In 1866, Charles G. Finney began to write his memoirs, which he worked on for the last three years of his life. His goal was to describe revival in such a way that it would produce a new revival for his present generation. Although many were professing to be Christians he felt that too few were experiencing the fullness of their faith. Also, as an elder statesman, he lamented the number of evangelists who were relying on their ability to persuade people to surrender to God, rather than relying on the power of God. He hoped his descriptions of a real move of God would expose their shallow efforts by comparison.
On his deathbed in 1875, Finney asked his wife to retrieve the manuscript from the attic and to burn it. He said he was concerned for the feelings of those whose relatives were mentioned in the narrative, because he described their spiritual conditions so honestly. She refused to do as she had been asked. After Finney’s death, the family donated his work to Oberlin College in the hopes that the revenues would contribute to the ongoing work of the school. In January 1876, Finney’s memoirs were received with much interest and continue to serve as an inspiration for those who long for pure revival, which can only come from the Hand of the Lord.
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