FINNEY, CHARLES G., D.D., 1792-1875; born in Warren, Ct. ; removed in child hood to Oneida co., N. Y. Having had the advantages of a common school, as a pupil until his 16th year, and as a teacher until he was 20, he then went to a high-school in New England and studied there for some time, instead of entering college as he had wished to do. At a later period still, he acquired some knowledge of Latin, Hebrew, and Greek. In 1818, he commenced the study of law at Adams, Jefferson co., N. Y. At that time he was ignorant of religion, but finding references to the Bible in his law books, he procured one, and, beginning the examination of.it in its bearings on points. of law, became increasingly interested in it, and formed the habit of interpreting it as judges in court interpreted written laws. The theological views of the pastor of the church which lie attended he describes as Calvinistic in a very high degree. Every position which the minister took, either in preaching or conversation, the law-student was accustomed to judge by the Bible, and to discuss with its author in very free and earnest yet friendly debate. He became deeply interested in religion, as a matter of personal importance, and was convinced that if the soul be immortal, lie required a. great inward change in order to be prepared for heaven. Satisfied by his own exami nation that the Bible is the true word of God, and brought face to face with the ques tion whether to follow Christ or to pursue a worldly life, he did not delay his choice. Giving up the profession of law, of which he was becoming passionately fond, he determined to preach the Gospel as his life-work. His personal experience at that time was very remarkable. He received, after he believed, a baptism of the Holy Ghost which compelled him, in the abundance of his joy, to cry out when alone with God, that he could not live if the manifestation were not stayed. Beginning at once to preach in the social meetings of the church and in private conversation, he found very decided instances of conversion multiplying around him. After his licensure to preach, those revivals of religion at once began under his ministry which continued to be its great characteristic until its close. The doctrines he preached were " the voluntary total moral depravity of the unregenerate, the unalterable necessity of a radical change of heart by the Holy Ghost and by means of the truth, the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, his divine mission, perfect life, vicarious death (as an atonement for the sins of all mankind), and his resurrection; repentance, faith, justification by faith, and the doctrines kindred with these. The means used were simply preaching; much prayer, public and private, as an indispensable condition of promoting the work; conference among Christians; meetings to instruct earnest inquirers, and personal conversation."
It had been, be says, " the common practice to set anxious persons to praying for a new heart, and to using means for their own conversion. This had produced in them the impression that they were willing to be Christians, and were taking pains to induce God to convert them. But I tried to make them understand that God was using the means. with them, and not they with him; that he was willing and they were not; that lie was ready and they were not; that he required present submission to his will and pres ent acceptance of Christ; that all delay was only an evasion of present duty; that in praying for a new heart they were trying to throw the responsibility of their conver sion on God; and that their efforts to do duty while they did not give their hearts to him were hypocritical and delusive." Under this style of preaching and of earnest efforts, revivals, resulting in the hopeful conversion of thousands, were witnessed at Evan's Mills, Antwerp, Gouverneur, De Kalb, Western, Rome, Utica, Auburn, Troy, Rochester, Buffalo, in the state of New York; at Wilmington, Del.; Philadelphia, Reading, Pa.; New York, Boston, Hartford, London, Edinburgh, Oberlin, O.; and many other places during a period of 50 years. In many of the places named the revivals were repeated, in different years, again and again. In London, it was esti mated that on some occasions when he preached as many as 50,000 persons left their homes to attend the services; though, of course, the building could contain hut a small portion of the number. In 1835, the college and theological seminary at Oberlin, 0., were founded, with Mr. Finney as professor of theology and pastor of the college church. Arthur Tappan, of New York, at that time pledged his income of $100,000 per annum (except what was needed for the support of his own family) to the institu tion until it should be beyond pecuniary want. After 1860. Mr. Finney's strength being no longer equal to the extra labor abroad, he continued to work at home with great energy and success. In 1872, he resigned the pastoral office at Oberlin, but per severed in his labors in the seminary, where, having completed his last course of lec tures in July, 1875, he died on a quiet Sunday in the following month, being within two weeks of 83 years of age. During of these years his life had been a power in the land. His most important published works are: Guide to the Saviour; Lectures to Pro. fessing Christians; Lectures on Revivals of Religion; Sermons on Important Subjects; Sy• tematic Theology; and an Autobiography,written at the urgent solicitation of his friends, and published after his death.