by William Wilberforce
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
A PRACTICAL VIEW OF THE PREVAILING RELIGIOUS SYSTEM OF Professed Christians, IN THE HIGHER AND MIDDLE CLASSES IN THIS COUNTRY, CONTRASTED WITH REAL CHRISTIANITY.
Modernized and annotated, by William H. Gross
It has been, for several years, the earnest wish of the writer of the following pages to address his countrymen on the important subject of Religion; but the various duties of his public station, and a constitution incapable of much labour, have obstructed the execution of his purpose. Long has he been looking forward to some vacant season, in which he might devote his whole time and attention to this interesting service, free from the interruption of all other concerns; and he has rather wished for this opportunity of undistracted and mature reflection, from a desire that what he might send into the world might thus be rendered less undeserving of the public eye. Meanwhile life is wearing away, and he daily becomes more and more convinced, that he might wait in vain for this season of complete vacancy. He must, therefore, improve such occasional intervals of leisure as may occur to him in the course of a busy life, and throw himself on the Reader’s indulgence for the pardon of such imperfections, as the opportunity of undiverted and more mature attention might have enabled him to discover and correct.
But the plea here suggested is by no means intended as an excuse for the opinions which he shall express, if they are found mistaken. Here, if he is in an error, it is however a deliberate error. He would indeed account himself unpardonable, if he were to intrude his first thoughts upon the Public on a question of such importance; and he can truly declare, that what he shall offer will be the result of much reading, observation, and inquiry, and of long, serious, and repeated consideration.
It is not improbable that he may be accused of deviating from his proper line, and of impertinently interfering in the concerns of a Profession to which he does not belong. If it were necessary, however, to defend himself against this charge, he might shelter himself under the authority of many most respectable examples. But surely to such an accusation it may be sufficient to reply, that it is the duty of every man to promote the happiness of his fellow-creatures to the utmost of his power; and that he who thinks he
sees many around him, whom he esteems and loves, labouring under a fatal error, must have a cold heart, or a most confined notion of benevolence, if he could refrain from endeavouring to set them right, lest in so doing he should be accused of stepping out of his proper walk, and expose himself on that ground to the imputation of officiousness.
But he might also allege as a full justification, not only that Religion is the business of every one, but that its advancement or decline in any country is so intimately connected with the temporal interests of society, as to render it the peculiar concern of a political man; and that what he may presume to offer on the subject of Religion may perhaps be perused with less jealousy and more candour, from the very circumstance of its having been written by a Layman, which must at least exclude the idea (an idea sometimes illiberally suggested to take off the effect of the works of Ecclesiastics) that it is prompted by motives of self-interest, or of professional prejudice.
But if the writer’s apology is not found in the work itself, and in his avowed motive for undertaking it, he would in vain endeavour to satisfy his readers by any excuses he might assign; therefore, without further preamble, he will proceed to the statement and execution of his purpose.
The main object which he has in view is, not to convince the Sceptic, or to answer the arguments of persons who avowedly oppose the fundamental doctrines of our Religion; but to point out the scanty and erroneous system of the bulk of those who belong to the class of orthodox Christians, and to contrast their defective scheme with a representation of what the author apprehends to be real Christianity. Often has it filled him with deep concern, to observe in this description of persons, scarcely any distinct knowledge of the real nature and principles of the religion which they profess. The subject is of infinite importance; let it not be driven out of our minds by the bustle or dissipations of life. This present scene, and all its cares and all its gaieties, will soon be rolled away, and “we must stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” This awful consideration will prompt the writer to express
himself with greater freedom than he should otherwise be disposed to use. This consideration he trusts, also, will justify his frankness, and will secure him a serious and patient perusal. But it would be trespassing on the indulgence of the reader to detain him with introductory remarks. Let it only be further premised, that if what shall be stated should appear needlessly austere and rigid to any, the writer must lay in his claim not to be condemned without a fair inquiry whether or not his statements accord with the language of the sacred writings. To that test he refers with confidence; and it must be conceded by those who admit the authority of Scripture (such only he is addressing) that from the decision of the word of God there can be no appeal.
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY.
INTRODUCTION.
CHAPTER I.: INADEQUATE CONCEPTIONS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTIANITY.
CHAPTER II.: CORRUPTION OF HUMAN NATURE.
Sect. I.
Inadequate Concepons of the Corrupon of Human Nature.
Secon II.
Evil Spirit. — Natural State of Man.
Secon III.
Corrupon of Human Nature. — Objecon.
CHAPTER III.: CHIEF DEFECTS OF THE RELIGIOUS SYSTEM
Sect. I
Inadequate concepons concerning our Saviour and the Holy Spirit.
Sect. II.
On the Admission of the Passions into Religion.
Secon III.
Consideraon of the Reasonableness of Affecons towards an invisible Being.
Sect. IV.
Inadequate concepons entertained by nominal Chrisans of the terms of acceptance with
God.
CHAPTER IV.: ON THE PREVAILING INADEQUATE CONCEPTIONS CONCERNING THE NATURE AND THE STRICTNESS OF PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY.
Sect. I.
Sect. II.
Sect. III.
On the Desire of human Esmaon and Applause — the generally prevailing Opinions
contrasted with those of the true Chrisan.
Secon IV.
The generally prevailing Error, of substung amiable Tempers and useful Lives in the place
of Religion, stated and confuted; with Hints to real Chrisans.
Secon V.
Some other grand defects in the praccal system of the Bulk of nominal Chrisans.
Sect. VI.
Grand defect. — Neglect of the peculiar Doctrines of Chrisanity.
CHAPTER V.: ON THE EXCELLENCE OF CHRISTIANITY IN CERTAIN IMPORTANT PARTICULARS. ARGUMENT WHICH RESULTS THENCE IN PROOF OF ITS DIVINE ORIGIN.
CHAPTER VI.: BRIEF INQUIRY INTO THE PRESENT STATE OF CHRISTIANITY IN THIS COUNTRY, WITH SOME OF THE CAUSES WHICH HAVE LED TO ITS CRITICAL CIRCUMSTANCES. ITS IMPORTANCE TO US AS A POLITICAL COMMUNITY, AND PRACTICAL HINTS FOR WHICH THE FOREGOING CONSIDERATIONS GIVE OCCASION.
CHAPTER VII.: PRACTICAL HINTS TO VARIOUS DESCRIPTIONS OF PERSONS.
Secon I.
Secon II.
Advice to some who profess their full Assent to the fundamental Doctrines of the Gospel.
Sect. III.
Brief Observaons addressed to Scepcs and Unitarians.
Secon IV.
Advice suggested by the state of the mes to true Chrisans.
INDEX.