LETTER OF
The GOSPEL TRUTH CHARLES G. FINNEY
1856
To Albert Barnes, Thomas Brainerd, John Jenkins
and John Chambers
12 February 1856
[MS in Dreer Collection, American Clergy, The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.]
Rochester 12th Feb. 1856.
Dear Brethren. Barnes, Braynard,
Jenkins & Chambers.
Your kind letter
of the 1st inst. did not reach
me until the 9th. Nothing
would be more grateful to
my feelings than to comply
with your request, could
it appear to be consistent with
duty to leave this city at
the present time. Br. Shaw
has, I believe, written you
respecting the state of things here.
The interest is already very
extensive but still extending,
& dispersing. The work is reaching
the hard cases as unbelief
calls them. How long I shall feel
constrained to remain here
I know not. Should the state of
things
[page 2]
in Phil. continue to increase in
interest & should the brethren
unite in the desire to have
me come, say a month hence,
I may see my way clear by that
time to leave. I dare not promise,
for the work here bids fair to go on
& increase for a long time to come.
As it is taking a powerful hold
of God's children my hope has
been, & is, that the membership
of the churches will get into
such a state that the Pastors
will go forward, with God's help
& wither the effici[e]nt aid of the
churches, & consent to let me
leave. There is, at present, no
meeting the wants of the inquiring
multitudes by the help on the
ground. In deed religion is, at present,
the absorbing topic. & every bodys ears
are open. I have seen two very
extensive revivals in this city
[page 3]
before. The first in 30. & 31. The
this time,
second in 42. The present, at ^ present
looks as if it might exceed
either of them. But every thing
is in the ha[n]ds of God. Human
infirmity & sin may be suffered
to mar it. Do, My Brethren, pray
for us, that God will control all
the influences here is a manner
to secure the highest good.
The Lord bless you
my Dear Brethren
Yours Most fraternally.
C. G. Finney.
Footnote:
This word looks like "wither". Perhaps Finney had meant to write "with".