I'd like to continue this afternoon with our
studies of revival, one in particular which took
place in Connecticut, New York at Union College
during the Second Great Awakening under the mighty
preaching of Azahel Nettleton.
These comments I want to read us today
are from Francis Whalen.
I'm going to read us excerpts from my
biography on Nettleton called Azahel Nettleton, Revival Preacher,
and I want to start with Francis Whalen's
observations.
He was a professor at Union College when
Nettleton came into town where a mighty revival
broke out, and here now are Francis Whalen's
observations of Azahel Nettleton as a preacher.
He was among the most effective preachers I
have ever known.
I never heard logic assume so attractive a
form or produce so decisive an effect.
When reasoning on any of the great doctrines
in Romans, for instance, election, the utter depravity
of man, the necessity of regeneration, or the
necessity of atonement, his manner was often Socratic.
In other styles of address, he was equally
successful.
The doom of the sinner, the danger of
delay, the condition of the thoughtless, the vicious
and the blasphemer, the exercises of the soul
from the first moments of conviction, the subterfuges
of the human heart, and the final act
of submission to God were portrayed by him
with a power of eloquence I have rarely
heard.
I suppose no minister of his time was
the means of so many conversions.
He was, in an unusual degree, obedient to
impressions received in answer to prayer.
I believe he never went to a place
unless he had received an intimation that he
had a duty to discharge there, and he
rarely visited a place where revival did not
follow him.
In conversing with persons under conviction, he exhibited
a knowledge of human nature almost intuitive, nor
was it merely with awakened sinners that his
preaching was remarkably successful.
It was his habit, when he could stay
long enough in a neighborhood, to collect the
converts and explain to them the doctrines of
the gospel, point out to them their danger,
and then build them up in the faith
before he left them.
In preaching, his countenance beamed with a holy
earnestness such as befitted one sent directly from
God as an ambassador to men.
At this time, he was rarely entered the
pulpit or preached in the daytime.
He preferred a vestry or a schoolhouse, and
if he spoke in the body of the
church, he addressed the audience from the deaconcy
or the platform in front of the pulpit.
His manner was quiet, especially at the commencement.
His voice grave and deep, deep-toned, his
whole aspect was that of a man who
had just come from intimate communion with God.
He never used notes, although I believe he
sometimes wrote out some of his sermons, and
rarely employed ornament of any kind.
He would stand up, throw on a red
bandana, handkerchief over his left arm, and in
tones varying but little from those of earnest
conversation, would sway an audience as the trees
of the forest are moved by a mighty
wind.
His manner of life was consistent with his
appearance in the pulpit.
His residence was generally with the minister of
the parish in which he was laboring.
The time not employed in preaching or conversation
with inquirers was devoted to secret prayer and
the reading of the scriptures.
He was never seen in what is called
general society.
His whole time seemed devoted to labor for
souls.
He was unmarried, and to avoid remark, he
never rode or walked with a lady alone.
He was holy and sensible to the influence
of money.
His dress was plain and well-worn.
When money was offered him, he would either
return it all or would accept only what
was wanted for his present necessity.
Now friends, I want to read us an
excerpt from a revival that took place in
New England in 1829 in Monson, Massachusetts, where
Nettleton was preaching for a pastor by the
name of Dr. Eli.
These are Eli's notes from Nettleton's visit at
his church.
Please listen very carefully to the preaching of
Ezehiel Nettleton and its great effect upon its
hearers.
Dr. Nettleton was among the few whose memory
will be long cherished by the churches as
an eminent instrument in the hands of God
of reviving his work and of bringing multitudes
to embrace the Savior for righteousness and life.
He seems to have been raised up by
the great head of the church to accomplish
his purposes of mercy in the revival of
pure religion and in the conversion of sinners.
His influence upon the ministry and upon the
churches where he labored was peculiarly happy.
He always left behind him a sweet savor
of Christ.
Harmony and Christian affection between pastors and people
were the results of his labors, even when
they had been most successful in the conversion
of souls.
His zeal and earnestness in preaching the gospel
where Christ was named were so tempered with
practical wisdom and singular prudence that he was
received and loved and remembered as a messenger
from God sent to bless the people.
His labors among us in the year 1829
are recollected with affection and gratitude.
The revival with which we were favored that
year commenced about the middle of July.
It was unusually powerful and still and rapid
in its progress.
There was less animal excitement.
Convictions of sin were more and more thorough
and conversions were more clear and decided than
in some other seasons of revival which we
have enjoyed.
We had but little to do but to
stand still and see the salvation of God.
Mr. Middleton, if I'm not mistaken, was then
preaching at Anfield, and by my request he
came and spent a week with us the
first of September and preached frequently to the
most solemn and attentive assemblies I'd ever witnessed.
He then left us and returned again in
about ten days and spent another week.
He preached on one Sabbath only.
On that day, I supplied his place at
Anfield.
He preached and held inquiry meetings in the
evenings of the week and visited the families
with me in the daytime.
His labors were very acceptable and eminently useful
and I blessed God for his aid.
Many were awakened under his preaching and some
hopefully converted and those who entertained hope were
greatly enlightened and strengthened.
He is remembered to this day with much
affection.
The chief excellence of his preaching seemed to
consist in great plainness and simplicity and discrimination,
in much solemnity and affectionate earnestness of manner,
and in the application of the truth to
the heart and conscience, in taking away the
excuses of sinners and leaving them without help
and hope, except in the sovereign mercy of
God.
In short, it was conformed to the work
for which the Spirit was sent into the
world to reprove or convince the world of
sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.
This characteristic was most striking.
His manner of dealing with awakened sinners was
peculiar.
While it served to deepen their convictions and
lead them to Christ, it gained their confidence
and secured their belief in the truth.
He knew, too, how to search those who
expressed hope, and while he detected the hypocrite
and encouraged the desponding, he was regarded by
all with affection and reverence.
A large number of the subjects of this
revival were young people belonging to the first
families in the place.
Of about 100 who expressed hope at that
time, more than 60 belonged to the district.
Numbers of them have removed to other places,
and others have died in the joyful hope
of glory.
Frequently have I heard them express the remembrance
of Dr. Nettleton's labors and of their obligations
to him as the instrument of leading them
to Christ.
Some on examination for church fellowship dated their
awakening and conversion to his labors.
Of the number admitted to the church that
year, only four have apostatized.
They have generally maintained the Christian character, and
some of them eminently useful in the church.
His labors, though short with us, were greatly
blessed, and I shall remember them with gratitude
to the great head of the church who
disposed him to come and help us.
Well, friends, it's important that we restudy the
paths of men God has used in former
times, particularly in seasons of revival, and follow
in their footsteps and pray that God in
his mercy will be pleased to send revival
again in this sad day of declension in
which we live for his great name and
his great glory.