The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-08
AN OLD-TIME REVIVALIST.
The Wonderful Power of Rev. Charles
G. Finney as an Evangelist.
Sinners Who Threatened His Life Fall Speech
less Before Him-The Lecture Delivered
Last Evening by Prof. Sheppard.


Prof. Nathan Sheppard. the well-known lect-
urer, spoke at the First Baptist Church on the
life and work of the late Rev. Charles G.. Finney,
the noted evangelist, and president Of Oberlin
College. The subject of his address was born at
Warren. Conn, Aug. 20, 1892, and was the son
of a farmer. The lecturer said his intention
was to talk of the most remarkable revivalist
| this or anysother country has produced, and in
one respect undoubtedly the most remarkable
man the pulpit has produced. AS an exhibition
OF willpower and the influence Of his will upon
that of others, the lecturer did not think he had
any superior, and he did not know where to look
for his equal. He was a lawyer in the pulpit,
and here was revivalst with some brains
He had the privilege of common school until
fifteen years old, and then became school
| teacher himself. He thought of going
to Yale College, but his preceptor, who
was graduate himself dissuaded
him. saying to Mr. Finney that he could accom-
plish the curriculum in two years. which would
there take four. He was scholar in the En-
glish language. Some of these days, if the En-
glish language becomes dead language it will be
He was an educated man in the best sense of the
word, and fully prepared for the work which
he adopted. The end of education should be to
know what to do and how to do it, and he knew
that. He Lelected the law as his profession.
Nearly all ministers begin with the law. Mr..
Finney was converted and left the law for the
ministry He was then twenty-six years old.
In his autobiography he says: 1.-THE rising of
my soul was great that rushed into the back
room of the law Office to pray. It did not occur
to me then, nor for some time after, that this
was wholly mental state It really seemed to
me that I saw God, as I would see any
man, and literally beloved out the yearn-
ings of my heart. The Lord drew near to
me, while in prayer, that my flesh actually trem.
bled upon my bones"
This is foretaste of his remarkable endow-
nent in rhetoric. In expressing himself he
was distinguished as all great preachers are, and
have to be, to do effective preaching. But it is
very easy to overdo this sort of thing He re-
solved at once to prepare for the ministry. He
had hardly ceased praying before Deacon B.
came to the law office. He reminded him that
he wanted him to try case that morning. Mr..
Finney told the deacon he had taken a retainer
from the Lord Jesus Christ to plead his cause,
| and could not plead the Deacons. This is differ
ent from some lawyers, who act as If they had
taken a retainer from very different person
He refused to go to Princeton Theological
Seminary. and began his study under his pastor,
began then and there to apply his splendid fac
ulty of logic. No man has been produced in this
country superior in logic or controversial acute
ness Mr. Fnney's pastor was of the
icy school The young man at once set about
knocking the nonsense out of the old mans
head. His teacher held that man was constitu-
tionally depraved totally unable to comply with
what God commanded him to do. To Mr.. Fin
neys mind this was utterly absurd. He held
that 1t was reasonable and natural to comply
with the terms of the gospel, to repent to be-
ieve, to do anything that God required. The
teacher held that man was free to commit any
manner of sin, but not free to perform any good.
He was Presbyterian. This doctrine did not
suit the student and he said so. He combated
these doctrines to the great dismay of his
teacher, who warned him If he reasoned upon
these subjects. instead of accepting them, he
would land in infdelity. His was judicial
mind, and we find that he preached as a lawyer.
He said he talked to the people as to jury. II
thought that, of all causes religion had the
fewest advocates. and that if lawyers pleaded
for their clients as ministers pleaded, that they
would not gain single casen
de began rather ornately in his style but
afterward became very sententious and direct
He first took commission from what he calls a
female missionary society" and began TO
preach at Eyans's Mill in New York. He
preached as if he wanted a verdict for his client
He saw himself that his preaching was doing no
| good One day he asked for those who were
willing to make their peace with God to rise
up up; Nobody rose. Some started for the
them, and that he would try once more.
They went out Immediately, all except one
deacon. The deacon and the young minister
went into grove together. and spent the after
noon in prayer. In the meantime the outraged
congregation were thinking about coat of tar
and feathers for the audacious minister Even
ing came, and with it a crowd. For more than
an hour" he says, ''the word of God came
through me in q way that 1 saw carrying
everything before it." A woman fell down,
speechess, and was carried from the house. A
man. who had brought pistol to shoot him, was
stricken. Others were similarly affected. Such
things are not now to be allowed. Mr. Moody
will not allow even an samen!" Why2 Be-
cause he knows it is wrong. Science teaches US
not to do So Keep their heads clear if you
want to get their hearts right This was not
done by Mr.. Finney through weakness. but
through his strength. Afterwards, when he saw
it coming on, he prayed to soften and compose
them.
His will-power was simply tremendous. He
observed the exercise of this will-power upon
himself He commanded himself as well as
other people. Physicians told him he had the
consumption. He had; but he lived to be eighty
three years Old They told him he couldn't get
well; could live but little while longer. He
told the doctors of bodies what he told the
doctors of souls-that they were wrong He
was told not to preach moro than once week.
and never more than a half hour at time all
of which he proceeded not to do. He plunged
into preaching campaign of six months, dura-
ton, and before six months his lungs
were restored, his health was perfect
and a glorious revival had broken
out all over the country. Then began
a conflict of will between the preacher and error
and error had to give way. His key note was
that the command to '.obey' implied the ability
to obey, and no matter what excuse is offered on