The GOSPEL TRUTH
 

MEMOIRS OF REVIVALS OF RELIGION

By Charles G. Finney

Published as

AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY

1876

 

THE REVIEWS OF FINNEY'S "MEMOIRS" BY HIS CONTEMPORARIES. 

PREFACE

CHAPTER I. -- BIRTH AND EARLY EDUCATION.

Purpose of the Author -- Birth and early circumstances -- Want of religious privileges -- Entering upon the study of law -- First interest in religion -- Questionings on the subject of prayer.

CHAPTER II. -- CONVERSION TO CHRIST.

Decision to attend to religion -- Spiritual conflict, and the triumph -- Baptism of the Spirit -- Sense of justification.

CHAPTER III. -- BEGINNING OF HIS WORK.

A retainer from the Lord Jesus Christ -- Call to preach -- Conversation with neighbors -- Evening meeting -- Revival in the village -- Visit at his father's -- Deacon M-- at the monthly concert -- Conversion of Squire W--. -- Morning prayer-meeting -- Great light -- Fasting and prayer -- Experience of the burden of prayer.

CHAPTER IV. -- HIS DOCTRINAL EDUCATION AND OTHER EXPERIENCES AT ADAMS.

Discussion on the atonement -- Revival revived -- Further discussion -- Encouragement from Elder H--. -- Lectures on Universalism -- Licensed by presbytery -- Father Nash -- Review of Mr. Gale's theology.

CHAPTER V. -- PREACHING AS A MISSIONARY.

Labor at Evans' Mills -- The people pledged -- Experience of Miss G--. -- The railer's death -- The false hope -- The Universalist subdued -- Father Nash's transformation -- Mr. D--'s conversion.

CHAPTER VI. -- REVIVAL AT EVANS' MILLS AND ITS RESULTS.

The German church -- Meeting for inquirers -- Taught to read -- Moving scene -- Habit of testifying in prayer-meeting -- Style of preaching -- Preaching at presbytery.

CHAPTER VII. -- REMARKS UPON MINISTERIAL EDUCATION.

The judge's view -- Criticisms of ministers -- The preacher's aim -- Danger in the schools -- Advantages of extemporaneous preaching -- Manner of preparation -- Fac-simile of skeleton.

CHAPTER VIII. -- REVIVAL AT ANTWERP.

Impression of the place -- Prayer on Saturday -- Plain preaching on Sabbath -- Scene at Sodom -- Preaching to the Universalists -- Sermon on election -- Cure of insane woman.

CHAPTER IX. -- RETURN TO EVANS' MILLS.

Author's marriage -- Return to his work -- Winter at Brownville -- Conversion of Mrs. B--. -- Attempt to return for his wife -- Stopped at Le Rayville -- Premonition of a work at Gouverneur -- The vain young woman converted.

CHAPTER X. -- REVIVAL AT GOUVERNEUR.

Ride in the rain -- Discussion with Dr. S--. -- Opposition of young men -- Father Nash's announcement -- Conversion of Mr. S--. -- Opposition of Baptists -- Discussion of Baptism -- Aunt Lucy's relief -- Conversion of Mr. M--.

CHAPTER XI. -- REVIVAL AT DE KALB.

Presbyterians "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 prayer.

CHAPTER XII. -- REVIVAL AT WESTERN.

The Western revivals -- Afternoon prayer-meeting -- Praying of Mrs. H. -- Conversion of the B-- children -- The home of a convicted daughter -- The hay-loft -- Adaptation of religious labor -- Mr. Gale's new views and experience.

CHAPTER XIII. -- REVIVAL AT ROME.

Remarkable inquiry meeting -- Great interest -- Little H-- and her father -- Death of a reviler -- Conversion of Mr. H--. -- Visit of Sheriff B--. -- The spirit of prayer -- Conversion of the officer's wife -- Conversion of Mrs. G--.

CHAPTER XIV. -- REVIVAL AT UTICA

Abundant prayer -- Conversion of Sheriff B--. -- The Lowville merchant -- Beginning of opposition -- Mr. Weeks' doctrines -- Sudden death of the minister -- Conversion of Miss F--T--. -- Scene in the factory -- Conversion of T. D. Weld -- False teaching.

CHAPTER XV. -- REVIVAL AT AUBURN IN 1826.

Further opposition -- Victory in prayer -- Dr. S--'s new baptism -- Conversion of Mr. H--. -- Division of the congregation -- Dr. Lansing's painful experience -- Public confession.

CHAPTER XVI. -- REVIVAL AT TROY, AND AT NEW LEBANON.

Visit to Dr. Nettleton -- Influence of the opposition -- Dr. Beman before presbytery -- Conversion of Judge C--'s father -- Conversion of Miss S--. -- The work at New Lebanon -- Conversion of Dr. W--, of Mr. T--, and of John T. Avery -- Committee of presbytery -- New Lebanon Convention -- Notice of Dr. Beecher's Biography -- Remarks on Revivals.

CHAPTER XVII. -- REVIVAL IN STEPHENTOWN.

Anxiety of Miss S--. -- Election evening -- Family of Judge P--, and of Mr. M--. -- Death of Mr. B--. -- Influence of Miss S--.

CHAPTER XVIII. -- REVIVALS AT WILMINGTON AND PHILADELPHIA.

Mr. Gilbert -- New School preaching and its effect -- Beginning in Philadelphia -- Theology at Philadelphia -- Hopkinsianism -- Conversion of a desperate man -- Of a despairing young woman -- Fondness for dress -- Interest among the lumbermen -- Mr. Patterson.

CHAPTER XIX. -- REVIVAL AT READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

Unsound teaching -- Arrangement for balls -- Inquiry meeting -- Death of 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 delay.

CHAPTER XX. -- REVIVALS IN COLUMBIA, AND IN NEW YORK CITY.

Account of Mr. H--. -- Reorganization of his church -- Invitation to New York -- Anson O. Phelps -- Diligence of a young woman in restitution -- Conversion of Lewis Tappan -- The first Free Presbyterian church.

CHAPTER XXI. -- REVIVAL IN ROCHESTER, 1830.

Selection of a field -- Adjustment of differences -- Conversion of Mrs. M--. -- "The Anxious Seat" -- Panic in church -- Work in the High School -- Conversion of the merchant and his wife -- Conversion of Mr. P--. -- The burden of prayer -- Effect upon the morals of the city -- Effect abroad.

CHAPTER XXII. -- REVIVALS IN AUBURN, BUFFALO, PROVIDENCE AND BOSTON.

Leaving Rochester -- Rest at Auburn, and remarkable invitation -- Abel Clary -- Six weeks' labor -- A month in Buffalo -- Conversion of Mr. H--. -- Three weeks in Providence -- Conversion of Miss A--. -- Invitation to Boston -- Sensitiveness of the people -- Giving up all to God -- Orthodoxy questioned -- Proposal from New York.

CHAPTER XXIII. -- LABORS IN NEW YORK CITY IN 1832, AND ONWARD.

Chatham street theatre -- Installation -- The Cholera -- The revival -- Diligence of the membership -- Conversion of Mr. H--. -- The free Presbyterian churches -- Organization of a Congregational church -- Broadway Tabernacle -- Voyage to the Mediterranean -- A day of prayer at sea -- The New York Evangelist -- Excitement on slavery -- Revival Lectures -- Invitation to Oberlin -- Decision.

CHAPTER XXIV. -- EARLY LABORS IN OBERLIN.

EARLY LABORS IN OBERLIN.

The tent -- Financial failure -- Hostility of the surrounding region -- Embassy to England -- Providential supply -- Lectures to Christians in New York -- Relations to Western Reserve College -- Theological prejudice -- Popular idea of Oberlin -- Spiritual progress at home.

OBERLIN "LYNCHING"

CHAPTER XXV. -- LABORS IN BOSTON AND PROVIDENCE.

General excitement upon slavery -- Marlborough chapel -- A few weeks' preaching in Boston -- Call to Providence -- Two months,['] labor there -- Interest of Rev. Dr. C--.

CHAPTER XXVI. -- THE REVIVAL IN ROCHESTER IN 1842.

Rest in Rochester, and invitation to preach -- Lawyers' request for a course 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 priest.

CHAPTER XXVII. -- ANOTHER WINTER IN BOSTON.

Second-Adventism -- The church in Marlborough Chapel -- A false prophet -- A chapter of personal experience -- A new consecration -- Experiences in connection with the death of Mrs. F--. -- Experiences not appreciated -- Need in Boston.

CHAPTER XXVIII. -- FIRST VISIT TO ENGLAND.

Mr. Potto Brown and his religious enterprises -- Invitation to England -- Labors in Houghton -- Invitation to Birmingham -- Interview at Mr. James' -- Close Communion -- Theology and Dr. Redford -- Interesting letter -- Preaching at Worcester -- Invitation to London -- Dr. Campbell and the Tabernacle.

CHAPTER XXIX. -- LABORS IN THE TABERNACLE, MOORFIELDS, LONDON.

First inquiry meeting -- Large attendance -- Visit at the British school-room -- Definite aim in preaching -- The borrowed sermon -- Interest in Episcopal churches -- A tea-meeting for poor women -- Visit to France -- Embarking for home.

CHAPTER XXX. -- LABORS IN HARTFORD AND IN SYRACUSE.

Brief labor in New York -- Invitation to Hartford -- Difficulty of coöperation among the pastors, adjusted -- Timidity in regard to measures -- Prayer-meetings among converts -- Organized effort -- The churches in Syracuse -- Coöperation of Christians -- Interesting communion -- Mrs. C--'s new baptism -- Ladies' meetings -- "Taking up the Cross" -- Mother Austin's faith.

CHAPTER XXXI. -- LABORS IN WESTERN AND IN ROME, 1854-5.

Case of crime -- Confession and restitution -- Conversion of the school-teacher -- Preaching at Rome -- Distraction in the church.

CHAPTER XXXII. -- REVIVAL IN ROCHESTER IN 1855.

Pressing invitation -- Preaching to the lawyers -- Prevailing interest -- The University -- Zeal of the ladies -- Ingenuous spirit -- Restrictions in New England.

CHAPTER XXXIII. -- REVIVALS IN BOSTON IN 1856-57-58.

The pastor's renewal -- Divided feeling -- Establishment of prayer-meetings -- The South -- Conversion of Mrs. M--.

CHAPTER XXXIV. -- SECOND VISIT TO ENGLAND.

Labors at St. Ives -- Borough Road chapel -- Church distraction and regeneration -- Theological apprehensions -- Reasoning in the pulpit -- Labors at Huntington -- Family of Dr. F--.

CHAPTER XXXV. -- LABORS IN ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND.

Preaching 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 -- Co-operation of denominations -- Canvassing the city -- A more quiet manner -- Work in Mr. B--'s mill -- Cases of restitution -- Conversion of the miserly mill-owner -- Labors in Manchester -- Want of co-operation -- Return home.

CHAPTER XXXVI. -- WORK AT HOME.

Arrangements for labor -- General movement -- Failing health -- Diverting influences -- The time for work -- Improved arrangements -- Solemn Sabbath -- Conclusion.

 

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