Wilberforce…

William Wilberforce is one of my heroes. He was a puny, sickly, British brat that changed the world. His builder’s journey was not much different from any other I’ve studied in history or seen in real life. All builders believe. All builders doubt. All builders fall…the ones we remember, simply keep getting UP. Wilberforce invested his life in service to the poor and in service to the SLAVE.

His seminal work was to abolish the slave trade first and then to abolish slavery in England period. His builder’s journey took him 45 years from his big dream (aha) moment, to his big victory. His big dream came to him when he was 26. He was on his death bed when he received the news that his legislation had FINALLY made it’s way through Parliament. He would die three days later. The year was 1833. It would be nearly 30 more years before we in America would see the light.

Here’s a letter of encouragement sent to him after abolition had been defeated again. This was only a couple years into his big dream. This letter is from John Wesley, then 87, and only a couple days before his death. It was most likely John’s last letter.

Dear Sir:

Unless the divine power has raised you up to be as Athanasius contra mundum, I see not how you can go through your glorious enterprise in opposing that execrable villainy which is the scandal of religion, of England, and of human nature. Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. BUT IF GOD BE FOR YOU, WHO CAN BE AGAINST YOU? Are all of them together stronger than God? O be not weary of well doing! Go on, in the name of God and in the power of his might, till even American slavery (the vilest that ever saw the sun) shall vanish away before it.

Reading this morning a tract wrote by a poor African, I was particularly struck by that circumstance that a man who has a black skin, being wronged or outraged by a white man, can have no redress; it being a “law” in our colonies that the oath of a black against a white goes for nothing. What villainy is this?

That he who has guided you from youth up may continue to strengthen you in this and all things, is the prayer of, dear sir,

Your affectionate servant,

John Wesley

If you want to get inspired read two books about William. The Roots of Endurance by John Piper tells his story and the story of other Titans of Faith that had the ability to ENDURE. Amazing Grace by Eric Metaxas is the second and the one that John Wesley’s letter was taken from.

Check it out.