IN the sixteenth century there was at Trinity College, Cambridge, a young doctor, of serious turn of mind, and whose tender conscience strove, although ineffectually, to fulfill the commandments of God. The more he strove, the more he found that he came short of God’s holy law, and was more than ever convicted of being a sinner. “By the law is the knowledge of sin” (Rom. 3:20), and it can only curse chose who fail in any of its requirements.
Thomas Bilney, for that was his name, applied to the priest, who prescribed fasting, vigils, masses, indulgences, and other useless things that can never meet the need of a soul. The poor doctor went through all these practices with great devotion, but found no consolation.
Weakened by fasting, and his purse emptied, with anguish he exclaimed, “Alas! my last state is worse than the first!”
No wonder that doubts sometimes entered his mind: “May not the priests be seeking their own interest, and not the salvation of my soul?” but being still in darkness, undelivered from priestly rule, he refused the thought, and fell back under their heavy yoke.
But God never leaves an anxious soul long to grope in darkness. Light divine is by some means brought, which gives peace and joy to the soul, and which brings deliverance from the thralldom of men who know not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
About that time Erasmus, a very learned man, had translated the New Testament into Latin, and this found ready acceptance in England and on the continent of Europe. But this very book, which was filling souls with light and peace and joy, and giving the knowledge of salvation to souls everywhere, was strictly forbidden by the Romish priests, and called “the source of all heresy.” Darkness hates the light; for light makes manifest the darkness. A religion that is founded on the rejection, or perversion, of the Word of God, cannot be of God.
This precious volume was sold in secret, for Jezebel was in power; and many bought it, though “the wolves in sheep’s clothing” raved against it.
Bilney took courage, urged, as he said, by the hand of God, went to the house where the book was being sold, bought it with fear and trembling; then hastening back, shut himself up in his room.
What a moment that was for Bilney! Shut in with God and His sacred Word, and having as his teacher the Holy Spirit, what could hinder his blessing!
The precious book is opened, so full of light and comfort for such as Bilney; and yearning for that knowledge which the Scriptures only can give, his eyes, directed no doubt by God, alight on a verse so suitable to his case, which scattered the darkness, and in the revelation of the Saviour to him, spoke peace to his soul: “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. 1:15).
He meditated on these blessed words, which were as oil upon the troubled waters of his soul. They calmed the tempest that had raged so long. A great calm succeeded the storm, and the darkness gave place to the “light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor. 4:4).
“What! St Paul the chief of sinners, and yet St Paul is sure of being saved!” The verse was read again and again. “O assertion of St Paul, how sweet art thou to my soul!” he exclaimed. “I also am like Paul,” he uttered with deep emotion; “and, more than Paul, the greatest of sinners!... But Christ saves sinners. At last I have heard of Jesus!”
Before, he had heard of rites and ceremonies, penances and fasts, vigils, pilgrimages, masses, and indulgences, and they had utterly failed to meet the need of his soul, as all human works must do; but now, he had heard of Jesus, and that He had come into the world to save sinners. He was a sinner, and therefore He came to save him. He now knew and felt the power of those wonderful words: “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:5).
“Jesus Christ!” he cried with holy fervor; “yes, Jesus Christ saves!” Yes, blessed be His name forever, He saves. When on the cross His enemies jeeringly said, “He saved others, himself he cannot save” (Matt. 27:42), the emissaries of Satan never uttered a truer word. “He saved others”; and, we can add, He saves them still. He is still mighty to save, and His precious blood mighty to cleanse. But if He would and does save others, He could not save Himself, such is the mystery of Divine love, for He had come to die. Salvation is the purchase of His atoning death. His blood must flow; “for without shedding of blood there is no remission” (Heb. 9:21).
“I see it all,” said Bilney; “my vigils, my fasts, my pilgrimages, my purchase of masses and indulgences were destroying instead of saving me. All these efforts were, as St Augustine says, a hasty, running out of the right way.”
Now the light had illumined Bilney’s soul, it must shine out through him to others. Timid before men, but mighty in prayer, and with a special discernment of people’s spiritual whereabouts, he, under God, undertook and accomplished the conversion of the Celebrated Latimer, who after a long life of devotion to Christ was burnt at the stake. Bilney was privileged to suffer in the same way, and will, with his fellow-martyr, in the resurrection receive a martyr’s crown. “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Rev. 2:11).
Dear reader, I know not how it is with you, but I place the story of Bilney’s conversion to God before you, praying that you with him may exclaim with joy of soul, “Jesus Christ! yes, Jesus Christ saves!”
E. A.