John Wesley became an opponent of the slave trade movement and the ownership of slaves in general at an early age. He was a well known preacher and an advocate for the poor and down-trodden. During his 30’s, Wesley visited one of the states British colonies, Georgia. It was in Georgia that he first encountered slaves; there he witnessed the degradation of the African people.
Wesley continued to read and keep abreast of the anti-slave movement. He read books, letters and pamphlets on the subject. One of those pamphlets was Olaudah Equiano, a narrative of a young boy born in Eboe, presently known as Nigeria, in 1745.He was eleven when kidnapped and sold to slave traders whose destination was the West Indies, where he served captains of slave ships and British Naval vessel. On February 24th, 1791, just 6 days before his death Wesley wrote a letter to a Member of Parliament, William Wilberforce, who was converted under Wesley’s ministry. He implored Wilberforce to take action regarding the abolition of slave trading in England.
Dear Sir:
Unless the divine power has raised you us to be as Athanasius contra mundum I see not how you can go through your glorious enterprise in opposing that execrable villainy which is the scandal of religion, of England, and of human nature. Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God before you, who can be against you? Are all of them together stronger than God? O be not weary of well doing! Go on, in the name of God and in the power of his might, till even American slavery (the vilest that ever saw the sun) shall vanish away before it.
Reading this morning a tract wrote by a poor African, I was particularly struck by that circumstance that a man who has a black skin, being wronged or outraged by a white man, can have no redress; it being a "law" in our colonies that the oath of a black against a white goes for nothing. What villainy is this?
That he who has guided you from youth up may continue to strengthen you in this and all things, is the prayer of, dear sir,
Your affectionate servant,
John Wesley
Wesley states that men were raised to be as Athanasius contra mundum, which translates to Athanasius, arrayed against the world. He was challenging Wilberforce to be a crusader and a voice of one against all opposition. Wesley influenced many men to speak out about slavery. His method was not a bible wielding preacher, nor was he abrasive in his mannerism. Although he knew many politicians and business men, he remained true to his faith and was not swayed or succumbed by money or power. He was a devout man of faith and believed through his sermons. Most of his critics agreed that unlike many anti-slave advocates John Wesley had a cause which did not serve himself but God and the people he advocated for.
