(1792-1875) American lawyer, revivalist, abolitionist, pastor and president of Oberlin College. Finney never owned a Bible until he noticed how often law books quoted from the Bible. He was suddenly and powerfully converted in 1824 and immediately began to preach; "No words can describe the wonderful joy that was shed abroad in my heart. I wept aloud with joy and love. The waves came over me and over me, one after another, until I cried out, 'I shall die if these waves continue to pass over me. Lord, I cannot bear any more.'" It is estimated that more than 500,000 were converted to Christ through his revival meetings. Finney wrote Lectures on Revival and Lectures on Systematic Theology.