TWICE-BORN MEN
REMARKABLE CONVERSIONS OF WELL-KNOWN MEN
IN DIFFERENT AGES AND IN VARIED RANKS OF LIFE
Compiled by HY. PICKERING
A Fellow of King’s College
CHARLES SIMEON, one of the greatest powers ever known in Cambridge, founder of the “Simeon Trust,” gained a scholarship at King’s College in 1779, and was there converted to God, as thus detailed in his life:
It was only three days after his entrance on college life, that he was startled by the information that in about three weeks’ time he would be expected to attend the Lord’s Supper—a most evil compulsion truly, and one that must have wrought much harm to many a youth. “What!” said he, “must I attend? On being informed that I must, the thought rushed into my mind, that Satan himself was as fit to attend as I, and that if I must attend, I must prepare for my attendance there. Without a moment’s loss of time I bought the Whole Duty of Man—the only religious book I had ever heard of, and began to read it with great diligence, at the same time calling my ways to remembrance, and crying to God for mercy; and so earnest was I in these exercises, that within three weeks I made myself quite ill with reading, fasting, and prayer. From that day to this, blessed, for ever blessed be my God, I have never ceased to regard the salvation of my soul as the one thing needful.”
For months he continued in great distress of mind, until, in the week before Easter, as he was reading in Bishop Wilson on the Lord’s Supper, he fell upon this expression, “that the Jews knew what they were doing when they transferred their sin to the head of their offering; and the thought rushed into his mind, “What! may I transfer all my guilt to another? Has God provided an offering for me that I may lay my sins on His head? Then, God willing, I will not bear them on my own soul one minute longer.” Accordingly I sought to lay my sins upon the sacred head of Jesus, and on the Wednesday began to have a hope of mercy; on the Thursday that hope increased; on the Friday and Saturday it became more strong; and on the Sunday morning (Easter Day, April 4, 1779) I awoke early with those words upon my heart and lips:
‘Jesus Christ is Risen to-day: Hallelujah! Hallelujah!’
From that hour peace flowed in rich abundance into my soul; and at the Lord’s table in our chapel I had the sweetest access to God through my blessed Saviour.”