William Gurnall

“Little Thomas Bilney,” as he was most often called was one of those early reformers in England who had a keen desire for the salvation of those that he came into contact with.

One man on whom he set this desire above all others was young Hugh Latimer, then a Roman Catholic Priest, but soon to become “stout Hugh” on account of his noble stand and martyrdom in the cause of the gospel. In those days it wasn’t in any way safe to be found speaking about the things of this “new” reformation, but little Thomas approached Latimer one day and asked him if he would like to “hear” his confession. As a conscientious priest, Latimer couldn’t really refuse, and so, in the quiet of his study the pair met and the speaking and listening began. In after years, Hugh Latimer told that when Bilney made his study his confessional, he poured forth such a tale of sin and faith that it gave him his first “smell of the grace of God.”

“The faster a man rides, if he be in the wrong road,
the farther he goes out of his way. Zeal is the best
or worst thing in a duty; if the end be right, it is
excellent; if wrong, worthlessness.”

(William Gurnall)

Extract from The Wicket Gate Magazine, published in the UK, used with permission.