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The Autobiography of Charles G. Finney
Many Christians today may be unaware of the tremendous impact that Charles G. Finney had on the spiritual landscape of the United States. His years of revival work yielded valuable insights on the work of the Holy Spirit and timeless principles that many still find vital for advancing the kingdom of God. A truly fascinating record of a uniquely gifted and godly man, this autobiography is sure to enlighten and inspire Christians of any age or background.
437 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 1876
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577 people want to read
About the author
Charles Grandison Finney
448 books70 followersCharles Grandison Finney was a leader in the Second Great Awakening. He has been called The Father of Modern Revivalism. Finney was best known as an innovative revivalist, an opponent of Old School Presbyterian theology, an advocate of Christian perfectionism, a pioneer in social reforms in favor of women and blacks, a religious writer, and president at Oberlin College.
He is not to be mistaken for his great-grandson, Charles G. Finney (1905-1984).
He is not to be mistaken for his great-grandson, Charles G. Finney (1905-1984).
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April 9, 2014
I found that many of the stereotypes concerning Finney are unwarranted. I found this abridged version to be a delightful testimony of a man greatly used by God. We do not have to agree with someone to learn from them. Many souls were brought into the Kingdom through Finney's obedience. This is that story.
July 31, 2023
Charles Finney's life story fuels a passion for prayer and dependence on the Holy Spirit. He also is a great example of a Christian who lived his life in humble submission before God. Recommend to anyone who needs encouragement about the power of prayer and dedication.
January 10, 2016
"God never laid it upon thee to convert those he sends thee to. No; to publish the gospel is thy duty."
William Gurnall (1616-1679) in Puritan Theology, pg 970
Finney contradicts this at every point of his ministry, and by his own account.
Finney was against hyper-Calvinism, that only God can regenerate the heart. (This was and is standard Calvinism, not an aberrant hyper-version of Calvin.) WE should decide to obey Christ, and that will change heart. We can make a new heart for ourselves, since we do not have a sinful nature, according to Finney. “The foundation of the error of which I speak, is the dogma that human nature is sinful in itself; and that, therefore, sinners are entirely unable to become Christians” (238). “The peculiarities of hyper-Calvinism have been a great stumbling block, both of the church and of the world. A nature sinful in itself, a total inability to accept Christ, and to obey God, condemnation to eternal death for the sin of Adam, and for a sinful nature, and all the kindred and resultant dogmas of that peculiar school, have been the stumbling block of believers and the ruin of sinners” (333). Finney went beyond Arminian thought (that we have a free will to choose for or resist salvation in Christ) to Pelagius’ position, condemned by the whole church centuries ago.
New measures
Finney advocated new measures. Not just telling people to pray for a new heart and use the means of grace, but calling for people to stand up on the spot, come to a special row for those anxious for their souls, come to a separate meeting afterward. His focus was on man’s will, more than on God.
He “talked to the people as I would have talked to a jury.” He didn’t realize this direct, confrontational, do-it-now-in-front-of-everyone approach could cause short-term or false commitments. As J.I. Packer observes, these "devices... to precipitate decisions must be eschewed.... Such pressures may even be harmful... for 'when the decisions wear off those who registered them will be found 'gospel-hardened' and antagonistic.' (Puritan Theology, pg. 970).
Emotions were the bell-weather for a real movement of the soul, for Finney. “She struggled and groaned out her prayers, in a manner that immediately indicated to me that C—— must be converted.” “The burden of his soul would frequently be so great that he was unable to stand, and he would writhe and groan in agony” (272).
Pragmatism
This got results, and Finney knew it. He often notes the effects with false modesty, comparing to the ministers who wouldn’t come, and were surprised by how many attended his revivals. “The results justify my methods,” he said.
Opposed to established churches:
Finney was ordained by the Presbyterian church, not having studied the Westminster confession. The church accepted him because he got results, with little regard for his fidelity to Scripture. They didn’t connect Calvinistic doctrine to the Bible in their churches, but just quoted the catechism as an authority in itself. This left Finney an opening to persuade the people of another perspective from the Bible.
“They had their Thirty-nine Articles in the Established church, and their Westminster Confession of faith; and these they regarded as authority. They were not at all in the habit of trying to prove the positions taken in these “standards,” as they were called; but dealt them out as dogmas. When I began to preach they were surprised that I reasoned with the people” (404).
He even gives hints that he used the buildings and ready audience of churches, while working an agenda at cross-purposes with them. “I continued to labor in the different churches, until the Second Presbyterian church was left without a pastor; after which we concentrated our meetings there in a great measure" (378).
Evaluation
Having never read anything by Finney before, I found him quite full of himself. Anyone opposed to him misunderstood him, poor things. Anywhere he went, revivals broke out. He was so far ahead of others spiritually, according to his own testimony. All they needed was a 5 minute interview with him to have their anxiety come to the breaking point of conversion. Finney never stopped to think that maybe his new measures were such novelties, or so manipulative, that HE was creating a phenomenon, not the Holy Spirit. He really gives this away in the last chapter of his autobiography. When he returns to headquarters at Oberlin College, Ohio, from England, revivals break out in his own bastion and home turf, among people already very much of his own revivalistic mindset. Then, revivals don’t come when others preach, but only at HIS preaching. He had become a celebrity, but doesn’t seem willing to realize or admit it. It must be the Holy Spirit at work.
For further reading, I’d recommend Finney’s “Lectures on Revivals of Religion.” This may be a more systematic laying-out of his views. And also Iain Murray’s “Revival and Revivalism” for an analysis and comparison of the first great awakening of Whitefield with Finney’s type of work.
May God revive His church by His Spirit, according to His Word, to glorify Jesus Christ in our generation.
William Gurnall (1616-1679) in Puritan Theology, pg 970
Finney contradicts this at every point of his ministry, and by his own account.
Finney was against hyper-Calvinism, that only God can regenerate the heart. (This was and is standard Calvinism, not an aberrant hyper-version of Calvin.) WE should decide to obey Christ, and that will change heart. We can make a new heart for ourselves, since we do not have a sinful nature, according to Finney. “The foundation of the error of which I speak, is the dogma that human nature is sinful in itself; and that, therefore, sinners are entirely unable to become Christians” (238). “The peculiarities of hyper-Calvinism have been a great stumbling block, both of the church and of the world. A nature sinful in itself, a total inability to accept Christ, and to obey God, condemnation to eternal death for the sin of Adam, and for a sinful nature, and all the kindred and resultant dogmas of that peculiar school, have been the stumbling block of believers and the ruin of sinners” (333). Finney went beyond Arminian thought (that we have a free will to choose for or resist salvation in Christ) to Pelagius’ position, condemned by the whole church centuries ago.
New measures
Finney advocated new measures. Not just telling people to pray for a new heart and use the means of grace, but calling for people to stand up on the spot, come to a special row for those anxious for their souls, come to a separate meeting afterward. His focus was on man’s will, more than on God.
He “talked to the people as I would have talked to a jury.” He didn’t realize this direct, confrontational, do-it-now-in-front-of-everyone approach could cause short-term or false commitments. As J.I. Packer observes, these "devices... to precipitate decisions must be eschewed.... Such pressures may even be harmful... for 'when the decisions wear off those who registered them will be found 'gospel-hardened' and antagonistic.' (Puritan Theology, pg. 970).
Emotions were the bell-weather for a real movement of the soul, for Finney. “She struggled and groaned out her prayers, in a manner that immediately indicated to me that C—— must be converted.” “The burden of his soul would frequently be so great that he was unable to stand, and he would writhe and groan in agony” (272).
Pragmatism
This got results, and Finney knew it. He often notes the effects with false modesty, comparing to the ministers who wouldn’t come, and were surprised by how many attended his revivals. “The results justify my methods,” he said.
Opposed to established churches:
Finney was ordained by the Presbyterian church, not having studied the Westminster confession. The church accepted him because he got results, with little regard for his fidelity to Scripture. They didn’t connect Calvinistic doctrine to the Bible in their churches, but just quoted the catechism as an authority in itself. This left Finney an opening to persuade the people of another perspective from the Bible.
“They had their Thirty-nine Articles in the Established church, and their Westminster Confession of faith; and these they regarded as authority. They were not at all in the habit of trying to prove the positions taken in these “standards,” as they were called; but dealt them out as dogmas. When I began to preach they were surprised that I reasoned with the people” (404).
He even gives hints that he used the buildings and ready audience of churches, while working an agenda at cross-purposes with them. “I continued to labor in the different churches, until the Second Presbyterian church was left without a pastor; after which we concentrated our meetings there in a great measure" (378).
Evaluation
Having never read anything by Finney before, I found him quite full of himself. Anyone opposed to him misunderstood him, poor things. Anywhere he went, revivals broke out. He was so far ahead of others spiritually, according to his own testimony. All they needed was a 5 minute interview with him to have their anxiety come to the breaking point of conversion. Finney never stopped to think that maybe his new measures were such novelties, or so manipulative, that HE was creating a phenomenon, not the Holy Spirit. He really gives this away in the last chapter of his autobiography. When he returns to headquarters at Oberlin College, Ohio, from England, revivals break out in his own bastion and home turf, among people already very much of his own revivalistic mindset. Then, revivals don’t come when others preach, but only at HIS preaching. He had become a celebrity, but doesn’t seem willing to realize or admit it. It must be the Holy Spirit at work.
For further reading, I’d recommend Finney’s “Lectures on Revivals of Religion.” This may be a more systematic laying-out of his views. And also Iain Murray’s “Revival and Revivalism” for an analysis and comparison of the first great awakening of Whitefield with Finney’s type of work.
May God revive His church by His Spirit, according to His Word, to glorify Jesus Christ in our generation.
April 3, 2021
Charles Finney lived a truly radical life. It is inspiring to see how he decided if he was going to serve God he was going to pour in and do it with all of his heart. He didn't do everything perfectly--he himself had some regrets about how he did things at the end of his life--but he was fervent in prayer and reliant on the Holy Spirit. I believe if we today were as zealous, persistent, and trusting in those areas, we would see an amazing change in our world.
March 28, 2020
A very inspiring true story. Read it if you want to be challenged to deeper faith in prayer and passion for evangelism.
March 31, 2021
I was inspired by Finney's compassion for the lost and his rich prayer life. He was an incredible witness of the power of the Holy Spirit.
December 30, 2025
O Lord, please do it again in our days as you did then. Amen!!🙏
February 15, 2023
Many aren't aware of just how influential Charles Finney has been on the history of the United States, particularly its religious history. The methods of preaching and conversion traced back to him are so ingrained in Evangelical Christianity that for most people there are no other ways of evangelizing. The massive Billy Graham crusades owe their success to Finney, and for many non-Christians, his style of preaching is the face of Christianity. Because of this, Finney is a controversial figure among Christians. Some call Finney a heretic who rejected Biblical teaching in favor of human reasoning and marketing techniques; others call Finney a saint who struggled mightily for the souls of thousands. Sorting through the stories and accusations is difficult. This is why it is so important to let Finney speak for himself.
This autobiography was written only a few years before he died, and he is very thorough in covering every event he deemed important in a mostly impartial manner. The first thing that you'll notice while reading this is that Finney isn't trying to make himself look good; he simply presents what happens and let's the reader decide for himself. Every now and then he'll give his judgement on an event, but it is often as much a criticism of himself than a criticism of someone else. In fact, this impartiality seems to have been Finney's nature. He frequently worked alongside people with whom he had great differences of theology, and yet he spoke of them most highly and with much kindness. His focus on the Gospel and preaching to sinners seemed to overrule his aberrant beliefs (for certain, some of his interpretations of the Bible were not orthodox and still remain questionable).
Frustratingly, this is an abridged version of his autobiography, and it is very obvious while reading. Over 200 pages were removed to delete repetitive events, but I wonder (having never read the full autobiography) if some of his controversial beliefs were also edited out. He talks of having different views on the atonement and justification, for instance, but never covers them. Later in the book he details his new methods of evangelism and gives a defense of them. I find it strange that his new theology isn't given a similar treatment.
Due to the editing, the book feels more like a compilation of anecdotes placed in chronological order and less like a continuous narrative. What is there is gripping and well-written. Reading about the very first modern "alter call" in Rochester, New York was fascinating. His account of his conversion is moving and intense. The love he had for his wife jumps off the page when he writes of her. I just wish that it wasn't so broken apart in editing. I definitely recommend reading it if you want a quick look at Charles Finney or post-Revolution New England, but I'd recommend the unabridged version more.
This autobiography was written only a few years before he died, and he is very thorough in covering every event he deemed important in a mostly impartial manner. The first thing that you'll notice while reading this is that Finney isn't trying to make himself look good; he simply presents what happens and let's the reader decide for himself. Every now and then he'll give his judgement on an event, but it is often as much a criticism of himself than a criticism of someone else. In fact, this impartiality seems to have been Finney's nature. He frequently worked alongside people with whom he had great differences of theology, and yet he spoke of them most highly and with much kindness. His focus on the Gospel and preaching to sinners seemed to overrule his aberrant beliefs (for certain, some of his interpretations of the Bible were not orthodox and still remain questionable).
Frustratingly, this is an abridged version of his autobiography, and it is very obvious while reading. Over 200 pages were removed to delete repetitive events, but I wonder (having never read the full autobiography) if some of his controversial beliefs were also edited out. He talks of having different views on the atonement and justification, for instance, but never covers them. Later in the book he details his new methods of evangelism and gives a defense of them. I find it strange that his new theology isn't given a similar treatment.
Due to the editing, the book feels more like a compilation of anecdotes placed in chronological order and less like a continuous narrative. What is there is gripping and well-written. Reading about the very first modern "alter call" in Rochester, New York was fascinating. His account of his conversion is moving and intense. The love he had for his wife jumps off the page when he writes of her. I just wish that it wasn't so broken apart in editing. I definitely recommend reading it if you want a quick look at Charles Finney or post-Revolution New England, but I'd recommend the unabridged version more.
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January 8, 2013In my branch of Evangelicalism, Charles Finney comes close to being the devil. He is clearly semi-Pelagian. His conviction was that man was not so totally fallen that he had lost the ability to be recognize and choose the good. This spilled out into his views on the atonement. But I need to hear Finney speak for himself. He did consider himself an Edwardsean. And it is true that Edwards did have a more optimistic anthropology that allowed for a conversionism apart from the usual means of grace, a view that supported the revival of the First Great Awakening. But for Edwards this did not translate into a flirtation with semi-Pelagianism.
There is no doubt that the Second Great Awakening under the influence of Finney resulted in societal transformation on a scale unimagined by the leaders of the First. And it directly led to the emancipation of the slaves and a new concern for those left behind in America's race to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." So great was this movement that it has been referred to as "The Religious Empire." The 19th century saw the influence of Evangelicalism like no century before and certainly not in the 20th and 21st centuries. Much good. How to explain this with so much of Charles Finney at its root?
I found in Finney a hopefulness that is often missing in the more traditional Reformed literature. I think Finney sounds the positive note of the Book of James where it is asserted, "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you." If you want God, you shall have him. In the Reformed community's desire to protect the sovereignty of God, it often make assurance and confidence problematic. It puts God just on the outside of edges of grasping and places us back on the spider web that Jonathan Edwards describes in his sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." Nervously dependent seems to be its preferred default position.
There are certainly issues with Finney's theology, but I found the book an encouragement to press on in knowing the Lord and believing that it is his will to be so known and glorified that the usual cycles of decline and renewal so acceptable to current mindsets are surmounted.
There is no doubt that the Second Great Awakening under the influence of Finney resulted in societal transformation on a scale unimagined by the leaders of the First. And it directly led to the emancipation of the slaves and a new concern for those left behind in America's race to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." So great was this movement that it has been referred to as "The Religious Empire." The 19th century saw the influence of Evangelicalism like no century before and certainly not in the 20th and 21st centuries. Much good. How to explain this with so much of Charles Finney at its root?
I found in Finney a hopefulness that is often missing in the more traditional Reformed literature. I think Finney sounds the positive note of the Book of James where it is asserted, "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you." If you want God, you shall have him. In the Reformed community's desire to protect the sovereignty of God, it often make assurance and confidence problematic. It puts God just on the outside of edges of grasping and places us back on the spider web that Jonathan Edwards describes in his sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." Nervously dependent seems to be its preferred default position.
There are certainly issues with Finney's theology, but I found the book an encouragement to press on in knowing the Lord and believing that it is his will to be so known and glorified that the usual cycles of decline and renewal so acceptable to current mindsets are surmounted.
December 7, 2014
Charles Finney is a rough writer. His language is unpolished and often plain old uneducated. I am reading this book on the heels of reading the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin who was very driven and self-educated. Franklin was also very arrogant and thought very well of himself, often blind to his own immorality. Finney remained uneducated intentionally. He did not want to be learned, polished, or suave. He wanted to obey the voice of his creator at all costs. So, the beauty of his story is in his frank retelling of his experiences. It is a beautiful life, and he was open to letting the Lord do beautiful things through him. It does my heart good to see a Presbyterian minister full of the Holy Spirit, listening to the voice of God, and expecting miracles everywhere he goes. He's as bold as brass, and I like him.
May 14, 2013
I read this mainly for the purpose of pleasing a friend and gathering discernment. There was much to cringe at and yet also much to apply. It's easy to lump people into categories but this was a challenge in my discernment between truth and lie. Finney's impact on the Church has been substantial making the read worth my time.
February 18, 2018
I read about half of this in the unedited version. The biggest takeaway I got was that prayer always precedes revival.
The story itself got pretty monotonous, revival after revival, but it was still inspiring. Finney's theology and his ministry are consistent to themselves.
The story itself got pretty monotonous, revival after revival, but it was still inspiring. Finney's theology and his ministry are consistent to themselves.
May 28, 2020
Absolutely a Must Read for Any Serious Christian
I first read this book over fifty years ago and had forgotten its deep impact. I am inspired anew to go about the Master's business and take away from this life of Charles Finney a desire to see souls saved and belivers renewed.
I first read this book over fifty years ago and had forgotten its deep impact. I am inspired anew to go about the Master's business and take away from this life of Charles Finney a desire to see souls saved and belivers renewed.
January 19, 2016
good explanation for not believing what I do not believe.
April 16, 2019
Inspiring!
This book will drive you to a deep relationship with Jesus and will increase your desire to pray and see Him work.
This book will drive you to a deep relationship with Jesus and will increase your desire to pray and see Him work.
January 10, 2020
Praying for this sort of revival to happen again!
June 23, 2020
God help me to have the faith and dedication and fruit that Charles Finney had!
August 13, 2021
Inspiring life and legacy
This book will challenge you in your walk and prayer life. It will encourage you to pray for a revival in present day.
This book will challenge you in your walk and prayer life. It will encourage you to pray for a revival in present day.
September 12, 2021
Great introduction into the ministry of Charles Finney
August 2, 2023
This book title is false advertising.
Charles Finney - 1792 to 1875 - began his career as an American lawyer before finding religion and becoming convinced that God wanted him to become a traveling preacher. To use today's terminology, he would have been a traveling evangelist leading revival meetings. In religious circles, particularly evangelical Christian circles, Finney is a hugely controversial figure because he literally changed the face of religion as people saw it at the time. To be a preacher of any sort meant you had to be highly educated and always speak with the most silver of tongues with analogies only to history and high-minded affairs. At the time of Finney's life, classes like theology were being taught in public schools right next to math and science. It is largely thanks to Finney's influence that now most religious subjects are no longer taught in schools today and now have their own separate collages known as "seminaries." That was just the start. While Finney agreed that a preacher should be knowledgeable in religious matters, he scorned those that constantly taught over the heads of the common folk in a manner that no one other than a fellow theologian could follow. He, himself, would use everyday analogies and force himself to speak down to the same level of his congregation whether they be judges, maids, or plowmen, and he was constantly ridiculed for it. He also changed up the way church services were performed, which at that point were all rigidly organized and structured no matter what denomination you were a part of. Since that time, his teachings - both the style and the actual content - have been held under constant scrutiny, and because of the massive effect he had on the religious aspects of America, he also affected much of the historical aspects as well. He set into motion a lot of smaller things that slowly snowballed into much bigger things that shaped the face of the New England settlements as we see them today. Some for the better, some for the worse.
This book, however, is not an autobiography and not a good source to actually learn about Finney. It was a recommendation by a friend, but neither of us actually did the obvious of reading the back of the book. The editor omitted several repetitious accounts (fair), updated some antiquated terms (alright), modernized the punctuation (shaky, but okay), shortened the sentences (what?), deleted superfluous materials (huh?!), shortened the book substantially (no kidding), and retained the core of the "amazing" narrative (what does that even mean?). It's not an autobiography anymore. It is, at best, a biography. The shortening, especially, really shows. One chapter deals with the death of his wife and his sorrow concerning that. At the beginning of the very next chapter, he's heading off to some new town with his wife! Thankfully, there is a tiny amount of editor notes to point out that this is his second wife. Glad to have been able to skip that unimportant detail of marrying a new woman, and we don't even know how long after his wife died that he married a new one, but why would we care about that? I guess not according to this editor.
Charles Finney - 1792 to 1875 - began his career as an American lawyer before finding religion and becoming convinced that God wanted him to become a traveling preacher. To use today's terminology, he would have been a traveling evangelist leading revival meetings. In religious circles, particularly evangelical Christian circles, Finney is a hugely controversial figure because he literally changed the face of religion as people saw it at the time. To be a preacher of any sort meant you had to be highly educated and always speak with the most silver of tongues with analogies only to history and high-minded affairs. At the time of Finney's life, classes like theology were being taught in public schools right next to math and science. It is largely thanks to Finney's influence that now most religious subjects are no longer taught in schools today and now have their own separate collages known as "seminaries." That was just the start. While Finney agreed that a preacher should be knowledgeable in religious matters, he scorned those that constantly taught over the heads of the common folk in a manner that no one other than a fellow theologian could follow. He, himself, would use everyday analogies and force himself to speak down to the same level of his congregation whether they be judges, maids, or plowmen, and he was constantly ridiculed for it. He also changed up the way church services were performed, which at that point were all rigidly organized and structured no matter what denomination you were a part of. Since that time, his teachings - both the style and the actual content - have been held under constant scrutiny, and because of the massive effect he had on the religious aspects of America, he also affected much of the historical aspects as well. He set into motion a lot of smaller things that slowly snowballed into much bigger things that shaped the face of the New England settlements as we see them today. Some for the better, some for the worse.
This book, however, is not an autobiography and not a good source to actually learn about Finney. It was a recommendation by a friend, but neither of us actually did the obvious of reading the back of the book. The editor omitted several repetitious accounts (fair), updated some antiquated terms (alright), modernized the punctuation (shaky, but okay), shortened the sentences (what?), deleted superfluous materials (huh?!), shortened the book substantially (no kidding), and retained the core of the "amazing" narrative (what does that even mean?). It's not an autobiography anymore. It is, at best, a biography. The shortening, especially, really shows. One chapter deals with the death of his wife and his sorrow concerning that. At the beginning of the very next chapter, he's heading off to some new town with his wife! Thankfully, there is a tiny amount of editor notes to point out that this is his second wife. Glad to have been able to skip that unimportant detail of marrying a new woman, and we don't even know how long after his wife died that he married a new one, but why would we care about that? I guess not according to this editor.
April 25, 2025
I mistakenly bought this book as I was looking for another book. But I decided to read it, as I have already paid the money ! I had no idea who Charles Finney (1792 – 1875) was. This book is a semi-autobiography of him written by his pen. He was an American Presbyterian minister and revivalist preacher. Meaning, he believed that he lived during a period of a (revival) which is a time where God desires the restoration of the Christian church through his blessing – of course this is according the Christian definition-
So, the book is about all of that. It seemed to me that the entire period of this revival was marked by a collective psychological alteration. People will suddenly come to the church crying and screaming saying they have found God and stuff like that. Academics and wealthy people will suddenly start confessing their sins and their bad deeds praying like maniacs. Maybe I over exaggerated here but least this is how Finney pictured it in his autobiography. Finney wrote somewhere in the book: I have said, more than once, that the spirit of prayer that prevailed in those revivals was a very marked feature of them. It was common for young converts to be greatly exercised in prayer; and in some instances, so much so, that they were constrained to pray whole nights, and until their bodily strength was quite exhausted, for the conversion of souls around them.
Reading the book in hand, I had no doubt that Finney believed what he preached, and he was probably a good person. As far as I understood from the book, he rejected slavery, fought for equal education for everybody, and fought for the right of women which are things that tell me that he was a good man, irrespective of his believes.
Long book and good to read if you are interested in Christian history.
So, the book is about all of that. It seemed to me that the entire period of this revival was marked by a collective psychological alteration. People will suddenly come to the church crying and screaming saying they have found God and stuff like that. Academics and wealthy people will suddenly start confessing their sins and their bad deeds praying like maniacs. Maybe I over exaggerated here but least this is how Finney pictured it in his autobiography. Finney wrote somewhere in the book: I have said, more than once, that the spirit of prayer that prevailed in those revivals was a very marked feature of them. It was common for young converts to be greatly exercised in prayer; and in some instances, so much so, that they were constrained to pray whole nights, and until their bodily strength was quite exhausted, for the conversion of souls around them.
Reading the book in hand, I had no doubt that Finney believed what he preached, and he was probably a good person. As far as I understood from the book, he rejected slavery, fought for equal education for everybody, and fought for the right of women which are things that tell me that he was a good man, irrespective of his believes.
Long book and good to read if you are interested in Christian history.
December 26, 2024
This book offers inspiring and intriguing glimpses into the history of American revivals during Charles G. Finney's ministry in the 19th century, told in his own words. The text has been skillfully condensed from its original 550 pages, highlighting the most significant and essential aspects of Finney's work. It is fascinating to see how God worked through Finney and how the revivals spread like wildfire. He begins by recounting his personal spiritual search, his radical conversion, and his deep passion for winning souls to God. He also writes about the opposition he encountered along the way, particularly from Universalists (those who believe that everyone will go to heaven), many of whom eventually submitted to the preaching of the Gospel and acknowledged their sins before God.
The discussion of money is also noteworthy. Finney entrusted his financial needs to God rather than presenting them to people, a contrast to the approach of many preachers today. God provided for him in miraculous ways. He also shares about his trip to England, where he was invited not only to preach but also to raise funds for new tabernacles and church buildings. He declined the latter, stating that he had come solely to preach the Gospel, not to ask for money.
Another story he recounts is about an elderly, impoverished woman who laid all her financial needs before God. God always provided for her, and on some occasions, she even refused to recieve money from individuals she sensed had questionable motives.
Overall, this book offers many fascinating insights, despite being written in somewhat antiquated English. Since it is written from Finney's own perspective, my next Finney biography will likely be one authored by someone else for a different vantage point.
The discussion of money is also noteworthy. Finney entrusted his financial needs to God rather than presenting them to people, a contrast to the approach of many preachers today. God provided for him in miraculous ways. He also shares about his trip to England, where he was invited not only to preach but also to raise funds for new tabernacles and church buildings. He declined the latter, stating that he had come solely to preach the Gospel, not to ask for money.
Another story he recounts is about an elderly, impoverished woman who laid all her financial needs before God. God always provided for her, and on some occasions, she even refused to recieve money from individuals she sensed had questionable motives.
Overall, this book offers many fascinating insights, despite being written in somewhat antiquated English. Since it is written from Finney's own perspective, my next Finney biography will likely be one authored by someone else for a different vantage point.
June 6, 2017
Of all the wondrous ways in which God moved in this account, what emerges foremost is that He longs to do it again, and even more so for our lost and wayward generation.
That the fear of God would fall on people and cause such deep repentance… that entire cities and regions would be swept with revival...that the anointing was so strong Finney could walk into a Rochester factory and see people repent at their machines...all this should inspire the church today to contend for the same outpouring and expect even greater results. Do we not need Him even more today?
I was particularly interested in the spirit of prayer that Finney talks about, which always preceded the revivals among individuals in the region. The deep anguish of spirit, the inability to focus on anything but a deep desire to see the kingdom come and God's will be done, we have seen and experienced a touch of this in our circles. But nothing on the scale of these brothers and sisters.
I found it interesting, too, that while evangelism was Finneys focus, he also was a champion for abolition; the fact that he freely encouraged his wife to lead and move in her gifts was more enterprising than we fathom, I believe. It is no surprise that a man who spent so much time in the presence of God would be so liberated and pioneering in is thinking, despite cultural nuances.
Is glorious to reflect how God sustained him and brought him back from tuberculosis, cholera, other deadly ailments, allowing His servant to preach to the end, nearly 83 years.
That the fear of God would fall on people and cause such deep repentance… that entire cities and regions would be swept with revival...that the anointing was so strong Finney could walk into a Rochester factory and see people repent at their machines...all this should inspire the church today to contend for the same outpouring and expect even greater results. Do we not need Him even more today?
I was particularly interested in the spirit of prayer that Finney talks about, which always preceded the revivals among individuals in the region. The deep anguish of spirit, the inability to focus on anything but a deep desire to see the kingdom come and God's will be done, we have seen and experienced a touch of this in our circles. But nothing on the scale of these brothers and sisters.
I found it interesting, too, that while evangelism was Finneys focus, he also was a champion for abolition; the fact that he freely encouraged his wife to lead and move in her gifts was more enterprising than we fathom, I believe. It is no surprise that a man who spent so much time in the presence of God would be so liberated and pioneering in is thinking, despite cultural nuances.
Is glorious to reflect how God sustained him and brought him back from tuberculosis, cholera, other deadly ailments, allowing His servant to preach to the end, nearly 83 years.
March 28, 2023
A refreshing and informative snapshot of the state of the Christian church in America in the early 1800s. Finney details from memory his ministry and the effects of his preaching, giving special emphasis on what he taught and how it was received by the religious and non-religious community beginning in NY and then other parts of the Eastern states.
As you read his comments take note of the clarity of his understanding of God's plan for mankind as it relates to original sin, repentance, the act of conviction and confession, complete surrender to Christ, placing faith in Jesus Christ, the consequent transformation of the person's virtues, moral life, and consistent walk with God.
Note the abject condition of the church of his time and the similarity in beliefs and misbeliefs to today's preaching in many circles of religious activity. He details the consequences of wrong-headed theology and practice.
The copy I have from Amazon cannot even be found today on Amazon. In researching the many editions of his autobiography on Goodreads it is easy to understand why it's hard to pin down which edition I am reading; there are so many circulating. Mine just says 1908 edition. I appears to be a scanned copy in MS Word that was then published in Kindle format without the copyright page intact.
As you read his comments take note of the clarity of his understanding of God's plan for mankind as it relates to original sin, repentance, the act of conviction and confession, complete surrender to Christ, placing faith in Jesus Christ, the consequent transformation of the person's virtues, moral life, and consistent walk with God.
Note the abject condition of the church of his time and the similarity in beliefs and misbeliefs to today's preaching in many circles of religious activity. He details the consequences of wrong-headed theology and practice.
The copy I have from Amazon cannot even be found today on Amazon. In researching the many editions of his autobiography on Goodreads it is easy to understand why it's hard to pin down which edition I am reading; there are so many circulating. Mine just says 1908 edition. I appears to be a scanned copy in MS Word that was then published in Kindle format without the copyright page intact.
December 20, 2024
I enjoyed this book. What was really nice about it was the landscape of New England and lower states to the Gospel. Finney had a lot of opposition to his labors, despite the huge soul winning, and I suspect a lot of it was jealousy and not so much theology. Finney to his credit was an ordained Presbyterian who also worked right alongside congregational, baptist, Methodist, and even catholic ministers and churches. Finney seems solely concerned with the spread of the Gospel and giving people the chance to throw their lot in with Jesus.
I wish Finney was given the status of national hero and treasure so many others within politics and war have received. Finney did more for the Kingdom of God than all of those types and he is seldom mentioned and often given the business by the Reformed brethren. Some things never change, but Finney is a hero and if I had another kid, I would name him Finney.
You will not receive any kind of hints or ideas about how to win souls from the book, but you can trust Finney was in deep prayer and surrounded by other people of prayer. God used him 200 years ago and I wish we had another Finney to do the same thing. Each generation must make up its own mind and the fields are ripe, but there are not enough laborers.
I wish Finney was given the status of national hero and treasure so many others within politics and war have received. Finney did more for the Kingdom of God than all of those types and he is seldom mentioned and often given the business by the Reformed brethren. Some things never change, but Finney is a hero and if I had another kid, I would name him Finney.
You will not receive any kind of hints or ideas about how to win souls from the book, but you can trust Finney was in deep prayer and surrounded by other people of prayer. God used him 200 years ago and I wish we had another Finney to do the same thing. Each generation must make up its own mind and the fields are ripe, but there are not enough laborers.
September 12, 2022
This autobiography is fantastic. Helen Wessel has eliminated a couple hundred pages of repetitious material, and she's changed some of the phrasing in order to make it more readable for the modern reader. Finney discloses a fair amount of personal information and imparts such zeal for the truths of the God's Word that I was always wanting to read more the next day (in my quiet time). For example, his revivals always began in churches where there were so many people that had no idea what it meant to be surrendered to God through Christ; many protestant ministers and seminaries were against his preaching; he described that in some services people fell down under the power of God (which we now call being "slain in the Spirit"), and he was convinced these events were of God; he tells of a woman who couldn't read (she was completely illiterate), yet when she picked up a Bible, she could read it; one time a minister spoke vehemently against him and died that night in his sleep. I could go on . . . but it was great to learn more about the greatest evangelist in America's history.
February 17, 2023
Well-written and thorough, even if Finney's theology makes the reader recoil in horror. Very informative text on a very complicated man, and an even better insight into how theology was splitting on an insane level during this time. Finney is proud, brash, and convinced of his own success. He writes of Universalists, Unitarians, Baptists, and Calvinists, and his ability to work with them and sternly disagree with their perspectives. It is one thing to hear of all the horrible doctrines that Finney perpetuated and quite another to read his justification of such and to hear of the souls who came around to his way of thinking. Finney stirs up the emotions well in this book, as he did in his ministry, rather to lament that his influence was so far-spread. Definitely worth a read, even if you dislike Finney, to get a personal insight into his thinking and how his character and theology were shaped.
April 30, 2023
Fascinating and timely still
So amazing to read this history of revival in the countries of America and England in particular.
I didn’t realize this is a shorter version of the original. What he wrote was apparently much longer, referred to on the afterword; i hope to find it as well.
So amazing to read this history of revival in the countries of America and England in particular.
I didn’t realize this is a shorter version of the original. What he wrote was apparently much longer, referred to on the afterword; i hope to find it as well.
May 26, 2025
I adored Chapter 8, where he talks about how to write a sermon, and the choices he made with language etc.
I don’t agree with his denominational beliefs, as I’m a Baptist Reformed, but it was an interesting read.
He comes across as having integrity and being sincere but, then again, he wrote it himself so would have made himself sound good?!
I don’t agree with his denominational beliefs, as I’m a Baptist Reformed, but it was an interesting read.
He comes across as having integrity and being sincere but, then again, he wrote it himself so would have made himself sound good?!
December 14, 2025
Incredible life of a great man
Charles Finney a Great reviallist of the 1800's this is an account of his ministry and the power of God demonstrated from the outpouring that came about.
I've heard many talk of this Godly man and to read his story has been an inspirational experience. I highly recommended this book it certainly moved me.
Charles Finney a Great reviallist of the 1800's this is an account of his ministry and the power of God demonstrated from the outpouring that came about.
I've heard many talk of this Godly man and to read his story has been an inspirational experience. I highly recommended this book it certainly moved me.
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