TWICE-BORN MEN
REMARKABLE CONVERSIONS OF WELL-KNOWN MEN
IN DIFFERENT AGES AND IN VARIED RANKS OF LIFE
Compiled by HY. PICKERING
Little Bilney of Cambridge
THOMAS BILNEY, familiarly known as “Little Bilney,” as a student at Cambridge longed for peace, and found it not till he got hold of the New Testament translated by Erasmus. Then he said:
“I bought the book, being drawn thereto rather by the Latin than by the Word of God, for at that time I knew not what the Word of God meant. And, on the first reading of it, as I well remember, I chanced upon these words, ‘ This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief’ (1 Tim 1:16). That one sentence, through God’s inward working, did so lift up my poor bruised spirit that the very bones within me leaped for joy and gladness. It was as if, after a long, dark night, day had suddenly broke!”
It became a burden on his soul to win HUGH LATIMER a popular father at that time. He prayed: “0 God, I am but little Bilney, and shall never do any great thing for Thee; but give me the soul of HUGH LATIMER, and what wonders he shall do in Thy Name.” How this was accomplished is told in next record.