Murray
analyses a crucial period in American religious history,with particular
attention to the major theme of the nature ofreligious revival. He
rejects the common identification of revival & revivalism, showing
that the latter differed from the former both in its origins & in
its implications. Whereas in the earlier period, revival was understood
as supernatural & heaven-sent, in the later period the ethos was
much more man-centred & the methods employed much closer to the
manipulative. The change in perspective can be summed up by saying that
revival was first viewed as OEsent down, but later seen as OEworked up. A
pivotal figure in the change & a major promoter of the new methods,
was Charles Grandison Finney (1792-1875). Murray traces developments
from the time of Samuel Davies (1763-61), through the age of the Second
Great Awakening, to the New York Awakening of 1857-8. In addition to
Davies & Finney, major leaders whose names recur in these pages
include Archibald Alexander (1772-1851) of Princeton Theological
Seminary, Edward D. Griffin (1770-1837) & Asahel Nettleton
(1783-1844).Arnold DallimoreAn outstanding biography, scholarly, yet
popularly written, of theleading preacher of the eighteenth-century
evangelical revival.Whitefield (1714-70) is acknowledged to have made a
greaterimpact on evangelical Christianity on both sides of the
Atlanticthan any other preacher of the eighteenth century. The
firstvolume traces the early career of Whitefield to the end of 1740,
atwhich point the twenty-six-year-old was already the most brilliantand
popular preacher of the time, and had already, at age 24,commanded the
largest congregations yet seen in America. Thesecond volume traces the
doctrinal conflict with John and CharlesWesley, Whitefield?s visits to
Scotland and Wales, as well as theAmerican colonies, and the emergence
of a Calvinistic branch ofMethodism. Also provided are details of
Whitefield?s marriage,friendships, ceaseless labours and early death
aged 55. The two-volume set casts new light on Whitefield?s early life
in Gloucester,religious conditions in England at the commencement of
hispreaching ministry, his influence on the Great Awakening of 1739-40
in America, his relationships with the Wesleys, hisphilanthropic
endeavours and his impact on all classes of Englishsociety including the
aristocracy.
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