A.D. 1530
During the sixteenth century there was a young doctor of divinity, a student at Trinity College, Cambridge. He was much given to the study of canonical law, and being of a serious turn of mind, he tried hard to fulfill the commandments of God.
Anxious about his soul’s salvation, the young man, Thomas Bilney, applied to the clergy whom he looked upon as physicians of the spirit. Kneeling before them, humbly and self-accusing, he told them all his sins and even those he only might have committed. They prescribed, at one time, fasting, at another, prolonged vigils, then pilgrimages and other devotions which cost him dearly.
The poor doctor went through all these practices with great devotion, but found no consolation in them. Being naturally weak in body, he wasted away by degrees; his understanding became confused, and he ran out of money.
“Finally,” he said to himself, “my last state is worse than the first!”
One day Bilney overheard his friends whispering about a new book. It was the Greek New Testament, recently translated, which they highly praised. Attracted by the beauty of the book, rather than by the divinity of the subject, Bilney sought to see the book for himself and stretched out his hand for it. Just as he was going to take the volume, superstitious fear overcame him and he quickly withdrew his hand.
Then came the thought: Was it not the testament of Jesus Christ? Might not God have placed in it some words which perhaps might heal his soul?
At last Thomas Bilney took courage. He slipped into the house where the volume was sold in secret, bought it with fear and trembling, and hurried back and shut himself up in his room.
As he opened it, his eye caught 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 Timothy 1:1515This 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 Timothy 1:15).)
“What! Saint Paul is the chief of sinners, and yet Saint Paul is sure of being saved?” He read the verse again and again.
This declaration continually haunted him. He could not tell what had happened to him; it seemed as if a refreshing wind were blowing over his soul, or as if a great treasure had been placed in his hands. “I am a sinner like Paul,” he cried, “and like Paul, the greatest of sinners.” But Christ alone saves sinners. His doubts were ended, his sins forgiven, and he was saved.
Bilney never grew tired of reading and proclaiming the wonders of his New Testament. A true witness to Jesus Christ had been born again by the same power that had transformed Paul sixteen centuries before. Today, more than four centuries later, that power to save is still the same.