Part 5 (pages 64–77)
He was expected to deliver a sermon following the questioning, so in keeping with the tradition of his day, he had prepared his sermon by writing it out. As he began his delivery, he soon departed from the written pages and preached extemporaneously. Even though Charles failed to stick to his written sermon, his performance was deemed acceptable by the elders, and he was licensed to preach in the Presbyterian church.
The Sunday after he was licensed, Charles preached for the Reverend Gale. But when became down from the pulpit, his pastor said to him, “Mr. Finney, I shall be very ashamed to have it known, wherever you go, that. you studied theology. with me.” Although Charles was accus- tomed to Gale’s disapproval, this remark hurt him deeply and discouraged him.
Later on, Pastor Gale asked Charles’s forgiveness for his. attitude toward him and wholeheartedly em- braced Charles’s theology: He told him: then that he was glad Charles had.not been influenced by his theology and doctrine. The
As Charles struggled with what he believed were Pastor Gale’s “erroneous doctrines,” he became aware of another question the older man’s ministry raised: If Pastor Gale had been converted to Christ, why had he never received the divine anointing of the Holy Spirit that would make him a power in the pulpit and in society for the conversion of souls?
The following summer, on July 1, 1824, the St. Law- rence Presbytery met at Evans Mills, New York, to ordain Charles. After calling the meeting to.order and hearing a sermon given by the Reverend J. Clinton, the elders laid hands on Charles, and he became the Reverend Charles Grandison Finney, Presbyterian minister. When: that October the Synod of Albany, New York, met:in the First Presbyterian-Church of Utica, Charles was Present as a newly ordained Presbyterian minister.
The St. Lawrence Presbytery: meeting proved to be important for Charles. In-addition: to his ordination, he met the Reverend Daniel Nash for the first time. Nash at one.time had been spiritually cold, but during:an illness, God did a great work in his life. Nash had an eye disease that required him to stay in a dark room for many hours each day. While inthe darkened, isolated room, he had learned. the secret of prayer. Afterward, he devoted him- self to an intercessory prayer ministry.
Since Charles had not trained for the regular ministry, he was content to preach in small, out-of-the-way places. Soon, he.secured a ministry in the district of Evans Mills, New York, particularly in the town of LeRay. He -also preached in Antwerp, a small town of about 660. adults located roughly eighteen miles northeast of Evans: Mills. He had a: contract with the Female Missionary. Society that required him to ‘spend alternate Sundays at Antwerp.
When he first arrived in April 1824, he discovered that no religious services were being held in Antwerp. The area was. known .as-Hell’s Acres because of. its general wickedness. The town did have.a Presbyterian church, but it did not have a regular pastor. A Presbyterian elder’s:liv- ing five miles-or.so from the town would.come to the church on Sunday and preach. The:road he traveled, how- ever, took him through:a Universalist. community, and they were so against the elder’s going to preach, they would even take the wheels off his buggy to prevent him from keeping his preaching engagement.
Meanwhile in LeRay, people seemed very interested in what Charles had to say and thronged to hear him. They said they liked his preaching and hoped that the church would grow and that they would be visited by a revival.
Although people regularly came under conviction, still they. made-no outward profession of Christ, and Charles admitted, “I was very much dissatisfied.” He let the people know that he-was not there simply to bring them interesting and enjoyable sermons but to see their souls saved.
One day as he began preaching in his blunt style, Charles issued.an ultimatum to his flock:
Now I must know your minds, and I want that you who have made up-your minds to become Christians and will give your pledge to make your peace with God immediately should rise up; but that, on the contrary, those of you who are resolved that you will not become Christians, and wish me so to understand, and wish.Christ so to under- stand, should sit still. You who are now willing to pledge to me and to Christ.that you will immedi- ately make your peace with God, please rise up. On the contrary, you that mean that I should understand that you are committed to remain in - your present attitude, not to accept Christ—those of you that are of this mind, may sit still.
The pon sat: t still in'shocked: disbelief, No: preacher had : ever. admonished’ them in this fashion; Charles continued:: “Theh you; are committed: You have’ taken, your. stanc You have rejected'Christ'and:His gospel; vand-ye ate: wit... nesses: one: againist, the ‘other,-and;God:is witness ‘against youvall. ‘This.is explicit, and you: may;remember:as long: - as you live, that you have thus publicly committed ‘your... Selves against: the Savior,: and said; ‘We will ‘HOt have thi man, Christ Jesus,'to.reign.over us... Then the:congregation rose up together: in anger: aad started to leave: Charles stopped preaching, and: when he did:so,: ‘they; paused and:looked back. at him. Charles. Said, ~ “Team: sorry. forryou;:and: will: preach to you:-once ‘more the Lord willing, tomorrow: night2”.: ee : Charles. was stunned by his own words: and actions: Acloud of depression:had*-settled; over:-him:, ‘when a. Baptist: deacon;.:.who had remained: behind, :cameup :to him, He took: the: startled minister by. the hand, - announc:. ing, “Brother ‘Finney;- you have. got:them:: ‘They: cannot rest tinder this, rely upon it: I-believe:you:have: done the - very. thing: that: needed to. be done and that we shall see” the-results.”: ae ay The following, day found: the deacon: and Charles, pray: ing and fasting; they: prayed. separately i in the. morning and together ‘in. the ‘afternoon: Increasingly;: Charles: realized’ - the importance of: prayer in his. ministry. Through ‘inter- - cession, he ‘knew that all of; God’s. ‘blessings-wereavail able; but: ‘without: prayer, the results would be. few: » Meanwhile, the townspeople were: filled: with anger and:a:desire to retaliate. They were ‘considering ‘stern measures against Pastor Finney. Possibilities discussed included. tarring and feathering him; riding him out of town on a rail; and giving him his. walking papers. Charles discovered later that “some of them cursed me; and said that I had put them under oath, and made them swear that they would not serve God; that I had drawn them into a solemn and public pledge to reject Christ and His gospel.”
Nevertheless, the afternoon of what Charles had said would be his last sermon to these people, he met with the Baptist deacon in a grove, and they spent the entire after- noon praying. In Charles’s ‘own words, “Just at evening, the Lord gave us great enlargement, and promise of vic- tory. Both of us felt assured that we had prevailed with God; and that, that night, the power. of God would be revealed among the people.”
As the two men walked back through the village, many people were making their way toward the church. At meeting time, the small building was packed to over- flowing. All the town’s activities had stopped.
Charles had given no thought to what he would say that evening, and, in fact, this was his customary pro- cedure. As he looked out over the people and realized that the place was packed to capacity, he sensed that “the Holy Spirit was upon me, and J felt confident that when the time came for action.I should know what to preach.” Then he stood up and, without any preliminary singing or praying, said to the crowd, “ ‘Say ye to the righteous that it shall be well with him; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe to the wicked! it shall be ill with him; for the reward of his hands shall be given him.’ ”
= Chars: ry
The ‘neat « events: amnavéd even Charles:. “The Spitit.of God came upon me with. such power. that “it. was like: opening a battery upon them. For more than an hour; and "perhaps: for an ‘hour: and: a:half;. the -word’of God camé! through me-to them in a manner that I-could see was car-: rying:all before it. It-was-a fireand a hammer. breaking: the: rock; and:as‘the sword that. was piercing to: the: ‘dividing 3 asunder of soul and spirit. I saw. that a:general conviction: . was spreading over the whole congregation. Many ofithem: could ‘not :hold: up: their -heads.”: Charles: sensed ‘thatthe entire! congregation. was “committed d against the ‘Lord?
God. Instead-he told: them:a: meeting would be held ie following night and dismissed:them: i As people'began to leave, ‘Charles noticedo one. wom: cone whe. appeared: to: be: fainting “and ‘was’ being: helped: by: ' some. ‘friends, Having \discernment;: the ‘evangelist: real=: ized ithe: woman: was ‘not physically ill but:so:gripped:by: conviction; :she :could not: speak:: ‘The situation :stunned: Charles, for he:knew::the woman to:be'a faithtut chureh: membet-and the: sistér of a ‘missionary-:: = : Instead of going to: his own: place that evening: Sharles!. spent: the ‘night with another:family.’The next:morning: he! - discovered ‘that ‘many - people: had:been ‘looking ‘for:him: throughout the night; Such turmoil of'soul hhad:seized the: people, they. could not'sleep. Even the woman under: cons) viction’ confessed’ that: for. sixteen: hours,:she’ could’ not’ sleep:' She admitted: that ‘she: had. been deceived: allthe. yeats of cher faithful church attendance.-Under Charles’ Ss convicting ' preaching, -she: chad: ‘come’ face-to-face. with: God’s:absolute holiness and: her sinfulness,-All over town,’
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people were undergoing similar experiences. Revival had come.
Soon, opposition reared its head. Several Deists seemed determined: to thwart the moving of God.. But Charles planned his strategy. He met with them and preached a direct and convincing ‘sermon opposing their views. To his joy, nearly every Deist:at the meeting made a profes- sion of faith. .
Opposition came from other quarters, as well. At one of the meetings, a man appeared with a loaded gun, intent on killing the evangelist. Another time, Charles dealt with “an old man, who was not only an infidel, but a great railer at religion. He was very angry at.the revival move- ment..I heard every day-of his railing and blaspheming, but took no public notice of it. He refused altogether to attend meeting. But in the midst of the opposition, and when his excitement was great, while sitting one morn- ing at the table, he suddenly fell out of his chair in a fit of apoplexy. A physician was immediately called, who, after a brief examination, told him that he could live. but a very short time; and that if he had anything to say, he must say it at once. He-had just strength and time, as I was informed, to stammer out, ‘Don’t let-Finney pray over my corpse. This was the last of the opposition in that place.” 7
A short distance from the village of Evans Mills was a German community. Although the people had a.church and many members, they had no regular minister, so they began attending Charles’s meetings. They were. accus- tomed to having a minister visit them once each year to administer. the ordinances of baptism. and communion. He would also listen to the children say their.catechism and answer doctrinal questions. If they did so. correctly, they would be admitted to church membership. The adult members assumed that these procedures would make the children Christians. :
Soon: they were captured by the revival spirit and. wanted Charles to come preach at their church, which he gladly did. He was-amazed to discover that nearly the entite German-community turned out to hear him preach. When he preached to: them, Charles chose the’ text: “Without holiness no man shall see:the Lord.” He showed
them, first of all, what holiness. was not—including
everything they considered to be religion. Then, he showed them what holiness is,.and what was meant ‘by seeing the Lord: Last of all, he showed them why those who had no holiness could never see the Lord. The effect was. amazing; within days, the whole community came under. conviction of sin and the need for Christ.
Charles remarked about the situation: “In a very few days it was found. that the whole: settlement.was under conviction; elders of the church and all were in the gteat- est consternation, feeling that they had no holiness. At their: request I appointed.a meeting for inquiry, to. give instruction to inquirers. This was in their harvest time. I held the meeting at one o’clock in the afternoon, and found the house literally packed. People had thrown down the implements with which they were gathering their har- vest, and had come into the. meeting. As many were assembled as could be packed in the house.” Later, a grat- ified Charles noted that “the revival among the Germans resulted in the conversion. of the whole church, I believe, and of nearly the whole community of Germans. It was one of the most interesting revivals I have ever witnessed.”
During the time of revival in this area, the man known as Father Nash reappeared. Charles had met him earlier when he had come before the presbytery. Father Nash had what he called a praying list, which contained: the names of people he wished to pray for. Charles said of him, “His gift of prayer was wonderful, and his faith almost miraculous.” Before long, Charles and Father Nash would combine their ministries of preaching and prayer to reap wonderful results.
As the revival continued in the Evans Mills district, Charles became more and more concerned about the methods he used to promote the revival and bring about conversions. He allowed only the accepted meetings of the day to take place: regular preaching services, prayer meetings, conferences, and other gatherings, of inquirers regarding their salvation. Of course, he urged much pri- vate prayer as well. Even though Charles was young and without much.experience, he wanted:to be cautious and handle things in a dignified way.
Because of Charles’s caution, emotional excess which marked other revivals of the time did not occur in his meetings. Further, he placed his emphasis on the love of God and what Christ had done for us. He familiarized himself with Jonathan Edwards’s revival literature from the previous century.and followed his example in many of his sermons. Charles’s meetings were generally quite orderly. At prayer meetings, Charles-insisted that only one person pray at a time and that short breaks take place ~ Charles Bg
after: bis: periods : of. prayer: This’ ‘would: ‘head: off any. - undue emotion being generated. . pos «Charles was. not an: emotional: preacher,’ even n though ce emotions:.could ‘be’ aroused in: the:midst. of a: revival “especially: samong - thosé who: were: under convicti poe sisi.: He: preached -primarily’ to: thé :intellect since he’ felt: that preachirig to the emotions:was dangerous.:Emotions). © could.;overcome the’ intellect: and..the:-will, which -were: under.a person’ § Control: He:argued that enthusiasm and - excitement : are genuine: only ‘when. they..encounter‘:the truth. cond Charles: differentiated : ‘between what ‘he.
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Charles coittinued, vrbachiigi in pAntieep during this: time.: He :arranged.:to: use’ the! school: building: for services; Antwerp had:a‘church house, but the village: hotelkeeper: had. the keys to. the building and was so. opposed: to: Charles's ministry. at-he:tefused to pen it up for the: : evangelist” He 2S ‘On his: first Suhday i Antwerp;: Charles pear ! John 3:16. He mast have'made-a'considerable impression: because. the: hotelkeeper: gave ‘up: the’ keys.'so’:Chatles’ could: hold: meetings’ in the regular church house.-Before: long; people: were: flocking to the services:. Charles: made: a practice of praying for Antwerp most of the day before ee he. preached : there.’ Finally: one::Saturday. the: Lord:re-)- - sponded:::‘‘Be not. afraid; but: speak,. and:hold:‘not-thy: peace; for am‘with:thee, and no:man:shall set on'thee to hurt thee: For I have much’ people. in this city.” 3... = _ s :Relieved; Charles knew the: meetings:would-g6 well: — -Not long after, revival: visited Antwerp: as it had in: other, areas of the Evans Mills district, and a great change took place in the people.
An interesting event took place in another. school building: service. about three miles. from Antwerp. The godly-old man who had invited Charles to speak stood in much contrast to the unbelieving community in which he lived. Charles knew little about the area or the man who had asked him to speak, but he agreed to:come. So the ser- vice was arranged for five o’clock on a Monday evening.
Charles decided to. walk to the school, since it was just three miles: He had not realized how tired he was from the day before and had to rest some before arriv- ing at the school—he knew he should have taken his horse! But he forced himself to continue. and arrived at just the right time for the service. The place was filled to. capacity, and Charles had to stand and preach from the .doorway.
The service began with the people singing a hymn, but they were dreadful singers! Charles, with his sensi- tive: hearing and musical background, had to put his hands over his ears to block out the awful sounds. He was beside himself, and by the time they finished singing, Charles got on his knees and prayed a desperate prayer. He soon sensed the Holy Spirit’s presence in the room.
Charles had not given any thought to his sermon subject, which was not that unusual for him. When he got up from his knees, however, the text came to him: “Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord. will destroy this city.” He told the people the verse was about God’s judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah because of their sin ree he fel heart to. God
whispering i in their cars ‘the “message. of -God’s: : Jesus Christ. As he dealt with them, a wonderful peace Hae settled in their hearts, and they began to pray for others...
Eventually, he had to leave to preach another service in Antwerp. He asked the old man to be in charge. There was so much interest and there were so many needy souls that Charles felt it would be wrong to dismiss the meet- ing just because he couldn’t be there. It continued the rest of the night. The next day the people moved to a private home, so the schoolchildren could use their building for classes.
The following afternoon, the people sent for the evan- gelist to come back and meet with them. When he arrived the second time, Charles learned why the people had become so angry the day before when he quoted the verse about God’s judgment on Sodom. Their community was named Sodom, and there was only one pious man in the town. They called that man Lot, and he was the old man who had invited Charles to preach.
The revival spirit that swept through the schoolhouse proved to be typical of the meetings in Antwerp and other neighboring villages as well. By now, Charles ‘showed. himself adept at defending the faith and stilling his oppo- sition—especially the Universalists. As conversions increased’ and the revival spread, a young man by the name of Denning was called to minister. Charles now felt that he could leave Antwerp. He wished to preach more at Evans Mills.
The Female Missionary Society wanted Charles to continue with them, éven though his time was nearly up. After much prayer, he agreed to stay. A whole new chap- ter in his exciting life, however, was about to begin.
Born i in 1304, ‘Lydia w was ite 8 : Charles. At the age of. eleven, she h
from ee earlier. time since ‘the towns Kirkland are located rather near each other. :