Gospel of Asahel Nettleton

In the library of Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut, hangs an old portrait of a man forgotten by historians. His present obscurity stands in sharp contrast to the times in which he lived. In 19th century America, the name Asahel Nettleton was a household word, although Charles Finney would become the prominent figure of the time period known as the Second Great Awakening.

A study of the historical documents of the years 1810 to 1844 will reveal that Asahel Nettleton was recognized by his peers as the leading figure of the revival. Although history has diminished him, the name Asahel Nettleton made strongmen tremble at the news of his arrival in New England towns, for they knew that soon a revival of religion would occur under his mighty preaching, and they would be face to face with eternity and the God of that eternity. What was the gospel of Asahel Nettleton is our subject today, friends, because the gospel of Nettleton greatly differs from the gospel many preach today.

Asahel Nettleton preached a gospel that made men God-centered in their thoughts and God-fearing in their hearts. It was the old gospel of the Bible that was a proclamation of divine sovereignty and mercy and judgment. It was a summons to bow down and worship the mighty Lord, in whom man depends for all good.

Asahel Nettleton's gospel had God at its center in his ways with men. Today's gospel has man at the center and talks about the help God gives him. Our gospel today is geared more towards entertainment.

Nettleton's gospel was geared directly toward the salvation of sinners. Our gospel talks about the love of God and his free offer of mercy toward men through his son Jesus Christ. The old gospel was a bloody portrait of a crucified Christ and his rights and demands on all followers of his.

Nettleton's gospel placed the emphasis of man's salvation solely in the hands of God. Today's gospel places salvation squarely in the hands of men, but there's a world of difference. A accurate observation of Nettleton's preaching along with his contemporaries is given by his good friend Heman Humphrey, whose church Nettleton often preached in, and it was his observation that the law figured prominently in the sermons of the Second Great Awakening.

I quote Heman Humphrey's now, they did not shun to declare all the counsel of God. They did not wreath the sword around with flowers, but left the two edges bare and sharp to cut where they would, the deeper the better, and they applied no emollients to heal the hurt slightly. We complained of some of Paul's hard sayings and wondered why our ministers dwelt so much upon them.

We wanted to get to heaven some easier way, but instead of abating one jot or tittle to relieve us, they pressed harder and harder, driving us from one refuge to another, till there was no hiding place left. The law, which we had broken times without number, we were made to see was just. Its fiery penalty hung over our heads, and we must submit or die.

I do not say that this law work was alike, marked and pungent in all cases, but I am quite sure that in most cases the conversions in that revival were preceded by sharp conviction of sin and of deserved punishment. It was eminently a law revival, issuing in the more abundant and abiding consolations of the gospel those loved most, who felt they had been forgiven most. Well, I will stop there, friends.

The gospel of Azahel Nettleton was the gospel of Jonathan Edwards. It shut men up to God and showed them the badness of the human heart and the reception of sinners in Christ Jesus. The doctrines of grace were faithfully preached by Azahel Nettleton and were conspicuously owned and acknowledged by the Holy Spirit in revival after revival.

If you want to learn more about the ministry and life of Azahel Nettleton and the gospel he preached, I refer you to my definitive biography on his life entitled Azahel Nettleton, Revival Preacher, which can be ordered through Reformation Heritage Books. By the way, I don't take any royalties from my books. All the profits go to Bible printing and distribution in foreign lands.

But we must study men like Azahel Nettleton in our day if we truly desire to see revival in our time.