Wilberforce and Bacon

I am reading a great biography of William Wilberforce at the moment – Hero for Humanity by Kevin Belmonte [This being an important year in remembering the abolition of the slave trade in England (200 years ago).] It has been interesting to read how God worked in Wilberforce's life to bring him to salvation. Once he became a Christian, and already a member of Parliament, he struggled a bit with whether he should quit being an MP and pursue some type of "full-time" Christian service. Encouraged by William Pitt and others to remain in Parliament and serve God there (and obviously, God ended up using his position in a mighty way to end a horrible practice), Wilberforce remained an MP in following years and used his influence to effect much good.

An avid reader of Sir Francis Bacon, Wilberforce quotes this in his diary (around 1784/5):

Illi mors gravis incubat, qui notus nimis omnibus, ignotus moritur sibi
It is a sad fate for a man to die too well known to everybody else, and still unknown to himself.

Wilberforce concluded: "The shortening of private devotions starves the soul, it grows lean and faint. This must not be."

I find myself rebuked by these words.

A God who is near

I was struck recently by some verses in Isaiah 63. The union of God with his people and the way he enters into their afflictions and upholds them is clearly revealed in this passage. This is no aloof God who has "wound up the world and it is just ticking away"… rather, he is engaged in the troubles of his people, cares for them like a father, showers them with undeserved kindness and grace, and carries them through the afflictions of life. Perhaps it is my mom's cancer and chemo treatments that have me looking to the Word for reassurance…I'm not sure… but how God delivers in verse 9!

In all their distress he too was distressed,
and the angel of his presence saved them.
In his love and mercy he redeemed them;
he lifted them up and carried them
all the days of old.

I'll just share a little insight from John Calvin on this verse:
_________

In all their distress he too was distressed
"By speaking in this manner, he declares the incomparable love which God bears toward his people. In order to move us more powerfully and draw us to himself, the Lord accommodates himself to the manner of men, by attributing to himself all the affection, love, and compassion which a father can have."
_________

In his love
"…he shews that there was no other cause for so great benefits than the absolute and undeserved goodness of God."
_________

he lifted them up and carried them…
"The people experienced the grace of God, not only once, when they were redeemed, but during the whole course of their life, so that to him alone ought to be ascribed all the benefits which they have received."