One of the important voices of the Great Awakening period was not a preacher, but a crusader for social reform. As an adult convert, William Wilberforce was eager to apply the Bible in the areas of influence he was already privy to as a member of parliament. He was instrumental in getting laws passed to protect the Lord's Day, and was active in movements such as "Society for the Suppression of Vice," and the "Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals." He stirred up considerable financial support for the Church Missions Society, paritcularly on behalf of India and Sierra Leone. But his crowning acheivement was the success of legislation which completely abolished slavery throughout the entire British Empire in 1833.
Here are some of my favorite quotes from Wilberforce:
“And, sir, when we think of eternity, and of the future consequences of all human conduct, what is there in this life that should make any man contradict the dictates of his conscience, the principles of justice, the laws of religion, and of God?”
“Is it not the great end of religion, and, in particular, the glory of Christianity, to extinguish the malignant passions; to curb the violence, to control the appetites, and to smooth the asperities of man; to make us compassionate and kind, and forgiving one to another; to make us good husbands, good fathers, good friends; and to render us active and useful in the discharge of the relative social and civil duties?”
“If to be feelingly alive to the sufferings of my fellow-creatures is to be a fanatic, I am one of the most incurable fanatics ever permitted to be at large.”
This is the fourth in a series of five posts taken from a chapel program prepared for Redeemer Christian School, Mesa, Arizona, on "The Voices of the Great Awakening."
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