56. Chatles G. Finney, “Sinners Bound to ‘Change Their Own Hears" (1836) Sure *Simers Bo te Cg Tc von er"n Charles Fea Sermon on Inportant Subjects ard: New Yor, 819, P38 Sinninghe eat nisecnceaturyaseresafelploos revivals low athe Sec Gres nakning swept overthe United Sate Th esehe acrescenoin he ree andeal 182 when he Chas ‘Ganon ney held month long reveal meetings in state New Yk Siew York iy Hs sermons wana of hla lngoage while a ‘ring the pro of aati to cooere wh absrdoned hess ee eee | re ‘The Market Revolution, oe-1840 188 vas Henge thee tat man snl crete with preodnsd {is rmotingisead he dotnet wil and the ost ol ‘ion. very peso, Png nied asa moa ree agen, that a prs ‘evetnchoneebeeansCvisian He anal ‘Theswcond Great Anakening democrat Americas Chistian mak sng taly mass ener. he tne aindepentene fewer a 398 (Costas miners reached in thetlaed Stes ays. they number 40000 Ameri. toe Aes de Tolle when Be ised Used ‘Satria tbe s8305“comine the soins of Chusialyandoibary 3, sntmatlyin the minds hati ismpassible to make hem conceive the Beek wll 31-Makeyou anew hart and anew sai fr why wiped? Achange of hea ..consits in changing the conlling pet rene ofthe min in regard tothe endo psit, The self heats 2 preference of selinterest to the glory of God and the interests of his kingdom, A new hear consists ina preference ofthe glory of God and the interests of his hingdom 10 ones own happiness. nother words tsa change from selfishness o benevolence rom having supreme regard to one's own interest co an absorbing and conta lng choice ofthe happiness and glory of God andhis kingdom. Ss achange nthe choice of Suprome Rue The conduct of peitent sinners demonstats that they prefer Satan a5 the ruler of "he wold they obey hilawselectionees for him and arezealous for hi interests, ever to mariysdom. They cary thei attckment 10 ‘him ad hs goverment ofr ato acce both body and soul 12 promote his interest and establish his dominion. Anew hears the ‘hee of Janovn a the supreme ruler a deep-seated and abiding preference of his laws, and government and characte, and person, 2s he supreme Legislator 2nd Governor the universe. ‘Thus the work is divided into two gest politcal yates; the dit ference between them is that one party chose Satan asthe god of“6 Voices of Freedom ‘his worl yield obedience to his laws, andar devoted to his inter fst Slfshnes isthe law of Satan's empire and all impeniten sin ner yield i a willing obedience. The other party choose Jehovah for this governor, and conserate themselves wth al tei inter sts to hiservice and gly Nor does this change imply a consti tional alteration ofthe powers of body oF mind, any more than 2 ‘change of mind in regard tothe form or administration of human, government. ‘Go has established a government, and proposed by the exhib tion of his own character, 10 produce the greatest practicable amount ofhappinessin the universe He has enacted laws wisely ca ‘alte to promote this object, to which he confonms all his own ‘conduct, snd a which he requires al his subjects pefeily and un Aeviatngly to conform thers. Afler season of obedience, Adan hanged his heat, and setup for himsel So with every sins, a though he dis nit rst oh, a Adan yet hs wicked heart con sists in sting up his own interest in apposition to the interest and toverameat of God, In aiming to promote his own private hap resin a way thal opposed to the general good Selfgratifiation becomes the a to which he confor his conduct. ts tht mind ing ofthe flesh, which is enmity against God. A change of heart. ‘therefore, st preferadfferentendTo peter supremely te glory of Gost and the public good, tthe promotan of his own interests nd ‘whenever this preference is changed. we see ofcourse a correspon ding change ofcondvct. fs man changesidasin politi, you wilsee him meeting with those that entrain the same views and feelings with himsel devising plans snd sing his influence to elect the can date which he has now chosen. He har neve poll rend onthe fone side, and new poll enemies on the other So with a sinner 1€ hls tears changed, yo will se hat Christians become his feleni-—Chuls hiscandidste. He ams at honoring him and promot ing his interest nal his ways. Befone,the language of his conduct ‘was Let Satan govern the word” Now, the language of his heart and of is lifets "et Chris rue King of mations, ashe Is King of sant” Before, his conduc sai “Satan let thy kingdom come, and hy illbe done” Now his earths his ipsery out, fesu thy ‘Kingdom come, thy wil be dongon earths tis in heaven” AS God equies men to make themselves new heat on pain ‘of etemal death, isthe stongest posible evidence that they are sl todo To say that he has commanded them oda, without teling themn they are ble, i consummate tring Tei ability is impliedas tonglyaritcan be, the command tell. ‘The stings ofthe Spinto God with men, ots physical su fling but a debate strife not of body with boy, but of mind with ‘mind, and that inthe action and reaction of vehement argument tion. Frm these emarks ts ear io answer the question sometimes pty individuals who seem tobe ently nthe dark pon hiss Foc, whether in converting te soul the Sprit acts directly on the ‘mind or on the tt. This thesame nonsense aif youshould ask whether an earthly advocate who had gained is cause. it by act. ing diet and physically the juror om he argument. ou se rom issue hat sinner dr he eno he Sprit (ois st Pa jury unde i arguments ofan abe Soifa minster goesinto des o preach to sinners. believing that they havemo powerto obey the truth, and ude the impression that 4 ect physical infuence must be exerted upon them before they can eles, and if his audience be ofthe sme opinion, ain does he preach, and in vain do they hea,“for they ate yet nthe ins* they sit and quietly wait for some favisble hand tobe stretched ‘down from heaven, an perf some surgical operation infuse some new principle, o° implant some constitutional taste: afer ‘which they supose the hall be alto obey God Minne should labor with sinner, as 2lnyer does witha fy. and pen the sme Principles of mental philosophy; andthe sinner should weg bisa ‘gument, and make up his mind as upon oath an (or hs fe, and ‘ivea verde upon the spt according a law andevidenceee Voices of Freedom Sinner! instead of waiting and praying for God to change your beam, you shoulda once summon up your owes, pot fort hee fora change the governing preference of your mina Slane! your obligation to lve Go is equal to the exelence of hischaracter and your guilt n not obeying im isa course equal 0 your oblgation, You cannot therefore ar an hour ora moment fe obedience othe commandment in the text, without deserving ter al damnation ‘Andnowsinen while the subjects belore you, will you yield? 7D keep youre away frm under the motives of the gospel. by nel ing chute, and neglecting your Bble, will prove fatal 0 your sou Aad tobe cases when youdo attend, ot hear with attention and refuse to make up your mind and yield willbe equally ft. And row" beseech you by the meri of God that youst is inerender your bedy ands0uvingsacrificeo God, which syour reasonable Service” let the rath ake Bold yon your concience—throe down your wbelious weapons-pve ap your rfoges of les—fx your Inindsteadiastly upon the world of considerations that should in ‘Manly decide yout close in with she aera econiiton whe it ‘nvr is before you Another moment’ dla, and it may be too late forever The Spr of God may dear fiom you—the ofe of ifemay bemade no mors and his onemore slighted offerofmerey may close upyour account and eal you ove taal the hors eternal det Hear then, 0 sinner, beseech you, and obey the word ofthe Lond — Make you sew east and anew pi for wy wil ye die™ Questions + Wat prciy des ney meant change of ea? 2 Hw des the fc hat he reaching a an era of mse poi democracy fect Maney nguage?