Quotes from Charles Grandison Finney

Revival is a renewed conviction of sin and repentance, followed by an intense desire to live in obedience to God. It is giving up one's will to God in deep humility.

A revival is nothing else than a new beginning of obedience to God.

Often, without being at all aware of it, men judge themselves, not by God's rule, but by their own.

Why will God's creatures sin against his throne? Can there be such madness in beings gifted with reason's light?

The moral law of God is the only law of individuals and of nations, and nothing can be rightful government but such as is established and administered with a view to its support.

The obligation of human beings to support and obey human governments, while they legislate upon the principles of the moral law, is an unalterable as the moral law itself.

It is the great business of every Christian to save souls.

Nothing tends more to cement the hearts of Christians than praying together. Never do they love one another so well as when they witness the outpouring of each other's hearts in prayer.

Prevailing prayer is that which secures an answer. Saying prayers is not offering prevailing prayer. The prevalence of prayer does not depend so much on quantity as on quality.

Effective prayer is prayer that attains what it seeks. It is prayer that moves God, effecting its end.

Repentance is a change of willing, of feeling and of living, in respect to God.

A state of mind that sees God in everything is evidence of growth in grace and a thankful heart.

When the church finds its members falling into gross and scandalous sins, then it is time for the church to awake and cry to God for a Revival of Religion.

There is a fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom, which is founded in love. There is also a slavish fear, which is a mere dread of evil, and is purely selfish.

Unless the will is free, man has no freedom; and if he has no freedom he is not a moral agent, that is, he is incapable of moral action and also of moral character.

The reason why wicked men and devils hate God is, because they see Him in relation to themselves. Their hearts rise up in rebellion, because they see Him opposed to their selfishness.

No man can possibly be benevolent or religious, to the full extent of his obligations, without concerning himself, to a greater or less extent, with the affairs of human government.

Every member must work or quit. No honorary members.

If the presence of God is in the church, the church will draw the world in. If the presence of God is not in the church, the world will draw the church out.