Years ago Marilyn was boxing up some old books for an auction when three of them caught her eye. The first was a 1935 edition of Anne of Green Gables, one of her favorite stories, and a place we had to visit on a motorcycle ride to Prince Edward Island. The second was an 1884 edition of The Story of the Bible with 300 illustrations. The third was an early 1800s edition of Practical View, published in 1797 by William Wilberforce, the Member of Parliament who fought for legislation against the British slave trade for 20 years.
Due to their fragile condition the books were seldom handled, and simply found a place of honor on our mantle. Until I got curious about them again, a few weeks ago.
The title page of The Story of the Bible actually reads The Story of the Bible From Genesis to Revelation. Told in Simple Language Adapted to all Ages, But especially to the Young. The author noted that his book was not the Bible, nor meant to take the Bible’s place, but was intended to stimulate the reading and study of the Bible itself by young people. Something that certainly ought to be encouraged today.
The full title of Wilberforce’s book is A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians in the Middle and Higher Classes in this Country, Contrasted with Real Christianity. It quickly became a bestseller, was translated into several languages, and countless editions have been printed over the past two centuries. I must admit that it’s a difficult book to read, and have already been warned by astute family members not to offer it as a Sunday night study next year. But please do read the introduction and an excerpt from chapter one that can be found below. His book was a scathing rebuke to Christians of 200 years ago who failed to put into practice what they professed to believe and what they read in the Bible. His rebuke is no doubt still needed today.
God Bless, Rick
The main object which the writer has in view is, not to convince the sceptic, or to answer the arguments of persons who avowedly oxppose 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 resent scene, with all its cares and all its gayeties, 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.
Let it only be further premised, that if what shall be stated should to any appear needlessly austere and rigid, the writer must lay in his claim not to be condemned without a frail inquiry whether or not his statements accord with the language of the sacred writing. To that test he refers with confidence; and it
must be conceded by those who admit the authority of Scripture, that from the decision of the word of God there can be no appeal.
There are some few facts, and perhaps some leading doctrines and principles, of which they cannot be wholly ignorant; but of the consequences, and relations, and practical uses of these, they have few ideas, or none at all.
Does this seem too strong? View their plan of life and their ordinary conduct; and not to speak at present of their general inattention to things of a religious nature, let us ask, wherein can we discern the points of discrimination between them and professed unbelievers? In an age wherein it is confessed and lamented that infidelity abounds, do we observe in them any remarkable care to instruct their children in the principles of the faith they profess, and to furnish them with arguments for the defense of it?
Chatham Christian Church 