A window into the heart of an abolitionary.

 
William Wilberforce is probably best known as the leader of the parliamentary campaign for the abolition of the slave trade in the United Kingdom. But behind his heart for justice lay a commitment and desire to serve God that permeated not only his life, but also his writings.

 
Michael D. McMullen has worked extensively on the life and manuscripts of Wilberforce and has carefully selected these daily readings to help readers not only know the man better, but also to point their eyes to the God whom he served.

This beautifully presented gift edition contains daily readings are dated for every day of the year. On each day, a verse of scripture is accompanied by a reflection taken from his spiritual journals and his one published book, as well as his unpublished works, letters, and recorded reflections on scriptures. The readings are accompanied by a biographical introduction detailing the context into which Wilberforce ministered.

In these writings we meet a man who is introspective and self–deprecating, believing he fell far short of the standards expected of a Christian. But his devotion and love for the God who called him to be an ‘Agent of Usefulness’ is abundantly clear.

 
These words that he wrote to challenge and encourage himself will do the same for a new generation of readers.

May Wilberforce’s passionate pursuit of God stir you to do likewise.

We can benefit greatly from taking unhurried time to reflect on these daily extracts. May our desire be as Wilberforce’s expressed in this book: ‘I would grow in grace, and labour to live a life more honourable to God and more useful to man.’

What a gem this is and what thanks we owe Prof McMullen for his fine editorial skills.

Michael McMullen has done us a huge favour in making Wilberforce’s devotional reflections into a devotional source for us all. William Wilberforce was a man who had a real faith in Jesus that worked itself out in all of life. I pray these daily readings may inspire that same integrated faith in us all.

What a wonderful opportunity we now have daily to be getting to know Wilberforce through his letters and writings… I am grateful to Professor McMullen for this service to the church. 

William Wilberforce is known as the leader of the Evangelicals in parliament who were responsible for the abolition of the British slave trade. Blessed with a sunny personality, he was also a genuinely humble man who laid out his inner thoughts in written musings on his faith. Michael McMullen has selected some of the best of them as daily readings. Each extract is given under a verse from scripture, the source of his reflections. 

Dr. Michael D. McMullen is Professor of Church History at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City. William Wilberforce (1759 – 1833) was a British politician, philanthropist and a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade.