William Wilberforce
William Wilberforce
William Wilberforcewas an English politician, philanthropist, and a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade. A native of Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, he began his political career in 1780, eventually becoming the independent Member of Parliament for Yorkshire. In 1785, he became an Evangelical Christian, which resulted in major changes to his lifestyle and a lifelong concern for reform...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth24 August 1759
giving ups-and-downs accounting
Life as we know it, with all its ups and downs, will soon be over. We all will give an accounting to God of how we have lived.
solitude soul body
This perpetual hurry of business and company ruins me in soul if not in body. More solitude and earlier hours!
golden path duty
Let everyone regulate his conduct... by the golden rule of doing to others as in similar circumstances we would have them do to us, and the path of duty will be clear before him.
mean reflection people
I mean not to accuse any one, but to take the shame upon myself, in common, indeed, with the whole parliament of Great Britain, for having suffered this horrid trade to be carried on under their authority. We are all guilty—we ought all to plead guilty, and not to exculpate ourselves by throwing the blame on others; and I therefore deprecate every kind of reflection against the various descriptions of people who are more immediately involved in this wretched business.
christian practice giving
Servile, and base, and mercenary, is the notion of Christian practice among the bulk of nominal Christians. They give no more than they dare not with-hold; they abstain from nothing but what they must not practise.
fashion blessed vanity
When blessed with wealth, let them withdraw from the competition of vanity and be modest, retiring from ostentation, and not be the slaves of fashion.
christian silence ignorant
Let true Christians then, with becoming earnestness, strive in all things to recommend their profession, and to put to silence the vain scoffs of ignorant objectors.
men soul good-man
Surely the experience of all good men confirms the proposition that without a due measure of private devotions the soul will grow lean.
men mind fruit
God has so made the mind of man that a peculiar deliciousness resides in the fruits of personal industry.
years firsts purpose
The first years in Parliament I did nothing - nothing to any purpose. My own distinction was my darling object.
political estimating gains
If . . . a principle of true Religion [i.e., true Christianity] should . . . gain ground, there is no estimating the effects on public morals, and the consequent influence on our political welfare.
parliament serving-god nations
Can one serve God and one's nation in parliament?
thinking views looks
Wherever we direct our view, we discover the melancholy proofs of our depravity; whether we look to ancient or modern times, to barbarous or civilized nations, to the conduct of the world around us, or to the monitor within the breast; whether we read, or hear, or act, or think, or feel, the same humiliating lesson is forced upon us.
exercise men progress
Measure your progress by your experience of the love of God and its exercise before men.