William Wilberforce

Let me beware, lest I make Christ the minister of sin, by comforting myself too easily when any temptation has prevailed over me, with the reflection, that I have a remedy at hand; it is only to humble myself and implore pardon,and, the promises being sure, to obtain forgiveness.

—William Wilberforce

Strive, O my soul, to maintain and keep alive impressions, first, of the constant presence of a holy, omniscient, omnipotent, but infinitely merciful and gracious God, of Christ our almighty shepherd, of the Holy Spirit, of the evil one, and the invisible world in general.

—William Wilberforce

I humbly trust I have humbled myself before God and come to him through Christ and though my heart be so hard and cold and inconstant yet I will humbly trust that his mercy will be extended, even to me.

—William Wilberforce

I look to him with humble hope, I disclaim every other plea than that of the publican, offered up through the Redeemer; but I would animate my hopes, trusting in him that he will perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle me.

—William Wilberforce

How wonderful that a private man should have such an influence on the temporal and eternal happiness of millions; literally, millions on millions yet unborn! O God, make me more earnest for Thy glory; and may I act more from real love and gratitude to my redeeming Lord.

—William Wilberforce

I have sadly neglected the cultivation of my natural talents. Let me now attend to it, imploring the divine blessing. I will form a plan of study and exercise, having a special reference to the faults of my intellect, whether natural or superinduced.

—William Wilberforce

Cast yourselves on his undeserved mercy; he is full of love, and will not spurn you: surrender yourselves into his hands, and solemnly resolve, through his grace, to dedicate henceforth all your faculties and powers to his service.

—William Wilberforce

Let me pray for all my fellow-creatures, for all that are in pagan ignorance, particularly for the poor negroes, both in Africa the the West Indies. O Lord, do Thou at length visit them with spiritual blessings and a termination of their temporal sufferings. Amen.

—William Wilberforce

In whatever class or order of society Christianity prevails, she sets herself to rectify the particular faults, or, if we would speak more distinctly, to counteract the particular mode of selfishness, to which that class is liable.

—William Wilberforce

I will press forward and labour to know God better, and love him more, assuredly I may, because God will give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him, and the Holy Ghost will shed abroad the love of God in the heart.

—William Wilberforce

I will in the evening read for half an hour at least the Old Testament, with which I am not well acquainted.

—William Wilberforce

A little religion is, it must be confessed, apt to make men gloomy, as a little knowledge to render them vain

—William Wilberforce

The Christian relaxes in the temperate use of all the gifts of Providence. Imagination, and taste, and genius, and the beauties of creation, and the works of art, lie open to him.

—William Wilberforce

While I continue in the body, I shall never be perfect. But O what room is there for growth in grace, what space for advancement.

—William Wilberforce

This is the solution of what to a man of the world might seem a strange paradox, that in proportion as the Christian grows in grace, he grows also in humility.

—William Wilberforce

You cannot advance a single step till you are in some good measure possessed of this comparative indifference to the favour of men.

—William Wilberforce

You are enlisted under the banner of Christ – ‘Fear not, though the world, and the flesh, and the devil are set in array against you’.

—William Wilberforce

Cast yourselves on his undeserved mercy; he is full of love, and will not spurn you: surrender yourselves into his hands, and solemnly resolve, through his grace, to dedicate henceforth all your faculties and powers to his service.

—William Wilberforce

‘God is love’. This is the sacred principle which warms and enlightens the heavenly world, that blessed seat of God’s visible presence.

—William Wilberforce

Let me beware, lest I make Christ the minister of sin, by comforting myself too easily when any temptation has prevailed over me, with the reflection, that I have a remedy at hand; it is only to humble myself and implore pardon,and, the promises being sure, to obtain forgiveness.

—William Wilberforce

Oh quicken me in thy righteousness. Give me all holy affections in their just measure of vigour and force.

—William Wilberforce

Let me pray for all my fellow-creatures, for all that are in pagan ignorance, particularly for the poor negroes, both in Africa the the West Indies. O Lord, do Thou at length visit them with spiritual blessings and a termination of their temporal sufferings. Amen.

—William Wilberforce

Let me meditate awhile on the majesty and holiness of God.

—William Wilberforce

During life all has gone well with me, so far as God has ordered matters, and all the evil has been the result of my own follies.

—William Wilberforce

Oh that I were more thankful! My ingratitude should humble me in the dust.

—William Wilberforce

Strive, O my soul, to maintain and keep alive impressions, first, of the constant presence of a holy, omniscient, omnipotent, but infinitely merciful and gracious God, of Christ our almighty shepherd, of the Holy Spirit, of the evil one, and the invisible world in general.

—William Wilberforce

I should almost despair of myself, but for his promises.

—William Wilberforce

I will try to retire at nine or half-past, and every evening give half and hour, or an hour, to secret exercises, endeavouring to raise my mind more, and that it may be more warmed with heavenly fire.

—William Wilberforce

If you ‘give all diligence’, his power is armed for your protection, his truth is pledged for your security.

—William Wilberforce

Help me, O Lord, without Thee I can do nothing.

—William Wilberforce