CHARLES G. FINNEY - Virtual Theological Resources

1 CHARLES G. FINNEYAN AUTOBIOGRAPHY(1908 version) author of the following narrative sufficiently explains its origin andpurpose, in the introductory pages. He left the manuscript at the disposalof his family, having never decided, in his own mind, that it was desirableto publish it. Many of his friends, becoming aware of its existence, haveurged its publication; and his children, yielding to the general demand, havepresented the manuscript to Oberlin College for this giving it to the public, it is manifestly necessary to present it essentiallyas we find it. No liberties can be taken with it, to modify views orstatements which may sometimes seem extreme or partial, or even tosubdue a style, which, though rugged at times, is always dramatic andforcible. Few men have better earned the right to utter their own thoughts,in their own words. These thoughts and words are what the many friendsof Mr. FINNEY will desire. The only changes that seemed allowable, wereoccasional omissions, to avoid unnecessary repetition, or too minute detail,or, at times, references that might seem too distinctly personal.

2 Thenarrative is, in its very nature, personal, involving the experiences both ofthe author and of those with whom he had to do; and to these personalexperiences it, in great part, owes its interest and its value. As the narrativepresents the memories and heart-yearnings of a veteran pastor, with apassion for winning souls, it is hoped and believed that, in its personalreferences, it will not be regarded as having transcended the limits ofChristian propriety. For the most part, the lapse of time sets aside and there perhaps, the statements in the narrative may seeminadequate, as involving only a partial view of facts. It will be rememberedthat such partial views belong to all personal observation and opinion, andeach one will naturally supply the correction that seems to be H. COLLEGE, January, AND EARLY of the Author Birth and early circumstances Want ofreligious privileges Entering upon the study of law First interest inreligion Questionings on the subject of TO to attend to religion Spiritual conflict, and the triumph Baptism of the Spirit Sense of OF HIS retainer from the Lord Jesus Christ Call to preach Conversationwith neighbors Evening meeting Revival in the village Visit at hisfather s Deacon M at the monthly concert Conversion of SquireW.

3 Morning prayer meeting Great light Fasting and prayer Experience of the burden of DOCTRINAL EDUCATION AND OTHEREXPERIENCES AT on the atonement Revival revived Further discussion Encouragement from Elder H. Lectures on Universalism Licensed bypresbytery Father Nash Review of Mr. Gale s AS A at Evans Mills The people pledged Experience of Miss O The railer s death The false hope The Universalist subdued Father Nash s transformation Mr. D s AT EVANS MILLS AND ITS German church Meeting for inquirers Taught to read Movingscene Habit of testifying in prayer meeting Style of preaching Preaching at UPON MINISTERIAL judge s view Criticisms of ministers The preacher s aim Danger in the schools Advantages of extemporaneous preaching Manner of preparation Facsimile of AT of the place Prayer on Saturday Plain preaching onSabbath Scene at Sodom Preaching to the Universalists Sermonon election Cure of insane TO EVANS s marriage Return to his work Winter at Brownville Conversion of Mrs.

4 B . Attempt to return for his wife Stoppedat Le Rayville Premonition of a work at Gouverneur The vain youngwoman AT in the rain Discussion with Dr.. Opposition of young men Father Nash s announcement Conversion of Mr. S . Oppositionof Baptists Discussion of Baptism Aunt Lucy s relief Conversion of Mr. AT DE falling, Visit of Mr. F . The Catholic tailor Elder S s new light Effect upon the meeting Going to Synod Meeting with Mr. Gale Spirit of AT Western revivals Afternoon prayer meeting Praying ofMrs. H . Conversion of the B children The home of aconvicted daughter The hay-loft Adaptation of religious labor Mr. Gale s new views and AT inquiry meeting Great interest Little H and herfather Death of a reviler Conversion of Mr. H . Visit ofSheriff B . The spirit of prayer Conversion of theofficer s wife Conversion of Mrs. C .10 CHAPTER AT prayer Conversion of Sheriff B . The Lowville merchant Beginning of opposition Mr.

5 Weeks doctrines Sudden death ofthe minister Conversion of Miss F T. Scene in the factory Conversion of T. D. Weld False AT AUBURN IN opposition Victory in prayer Dr. S s new baptism Conversion of Mr. H . Division of the congregation s painful experience Public AT TROY, AND AT NEW to Dr. Nettleton Influence of the opposition Dr. Beman beforepresbytery Conversion of Judge C s father Conversion ofMiss S . The work at New Lebanon Conversion of Dr. W , ofMr. T, and of John T. Avery Committee of presbytery NewLebanon Convention Notice of Dr. Beecher s Biography Remarkson IN of Miss S, Election evening Family of Judge P and of . Death of Mr. B. Influence of Miss S .11 CHAPTER AT WILLWINGTON AND Gilbert New School preaching and its effect Beginning inPhiladelphia Theology at Philadelphia Hopkinsianism Conversionof a desperate man Of a despairing young woman Fondness fordress Interest among the lumbermen Mr.

6 AT READING, teaching Arrangement for balls Inquiry meeting Deathof Dr. Greer Conviction of Mr. B. False counsel to inquirers Conversion of Mr. O B . His death Preaching to the editors Labor at Lancaster Conversion of Elder K . Fatal IN COLUMBIA, AND IN NEW YORK of Mr. H . Reorganization of his church Invitation toNew York Anson O. Phelps Diligence of a young woman inrestitution Conversion of Lewis Tappan The first FreePresbyterian IN ROCHESTER, of a field Adjustment of differences Conversion of . The Anxious Seat Panic in church Work in the HighSchool Conversion of the merchant and his wife Conversion of . the burden of prayer Effect upon the morals of the city Effect IN AUBURN, BUFFALO, PROVIDENCE AND Rochester Best at Auburn, and remarkable invitation AbelClary Six weeks labor A month in Buffalo conversion of . Three weeks in Providence Conversion of Miss A . Invitation to Boston Sensitiveness of the people Giving up all to all Orthodoxy questioned Proposal from New, IN NEW YORK CITY IN 1832, AND street theatre Installation The Cholera The revival Diligence of the membership Conversion of Mr.

7 El. The freePresbyterian churches Organization of a Congregational church Broadway Tabernacle Voyage to the Mediterranean A day of prayerat sea The New York Evangelist Excitement on slavery RevivalLectures Invitation to Oberlin LABORS IN tent Financial failure Hostility of the surrounding region Embassy to England Providential supply Lectures to Christians inNew York Relations to Western Reserve College Theologicalprejudice Popular idea of Oberlin Spiritual progress at IN BOSTON AND excitement upon slavery Marlborough chapel A few weeks preaching in Boston Call to Providence Two months, labor there Interest of Rev. Dr. C .13 CHAPTER REVIVAL IN ROCHESTER IN in Rochester, and invitation to preach Lawyers request for acourse of Lectures Judge G s conversion Pastor of St. Luke s The quit-claim deed Doctrines preached Interest in lawyers Chronic skepticism Mr. W. the WINTER IN The church in Marlborough Chapel A falseprophet A chapter of personal experience A new consecration Experiences in connection with the death of Mrs.

8 F . Experiencesnot appreciated Need in VISIT TO Potto Brown and his religious enterprises Invitation to England Labors in Houghton Invitation to Birmingham Interview at Close Communion Theology and Dr. Redford Interestingletter-Preaching at Worcester Invitation to London Dr. Campbell andthe Tabernacle. CHAPTER IN THE TABERNACLE, MOORFIELDS, inquiry meeting Large attendance Visit at the British schoolroom Definite aim in preaching The borrowed sermon Interest inEpiscopal churches A tea-meeting for poor women Visit to France Embarking for IN HARTFORD AND IN labor in New York Invitation to Hartford Difficulty ofcooperation among the pastors, adjusted Timidity in regard to measures Prayer meetings among converts Organized effort The churchesin Syracuse Cooperation of Christians Interesting communion Mrs. S s new baptism Ladies meetings Taking up the Cross Mother Austin s IN WESTERN AND IN ROME of crime Confession and restitution Conversion of the schoolteacher Preaching at Rome Distraction in the IN ROCHESTER IN invitation Preaching to the lawyers Prevailing interest The University Zeal of the ladies Ingenious spirit Restrictions inNew IN BOSTON IN pastor s renewal Divided feeling Establishment of prayermeetings The South Conversion of Mrs.

9 M .CHAPTER VISIT TO at St. Ives Borough Road chapel Church distraction andregeneration Theological apprehensions Reasoning in the pulpit Labors at Huntington Family of Dr. IN ENGLAND AND in Edinburgh The E. U. Church The ladies prayer meeting Preaching in Aberdeen Circumscribing prejudice going to Bolton,England First evening at Bolton The week of prayer Cooperationof denominations Canvassing the city A more quiet manner Workin Mr. B s mill Cases of restitution Conversion of the miserlymill-owner Labors in Manchester Want of cooperation Return AT for labor General movement Failing health Diverting influences The time for work Improved arrangements Solemn Sabbath G. FINNEY CHAPTER AND EARLY has pleased God in some measure to connect my name and labors withan extensive movement of the church of Christ, regarded by some as a newera in its progress, especially in relation to revivals of religion. As thismovement involved, to a considerable extent, the development of views ofChristian doctrine which had not been common, and was brought about bychanges in the means of carrying forward the work of evangelization, itwas very natural that some misapprehension should prevail in regard tothese modified statements of doctrine, and the use of these measures; andconsequently that, to some extent, even good men should call in questionthe wisdom of these measures and the soundness of these theologicalstatements; and that ungodly men should be irritated, and for a time shouldstrenuously oppose these great have spoken of myself as connected with these movements; but only asone of the many ministers and other servants of Christ, who have sharedprominently in promoting them.

10 I am aware that by a certain portion ofthe church I have been considered an innovator, both in regard to doctrine17and measures; and that many have looked upon me as rather prominent,especially in assailing some of the old forms of Theological thought andexpression, and in stating the doctrines of the Gospel in many respects innew have been particularly importuned, for a number of years, by the friendsof those revivals with which my name and labors have been connected, towrite a history of them. As so much misapprehension has prevailedrespecting them, it is thought that the truth of history demands astatement from myself of the doctrines that were preached, so far as I wasconcerned; of the measures used, and of the results of preaching thosedoctrines and the use of those mind seems instinctively to recoil from saying so much of myself as Ishall be obliged to do, if I speak honestly of those revivals and of myrelation to them. For this reason I have declined, up to this time, toundertake such a work.