The Memoirs of Charles G. Finney: The Complete Restored Text [Hardcover]

Garth M. Rosell (Author), Richard A. G. Dupuis (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1989

These restored, original memoirs of Charles Finney, with exhaustive annotation, provide a definitive look at the revivalist and his times.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

In preparing the first edition of The Memoirs of Charles Finney for nineteenth-century readers, James Fairchild edited or omitted what seemed to him outrageous passages, exaggerated language, and repetitions. All subsequent editions have been based on Fairchild's work.

In this new, critical edition of Finney's memoirs, Garth Rosell and Richard Dupuis have restored the complete text of the original manuscript. Included are never-before-published sections on Finney's labors in Michigan, the notorious Oberlin Lynching scandal and Finney's part in the trial, Finney's attitude toward Blacks, opposition he encountered, and his first wife's severe illness. There are also over thirty illustrations and maps that give the reader a sense of "being there." "Few men influenced a whole generation for Christ as deeply as Charles G. Finney. Now Finney's life and commitment to Christ come alive through the pages of this revised edition of his Memoirs. Not only have Dr. Rosell and Mr. Dupuis given us a monument of modern historical scholarship, but y doing so they have given us a vivid portrait of one of the most remarkable Americans of the 19th century. Even if we cannot concur with Finney in every detail of his thinking, no one can read these pages without being challenged by his passion for evangelism, his concern for social injustice, and his love for God." --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Author

Garth M. Rosell (Ph.D., University of Minnesota) is professor of church history at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, and the seminary’s director of advanced studies and lifelong learning. He is also the author of American Christianity.

Richard A. G. Dupuis (M.A., Cambridge University) is a retired psychotherapist in Farnham, Surrey, England. His research over four decades has made him an expert on Finney and the early history of Oberlin College --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 736 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan; Annotated edition (December 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310459206
• ISBN-13: 978-0310459200
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,773,539 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why aren't we seeing this today?, March 31, 2000

By 

Stephen T. Smith "smithworks.org" (Jacksonville, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Memoirs of Charles G. Finney, The (Paperback)

I first read Finney's Memoirs when I was around 18, and it ignited within me a passion for revival that has not ceased. This edition, with all of its additions and footnotes, makes the Memoirs even more exciting.

Finney was used of God to birth revivals through intercessory prayer and preaching against sin in both America and England. Someone has said that 90% of his converts stayed true to the faith (about 10% of Billy Graham's stay).

In his Memoirs, written when he was in his 70's, Finney shares how God saved him, baptized him with the Holy Ghost, and immediately began using him in the conversion of souls. Formerly he was a lawyer, but he gave it up in order to become an evangelist. He tells stories from various revival meetings, including the humorous (and awe-inspiring) revival in the town of Sodom, with it's one righteous man -- Lot! He also shares how the Lord led him to give a series of lectures on revival, which were later published in book form and used by God to bring revival in various countries, including China through the ministry of Jonathan Goforth in the early 1900s.

If you're hungry for revival and more of God today; if the state of the modern church upsets you, then read this book.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT, February 10, 2003

By 

Alex Kay (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Memoirs of Charles G. Finney, The (Paperback)

20 years ago I read the incomplete memoirs they were excellent this edition adds some unpublished material, many cross-references and footnotes which I found nice to have, the compilers Rosell & Dupuis have done a great job. The book itself is very inspiring.

Mind you when I've drifted a little from God I found Finney objectionable, to hard to take! but when I've gone down the track of James 4:8 "draw near to God and God will draw near to you, cleanse your hands you sinners, purify your heart you double-minded" then Finney speaks as one who has faithfully gone down that path before me and as one who knows how to give good clear instructions on how to progress effectively! Good bye dead-religion, hello God.

I also highly recommend his "Revival Lectures". I have learn't more on answered prayer, effectiveness, revivals and my relationship with God from Finney's books than any other (outside the Bible) and I have many many answers to prayer to suggest it isn't just theory or dead words.

Best wishes to all.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where is the fire today?, February 19, 2008

By 

Philip L. Eneboe (Sisseton, SD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Memoirs of Charles G. Finney: The Complete Restored Text (Hardcover)

I have read much of Charles Finney's work and have been challenged. I have had to rethink much of my theology after reading what he taught, along with many of the old time preachers. When I first read Holy Spirit Revivals, I was amazed at the accounts of the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, as He worked through the witness of Finney. This book includes much that was left out of other accounts. The footnotes also offer very interesting facts of Charles Finney's life and ministry. I recommend this to anyone who is interested in Charles Finney, revivals, and who desires to see God work through them to reach this world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to see more of this power in our witness today!