Life of Charles G. Finney

From the preface:
Our sainted publisher, Martin Wells Knapp, three years ago felt impressed to give to the world a “Life of Charles G. Finney,” less voluminous than his “Autobiography,” less costly than Professor Wright’s “Life of Finney,” and written by one acquainted with him from the standpoint of holiness. He fixed upon me to be the author, and I accepted the joyful task. Soon after, a still higher Hand thrust upon me the arduous labors of bringing into existence Texas Holiness University, which, for the time, pushed aside all other labors. At the earnest solicitation of the precious brother, I took up the work three months ago, putting into it the few fragments of my spare time. Of course, I have made free use of Finney’s “Memoirs” and Professor Wright’s “Life” and “Reminiscences,” to which I am greatly indebted. I have, however, given an independent picture of the great man’s life and work, one not heretofore given.

There were some things which the public ought to know about Finney, which he would never say of himself. There were some things which ought to be said about Finney’s work, which none would say who was not in full sympathy with his deep desire to attain to and to teach sanctification. God has granted to the author at least that one qualification. There is enough in this book quoted from Finney himself to teach any one, desirous of learning, how to be a successful fisher of men, and how to receive the baptism with the Holy Ghost.

The Table of Contents are as follows:
Chapter 1: SENT OF GOD
Chapter 2: HIS CONVERSION
Chapter 3: STUDYING THEOLOGY
Chapter 4: BEGINNING HIS MINISTRY
Chapter 5: REVIVALS AT ANTWERP, “SODOM,” GOUVERNEUR, AND DEKALB
Chapter 6: REVIVALS AT WESTERN, ROME, UTICA, AUBURN, TROY, AND NEW LEBANON
Chapter 7: MINISTERIAL OPPOSITION AND THE NEW LEBANON CONVENTION
Chapter 8: REVIVALS AT STEPHENTOWN, WILMINGTON, PHILADELPHIA, AND READING — 1827-1830
Chapter 9: REVIVALS IN COLUMBIA, NEW YORK CITY, ROCHESTER, AUBURN, BUFFALO, PROVIDENCE, AND BOSTON — 1830-1832
Chapter 10: LABORS IN NEW YORK CITY, 1832-1835 — TRIP TO ITALY — REVIVAL LECTURES — OBERLIN
Chapter 11: EARLY LABORS IN OBERLIN
Chapter 12: REVIVALS IN BOSTON — PROVIDENCE — ROCHESTER, AND AGAIN IN BOSTON, 1842-1844 RENEWED BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY GHOST — LOSS OF HIS WIFE
Chapter 13: FIRST VISIT TO ENGLAND — REVIVALS IN HARTFORD, WESTERN, SYRACUSE AND ROCHESTER
Chapter 14: REVIVALS IN BOSTON — ENGLAND — SCOTLAND, AND OBERLIN — CLOSE OF HIS LIFE
Chapter 15: FINNEY ON PREACHERS AND PREACHING
Chapter 16: FINNEY ON FREEMASONRY
Chapter 17: THE ESTIMATE OF FINNEY MADE BY OTHERS — FINNEY AS A THEOLOGIAN
Chapter 18: FINNEY ON SANCTIFICATION AND ITS RESULTS IN OBERLIN COLLEGE HISTORY — CLOSING PICTURES

About the author:
Aaron Merritt Hills (1848-1935) was an American Methodist. Raised in a Christian home, he was saved at a revival meeting at the age of eleven. After high school, he attended Oberlin College, where he became acquainted with Charles Finney. 

After college, he pastored two churches over the course of sixteen years, and then entered into evangelistic work. At some point in his life, he found that he lined up more closely with the Nazarene church, and so threw his lot in with them. After a successful career (if it may be called thus) as an evangelist, he accepted the position of president at Texas Holiness University (now Peniel College). 

Throughout his life, Hills wrote many great books, and contributed much to the Kingdom of God. His legacy has long survived him, and doubtless he will be remembered for generations to come.