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. William Wilberforce More Quotes by William Wilberforce More Quotes From William Wilberforce Surely the experience of all good men confirms the proposition that without a due measure of private devotions the soul will grow lean. William Wilberforce good-man soul men I continually find it necessary to guard against that natural love of wealth and grandeur which prompts us always, when we come to apply our general doctrine to our own case, to claim an exception. William Wilberforce doctrine wealth natural Bountiful as is the hand of Providence, its gifts are not so bestowed as to seduce us into indolence, but to rouse us to exertion. William Wilberforce indolence providence hands The time of reckoning will at length arrive. And when finallly summoned to the bar of God, to give an account of our stewardship, what plea can we have to urge in our defense, if we remain willingly, and obstinately ignorant of the way which leads to life, with such transcendent means of knowing it, and such urgent motives to its pursuit? William Wilberforce knowing giving mean Sulky labor, and the labor of sorrow are little worth: if you could only shed tranquility over the conscience and infuse joy into the soul, you would do more to make the man a thorough worker than if you could lend him the force of Hercules, or the hundred arms of Briareus. William Wilberforce soul joy men Watering places - the sports of the field - cards! never-failing cards! - the assembly - the theater - all contribute their aid - amusements are multiplied, and combined, and varied, 'to fill up the void of a listless and languid life;' and by the judicious use of these different resources, there is often a kind of sober settled plan of domestic dissipation, in which with all imaginable decency year after year wears away in unprofitable vacancy. William Wilberforce use sports years God has so made the mind of man that a peculiar deliciousness resides in the fruits of personal industry. William Wilberforce peculiar mind men Can you tell a plain man the road to heaven? Certainly, turn at once to the right, and then go straight forward. William Wilberforce have-faith men heaven We can scarcely indeed look into any part of the sacred volume without meeting abundant proofs, that it is the religion of the Affections which God particularly requires. Love, Zeal, Gratitude, Joy, Hope, Trust, are each of them specified; and are not allowed to us as weaknesses, but enjoined on us as our bounden duty, and commended to us as our acceptable worship. William Wilberforce gratitude weakness joy As much pains were taken to make me idle as were ever taken to make me studious. William Wilberforce idle pain taken To the one, a little natural moderation and quietness of temper may be sufficient to conduct us: but to the other, we can only attain by much discipline and slow advances; and when we think we have made great way, we shall often find reason to confess in the hour of trial, that we had greatly, far too greatly, over-rated our progress. William Wilberforce progress discipline thinking I would suggest that faith is everyone's business. The advance or decline of faith is so intimately connected to the welfare of a society that it should be of particular interest to a politician. William Wilberforce everyone society business faith Can you tell a plain man the road to heaven? Certainly, turn at once to the right, then go straight forward. William Wilberforce road you man heaven Surely the principles of Christianity lead to action as well as meditation. William Wilberforce well principles meditation action
