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TO
THE MEMORY OF WILLIAM WILBERFORCE (BORN IN HULL AUGUST 24th
1759, DIED IN LONDON JULY 29th 1833;) FOR NEARLY HALF A
CENTURY A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, AND, FOR SIX
PARLIAMENTS DURING THAT PERIOD, ONE OF THE TWO REPRESENTATIVES
FOR YORKSHIRE. IN AN AGE AND COUNTRY FERTILE IN GREAT AND GOOD
MEN, HE WAS AMONG THE FOREMOST OF THOSE WHO FIXED THE
CHARACTER OF THEIR TIMES; BECAUSE TO HIGH AND VARIOUS TALENTS,
TO WARM BENEVOLENCE, AND TO UNIVERSAL CANDOUR, HE ADDED THE
ABIDING ELOQUENCE OF A CHRISTIAN LIFE. EMINENT AS HE WAS IN
EVERY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC LABOUR, AND A LEADER IN EVERY WORK
OF CHARITY, WHETHER TO RELIEVE THE TEMPORAL OR THE SPIRITUAL
WANTS OF HIS FELLOW-MEN, HIS NAME WILL EVER BE SPECIALLY
IDENTIFIED WITH THOSE EXERTIONS WHICH, BY THE BLESSING OF GOD,
REMOVED FROM ENGLAND THE GUILT OF THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE, AND
PREPARED THE WAY FOR THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IN EVERY COLONY
OF THE EMPIRE: IN THE PROSECUTION OF THESE OBJECTS HE RELIED,
NOT IN VAIN, ON GOD; BUT IN THE PROGRESS HE WAS CALLED TO
ENDURE GREAT OBLOQUY AND GREAT OPPOSITION: HE OUTLIVED,
HOWEVER, ALL ENMITY; AND IN THE EVENING OF HIS DAYS, WITHDREW
FROM PUBLIC LIFE AND PUBLIC OBSERVATION TO THE BOSOM OF HIS
FAMILY. YET HE DIED NOT UNNOTICED OR FORGOTTEN BY HIS COUNTRY:
THE PEERS AND COMMONS OF ENGLAND, WITH THE LORD CHANCELLOR AND
THE SPEAKER AT THEIR HEAD, IN SOLEMN PROCESSION FROM THEIR
RESPECTIVE HOUSES, CARRIED HIM TO HIS FITTING PLACE AMONG THE
MIGHTY DEAD AROUND, HERE TO REPOSE: TILL, THROUGH THE MERITS
OF JESUS CHRIST, HIS ONLY REDEEMER AND SAVIOUR, (WHOM, IN HIS
LIFE AND IN HIS WRITINGS HE HAD DESIRED TO GLORIFY,) HE SHALL
RISE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST.
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