LETTER OF
The GOSPEL TRUTH 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