TWICE-BORN MEN

REMARKABLE CONVERSIONS OF WELL-KNOWN MEN
IN DIFFERENT AGES AND IN VARIED RANKS OF LIFE

Compiled by HY. PICKERING

The Bishop of the Blackdowns

GEORGE BREALEY preached the Gospel for many years in the Blackdown Hills in the west of England, and was much used in the conversion of souls. When he was a young man he was careless and heedless regarding eternal matters. On a certain Sunday he thrashed two young men who taunted him with being a “Methodist,” and afterwards took them into a tavern to give them a drink! George’s mother found the three playing cards. With a breaking heart Mrs. Brealey exclaimed, “Oh, my dear son, it pains me more than I can tell to find you here. I never expected to find you in such a place as this,” and immediately fell on her knees and pleaded with God for George’s conversion. George could not stand this, and turning to the others, he said, “Good-bye, mates, I shall never enter this place as I have done.” “What!” was their response, “you going to turn Methody! He’s afraid of his mother !” This was a severe cut to the high-spirited youth, who immediately replied, “No, I’m not afraid of my mother; you know that I love her, but I am afraid of God and my sins. WILL EITHER OF YOU GO TO HELL FOR 3m?” “No! we don’t want to go to Hell for ourselves, much less for you.” “Then don’t laugh at me for turning round and wishing to escape,” was his response. Not long afterwards George Brealey accepted of Christ as his Saviour through believing the Gospel of God’s grace.