A God of love, whose love embraces all humanity,
whose mercy is over all
and who has mingled of one blood all the nations of the earth,
have compassion on those who have no helper,
who are outcast, downtrodden and, by the sins of men, held captive.
Arise, burst their chains asunder,
and more especially break the chains of sin.
By your love, release us, free us all,
that all may be free indeed.  Amen.
From John Wesley’s prayer in ‘Thoughts upon Slavery’ 1744
