A Practical View of Christianity

This carries the godliness of a puritan, the fire of a parliamentarian, and the practicality of an activist. The language is a little...colonial? But even if you don't have time to look up the words, the point will come across. The book is overflowing with wisdom at every turn, and is extremely relevant for our age.

The book is free on kindle as well as on podcast, but I mostly listened by podcast. There are versions which have been updated with modern language.

Here's one excerpt about how things got the way they are:

"Christianity especially has always thriven under persecution. At such a season she has no lukewarm professors; no adherents concerning whom it is doubtful to what party they belong. The Christian is then reminded at every show more turn, that his Master’s kingdom is not of this world. When all on earth wears a black and threatening aspect, he looks up to heaven for consolation; he learns practically to consider himself as a pilgrim and stranger. He then cleaves to fundamentals, and examines well his foundation, as at the hour of death. When Religion is in a state of external quiet and prosperity, the contrary of all this naturally takes place. The soldiers of the church militant then forget that they are in a state of warfare. Their ardour slackens, their zeal languishes. Like a colony long settled in a strange country, they are gradually assimilated in features, and demeanour, and language, to the native inhabitants, till at length almost every vestige of peculiarity dies away."

William Wilberforce is most famous for his success in ending slavery in the British empire, as well as his association with John Newton the author of Amazing Grace. show less

this book reflects the evangelical Christianity which inspired William Wilbrforce, his 'manifesto' as a Christian politician. Although his style of writing is not the easiest to understand nowadays, it reflects the high political language of his day, and it was these people he was aiming the book at. It is an interesting treatment of Christianity and politics, and also nominal vs true Christianity. Many of the things he spoke of in his day are still very relevant in the present day, in many ways human nature and political issues do not change. Not many books quite like this one, and it is worth reading as a great insight into the man who is so often spoken of, but not read.