William Wilberforce

William Wilberforce was born on August 24^th in Yorkshire England into a family of wealthy merchants.   He was influenced by relatives as a young child to become an Evangelical which his mother disapproved of being a member of the church of England.  This influence lasted for the rest of his life.  At the age of 21 he ran for a seat in Parliament and won.  Uncompromising in his convictions he was an independent who sometimes had conflicts with both the Whigs and Tory’s.  He was committed to voting his conscience on all issues.  Sometime in 1795 Wilberforce converted to Evangelism and went from a worldlier lifestyle to one of total commitment to God.  For this he considered moral behavior as an expression of his Christian dedication.  In 1787 he became involved with a group of anti-slave trade activists.  He became convinced that God had called him to lead in the effort to abolish slavery.  From then on until his death in 1833 he was a major leader in the movement to abolish the slave trade and used his seat in Parliament to further this and other causes he associated with his relationship with God.   He actively fought for a greater sense of morality and for the rights of animals believing they were also Gods creatures.  His efforts of many years led to the passage of the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 just three days before his death.  His story is particularly inspiring because his love for God led him to dedicate himself for nearly half a century to fight for a cause he eventually won.  His efforts also influenced the rise of abolitionist sentiment in the United States and other nations.

D.L. Moody

D.L. Moody was an American preacher who was born in Massachusetts in 1837.  Moody was a believer in the holiness movement attributed to John Wesley.  This belief is known as the second work of grace.  After the initial regeneration of salvation believers are led by grace to a state of holiness where they are less likely to sin.  His message was very popular in the 19^th century.  Abraham Lincoln and many others including Union Generals attended his services.  He visited many civil war battlefields to share the gospel.  One of his significant viewpoints was to treat Jesus Christ as a personal friend.  He did not see Jesus as a creed or doctrine but as the answer Himself through us having a personal relationship with Him.

Teresa of Avila

Teresa of Avila was a mystic and Carmelite nun.  She also was a friend of St. John of the Cross and shared many of his insights on inner life and contemplative prayer.  She believed in regularly, throughout every day, being alone with God.  Contemplative prayer meant nothing more than being alone with friends.  This very special personal relationship with God led to her having many, many visions.  She articulated her experiences as consisting of four stages for the ascent of the soul with God.  She referred to each stage as a devotion.

The first is the devotion of the heart.  This requires mental prayer that is both devout and contemplative.

The second devotion is the devotion of peace.  This involves surrendering ones will to God.    In this state your memory, will and reason can still be distracted.

The third is the devotion of union.  This state is the absorption of self to God.  This leads to a state of ecstasy and absorption of reason in God.  The memory and imagination can still be distracting.

The fourth is the devotion of ecstasy.  In this state consciousness of one being in the body ends.  All sense activity ceases including memory and imagination.  This is the highest level of mystical experience.

THOMAS MERTON

Thomas Merton was a Catholic Priest and mystic.  He greatly inspired both Catholic and Protestants alike.  He wrote more than 70 books most of which are available to read today.  He was influenced by Meister Eckhart realizing the necessity of inner stillness as a means of letting God in.  He also practiced spiritual contemplation and meditation.

Merton believed the was to God and self-realization was to be yourself.   In this he felt that to know God you had to know yourself.  Being yourself was understanding that you are love by God and are love yourself in God.

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