The Preaching of Asahel Nettleton — E.A. Johnston

Asahel Nettleton and Revival in the Second Great Awakening

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.

Francis Whalen's Testimony to Nettleton's Preaching

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. 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. 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've 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.

Nettleton's Preaching on Sin, Conviction, and Submission

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.

Nettleton's Personal Holiness and Devotion to Prayer

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.

Nettleton's Ministry in Monson, Massachusetts

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 Ezra Hill 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.

The 1829 Revival's Power and Spiritual Clarity

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 mistaken, was then preaching at Enfield 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've ever witnessed.

He then left us and returned again in about 10 days and spent another week. He preached on one Sabbath only. On that day, I supplied his place at Enfield. 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 bless 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 and taking away the excuses of sinners and leaving them without help and hope except in the sovereign mercy of God.

Conviction of Sin and the Testing of Genuine Faith

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 center 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 a Christian character and some of them eminently useful in the church.

Learning from Nettleton's Revival Ministry

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 following 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.