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William Wilberforce
A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians, in the Middle and Higher Classes in this Country, Contrasted with Real Christianity.

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A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians, in the Middle and Higher Classes in this Country, Contrasted with Real Christianity.

by William Wilberforce

EN·~10 hours·11 chapters

Chapters

11 total

By WILLIAM WILBERFORCE, Esq; MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR THE COUNTY OF YORK.

7:05

INTRODUCTION.

5:21

CHAPTER I. - INADEQUATE CONCEPTIONS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTIANITY. - Popular Notions.—Scripture Account.—Ignorance in this Case criminal.—Two false Maxims exposed.

22:00

CHAPTER II. - CORRUPTION OF HUMAN NATURE. - Sect. I. - Inadequate Conceptions of the Corruption of Human Nature.

47:48

CHAPTER III. - Chief defects of the Religious System of the bulk of professed Christians, in what regards our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit—with a Dissertation concerning the use of the Passions in Religion. - Sect. I - SCRIPTURE DOCTRINES.

1:28:08

CHAPTER IV. - On the prevailing inadequate Conceptions concerning the Nature and the Strictness of practical Christianity. - Sect. I.

4:19:30

CHAPTER V. - On the Excellence of Christianity in certain important Particulars. Argument which results thence in Proof of its divine Origin.

17:25

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.

1:10:56

CHAPTER VII. - Practical Hints to various Descriptions of Persons.

1:38:57

INDEX. - A.

1:26

Description

A reflective essay penned by a seasoned parliamentarian, this work emerges from a deep concern for the state of faith among the country’s educated and affluent classes. The author explains how his public duties have long delayed this study, yet he now seizes any spare moment to offer a measured, earnest appeal to his fellow citizens. He frames his intervention not as an intrusion but as a moral obligation to promote the well‑being of those he respects.

The heart of the text is a careful examination of the prevailing religious habits of respectable Christians, pointing out how many accept a shallow, conventional form of worship that often misses the essence of true Christianity. By contrasting this with a vision of a more sincere, Scripture‑grounded faith, the author invites listeners to reconsider their own beliefs and to seek a deeper, more authentic spiritual life. The tone remains courteous and scholarly, encouraging thoughtful engagement rather than heated debate.

Details

Language

Duration

~10 hours (617K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by Robert Shimmin, Nigel Blower, Greg Alethoup and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

Release date

2008-06-06

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

Subjects

Christianity Christianity -- Great Britain

About the author

William Wilberforce

1759–1833

A gifted speaker and reformer, he became one of the best-known leaders of the long campaign to end the British slave trade. His life also reflected a deep religious conviction that shaped his politics, philanthropy, and sense of duty.

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