Times of refreshing : a history of American revivals from 1740-1877, with their philosophy and methods

Preface

In presenting this book on American Revivals the author is very conscious that he has not compassed his subject. He has written in the hope of helping the Church in her present revival work. He has therefore given much space to an account of present revival movements. Such an account must of necessity be rather of the nature of a sketch than of a history. The limits of this book have forbidden any exhaustive consideration of the early history of revivals in this country. Indeed, it has hardly been necessary to the purpose in view, which has been to show the thread of common teaching and endeavor running through all these years. While methods have difiered in dilierent periods, the essential elements of Divine Truth and Divine Grace are the i same at all times.

Amid the whirl of the revival scenes of this day, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to write an abiding history of these times. That can better be done in the perspective of other days. That has not been attempted. The practical aim of furthering the gospel by giving a report of its triumphs has been steadily held in view.

As a season of revival is one of great encouragement, so it has been hoped the history of God's dealing with the American church in this regard would be a mighty stimulus for future activity and conquest. It seems a token of good, and an indication of great hope for the future, that the first century of our Republic should close, and the second open, on a time like this, wlien God lias arisen to shake mightily the earth, when the Divine Spirit is

VI TIMES OF REFRESHING.

present witli saving power among His people, when in the symbolic but significant language of Scripture, there is distinctly " heard the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees." The author has wished to show that present revivals have deep roots running through a hundred years of history, and while bearing that individuality which every genuine popular movement must have, they share with preceding revivals of our national history those common marks of divine truth and spiritual power which are the unvarying signs of the Spirit's work. If thus the wonderful revivals of the past two years can be shown to be at once the culmination of broad peparations, the fruit of a slow growth, and the special need of the church in our country at this time, somewhat may be contributed to such faitli in the truth and power of present movements as will tend to continue and extend them throughout the nation. So may the church of America enter upon her unused heritage of truth, and gather the Eschol vintage, not as an exceptional evidence of how rich is the kingdom, but as its full and regular harvest.

Especially if it has been shown in the light of revival histories, that God freely honors His truth, and is ever ready to open the windows of heaven, when the church accepts the condition, should it not encourage all God's people to expect revivals as the mariner expects the tides? Our God is not the God of confusion, but of order and law. To fall into harmony with his laws of grace, whether in ordinary or special endeavors for the kingdom of Christ, is to advance with the force and order of those laws.

Since the days of Nehemiah there has not been a revival more singly or purely built on the study of God's Word, than that which now is gladdening so many parts of the country. If we will learn that the secret of Israel's joy may be repeated and continned by Israel's method of bringing and keeping before the people the law of the Lord, we shall be on the eve of such a work of grace as by its permanence, breadth and depth, will deserve the name, less of a revival than of a new departure for the church

PREFACE. Vll

of God. We shall yield to that central current of Bible study and Bible living which since the days of the Captivity has swept to itself and borne onward in triumph the best life of the church — the best results of human history.

Inasmuch as the Temperance Reform is a factor of rising value and influence in the general revival tendencies of the age, a special place has been given it in this history. Of this work, as of other phases of the revival, only a tentative judgment can now be given, but facts and present results may be of some value to a more distant and historic review, as well as of some utility to those who look to Gospel Temperance in some form as the best hope of society in its struggle with the most gigantic of its foes.

The author desires to express his obligations for valuable aid lo Prof. L. J. Halsey, D. D., of Chicago ; Prof. Henry Cowles, D. D , of Oberlin, O., and Rev. C. H. Richards, of Madison, Wis. The following books, among others, have been consulted in the preparation of this work: Kirk's Lectures on Revivals, Headley's Harvest Work of the Holy Spirit, Earle's Bringing in Sheaves, Tracy's Great Awakening, Fish's Hand-Book of Revivals, Townsend's Supernatural Factor in Revivals, Humphrey's Revival Sketches and Manual, Tyerman's Life of Whitefield, D. W. Whittle's Memoirs of P. P. Bliss, Life of Nettleton, Life of Daniel Baker, Stevens' History of Methodism, Hodge's History of Presbyterianism, Presbyterianism in Central New York, Daniels' Life of Moody, Modern Evangelists, Headley's American Evangelists, Centennial Temperance Volume, Autobiograpliy of Finney, Life of Knapp, Life of Caughey and others.

That the Master may bless this book to the quickening of his people, to their increase in faith and holy courage, that the "Times of Refreshing" from the presence of the Lord may cover all seasons, water all the earth, and bring that time for which all times were made, when the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the deep, is the prayer of

The Author.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

I. POETRAIT OP WhiTEFIELD.

II. " " Daniel Baker.

III. " " C.G. Finney.

IV. " « E.P.Hammond.

V. " « D. L. Moody.

VI. " " IraD. Sankey.

VII. " " Maj. D. W. Whittle.

VIII. " " Philip Paul Bliss.

IX. " " Francis Murphy,

X. " " Miss Frances E. Willard.

XI. " " Rev. Joseph Cook.

Introduction

Law in revivals. Philosophy of revivals. What is a revival.'' Dr. Kirk. Dr. Barnes. Mr. Finney. Essential elements of revivals. Holy Spirit. Announced in Scripture. Confirmed by experience. The truth of God. What truths most prominent. The Church on earth. Human agency in every revival. Varying elements in revivals. Social or national conditions. Intellectual conditions. Illustrations. Pentecost and Reformation. Great variety in revivals. One law for them all. Duty of obedience to it. . 13

Chapter II

Beginning of Revivals in this country. Religious condition. Preaching ot Edwards. Revival at Northampton; at Freehold, N. J., under the Tennents; at New Londonderry, Pa., New Brunswick, Newark, N. J., Harvard, Mass. End of the night. Whitefield. Birth. Education. Religious experience. Comparison between Whitefield and Luther. First sermons. Characteristics. Removes to Savannah. Return to England. Back again. Wm. Tennent, Sr. Gilbert Tennent. Whitefield in New York, Philadelphia. Anecdotes by Franklin. Effect of Whitefield's preaching. Savanna!). New England. Work in Boston. Other towns. Physical effects. Nervous action. Explanation. Return to England. Back to Boston. Opposition. Faculty of Harvard College. His itineracy. Colloquy between Whitefield and Wm. Tennent. Last evangelistic tour. Anecdote. Last sermon. Death. Secrets of his power. Place as a preacher. General results of the revivals. Number of converts. Educational effects. Evangelism 37

CHAPTER IIL

Antecedent condition. Political and religious. Prevalence of infidelity. Revival came suddenly. Little human agency.

X CONTENTS.

restimony of Dr. Griffia. Experience of leading ministers at that time. Spiritual experience of the converts. Tone of the preaching. Rev. Moses Hallock. Dr. Porter. Dr. Wood. Dr. John M. Mason. R,gvival in New-'^**' ark. In Hampden-Sidney College. Dr, WmThlill. Dr. Alexander. The work in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennesee. Rev. James McGready's account. Revivals in North and South Carolina. Dr. Foote's account. Revivals in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. Characteristics of them. Beginning of modern missions. Leading features 67

Chapter IV

REV. ASAHELNETTLETON AND HIS EVANGELISTIC WORK.

Epoch of revivals. Revivals in colleges. Duration of the period. Testimony of Dr. Spring; of Dr. Humphrey. Presence of the Spirit. Birth. Education and experience ofNettleton. Purpose to be a missionary. How diverted from it. Beginning of evangelistic- labors. His services from 1812 j;o 1822. Amount of his labors. Dr. Sprague's testimony. Summary of his work. Saratoga Springs. Nassau. New Haven. North Killingworth. Eastern Connecticut. Laid aside. Continues to preach. Goes South. Revivals there. Testimony of Dr. John H. Rice. Incident. Return to New England. Appointed professor at East Windsor. Death. His methods. His caution. Manner of preaching. Illustrations. Permanent effects of his work 9^

Chapter V. Daniel Baker, The Southern Evangelist

Daniel Baker — Compared wnth Nettleton and Whitefield. Biographical sketch. Education. Licensed to preach. Pastoral charges. Evangelistic tours in many states. Austin College, Texas. Visits to East and results. Resigning pastorates to do evangelistic work. Labors in Prince Edward. Results. Secret of his power. Early ideal of preaching. Catholic Spirit. Influence on young men. Testimony to his character. Conservative. Relation to pastors. A life of faith. Style of his preaching. Mr. Moody's suggestion. Personal appearance. Extract from memoir. Christianity the inspiration of his life 116

Chapter VI. Revivals Under Finney

Centering in Personal influence. Birth of Finney. Early education. Study and practice of law. His religious ex-

CONTENTS. XI

perience. Remarkable revelations. Baptism of the Spirit. Justification by faith. Mr. Finnej's power as related to his conversion. Closing his law business. His personal experience in prayer. Extract from autobios^raphy. Absurdity of unbelief The truths he preached most prominently. His views of grace and conscience. Studying theology. Bible, the fountain of it. First conmiission to preach. Meeting at Evans Mills. Remarkable interest. Meetings in northern New York, at Rome, Utica, Rochester. Labors in other cities. View of his revival work by Dr. Chas. P. Bush. Characteristics as a preacher. Results of his work. Personal characteristics. Testimony of Prof. Cowles as to salient points of revival labors. . . . .y. 133

V^ CHAPTER VII.

Human agency and divine energy. A Providential revival. The national condition in 1S57. Financial panic and crash. Public confidence undermined. Men begin to pray. Origin of Fulton Street meeting. Rapid growth. Testimony of a business man. Effect of prayer on business circles. Systematic visitation. Extract from Dr. Conant's Revival Incidents. Sunday school conventions. Meetings at Burton's theatre. Progress of the work in New York. The Jayne's Hall meeting in Philadelphia. Great audiences. The daily^ press reports. Extent of the revival in New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and other Western states. Revival in Boston imder Finney. Throughout New England. Leading features of the work. Prayer and union efforts. Rev. Jacob Knapp. Work in Boston and Chicago, &c. Characteristics. Testimony of Dr. Kirk. Rev. A. B. Earle. Testimony of Dr. Fish. Mrs. Maggie N. Van Cott 157

Chapter VIII

REVIVALS UNDER REV. E. P. HAMMOND.

Birth. Conversion. Education. Tour abroad. Labors in Musselburgh, Scotland, Glasgow, etc. Return. Labors in Boston, Portland, etc. Great work in Rochester. Permanence of results. Other places East. Goes West. Beloit, Wis. Ordained. Work in Brooklyn, Utica, etc. Philadelphia, etc. Large work in Springfield, 111. In 1866, went abroad. Scotland. England. Italy. Egypt. Palestine. Work in London. Return home. Again in Rochester. Revivals in Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Evansville, etc. Great work in St. Louis. In 1875, great revivals in Washington, Har-

Xll CONTENTS.

risburgh, and through the Cumberland Valley. 1876-7, Syracuse, Seneca Falls, N. Y., etc. Sources of his success. Character of preaching, as to matter and manner. His generalship. His enthusiasm. A pioneer in the work among children i75

Chapter IX. Modern Evangelism

Age of revivals through Evangelism. What is Evangelism.^ Two Greek words. To herald. To- Evangelize. When, and how used. Two-fold nature of preaching. Relations of the ministry to the church. Two extremes, Neander. Lay preaching not an innovation. Special opportunities. The world larger and accessible. Need of more voices. Strictures on lay preaching. '♦ Disparages the ministry." " Evangelists are ignorant." *' Unhealthy excitement." Best field for lay preachers. Duty of the church 195

Chapter X. Moody In Great Britain

Moody's birth. Education. Business experience. Early religious struggles. Conversion. Removal West. First work in Chicago. North-market mission. Seeking the lost. Preachmg in a saloon. Y. M. C. A. Rise of. Results. Moody's work in it. Learning to preach. Work among soldiers. At the front. Noon-day prayer meeting. Farwell Hall Burned and rebuilt. Meets Sankey. They go to England. Meetings in York, Sunderland, New Castle, Edinburgh ; success there. Free Assembly Hall. Testimonies. Andrew Thomson. Andrew and Horatius Bonar. Glasgow. Character of Moody's preaching there, Dublin. Manchester. Shetfield. Birmingham. Liverpool. London. Criticism and summary by Dr. Dale 212

CHAPTER XI. MOCiDY AND SANKEY IN BROOKLYN, PHILADELPHIA AND NEW

YORK.

Beginning in Brooklyn. Opening words. Prayer meetings and Bible readings. General results. Not time enough. Touching incident. Philadelphia. Great success. Christian Convention. Testimony ol Gorge H. Stuart. Closing meetings. Y. M. C, A., John Wanamaker. New York. The Hippodrome. Opening services. The Temperance work. Dom Pedro. Results. Worc^s of N. Y. Tribune. 246

CONTENTS. Xiii

Chapter XII. Moody & Sankey In Chicago

Preparing for work. The Tabernacle. The first service. Three years and their changes. Mr. Moody's growth. The opening sermon. Overflow meeting. " The Interior." Unity of the churches. The doctrines preached. The test of faith. Mr. Moody called away. The meetings go on. Directed to Christians. Mr. Whittle in charge. Mr. Moody's return. Great meetings. The first inquiry meeting. Increase of interest. Extract from a sermon. The classes reached. Hardened sinners. The temperance work. The sixth week. Children converted. Number of meetings. The interest spreads. Incidents. A little girl and her father. Conversion of Mr. A. The Christian convention. Question drawer. Closing hours. Prayer Alliance. Reaching the masses. Death of Bliss. Criticism of the work. Case of conscience. Farewell meeting. Moody's address. Analysis of his power 261

Chapter XIII. Moody And Sankey In Boston

How they began. First meeting. How they met the skepticism of Boston. Anecdote of Dr. Duff. First prayer meetings. Progress. Extract from a leading journal. Co-operation. Rev. Joseph Cook. Extract from a lecture. Discouragements. Criticisms. A flanking movement. Visitation. Meetings for special classes. Their success. Prayer-meetings all over the city. Address to the churches of New England. Preparation for wider movement Last week. Extract from sermon. Women's meeting. Market men's meeting at Faneuil Hall. Moody's address. Extract from Gen. John L. Swift's address. Increasing throngs. Moody's sermon on " Tekel." The closing day. Sermon to women. Extract. Measure of the harvest. Comparison between Chicago and Boston. The same. Temperance work. Effect on public morals. Liberty. Arrangements to carry on the work 293

Chapter XIV. Revivals And Sacred Song

Place of emotion. Truth as rousing emotion. Teaching power of hymns. Early history of song. During the reformation. Luther's hymns. English hymns. Sacred song jin this country. In 1740. In Nettleton's time. Best hymns tne I e&ult of revival. Handel. Wesley. Cowper,

S xiV CONTENTS.

Ray Palmer. Philip Phillips. P. P. Bliss. Early experience. Meeting Moody and Whittle. Dr. Goodwin's testimony. Meetings m Waukegan, Rockford. Incidents connected with hymns. Meetings at Jackson. Madison. Sankey. Birth. Religious experience. Meets Moody. Goes to Chicago. Incidents. Abroad with Moody, Effect of the singing in Scotland. Testimony. Dr. Thompson. Daily Edinburgh review. Mr. Morgan and others. Sankey's views on Church music. Freer use of sacred music in revivals. Character of the music. In the Simday school 3I8

Chapter XV. Bible Preaching, Reading And Study

Bible preaching. Bible readings and Bible study. Place of the Bible in revivals. The one book. Bible in the pulpit. Historic sketch. Evangelists and the Bible. Preaching in Biblical forms. Variety, freshness and vitality. Preaching the whole Bible. "Bible readnigs. Harry Morehouse. Character of his readings. Morehouse and Moody. Rev. George C. Needham. Conditions of good Bible readings. Topical study of the Bible. Subject study. Study of particular books. Three essentials. Careful preparation. Use of illustrations. Reliance on the Holy Spirit. Bible study. Social study of the Bible. Bible classes. Wider range of knowledge. Illuminated by experience. Promotes revivals of religion 356

Chapter XVI. Inquiry Meetings

Essential idea. Scriptural examples. Modern form. When first introduced. Necessity for them. Natureof the gospel. Personalism. Scriptureillustrations. Constitution of human mind. Human influence on level lines. Objects of inquiry meetings. Ascertain state of revival. To lead to decision. Workers in inquiry meetings. Personal experience. Love for souls. Wisdom. When to have them. Church should make more of them. Should one be held after every service.^ Suppose religious awakening. Conversation meeting always possible. How to conduct. Moody. Whittle 37S

Chapter Xvii.' -woman In Revivals

The Home. Woman's throne. Two new channels for her work. Woman's mission societies. Woman's Temper-

CONTENTS. XV

ance union. Its origin. Miss Frances E. Willard. Object of the " Union." Plans of work. Bethel home. Burr mission. Outside work. Incidents. Permanence of the work. Bible work. The basis of it. Biole-readers. Their work. Summary for 1S76. Miss Emily Dryer. A field for Christian women. Woman in inquiry room. Peculiar qualifications. Tact. Spiritual intuition. Conditions of success. With whom should women converse.'' Incident of conversation with a skeptic 395

Chapter XVIII. Gospel Temperance. — Its Rise, Progress And Methods

Beginning of the woman's praying crusade. Its progress. Reason for it. Good effects. Organization. National Temperance Union. Its history. Progress in various states. Plans of work. Prayer. Gospel Temperance. Moody's temperance work in New York, Chicago. Charles W. Sawyer. His experience. His work. Finding " Scotch Willie." Breadth of the work. Incidents. Results in Chicago. The work in Boston. The first Friday meeting there. Mr. Moody's address. Subsequent meetings. Gospel temperance convention. Dr. Curler's address. John B. Gough. Requests for prayer. Moody's question drawer. Taking away the appetite. Testimonies of its entire destruction. Witnesses who say it remains. Others who are unconscious of it. The Pledge revival. Francis Murphy. His experience. Beginning of his work. Pittsburgh. The work in Western Pennsylvania. In New York. Description of a meeting in Philadelphia. Michigan. The red and blue ribbon movement. Dr. Henry A. Reynolds. His experience. Methods. Secret of success. Results. Action of legislature. Moody and Murphy. Christ and humanity. Sign of the times.' Lesson for the Church 415

Chapter XIX. Review And Prospect

Human and divine elements. The two ends of revivals. Conversion and sanctification. Unity of Church on these points. Harmony of essential doctrines. Differences of topic and form. In what sense progress in theology. The enlarging science of it. Variations caused by conditions in Church and world. The conscience. Preaching of Edwards' time. The shaping condition now a denial of Christ. Combined assault on this central position. Christological preaching. Its bearing on revivals. Immediate

XVI CONTENTS.

and personal effect. "Coming to Christ." Meaning, depth and power of it. Conscience-arousing, because it gives a firm moral base. Increase of preachers. Laypreaching. Conventions and associations. Woman's work. The Sunday school. Machinery. The press, etc. Tabernacles. Generalship. Adaptation of work to all classes. Revivals becoming permanent factors of national influence. The perplexing social problems. Not met by philosophy or morals, but by Christianity. How revivals have saved the nation in the past. Hope for the future 4^4

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