| I MUST now give some account of my labours, and their result, at Antwerp, a village north of Evans's Mills.
I arrived there, the first time, in April, and found that no religious services were held in the town. The land in the township belonged to a Mr. P----, a rich landholder residing in Ogdensburgh. To encourage the settlement of the township, he had built a brick meeting-- house; but the people had no mind to keep up public worship, the meeting-house was locked up, and the key was in the possession of Mr. C----- , who kept the village hotel.
I soon learned that there was a Presbyterian Church consisting of but few members. They had, some years before, tried to keep up a meeting at the village, on the Sabbath; but one of the elders, who conducted their Sabbath meetings, lived about five miles out, and was obliged, in approaching the village, to pass through a Universalist settlement. The Universalists had broken up the village meeting, by rendering it impossible for Deacon R---- , as they called him, to get through their settlement to meeting. They would even take off the wheels of his carriage; and finally they carried their opposition so far that he gave up attending meetings at the village; and all religious services were relinquished.
I found Mrs. C--, the landlady, a pious woman. There were two other pious women in the village, a Mrs. H--, the wife of a merchant, and a Mrs. R----, the wife of a physician. It was on Friday, if I remember, that I arrived. I called on those pious women and asked them if they would like to have a meeting. They said that they would, but they did not know that it would be possible. Mrs. H agreed to open her parlour if I could get anybody to attend. I went about and invited the people, and secured the attendance, I think, of some thirteen. I preached to them; and then said, that, if I could get the use of the village schoolhouse, I would preach on the Sabbath. I got the consent of the trustees; and the next day an appointment was circulated around among the people, for a meeting at the school-house on Sabbath morning.
In the village I heard a vast amount of profanity; I thought I had never heard so much in any place that I had ever visited. It seemed as if the men, in playing at ball upon the green, and in every business place, were all cursing and swearing, and I felt as if I had arrived upon the borders of hell. The very atmosphere seemed to be poison; and a kind of terror took possession of me.
I gave myself to prayer on Saturday, and finally urged my petition till this answer came: " Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace; for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee. For I have much people in this city." This completely relieved me of all fear. I found, however, that the Christian people there were really afraid that something serious might happen, if religious meetings were again established in that place. I spent Saturday very much in prayer; but passed around the village enough to see that the appointment that had been given out for preaching at the school-house was making quite an excitement.
On Sabbath morning I arose and left my lodgings in the hotel; and in order to get alone, where I could let out my voice as well as my heart, I went up into the woods at some distance from the village, and continued for a considerable time in prayer. However, I did not get relief; but the load upon my mind increased. I went up a third time; and then the answer came. I found that it was time for the meeting, and went immediately to the school-house. I found it packed to its utmost capacity. I had my pocket Bible in my hand, and read to them: "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him might not perish but have everlasting life." The point on which my mind principally laboured, was the treatment which God received in return for His love.
I saw several men there from whom I had, the day before, heard the most awful profanity. I pointed them out in the meeting, and told what they said--how they called on God to damn each other. I told them they seemed "to howl blasphemy about the streets like hellhounds; " and it seemed to me that I had arrived "on the very verge of hell." Everybody knew that what I said was true, and they quailed under it. They did not appear offended; but the people wept about as much as I did myself. I think there were scarcely any dry eyes in the house.
In the afternoon the meeting-house was nearly as much crowded as the school-house had been in the morning. Everybody was out at meeting; and the Lord let me loose upon them in a wonderful manner. My preaching seemed to them to be something new. Indeed it seemed to myself as if I could rain hail and love upon them at the same time; or, in other words, that I could rain upon them hail, in love.
The labours of this day were effectual to the conviction of the great mass of the population. From that day, appoint a meeting when and where I would, the people would throng to hear. The work immediately commenced and went forward with great power. I preached twice in the village church on Sabbath, attended a prayer-meeting at intermission, and generally preached in a school-house at five o'clock in the afternoon.
On the third Sabbath, an aged man came to me as I was entering the pulpit, and asked if I would preach in a school-house in his neighbourhood, about three miles distant; saying that they had never had any services there. I appointed the next day, at five o'clock in the afternoon. It was a warm day. I left my horse at the village, and thought I would walk down, so that I should have no trouble in calling on the people in the neighbourhood. However, before I reached the place, having laboured so hard on the Sabbath, I found myself much exhausted, and sat down by the way, and felt as if I could scarcely proceed. I blamed myself for not having taken my horse.
But at the appointed hour I found the school-house full; and I could only get a standing-place near the open door. I read a hymn; and I cannot call it singing, each one bawled in his own way. My ears had been cultivated by teaching music; and their horrible discord distressed me so much that, at first, I thought I must go out. I finally put both hands over my ears until they were through; and then I cast myself down on my knees, almost in a state of desperation, and began to pray. The Lord opened the windows of heaven, and the spirit of prayer was poured out, and I let my whole heart out in prayer.
I had taken no thought with regard to a text; but watched to see the congregation. I arose from my knees and said: "Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city." I did not recollect where that text was; but I told them very nearly where they would find it, and then went on to explain it. I told them that there was such a man as Abraham; and that there was such a man as Lot; their relations to each other; their separating from each other on account of differences; and that Abraham took the hill country, and Lot settled in the vale of Sodom. I then told them how exceedingly wicked Sodom became, and what abominable practices they fell into. I told them that the Lord decided to destroy Sodom, and visited Abraham and informed him what He was about to do; that Abraham prayed to the Lord to spare Sodom, if He found so many righteous there; and the Lord promised to do so for their sakes; that then Abraham besought him to save it for a certain less number, and the Lord said He would spare it for their sakes; that he kept on reducing the number, until he reduced the number of righteous persons to ten; and God promised that, if He found ten righteous persons in the city, he would spare it. It was found that there was but one righteous person there, and that was Lot, Abraham's nephew. "And the men said to Lot, Hast thou here any besides? Son-in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place; for we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it."
While I was relating these facts I observed the people looking as if they were angry. Many of the men, in their shirt sleeves, looked at each other and at me, as if they were ready to chastise me on the spot. I could not understand what had offended them. However, it seemed that their anger rose higher and higher as I continued. As soon as I had finished, I turned and said, that I had understood that they had never had a religious meeting in that place; and that therefore I had a right to take it for granted that they were an ungodly people. I pressed that home upon them with energy, with my heart full almost to bursting.
I had not spoken in this strain more than a quarter of an hour, when an awful solemnity seemed to settle upon them; the congregation began to fall from their seats in every direction, and cried for mercy. If I had had a sword in each hand, I could not have cut them down as fast as they fell. Nearly the whole congregation were either on their knees or prostrate, I should think, in less than two minutes from this first shock that fell upon them. Every one prayed who was able to speak at all.
I was obliged to stop preaching; for they no longer paid attention. I saw the old man who had invited me, sitting in the middle of the house, and looking around with amazement. I raised my voice to make him hear, and said, "Can't you pray?" He instantly, fell upon his knees, and with a stentorian voice poured himself out to God; but he did not at all get the attention of the people. I then spake as loud as I could, and tried to make them attend. I said, "You are not in hell yet; and now let me direct you to Christ." For a few moments I tried to hold forth the Gospel; but scarcely any of them paid attention. My heart was so overflowing with joy that I could scarcely contain myself. It was with much difficulty that I refrained from shouting, and giving glory to God.
As soon as I could control my feelings I turned to a young man close to me, engaged in praying for himself, laid my hand upon his shoulder, and preached in his ear Jesus. As soon as I got his attention to the cross Christ, he believed, was calm and quiet for a minute or two, and then broke out in praying for others. I then turned to another, and took the same course with him, with the same result; and then another, and another.
In this way I kept on, until I found the time had arrived when I must leave and fulfil an appointment in the village. I told them this, and asked the old man who invited me, to take charge of the meeting. But there was too much interest, and there were too many wounded souls, to dismiss the meeting; and so it was held all night. In the morning there were still those that could not get away; and they were carried to a private house to make room for the school. In the afternoon they sent for me to come, as they could not break up.
When I went down the second time, I heard an explanation of the anger manifested during my sermon the day before. The place was called Sodom, but I knew it not; there was but one pious man in the place, and him they called Lot--the old man that invited me. The people supposed I had chosen my subject, and preached in that manner, because they were so wicked. This was a striking coincidence; but it was altogether accidental. I have not been in that place for many years. A few years since, I was labouring in Syracuse, in the State of New York. Two gentlemen called upon me; one an elderly man; the other not quite fifty. The younger introduced the elder as Deacon W---- , elder in his church: saying he had called to give a hundred dollars to Oberlin College. The elder in turn introduced the younger, saying, " This is my minister, the Rev. Mr. Cross. He was converted under your ministry." Whereupon Mr. Cross said, "Do you remember preaching in Antwerp, in the school-house, in the afternoon, and that such a scene, describing it, occurred there?" I said, "I remember it very well, and can never forget it while I remember anything." "Well," said he, "I was then but a young man, and was converted in that meeting.' He has been many years a successful minister. Several of his children have obtained their education in our college at Oberlin.
Although that revival came upon them suddenly, and was of such a powerful type, the converts were sound, and the work genuine. I never heard of any disastrous reaction.
I have spoken of the Universalists having prevented Deacon R-- from attending meetings on Sabbath, in Antwerp, by taking off the wheels of his carriage. When the revival was in full strength, Deacon R-- wanted me to preach in that neighbourhood. Accordingly I made an appointment. When I arrived I found the school-house filled. I engaged in prayer, and then arose and took this text "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?"
I saw that Deacon R-- was very uneasy; and he soon went and stood in the open door. As there were some boys near, I supposed that he had gone to keep the boys still; but I afterwards learnt it was through fear. He thought that if they set upon me, he would be where he could escape. I proceeded out, and before I could get through, there was a complete upturning of the very foundations of Universalism. It was a scene that almost equalled that in Sodom. Thus the revival penetrated to every part of the town, and some of the neighbouring towns shared the blessing.
When we came to receive the converts, after a great number had been examined, and the day approached for their admission, I found that several of them had been brought up in Baptist families, and asked them if they would not prefer to be immersed. They had no choice; but their parents would prefer to have them immersed. I told them I had no objection to immersing them, and accordingly, I arranged to baptise by immersion. We went down to a stream that runs through the place; and there I baptised a dozen or more.
When the hour for afternoon service arrived, we went to the meeting House; and there I baptised a great number of persons by taking water in my hand and applying it to the forehead. The administration of the ordinance was so manifestly owned and blessed of God, as to do much to satisfy the people that that mode of baptism was acceptable to Him.
Among the converts was also a considerable number whose friends were Methodists. On Saturday I learned that some were saying to the converts, "Mr. Finney is a Presbyterian. He believes in the doctrine of election and predestination; but he has not preached it here. He dare not preach it, because if he should, the converts would not join his church." This determined me to preach on the doctrine of election, the Sabbath morning previous to their joining the church.
While I was preaching, I observed a Methodist sister with whom I had become acquainted, weeping. I feared that I was hurting her feelings. After the close of the meeting, she remained weeping; and I said, "Sister, I hope I have not injured your feelings." " No,, said she, "you have not injured my feelings, Mr. Finney; but I have committed a sin. No longer ago than last night, my husband, who is an impenitent man, was arguing this very question; and maintaining, the doctrine of election. I resisted it, and told him that it was not true. And now, to-day, you have convinced me that it is true; and instead of forming any excuse for my husband, or anybody else, it is the only hope that I can have that he will be saved, or anybody else." I heard no further objection to the converts joining a church that believed in the doctrine of election.
There were many interesting cases of conversion and two very striking cases of instantaneous recovery from insanity. As I went into meeting in the afternoon of one Sabbath, I saw several ladies in a pew, with a woman dressed in black who seemed to be in great distress; and they were partly holding her, and preventing her from going out. As I came in, one of the ladies came and told me that the one in black was an insane woman; that she had been a Methodist, but had, as she supposed, fallen from grace; which led to despair, and finally to insanity. Her husband was intemperate and lived several miles from the village; and had brought her down and left her at the meeting, and had himself gone to a tavern. I said a few words to her; but she replied that she must go; that she could not hear any praying, or preaching, or singing; that hell was her portion, and she could not endure anything that made her think of heaven.
I cautioned the ladies, privately, to keep her in the seat, if they could, without disturbing the meeting. I then went into the pulpit and read a hymn. As soon as the singing began, she struggled hard to get out; but the ladies prevented her escape. After a few moments she became quiet; but seemed to avoid hearing or attending at all to the singing. I then prayed. I heard her struggling to get out; but before I had done she became quiet, and the congregation was still. I took my text from Hebrews: "Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
My object was to encourage faith, in ourselves, and in her, and in ourselves for her. When I began to pray, she at first made quite an effort to get out. But the ladies resisted, and she finally sat still, but held her head very low, and seemed determined not to attend to what I said; But as I proceeded she began gradually to raise her head, and to look at me from within her long black bonnet. She looked until she sat upright, and looked me in the face with intense earnestness. As I proceeded to urge the people to be bold in faith, to launch out, and commit themselves with confidence to God, through the atoning sacrifice of our great High Priest, all at once she uttered a loud shriek. She then cast herself almost entirely from her seat, held her head very low, and I could see that she "trembled very exceedingly." The ladies in the pew partly supported her, and watched her with manifest prayerful sympathy. As I proceeded she began to look up again, and soon sat upright, with face wonderfully changed, indicating triumphant joy and peace. There was such a glow upon her countenance as I have seldom seen in any human face. Her joy was so great that she could scarcely contain herself until meeting was over; and then she soon made everybody understand around her, that she was set at liberty. She glorified God, and rejoiced with amazing triumph. About two years after, I met her, and found her still full of joy and peace.
The other case of recovery was that of a woman who had also fallen into despair and insanity. I was not present when she was restored; but was told that it was almost or quite instantaneous, by means of a baptism of the Holy Spirit. Revivals of religion are sometimes accused of making people mad. The fact is, men are naturally mad on the subject of religion; and revivals rather restore them.
During this revival, we heard much of opposition from Gouverneur, a town about twelve miles further north. The wicked threatened to come and mob us. However we paid no attention. Having received the converts, and having laboured in Antwerp together with Evans's Mills, until the fall of the year, I sent and procured for them a young man of the name of Denning, whom they settled as pastor. I then suspended my labours at Antwerp. |