To what cause would you devote your energy and zeal, sweat and tears for twenty years, with no promise of success? Although the journey was excruciating, William Wilberforce was confident in God’s mission to abolish the British slave trade, and he pursued it to the finish line.

<p>To what cause would you devote your energy and zeal, sweat and tears for twenty years, with no promise of success? Although the journey was excruciating, William Wilberforce was confident in God’s mission to abolish the British slave trade, and he pursued it to the finish line.</p>

<p>Free sharing permitted under the Creative Commons <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/">BY-NC-ND 3.0 (US)</a> license.</p>

GYC Southeast

Rhonda Grakov

Great in God's Sight Season 1

John: the Soul that Knows its Worth

Polycarp: Eighty-Six Years

Justin Martyr: Philosopher to Child of God

Patrick: Unlikely Freedom

Thomas: The Other Half of Faith

Columba: The Dove of Scotland

Jerome, Cyril, and Methodius: Bibles for East and West

William Wilberforce, Part 1: The Great Change

William Wilberforce, Part 2: The Great Cause

Mark: One Young Man


Hello and welcome to Grading God's Sight, the podcast that explores underrated heroes. We're so glad you've joined us for this bonus episode entitled, William Wilberforce, The Great Cause. Please be sure to Subscribe and visit our website at thegreatpodcast.org. That's thegreatpodcast.org. Thanks for listening!

A soft May breeze whispered through the leafy branches of a noble oak tree. The aged tree had stood on this hillside for centuries, unmoved by thunderstorms, battles, or the shifting winds of time. 3 young gentlemen now rested in its shade. 1 was strikingly tall, with keen eyes and commanding presence. Moving closer, it would be easy to identify him as the Prime Minister of Great Britain, William Pitt.

Beside him, not even reaching the Prime Minister's shoulder, was a slight young man, whose lively, animated demeanor made 1 nearly forget his size, none other than William Wilberforce, better known to friends as Wilbur. The third, William Grenville, was a mutual friend and a cousin of Pitt's. The 3 were conversing seriously when suddenly Pitt looked Wilbur in the eye and said, Do not lose time, or the ground will be occupied by another." Wilbur slowly nodded. It was clear he was thinking hard. But at that moment, the ancient oak silently witnessed history in the making, for on that day, May 12, 1787, William Wilburforce decided to throw himself, heart and soul, into ending the British slave trade.

It had been a long journey to this point, but the journey ahead was longer yet. After his conversion, or great change, as he termed it, God had literally remade Wilbur. He had given up gambling years before, when it dawned on him that his frequent wins might be dragging others into debt. But now, he swiftly withdrew his membership from the 5 exclusive clubs he had been part of. It pained him to realize how much of his life he had squandered in profitless pleasure, and now he resolved to discipline himself and learn responsible stewardship of his time and money.

As we may well imagine, Wilbur's mother was initially scandalized that her famous son had turned over a new leaf and become a committed Christian, the very outcome she had worked so diligently to prevent. Of course, he was in his late twenties now, not the malleable twelve-year-old he had once been, but she braced herself for the worst when Wilbur came to spend part of the summer with her. But instead of a nervous, moody, religious nut, he arrived with more cheerful bounce and energy than she had ever seen in him before. True, he declined participation in certain activities that were social staples of the day, but the petulance and ill-humor that used to fire up in him on occasion had vanished. A family friend who had known Wilbur since childhood remarked, If this is madness, I hope he will bite us all." As John Newton and Pitt had advised him to do, Wilbur had remained in Parliament and was now searching for God's object for him to fulfill in that position.

Since his conversion, he had begun to view society around him through an entirely different lens and he realized that God might be able to use him to address the evils which now assailed his horrified eyes. The perversions were so numerous and so far-reaching, it was daunting for Wilbur to know just where to start, but he knew that the entire fabric of the nation must be rewoven. England needed to return to her roots, to the rediscovery of living faith and biblical Christianity. The first bill that Wilbur presented to Parliament for the reformation of morals had to do with eliminating gruesome criminal justice, barbaric remains of the Dark Ages which should have been confined there. Wilbur was stunned when the bill, which seemed so mild and sensible to him, was blocked in the House of Lords.

This was his first intimation that the work God had prepared for him, whatever it was exactly, might not be so easy after all. As the idea of lending his influence to help make goodness fashionable took shape in Wilbur's mind, another subject kept presenting itself to him again and again. He could not shake it off, and it was beginning to haunt him quite terribly. It was the subject of the African slave trade. He'd been aware of it for a very long time, and when he first entered Parliament, it had fleetingly crossed his mind that he might do something to redress the wrongs of the slaves.

Naturally, he was also familiar with Newton's experiences as a slave-ship captain and shared his hatred of the dirty business. But now, suddenly, he felt a strong push from several sides to become the voice of abolition in Parliament. Although his heart was with the slaves, he hesitated for some months, prayerfully counting the cost. He wanted to be sure this was God's design for him before throwing himself into an effort that would require his all. As the months wore by, however, Wilbur's conviction only deepened.

The sickening tales he heard of the sufferings of the slaves piled up like an enormous, weighty mountain in his mind. The Holy Spirit strengthened his resolve, and with Pitt's encouragement under the oak tree that afternoon in 1787, Wilbur made his decision. He would cast in his lot, openly and unreservedly, for the abolition of the slave trade. He wrote in his journal, God Almighty has set before me 2 great objects, the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners." William Wilberforce had embraced his calling. In the beginning, Wilber and his abolitionist friends had high hopes for the instant success of the glorious cause, as John Wesley, the famous founder of Methodism, called it.

Wilbur was convinced that the 850 pages of ghastly evidence they had amassed would be more than enough to show Parliament the justice and reasonableness of immediate action against the slave trade. God, the Prime Minister, and many other influential figures were on their side. What could go wrong? Alas, Wilbur had not yet realized the bewitching power of the great goddess interest." Another phrase by John Wesley. Wilbur's first abolition speech in the House of Commons provided 3 and a half hours worth of details on the abominable trade.

It was universally acclaimed as brilliant and moving oratory, but Parliament's reaction was heartlessly absurd. They needed more evidence before they would lift a finger against the trade. 2 years and 10, 000 pages of evidence later, Wilbur again stood up to speak in the House. It was another eloquent speech, and this time Parliament was ready to vote. 2 to 1, abolition of the slave trade was struck down.

It was all very discouraging, of course, but Wilbur and his friends refused to quit. Year after year, Wilbur would present the bill for the abolition of the slave trade to Parliament, and year after year it would be defeated. Some began to quip that Wilbur and his bill were as predictable as the crocuses and daffodils, faithfully poking up every spring. 5 years into the fray, a wily Member of Parliament, seeking a compromise that would hush both the abolitionists and the pro-slave trade factions, proposed a slight modification to the bill. He suggested that the slave trade be abolished gradually.

William Pitt immediately perceived the ruse and rose to give the finest speech of his life in favor of immediate abolition. It was too late. The gradual motion passed overwhelmingly. It was a glaring defeat wrapped in the false appearance of victory, and nothing ever came of it. And so it went.

Convinced as he was that this was God's purpose for him, Wilbur continued to pursue abolition of the British slave trade unflinchingly, despite cruel opposition, nasty rumors, death threats, and political upheavals. In 1806, William Pitt unexpectedly passed away, and after that blow, Wilbur was left without his good friend and ally. His own health was extremely poor, and several times he was a death's door himself. Each time, however, God would miraculously revive him and he would continue to present his bill to Parliament at every opportunity. His spiritual life was flourishing.

Though he had abandoned the frivolity of his youth, his personality never lost its charm or magnetism, and the attractiveness of his character brought countless others to Christ. In 1807, exactly 20 years after the conversation under the oak tree, the Bill for the Abolition of the Slave Trade underwent its routine presentation to Parliament. This time, the atmosphere was changed. The bill passed the House of Commons with a good majority, without the detestable word gradually, and now awaited the House of Lords. Wilbur wrote in his journal, The decision of the great question approaches.

May it please God, who has the hearts of all in His hands, to turn them in the House of Lawrence and enable me to have a single eye and a simple heart, desiring to please God, to do good to my fellow creatures, and to testify my gratitude to my adorable Redeemer. The bill passed the House of Lords 283 to 16 amid thunderous cheers and applause. The moment of victory was sweet and all Wilbur could do was weep for sheer joy. In 1833, the aging Wilbur was in his seventies. He had retired from Parliament several years before.

The 20-year war to end the slave trade had taken its toll and he was very frail. 3 days before his death he finally received the news he'd yearned to hear for 50 years. Parliament had passed a bill to abolish not just the slave trade but slavery itself in every corner of the British Empire. 800, 000 slaves would be given their freedom. It was a gloriously appropriate end to such a dedicated life.

William Wilberforce was laid to rest in Westminster Abbey by the side of his friend William Pitt, there to repose, as his epitaph reads, till, through the merits of Jesus Christ, his only Redeemer and Savior, whom, in His life and in His writings He desired to glorify, He shall rise in the resurrection of the just. Thank you for listening to Great In God's Sight, a podcast by GYC Southeast. We hope you have enjoyed this adventure through time and pray it serves to deepen your relationship with God. Each episode aims to draw insight from the life of 1 individual. While we strive to bring you a unique perspective on each believer, we encourage you to use your God-given curiosity to explore these topics for yourself.

Please remember to hit the subscribe button and share this episode with your friends via text or social media. You never know who might be encouraged! Until next time, we wish you God's blessing as you

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Great in God's Sight Season 1

William Wilberforce, Part 2: The Great Cause

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Other Teachings in Series

John: the Soul that Knows its Worth

11m

Polycarp: Eighty-Six Years

8m

Justin Martyr: Philosopher to Child of God

11m

Patrick: Unlikely Freedom

10m

Thomas: The Other Half of Faith

9m

Columba: The Dove of Scotland

10m

Jerome, Cyril, and Methodius: Bibles for East and West

10m

William Wilberforce, Part 1: The Great Change

12m

William Wilberforce, Part 2: The Great Cause

13m

Mark: One Young Man

10m

Sound Doctrine