Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 296-373 AD) was an early church father who was a vigorous opponent of Arianism (an early Church heresy that taught that Jesus was a subservient and created being).
Here, in its entirety, is Wesley's final written words, addressed to William Wilberforce:
"Dear Sir:
"Unless the divine power has raised you us to be as Athanasius contra mundum, [emphasis added] 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 be fore 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 [cq] 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"
I propose no firm historical linkage between slavery and Occupation, but I do propose a linkage between the demand for action called for by John Newton against slavery, and the passage of a divestment resolution by United Methodist General Conference delegates as a 21st century demand for the UMC to halt its financial support of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian people.
It is well past time to "throw this dirty, filthy Occupation out of United Methodist waters."
The clip from the film Amazing Grace, may be found here.
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