of affliction will frequently greet your ears: a brother soldier, sick and dying far from home and loved ones, is struggling with disease and death among those who are comparatively strangers; no wife's or mother's or sister's soft hand chafes his fevered brow, or with woman's sweet and gentle voice, speaking words of kindness, points the dying man to Him of Calvary,--how sweet, under these circumstances, will be the words of kindness from your lips, and how grateful to his ears the voice of prayer and praise, as you kneel beside him and wrestle with God in his behalf, and talk sweetly to him of Jesus and ”