The GOSPEL TRUTH
LETTER OF

CHARLES G. FINNEY

1830

To Edward Norris Kirk

1 November 1830

 

[Autograph letter in Special Collections Department, Rochester University Library. There is an "Introduction to Charles Grandison Finney's Letter" April 1999 by Zach Harkenrider on the Internet: www.lin.rochester.edu/rbk/Finneyessay.htm.]

 

Rochester 1 Nov. 1830.

Dr Br. Kirk.

The bearer is the Rev Mr.

Whelply. He has been spending several weeks

with me in the midst of this glorious &

powerful work of God. He can tell you more

about it than I have time to write.

Great multitudes of every class are hoping.

The Lord [has] especially displayed his grace

among the Lawyers & the principle men

& women. The work is very general & overwhelming.

I was called out of bed last night to converse

& pray with a lawyer who has been standing

out till he could resist no longer.

A large proportion of the lawyers in

town are hoping, & I suspect most if not

all the rest are under conviction.

The work has been & still is peculiarly powerful

among the first & most influential people.

The High Sheriff a brother of Dr. Livingston of Phil.

was hopefully converted last week & a number of

others of the same class.

I have been unwell several days, but am

now better. The good work has begun in many

towns around here. & now Dr. Kirk you cant

tell how much I want your help.

The Lord seems ready to work in all this region.

I have preached in several of the towns

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In every instance, the Lord has come down &

commenced a work upon the spot.

Br. Whelply is a man of our views of things.

Why will you not let him take your place & come

& help me. Dr. K. I think I must have your help.

I doubt not if you were here, you might be instrumental

in the conversion of thousands in a few months.

Dont think the 4th chh in A. of more importance

than this great work. So has Br. Beman argued

about Troy until God has laid him aside.

That it is your duty immediately to become an

Evangellist I am persuaded & never was I in

any region of country where the fields seemed

so ripe as in this. I have preached incessantly

until I am almost exhausted & yet the Maced

onian cry comes upon every breese.

If I could lay this whole subject before you I

dont believe you would dare to stay in

Albany another week, but would for a time at

least fly to my aid. I am nearly exhausted &

yet all the towns & counties in this region are

not only open but waving to the Harvest.

Extempory preaching will be followed by the mass.

Reading sermons wont collect the people.

The great work here has, like the bursting of a shell

set the whole region on fire. Ministers & christians

from every directions are comming in to behold the

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wonderful works of God. I hear of no cavilling

nor opposition, as yet from Ministers nor xtians

of any denomination. Sinners have from

the beginning of this work, been so awed

that I have heard very little of opposition

from any quarter.

Indeed they so intirely overdid the matter

in their opposition at Troy & Albany & in that

region that ever since, as in this place,

people have seemed to stand amazed & said

"What could all that opposition mean"

It will be surprising however if opposition does

not arise soon from some quarter.

If Br. Whelply does not go immediately to A.

I shall send this by mail.

Write me immediately whether you will come

& help me.

Take a trip out here & see me, at all events, &

we will talk the matter over.

I know what your people will say. But they are

selfish. So said Bemans people, they laughed at

at [all] my intreaties to have B. become an

Evangellist or leave them for another place.

Now I believe the Lord is cursing them & him

too. Think of this Br. K. & come & see me.

If 20 evangellists were here of the right stamp

there is more than labor enough for them all.

Your Brother forever.

C. G. Finney