HAPPY WILBERFORCE

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 28, 1880

HAPPY WILBERFORCE.

No man ever conquered the world by pining for its riches, honors, or amusements; neither can one overcome it by talking against it, or by groaning beneath its burdens, afflictions, and disappointments which are inseparable from the earthly life. But this is "the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith"—the faith by which God is made our trust and Heaven our treasure. With such a faith one can be happy whether he be rich or poor. When Wilberforce saw his wealth melt like snow in spring, he did not torture his soul with useless regrets, but turning his eyes away from his wrecked estate, said, "I know not why my life is spared so long, except it be to show that a man can be as happy without a fortune as with one." He was able to make this sublime exhibition because in losing his worldly substance he still retained his chief treasure which was laid up in Heaven and was daily foretasted in his spiritual fellowship with the living Jesus. Happy Wilberforce! And happy, too, is every man who constantly prays with Augustine: "Lord, let my soul flee from the scorching thoughts of the world under the covert of thy wings, that being refreshed by the moderation of thy shadow, she may sing merrily. In peace I will lay me down to rest."—Zion's Herald.