diff options
Diffstat (limited to '27288.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 27288.txt | 15325 |
1 files changed, 15325 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/27288.txt b/27288.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b2c011b --- /dev/null +++ b/27288.txt @@ -0,0 +1,15325 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life of Trust: Being a Narrative of the +Lord's Dealings With George Mueller, by George Mueller + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Life of Trust: Being a Narrative of the Lord's Dealings With George Mueller + +Author: George Mueller + +Editor: H. Lincoln Wayland + +Release Date: November 17, 2008 [EBook #27288] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIFE OF TRUST *** + + + + +Produced by Bryan Ness and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was +produced from scanned images of public domain material +from the Google Print project.) + + + + + + + * * * * * + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: Every effort has been made to replicate this text as +faithfully as possible; please see detailed list of printing issues at +the end of the text. + + * * * * * + + [Illustration: ASHLEY DOWN ORPHAN HOUSES, BRISTOL, ENG.] + + +THE LIFE OF TRUST: + + BEING A + +NARRATIVE OF THE LORD'S DEALINGS + + WITH + +GEORGE MUeLLER, WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. + + + EDITED AND CONDENSED BY + REV. H. LINCOLN WAYLAND, + PASTOR OF THE THIRD BAPTIST CHURCH, WORCESTER, MASS. + + With an Introduction + + BY + + FRANCIS WAYLAND. + + BOSTON: + GOULD AND LINCOLN, + 59 WASHINGTON STREET. + NEW YORK: SHELDON AND COMPANY. + CINCINNATI: GEORGE S. BLANCHARD. + + 1861. + + + Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1860, by + GOULD AND LINCOLN, + + In the Clerk's office of the District Court + of the District of Massachusetts. + + STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY + GEO. C. RAND AND AVERY, 3 CORNHILL. + + + * * * * * + + + + +EDITOR'S PREFACE. + + +Having been requested by MESSRS. GOULD AND LINCOLN to examine the work +entitled "A NARRATIVE OF SOME OF THE LORD'S DEALINGS WITH GEORGE +MUeLLER," the Editor was convinced that its republication in this country +would greatly promote the piety of American Christians. But to reproduce +the work in its original form was attended with difficulty. The +"Narrative," in four parts, (published respectively in 1837, 1841, 1845, +and 1856,) and the four "Annual Reports" issued in 1857, 1858, 1859, and +1860, would occupy not less than eighteen hundred pages of the size of +those contained in this volume. The cost of such a work would greatly +limit its circulation and its usefulness, if indeed any publisher should +undertake its issue. There seemed no alternative except to abandon the +idea of an American edition altogether, or to present it to the public +in a condensed form. + +Such a condensation seemed, on examination, to be entirely practicable. +Owing to the "Parts" of the "Narrative" having been published at four +separate periods, it often happens that the same matter is several +times repeated. A large portion of the space is occupied with the +acknowledgment of donations received. These entries, although +appropriate in a report made to the donors and to the British public, +have not the same interest for American readers. The discussion of some +points in church polity, and the account of the Author's journeys upon +the Continent, though interesting and instructive, are not necessary to +the continuity of the history. Although in some cases the portions which +have been omitted cover a considerable period of time, yet it is +believed that all which is essential has been retained. No pains have +been spared on the part of the Editor to preserve the value of the work +while reducing its compass, and to give, in a form universally +accessible, a clear exhibition of the wonderful results of the life of +George Mueller, as well as of the principles by which his life has been +governed. + +Believing that the book would be rendered more attractive to the reader, +and more convenient for reference, the Editor has divided it into +Chapters, and has prefixed to each a brief statement of some of the +leading subjects introduced in the Chapter. For these "contents," as +well as for the headings of the Chapters, and for the general title of +the volume, the Editor alone is responsible. + +The "Narrative" of George Mueller has been blessed in other lands to the +awakening of spiritual life. It was the means, as will be observed by +the reader, of greatly forwarding, if not of originating, the work of +grace now advancing in Ireland. "THE LIFE OF TRUST" is submitted to the +Christian public of America, in the hope that its still small voice may +be heard even amid the clangor of political strife and the revulsion of +commercial interests, and that it may be used by the Divine Spirit to +promote and strengthen in the hearts of American Christians, FAITH IN +THE LIVING GOD. + +H. L. W. + +WORCESTER, DEC. 12, 1860 + + + + +AUTHOR'S PREFACE. + + +It was only after the consideration of many months, and after much +self-examination as to my motives, and after much earnest prayer, that I +came to the conclusion to write this work. I have not taken one single +step in the Lord's service concerning which I have prayed so much. My +great dislike to increasing the number of religious books would, in +itself, have been sufficient to have kept me forever from it, had I not +cherished the hope of being instrumental in this way to lead some of my +brethren to value the Holy Scriptures more, and to judge by the standard +of the Word of God the principles on which they act. But that which +weighed more with me than anything, was, that I have reason to believe, +from what I have seen among the children of God, that many of their +trials arise either from want of confidence in the Lord as it regards +temporal things, or from carrying on their business in an unscriptural +way. On account, therefore, of the remarkable way in which the Lord has +dealt with me as to temporal things, I feel that I am a debtor to the +church of Christ, and that I ought, for the benefit of my poorer +brethren especially, to make known the way in which I have been led. In +addition to this, I know that to many souls the Lord has blessed what I +have told them about the way in which he has led me, and therefore it +seemed a duty to use such means, whereby others also, with whom I could +not possibly converse, might be benefited. That which induced me finally +to determine to write this Narrative was, that if the Lord should permit +the book to sell, I might, by the profits arising from the sale, be +enabled in a greater degree to help the poor brethren and sisters among +whom I labor;--a matter which, just at that time, weighed much on my +mind. I therefore began to write. But after three days I was obliged to +lay the work aside on account of my other pressing engagements. +Subsequently, I was laid aside on account of an abscess; and being +unable, for many weeks, to walk about as usual, though able to work at +home, I had time for writing. When the manuscript was nearly completed I +gave it to a brother to look over, that I might have his judgment; and +the Lord so refreshed his spirit through it, that he offered to advance +the means for having it printed, with the understanding that if the book +should not sell he would never consider me his debtor. By this offer not +a small obstacle was removed, as I have no means of my own to defray the +expense of printing. These last two circumstances, connected with many +other points, confirmed me that I had not been mistaken, when I came to +the conclusion that it was the will of God that I should serve his +church in this way. + +The fact of my being a foreigner, and therefore but very imperfectly +acquainted with the English language, I judged to be no sufficient +reason for keeping me from writing. The Christian reader, being +acquainted with this fact, will candidly excuse any inaccuracy of +expression. + +For the poor among the brethren this Narrative is especially intended, +and to their prayers I commend it in particular. + +GEORGE MUeLLER. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +INTRODUCTION XV + + +CHAPTER I. + +Boyhood and Youth. + +1805-1825. + + BIRTH--EARLY DISHONESTY--INSENSIBILITY--CONFIRMATION IN + THE STATE CHURCH--DISSOLUTENESS OF LIFE--THE HARD WAY OF + TRANSGRESSORS--THE GYMNASIUM AT NORDHAUSEN--THE + UNIVERSITY AT HALLE--ROVINGS 31 + + +CHAPTER II. + +The Prodigal's Return. + +1825-1826. + + A TREASURE FOUND--DAWNING OF THE NEW LIFE--THE PEACE OF + GOD--"I AM COME TO SET A MAN AT VARIANCE AGAINST HIS + FATHER"--"LET HIM THAT HEARETH SAY, COME"--THE FIRST + SERMON--DELIGHT IN THE LORD--A COMMON ERROR--THE FOUNTAIN + NEGLECTED 38 + + +CHAPTER III. + +Self-Dedication. + +1826-1829. + + DESIRE FOR MISSIONARY LABOR--PROVIDENTIAL RELEASE FROM + MILITARY SERVICE--VISIT AT HOME--LED TO THE LAND OF HIS + FUTURE LABORS--PROGRESS IN RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE--DESIRE + FOR IMMEDIATE USEFULNESS 47 + + +CHAPTER IV. + +Leaning on Jesus. + +1830-1832. + + A DOOR OPENED--TOKENS FOR GOOD--TRUST EXERCISED IN THE + STUDY AND MINISTRY OF THE WORD--THE SWORD OF THE + SPIRIT--TRUSTING IN GOD FOR DAILY BREAD--BLESSEDNESS OF + WAITING UPON THE LORD--"OWE NO MAN"--"ACCORDING TO YOUR + FAITH BE IT UNTO YOU"--THE GIFT OF FAITH AND THE GRACE + OF FAITH 58 + + +CHAPTER V. + +Ministry at Bristol Begun. + +1832-1833. + + "HERE HAVE WE NO CONTINUING CITY"--CAUTION TO THE + CHRISTIAN TRAVELLER--NEW TOKENS FOR GOOD--THE WAY MADE + CLEAR--MEETINGS FOR INQUIRY--NO RESPECT OF PERSONS WITH + GOD--FRANCKE, "BEING DEAD, YET SPEAKETH"--DAILY BREAD + SUPPLIED--A PECULIAR PEOPLE 80 + + +CHAPTER VI. + +The Scriptural Knowledge Institution. + +1834-1835. + + UNSCRIPTURAL CHARACTER OF THE EXISTING RELIGIOUS AND + BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES--A NEW INSTITUTION PROPOSED--GOD'S + WORD THE ONLY RULE, AND GOD'S PROMISE THE ONLY + DEPENDENCE--"IN EVERYTHING LET YOUR REQUEST BE MADE KNOWN + UNTO GOD"--EARNEST OF THE DIVINE BLESSING ON THE + INSTITUTION--BEREAVEMENT--HELPER SEASONABLY SENT--REWARD + OF SEEKING GOD'S FACE 94 + + +CHAPTER VII. + +Home for Destitute Orphans. + +1835-1836. + + FRANKE'S WORKS FOLLOW HIM--A GREAT UNDERTAKING + CONCEIVED--REASONS FOR ESTABLISHING AN ORPHAN + HOUSE--PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE--TREASURE LAID UP IN HEAVEN IN + PRAYER AND IN FAITH THE WORK IS BEGUN 111 + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +The Field Widening. + +1836-1837. + + AN UNEXPECTED OBSTACLE--IMPLICIT SUBMISSION--A SECOND + ORPHAN HOUSE PROPOSED--AN ENCOURAGING TEXT--THE NEW + ORPHAN HOUSE OPENED--COMPLETED ANSWER TO PRAYER--PROGRESS + OF THE LORD'S WORK--THE OVERSIGHT OF THE FLOCK 125 + + +CHAPTER IX. + +Trial. + +1838. + + THE MINISTRY OF SICKNESS--PEACE OF MIND--JESUS A PRESENT + HELP--DEEP POVERTY--PLEADING WITH GOD--UNITED PRAYER 138 + + +CHAPTER X. + +Deliverance. + +1838. + + "PERPLEXED BUT NOT IN DESPAIR"--FAITH JUSTIFIED--A LESSON + OF OBEDIENCE--BOUNTIFUL SUPPLIES--SPIRITUAL + INGATHERING--A DAY OF MERCIES--TIMELY AID--A SEASON OF + PLENTY--OBEDIENCE REWARDED 151 + + +CHAPTER XI. + +Asking and Receiving. + +1839. + + HELP FOR THE POOR SAINTS--THE UNFAILING BANK--MEANS + EXHAUSTED--LIBERALITY OF A LABORING SISTER--"HE KNOWETH + OUR FRAME"--REDEEMING THE TIME--GODLINESS PROFITABLE + UNTO ALL THINGS 167 + + +CHAPTER XII. + +Plenty and Want. + +1840. + + A PURE OFFERING REQUIRED--A JOURNEY PROPOSED--SEASONABLE + PROVISION--LOOKING ONLY TO THE LORD--THE WRATH OF MAN + PRAISING GOD--A PROMISE FULFILLED--BENEFIT OF TRIAL--NEW + SPRINGS OPENED--BEFORE THEY CALL I WILL ANSWER--TRUST IN + GOD COMMENDED--SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS 181 + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +Faith Strengthened by Exercise. + +1841. + + A WANT SUPPLIED--RESOURCES EXCEEDING THE DEMAND--EVIL OF + SURETYSHIP--POWER OF CHRISTIAN LOVE--GOD'S WORD THE FOOD + OF THE SOUL--PREPARATION FOR THE HOUR OF + TRIAL--POVERTY--DEPENDING ONLY ON THE LIVING GOD 200 + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +Walking in Darkness. + +1841-1842. + + "GOD'S WAY LEADS INTO TRIAL"--GROUNDS OF + THANKFULNESS--PROTRACTED DARKNESS--CAST DOWN, BUT NOT + DESTROYED--TRUST IN GOD COMMENDED--THE MEANS OF ITS + ATTAINMENT--REVIEW OF THE WORK 214 + + +CHAPTER XV. + +Prosperity. + +1842-1843. + + ABUNDANT SUPPLIES--RESTING ON THE WRITTEN WORD--"SEEKING + AND FINDING"--ERRONEOUS IMPRESSIONS REMOVED--PERSEVERING + AND PREVAILING PRAYER ANSWERED--"LENGTHENING THE CORDS + AND STRENGTHENING THE STAKES"--A FOURTH ORPHAN HOUSE 241 + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +Stewardship. + +1844. + + EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY TREASURES--SEEKING THE KINGDOM OF + GOD--FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER--THE CHRISTIAN + MERCHANT--EXAMPLES--MISTAKES 259 + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +Reaping Bountifully. + +1845-1846. + + AN UNEXPECTED REQUEST--DELIBERATION--A GREAT + UNDERTAKING--RELIANCE ON THE RESOURCES OF THE LIVING + GOD--AN ANSWER EXPECTED AND RECEIVED--PRAYER FOR FAITH + AND PATIENCE--FURTHER PROOFS OF DIVINE FAVOR--THE + BLESSEDNESS OF DEVISING LIBERAL THINGS 294 + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +Faith Confirmed by Prosperity. + +1846-1848. + + THE SPIRIT OF SUPPLICATION BESTOWED AND PRAYER + ANSWERED--THE TIME OF MAN'S NEED AND OF GOD'S + BOUNTY--FAITH NOT SHAKEN--DEALING ONLY WITH GOD--THE + NEEDED AMOUNT FURNISHED--PERPETUAL "NEED"--NOT WEARY IN + GOD'S WORK--JOY IN ANSWERED PRAYER--FOUR REQUESTS + GRANTED--"CONTINUING INSTANT IN PRAYER"--THE BUILDING + COMMENCED--PERSONAL HISTORY--A MARKED DELIVERANCE 319 + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +Continued Mercies. + +1848-1850. + + HUMBLE BEGINNINGS--DEVISING LIBERAL THINGS--THE ORPHANS + PROVIDED FOR--A MEMORABLE DAY--MONEY "AT INTEREST"--MEANS + FROM AN UNEXPECTED SOURCE--THE PROGRESS OF THE NEW ORPHAN + HOUSE--MEANS PROVIDED FOR ITS COMPLETION--INEXPRESSIBLE + DELIGHT IN GOD--REVIEW OF THE TWO YEARS PAST 347 + + +CHAPTER XX. + +A New Victory of Faith. + +1850-1851. + + PAST MERCIES AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO NEW UNDERTAKINGS--A + HOUSE FOR SEVEN HUNDRED ORPHANS PROPOSED--WALKING BY + FAITH--COUNSEL SOUGHT FROM GOD--THE PURPOSE + FORMED--DELIGHT IN THE MAGNITUDE AND DIFFICULTY + OF THE DESIGN 364 + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +Unvarying Prosperity. + +1850-1852. + + DESIRES FOR MORE ENLARGED USEFULNESS GRATIFIED--A LARGE + DONATION ANTICIPATED AND RECEIVED--REVIEW OF + 1851--PERSONAL EXPERIENCE--BUILDING FUND FOR THE SECOND + NEW ORPHAN HOUSE--DOUBT RESISTED--WAITING ON GOD NOT + IN VAIN--REVIEW OF 1852 389 + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +Reaping in Joy. + +1852-1854. + + EXPECTING GREAT THINGS FROM GOD--MUNIFICENT + DONATION--INCREASING USEFULNESS OF THE SCRIPTURAL + KNOWLEDGE INSTITUTION--ACCESS TO GOD THROUGH FAITH IN + CHRIST--A VOICE FROM MOUNT LEBANON--BENEFIT OF WAITING + GOD'S TIME--CAREFUL STEWARDSHIP--FAITH, THE ONLY + RELIANCE--"THIS POOR WIDOW HATH CAST IN MORE THAN THEY + ALL"--GREATER ACHIEVEMENTS OF FAITH ANTICIPATED--COUNSEL + TO TRACT DISTRIBUTORS--A NEW AND SEVERE TRIAL OF FAITH 402 + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +Three Years of Prosperity. + +1854-1857. + + THE SITE SELECTED--SIX THOUSAND ORPHANS IN PRISON--HOW TO + ASK FOR DAILY BREAD--REVIEW OF TWENTY-FOUR YEARS--"TAKE + NO THOUGHT FOR THE MORROW"--INSURANCE AGAINST BAD DEBTS 426 + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +Conclusion. + +1857-1860. + + THE HOUSE FOR FOUR HUNDRED OPENED--PRAYER MORE THAN + ANSWERED--THE RESORT IN TROUBLE--AN OUTPOURING OF THE + SPIRIT ON THE ORPHANS--LAND FOR A NEW BUILDING + PURCHASED--"BUT ONE LIFE TO SPEND FOR GOD"--"SCATTERING, + YET INCREASING"--A MEMORABLE YEAR--THE GERM OF THE IRISH + REVIVAL--LETTER FROM AN ORPHAN--THE FRUIT OF SIX MONTHS' + PRAYER--THE RESULTS OF THE WORK--REVIVAL AMONG + THE ORPHANS 446 + + +APPENDIX 473 + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +What is meant by the prayer of faith? is a question which is beginning +to arrest, in an unusual degree, the attention of Christians. What is +the significance of the passages both in the New Testament and the Old +which refer to it? What is the limit within which they may be safely +received as a ground of practical reliance? Were these promises limited +to prophetical or apostolical times; or have they been left as a legacy +to all believers until the end shall come? + +Somehow or other, these questions are seldom discussed either from the +pulpit or the press. I do not remember to have heard any of them +distinctly treated of in a sermon. I do not know of any work in which +this subject is either theoretically explained or practically enforced. +It really seems as if this portion of Revelation was, by common consent, +ignored in all our public teachings. Do not men believe that God means +what he appears plainly to have asserted? or, if we believe that he +means it, do we fear the charge of fanaticism if we openly avow that we +take him at his word? + +The public silence on this subject does not, however, prevent a very +frequent private inquiry in respect to it. The thoughtful Christian, +when in his daily reading of the Scriptures he meets with any of those +wonderful promises made to believing prayer, often pauses to ask +himself, What can these words mean? Can it be that God has made such +promises as these to me, and to such men as I am? Have I really +permission to commit all my little affairs to a God of infinite wisdom, +believing that he will take charge of them and direct them according to +the promptings of boundless love and absolute omniscience? Is prayer +really a power with God, or is it merely an expedient by which our own +piety may be cultivated? Is it not merely a power (that is, a stated +antecedent accompanied by the idea of causation), but is it a +transcendent power, accomplishing what no other power can, over-ruling +all other agencies, and rendering them subservient to its own wonderful +efficiency? I think there are few devout readers of the Bible to whom +these questions are not frequently suggested. We ask them, but we do not +often wait for an answer. These promises seem to us to be addressed +either to a past or to a coming age, but not to us, at the present day. +Yet with such views as these the devout soul is not at all satisfied. If +an invaluable treasure is here reserved for the believer, he asks, why +should I not receive my portion of it? He cannot doubt that God has in a +remarkable manner, at various times, answered his prayers; why should he +not always answer them? and why should not the believer always draw near +to God in full confidence that he will do as he has said? He may +remember that the prayer which has been manifestly answered was the +offspring of deep humility, of conscious unworthiness, of utter +self-negation, and of simple and earnest reliance on the promises of God +through the mediation of Christ. Why should not his prayers be always of +the same character? With the apostles of old he pours out his soul in +the petition, "Lord, increase our faith." + +And yet it can scarcely be denied that the will of God has been +distinctly revealed on this subject. The promises made to believing +prayer are explicit, numerous, and diversified. If we take them in their +simple and literal meaning, or if in fact we give to them any reasonable +interpretation whatever, they seem to be easily understood. Our +difficulty seems to be this: the promise is so "exceeding great" that we +cannot conceive God really to mean what he clearly appears to have +revealed. The blessing seems too vast for our comprehension; we "stagger +at the promises, through unbelief," and thus fail to secure the treasure +which was purchased for us by Christ Jesus. + +It may be appropriate for us to review some of the passages which refer +most directly to this subject:-- + +"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it +shall be opened unto you; for _every one_ that asketh receiveth, and he +that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh _it shall_ be opened." +"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, +_how much more_ shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to +them that _ask_ him."[1] + + [Footnote 1: Matthew vii. 7-11.] + +In the Gospel of Luke the same words are repeated, with a single +variation at the close. "If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts +unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the +_Holy Spirit to them that ask him_."[2] + + [Footnote 2: Luke xi. 13.] + +"I say unto you that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching +anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father +which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my +name, there am I in the midst of them."[3] + + [Footnote 3: Matthew xviii. 19, 20.] + +"Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have +faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do that which is done to the +fig-tree, but also ye shall say to this mountain, Be thou removed, and +be thou cast into the sea, and it shall be done. And _all things +whatsoever_ ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."[4] + + [Footnote 4: Matthew xxi. 21, 22.] + +The same promise, slightly varied in form, is found in the Gospel of +Mark. "_Have faith in God._ For verily I say unto you that whosoever +shall say to this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the +sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those +things which he hath said shall come to pass, he shall have whatever he +saith. Therefore I say unto you, Whatsoever things ye desire, when ye +pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."[5] + + [Footnote 5: Mark xi. 22-24.] + +Now I do not pretend that we are obliged to receive these words +literally. Unless, however, we believe the Saviour to have spoken +repeatedly on the same subject, at random, and with no definite meaning, +we must understand him to have asserted that things impossible by the +ordinary laws of material causation are possible by faith in God. I do +not perceive, if we allow these words to have any meaning whatever, that +we can ascribe to them any other significance. + +"Verily I say unto you, He that believeth in me, the works that I do +shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do, because I go +unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that I will do, +that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in +my name I will do it."[6] + + [Footnote 6: John xiv. 12-14.] + +"Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, +he will give it you. Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and +ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."[7] + + [Footnote 7: John xvi. 23, 24.] + +"The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man _availeth much_;"[8] +that is, it is a real power, a positive energy. The apostle illustrates +what he means by availing prayer by the example of Elias, a man subject +to like passions as we are: "He prayed earnestly that it might not rain, +and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six +months; and he prayed again, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth +brought forth her fruit."[9] + + [Footnote 8: James v. 16.] + + [Footnote 9: James v. 17, 18.] + +The conditions on which prayer will be heard are in various places +specified, but particularly in John xv. 7: "If ye abide in me and my +words abide in you, ye shall _ask what ye will_, and it shall be done +unto you." That is, if I understand the passage, prevalence in prayer is +conditioned by the conformity of our souls to the will of God; "if ye +abide in me and my words abide in you." On this condition, and on this +only, may we ask what we will, with the assurance that it will be done +unto us. Faith, in its most simple meaning, is that temper of the mind +in the creature which responds to every revealed perfection of the +Creator. Just according to the degree in which this correspondence +exists, is the promise made that we shall have whatsoever we ask. + +It is evident, from the eleventh of Hebrews, that the views of the +Apostle Paul concerning faith were entirely in harmony with the passages +recited above. He reviews the lives of the most eminent saints, for the +express purpose of showing that the impressive events in their history, +whether physical or moral, were controlled entirely by faith. He sums up +the whole in this remarkable language:-- + +"And what shall I say more? For the time would fail me to tell of those +who _through faith_ subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained +promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, +escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed +valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens; women +received their dead raised to life again; and others were tortured, not +accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection." We +are, I think, taught by this passage that the apostle believed faith to +be a power capable of transcending and modifying every other agency, by +which changes became possible which to every other known power were +impossible. We see that in this catalogue of the victories of faith he +includes the subjection of almost every form of what we call natural +laws. The whole passage seems an illustration of the meaning of our +Lord, when he says, "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye +shall say to this sycamine tree, Be thou removed and planted in the +midst of the sea, and it shall obey you." + +It seems then apparent that the doctrine of the peculiar and wonderful +power of the prayer of faith is as clearly revealed in the Scriptures as +any other doctrine. It would seem evident, at any rate, from the +passages just quoted, that the Apostle Paul understood the teachings of +our Saviour to mean what they say. From the general tenor of the +Scriptures I think we may learn two important truths: First, that there +is a certain state of mind in a devout soul to which God has promised +all that it asks, subject, however, as to the manner of the answer, to +the dictates of his infinite wisdom and goodness; and, second, that in +granting such petitions he does not always limit his action within the +ordinary or acknowledged laws of matter or of mind. I do not perceive +how we can interpret the passages above cited, as well as many others, +without giving them a meaning at least as extensive as this. + +Why is it, then, that this whole range of revealed truth has so +generally been looked upon as an unknown and unexplored region? Why +should we limit either the goodness or the power of God by our own +knowledge of what we call the laws of nature? Why should we not admit +that "there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in +our philosophy"? In a universe governed by moral law, why should not +moral laws take precedence of all others? Why should we deny that there +is a power in prayer to which we have not commonly attained? We are +straitened in ourselves, and suppose that we are straitened in God. We +interpret the gracious promises of our most loving Father in heaven by +the rule of our own imperfect and unbelieving piety. We ask for light +from without, while the light can only come from a more elevated piety +within. We ask for examples of the effects of faith at the present day, +corresponding to those spoken of in the sacred Scriptures. Thoughtful +men acknowledge that there must be a meaning in these promises, which +they have not yet understood, and they see plainly that the kingdom of +God can never come with power until this prevalence in prayer shall have +become a matter of universal attainment; and yet they dare hardly +believe that God is as good as he has revealed himself to be. + +There have, nevertheless, from time to time, occurred, what plainly +appear to be, remarkable instances of answers to prayer. Many of them +have faded from recollection, with the generation in which they +occurred; those which are remembered, however, seem to teach us that God +is a living God now as truly as in times past. The history of +persecutions is always filled with remarkable answers to prayer. The +rescue of Peter from the power of the Sanhedrim in one case, and from +the power of Herod in another, has been a thousand times repeated in the +history of the church of Christ. The answer to prayer for divine +direction as to the time and manner of performing some Christian +service, to which an individual has felt himself specially called, has +frequently been very remarkable. The biographies of the early and of +many of the later Friends are replete with such instances. Any one who +will read the edifying memoirs of George Fox, John Woolman, William +Allen, and Stephen Grellet, will find what I have alluded to abundantly +exemplified. The well-authenticated accounts of the late revivals in +this country and in Ireland teach us that most remarkable instances of +answers to prayer were of almost daily occurrence. In the last century a +single instance deserves particular remembrance; it was the founding of +Franke's Orphan House at Halle. It seemed to him to be a Christian duty +to attempt something for the relief of orphans, and he commenced the +undertaking. From time to time, as the number of applicants increased, +the means for their support was provided, in answer, as he firmly +believed, to fervent and unceasing prayer. Thus an extensive +establishment was reared, which has continued to the present day, +providing education and support for thousands of the poor and destitute, +and it has been for a century and a half one of the most honored of the +charitable institutions of the continent of Europe. + +The most remarkable instance of the efficacy of prayer with which I am +acquainted, is that recorded in the following pages. It seems, in fact, +to be a practical illustration of the meaning of those passages of +Scripture which I have already recited. A young German Christian, +friendless and unknown, is conscious of what he believes to be a call +from the Lord to attempt something for the benefit of the poor vagabond +children of Bristol. He is at this time preaching the gospel to a small +company of believers, from whom, at his own suggestion, he receives no +salary, being supported day by day by the voluntary offerings of his +brethren. Without the promise of aid from any being but God, he +commences his work. In answer to prayer, funds are received as they are +needed, and the attempt succeeds beyond his expectation. After a few +years he is led to believe that God has called him to establish a house +for the maintenance and education of orphans. He was impelled to this +effort, not only from motives of benevolence, but from a desire to +convince men that God was a LIVING GOD, as ready now as ever to answer +prayer; and that, in the discharge of any duty to which he calls us, we +may implicitly rely upon his all-sufficient aid in every emergency. + +Mr. Mueller was led to undertake this work in such a manner that aid +could not be expected from any being but God. He did not of course +expect God to create gold and silver and put them into his hands. He +knew, however, that God could incline the hearts of men to aid him, and +he believed, if the thing that he attempted was of Him, that he would so +incline them, in answer to prayer, as his necessities should require. +Most men in making such an attempt would have spread the case before the +public, employed agents to solicit in its behalf, and undertaken +nothing until funds adequate to the success of the enterprise had been +already secured. But Mr. Mueller, true to his principles, would do no +such thing. From the first day to the present moment he has neither +directly nor indirectly solicited either of the public or of an +individual a single penny. As necessities arose he simply laid his case +before God and asked of him all that he needed, and the supply has +always been seasonable and unfailing. + +The conductors of benevolent enterprises generally consider it important +to publish the names of donors, appealing thus to what is considered an +innocent desire in man to let our good deeds be known, and thus also to +stimulate others to do likewise. Ignoring every motive of this kind, Mr. +Mueller made it his rule to publish the name of no contributor. When the +name was known to him, which, however, was not often the case, he made a +private acknowledgment; while in his printed account he only made known +the sum received, and the date of its reception. In this manner, +forsaking every other reliance but God, and in childlike simplicity +looking to him alone for the supply of every want, all that he needed +was furnished as punctually as if, in possession of millions, he had +drawn from time to time on his banker. + +Thus has he continued from, I think, the year 1834. By degrees the +establishment increased, and it was necessary to leave the hired houses +in which the children had thus far been accommodated. Land was +purchased, and a building was erected in the vicinity of Bristol. This +was soon filled to overflowing, and another building was demanded. This +was erected, and it also was very soon filled. These buildings were +sufficient to accommodate seven hundred orphans. At the present moment, +a third building, larger than either, is in the process of erection, and +is to be finished in the course of the ensuing summer. When this shall +be completed, accommodations will have been provided for eleven hundred +and fifty orphans. These expensive buildings have been erected; the +land has been purchased on which they stand; this multitude of children +has been clothed and fed and educated; support and remuneration have +been provided for all the necessary teachers and assistants, and all +this has been done by a man who is not worth a dollar. He has never +asked any one but God for whatever they needed, and from the beginning +they have never wanted a meal, nor have they ever allowed themselves to +be in debt. There seems in this to be something as remarkable as if Mr. +Mueller had commanded a sycamine tree to be removed and planted in the +sea, and it had obeyed him. + +But this is not all. Mr. Mueller saw that there was a great demand for +copies of the Holy Scriptures, both in Great Britain and on the +Continent, and he commenced the work of Bible distribution. This so +rapidly extended itself that he was soon obliged to open in Bristol a +large Bible House. He believed that great good might be done by the +circulation of religious tracts, and he has carried on this work +extensively. He was moved to make an attempt to aid and even to support +missionaries among the heathen, as well as other good men, of various +denominations, who, with very inadequate means of living, were preaching +the gospel to the poor and destitute at home. He began to aid them as +their necessities came to his knowledge, and now one hundred such men +are depending on him, wholly or in part, for support. + +Here, then, we certainly behold a remarkable phenomenon. A single man, +wholly destitute of funds, is supporting and educating seven hundred +orphans, providing everything needful for their education, is in himself +an extensive Bible and Tract and Missionary Society, the work is daily +increasing in magnitude, and the means for carrying it on are abundantly +supplied, while he is connected with no particular denomination, is +aided by no voluntary association, and he has asked the assistance of +not a single individual. He has asked no one but God, and all his wants +have been regularly supplied. In these labors of love he has, up to the +present time, expended nearly a million of dollars. It is thus that he +has endeavored to show to an unbelieving world that God is a living God, +and that he means what he has said in every one of his promises.[10] + + [Footnote 10: The following brief statistics will show the + magnitude of the work already accomplished:-- + + The number of pupils hitherto instructed in all the day, + evening, and Sunday schools, is 13,124. The whole number + of _orphans_ educated within the establishment is 1,153. + Of the 700 now in the Institution, 260 are hopefully + pious. Missionaries aided at the present time, 100. Since + 1834 there have been circulated,--Bibles, 24,768; + Testaments, 15,100; Psalms, 719; other portions of + Scripture, 1,876; or, total, 42,463 Bibles or portions of + Scripture. Tracts and books (not pages, but separate + publications), 11,493,174. + + Two large buildings have been erected, a third is in the + process of erection; the land on which they stand has been + purchased. The expense of the orphan work alone has + amounted to L133,528 sterling, and the expenses are daily + increasing. + + The contributions by which these expenditures have been + met have been sent from every quarter of the globe. The + largest amounts have been, as might be expected, from + England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales; but to these may be + added the Cape of Good Hope, Mt. Lebanon, Demerara, + Newport, R. I., New York, Philadelphia, California, + France, Holland, Sardinia, Australia, etc., etc.] + +I have referred to Mr. Mueller as if he were the sole agent in this work. +This, however, is by no means true. His co-workers in the Institution +are all of the same spirit as himself. Mr. Craik, a gentleman from +Scotland, has been with him from the beginning, has shared in all the +labors and responsibilities of these vast undertakings, and has been +specially blessed as a preacher of the gospel. The remuneration of all +the assistants is contingent on the means received in answer to prayer. +When sacrifices are to be made, they are all prompt to make them, and +they do not expect an answer to prayer until they have contributed, from +their own scanty wages, whatever can be spared after providing for their +actual necessities. + +The last Report of Mr. Mueller's labors has just been received. From this +we learn another interesting fact. It seems that the late revival in +Ireland is indirectly connected with these labors in Bristol. A pious +young Irishman read "The Dealings of the Lord with George Mueller," and +received from it new views of the power of believing prayer. He felt the +need of prayer for the perishing around him, and determined by prayer +and conversation to labor for their salvation. First, however, he asked +that God would give him an associate. This prayer was granted. These two +then united in earnest prayer for some additions to their number. This +prayer was granted. In this manner a small company was united in asking +for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on their neighborhood. They devoted +themselves to prayer and to labor among the people by whom they were +surrounded. Their prayers were answered. The Spirit was poured out; +twenty-five souls were converted. Multitudes united with them in +supplication. They went from place to place, praying and laboring for +the conversion of men; and thus the work extended, until the whole +district of Ulster was visited with that remarkable outpouring of the +Holy Spirit. + +All these we suppose to be indisputable facts. If in any respect there +has been a misstatement, or even an exaggeration, the means are abundant +for detecting it. The whole work has been carried on in the presence and +under the inspection of the whole city of Bristol. There stand those +large and expensive buildings. There are seen the seven hundred orphans +who are in every respect admirably cared for. Everything has been paid +for, for Mr. Mueller is never in debt. His poverty is well known, and he +will not accept of any money as a provision for his future necessities. +His accounts have been annually audited by a competent committee. There +is not the man living who can contradict his assertion, "I never asked +aid from a single individual." Hundreds weekly visit the Institution, +and no one has ever found in it anything at variance with Mr. Mueller's +published statements. Last of all, the Rev. Dr. Sawtelle, a gentleman +known to thousands in this country, has added his independent testimony +to the truth of all that is here related. More conclusive evidence to +the truth of facts cannot be desired. + +To account for a fact is to refer it to some general law whose existence +is already established. When it is therefore asked, How shall these +facts be accounted for? we inquire, to what known law can they be +referred? They cannot certainly be referred to any known law of human +action. How would we decide if a similar case should occur in physics? +Suppose a series of experiments should be made daily for twenty-five +years in chemistry or mechanics, with the same invariable result, and +this result could be referred to no previously established law,--to what +conclusion should we arrive? There could be but one conclusion, in which +all men of science would unite. They would all declare that a new law +had been discovered, and would modify their systems accordingly. It +seems to me that on all sound philosophical principles we are bound to +come to the same conclusion in the present case. We can refer these +facts to no other law than to that announced by the Saviour in his +promise to answer the prayer of faith. There is no reason to suppose +that in the case of Mr. Mueller and his associates there is anything +exceptional or peculiar. What God has done for them we cannot doubt +that, under the same conditions, he will do for every other believing +disciple of Christ. + +What, then, are the conditions of this remarkable experiment, if such we +may call it? They are something like the following. A poor and unknown +man is convinced that it is his duty, as a servant of Christ, to labor +in several ways for the relief of the temporal and spiritual wants of +the ignorant and destitute. He consecrates himself to the work by +dedicating to it his time and labor, and whatever pecuniary means should +come into his possession. He resolved that he would neither appeal to +any of the ordinary motives which dispose men to humanity, nor even +solicit aid from any human being, but simply make his wants known to +God, believing that, if he was doing the work of God, the divine +promise was pledged in his behalf. Not only did he trust in God that +all the pecuniary aid which he needed would be furnished, but that, in +answer to prayer, all needed wisdom would be given him in the conduct of +his complicated and arduous undertakings. The result has met his most +sanguine expectations. The institution has increased to a most +magnificent charity, aside from its missionary, Bible, and tract +operations; all its wants have been from time to time supplied; and it +is at the present moment carried on upon precisely the same principles +on which it commenced. We cannot resist the conclusion that if any one +will undertake any other Christian work in a similar spirit, and on the +same principles, his labor will be attended with a similar result. + +While we believe this, however, we do not pretend to affirm that just +such immediate results will always be seen. This would be to limit the +omniscience of God by the short-sighted ignorance of man. It may best +suit the purposes of infinite goodness to answer the prayer of faith by +crosses and disappointments; but these in the end shall be found in the +most signal manner to promote the object to be accomplished. While the +disciples were praying and laboring for the extension of the kingdom of +Christ in Jerusalem, it seemed a strange answer to prayer that they +should be driven out of the city; but the meaning of it was evident when +churches arose in Phenice and Cyprus and Antioch, and it became manifest +that the gospel was designed not for Jews alone; but for the whole +family of man. Paul devoted himself with unquenchable zeal to the +salvation of men, and, with a fervid eloquence which has given him a +place among the noblest orators of antiquity, delighted to spend his +life in persuading men to be reconciled to God. He was a man whose +confidence in God was as unshaken as any whose history has been recorded +by the pen of inspiration. It doubtless was to the disciples of that +age, as well as to himself, a most unaccountable dispensation that he +should have been impeded in his great work by the necessity of composing +dissensions and rectifying errors which were constantly arising in the +churches which he had planted, and, most of all, that so many years of +his life should have been spent in prison. Yet it is to these, at the +time untoward circumstances, that we owe the writing of those epistles +which occupy so large a portion of the volume of inspiration, and +without which the message of God to man would not have been completed. +In no other way could his prayer to be useful to the cause of Christ +have been so fully answered. + +With this understanding of the promise granted to the prayer of faith, I +do not see why we should not take the case of Mr. Mueller as an example +for our imitation. Whoever attains to this same simple desire in all +things to do the will of God, and to the same childlike trust in his +promises, may, I think, hope for a similar blessing. God is no respecter +of persons. "If _any_ man _do his will_, him he heareth." And all the +teaching of the Scriptures confirms us in this belief. The passages +which we have quoted at the commencement of this paper, with hundreds of +others, all lead to the same conclusion. In the Scriptures every form of +illustration is used to impress upon us the conviction that God is +indeed our Father, and that he delights to grant our requests for +anything that is for our benefit, and specially that he pledges himself +to direct by his counsel, and aid by his providence, every one who +honestly labors to promote the cause of true benevolence and real +religion. + +If this be so, how important is this subject in its bearing on +individual effort. No Christian, though the poorest and humblest, ever +need despair of doing a noble work for God. He need never wait until he +can obtain the co-operation of the multitude or the wealthy. Let him +undertake what he believes to be his duty, on ever so small a scale, and +look directly to God for aid and direction. If it be a seed which God +has planted, it will take root, grow, and bear fruit, "_having seed +within itself_." "It is better to trust in God than to put confidence in +man; it is better to trust in God than to put confidence in princes." A +multitude of cases can be adduced to prove that this course is in +harmony with the designs of God. It is abundantly shown in the case of +Mr. Mueller. Take the case of Robert Raikes. Suppose that he had +established no school until a powerful association, formed from +ecclesiastical dignitaries, millionaires, and the multitude, had united +in his support, his effort could hardly have escaped ridiculous failure. +On the contrary, he simply established a school by himself. It was a +seed which God had planted, and its fruit now shakes like Lebanon. + +On the contrast which is seen between the plan of Mr. Mueller and the +plans by which our missionary and other benevolent operations are +conducted, it is unnecessary to enlarge. If Mr. Mueller is right, I think +it is evident that we are all wrong. We cannot go into this subject in +detail. We may, however, be permitted to remark, that the means which +are frequently employed to secure the approbation and pecuniary aid of +worldly men, in carrying forward the cause of Christ, are intensely +humiliating. It would seem as though God was the last being to be relied +on in carrying forward the work which he has given us to do. + +But it is time to bring these remarks to a close. We commend this most +unpretending of narratives to the thoughtful consideration of Christians +of all denominations. We have greatly overrated the teaching of these +facts, if they do not furnish strong incentives to A LIFE OF HOLY +EXERTION, AND IMPART AN UNWONTED AND POWERFUL MOTIVE TO EARNEST AND +BELIEVING PRAYER. + +PROVIDENCE, December 17, 1860. + + + + +THE LIFE OF TRUST. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +BOYHOOD AND YOUTH. + +1805-1825. + + BIRTH--EARLY DISHONESTY--INSENSIBILITY--CONFIRMATION IN THE + STATE CHURCH--DISSOLUTENESS OF LIFE--THE HARD WAY OF + TRANSGRESSORS--THE GYMNASIUM AT NORDHAUSEN--THE UNIVERSITY + AT HALLE--ROVINGS. + + +I was born at Kroppenstaedt, near Halberstadt, in the kingdom of +Prussia, September 27, 1805. In January, 1810, my parents removed to +Heimersleben, about four miles from Kroppenstaedt, where my father was +appointed collector in the excise. + +My father, who educated his children on worldly principles,[11] gave us +much money, considering our age. The result was, that it led me and my +brother into many sins. Before I was ten years old, I repeatedly took of +the government money which was intrusted to my father, and which he had +to make up; till one day, as he had repeatedly missed money, he +detected my theft, by depositing a counted sum in the room where I was, +and leaving me to myself for a while. Being thus left alone, I took some +of the money, and hid it under my foot in my shoe. When my father, after +his return, had counted and missed the money, I was searched and my +theft detected. + + [Footnote 11: The opinion is often entertained that persons who + become eminent for power in prayer and nearness of communion with + God, owe their attainments to natural excellence of character, or + to peculiarly favoring circumstances of early education. The + narrative of the youth of Mueller exhibits the fallaciousness of + this view, and shows that the attainments which he made are within + the reach of any one who will "ask of God, that giveth to _all men + liberally_ and upbraideth not."--ED.] + +When I was between ten and eleven years of age I was sent to +Halberstadt, there to be prepared for the university; for my father's +desire was that I should become a clergyman; not, indeed, that thus I +might serve God, but that I might have a comfortable living. My time was +now spent in studying, reading novels, and indulging, though so young, +in sinful practices. Thus it continued till I was fourteen years old, +when my mother was suddenly removed. The night she was dying, I, not +knowing of her illness, was playing at cards till two in the morning, +and on the next day, being the Lord's day, I went with some of my +companions in sin to a tavern, and then we went about the streets half +intoxicated. + +This bereavement made no lasting impression on my mind. I grew worse and +worse. Three or four days before I was confirmed, and thus admitted to +partake of the Lord's Supper, I was guilty of gross immorality; and the +very day before my confirmation, when I was in the vestry with the +clergyman to confess my sins, after a formal manner, I defrauded him; +for I handed over to him only the twelfth part of the fee which my +father had given me for him. In this state of heart, without prayer, +without true repentance, without faith, without knowledge of the plan of +salvation, I was confirmed, and took the Lord's Supper, on the Sunday +after Easter, 1820. Yet I was not without some feeling about the +solemnity of the thing, and stayed at home in the afternoon and evening, +whilst the other boys and girls, who had been confirmed with me, walked +about in the fields. + +My time till midsummer, 1821, was spent partly in study, but in a great +degree in playing the piano-forte and guitar, reading novels, +frequenting taverns, forming resolutions to become different, yet +breaking them almost as fast as they were made. My money was often spent +on my sinful pleasures, through which I was now and then brought into +trouble, so that once, to satisfy my hunger, I stole a piece of coarse +bread, the allowance of a soldier who was quartered in the house where I +lodged. + +At midsummer, 1821, my father obtained an appointment at Schoenebeck, +near Magdeburg, and I embraced the opportunity of entreating him to +remove me to the cathedral classical school of Magdeburg; for I thought +that if I could but leave my companions in sin, and get out of certain +snares, and be placed under other tutors, I should then live a different +life. My father consented, and I was allowed to leave Halberstadt, and +to stay at Heimersleben till Michaelmas. Being thus quite my own master, +I grew still more idle, and lived as much as before in all sorts of sin. +When Michaelmas came, I persuaded my father to leave me at Heimersleben +till Easter, and to let me read the classics with a clergyman living in +the same place. I was now living on the premises belonging to my father, +under little real control, and intrusted with a considerable sum of +money, which I had to collect for my father, from persons who owed it to +him. My habits soon led me to spend a considerable part of this money, +giving receipts for different sums, yet leaving my father to suppose I +had not received them. + +In November, I went on a pleasure excursion to Magdeburg, where I spent +six days in much sin, and though my absence from home had been found out +by my father before I returned from thence, yet I took all the money I +could obtain, and went to Brunswick, after I had, through a number of +lies, obtained permission from my tutor. I spent a week at Brunswick, +in an expensive hotel. At the end of the week my money was expended. I +then went, without money, to another hotel, in a village near Brunswick, +where I spent another week in an expensive way of living. At last, the +owner of the hotel, suspecting that I had no money, asked for payment, +and I was obliged to leave my best clothes as security. I then walked +about six miles, to Wolfenbuttel, went to an inn, and began again to +live as if I had plenty of money. On the second or third morning I went +quietly out of the yard, and then ran off; but being suspected and +observed, and therefore seen to go off, I was immediately called after, +and so had to return. I was arrested, and being suspected to be a thief, +was examined for about three hours, and then sent to jail. I now found +myself, at the age of sixteen, an inmate of the same dwelling with +thieves and murderers. I was locked up in this place day and night, +without permission to leave my cell. + +I was in prison from Dec. 18, 1821, till January 12, 1822, when the +keeper told me to go with him to the police office. Here I found that +the commissioner before whom I had been tried, had acquainted my father +with my conduct; and thus I was kept in prison till my father sent the +money which was needed for my travelling expenses, to pay my debt in the +inn, and for my maintenance in the prison. So ungrateful was I now for +certain little kindnesses shown to me by a fellow-prisoner, that, +although I had promised to call on his sister, to deliver a message from +him, I omitted to do so; and so little had I been benefited by this, my +chastisement, that, though I was going home to meet an angry father, +only two hours after I had left the town where I had been imprisoned, I +chose an avowedly wicked person as my travelling companion for a great +part of my journey. + +My father, who arrived two days after I had reached Heimersleben, after +having severely beaten me, took me home to Schoenebeck, intending, at +Easter, to send me to a classical school at Halle, that I might be under +strict discipline and the continual inspection of a tutor. Easter came, +and I easily persuaded him to let me stay at home till Michaelmas. But +after that period he would not consent to my remaining any longer with +him, and I left home, pretending to go to Halle to be examined. But +having a hearty dislike to the strict discipline of which I had heard, I +went to Nordhausen, and had myself examined to be received into that +school. I then went home, but never told my father a word of all this +deception till the day before my departure, which obliged me to invent a +whole chain of lies. He was then very angry; but at last, through my +entreaties and persuasion, he gave way and allowed me to go. This was in +October, 1822. + +I continued at Nordhausen two years and six months. During this time I +studied with considerable diligence the Latin classics, French, history, +my own language, etc.; but did little in Hebrew, Greek, and the +mathematics. I lived in the house of the director, and got, through my +conduct, highly into his favor, so much so that I was held up by him in +the first class as an example to the rest. I used now to rise regularly +at four, winter and summer, and generally studied all the day, with +little exception, till ten at night. + +But whilst I was thus outwardly gaining the esteem of my +fellow-creatures, I did not care in the least about God, but lived +secretly in much sin, in consequence of which I was taken ill, and for +thirteen weeks confined to my room. During my illness I had no real +sorrow of heart, yet, being under certain natural impressions of +religion, I read through Klopstock's works without weariness. I cared +nothing about the word of God. I had about three hundred books of my +own, but no Bible. Now and then I felt that I ought to become a +different person, and I tried to amend my conduct, particularly when I +went to the Lord's Supper, as I used to do twice every year, with the +other young men. The day previous to attending that ordinance, I used to +refrain from certain things; and on the day itself I was serious, and +also swore once or twice to God, with the emblem of the broken body in +my mouth, to become better, thinking that for the oath's sake I should +be induced to reform. But after one or two days were over, all was +forgotten, and I was as bad as before. + +At Easter, 1825, I became a member of the University of Halle, and that +with very honorable testimonials. I thus obtained permission to preach +in the Lutheran Establishment; but I was as truly unhappy and as far +from God as ever. I had made strong resolutions now at last to change my +course of life, for two reasons: first, because, without it, I thought +no parish would choose me as their pastor; and secondly, that without a +considerable knowledge of divinity I should never get a good living. But +the moment I entered Halle, the university town, all my resolutions came +to nothing. Being now more than ever my own master, I renewed my +profligate life afresh, though now a student of _divinity_. Yet in the +midst of it all I had a desire to renounce this wretched life, for I had +no enjoyment in it, and had sense enough left to see that the end, one +day or other, would be miserable. But I had no sorrow of heart on +account of offending God. + +One day, when I was in a tavern with some of my wild fellow-students, I +saw among them one of my former school-fellows, named Beta, whom I had +known four years before at Halberstadt, but whom at that time I had +despised, because he was so quiet and serious. It now appeared well to +me to choose him as my friend, thinking that, if I could but have better +companions, I should by that means improve my own conduct. "_Cursed be +the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm._" + +This Beta was a backslider. When formerly he was so quiet at school, I +have reason to believe it was because the Spirit of God was working on +his heart; but now, having departed from the Lord, he tried to put off +the ways of God more and more, and to enjoy the world of which he had +known but little before. _I_ sought his friendship, because I thought it +would lead me to a steady life; and _he_ gladly formed an acquaintance +with me, as he told me afterwards, because he thought it would bring him +into gay society. + +At the commencement of August, Beta and I, with two other students, +drove about the country for four days. When we returned, instead of +being truly sorry on account of this sin, we thought of fresh pleasures; +and as my love for travelling was stronger than ever, through what I had +seen on this last journey, I proposed to my friends to set off for +Switzerland. The obstacles in the way, the want of money, and the want +of the passports, were removed by _me_. For, through forged letters from +our parents, we procured passports, and through pledging all we could, +particularly our books, we obtained as much money as we thought would be +enough. Forty-three days we were day after day travelling, almost always +on foot. + +I had now obtained the desire of my heart. I had seen Switzerland. But +still I was far from being happy. I was on this journey like Judas; for, +having the common purse, I was a thief. I managed so that the journey +cost me but two thirds of what it cost my friends. I had, by many lies, +to satisfy my father concerning the travelling expenses. During the +three weeks I stayed at home, I determined to live differently for the +future. I was different for a few days; but when the vacation was over, +and fresh students came, and, with them, fresh money, all was soon +forgotten. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN. + +1825-1826. + + A TREASURE FOUND--DAWNING OF THE NEW LIFE--THE PEACE OF GOD--"I + AM COME TO SET A MAN AT VARIANCE AGAINST HIS FATHER"--"LET HIM + THAT HEARETH SAY, COME"--THE FIRST SERMON--DELIGHT IN THE + LORD--A COMMON ERROR--THE FOUNTAIN NEGLECTED. + + +The time was now come when God would have mercy upon me. At a time when +I was as careless about him as ever, he sent his Spirit into my heart. I +had no Bible, and had not read in it for years. I went to church but +seldom; but, from custom, I took the Lord's Supper twice a year. I had +never heard the gospel preached. I had never met with a person who told +me that he meant, by the help of God, to live according to the Holy +Scriptures. In short, I had not the least idea that there were any +persons really different from myself, except in degree. + +On Saturday afternoon, about the middle of November, 1825, I had taken a +walk with my friend Beta. On our return he said to me that he was in the +habit of going on Saturday evenings to the house of a Christian, where +there was a meeting. On further inquiry, he told me that they read the +Bible, sang, prayed, and read a printed sermon. No sooner had I heard +this than it was to me as if I had found something after which I had +been seeking all my life long. We went together in the evening. As I did +not know the manners of believers, and the joy they have in seeing poor +sinners, even in any measure, caring about the things of God, I made an +apology for coming. The kind answer of the dear brother I shall never +forget. He said: "Come as often as you please; house and heart are open +to you." We sat down and sang a hymn. Then brother Kayser, now a +missionary in Africa, fell on his knees and asked a blessing on our +meeting. This kneeling down made a deep impression upon me; for I had +never either seen any one on his knees, nor had I ever myself prayed on +my knees. He then read a chapter and a printed sermon; for no regular +meetings for expounding the Scriptures were allowed in Prussia, except +an ordained clergyman was present. At the close we sang another hymn, +and then the master of the house prayed. Whilst he prayed, my feeling +was something like this: "I could not pray as well, though I am much +more learned than this illiterate man." The whole made a deep impression +on me. I was happy; though, if I had been asked why I was happy, I could +not have clearly explained it. + +When we walked home, I said to Beta: "All we have seen on our journey to +Switzerland, and all our former pleasures, are as nothing in comparison +with this evening." Whether I fell on my knees when I returned home, I +do not remember; but this I know, that I lay peaceful and happy in my +bed. This shows that the Lord may begin his work in different ways. For +I have not the least doubt that on that evening he began a work of grace +in me, though I obtained joy without any deep sorrow of heart, and with +scarcely any knowledge. But that evening was the turning-point in my +life. The next day, and Monday, and once or twice besides, I went again +to the house of this brother, where I read the Scriptures with him and +another brother; for it was too long for me to wait till Saturday came +again. + +Now my life became very different, though not so that all sins were +given up at once. My wicked companions were given up; the going to +taverns was entirely discontinued; the habitual practice of telling +falsehoods was no longer indulged in; but still a few times after this I +spoke an untruth. I read the Scriptures, prayed often, loved the +brethren, went to church from right motives, and stood on the side of +Christ, though laughed at by my fellow-students. + +In January, 1826, I began to read missionary papers, and was greatly +stirred up to become a missionary myself. I prayed frequently concerning +this matter, and thus made more decided progress for a few weeks. About +Easter, 1826, I saw a devoted young brother, named Hermann Ball, a +learned man, and of wealthy parents, who, constrained by the love of +Christ, preferred laboring in Poland among the Jews as a missionary to +having a comfortable living near his relations. His example made a deep +impression on me. The Lord smiled on me, and I was, for the first time +in my life, able fully and unreservedly to give up myself to him. + +At this time I began truly to enjoy the peace of God which passeth all +understanding. In my joy I wrote to my father and brother, entreating +them to seek the Lord, and telling them how happy I was; thinking that, +if the way to happiness were but set before them, they would gladly +embrace it. To my great surprise an angry answer was returned. About +this period the Lord sent a believer, Dr. Tholuck, as professor of +divinity to Halle, in consequence of which a few believing students came +from other universities. Thus also, through becoming acquainted with +other brethren, the Lord led me on. + +My former desire to give myself to missionary service returned, and I +went at last to my father to obtain his permission, without which I +could not be received into any of the German missionary institutions. My +father was greatly displeased, and particularly reproached me, saying +that he had expended so much money on my education, in hope that he +might comfortably spend his last days with me in a parsonage, and that +he now saw all these prospects come to nothing. He was angry, and told +me he would no longer consider me as his son. But the Lord gave me grace +to remain steadfast. He then entreated me, and wept before me; yet even +this by far harder trial the Lord enabled me to bear. After I had left +my father, though I wanted more money than at any previous period of my +life, as I had to remain two years longer in the university, I +determined never to take any more from him; for it seemed to me wrong, +so far as I remember, to suffer myself to be supported by him, when he +had no prospect that I should become what he would wish me to be, +namely, a clergyman with a good living. This resolution I was enabled to +keep. + +Shortly after this had occurred, several American gentlemen, three of +whom were professors in American colleges, came to Halle for literary +purposes, and, as they did not understand German, I was recommended by +Dr. Tholuck to teach them. These gentlemen, some of whom were believers, +paid so handsomely for the instruction which I gave them, and for the +lectures of certain professors which I wrote out for them, that I had +enough and to spare. Thus did the Lord richly make up to me the little +which I had relinquished for his sake. "_O fear the Lord, ye his saints; +for there is no want to them that fear him._" + +Whitsuntide, and the two days following, I spent in the house of a pious +clergyman in the country; for all the ministers at Halle, a town of more +than twenty thousand inhabitants, were unenlightened men. God greatly +refreshed me through this visit. Dear Beta was with me. On our return we +related to two of our former friends, whose society we had not quite +given up, though we did not any longer live with them in sin, how happy +we had been on our visit. I then told them how I wished they were as +happy as ourselves. They answered, We do not feel that we are sinners. +After this I fell on my knees, and asked God to show them that they were +sinners. Having done so, I went into my bedroom, where I continued to +pray for them. After a little while, I returned to my sitting-room and +found them both in tears, and both told me that they now felt themselves +to be sinners. From that time a work of grace commenced in their hearts. + +Though very weak and ignorant, yet I had now, by the grace of God, some +desire to benefit others, and he who so faithfully had once served +Satan, sought now to win souls for Christ. I circulated every month +about three hundred missionary papers. I also distributed a considerable +number of tracts, and often took my pockets full in my walks, and +distributed them, and spoke to poor people whom I met. I also wrote +letters to some of my former companions in sin. I visited, for thirteen +weeks, a sick man, who, when I first began to speak to him about the +things of God, was completely ignorant of his state as a sinner, +trusting for salvation in his upright and moral life. After some weeks, +however, the Lord allowed me to see a decided change in him, and he +afterwards repeatedly expressed his gratitude that I had been sent to +him by God to be the means of opening his blind eyes. + +Having heard that there was a schoolmaster living in a village about six +miles from Halle, who was in the habit of holding a prayer meeting at +four o'clock every morning, with the miners, before they went into the +pit, giving them also an address, I thought he was a believer; and as I +knew so very few brethren, I went to see him, in order, if it might be, +to strengthen his hands. About two years afterwards, he told me that +when I came to him first he knew not the Lord, but that he had held +these prayer meetings merely out of kindness to a relative, whose office +it was, but who had gone on a journey; and that those addresses which +he had read were not his own, but copied out of a book. He also told me +that he was much impressed with my kindness, and what he considered +condescension on my part in coming to see him, and this, together with +my conversation, had been instrumental in leading him to care about the +things of God, and I knew him ever afterwards as a true brother. + +This schoolmaster asked me whether I would not preach in his parish, as +the aged clergyman would be very glad of my assistance. Up to this time +I had never preached; yet I thought that by taking a sermon, or the +greater part of one, written by a spiritual man, and committing it to +memory, I might benefit the people. I set about putting a printed sermon +into a suitable form, and committing it to memory. There is no joy in +man's own doings and choosings. I got through it, but had no enjoyment +in the work. It was on August 27, 1826, at eight in the morning, in a +chapel of ease. There was one service more, in the afternoon, at which I +needed not to have done anything; but having a desire to serve the Lord, +though I often knew not how to do it scripturally, and knowing that this +aged and unenlightened clergyman had had this living for forty-eight +years, and having therefore reason to believe that the gospel scarcely +ever had been preached in that place, I had it in my heart to preach +again in the afternoon. It came to my mind to read the fifth chapter of +Matthew, and to make such remarks as I was able. I did so. Immediately +upon beginning to expound "Blessed are the poor in spirit," etc., I felt +myself greatly assisted; and whereas in the morning my sermon had not +been simple enough for the people to understand it, I now was listened +to with the greatest attention, and I think was also understood. My own +peace and joy were great. I felt this a blessed work. + +On my way to Halle I thought, this is the way I should like always to +preach. But then it came immediately to my mind that such sort of +preaching might do for illiterate country people, but that it never +would do before a well-educated assembly in town. I thought the truth +ought to be preached at all hazards, but it ought to be given in a +different form, suited to the hearers. Thus I remained unsettled in my +mind as it regards the mode of preaching; and it is not surprising that +I did not then see the truth concerning this matter, for I did not +understand the work of the Spirit, and therefore saw not the +powerlessness of human eloquence. Further, I did not keep in mind that +if the most illiterate persons in the congregation can comprehend the +discourse, the most educated will understand it too; but that the +reverse does not hold true. + +It was not till three years afterwards that I was led, through grace, to +see what I now consider the right mode of preparation for the public +preaching of the word. But about this, if God permit, I will say more +when I come to that period of my life. + +It was about this time that I formed the plan of exchanging the +University of Halle for that of Berlin, on account of there being a +greater number of believing professors and students in the latter place. +But the whole plan was formed without prayer, or at least without +earnest prayer. When, however, the morning came on which I had to apply +for the university testimonials, the Lord graciously stirred me up +prayerfully to consider the matter; and finding that I had no sufficient +reason for leaving Halle, I gave up the plan, and have never had reason +to regret having done so. + +The public means of grace by which I could be benefited were very few. +Though I went regularly to church when I did not preach myself, yet I +scarcely ever heard the truth; for there was no enlightened clergyman in +the town. And when it so happened that I could hear Dr. Tholuck, or any +other godly minister, the prospect of it beforehand, and the looking +back upon it afterwards, served to fill me with joy. _Now and then I +walked ten or fifteen miles to enjoy this privilege._ + +Another means of grace which I attended, besides the Saturday-evening +meetings in brother Wagner's house, was a meeting every Lord's-day +evening with the believing students, six or more in number, increased, +before I left Halle, to about twenty. In these meetings, one or two, or +more, of the brethren prayed, and we read the Scriptures, sang hymns, +and sometimes also one or another of the brethren spoke a little in the +way of exhortation, and we read also such writings of godly men as were +calculated for edification. I was often greatly stirred up and refreshed +in these meetings; and twice, being in a backsliding state, and +therefore cold and miserable, I opened my heart to the brethren, and was +brought out of that state through the means of their exhortations and +prayers. + +As to the other means of grace, I would say, I fell into the snare into +which so many young believers fall, the reading of religious books in +preference to the Scriptures. I read tracts, missionary papers, sermons, +and biographies of godly persons. I never had been at any time of my +life in the habit of reading the Holy Scriptures. When under fifteen +years of age, I occasionally read a little of them at school; afterwards +God's precious book was entirely laid aside, so that I never read one +single chapter of it till it pleased God to begin a work of grace in my +heart. Now the scriptural way of reasoning would have been: God himself +has consented to be an author, and I am ignorant about that precious +book, which his Holy Spirit has caused to be written through the +instrumentality of his servants, and it contains that which I ought to +know, the knowledge of which will lead me to true happiness; therefore I +ought to read again and again this most precious book of books, most +earnestly, most prayerfully, and with much meditation; and in this +practice I ought to continue all the days of my life. But instead of +acting thus, my difficulty in understanding it, and the little enjoyment +I had in it, made me careless of reading it; and thus, like many +believers, I practically preferred, for the first four years of my +divine life, the works of uninspired men to the oracles of the living +God. The consequence was, that I remained a babe, both in knowledge and +grace. + +The last and most important means of grace, prayer, was comparatively +but little used by me. I prayed, and prayed often, and in general, by +the grace of God, with sincerity; but had I prayed as earnestly as I +have of late years, I should have made much more rapid progress. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +SELF-DEDICATION. + +1826-1829. + + DESIRE FOR MISSIONARY LABOR--PROVIDENTIAL RELEASE FROM MILITARY + SERVICE--VISIT AT HOME--LED TO THE LAND OF HIS FUTURE + LABORS--PROGRESS IN RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE--DESIRE FOR IMMEDIATE + USEFULNESS. + + +In August, 1827, I heard that the Continental Society in England +intended to send a minister to Bucharest, the residence of many nominal +German Christians, to help an aged brother in the work of the Lord. +After consideration and prayer, I offered myself for this work to +Professor Tholuck, who was requested to look out for a suitable +individual; for with all my weakness I had a great desire to live wholly +for God. Most unexpectedly my father gave his consent, though Bucharest +was above a thousand miles from my home, and as completely a missionary +station as any other. I now prepared with earnestness for the work of +the Lord. I set before me the sufferings which might await me. And he +who once so fully served Satan was now willing, constrained by the love +of Christ, rather to suffer affliction for the sake of Jesus than to +enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. I also prayed with a degree of +earnestness concerning my future work. + +One day, at the end of October, the above-mentioned brother, Hermann +Ball, missionary to the Jews, stated that he feared, on account of his +health, he should be obliged to give up laboring among the Jews. When I +heard this, I felt a peculiar desire to fill up his place. About this +very time, also, I became exceedingly fond of the Hebrew language, which +I had cared about very little up to that time, and which I had merely +studied now and then, from a sense of duty. But now I studied it, for +many weeks, with the greatest eagerness and delight. Whilst I thus from +time to time felt a desire to fill up brother Ball's place, and whilst I +thus greatly delighted in the study of Hebrew, I called, in the evening +of November 17, on Dr. Tholuck. In the course of conversation he asked +me whether I had ever had a desire to be a missionary to the Jews, as I +might be connected with the London Missionary Society for promoting +Christianity among them, for which he was an agent. I was struck with +the question, and told him what had passed in my mind, but added that it +was not proper to think anything about that, as I was going to +Bucharest; to which he agreed. + +When I came home, however, these few words were like fire within me. The +next morning I felt all desire for going to Bucharest gone, which +appeared to me very wrong and fleshly, and I therefore entreated the +Lord to restore to me the former desire for laboring on that missionary +station. He graciously did so almost immediately. My earnestness in +studying Hebrew, and my peculiar love for it, however, continued. + +About ten days after, Dr. Tholuck received a letter from the +Continental. Society, stating, that on account of the war between the +Turks and Russians, it appeared well to the committee for the time being +to give up the thought of sending a minister to Bucharest, as it was the +seat of war between the two armies. Dr. Tholuck then asked me again what +I now thought about being a missionary to the Jews. My reply was that I +could not then give an answer, but that I would let him know, after I +had prayerfully considered the matter. After prayer and consideration, +and consulting with experienced brethren, in order that they might probe +my heart as to my motives, I came to this conclusion, that I ought to +offer myself to the committee, leaving it with the Lord to do with me +afterwards as it might seem good in his sight. Accordingly, Dr. Tholuck +wrote, about the beginning of December, 1827, to the committee in +London. + +It was not before March, 1828, that he received an answer from London +respecting me, in which the committee put a number of questions to me, +on the satisfactory answers to which my being received by them would +depend. After replying to this first communication, I waited daily for +an answer, and was so much the more desirous of having it, as my course +in the university was completed. At last, on June 13, I received a +letter from London, stating that the committee had determined to take me +as a missionary student for six months on probation, provided that I +would come to London. + +I had now had the matter before me about seven months, having supposed +not only that it would have been settled in a few weeks, but also, that, +if I were accepted, I should be sent out immediately, as I had passed +the university. Instead of this, not only seven months passed over +before the decision came, but I was also expected to come to London; and +not only so, but though I had from my infancy been more or less +studying, and now at last wished actively to be engaged, it was required +that I should again become a student. For a few moments, therefore, I +was greatly disappointed and tried. But on calmly considering the +matter, it appeared to me but right that the committee should know me +personally, and that it was also well for me to know them more +intimately than merely by correspondence, as this afterwards would make +our connection much more comfortable. I determined, therefore, after I +had seen my father, and found no difficulty on his part, to go to +London. + +There was, however, an obstacle in the way of my leaving the country. +Every Prussian male subject is under the necessity of being for three +years a soldier, provided his state of body allows it; but those who +have had a classical education up to a certain degree, and especially +those who have passed the university, need to be only one year in the +army, but have to equip and maintain themselves during that year. I +could not obtain a passport out of the country till I had either served +my time or had been exempted by the king himself. The latter I hoped +would be the case; for it was a well-known fact that those who had given +themselves to missionary service had always been exempted. Certain +brethren of influence, living in the capital, to whom I wrote on the +subject, wrote to the king; but he replied that the matter must be +referred to the ministry and to the law, and no exception was made in my +favor. + +My chief concern now was how I might obtain a passport for England, +through exemption from military duty. But the more certain brethren +tried, though they knew how to set about the matter, and were also +persons of rank, the greater difficulty there appeared to be in +obtaining my object; so that in the middle of January, 1829, it seemed +as if I must immediately become a soldier. There was now but one more +way untried, and it was at last resorted to. A believing major, who was +on good terms with one of the chief generals, proposed that I should +actually offer myself for entering the army, and that then I should be +examined as to my bodily qualifications, in the hope that, as I was +still in a very weak state of body, I should be found unfit for military +service. In that case it would belong to the chief general finally to +settle the matter; who, being a godly man himself, on the major's +recommendation, would, no doubt, hasten the decision, on account of my +desire to be a missionary to the Jews. + +Thus far the Lord had allowed things to go, to show me, it appears, that +all my friends could not procure me a passport till his time was come. +But now it was come. The King of kings had intended that I should go to +England, because he would bless me there and make me a blessing, though +I was at that time, and am still, most unworthy of it; and, therefore, +though the king of Prussia had not been pleased to make an exemption in +my favor, yet now all was made plain, and that at a time when hope had +almost been given up, and when the last means had been resorted to. I +was examined, and was declared to be unfit for military service. With a +medical certificate to this effect, and a letter of recommendation from +the major, I went to this chief general, who received me very kindly, +and who himself wrote instantaneously to a second military physician, +likewise to examine me _at once_. This was done, and it was by him +confirmed that I was unfit. Now, the chief general himself, as his +adjutants happened to be absent, in order to hasten the matter, wrote, +with his own hands, the papers which were needed, and I got a complete +dismissal, and that for life, from all military engagements. + +On February 5 I arrived at my father's house; it was the place where I +had lived as a boy, and the scene of many of my sins, my father having +now returned to it after his retirement from office. There were but +three persons in the whole town with whom my soul had any fellowship. +One of them was earning his daily bread by thrashing corn. As a boy I +had in my heart laughed at him. Now I sought him out, having been +informed that he was a brother, to acknowledge him as such, by having +fellowship with him, and attending a meeting in his house on the +Lord's-day evening. My soul was refreshed, and his also. Such a +spiritual feast as meeting with a brother was a rare thing to him. + +I left my father's house on February 10, and about February 22 arrived +at Rotterdam. My going to England by the way of Rotterdam was not the +usual way; but, consulting with a brother in Berlin, who had been twice +in England, I was told that this was the cheapest route. My asking this +brother, to be profited by his experience, would have been quite right, +had I, besides this, like Ezra, sought of the Lord the right way.[12] +But I sought unto men only, and not at all unto the Lord, in this +matter. When I came to Rotterdam, I found that no vessels went at that +time from that port to London, on account of the ice having just broken +up in the river. Thus I had to wait nearly a month at Rotterdam, and +needed much more time than I should have required to go by way of +Hamburg, and also much more money. + + [Footnote 12: Then I proclaimed a fast, to seek of God a right way + for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.--Ezra + viii. 21.] + +On March 19, 1829, I landed in London. Soon after my arrival, I heard +one of the brethren speak of Mr. Groves, a dentist, who, for the Lord's +sake, had given up his profession, which brought him in at least +L1,500[13] a year, and who intended to go as a missionary to Persia, +with his wife and children, simply trusting in the Lord for temporal +supplies. This made such an impression on me, and delighted me so, that +I not only marked it down in my journal, but also wrote about it to my +German friends. + + [Footnote 13: To avoid the necessity of reducing the sums named to + federal money, it may be stated that a pound (L.) is equal to + about $4.88, a sovereign to the same, a shilling (s.) to about 28 + cts. and a penny (d.) to 2 cts. For convenience of computation, + when exactness is not required, we may call the pound $5.00, and + the shilling 25 cts.--ED.] + +I came to England weak in body, and, in consequence of much study, as I +suppose, I was taken ill on May 15, and was soon, at least in my own +estimation, apparently beyond recovery. The weaker I became in body, the +happier I was in spirit. Never in my whole life had I seen myself so +vile, so guilty, so altogether what I ought not to have been, as at this +time. It was as if every sin of which I had been guilty was brought to +my remembrance; but at the same time I could realize that all my sins +were completely forgiven,--that I was washed and made clean, completely +clean, in the blood of Jesus. The result of this was great peace. I +longed exceedingly to depart and be with Christ. When my medical +attendant came to see me, my prayer was something like this: "Lord, thou +knowest that he does not know what is for my real welfare, therefore do +thou direct him." When I took my medicine, my hearty prayer each time +was something like this: "Lord, thou knowest that this medicine is in +itself nothing, no more than as if I were to take a little water. Now +please, O Lord, to let it produce the effect which is for my real +welfare, and for thy glory. Let me either be taken soon to thyself, or +let me be soon restored; let me be ill for a longer time, and then taken +to thyself, or let me be ill for a longer time, and then restored. O +Lord, do with me as seemeth thee best!" + +After I had been ill about a fortnight, my medical attendant +unexpectedly pronounced me better. As I recovered but slowly, my friends +entreated me to go into the country for change of air. I thought that it +might be the will of God that I should do so, and I prayed therefore +thus to the Lord: "Lord, I will gladly submit myself to thy will, and +go, if thou wilt have me to go. And now let me know thy will by the +answer of my medical attendant. If, in reply to my question, he says it +would be very good for me, I will go; but if he, says it is of no great +importance, then I will stay." When I asked him, he said that it was the +best thing I could do. I was then enabled willingly to submit, and +accordingly went to Teignmouth. + +A few days after my arrival at Teignmouth, the chapel, called Ebenezer, +was reopened, and I attended the opening. I was much impressed by one of +those who preached on the occasion. For though I did not like all he +said, yet I saw a gravity and solemnity in him different from the rest. +After he had preached, I had a great desire to know more of him; and, +being invited by two brethren of Exmouth, in whose house he was staying, +to spend some time with them, I had an opportunity of living ten days +with him under the same roof. It was at this time that God began to show +me that his word alone is our standard of judgment in spiritual things; +that it can be explained only by the Holy Spirit; and that in our day, +as well as in former times, he is the teacher of his people. The office +of the Holy Spirit I had not experimentally understood before that time. +Indeed, of the office of each of the blessed persons, in what is +commonly called the Trinity, I had no experimental apprehension. I had +not before seen from the Scriptures that the Father chose us before the +foundation of the world; that in him that wonderful plan of our +redemption originated, and that he also appointed all the means by which +it was to be brought about. Further, that the Son, to save us, had +fulfilled the law, to satisfy its demands, and with it also the holiness +of God; that he had borne the punishment due to our sins, and had thus +satisfied the justice of God. And, further, that the Holy Spirit alone +can teach us about our state by nature, show us the need of a Saviour, +enable us to believe in Christ, explain to us the Scriptures, help us in +preaching, etc. It was my beginning to understand this latter point in +particular which had a great effect on me; for the Lord enabled me to +put it to the test of experience, by laying aside commentaries, and +almost every other book, and simply reading the word of God and studying +it. The result of this was, that the first evening that I shut myself +into my room, to give myself to prayer and meditation over the +Scriptures, I learned more in a few hours than I had done during a +period of several months previously. _But the particular difference was, +that I received real strength for my soul in doing so._ I now began to +try by the test of the Scriptures the things which I had learned and +seen, and found that only those principles which stood the test were +really of value. + +My stay in Devonshire was most profitable to my soul. My prayer had +been, before I left London, that the Lord would be pleased to bless my +journey to the benefit of my body and soul. In the beginning of +September I returned to London, much better in body; and as to my soul, +the change was so great that it was like a second conversion. After my +return to London, I sought to benefit my brethren in the seminary, and +the means which I used were these: I proposed to them to meet together +every morning from six to eight for prayer and reading the Scriptures; +and that then each of us should give out what he might consider the Lord +had shown him to be the meaning of the portion read. One brother in +particular was brought into the same state as myself; and others, I +trust, were more or less benefited. Several times, when I went to my +room after family prayer in the evening, I found communion with God so +sweet that I continued in prayer till after twelve, and then, being full +of joy, went into the room of the brother just referred to; and finding +him also in a similar frame of heart, we continued praying until one or +two; and even then I was a few times so full of joy that I could +scarcely sleep, and at six in the morning again called the brethren +together for prayer. + +After I had been for about ten days in London, and had been confined to +the house on account of my studies, my health began again to decline; +and I saw that it would not be well, my poor body being only like a +wreck or brand brought out of the devil's service, to spend my little +remaining strength in study, but that I now ought to set about actual +engagement in the Lord's work. I wrote to the committee of the Society, +requesting them to send me out at once; and, that they might do so more +comfortably, to send me as a fellow-laborer with an experienced brother. +However, I received no answer. + +After having waited about five or six weeks, in the mean time seeking, +in one way or other, to labor for the Lord, it struck me that, +considering myself called by the Lord to preach the gospel, I ought to +begin at once to labor among the Jews in London, whether I had the title +of missionary or not. In consequence of this, I distributed tracts among +the Jews, with my name and residence written on them, thus inviting them +to conversation about the things of God; preached to them in those +places where they most numerously collect together; read the Scriptures +regularly with about fifty Jewish boys; and became a teacher in a Sunday +school. In this work I had much enjoyment, and the honor of being +reproached and ill-treated for the name of Jesus. But the Lord gave me +grace, never to be kept from the work by any danger, or the prospect of +any suffering. + + Mr. Mueller was led, toward the close of 1829, to doubt the + propriety of continuing under the patronage of the London + Society. It seemed to him unscriptural for a servant of Christ + to put himself under the control and direction of any one but + the Lord. A correspondence with the Society, evincing on his + part, and on their part, entire kindness and love, resulted in a + dissolution of his relation to them. He was left free to preach + the gospel wherever Providence might open the way. + +On December 30, I went to Exmouth, where I intended to spend a fortnight +in the house of some Christian friends. I arrived at Exmouth on December +31, at six in the evening, an hour before the commencement of a +prayer-meeting at Ebenezer Chapel. My heart was burning with a desire to +tell of the Lord's goodness to my soul. Being, however, not called on, +either to speak or pray, I was silent. The next morning, I spoke on the +difference between being _a Christian_ and _a happy Christian_, and +showed whence it generally comes that we rejoice so little in the Lord. +This, my first testimony, was blessed to many believers, that God, as it +appears, might show me that he was with me. At the request of several +believers, I spoke again in the afternoon, and also proposed a meeting +in the chapel every morning at ten, to expound the epistle to the +Romans. The second day after my arrival, a brother said to me, "I have +been praying for this month past that the Lord would do something for +Lympstone, a large parish where there is little spiritual light. There +is a Wesleyan chapel, and I doubt not you would be allowed to preach +there." Being ready to speak of Jesus wherever the Lord might open a +door, yet so that I could be faithful to the truths which he had been +pleased to teach me, I went, and easily obtained liberty to preach twice +on the next day, being the Lord's day. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +LEANING ON JESUS. + +1830-1832. + + A DOOR OPENED--TOKENS FOR GOOD--TRUST EXERCISED IN THE STUDY AND + MINISTRY OF THE WORD--THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT--TRUSTING IN GOD + FOR DAILY BREAD--BLESSEDNESS OF WAITING UPON THE LORD--"OWE NO + MAN"--"ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH BE IT UNTO YOU"--THE GIFT OF + FAITH, AND THE GRACE OF FAITH. + + +After I had preached about three weeks at Exmouth and its neighborhood, +I went to Teignmouth, with the intention of staying there ten days, to +preach the word among the brethren with whom I had become acquainted +during the previous summer, and to tell them of the Lord's goodness to +me. In the evening, Monday, I preached for Brother Craik, at Shaldon, in +the presence of three ministers, none of whom liked the sermon; yet it +pleased God, through it, to bring to the knowledge of his dear Son a +young woman. How differently does the Lord judge from man! Here was a +particular opportunity for the Lord to get glory to himself. A foreigner +was the preacher, with great natural obstacles in the way, for he was +not able to speak English with fluency; but he had a desire to serve +God, and was by this time also brought into such a state of heart as to +desire that God alone should have the glory, if any good were done +through his instrumentality. + +On Tuesday evening, I preached at Ebenezer Chapel, Teignmouth, the same +chapel at the opening of which I became acquainted with the brother whom +the Lord had afterwards used as an instrument of benefiting me so much. + + During the week ensuing, Mr. M. preached almost daily at the + same place, a blessing attending his labors. + +By this time, the request that I might stay at Teignmouth, and be the +minister of the above chapel, had been repeatedly expressed by an +increasing number of the brethren; but others were decidedly against my +remaining there. This opposition was instrumental in settling it in my +mind that I should stay for a while, at least until I was formally +rejected. + +I preached again three times on the Lord's day, none saying we wish you +not to preach, though many of the hearers did not hear with enjoyment. +Some of them left, and never returned; some left, but returned after a +while. Others came to the chapel who had not been in the habit of +attending there previous to my coming. There was a great stir, a spirit +of inquiry, and a searching of the Scriptures, whether these things were +so. And, what is more than all, God set his seal upon the work, in +converting sinners. Twelve weeks I stood in this same position, whilst +the Lord graciously supplied my temporal wants, through two brethren, +unasked for. After this time, the whole little church, eighteen in +number, unanimously gave me an invitation to become their pastor. They +offered to supply my temporal wants by giving me fifty-five pounds a +year, which sum was afterwards somewhat increased, on account of the +increase of the church. + +That which I now considered the best mode of preparation for the public +ministry of the word, no longer adopted from necessity, on account of +want of time, but from deep conviction, and from the experience of God's +blessing upon it, both as it regards my own enjoyment, the benefit of +the saints, and the conversion of sinners, is as follows: First, I do +not presume to know myself what is best for the hearers, and I therefore +ask the Lord, in the first place, that he would graciously be pleased to +teach me on what subject I shall speak, or what portion of his word I +shall expound. Now, sometimes it happens that, previous to my asking +him, a subject or passage has been in my mind, on which it has appeared +well for me to speak. In that case, I ask the Lord whether I should +speak on this subject or passage. If, after prayer, I feel persuaded +that I should, I fix upon it, yet so that I would desire to leave myself +open to the Lord to change it if he please. Frequently, however, it +occurs that I have no text or subject in my mind, before I give myself +to prayer for the sake of ascertaining the Lord's will concerning it. In +this case, I wait some time on my knees for an answer, trying to listen +to the voice of the Spirit to direct me. If, then, a passage or subject, +whilst I am on my knees, or after I have finished praying for a text, is +brought to my mind, I again ask the Lord, and that sometimes repeatedly, +especially if, humanly speaking, the subject or text should be a +peculiar one, whether it be his will that I should speak on such a +subject or passage. If, after prayer, my mind is peaceful about it, I +take this to be the text, but still desire to leave myself open to the +Lord for direction, should he please to alter it, or should I have been +mistaken. Frequently, also, in the third place, it happens that I not +only have no text nor subject on my mind previous to my praying for +guidance in this matter, but also I do not obtain one after once, or +twice, or more times praying about it. I used formerly at times to be +much perplexed when this was the case, but, for more than twenty years, +it has pleased the Lord, in general at least, to keep me in peace about +it. What I do is, to go on with my regular reading of the Scriptures, +where I left off the last time, praying (whilst I read) for a text, now +and then also laying aside my Bible for prayer, till I get one. Thus it +has happened that I have had to read five, ten, yea, twenty chapters, +before it has pleased the Lord to give me a text; yea, many times I have +even had to go to the place of meeting without one, and obtained it, +perhaps, only a few minutes before I was going to speak; but I have +never lacked the Lord's assistance at the time of preaching, provided I +had earnestly sought it in private. The preacher cannot know the +particular state of the various individuals who compose the +congregation, nor what they require, but the Lord knows it; and if the +preacher renounces his own wisdom, he will be assisted by the Lord; but +if he will choose in his own wisdom, then let him not be surprised if he +should see little benefit result from his labors. + +Before I leave this part of the subject, I would just observe one +temptation concerning the choice of a text. We may see a subject to be +so very full that it may strike us it would do for some other occasion. +For instance, sometimes a text brought to one's mind for a week-evening +meeting may appear more suitable for the Lord's day, because then there +would be a greater number of hearers present. Now, in the first place, +we do not know whether the Lord ever will allow us to preach on another +Lord's day; and, in the second place, we know not whether that very +subject may not be especially suitable for some or many individuals +present just that week-evening. Thus I was once tempted, after I had +been a short time at Teignmouth, to reserve a subject which had been +just opened to me for the next Lord's day. But being able, by the grace +of God, to overcome the temptation by the above reasons, and preaching +about it at once, it pleased the Lord to bless it to the conversion of +a sinner, and that, too, an individual who meant to come but that once +more to the chapel, and to whose case the subject was most remarkably +suited. + +2. Now, when the text has been obtained in the above way, whether it be +one, or two, or more verses, or a whole chapter or more, I ask the Lord +that he would graciously be pleased to teach me by his Holy Spirit +whilst meditating over it. Within the last twenty-five years, I have +found it the most profitable plan to meditate with my pen in my hand, +writing down the outlines as the word is opened to me. This I do, not +for the sake of committing them to memory, nor as if I meant to say +nothing else, but for the sake of clearness, as being a help to see how +far I understand the passage. I also find it useful afterwards to refer +to what I have thus written. I very seldom use any other help besides +the little I understand of the original of the Scriptures, and some good +translations in other languages. My chief help is prayer. I have NEVER +in my life begun to study one single part of divine truth without +gaining some light about it when I have been able really to give myself +to prayer and meditation over it. But _that_ I have often found a +difficult matter, partly on account of the weakness of the flesh, and +partly, also, on account of bodily infirmities and multiplicity of +engagements. This I most firmly believe, that no one ought to expect to +see much good resulting from his labors in word and doctrine, if he is +not much given to prayer and meditation. + +3. Having prayed and meditated on the subject or text, I desire to leave +myself entirely in the hands of the Lord. I ask him to bring to my mind +what I have seen in my closet concerning the subject I am going to speak +on, which he generally most kindly does, and often teaches me much +additionally whilst I am preaching. + +In connection with the above, I must, however, state that it appears to +me there is a preparation for the public ministry of the word which is +even more excellent than the one spoken of. It is this; to live in such +_constant_ and _real_ communion with the Lord, and to be so _habitually_ +and _frequently_ in meditation over the truth, that without the above +_effort_, so to speak, we have obtained food for others, and know the +mind of the Lord as to the subject or the portion of the word on which +we should speak. + +That which I have found most beneficial in my experience for the last +twenty-six years in the public ministry of the word, is _expounding_ the +Scriptures, and especially the going now and then through a whole gospel +or epistle. This may be done in a twofold way, either by entering +minutely into the bearing of every point occurring in the portion, or by +giving the general outlines, and thus leading the hearers to see the +meaning and connection of the whole. The benefits which I have seen +resulting from _expounding_ the Scriptures, are these: 1. The hearers +are thus, with God's blessing, led to the Scriptures. They find, as it +were, _a practical_ use of them in the public meetings. This induces +them to bring their Bibles, and I have observed that those who at first +did not bring them, have afterwards been induced to do so; so that, in a +short time, few (of the believers at least) were in the habit of coming +without them. This is no small matter; for everything which in our day +will lead believers to value the Scriptures is of importance. 2. The +expounding of the Scriptures is in general more beneficial to the +hearers than if, on a single verse, or half a verse, or two or three +words of a verse, some remarks are made, so that the portion of +Scripture is scarcely anything but a motto for the subject; for few have +grace to meditate much over the word, and thus exposition may not merely +be the means of opening to them the Scriptures, but may also create in +them a desire to meditate for themselves. 3. The expounding of the +Scriptures leaves to the hearers a connecting link, so that the reading +over again the portion of the word which has been expounded brings to +their remembrance what has been said, and thus, with God's blessing, +leaves a more lasting impression on their minds. This is particularly of +importance as it regards the illiterate, who sometimes have neither much +strength of memory nor capacity of comprehension. 4. The _expounding_ of +large portions of the word as the whole of a gospel or an epistle, +besides leading the _hearer_ to see the connection of the whole, has +also this particular benefit for the _teacher_, that it leads him, with +God's blessing, to the consideration of portions of the word which +otherwise he might not have considered, and keeps him from speaking too +much on favorite subjects, and leaning too much to particular parts of +truth, which tendency must surely sooner or later injure both himself +and his hearers. Expounding the word of God brings little honor to the +preacher from the _unenlightened_ or _careless_ hearer, but it tends +much to the benefit of the hearers in general. + +Simplicity in expression, whilst the truth is set forth, is, in +connection with what has been said, of the utmost importance. It should +be the aim of the teacher to speak so that children, servants, and +people who cannot read may be able to understand him, so far as the +natural mind can comprehend the things of God. It ought also to be +remembered that there is, perhaps, not a single congregation in which +there are not persons of the above classes present, and that if _they_ +can understand, the well-educated or literary persons will understand +likewise; but the reverse does not hold good. It ought further to be +remembered that the expounder of the truth of God speaks for God, for +eternity, and that it is not in the least likely that he will benefit +the hearers, except he use plainness of speech, which nevertheless +needs not to be vulgar or rude. It should also be considered that if the +preacher strive to speak according to the rules of this world, he may +please many, particularly those who have a literary taste; but, in the +same proportion, he is less likely to become an instrument in the hands +of God for the conversion of sinners, or for the building-up of the +saints. For neither eloquence nor depth of thought makes the truly great +preacher, but such a life of prayer and meditation and spirituality as +may render him a vessel meet for the Master's use, and fit to be +employed both in the conversion of sinners and in the edification of the +saints. + + Becoming convinced, after a prayerful examination of the + Scriptures, that baptism should be administered only by + immersion, Mr. Mueller was then baptized in the spring of 1830. + +It was so usual for me to preach with particular assistance, especially +during the first months of this year, that once, when it was otherwise, +it was much noticed by myself and others. The circumstance was this. One +day, before preaching at Teignmouth, I had more time than usual, and +therefore prayed and meditated about six hours in preparation for the +evening meeting, and I thought I saw many precious truths in the passage +on which I had meditated. It was the first part of the first chapter of +the epistle to the Ephesians. After I had spoken a little time, I felt +that I spoke in my own strength, and I, being a foreigner, felt +particularly the want of words, which had not been the case before. I +told the brethren that I felt I was left to myself, and asked their +prayers. But after having continued a little longer, and feeling the +same as before, I closed, and proposed that we should have a meeting +for prayer, that the Lord still might be pleased to help me. We did so, +and I was particularly assisted the next time. + +On October 7, 1830, I was united by marriage to Miss Mary Groves, sister +of the brother whose name has already been mentioned. This step was +taken after prayer and deliberation, from a full conviction that it was +better for me to be married; and I have never regretted since either the +step itself or the choice, but desire to be truly grateful to God for +having given me such a wife. + +About this time, I began to have conscientious objections against any +longer receiving a stated salary. My reasons against it were these: + +1. The salary was made up by pew-rents; but pew-rents are, according to +James ii. 1-6, against the mind of the Lord, as, in general, the poor +brother cannot have so good a seat as the rich. 2. A brother may +_gladly_ do something towards my support if left to his own time; but, +when the quarter is up, he has perhaps other expenses, and I do not know +whether he pays his money grudgingly, and of necessity, or cheerfully; +but God loveth a cheerful giver. Nay, _I knew it to be a fact_ that +sometimes it had not been convenient to individuals to pay the money +when it had been asked for by the brethren who collected it. 3. Though +the Lord had been pleased to give me grace to be faithful, so that I had +been enabled not to keep back the truth when he had shown it to me; +still, I felt that the pew-rents were a snare to the servant of Christ. +It was a temptation to me, at least for a few minutes, at the time when +the Lord had stirred me up to pray and search the word respecting the +ordinance of baptism, because thirty pounds of my salary was at stake if +I should be baptized. + +For these reasons, I stated to the brethren, at the end of October, +1830, that I should for the future give up having any regular salary. +After I had given my reasons for doing so, I read Philippians iv., and +told the saints that if they still had a desire to do something towards +my support, by voluntary gifts, I had no objection to receive them, +though ever so small, either in money or provisions. A few days after, +it appeared to me that there was a better way still; for, if I received +personally every single gift offered in money, both my own time and that +of the donors would be much taken up; and in this way, also, the poor +might, through temptation, be kept from offering their pence, a +privilege of which they ought not to be deprived; and some also might in +this way give more than if it were not known who was the giver, so that +it would still be doubtful whether the gift were given grudgingly or +cheerfully. For these reasons especially, there was a box put up in the +chapel, over which was written that whoever had a desire to do something +towards my support might put his offering into the box. + +At the same time, it appeared to me right that henceforth I should ask +no man, not even my beloved brethren and sisters, to help me, as I had +done a few times, according to their own request, as my expenses, on +account of travelling much in the Lord's service, were too great to be +met by my usual income. For, unconsciously, I had thus again been led, +in some measure, to trust in an arm of flesh, going to man instead of +going to the Lord at once. _To come to this conclusion before God +required more grace than to give up my salary._ + +About the same time, also, my wife and I had grace given to us to take +the Lord's commandment, "Sell that ye have, and give alms," Luke xii. +33, literally, and to carry it out. Our staff and support in this matter +were Matthew vi. 19-34, John xiv. 13, 14. We leaned on the arm of the +Lord Jesus. It is now twenty-five years since we set out in this way, +and _we do not in the least regret the step we then took_. As I have +written down how the Lord has been pleased to deal with us since, I +shall be able to relate some facts concerning this matter, as far as +they may tend to edification. + +Nov. 18, 1830. Our money was reduced to about eight shillings. When I +was praying with my wife in the morning, the Lord brought to my mind the +state of our purse, and I was led to ask him for some money. About four +hours after, a sister said to me, "Do you want any money?" "I told the +brethren," said I, "dear sister, when I gave up my salary, that I would +for the future tell the Lord _only_ about my wants." She replied, "But +he has told me to give you some money. About a fortnight ago, I asked +him what I should do for him, and he told me to give you some money; and +last Saturday it came again powerfully to my mind, and has not left me +since, and I felt it so forcibly last night that I could not help +speaking of it to brother P." My heart rejoiced, seeing the Lord's +faithfulness, but I thought it better not to tell her about our +circumstances, lest she should be influenced to give accordingly; and I +also was assured that, if it were of the Lord, she could not but give. I +therefore turned the conversation to other subjects, but when I left she +gave me two guineas. We were full of joy on account of the goodness of +the Lord. I would call upon the reader to admire the gentleness of the +Lord, that he did not try our faith much at the commencement, but +allowed us to see his willingness to help us, before he was pleased to +try it more fully. + +The next Wednesday I went to Exmouth, our money having then again been +reduced to about nine shillings. I asked the Lord on Thursday, when at +Exmouth, to be pleased to give me some money. On Friday morning, about +eight o'clock, whilst in prayer, I was particularly led to ask again for +money; and before I rose from my knees I had the fullest assurance that +we should have the answer that very day. About nine o'clock I left the +brother with whom I was staying, and he gave me half a sovereign, +saying, "Take this for the expenses connected with your coming to us." I +did not expect to have my expenses paid, but I saw the Lord's fatherly +hand in sending me this money within one hour after my asking him for +some. But even then I was so fully assured that the Lord would send more +that very day, or had done so already, that, when I came home about +twelve o'clock, I asked my wife whether she had received any letters. +She told me she had received one the day before from a brother in +Exeter, with three sovereigns. Thus even my prayer on the preceding day +had been answered. The next day one of the brethren came and brought me +four pounds, which was due to me of my former salary, but which I could +never have expected, as I did not even know that this sum was due to me. +Thus I received, within thirty hours, in answer to prayer, seven pounds +ten shillings. + +About Christmas, when our money was reduced to a few shillings, I asked +the Lord for more; when, a few hours after, there was given to us a +sovereign by a brother from Axminster. This brother had heard much +against me, and was at last determined to hear for himself, and thus +came to Teignmouth, a distance of forty miles; and having heard about +our manner of living, gave us this money. + +With this closes the year 1830. Throughout it the Lord richly supplied +all my temporal wants, though at the commencement of it I had no certain +human prospect for one single shilling: so that, even as it regards +temporal things, I had not been in the smallest degree a loser in acting +according to the dictates of my conscience; and as it regards spiritual +things, the Lord had dealt bountifully with me, and had condescended to +use me as an instrument in doing his work. + +On the 6th, 7th, and 8th of Jan. 1831, I had repeatedly asked the Lord +for money, but received none. On the evening of January 8, I left my +room for a few minutes, and was then tempted to distrust the Lord, +though he had been so gracious to us in that he not only, up to that +day, had supplied all our wants, but had given us also those answers of +prayer which have been in part just mentioned. I was so sinful, for +about five minutes, as to think it would be of no use to trust in the +Lord in this way. I also began to say to myself, that I had perhaps gone +too far in living in this way. But, thanks to the Lord! this trial +lasted but a few minutes. He enabled me again to trust in him, and Satan +was immediately confounded; for when I returned to my room, out of which +I had not been absent ten minutes, the Lord had sent deliverance. A +sister in the Lord had brought us two pounds four shillings: so the Lord +triumphed, and our faith was strengthened. + +Jan. 10. To-day, when we had again but a few shillings, five pounds were +given to us, which had been taken out of the box. I had, once for all, +told the brethren, who had the care of these temporal things, to have +the kindness to let me have the money every week; but as these beloved +brethren either forgot to take it out weekly, or were ashamed to bring +it in such small sums, it was generally taken out every three, four, or +five weeks. As I had stated to them, however, from the commencement, +that I desired to look neither to man nor the box, but to the living +God, I thought it not right on my part to remind them of my request to +have the money weekly, lest it should hinder the testimony which I +wished to give, of trusting in the living God alone. It was on this +account that on January 28, when we had again but little money, though I +had seen the brethren, on January 24, open the box and take out the +money, I would not ask the brother, in whose hands it was, to let me +have it; but standing in need of it, as our coals were almost gone, I +asked the Lord to incline his heart to bring it; and but a little time +afterwards it was given to us; even one pound eight shillings and +sixpence. + +I would here mention, that, since the time I began living in this way, I +have been kept from speaking, either directly or indirectly, about my +wants, at the time I was in need. The only exception is, that in a few +instances, twenty years or more since, I have, at such times, spoken to +_very poor_ brethren, in the way of encouraging them to trust in the +Lord, telling them that I had to do the same, being myself in similar +straits; or, in a few instances, where it was needful to speak about my +own want, lest I should appear unfeeling, in that I did not help at all, +in cases of distress, or not as much as might have been expected. + +On February 14 we had again very little money, and, whilst praying, I +was led to ask the Lord graciously to supply our wants; and _the instant +that I got up from my knees_ a brother gave me one pound, which had been +taken out of the box. + +On March 7, I was again tempted to disbelieve the faithfulness of the +Lord, and though I was not miserable, still, I was not so fully resting +upon the Lord that I could triumph with joy. It was _but one hour +after_, when the Lord gave me another proof of his faithful love. A +Christian lady brought five sovereigns for us, with these words written +in the paper: "I was an hungered, and ye gave _me_ meat; I was thirsty, +and ye gave _me_ drink," etc. + +April 16. This morning I found that our money was reduced to three +shillings; and I said to myself, I must now go and ask the Lord +earnestly for fresh supplies. But before I had prayed, there was sent +from Exeter two pounds, as a proof that the Lord hears before we call. + +I would observe here, by the way, that if any of the children of God +should think that such a mode of living leads away from the Lord, and +from caring about spiritual things, and has the effect of causing the +mind to be taken up with the question, What shall I eat?--What shall I +drink?--and Wherewithal shall I be clothed?--I would request him +prayerfully to consider the following remarks: 1. I have had experience +of both ways, and know that my present mode of living, as to temporal +things, is connected with less care. 2. Confidence in the Lord, to whom +alone I look for the supply of my temporal wants, keeps me, when a case +of distress comes before me, or when the Lord's work calls for my +pecuniary aid, from anxious reckoning like this: Will my salary last +out? Shall I have enough myself the next month? etc. In this my freedom, +I am, by the grace of God, generally, at least, able to say to myself +something like this: My Lord is not limited; he can again supply; he +knows that this present case has been sent to me: and thus, this way of +living, so far from _leading to anxiety_, is rather the means of +_keeping from it_. And truly it was once said to me by an +individual,--You can do such and such things, and need not to lay by, +for the church in the whole of Devonshire cares about your wants. My +reply was: The Lord can use not merely any of the saints throughout +Devonshire, but those throughout the world, as instruments to supply my +temporal wants. 3. This way of living has often been the means of +reviving the work of grace in my heart, when I have been getting cold; +and it also has been the means of bringing me back again to the Lord, +after I have been backsliding. For it will not do,--it is not possible +to live in sin, and at the same time, by communion with God, to draw +down from heaven everything one needs for the life that now is. 4. +Frequently, too, a fresh answer to prayer, obtained in this way, has +been the means of quickening my soul, and filling me with much joy. + +May 12. A sister has been staying for some time at Teignmouth on account +of her health; and when she was about to return home to-day, we saw it +the Lord's will to invite her to stay with us for some time; as we knew +that she would stay longer if her means allowed it. We were persuaded +that, as we saw it to be the Lord's will to invite her, he himself would +pay the expenses connected with her stay. About the time when she came +to our house, a parcel with money was sent from Chumleigh. A few weeks +before, I had preached at Chumleigh and in the neighborhood. The +brethren, knowing about my manner of living, after my departure +collected some money for me, and thus, in small offerings (one hundred +and seven altogether, as I have been told), two pounds and one penny +halfpenny were given. Thus the Lord paid for the expenses connected with +our sister's staying with us. + +June 12. Lord's day. On Thursday last I went with brother Craik to +Torquay, to preach there. I had only about three shillings with me, and +left my wife with about six shillings at home. I asked the Lord +repeatedly for money; but when I came home my wife had only about three +shillings left, having received nothing. We waited still upon the Lord. +Yesterday passed away, and no money came. We had ninepence left. This +morning we were still waiting upon the Lord, and looking for +deliverance. We had only a little butter left for breakfast, sufficient +for brother E. and a relative living with us, to whom we did not mention +our circumstances, that they might not be made uncomfortable. After the +morning meeting, brother Y. most unexpectedly opened the box, and, in +giving me quite as unexpectedly the money at such a time, he told me +that _he and his wife could not sleep last night, on account of thinking +that we might want money_. The most striking point is, that after I had +repeatedly asked the Lord, but received nothing, _I then prayed +yesterday that the Lord would be pleased to impress it on brother Y. +that we wanted money, so that he might open the box_. There was in it +one pound eight shillings and tenpence halfpenny. + +November 16. This morning I proposed united prayer respecting our +temporal wants. Just as we were about to pray, a parcel came from +Exmouth. In prayer we asked the Lord for meat for dinner, having no +money to buy any. After prayer, on opening the parcel, we found, among +other things, a ham, sent by a brother at Exmouth, which served us for +dinner. + +November 19. We had not enough to pay our weekly rent; but the Lord +graciously sent us again to-day fourteen shillings and sixpence. I would +just observe, that we never contract debts, which we believe to be +unscriptural (according to Romans xiii. 8); and therefore we have no +bills with our tailor, shoemaker, grocer, butcher, baker, etc.; but all +we buy we pay for in ready money. The Lord helping us, we would rather +suffer privation than contract debts. Thus we always know how much we +have, and how much we have a right to give away. I am well aware that +many trials come upon the children of God, on account of not acting +according to Rom. xiii. 8. + +November 27. Lord's day. Our money had been reduced to two pence +halfpenny; our bread was hardly enough for this day. I had several times +brought our need before the Lord. After dinner, when I returned thanks, +I asked him to give us our daily bread, meaning literally that he would +send us bread for the evening. Whilst I was praying, there was a knock +at the door of the room. After I had concluded, a poor sister came in, +and brought us some of her dinner, and from another poor sister five +shillings. In the afternoon she also brought us a large loaf. Thus the +Lord not only literally gave us bread but also money. + +After we had, on December 31, 1831, looked over the Lord's gracious +dealings with us during the past year, in providing for all our temporal +wants, we had about ten shillings left. A little while after, the +providence of God called for that, so that not a single farthing +remained. Thus we closed the old year, in which the Lord had been so +gracious in giving to us, without our asking any one,--1. Through the +instrumentality of the box, thirty-one pounds fourteen shillings. 2. +From brethren of the church at Teignmouth, in presents of money, six +pounds eighteen shillings and sixpence. 3. From brethren living at +Teignmouth and elsewhere, not connected with the church at Teignmouth, +ninety-three pounds six shillings and twopence. Altogether, one hundred +and thirty-one pounds eighteen shillings and eightpence. There had been +likewise many articles of provision, and some articles of clothing given +to us, worth at least twenty pounds. I am so particular in mentioning +these things, to show that we are never losers from acting according to +the mind of the Lord. For had I had my regular salary, humanly speaking, +I should not have had nearly as much; but whether this would have been +the case or not, this is plain, that I have not served a hard master, +and that is what I delight to show. + +January 7, 1832. We had been again repeatedly asking the Lord to-day and +yesterday to supply our temporal wants, having no means to pay our +weekly rent, and this evening, as late as eleven o'clock, a brother gave +us nineteen shillings and sixpence,--a proof that the Lord is not +limited to time. + +January 14. This morning we had nothing but dry bread with our tea; only +the second time since we have been living by simple faith upon Jesus for +temporal supplies. We have more than forty pounds of ready money in the +house for two bills,[14] which will not be payable for several weeks; +but we do not consider this money to be our own, and would rather suffer +great privation, God helping us, than take of it. We were looking to our +Father, and he has not suffered us to be disappointed. For when now we +had but threepence left, and only a small piece of bread, we received +two shillings and five shillings. + + [Footnote 14: One bill I had to meet for a brother, the other was + for money which, in the form of a bill, I had sent to the + Continent; but in both cases the money was in my hands before the + bills were given.] + +February 18. This afternoon I broke a bloodvessel in my stomach, and +lost a considerable quantity of blood. I was very happy immediately +afterwards. February 19. This morning, Lord's day, two brethren called +on me, to ask me what arrangement there should be made to-day, as it +regarded the four villages, where some of the brethren were in the habit +of preaching, as, on account of my not being able to preach, one of the +brethren would need to stay at home to take my place. I asked them, +kindly, to come again in about an hour, when I would give them an +answer. After they were gone, the Lord gave me faith to rise. I dressed +myself; and determined to go to the chapel. I was enabled to do so, +though so weak when I went, that walking the short distance to the +chapel was an exertion to me. I was enabled to preach this morning with +as loud and strong a voice as usual, and for the usual length of time. +After the morning meeting, a medical friend called on me, and entreated +me not to preach again in the afternoon, as it might greatly injure me. +I told him that I should indeed consider it great presumption to do so +had the Lord not given me faith. I preached again in the afternoon, and +this medical friend called again, and said the same concerning the +evening meeting. Nevertheless, having faith, I preached again in the +evening. After each meeting I became stronger, which was a plain proof +that the hand of God was in the matter. + +February 20. The Lord enabled me to rise early in the morning, and to go +to our usual prayer meeting, where I read, spoke, and prayed. Afterwards +I wrote four letters, expounded the Scriptures at home, and attended the +meeting again in the evening. February 21. I attended the two meetings +as usual, preached in the evening, and did my other work besides. +February 22. To-day I attended the meeting in the morning, walked +afterwards six miles with two brethren, and rode to Plymouth. February +23. I am now as well as I was before I broke the bloodvessel. In +relating the particulars of this circumstance, I would earnestly warn +every one who may read this not to imitate me in such a thing if he has +no faith; but if he has, it will, as good coin, most assuredly be +honored by God. I could not say that if such a thing should happen again +I would act in the same way; for when I have been not nearly so weak as +when I had broken the bloodvessel, having no faith, I did not preach; +yet, if it were to please the Lord to give me faith, I might be able to +do the same, though even still weaker than at the time just spoken of. + +About this time I repeatedly prayed with sick believers till they were +restored. _Unconditionally_ I asked the Lord for the blessing of bodily +health (a thing which I could not do now), and almost always had the +petition granted. In some instances, however, the prayer was not +answered. In the same way, whilst in London, November, 1829, in answer +to my prayers, I was immediately restored from a bodily infirmity under +which I had been laboring for a long time, and which has never returned +since. The way in which I now account for these facts is as follows. It +pleased the Lord, I think, to give me in such cases something like the +gift (not grace) of faith, so that unconditionally I could ask and look +for an answer. The difference between the _gift_ and the _grace_ of +faith seems to me this. According to _the gift of faith_, I am able to +do a thing, or believe that a thing will come to pass, the not doing of +which, or the not believing of which, _would not be sin_; according to +_the grace of faith_, I am able to do a thing, or believe that a thing +will come to pass, respecting which I have the word of God as the ground +to rest upon, and, therefore, the not doing it, or the not believing it, +_would be sin_. For instance, _the gift of faith_ would be needed to +believe that a sick person should be restored again, though there is no +human probability, for _there is no promise to that effect_; _the grace +of faith_ is needed to believe that the Lord will give me the +necessaries of life, if I first seek the kingdom of God and his +righteousness, for _there is a promise to that effect_.[15] + + [Footnote 15: Matt. vi.] + +March 18. These two days we have not been able to purchase meat. The +sister in whose house we lodge gave us to-day part of her dinner. We are +still looking to Jesus for deliverance. We want money to pay the weekly +rent and to buy provisions. March 19. Our landlady sent again of her +meat for our dinner. We have but a halfpenny left. I feel myself very +cold in asking for money: still, I hope for deliverance, though I do not +see whence money is to come. We were not able to buy bread to-day as +usual. March 20. This has been again a day of very great mercies. In the +morning we met round our breakfast which the Lord had provided for us, +though we had not a single penny left. The last halfpenny was spent for +milk. We were then still looking to Jesus for fresh supplies. We both +had no doubt that the Lord would interfere. I felt it a trial that I had +but little earnestness in asking the Lord, and had this not been the +case, perhaps we might have had our wants sooner supplied. We have +about seven pounds in the house; but considering it no longer our own, +the Lord kept us from taking of it, with the view of replacing what we +had taken, as formerly I might have done. The meat which was sent +yesterday for our dinner was enough also for to-day. Thus the Lord had +provided another meal. Two sisters called upon us about noon, who gave +us two pounds of sugar, one pound of coffee, and two cakes of chocolate. +Whilst they were with us, a poor sister came and brought us one shilling +from herself and two shillings and sixpence from another poor sister. +Our landlady also sent us again of her dinner, and also a loaf. Our +bread would scarcely have been enough for tea, had the Lord not thus +graciously provided. In the afternoon, the same sister who brought the +money brought us also, from another sister, one pound of butter and two +shillings, and from another sister five shillings. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +MINISTRY AT BRISTOL BEGUN. + +1832-1835. + + "HERE HAVE WE NO CONTINUING CITY"--CAUTION TO THE CHRISTIAN + TRAVELLER--NEW TOKENS FOR GOOD--THE WAY MADE CLEAR--MEETINGS FOR + INQUIRY--NO RESPECT OF PERSONS WITH GOD--FRANCKE, "BEING DEAD, + YET SPEAKETH"--DAILY BREAD SUPPLIED--A PECULIAR PEOPLE. + + +April 8. I have felt much this day that Teignmouth is no longer my +place, and that I shall leave it. I would observe that in August of 1831 +I began greatly to feel as if my work at Teignmouth were done, and that +I should go somewhere else. I was led to consider the matter more +maturely, and at last had it settled in this way,--that it was not +likely to be of God, because, for certain reasons, I should _naturally_ +have liked to leave Teignmouth. Afterwards, I felt quite comfortable in +remaining there. In the commencement of the year 1832 I began again much +to doubt whether Teignmouth was my place, or whether my gift was not +much more that of going about from place to place, seeking to bring +believers back to the Scriptures, than to stay in one place and to labor +as a pastor. I resolved to try whether it were not the will of God that +I should still give myself to pastoral work among the brethren at +Teignmouth; and with more earnestness and faithfulness than ever I was +enabled to give myself to this work, and was certainly much refreshed +and blessed in it; and I saw immediately blessings result from it. This +my experience seemed more than ever to settle me at Teignmouth. But +notwithstanding this, the impression that my work was done there came +back after some time, as the remark in my journal of April 8 shows, and +it became stronger and stronger. There was one point remarkable in +connection with this. Wherever I went I preached with much more +enjoyment and power than at Teignmouth, the very reverse of which had +been the case on my first going there. Moreover, almost everywhere I had +many more hearers than at Teignmouth, and found the people hungering +after food, which, generally speaking, was no longer the case at +Teignmouth. + +April 11. Felt again much that Teignmouth will not much longer be my +residence. April 12. Still feel the impression that Teignmouth is no +longer my place. April 13. Found a letter from brother Craik, from +Bristol, on my return from Torquay, where I had been to preach. He +invites me to come and help him. It appears to me, from what he writes, +that such places as Bristol more suit my gifts. O Lord, teach me! I have +felt this day more than ever that I shall soon leave Teignmouth. I fear, +however, there is much connected with it which savors of the flesh, and +that makes me fearful. It seems to me as if I should shortly go to +Bristol, if the Lord permit. April 14. Wrote a letter to brother Craik, +in which I said I should come, if I clearly saw it to be the Lord's +will. Have felt again very much to-day, yea, far more than ever, that I +shall soon leave Teignmouth. + +April 15. Lord's day. This evening I preached, as fully as time would +permit, on the Lord's second coming. After having done so, I told the +brethren what effect this doctrine had had upon me, on first receiving +it, even to determine me to leave London, and to preach throughout the +kingdom; but that the Lord had kept me chiefly at Teignmouth for these +two years and three months, and that it seemed to me now that the time +was near when I should leave them. I reminded them of what I told them +when they requested me to take the oversight of them, that I could make +no certain engagement, but stay only so long with them as I should see +it to be the Lord's will to do so. There was much weeping afterwards. +But I am now again in peace. + +April 16. This morning I am still in peace. I am glad I have spoken to +the brethren, that they may be prepared, in case the Lord should take me +away. I left to-day for Dartmouth, where I preached in the evening. I +had five answers to prayer to-day. 1. I awoke at five, for which I had +asked the Lord last evening. 2. The Lord removed from my dear wife an +indisposition under which she had been suffering. It would have been +trying to me to have had to leave her in that state. 3. The Lord sent us +money. 4. There was a place vacant on the Dartmouth coach, which only +passes through Teignmouth. 5. This evening I was assisted in preaching, +and my own soul refreshed. + +April 21. I would offer here a word of warning to believers. Often the +work of the Lord itself may be a temptation to keep us from that +communion with him which is so essential to the benefit of our own +souls. On the 19th I had left Dartmouth, conversed a good deal that day, +preached in the evening, walked afterwards eight miles, had only about +five hours' sleep, travelled again the next day twenty-five miles, +preached twice, and conversed very much besides, went to bed at eleven, +and arose before five. All this shows that my body and spirit required +rest, and, therefore, however careless about the Lord's work I might +have appeared to my brethren, I ought to have had a great deal of quiet +time for prayer and reading the word, especially as I had a long journey +before me that day, and as I was going to Bristol, which in itself +required much prayer. Instead of this, I hurried to the prayer meeting, +after a few minutes' private prayer. But let none think that public +prayer will make up for closet communion. Then again, afterwards, when I +ought to have withdrawn myself, as it were, by force, from the company +of beloved brethren and sisters, and given my testimony for the Lord, +(and, indeed, it would have been the best testimony I could have given +them,) by telling them that I needed secret communion with the Lord, I +did not do so, but spent the time, till the coach came, in conversation +with them. Now, however profitable in some respects it may have been +made to those with whom I was on that morning, yet my own soul needed +food; and not having had it, I was lean, and felt the effects of it the +whole day; and hence I believe it came that I was dumb on the coach, and +did not speak a word for Christ, nor give away a single tract, though I +had my pockets full on purpose. + +April 22. This morning I preached at Gideon Chapel, Bristol. In the +afternoon I preached at the Pithay Chapel. This sermon was a blessing to +many, many souls; and many were brought through it to come afterwards to +hear brother Craik and me. Among others it was the means of converting a +young man who was a notorious drunkard, and who was just again on his +way to a public house, when an acquaintance of his met him, and asked +him to go with him to hear a foreigner preach. He did so; and from that +moment he was so completely altered, that he never again went to a +public house, and was so happy in the Lord afterwards that he often +neglected his supper, from eagerness to read the Scriptures, as his wife +told me. He died about five months afterwards. This evening I was much +instructed in hearing brother Craik preach. I am now fully persuaded +that Bristol is the place where the Lord will have me to labor. + +April 27. It seems to brother Craik and myself the Lord's will that we +should go home next week, in order that in quietness, without being +influenced by what we see here, we may more inquire into the Lord's will +concerning us. It especially appears to us much more likely that we +should come to a right conclusion among the brethren and sisters in +Devonshire, whose tears we shall have to witness, and whose entreaties +to stay with them we shall have to hear, than here in Bristol, where we +see only those who wish us to stay. + +April 28. It still seems to us the Lord's will that we should both leave +soon, to have quiet time for prayer concerning Bristol. April 29. I +preached this morning on Rev. iii. 14-22. As it afterwards appeared, +that testimony was blessed to many, though I lacked enjoyment in my own +soul. This afternoon brother Craik preached in a vessel called the +Clifton Ark, fitted up for a chapel. In the evening I preached in the +same vessel. These testimonies also God greatly honored, and made them +the means of afterwards bringing several, who then heard us, to our +meeting places. How was God with us, and how did he help us, thereby +evidently showing that he himself had sent us to this city! + +April 30. It was most affecting to take leave of the dear children of +God, dozens pressing us to return soon, many with tears in their eyes. +The blessing which the Lord has given to our ministry seems to be very +great. We both see it fully the Lord's will to come here, though we do +not see under what circumstances. A brother has promised to take +Bethesda Chapel for us, and to be answerable for the payment of the +rent; so that thus we should have two large chapels. I saw, again, two +instances to-day in which my preaching has been blessed. + +May 1. Brother Craik and I left this morning for Devonshire. + +May 3. I saw several of the brethren to-day, and felt so fully assured +that it is the Lord's will that I should go to Bristol, that I told them +so. This evening I had a meeting with the three deacons, when I told +them plainly about it; asking them, if they see anything wrong in me +concerning this matter, to tell me of it. They had nothing to say +against it; yea, though much wishing me to stay, they were convinced +themselves that my going is of God. + +May 5. One other striking proof to my mind that my leaving Teignmouth is +of God, is, that some truly spiritual believers, though they much wish +me to stay, themselves see that I ought to go to Bristol. + +May 7. Having received a letter from Bristol on May 5, it was answered +to-day in such a way that the Lord may have another opportunity to +prevent our going thither if it be not of him. + +May 15. Just when I was in prayer concerning Bristol, I was sent for to +come to brother Craik. Two letters had arrived from Bristol. The +brethren assembling at Gideon accept our offer to come under the +conditions we have made, _i. e._ for the present, to consider us only as +ministering among them, but not in any fixed pastoral relationship, so +that we may preach as we consider it to be according to the mind of God, +_without reference to any rules among them; that the pew-rents should be +done away with; and that we should go on, respecting the supply of our +temporal wants, as in Devonshire_. We intend, the Lord willing, to leave +in about a week, though there is nothing settled respecting Bethesda +Chapel. + +May 21. I began to-day to take leave of the brethren at Teignmouth, +calling on each of them. It has been a trying day. Much weeping on the +part of the saints. Were I not so fully persuaded that it is the will of +God we should go to Bristol, I should have been hardly able to bear it. + +May 22. The brethren at Teignmouth say that they expect us soon back +again. _As far as I understand the way in which God deals with his +children, this seems very unlikely._ Towards the evening, the Lord, +after repeated prayer, gave me Col. i. 21-23 as a text for the last word +of exhortation. It seemed to me best to speak as little as possible +about myself, and as much as possible about Christ. I scarcely alluded +to our separation, and only commended myself and the brethren, in the +concluding prayer, to the Lord. The parting scenes are very trying, but +my full persuasion is that the separation is of the Lord. May 23. My +wife, Mr. Groves, my father-in-law, and I left this morning for Exeter. +Dear brother Craik intends to follow us to-morrow. + +We had unexpectedly received, just before we left Teignmouth, about +fifteen pounds, else we should not have been able to defray all the +expenses connected with leaving, travelling, etc. By this, also, the +Lord showed his mind concerning our going to Bristol. + +The following record will now show to the believing reader how far what +I have said concerning my persuasion that it was the will of God that we +should go to Bristol has been proved by facts. + +May 25, 1832. This evening we arrived at Bristol. May 27. This morning +we received a sovereign, sent to us by a sister residing in +_Devonshire_, which we take as an earnest that the Lord will provide for +us here also. May 28. When we were going to speak to the brethren, who +manage the temporal affairs of Gideon Chapel, about giving up the +pew-rents, having all the seats free, and receiving the free-will +offerings through a box, a matter which was not quite settled on their +part, as brother Craik and I had thought, we found that the Lord had so +graciously ordered this matter for us that there was not the least +objection on the part of these brethren. + +June 4. For several days we have been looking about for lodgings, but +finding none plain and cheap enough, we were led to make this also a +subject of earnest prayer; and now, immediately afterwards, the Lord has +given us such as are suitable. We pay only eighteen shillings a week for +two sitting-rooms and three bedrooms, coals, and attendance. It was +particularly difficult to find _cheap_ furnished lodgings, having five +rooms in the same house, which we need, as brother Craik and we live +together. How good is the Lord to have thus appeared for us, in answer +to prayer, and what an encouragement to commit everything to him in +prayer! + +June 25. To-day it was finally settled to take Bethesda Chapel for a +twelvemonth, on condition that a brother at once paid the rent, with the +understanding that, if the Lord shall bless our labors in that place, so +that believers are gathered together in fellowship, he expects them to +help him; but if not, that he will pay all. This was the only way in +which we could take the chapel; for we could not think it to be of God +to have had this chapel, though there should be every prospect of +usefulness, if it had made us in any way debtors. + +July 6. To-day we commenced preaching at Bethesda Chapel. It was a good +day. July 13. To-day we heard of the first cases of cholera in Bristol. +July 16. This evening, from six to nine o'clock, we had appointed for +conversing at the vestry, one by one, with individuals who wished to +speak to us about their souls. There were so many that we were engaged +from six till twenty minutes past ten. + +These meetings we have continued ever since, twice a week, or once a +week, or once a fortnight, or once a month, as our strength and time +allowed it, or as they seemed needed. We have found them beneficial in +the following respects:-- + +1. Many persons, on account of timidity, would prefer coming at an +appointed time to the vestry to converse with us, to calling on us in +our own house. 2. The very fact of appointing a time for seeing people, +to converse with them in private concerning the things of eternity, has +brought some, who, humanly speaking, never would have called upon us +under other circumstances; yea, it has brought even those who, though +they thought they were concerned about the things of God, yet were +completely ignorant; and thus we have had an opportunity of speaking to +them. 3. These meetings have also been a great encouragement to +ourselves in the work, for often, when we thought that such and such +expositions of the word had done no good at all, it was through these +meetings found to be the reverse; and likewise, when our hands were +hanging down, we have been afresh encouraged to go forward in the work +of the Lord, and to continue sowing the seed in hope, by seeing at these +meetings fresh cases in which the Lord has condescended to use us as +instruments, particularly as in this way instances have sometimes +occurred in which individuals have spoken to us about the benefit which +they derived from our ministry not only a few months before, but even as +long as two, three, and four years before. + +For the above reasons I would particularly recommend to other servants +of Christ, especially to those who live in large towns, if they have not +already introduced a similar plan, to consider whether it may not be +well for them also to set apart such times for seeing inquirers. Those +meetings, however, require much prayer, to be enabled to speak aright to +all those who come, according to their different need; and one is led +continually to feel that one is not sufficient of one's self for these +things, but that our sufficiency can be alone of God. These meetings +also have been by far the most wearing-out part of all our work, though +at the same time the most refreshing. + +July 18. To-day I spent the whole morning in the vestry, to procure a +quiet season. This has now for some time been the only way, on account +of the multiplicity of engagements, to make sure of time for prayer, +reading the word, and meditation. July 19. I spent from half past nine +till one in the vestry, and had real communion with the Lord. The Lord +be praised, who has put it into my mind to use the vestry for a place of +retirement! + +August 5. _When all our money was gone to-day, the Lord again graciously +supplied our wants._ August 6. This afternoon, from two till after six, +brother Craik and I spent in the vestry, to see the inquirers. We have +had again, in seeing several instances of blessing upon our labors, +abundant reason brought before us to praise the Lord for having sent us +to Bristol. + +August 13. This evening one brother and four sisters united with brother +Craik and me in church-fellowship at Bethesda, _without any rules, +desiring only to act as the Lord shall be pleased to give us light +through his word_. + +September 17. This morning the Lord, in addition to all his other +mercies, has given us a little girl, who, with her mother, is doing +well. + +October 1. A meeting for inquirers this afternoon from two to five. Many +more are convinced of sin through brother Craik's preaching than my own. +This circumstance led me to inquire into the reasons, which are probably +these: 1. That brother Craik is more spiritually minded than I am. 2. +That he prays more earnestly for the conversion of sinners than I do. 3. +That he more frequently addresses sinners, as such, in his public +ministrations, than I do. This led me to more frequent and earnest +prayer for the conversion of sinners, and to address them more +frequently as such. The latter had never been intentionally left undone, +but it had not been so frequently brought to my mind as to that of +brother Craik. Since then, the cases in which it has pleased the Lord +to use me as an instrument of conversion have been quite as many as +those in which brother Craik has been used. + +February 9, 1833. I read a part of Franke's life. The Lord graciously +help me to follow him, as far as he followed Christ. Most of the Lord's +people whom we know in Bristol are poor, and if the Lord were to give us +grace to live more as this dear man of God did, we might draw much more +than we have as yet done out of our heavenly Father's bank, for our poor +brethren and sisters. March 2. A man in the street ran up to brother +Craik and put a paper containing ten shillings into his hand, saying, +"That is for you and Mr. Mueller," and went hastily away. May 28. This +morning, whilst sitting in my room, the distress of several brethren and +sisters was brought to my mind, and I said to myself, "O that it might +please the Lord to give me means to help them!" About an hour afterwards +I received sixty pounds from a brother whom up to this day I never saw, +and who then lived, as he does still, a distance of several thousand +miles. + +May 29. Review of the last twelve months, as it regards the fruits of +our labors in Bristol: 1. The total number of those added to us within +the year has been one hundred and nine. 2. There have been converted +through our instrumentality, _so far as we have heard and can judge +respecting the individuals_, sixty-five. 3. Many backsliders have been +reclaimed, and many of the children of God have been encouraged and +strengthened in the way of truth. + +June 12. I felt, this morning, that we might do something for the souls +of those poor boys and girls, and grown-up or aged people, to whom we +have daily given bread for some time past, in establishing a school for +them, reading the Scriptures to them, and speaking to them about the +Lord. This desire was not carried out. The chief obstacle in the way was +a pressure of work coming upon brother Craik and me just about that +time. Shortly after, the number of the poor who came for bread increased +to between sixty and eighty a day, whereby our neighbors were molested, +as the beggars were lying about in troops in the street, on account of +which we were obliged to tell them no longer to come for bread. This +thought ultimately issued in the formation of the Scriptural Knowledge +Institution, and in the establishment of the Orphan Houses. + +December 17. This evening brother Craik and I took tea with a family of +whom five had been brought to the knowledge of the Lord through our +instrumentality. As an encouragement to brethren who may desire to +preach the gospel in a language not their own, I would mention that the +first member of this family who was converted came merely out of +curiosity to hear my foreign accent, some words having been mentioned to +her which I did not pronounce properly. + +December 31. In looking over my journal, I find,--1. That at least two +hundred and sixty persons (according to the number of names we have +marked down, but there have been many more) have come to converse with +us about the concerns of their souls. Out of these, one hundred and +fifty-three have been added to us in fellowship these last eighteen +months, sixty of whom have been brought to the knowledge of the Lord +through our instrumentality. + +2. In looking over the Lord's dealings with me as to temporal things, I +find that he has sent me, during the past year,-- + + 1. In freewill offerings through the boxes, _as my part_ L152 14 51/4 + 2. Presents in money given to me 25 1 3 + 3. Presents in clothes and provisions, worth, at least 20 0 0 + 4. A brother sent me, from a distance 60 0 0 + 5. We live free of rent, which is worth _for our part_ 10 0 0 + ---------- + L267 15 81/4 + +It is just now four years since I first began to trust in the Lord alone +for the supply of my temporal wants. My little all I then had, at most +worth one hundred pounds a year, I gave up for the Lord, having then +nothing left but about five pounds. The Lord greatly honored this little +sacrifice, and he gave me, in return, not only as much as I had given +up, but considerably more. For during the first year, he sent me +already, in one way or other, including what came to me through family +connection, about one hundred and thirty pounds. During the second year, +one hundred and fifty-one pounds eighteen shillings and eight pence. +During the third year, one hundred and ninety-five pounds three +shillings. During this year, two hundred and sixty-seven pounds fifteen +shillings and eight and one fourth pence. The following points require +particular notice: 1. During the last three years and three months I +never have asked any one for anything; but, by the help of the Lord, I +have been enabled at all times to bring my wants to him, and he +graciously has supplied them all. 2. At the close of each of these four +years, though my income has been comparatively great, I have had only a +few shillings or nothing at all left; and thus it is also to-day, by the +help of God. 3. During the last year a considerable part of my income +has come from a distance of several thousand miles, from a brother whom +I never saw. 4. Since we have been obliged to discontinue the giving +away of bread to about fifty poor people every day, on account of our +neighbors, our income has not been during the second part of this year +nearly so great, scarcely one half as much, as during the first part of +it. + +January 9, 1834. Brother Craik and I have preached during these eighteen +months, once a month, at Brislington, a village near Bristol, but have +not seen any fruit of our labors there. This led me to-day very +earnestly to pray to the Lord for the conversion of sinners in that +place. I was also, in the chapel, especially led to pray again about +this, and asked the Lord in particular that he would be pleased to +convert, at least, one soul this evening, that we might have a little +encouragement. I preached with much help, and I hope there has been good +done this evening. The Lord did according to my request. There was a +young man brought to the knowledge of the truth. + +January 14. I was greatly tried by the difficulty of fixing upon a text +from which to preach on the morning of October 20, and at last preached +without enjoyment. To-day I heard of a NINTH instance in which this very +sermon has been blessed. + +January 31. This evening a Dorcas Society was formed among the sisters +in communion with us, but not according to the manner in which we found +one when we came to Bristol; for, as we have dismissed all teachers from +the Sunday School who were not real believers, so now believing females +only will meet together to make clothes for the poor. The being mixed up +with unbelievers had not only proved a barrier to spiritual conversation +among the sisters, but must have been also injurious to both parties in +several respects. One sister, now united to us in fellowship, +acknowledged that the being connected with the Dorcas Society, previous +to her conversion, had been, in a measure, the means of keeping her in +security; as she thought that, by helping on such like things, she might +gain heaven at last. O that the saints, in _faithful_ love, according to +the word of God (2 Cor. vi. 14-18), might be more separated in all +spiritual matters from unbelievers, and not be unequally yoked together +with them! + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE SCRIPTURAL KNOWLEDGE INSTITUTION. + +1834-1835. + + UNSCRIPTURAL CHARACTER OF THE EXISTING RELIGIOUS AND BENEVOLENT + SOCIETIES--A NEW INSTITUTION PROPOSED--GOD'S WORD THE ONLY RULE, + AND GOD'S PROMISE THE ONLY DEPENDENCE--"IN EVERYTHING, LET YOUR + REQUEST BE MADE KNOWN UNTO GOD"--EARNEST OF THE DIVINE BLESSING + ON THE INSTITUTION--BEREAVEMENT--HELPER SEASONABLY SENT--REWARD + OF SEEKING GOD'S FACE. + + +Feb. 21. I was led this morning to form a plan for establishing, upon +scriptural principles, an institution for the spread of the gospel at +home and abroad. I trust this matter is of God. Feb. 25. I was led again +this day to pray about the forming of a new Missionary Institution, and +felt still more confirmed that we should do so. + +[Some readers may ask why we formed a _new_ Institution for the spread +of the gospel, and why we did not unite with some of the religious +societies, already in existence, seeing that there are several +missionary, Bible, tract, and school societies. I give, therefore, our +reasons, in order to show that nothing but the desire to maintain a good +conscience led us to act as we have done. For as, by the grace of God, +we acknowledged the word of God as the only rule of action for the +disciples of the Lord Jesus, we found, in comparing the then existing +religious societies with the word of God, that they departed so far +from it, that we could not be united with them, and yet maintain a good +conscience. I only mention here the following points. + +1. The _end_ which these religious societies propose to themselves, and +which is constantly put before their members, is, that the world will +gradually become better and better, and that at last the whole world +will be converted. To this end, there is constantly reference made to +the passage in Habakkuk ii. 14: "For the earth shall be filled with the +knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea;" or the +one in Isaiah xi. 9: "For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of +the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." But that these passages can have +no reference to the present dispensation, but to the one which will +commence with the return of the Lord,--that in the present dispensation +things will not become spiritually better, but rather worse,--and that +in the present dispensation it is not the whole world that will be +converted, but only a people gathered out from among the Gentiles for +the Lord,--is clear from many passages of the divine testimony, of which +I only refer to the following: Matt. xiii. 24-30, and verses 36-43, 2 +Tim. iii. 1-13, Acts xv. 14. + +A hearty desire for the conversion of sinners, and earnest prayer for it +to the Lord, is quite _scriptural_; but it is _unscriptural_ to expect +the conversion of the whole world. _Such an end_ we could not propose to +ourselves in the service of the Lord. + +2. But that which is worse, is, the connection of those religious +societies with the world, which is completely contrary to the word of +God (2 Cor. vi. 14-18). In temporal things the children of God need, +whilst they remain here on earth, to make use of the world; but when the +work to be done requires that those who attend to it should be possessed +of spiritual life (of which unbelievers are utterly destitute), the +children of God are bound, by their loyalty to their Lord, entirely to +refrain from association with the unregenerate. But, alas! the +connection with the world is but too marked in these religious +societies; for every one who pays a guinea, or, in some societies, +half-a-guinea, is considered as a member. Although such an individual +may live in sin; although he may manifest to every one that he does not +know the Lord Jesus; if only the guinea or the half-guinea be paid, he +is considered a member, and has a right as such to vote. Moreover, +whoever pays a larger sum, for instance, ten pounds or twenty pounds, +can be, in many societies, a member for life, however openly sinful his +life should be for the time, or should become afterwards. Surely such +things ought not to be. + +3. The means which are made use of in these religious societies to +obtain money for the work of the Lord are also in other respects +unscriptural; for it is a most common case _to ask_ the _unconverted_ +for money, which even Abraham would not have done (Genesis xiv. 21-24); +and how much less should _we_ do it, who are not only forbidden to have +fellowship with unbelievers in all such matters (2 Cor. vi. 14-18), but +who are also in fellowship with the Father and the Son, and can +therefore obtain everything from the Lord which we possibly can need in +his service, without being obliged to go to the unconverted world! How +altogether differently the first disciples acted, in this respect, we +learn from 3 John 7. + +4. Not merely, however, in these particulars is there a connection with +the world in these religious societies; but it is not a rare thing for +even committee members (the individuals who manage the affairs of the +societies) to be manifestly unconverted persons, if not open enemies to +the truth; and this is suffered because they are rich, or of influence, +as it is called. + +5. It is a most common thing to endeavor to obtain for patrons and +presidents of these societies and for chairmen at the public meetings, +persons of rank or wealth, to attract the public. Never once have I +known a case of a POOR, but very devoted, wise, and experienced servant +of Christ being invited to fill the chair at such public meetings. +Surely, the Galilean fishermen, who were apostles, or our Lord himself, +who was called the carpenter, would not have been called to this office, +according to these principles. These things ought not so to be among the +disciples of the Lord Jesus, who should not judge with reference to a +person's fitness for service in the church of Christ by the position he +fills in the world, or by the wealth he possesses. + +6. Almost all these societies contract debts, so that it is a +comparatively rare case to read a report of any of them without finding +that they have expended more than they have received, which, however, is +contrary both to the spirit and to the letter of the New Testament. +(Rom. xiii. 8.) + +Now, although brother Craik and I were ready, by the grace of God, +heartily to acknowledge that there are not only many true children of +God connected with these religious societies, but that the Lord has also +blessed their efforts in many respects, notwithstanding the existence of +these and other principles and practices which we judged to be +unscriptural; yet it appeared to us to be his will that we should be +entirely separate from these societies, (though we should be considered +as singular persons, or though it should even appear that we despised +other persons, or would elevate ourselves above them,) in order that, by +the blessing of God, we might direct the attention of the children of +God in those societies to their unscriptural practices; and we would +rather be entirely unconnected with these societies than act contrary to +the Holy Scriptures. We therefore separated entirely from them, although +we remained united in brotherly love with individual believers +belonging to them, and would by no means judge them for remaining in +connection with them, if they do not see that such things are contrary +to Scripture. But seeing them to be so ourselves, we could not with a +clear conscience remain. After we had thus gone on for some time, we +considered that it would have an injurious tendency upon the brethren +among whom we labored, and also be at variance with the spirit of the +gospel of Christ, if we did nothing at all for missionary objects, the +circulation of the Holy Scriptures, tracts, etc., and we were therefore +led, for these and other reasons, to do something for the spread of the +gospel at home and abroad, however small the beginning might be.] + +March 5. This evening, at a public meeting, brother Craik and I stated +the principles on which we intend to carry on the institution which we +propose to establish for the spread of the gospel at home and abroad. +There was nothing outwardly influential either in the number of people +present or in our speeches. May the Lord graciously be pleased to grant +his blessing upon the institution, which will be called "The Scriptural +Knowledge Institution, for Home and Abroad." + + +I. THE PRINCIPLES OF THE INSTITUTION. + +1. We consider every believer bound, in one way or other, to help the +cause of Christ, and we have scriptural warrant for expecting the Lord's +blessing upon our work of faith and labor of love; and although, +according to Matt. xiii. 24-43, 2 Tim. iii. 1-13, and many other +passages, the world will not be converted before the coming of our Lord +Jesus, still, while he tarries, all scriptural means ought to be +employed for the ingathering of the elect of God. + +2. The Lord helping us, we do not mean to seek the patronage of the +world; _i. e._ we never intend to ask _unconverted_ persons of rank or +wealth to countenance this Institution, because this, we consider, would +be dishonorable to the Lord. In the name of our God we set up our +banners, Ps. xx. 5; he alone shall be our patron, and if he helps us we +shall prosper, and if he is not on our side we shall not succeed. + +3. We do not mean to _ask_ unbelievers for money (2 Cor. vi. 14-18); +though we do not feel ourselves warranted to refuse their contributions, +if they of their own accord should offer them. Acts xxviii. 2-10. + +4. We reject altogether the help of unbelievers in managing or carrying +on the affairs of the Institution. 2 Cor. vi. 14-18. + +5. We intend never to enlarge the field of labor by contracting debts +(Rom. xiii. 8), and afterwards appealing to the Church of Christ for +help, because this we consider to be opposed both to the letter and the +spirit of the New Testament; but in secret prayer, God helping us, we +shall carry the wants of the Institution to the Lord, and act according +to the means that God shall give. + +6. We do not mean to reckon the success of the Institution by the amount +of money given, or the number of Bibles distributed, etc., but by the +Lord's blessing upon the work (Zech. iv. 6); and we expect this in the +proportion in which he shall help us to wait upon him in prayer. + +7. While we would avoid aiming after needless singularity, we desire to +go on simply according to Scripture, without compromising the truth; at +the same time thankfully receiving any instruction which experienced +believers, after prayer, upon scriptural ground, may have to give us +concerning the Institution. + + +II. THE OBJECTS OF THE INSTITUTION. + +1. To _assist_ day schools, Sunday schools, and adult schools, in which +instruction is given upon _scriptural principles_, and as far as the +Lord may give the means, and supply us with suitable teachers, and in +other respects make our path plain, to establish schools of this kind. +With this we also combine _the putting of poor children to such day +schools_. + +_a._ By day schools upon scriptural principles, we understand day +schools in which the teachers are godly persons,--in which the way of +salvation is scripturally pointed out,--and in which no instruction is +given opposed to the principles of the gospel. + +_b._ Sunday schools, in which all the teachers are believers, and in +which the Holy Scriptures are alone the foundation of instruction, are +such only as the Institution assists with the supply of Bibles, +Testaments, etc.; for we consider it unscriptural that any persons who +do not profess to know the Lord themselves should be allowed to give +religious instruction. + +_c._ The Institution does not assist any adult school with the supply of +Bibles, Testaments, spelling-books, etc., except the teachers are +believers. + +2. To circulate the Holy Scriptures. + +3. The third object of this Institution is to aid missionary efforts. + +We desire to assist those missionaries whose proceedings appear to be +most according to the Scriptures. + + * * * * * + +March 7. To-day we have only one shilling left. This evening, when we +came home from our work, we found a brother, our tailor, waiting for us, +who brought a new suit of clothes both for brother Craik and me, which a +brother, whose name was not to be mentioned, had ordered for us. + +April 23. Yesterday and to-day I had asked the Lord to send us twenty +pounds, that we might be able to procure a larger stock of Bibles and +Testaments than our small funds of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution +would allow us to purchase; and this evening a sister, unasked, promised +to give us that sum, adding that she felt a particular pleasure in +circulating the Holy Scriptures, as the simple reading of them had been +the means of bringing her to the knowledge of the Lord. + +June 8. Lord's day. I obtained no text yesterday, notwithstanding +repeated prayer and reading of the word. This morning I awoke with these +words: "My grace is sufficient for thee." As soon as I had dressed +myself, I turned to 2 Cor. xii. to consider this passage; but in doing +so, after prayer, I was led to think that I had not been directed to +this portion for the sake of speaking on it, as I at first thought, and +I therefore followed my usual practice in such cases, _i. e._ to read on +in the Scriptures where I left off last evening. In doing so, when I +came to Heb. xi. 13-16, I felt that this was the text. Having prayed, I +was confirmed in it, and the Lord was pleased to open this passage to +me. I preached on it with great enjoyment. It pleased God greatly to +bless what I said on that passage, and at least one soul was brought +through it to the Lord. + +June 25. These last three days I have had very little real communion +with God, and have therefore been very weak spiritually, and have +several times felt irritability of temper. + +June 26. I was enabled, by the grace of God, to rise early, and I had +nearly two hours in prayer before breakfast. I feel now this morning +more comfortable. + +July 11. I have prayed much about a master for boys' school, to be +established in connection with our little Institution. Eight have +applied for the situation, but none seemed to be suitable. Now, at +last, the Lord has given us a brother, who will commence the work. + +October 9. Our little Institution, established in dependence upon the +Lord, and supplied by him with means, has now been seven months in +operation, and through it have been benefited with instruction,--1. In +the Sunday school, about 120 children. 2. In the adult school, about 40 +adults. 3. In the two day schools for boys and the two days schools for +girls, 209 children, of whom 54 have been entirely free; the others pay +about one third of the expense. There have been also circulated 482 +Bibles and 520 New Testaments. Lastly, fifty-seven pounds has been spent +to aid missionary exertion. The means which the Lord has sent us, as the +fruit of many prayers, during these seven months, amount to one hundred +and sixty-seven pounds ten shillings and halfpenny. + +October 28. We heard a most affecting account of a poor little orphan +boy who for some time attended one of our schools, and who seems there, +as far as we can judge, to have been brought to a real concern about his +soul, through what I said concerning the torments of hell, and who some +time ago was taken to the poorhouse, some miles out of Bristol. He has +expressed great sorrow that he can no longer attend our school and +ministry. May this, if it be the Lord's will, lead me to do something +also for the supply of the _temporal_ wants of poor children, the +pressure of which has caused this poor boy to be taken away from our +school! + +November 4. I spent the greater part of the morning in reading the word +and in prayer, and asked also for our daily bread, for we have scarcely +any money left. November 5. I spent almost the whole of the day in +prayer and reading the word. I prayed also again for the supply of our +temporal wants, but the Lord has not as yet appeared. November 8. +Saturday. The Lord has graciously again supplied our temporal wants +during this week, though at the commencement of it we had but little +left. I have prayed much this week, for money, more than any other week, +as far as I remember, since we have been in Bristol. The Lord has +supplied us through our selling what we did not need, or by our being +paid what was owed to us. + +December 10. To-day we found that a departed brother had left both to +brother Craik and me twelve pounds. + +December 31, 1834. 1. Since brother Craik and I have been laboring in +Bristol, 227 brethren and sisters have been added to us in fellowship. +Out of the 227 who have been added to us, 103 have been converted +through our instrumentality, and many have been brought into the liberty +of the gospel, or reclaimed from backsliding. Forty-seven young converts +are at Gideon, and fifty-six at Bethesda. 2. The income which the Lord +has given me during this year is:-- + + 1. My part of the freewill offerings through the boxes, L135 13 21/4 + + 2. Money given to me by saints in and out of Bristol 92 7 6 + ------------- + Altogether L228 0 81/4 + + 3. Besides this, many articles in provisions, clothing, + and furniture, worth to us about 60 0 0 + +January 1, 1835. We had last evening an especial prayer meeting, for the +sake of praising the Lord for all his many mercies, which we have +received during the past year, and to ask him to continue to us his +favor. January 13. I visited from house to house the people living in +Orange Street, and saw in this way the families living in nine houses, +to ascertain whether any individuals wanted Bibles, whether they could +read, whether they wished their children put to our day schools or +Sunday school, with the view of helping them accordingly. This afforded +opportunities to converse with them about their souls. + +January 15. This morning I went again from house to house in Orange +Street. I should greatly delight in being frequently engaged in such +work, for it is a most important one; but our hands are so full with +other work that we can do but little in this way. January 21. Received, +in answer to prayer, from an unexpected quarter, five pounds, for the +Scriptural Knowledge Institution. The Lord pours in, whilst we seek to +pour out. For during the past week, merely among the poor, in going from +house to house, fifty-eight copies of the Scriptures were sold at +reduced prices, the going on with which is most important, but will +require much means. + +January 28. I have, for these several days, prayed much to ascertain +whether the Lord will have me to go as a missionary to the East Indies, +and I am most willing to go, if he will condescend to use me in this +way. January 29. I have been greatly stirred up to pray about going to +Calcutta as a missionary. May the Lord guide me in this matter! (After +all my repeated and earnest prayer in the commencement of 1835, and +willingness on my part to go, if it were the Lord's will, still, he did +not send me.) + +February 25. In the name of the Lord, and in dependence upon him alone +for support, we have established a fifth day school for poor children, +which to-day has been opened. We have now two boys' schools and three +girls' schools. + + Mr. Mueller having determined to visit Germany, chiefly on + missionary business, reached London February 27, and writes:-- + +This morning I went to the Alien Office for my passport. On entering the +office, I saw a printed paper, in which it is stated that every alien +neglecting to renew every six months his certificate of residence, which +he receives on depositing his passport, subjects himself to a penalty +of fifty pounds, or imprisonment. This law I have ignorantly broken ever +since I left London, in 1829. It appeared to me much better to confess +at once that I had ignorantly done so than now wilfully break it; +_trusting in the Lord as it regarded the consequences of the step_. I +did so, and _the Lord inclined the heart of the officer with whom I had +to do to pass over my non-compliance with the law, on account of my +having broken it ignorantly_. Having obtained my passport, I found an +unexpected difficulty in the Prussian ambassador refusing to sign it, as +it did not contain a description of my person, and therefore I needed to +prove that I was the individual spoken of in the passport. This +difficulty was not removed for three days, when, _after earnest prayer_, +through a paper signed by some citizens of London, to whom I am known, +the ambassador was satisfied. This very difficulty, when once the Lord +had removed it, afforded me cause for thanksgiving; for I now obtained a +_new_ passport, worded in a way that, should I ever need it again, will +prevent similar difficulties. + + Mr. Mueller was absent for five weeks, during which time he + experienced many answers to prayer and encouragements to faith. + +April 15. Bristol. Yesterday, at one, we landed in London. In answer to +prayer, I soon obtained my things from the custom-house, and reached my +friends in Chancery Lane a little before two. + +June 3. To-day we had a public meeting on account of the Scriptural +Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad. It is now fifteen months +since, in dependence upon the Lord for the supply of means, we have been +enabled to provide poor children with schooling, circulate the Holy +Scriptures, and aid missionary labors. During this time, though the +field of labor has been continually enlarging, and though we have now +and then been brought low in funds, the Lord has never allowed us to be +obliged to stop the work. We have been enabled during this time to +establish three day schools, and to connect with the Institution two +other charity day schools, which, humanly speaking, otherwise would have +been closed for want of means. The number of the children that have been +thus provided with schooling, in the day schools only, amounts to 439. +The number of copies of the Holy Scriptures which have been circulated +is 795 Bibles and 753 New Testaments. We have also sent, in aid of +missionary labors in Canada, in the East Indies, and on the Continent of +Europe, one hundred and seventeen pounds, eleven shillings. The whole +amount of the free-will offerings put into our hands for carrying on +this work from March 5, 1834, to May 19, 1835, is L363 12s. 03/4d. + +June 22. This morning at two my father-in-law died. June 25. Our little +boy is so ill that I have no hope of his recovery. The Lord's holy will +be done concerning the dear little one. June 26. My prayer, last +evening, was, that God would be pleased to support my dear wife under +the trial, should he remove the little one; and to take him soon to +himself, thus sparing him from suffering. I did not pray for the child's +recovery. It was but two hours after that the dear little one went home. +I am so fully enabled to realize that the dear infant is so much better +off with the Lord Jesus than with us, that I scarcely feel the loss at +all, and when I weep I weep for joy. + +July 18. I have felt for several days weak in my chest. This weakness +has been increasing, and to-day I have felt it more than ever. I have +thought it well to refrain next week from all public speaking. May the +Lord grant that I may be brought nearer to him through this, for I am +not at all in the state in which I ought to be, and I think sometimes +that our late afflictions have been lost upon me, and that the Lord will +need to chastise me severely. + +July 31. To-day brother C----r, formerly a minister in the +establishment, who came to us a few days since, began, in connection +with the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, to go from house to house to +spread the truth as a city missionary. [This was a remarkable +interposition of God. Brother Craik had before this, for some months, +been unable, on account of bodily infirmity, to labor in the work of the +schools, the circulation of the Scriptures, etc., and my own weakness, +shortly after brother C----r's arrival, increased so that I was obliged +to give up the work entirely. How gracious, therefore, of the Lord to +send brother C----r, that thus the work might go on! Up to July, 1837, +this beloved brother was enabled to continue in his work, and thus this +little Institution was in a most important way enlarged as it regards +the field of labor.] + +August 24. I feel very weak, and suffer more than before from the +disease. I am in doubt whether to leave Bristol entirely for a time. I +have no money to go away for a change of air. I have had an invitation +to stay for a week with a sister in the country, and I think of +accepting the invitation, and going to-morrow. August 26. To-day I had +five pounds given to me _for the express purpose of using change of +air_. August 29. To-day I received another five pounds _for the same +purpose_. + +August 30. To-day, for the first Lord's day since our arrival in +Bristol, I have been kept from preaching through illness. How mercifully +has the Lord dealt in giving me so much strength for these years! I had +another five pounds sent _to aid me in procuring change of air_. How +kind is the Lord in thus providing me with the means for leaving +Bristol! September 2. Went with my family to Portishead. + +September 15. As I clearly understood that the person who lets me his +horse has no license, I saw that, being bound as a believer to act +according to the laws of the country, I could use it no longer; and as +horse exercise seems most important, humanly speaking, for my +restoration, and as this is the only horse which is to be had in the +place, we came to the conclusion to leave Portishead to-morrow. +_Immediately after_, I received a kind letter from a brother and two +sisters in the Lord, who live in the Isle of Wight, which contained a +fourth invitation, more pressing than ever, to come and stay with them +for some time. In addition to this, they wrote that they had repeatedly +prayed about the matter, and were persuaded that I ought to come. This +matter has been to-day a subject for prayer. + +September 16. We came this morning to the conclusion that _I_ should go +to the Isle of Wight; but we saw not how my wife and child and our +servant could accompany me, as we had not sufficient money for +travelling expenses; and yet this seemed of importance. The Lord +graciously removed the difficulty this evening; for we received, _most +unexpectedly and unasked for_, five pounds and thirteen shillings, which +was owed to us, and also, when we had already retired to rest, a letter +was brought, containing a present of two pounds. How very, very kind and +tender is the Lord! + +September 19. This evening we arrived at our friends' in the Isle of +Wight, by whom we were most kindly received. + +September 29. Last evening, when I retired from the family, I had a +desire to go to rest at once, for I had prayed a short while before; and +feeling weak in body, the coldness of the night was a temptation to me +to pray no further. However, the Lord did help me to fall upon my knees; +and no sooner had I commenced praying than he shone into my soul, and +gave me such a spirit of prayer as I had not enjoyed for many weeks. He +graciously once more revived his work in my heart. I enjoyed that +nearness to God and fervency in prayer, for more than an hour, for which +my soul had been panting for many weeks past. For the first time, during +this illness, I had now also a spirit of prayer as regards my health. I +could ask the Lord earnestly to restore me again, which had not been the +case before. I now long to go back again to the work in Bristol, yet +without impatience, and feel assured that the Lord will strengthen me to +return to it. I went to bed especially happy, and awoke this morning in +great peace, rose sooner than usual, and had again, for more than an +hour, real communion with the Lord, before breakfast. May he in mercy +continue this state of heart to his most unworthy child! + +October 9. I have many times had thoughts of giving in print some +account of the Lord's goodness to me, for the instruction, comfort, and +encouragement of the children of God. I have considered to-day all the +reasons for and against, and find that there are scarcely any against, +and many for it. + +November 15. Bristol. Brother C----r and I have been praying together, +the last five days, that the Lord would be pleased to send us means for +carrying on the work of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. This +evening, a brother gave me six shillings and one penny, being money +which he formerly used to pay towards the support of a trade club, which +he has lately given up for the Lord's sake. November 18. This evening +thirty pounds were given to me; twenty-five pounds for the Scriptural +Knowledge Institution, and five pounds for myself. This is a most +remarkable answer to prayer. Brother C----r and I have prayed repeatedly +together during the last week concerning the work, and especially that +the Lord would be pleased to give us the means to continue, and even +enlarge the field. In addition to this, I have several times asked for a +supply for myself, and he has kindly granted both these requests. O that +I may have grace to trust him more and more! + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +HOME FOR DESTITUTE ORPHANS. + +1835-1836. + + FRANKE'S WORKS FOLLOW HIM--GREAT UNDERTAKING CONCEIVED--REASONS + FOR ESTABLISHING AN ORPHAN HOUSE--PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE--TREASURE + LAID UP IN HEAVEN--IN PRAYER AND IN FAITH, THE WORK IS BEGUN. + + +November 20. This evening I took tea at a sister's house, where I found +Franke's life. I have frequently, for a long time, thought of laboring +in a similar way, on a much smaller scale; not to imitate Franke, but in +reliance upon the Lord. May God make it plain! November 21. To-day I +have had it very much impressed on my heart, no longer merely to _think_ +about the establishment of an orphan house, but actually to set about +it, and I have been very much in prayer respecting it, in order to +ascertain the Lord's mind. November 23. To-day I had ten pounds sent +from Ireland, for our Institution. The Lord, in answer to prayer, has +given me, in a few days, about fifty pounds. I had asked only for forty +pounds. This has been a great encouragement to me, and has still more +stirred me up to think and pray about the establishment of an orphan +house. Nov. 25. I have been again much in prayer yesterday and to-day +about the orphan house, and am more and more convinced that it is of +God. May he in mercy guide me! + +It may be well to enter somewhat minutely upon the reasons which led me +to establish an orphan house. Through my pastoral labors, through my +correspondence, and through brethren who visited Bristol, I had +constantly cases brought before me, which proved that one of the +especial things which the children of God needed in our day, was, _to +have their faith strengthened_. I might visit a brother who worked +fourteen or even sixteen hours a day at his trade, the necessary result +of which was, that not only his body suffered, but his soul was lean, +and he had no enjoyment in God. I might point out to him that he ought +to work less, in order that his bodily health might not suffer, and that +he might gather strength for his inner man, by reading the word of God, +by meditation over it, and by prayer. The reply, however, I generally +found to be something like this: "But if I work less, I do not earn +enough for the support of my family. Even now, whilst I work so much, I +have scarcely enough." There was no trust in God, no real belief in the +truth of that word, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his +righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." I might +reply something like this: "My dear brother, it is not your work which +supports your family, but the Lord; and he who has fed you and your +family when you could not work at all, on account of illness, would +surely provide for you and yours; if, for the sake of obtaining food for +your inner man, you were to work only for so many hours a day as would +allow you proper time for retirement. And is it not the case now that +you begin the work of the day after having had only a few hurried +moments for prayer; and when you leave off your work in the evening, and +mean then to read a little of the word of God, are you not too much worn +out in body and mind to enjoy it, and do you not often fall asleep +whilst reading the Scriptures, or whilst on your knees in prayer?" The +brother would allow it was so; he would allow that my advice was good; +but still I read in his countenance, even if he should not have actually +said so, "How should I get on, if I were to _carry out_ your advice?" I +longed, therefore, to have something to point the brother to, as a +visible proof that our God and Father is the same faithful God that he +ever was,--as willing as ever to PROVE himself the LIVING GOD, in our +day as formerly, _to all who put their trust in him_. + +Again, sometimes I found children of God tried in mind by the prospect +of old age, when they might be unable to work any longer, and therefore +were harassed by the fear of having to go into the poorhouse. If in such +a case I pointed out to them how their heavenly Father has always helped +those who put their trust in him, they might not _say_ that times have +changed; but yet it was evident enough that God was not looked upon by +them as the LIVING God. I longed to set something before the children of +God whereby they might see that he does not forsake, even in our day, +those who rely upon him. + +Another class of persons were brethren in business, who suffered in +their souls, and brought guilt on their consciences, by carrying on +their business almost in the same way as unconverted persons do. The +competition in trade, the bad times, the over-peopled country, were +given as reasons why, if the business were carried on simply according +to the word of God, it could not be expected to do well. Such a brother, +perhaps, would express the wish that he might be differently situated, +but very rarely did I see _that there was a stand made for God, that +there was the holy determination to trust in the living God, and to +depend on him, in order that a good conscience might be maintained_. To +this class, likewise, I desired to show by a visible proof that God is +unchangeably the same. + +Then there was another class of persons, individuals who were in +professions in which they could not continue with a good conscience, or +persons who were in an unscriptural position with reference to spiritual +things; but both classes feared, on account of the consequences, to give +up the profession in which they could not abide with God, or to leave +their position, lest they should be thrown out of employment. My spirit +longed to be instrumental in strengthening their faith, by giving them +not only instances from the word of God of his willingness and ability +to help all those who rely upon him, but _to show them by proofs_ that +he is the same in our day. I well knew _that the word of God ought to be +enough_; but I considered that I ought to lend a helping hand to my +brethren, if by any means, by this visible proof to the unchangeable +faithfulness of the Lord, I might strengthen their hands in God; for I +remembered what a great blessing my own soul had received through the +Lord's dealings with his servant A. H. Franke, who, in dependence upon +the living God alone, established an immense orphan house, which I had +seen many times with my own eyes. I therefore judged myself bound to be +the servant of the church of Christ in the particular point on which I +had obtained mercy; namely, _in being able to take God by his word, and +to rely upon it_. + +All these exercises of my soul, which resulted from the fact that so +many believers with whom I became acquainted were harassed and +distressed in mind, or brought guilt on their consciences on account of +not trusting in the Lord, were used by God to awaken in my heart the +desire of setting before the church at large, and before the world, a +proof that he has not in the least changed; and this seemed to me best +done by the establishing of an orphan house. It needed to be something +which could be seen, even by the natural eye. Now, if I, a poor man, +simply by prayer and faith, obtained, _without asking any individual_, +the means for establishing and carrying on an orphan house, there would +be something which, with the Lord's blessing, might be instrumental in +strengthening the faith of the children of God, besides being a +testimony to the consciences of the unconverted of the reality of the +things of God. + +This, then, was the primary reason for establishing the orphan house. I +certainly did from my heart desire to be used by God to benefit the +bodies of poor children, bereaved of both parents, and seek in other +respects, with the help of God, to do them good for this life. I also +particularly longed to be used by God in getting the dear orphans +trained up in the fear of God; but still, the first and primary object +of the work was, and still is, that God might be magnified by the fact +that the orphans under my care are provided with all they need, only +_by prayer and faith_, without any one being asked by me or my +fellow-laborers, whereby it may be seen that God is FAITHFUL STILL, and +HEARS PRAYER STILL. That I was not mistaken, has been abundantly proved +since November, 1835, both by the conversion of many sinners who have +read the accounts which have been published in connection with this +work, and also by the abundance of fruit that has followed in the hearts +of the saints, for which, from my inmost soul, I desire to be grateful +to God, and the honor and glory of which not only is due to him alone, +but which I, by his help, am enabled to ascribe to him. + +November 28. I have been, every day this week, very much in prayer +concerning the orphan house, chiefly entreating the Lord to take away +every thought concerning it out of my mind if the matter be not of him; +and have also repeatedly examined my heart concerning my motives in the +matter. But I have been more and more confirmed that it is of God. + +December 2. I have again these last days prayed much about the orphan +house, and have frequently examined my heart, that if it were at all my +desire to establish it for the sake of gratifying myself I might find it +out. To that end I have also conversed with brother Craik about it, that +he might be instrumental in showing me any hidden corruption of my heart +concerning the matter, or any other scriptural reason against my +engaging in it. The one only reason which ever made me at all doubt as +to its being of God that _I_ should engage in this work, is the +multiplicity of engagements which I have already. But if the matter be +of God, he will in due time send suitable individuals, so that +comparatively little of my time will be taken up in this service. + +This morning I asked the Lord especially that he would be pleased to +teach me through the instrumentality of brother C.; and I went to him, +that he might have an opportunity of probing my heart. For as I desire +only the Lord's glory, I should be glad to be instructed through the +instrumentality of any brother, if the matter be not of him. But brother +C., on the contrary, greatly encouraged me in it. Therefore, I have this +day taken the first actual step in the matter, in having ordered bills +to be printed, announcing a public meeting on December 9, at which I +intend to lay before the brethren my thoughts concerning the orphan +house, as a means of ascertaining more clearly the Lord's mind +concerning the matter. December 5. This evening I was struck, in reading +the Scriptures, with these words: "Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill +it." I was led to apply this Scripture to the orphan house, and asked +the Lord for premises, one thousand pounds, and suitable individuals to +take care of the children. December 7. To-day I received the first +shilling for the orphan house. + +December 9. This afternoon the first piece of furniture was given,--a +large wardrobe. This afternoon and evening I was low in spirit as it +regards the orphan house, but as soon as I began to speak at the meeting +I received peculiar assistance from God. After the meeting, ten +shillings was given to me. _There was purposely no collection_, nor did +any one speak besides myself; for it was not in the least intended to +work upon the feelings, for I sought to be quite sure concerning the +mind of God. After the meeting, a sister offered herself for the work. I +went home, happy in the Lord, and full of confidence that the matter +will come to pass, though but ten shillings has been given. December 10. +I have sent to the press a statement, which contains the substance of +what I said at the meeting last evening. I have received a letter, in +which a brother and sister wrote thus: "We propose ourselves for the +service of the intended orphan house, if you think us qualified for it; +also to give up all the furniture, etc., which the Lord has given us, +for its use; and to do this without receiving any salary whatever, +believing that if it be the will of the Lord to employ us, he will +supply all our need," etc. In the evening a brother brought, from +several individuals, three dishes, twenty-eight plates, three basins, +one jug, four mugs, three salt-stands, one grater, four knives, and five +forks. + +December 12. While I was praying this morning that the Lord would give +us a fresh token of his favor concerning the orphan house, a brother +brought three dishes, twelve plates, one basin, and one blanket. After +this had been given, I thanked God, and asked him to give even this day +another encouragement. Shortly after, fifty pounds was given, and that +by an individual from whom, for several reasons, I could not have +expected this sum. Thus the hand of God appeared so much the more +clearly. Even then I was led to pray that this day the Lord would give +still more. In the evening, accordingly, there was sent, by a sister, +twenty-nine yards of print. Also a sister offered herself for the work. +December 13. A brother was influenced this day to give four shillings +per week, as long as the Lord gives the means: eight shillings was given +by him as two weeks' subscription. To-day a brother and sister offered +themselves, with all their furniture, and all their provisions which +they have in the house, if they can be usefully employed in the concerns +of the orphan house. + +December 14. To-day a sister offered her services for the work. In +the evening another sister offered herself for the institution. +December 15. A sister brought, from several friends, ten basins, eight +mugs, one plate, five dessert spoons, six teaspoons, one skimmer, one +toasting-fork, one flour-dredge, three knives and forks, one sheet, one +pillow-case, one table-cloth; also one pound. In the afternoon were sent +fifty-five yards of sheeting, and twelve yards of calico. December 16. I +took out of the box in my room one shilling. December 17. I was rather +cast down last evening and this morning about the matter; questioning +whether I ought to be engaged in this way, and was led to ask the Lord +to give me some further encouragement. Soon after were sent by a brother +two pieces of print, the one seven and the other twenty-three and three +fourths yards, six and three fourths yards of calico, four pieces of +lining, about four yards altogether, a sheet, and a yard measure. This +evening another brother brought a quantity of household articles, and +told me that it had been put into the heart of an individual to send +to-morrow one hundred pounds. + +December 18. This afternoon the same brother brought, from a sister, a +counterpane, a flatiron-stand, eight cups and saucers, a sugar-basin, a +milk jug, a teacup, sixteen thimbles, five knives and forks, six +dessert-spoons, twelve teaspoons, four combs, and two little graters; +from another friend a flatiron, and a cup and saucer. At the same time +he brought the hundred pounds above referred to. Since the publication +of the second edition, it has pleased the Lord to take to himself the +donor of this hundred pounds, and I therefore give, in this present +edition, some further account of the donation and the donor. + +A. L. was known to me almost from the beginning of my coming to Bristol, +in 1832. She earned her bread by needle-work, by which she gained from +two shillings to five shillings per week; the average, I suppose, was +not more than three shillings sixpence, as she was weak in body. But I +do not remember ever to have heard her utter a word of complaint on +account of earning so little. Some time before I had been led to +establish an orphan house, her father had died, through which event she +had come in possession of four hundred and eighty pounds, which sum had +been left to her (and the same amount to her brother and two sisters) by +her grandmother, but of which her father had had the interest during his +lifetime. The father, who had been much given to drinking, died in debt, +which debts the children wished to pay; but the rest, besides A. L., did +not like to pay in full, and offered to the creditors twenty-five per +cent, which they gladly accepted, as they had not the least legal claim +upon the children. After the debts had been paid according to this +agreement, sister A. L. said to herself, "However sinful my father may +have been, yet he was my father, and as I have the means of paying his +debts to the full amount, I ought, as a believing child, to do so, +seeing that my brother and sisters will not do it." She then went to all +the creditors secretly, and paid the full amount of the debts, which +took forty pounds more of her money, besides her share, which she had +given before: Her brother and two sisters now gave fifty pounds each of +their property to their mother; but A. L. said to herself, "I am a +_child of God_; surely I ought to give my mother twice as much as my +brothers and sisters." She therefore gave her mother one hundred pounds. +Shortly after this she sent me the hundred pounds towards the orphan +house. I was not a little surprised when I received this money from her, +for I had always known her as a poor girl, and I had never heard +anything about her having come into the possession of this money, and +her dress had never given me the least indication of an alteration in +her circumstances. Before, however, accepting this money from her, I had +a long conversation with her, in which I sought to probe her as to her +motives, and in which I sought to ascertain whether, as I had feared, +she might have given this money in the feeling of the moment, without +having counted the cost. But I had not conversed long with this beloved +sister, before I found that she was, in this particular, a quiet, calm, +considerate follower of the Lord Jesus, and one who desired, in spite of +what human reason might say, to act according to the words of our Lord, +"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth." "Sell that ye have, +and give alms." When I remonstrated with her, in order that I might see +whether she had counted the cost, she said to me, "The Lord Jesus has +given his _last_ drop of blood for me, and should I not give him this +hundred pounds?" She would also have me take five pounds for the poor +saints in communion with us. I mention here particularly that this dear +sister kept all these things to herself, and did them as much as +possible in secret; and during her lifetime, I suppose, not six brethren +and sisters among us knew that she had ever possessed four hundred and +eighty pounds, or that she had given one hundred pounds towards the +orphan house. + +I relate one instance more. August 4, 1836, seven months and a half +after she had given the hundred pounds, she came one morning to me, and +said: "Last evening I felt myself particularly stirred up to pray about +the funds of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution; but whilst praying, I +thought, _what good is it for me to pray for means, if I do not give +when I have the means_, and I have therefore brought you this five +pounds." As I had reason to believe that, by this time, by far the +greater part of her money was gone, I again had a good deal of +conversation with her, to see whether she really did count the cost, and +whether this donation also was given unto the Lord, or from momentary +excitement, in which case it was better not to give the money. However, +she was at this time also steadfast, grounded upon the word of God; and +evidently constrained by the love of Christ; and all the effect my +conversation had upon her was, that she said, "You must take five +shillings in addition to the five pounds, as a proof that I give the +five pounds cheerfully." And thus she constrained me to take the five +pounds and five shillings.--Four things are especially to be noticed +about this beloved sister, with reference to all this period of her +earthly pilgrimage: 1. She did all these things in secret, avoiding to +the utmost all show about them, and thus proved that she did not desire +the praise of man. 2. She remained, as before, of an humble and lowly +mind, and she proved thus that she had done what she did unto the Lord, +and not unto man. 3. Her dress remained, during all the time that she +had this comparative abundance, the same as before. It was clean, yet as +simple and as inexpensive as it was at the time when all her income +consisted of three shillings and sixpence, or at most five shillings per +week. There was not the least difference as to her lodging, dress, +manner of life, etc. She remained in every way the poor handmaid of the +Lord, as to all outward appearance. 4. But that which is as lovely as +the rest, she continued working at her needle all this time. She earned +her two shillings-sixpence, or three shillings, or a little more, a +week, by her work, as before; whilst she gave away the money in +sovereigns or five-pound notes. At last all her money was gone, and that +some years before she fell asleep; and as her bodily health never had +been good as long as I had known her, and was now much worse, she found +herself peculiarly dependent upon the Lord, who never forsook her, up to +the last moments of her earthly course. Her body became weaker and +weaker, in consequence of which she was able to work very little, for +many months before she died; but the Lord supplied her with all she +needed, though she never asked for anything. For instance, a sister in +communion With us sent her, for many months, all the bread she used. Her +mouth was full of thanksgiving, even in the midst of the greatest bodily +sufferings. + +December 20. A sister gave five pounds. December 21. A friend sent one +pound. Weekly subscription of four shillings. December 22. A sister gave +me one pound, and a friend sent two shillings and sixpence. December 23. +A brother gave, this evening, a piece of blind line and a dozen of blind +tassels. About ten in the evening, a gentleman brought me from an +individual, whose name he was not to mention, four pounds, of which I +was allowed to take two pounds for the orphan house, and to give the +other two pounds to poor believers. December 31. This evening we had a +special meeting for prayer and praise. There have been received into the +church, during the past year, 59. There are men in communion with us, +95. I have received for my temporal wants, in freewill offerings, +presents, etc., L285 1s. 11/4d. + + During January to May of 1836, numerous donations were made of + furniture, provisions, half-worn clothing, and money (varying + from one hundred pounds to a halfpenny). Encouraged by these + _unsolicited_ offerings, Mr. Mueller determined to open the + Orphan House. + +April, 21. This day was set apart for prayer and thanksgiving concerning +the Orphan House, as it is now opened. In the morning, several brethren +prayed, and brother Craik spoke on the last verses of Psalm xx. In the +afternoon, I addressed our day and Sunday school children, the orphans, +and other children present. In the evening we had another prayer +meeting. There are now seventeen children in the Orphan House. + +May 6. I have now been for some years, and especially these last few +months, more or less thinking and praying respecting publishing a short +account of the Lord's dealings with me. To-day I have at last settled to +do so, and have begun to write. + +May 16. For these several weeks our income has been little; and though I +had prayed many times that the Lord would enable us to put by the taxes, +yet the prayer remained unanswered. In the midst of it all, my comfort +was, that the Lord would send help by the time it would be needed. One +thing particularly has been a trial to us of late, far more than our own +temporal circumstances, which is, that we have scarcely, in any measure, +been able to relieve the distress among the poor saints. To-day, the +Lord, at last, after I had many times prayed to him for these weeks +past, answered my prayers, there being seven pounds twelve shillings and +one farthing given to me as my part of the freewill offerings through +the boxes,--two five-pound notes having been put in yesterday, one for +brother Craik and one for me. Thus the Lord has again delivered us, and +answered our prayers, and that _not one single hour too late_; for the +taxes have not as yet been called for. May he fill my heart with +gratitude for this fresh deliverance, and may he be pleased to enable me +more and more to trust in him, and to wait patiently for his help? + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE FIELD WIDENING. + +1836-1837. + + AN UNEXPECTED OBSTACLE--IMPLICIT SUBMISSION--A SECOND ORPHAN + HOUSE PROPOSED--AN ENCOURAGING TEXT--THE NEW ORPHAN HOUSE + OPENED--COMPLETED ANSWER TO PRAYER--PROGRESS OF THE LORD'S + WORK--THE OVERSIGHT OF THE FLOCK. + + + Under date of May 18, 1836, Mr. M. says:-- + +In the foregoing pages, a statement has been given of the success with +which the Lord has been pleased to crown the prayers of his servant +respecting the establishment of an Orphan House in this city. The +subject of my prayer was, that he would graciously provide a house, +either as a loan or as a gift, or that some one might be led to pay the +rent for one; further, that he would give me one thousand pounds for the +object, and likewise suitable individuals to take care of the children. +A day or two after, I was led to ask, in addition to the above, that he +would put it into the hearts of his people to send me articles of +furniture, and some clothes for the children. In answer to these +petitions, many articles of furniture, clothing, and food were sent, a +conditional offer of a house, as a gift, was made, individuals proposed +themselves to take care of the children, and various sums of money were +given, varying from one hundred pounds to a halfpenny. + +It may be well to state that the above results have followed in answer +to prayer, without any one having been asked by me for one single thing; +from which I have refrained, not on account of want of confidence in the +brethren, or because I doubted their love to the Lord, but that I might +see the hand of God so much the more clearly. + +So far as I remember, I brought even the most minute circumstances +concerning the Orphan House before the Lord in my petitions, being +conscious of my own weakness and ignorance. There was, however, one +point I never had prayed about, namely, that the Lord would send +children; for I naturally took it for granted that there would be plenty +of applications. The appointed time came, and not even one application +was made. This circumstance now led me to lie low before my God in +prayer, and to examine my heart once more as to all the motives +concerning it; and being able, as formerly, to say, that his glory was +my chief aim, _i. e._ that it might be seen that it is not a vain thing +to trust in the living God, and still continuing in prayer, I was at +last brought to this state, that I could say _from my heart_ that I +should rejoice in God being glorified in this matter, though it were _by +bringing the whole to nothing_. But as still, after all, it seemed to me +more tending to the glory of God to establish and prosper the Orphan +House, I could then ask him heartily to send applications. I enjoyed now +a peaceful state of heart concerning the subject, and was also more +assured than ever that God would establish it. _The very next day_ the +first application was made, and within a short time forty-three applied. +I rented the house No. 6, Wilson Street, as being, on account of its +cheapness and largeness, very suitable. + +I have mentioned that we intended to take in the children from the +seventh to the twelfth year. But after six applications had been made +for children between four and six years of age, it became a subject of +solemn and prayerful consideration, whether, as long as there were +vacancies, such children should not be received, though so young. I came +at last to the conclusion to take in the little girls under seven years +of age, for whom application had been made. Further, it has been +repeatedly brought before me, how desirable it would be to establish +also, in this city, an Orphan House for _male_ children, and there were +even articles sent for _little orphan boys_. Partly, then, on account of +these reasons; and partly because the Institution already opened was +quite filled in a few days; and partly because the Lord has done +hitherto far above what I could have expected; I have at last, after +repeated prayer, come to the conclusion, in the name of the Lord, and in +dependence upon him alone for support, to propose the establishment of +an Infant Orphan House. + +June 3. From May 16 up to this day I have been confined to the house, +and a part of the time to my bed, on account of a local inflammation, +which keeps me from walking. Almost every day during this time I have +been able to continue writing a narrative of the Lord's dealings with +me, which had been again laid aside after May 7, on account of a number +of pressing engagements. It is very remarkable that the greatest +objection against writing it for the press was want of time. Now, +through this affliction, which leaves my mind free, and gives me time, +on account of confinement to the house, I have been able to write about +a hundred quarto pages. + +June 14. This morning brother C----r and I prayed unitedly, chiefly +about the schools and the circulation of the Scriptures. Besides asking +for blessings upon the work, we have also asked the Lord for the means +which are needed; for on July 1, seventeen pounds ten shillings will be +due for the rent of school-rooms, and, besides this, we want at least +forty pounds more to go on with the circulation of the Scriptures, to +pay the salaries of the masters, etc. Towards all this we have only +about seven pounds. I also prayed for the remainder of the thousand +pounds for the Orphan House. + +June 21. This evening brother C----r and I found that the Lord has not +only been pleased to send us, through the offerings which have come in +during the last week, in answer to our prayers, the seventeen pounds ten +shillings which will be due for the rent of two school-rooms on July 1, +but that we have five pounds more than is needed. Thus the Lord once +more has answered our prayers. + +July 28. For some weeks past we have not been able to pay the salary of +the masters and governesses _a month in advance_, but have been obliged +to pay it _weekly_. Brother C----r and I have lately prayed repeatedly +together respecting the funds, but we were now brought so low, that we +should not have been able to pay even this _weekly_ salary of the +teachers, had not the Lord most remarkably helped us again to-day. For, +besides one pound, which was given to us, this evening a brother gave +eight pounds, which sum had been made up by a number of his workmen +_paying weekly one penny each_, of their own accord, towards our funds. +The money had been collecting for many months, and, in this our +necessity, it had been put into the heart of this brother to bring it. + +July 29. This evening, from six to half past nine, we had a meeting for +inquirers. There came twelve fresh cases before us. + +October 1. To-day, in dependence upon the Lord alone for means, we +engaged a brother as a master for a sixth day school. On account of the +many deliverances which we have had of late, we have not hesitated to +enlarge the field, as another boys' school was greatly needed. + +October 5. This evening twenty-five pounds was given to me for the +Scriptural Knowledge Institution. Thus the Lord has already given the +means of defraying the expenses of the new boys' school for some months +to come. + +October 19. To-day, after having many times prayed respecting the +matter, I have at last engaged a sister as matron for the Infant Orphan +House, never having been able, up to this day, to meet with an +individual who seemed suitable, though there has been money enough in +hand, for some time past, for commencing this work, and there have been +applications made for several infant orphans. + +October 25. To-day we obtained, without any trouble, through the kind +hand of God, very suitable premises for the Infant Orphan House. + +November 5. There was given by a brother one hundred pounds, fifty +pounds of which was previously promised, to insure the rent for +premises. It is a remarkable fact, concerning this donation, that I had, +in December of last year, repeatedly asked the Lord to incline the heart +of this brother to give this hundred pounds, and I made a memorandum of +this prayer in my journal of December 12, 1835. On January 25, 1836, +fifty pounds was promised by him, and on November 5, fifty pounds +besides that sum was given; but it was not till some days after, that I +remembered that the very sum for which I had asked the Lord had been +given. When it came to my mind that this prayer had been noted down in +my journal, and I showed it to the donor, we rejoiced together; _he_, to +have been the instrument in giving, and _I_ to have had the request +granted. + +November 30. On account of many pressing engagements, I had not been +led, for some time past, to pray respecting the funds. But _being in +great need_, I was led, yesterday morning, earnestly to ask the Lord; +and in answer to this petition a brother gave me, last evening, ten +pounds. He had had it in his heart, for several months past, to give +this sum, but had been hitherto kept from it, not having the means. +Just now, in this our great necessity, the Lord furnished him with the +means, and we were helped in this way. In addition to this ten pounds, I +received last evening a letter with five pounds, from a sister whom I +never saw, and who has been several times used by God as an instrument +to supply our wants. She writes thus: "It has been so much on my mind +lately to send you some money, that I feel as if there must be some +need, which the Lord purposes to honor me by making me the instrument of +supplying. I therefore enclose you five pounds, all I have in the house +at this moment." + +December 9. One pound, with Mark ix. 36-7: "And taking a little child, +he set him in the midst of them," etc., a most encouraging passage for +this work, the force of which I had never felt before. + +December 15. This day was set apart for prayer and thanksgiving +respecting the Infant Orphan House, which was opened on November 28. In +the morning we had a prayer meeting. In the afternoon, besides prayer +and thanksgiving, I addressed the children of our day schools and the +orphans, about 350, on Ecclesiastes xii. 1. + + In addition to the items mentioned above, donations were + received during the year, of money, food, clothes, books, boxes, + coal-hods, ornaments (to be sold), etc.; also, the offer of + gratuitous medical attendance, and medicine. Up to the close of + 1836, seven hundred and seventy pounds and ninepence halfpenny + had been given, and forty pounds promised. + +December 31. We had this evening a prayer meeting to praise the Lord for +his goodness during the past year, and to ask him for a continuance of +his favors. + +During the past year there have been received into the church, 52; and +the Lord has been pleased to give me, as it regards my temporal +supplies, L232 11s. 9d. + +January 2, 1837. This evening the two churches had again an especial +prayer meeting. + +January 5. To-day a sister called and told me about the conversion of +her father, who, in his eightieth year, after having for many years +lived openly in sin, is at last brought to the knowledge of the Lord. +This sister had long prayed for the conversion of her father, and at +last, though only after twenty years, the Lord gave her the desire of +her heart. + +May 18. There are now sixty-four children in the two Orphan Houses, and +two more are expected, which will fill the two houses. + +May 28. The narrative of some of the Lord's dealings with me is now near +being published, which has led me again most earnestly this day week, +and repeatedly since, to ask the Lord that he would be pleased to give +me what is wanting of the one thousand pounds, for which sum I have +asked him on behalf of the orphans; for though, in my own mind, the +thing is as good as done, so much so that I have repeatedly been able to +thank God that he will surely give me every shilling of that sum, yet to +others this would not be enough. As the whole matter, then, about the +Orphan House had been commenced for the glory of God, that in this way +before the world and the church there might be another visible proof +that the Lord delights in answering prayer; and as there was yet a part +of the thousand pounds wanting; and _as I earnestly desired the book +might not leave the press_ before every shilling of that sum had been +given in answer to prayer, _without one single individual having been +asked by me for anything_, that thus I might have the sweet privilege of +bearing my testimony for God in this book;--for these reasons, I say, I +have given myself earnestly to prayer about this matter since May 21. On +May 22 came in seven pounds and ten shillings, and on May 23, three +pounds. On May 24, a lady, whom I never saw before, called on me, and +gave me forty pounds. This circumstance has greatly encouraged me; for +the Lord showed me thereby, afresh, his willingness to continue to send +us _large sums_, and that they can even come from individuals whom we +have never seen before. On May 25, three pounds and six shillings were +sent, from two unexpected quarters. On May 27 was sent, anonymously, a +parcel of worn clothes, from London, and a sovereign. To-day (May 28) I +received again four pounds three shillings and sixpence; and also a +parcel was sent from a considerable distance, containing seven pairs of +socks, and the following trinkets, to be sold for the support of the +orphans: one gold pin with an Irish pearl, fifteen Irish pearls, two +pins, two brooches, two lockets, one seal, two studs, eleven rings, one +chain, and one bracelet, all of gold. + +June 15. To-day I gave myself once more earnestly to prayer respecting +the remainder of the thousand pounds. This evening five pounds were +given, so that now the whole sum is made up. During eighteen months and +ten days this petition has been brought before God almost daily. From +the moment I asked till the Lord granted it fully, I had never been +allowed to doubt that he would give every shilling of that sum. Often +have I praised him beforehand, in the assurance that he would grant my +request. The thing after which we have especially to seek in prayer is, +that we believe that we receive, according to Mark xi. 24: "_What things +soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye +shall have them._" + +As the Lord has so greatly condescended to listen to my prayers, and as +I consider it one of the particular talents which he has intrusted to me +to exercise faith upon his promises, as it regards my own temporal +wants and those of others; and as an Orphan House for _boys_ above seven +years of age seems greatly needed in this city; and as also without it +we know not how to provide for the little _boys_ in the Infant Orphan +House, when they are above seven years of age, I purpose to establish an +Orphan House for about forty boys above seven years of age. + +July 12. The same friend who gave me on May 24, 1837, forty pounds for +the orphans, and whom, up to that time, I had never seen, gave four +hundred and sixty pounds more, being altogether five hundred pounds. + +It is now three years and four months since brother Craik and I began, +in dependence upon the Lord for funds, to seek to help the spread of the +gospel through the instrumentality of schools, the circulation of the +Holy Scriptures, and by aiding missionary exertions. Since then there +have been circulated, through our instrumentality, 4,030 copies of the +Scriptures; four day schools, for poor children, have been _established_ +by us; 1,119 children have been instructed in the six day schools, and +353 children are now in those six day schools. Besides this, a Sunday +school and an adult school have been supplied with all they needed, and +missionary exertions in the East Indies, in Upper Canada, and on the +continent of Europe, have been aided. In addition to this, the word of +God has been preached from house to house among the poor, in connection +with the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, by brother C----r, within the +last two years. + + On the 15th of August, 1837, the preceding portion of this + narrative was published. + +Aug. 17. To-day two more children were received into the Infant Orphan +House, which makes up our full number, sixty-six in the Girls' and +Infant Orphan Houses. + +September 2. I have been looking about for a house for the orphan boys, +these last three days. Everything else has been provided. The Lord has +given suitable individuals to take care of the children, money, etc. In +his own time he will give a house also. + +September 19. It was to-day particularly impressed upon my heart that I +ought to seek for more retirement, though the work should _apparently_ +suffer ever so much; and that arrangements should be made whereby I may +be able to visit the brethren more, as an _unvisited_ church will sooner +or later become an _unhealthy church_. Pastors, as fellow-laborers, are +greatly needed among us. + +September 28. I have for a long time been too much outwardly engaged. +Yesterday morning I spent about three hours in the vestry of Gideon, to +be able to have more time for retirement. I meant to do the same in the +afternoon, but before I could leave the house I was called on, and thus +one person after the other came, till I had to go out. Thus it has been +again to-day. + +October 16. For a long time past brother Craik and I have felt the +importance of more pastoral visiting, and it has been _one of our +greatest trials_ that we have been unable to give more time to it. This +evening we had purposely a meeting of the two churches, at which brother +Craik and I, and a brother from Devonshire, spoke on: I. The importance +of pastoral visiting. II. The particular obstacles which hindered us in +attending to it. III. The question whether there was any way of removing +some of the obstacles. + +I. As to the importance of pastoral visiting, the following points were +mentioned: 1. Watching over the saints, by means of visiting them, to +prevent coldness, or to recover them from backsliding. 2. To counsel and +advise them in family affairs, in their business, and in spiritual +matters. 3. To keep up that loving and familiar intercourse which is so +desirable between saints and those who have the oversight of them. These +visits should be, if possible, frequent; but in our case there have been +several obstacles in the way. + +II. The particular obstacles in our case are: 1. The largeness of the +number who are in communion with us. One hundred would be quite as many +as we have strength to visit regularly, and as often as would be +desirable; but there are nearly four hundred in fellowship with us. 2. +The distance of the houses of the saints from our own dwellings, as many +live more than two miles off. 3. The Lord's blessing upon our labors. +Not one year has passed away, since we have been in Bristol, without +more than fifty having been added to our number, each of whom, in +general, needed several times to be conversed with before being admitted +into fellowship. 4. That brother Craik and I have each of us the care of +two churches. At the first sight it appears as if the work is thus +divided, but the double number of meetings, etc., nearly double the +work. 5. The mere ruling, and taking care, in general, of a large body +of believers, irrespective of the other work, takes much more time, and +requires much more strength, than the taking care of a small body of +believers, as we, by grace, desire not to allow known sin among us. 6. +The position which we have in the church at large brings many brethren +to us who travel through Bristol, who call on us, or lodge with us, and +to whom, according to the Lord's will, we have to give some time. 7. In +my own case, an extensive needful correspondence. 8. The weakness of +body on the part of both of us. When the preaching is done,--when +strangers who lodge with us are gone,--when the calls at our house are +over,--when the needful letters, however briefly, are written,--when the +necessary church business is settled,--our minds are often so worn out +that we are glad to be quiet. 9. But suppose we have bodily strength +remaining, after the above things have been attended to, yet the frame +of mind is not always so as that one could visit. After having been +particularly tried by church matters, which in so large a body does not +rarely occur, or being cast down in one's own soul, one may be fit for +the closet, but not for visiting the saints. 10. Lastly, in my own case, +no small part of my time is taken up by attending to the affairs of the +Orphan Houses, schools, the circulation of the Scriptures, the aiding +missionary efforts, and other work connected with the Scriptural +Knowledge Institution. + +III. What is to be done under these circumstances? 1. In the days of the +apostles there would have been more brethren to take the oversight of so +large a body as we are. The Lord has not laid upon us a burden which is +too heavy for us; he is not a hard master. It is evident that he does +not mean us _even to attempt to visit all the saints_ as much as is +evidently needful, and much less as frequently as it would be desirable. +We mention this, to prevent uncomfortable feelings on the part of the +dear saints under our pastoral care, who find themselves not as much +visited as they used to be when we came to Bristol, when the number of +them was not seventy, and now it is about four hundred, and when in many +other respects the work in our hands was not half so much as it is now, +and when we had much more bodily strength. 2. It is therefore evident +that there are other pastors needed; not nominal pastors, but such as +the Lord has called, to whom he has given a pastor's heart and pastoral +gifts. 3. Such may be raised up by the Lord from our own number, or the +Lord may send them from elsewhere. 4. But in the mean time we should at +least see whether there are not helpers among us. 5. As to the work +itself, in order that time may be saved, it appears desirable that the +two churches, Bethesda and Gideon, should be united into one, that the +breaking of bread should be alternately, and that the number of weekly +meetings should be reduced. + +October 21. To-day the Lord has given me a house for the Orphan Boys, in +the same street in which the other two Orphan Houses are. + + Mr. Mueller's health having suffered from his cares, money was + sent him from unexpected sources, to be used in travelling and + recreation. + + +REVIEW OF THE YEAR 1837. + +1. There are now eighty-one children in the three Orphan Houses, and +nine brethren and sisters, who have the care of them. Ninety, therefore, +daily sit down to table. Lord, look on the necessities of thy servant! + +2. The schools require as much help as before; nay, more, particularly +the Sunday school, in which there are at present about 320 children, and +in the day schools about 350. Lord, thy servant is a poor man; but he +has trusted in thee, and made his boast in thee, before the sons of men; +therefore let him not be confounded! Let it not be said all this was +enthusiasm, and therefore it is come to naught! + +3. My temporal supplies have been L307 2s. 61/2d. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +TRIAL. + +1838. + + THE MINISTRY OF SICKNESS--PEACE OF MIND--JESUS A PRESENT + HELP--DEEP POVERTY--PLEADING WITH GOD--UNITED PRAYER. + + +January 6, 1838. I feel little better in my head, though my general +health seems improved; but my kind physician says I am much better, and +advises me now change of air. This evening a sister, who resides about +fifty miles from hence, and who is quite unacquainted with the medical +advice given to me this morning, sent me fifteen pounds for the express +purpose of change of air; and wrote that she felt assured, from having +been similarly afflicted, that nothing would do me so much good, humanly +speaking, as quiet and change of air. + +January 7. This is the ninth Lord's day that I have been kept from +ministering in the word. My affliction is connected with a great +tendency to irritability of temper; yea, with some satanic feeling, +foreign to me even naturally. + +January 10. To-day I went with my family to Trowbridge. Jan. 14. Lord's +day. I have spent several hours in prayer to-day, and read on my knees, +and prayed for two hours over Psalm lxiii. God has blessed my soul much +to-day. My soul is now brought into that state that I delight myself in +the will of God, as it regards my health. Yea, I can now say, _from my +heart_, I would not have this disease removed till God, by its means, +has bestowed the blessing for which it was sent. + +January 15. I have had, since yesterday afternoon, less suffering in my +head than for the last eight days; though it is even now far from being +well. I have still an inward assurance, on account of the spiritual +blessings which the Lord has granted to me, that through this affliction +he is only purifying me for his blessed service, and that I shall be +soon restored to the work. To-day, also, God has continued to me +fervency of spirit, which I have now enjoyed for three days following. +He has to-day, also, drawn out my soul into much real communion with +himself, and into holy desires to be more conformed to his dear Son. +When God gives a spirit of prayer, how easy then to pray! Nevertheless, +it was given to me in the use of the means, as I fell on my knees last +Saturday, to read his word with meditation, and to turn it into prayer. +To-day I spent about three hours in prayer over Psalms lxiv. and lxv. In +reference to that precious word, "O thou that hearest prayer," (Ps. lxv. +2,) I asked the Lord the following petitions, and entreated him to +record them in heaven, and to answer them. + +1. That he would give me grace to glorify him by a submissive and +patient spirit under my affliction. + +2. That as I was enabled now, and _only now from my heart_, to praise +God for this affliction, he would not remove his hand from me until he +had qualified me for his work more than I have been hitherto. + +3. That he would be pleased to grant that the work of conversion, +through the instrumentality of brother Craik and myself, might not +cease, but go on as much now as when we first came to Bristol, yea, more +abundantly than even then. + +4. That he would be pleased to give more real spiritual prosperity to +the church under our care than ever we have as yet enjoyed. + +5. Having praised him for the sale of so many copies of my Narrative in +so short a time, I entreated him to cause every copy to be disposed of. + +6. I asked him to continue to let his rich blessing rest upon this +little work, and more abundantly, so that many may be converted through +it, and many of the children of God truly benefited by it, and that thus +I might now be speaking through it, though laid aside from active +service. + +7. I asked him for his blessing, in the way of conversion, to rest upon +the orphans, and upon the Sunday and day-school children under our care. + +8. I asked him for means to carry on these Institutions, and to enlarge +them. + +These are some of the petitions which I have asked of my God this +evening, in connection with this his own word. I believe _he has heard +me_. I believe he will make it manifest in his own good time that _he +has heard_ me, and I have recorded these my petitions, this 15th day of +January, 1838, that when God has answered them he may get, through this, +glory to his name. [Whilst writing this second part, I add to the praise +of the Lord, and for the encouragement of the children of God, that +petitions 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, have been _fully_ answered, and the other +petitions, likewise, in part.] + +January 16. Tuesday. A blessed day. How very good is the Lord! Fervency +of spirit, through his grace, is continued to me; though this morning, +but for the help of God, I should have lost it again. The weather has +been very cold for several days; but to-day I suffered much, either +because it was colder than before, or because I felt it more, owing to +the weakness of my body, and having taken so much medicine. I arose from +my knees and stirred the fire, but I still remained very cold. I was a +little irritated by this. I moved to another part of the room, but felt +the cold still more. At last, having prayed for some time, I was obliged +to rise up and take a walk to promote circulation. I now entreated the +Lord on my walk that this circumstance might not be permitted to rob me +of the precious communion which I have had with him the last three days; +for this was the object at which Satan aimed. I confessed also my sin of +irritability on account of the cold, and sought to have my conscience +cleansed through the blood of Jesus. He had mercy upon me, my peace was +restored, and when I returned I sought the Lord again in prayer, and had +uninterrupted communion with him. + + His health remaining feeble, Mr. M. left England on April 6, for + Germany, and returned to Bristol May 7. He continues his narrative:-- + +May 8. This evening I went to the prayer meeting at Gideon. I read Psalm +ciii., and was able to thank the Lord publicly for my late affliction. +This is the first time that I have taken any part in the public meetings +of the brethren since November 6, 1837. + +July 12. The funds, which were this day twelvemonth about seven hundred +and eighty pounds, are now reduced to about twenty pounds; but, thanks +be to the Lord, my faith is as strong, or stronger, than it was when we +had the larger sum in hand; nor has he at any time, from the +commencement of the work, allowed me to distrust him. Nevertheless, as +our Lord will be inquired of, and as real faith is manifested as such by +leading to prayer, I gave myself to prayer with brother T----, of the +Boys' Orphan House, who had called on me, and who, besides my wife and +brother Craik, is the only individual to whom I speak about the state +of the funds. While we were praying, an orphan child from Frome was +brought, and some believers at Frome, having collected among them five +pounds, sent this money with the child. Thus we received the first +answer at a time of need. _We have given notice for seven children to +come in, and purpose to give notice for five more, though our funds are +so low, hoping that God will look on our necessities._ + +July 17 and 18. These two days we have had two especial prayer meetings, +from six to nine in the evening, to commend publicly to the Lord the +Boys' Orphan House. Our funds are how very low. There are about twenty +pounds in hand, and in a few days thirty pounds, at least, will be +needed; but I _purposely_ avoided saying anything about our present +necessities, and spoke only to the praise of God, about the abundance +with which our gracious Father, "the Father of the fatherless," has +hitherto supplied us. This was done in order that the hand of God, in +sending help, may be so much the more clearly seen. + +July 22. This evening I was walking in our little garden, meditating on +Heb. xiii. 8, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and +forever." Whilst meditating on his unchangeable love, power, wisdom, +etc., and turning all, as I went on, into prayer respecting myself; and +whilst applying likewise his unchangeable love, and power, and wisdom, +etc., both to my present spiritual and temporal circumstances,--all at +once the present need of the Orphan Houses was brought to my mind. +Immediately I was led to say to myself, Jesus in his love and power has +hitherto supplied me with what I have needed for the orphans, and in the +same unchangeable love and power he will provide me with what I may need +for the future. A flow of joy came into my soul whilst realizing thus +the unchangeableness of our adorable Lord. About one minute after, a +letter was brought me, enclosing a bill for twenty pounds. + +August 18. I have not one penny in hand for the orphans. In a day or two +again many pounds will be needed. My eyes are up to the Lord. _Evening._ +Before this day is over, I have received from a sister five pounds. She +had some time since put away her trinkets, to be sold for the benefit of +the orphans. This morning, whilst in prayer, it came to her mind, "I +have this five pounds, and owe no man anything, therefore it would be +better to give this money at once, as it may be some time before I can +dispose of the trinkets." She therefore brought it, little knowing that +there was not a penny in hand. + +August 29. To-day sixteen believers were baptized. Among those who were +baptized was an aged brother of above eighty-four years, and one above +seventy. For the latter, his believing wife had prayed thirty-eight +years, and at last the Lord answered her prayers in his conversion. + +August 31. I have been waiting on the Lord for means, as the matron's +books from the Girls' Orphan House have been brought, and there is no +money in hand to advance for housekeeping. But, as yet, the Lord has not +been pleased to send help. As the matron called to-day for money, one of +the laborers gave two pounds of his own, for the present necessities. + +September 1. The Lord in his wisdom and love has not yet sent help. +Whence it is to come, need not be my care. But _I believe_ God will, in +due time, send help. His hour is not yet come. As there was money needed +in the Boys' Orphan House also, the same brother just alluded to gave +two pounds for that also. Thus we were delivered at this time likewise. +But now his means are gone. This is the most trying hour that as yet I +have had in the work, as it regards means; but I know that I shall yet +praise the Lord for his help. + +September 5. Our hour of trial continues still. The Lord mercifully has +given enough to supply our daily necessities; but he gives _by the day_ +now, and almost _by the hour_, as we need it. Nothing came in yesterday. +I have besought the Lord again and again, both yesterday and to-day. It +is as if the Lord said: "Mine hour is not yet come." But I have faith in +God. I believe that he surely will send help, though I know not whence +it is to come. Many pounds are needed within a few days, and there is +not a penny in hand. This morning two pounds was given for the present +necessities, by one of the laborers in the work. _Evening._ This very +day the Lord sent again some help to encourage me to continue to wait on +him, and to trust in him. As I was praying this afternoon respecting the +matter, I felt fully assured that the Lord would send help, and praised +him beforehand for his help, and asked him to encourage our hearts +through it. I have been also led, yesterday and to-day, to ask the Lord +especially that he would not allow my faith to fail. A few minutes after +I had prayed, brother T---- came and brought four pounds one shilling +and fivepence, which had come in in several small donations. He told me, +at the same time, that to-morrow the books will be brought from the +Infant Orphan House, when money must be advanced for housekeeping. I +thought for a moment it might be well to keep three pounds of this money +for that purpose. But it occurred to me immediately, "_Sufficient unto +the day is the evil thereof._" The Lord can provide by to-morrow much +more than I need; and I therefore sent three pounds to one of the +sisters whose quarterly salary was due, and the remaining one pound one +shilling and fivepence to the Boys' Orphan House for housekeeping. Thus +I am still penniless. My hope is in God; he will provide. + +September 6. This morning the books were brought from the Infant Orphan +House, and the matron sent to ask when she should fetch them, implying +when they would have been looked over, and when money would be advanced +for housekeeping. I said, "to-morrow," though I had not a single penny +in hand. About an hour after, brother T---- sent me a note, to say that +he had received one pound this morning, and that last evening a brother +had sent twenty-nine pounds of salt, forty-four dozen of onions, and +twenty-six pounds of groats.[16] + + [Footnote 16: Groats. Oats or other grain, with the hulls + removed.--ED.] + +September 7. The time had come that I had to send money to the Infant +Orphan House, but the Lord had not sent any more. I gave, therefore, the +pound which had come in yesterday, and two shillings and twopence which +had been put into the box in my house, trusting to the good Lord to send +in more. + +September 8. It has not pleased my gracious Lord to send me help as yet. +Yesterday and to-day I have been pleading with God eleven arguments why +he would be graciously pleased to send help. The arguments which I plead +with God are:-- + +1. That I set about the work for the glory of God, _i. e._ that there +might be a visible proof, by God supplying, _in answer to prayer only_, +the necessities of the orphans, that he is the _living_ God, and most +willing, even in _our_ day, to answer prayer; and that, therefore, he +would be pleased to send supplies. + +2. That God is the "Father of the fatherless," and that he, therefore, +as their father, would be pleased to provide. Psalm lxviii. 5. + +3. That I have received the children in the name of Jesus, and that +therefore he, in these children, has been received, and is fed, and is +clothed; and that therefore he would be pleased to consider this. Mark +ix. 36, 37. + +4. That the faith of many of the children of God has been strengthened +by this work hitherto, and that, if God were to withhold the means for +the future, those who are weak in faith would be staggered; whilst, by a +continuance of means, their faith might still further be strengthened. + +5. That many enemies would laugh, were the Lord to withhold supplies, +and say, Did we not foretell that this enthusiasm would come to nothing? + +6. That many of the children of God, who are uninstructed, or in a +carnal state, would feel themselves _justified_ to continue their +alliance with the world in the work of God, and to go on as heretofore +in their unscriptural proceedings respecting similar institutions, so +far as the obtaining of means is concerned, if he were not to help me. + +7. That the Lord would remember that I am his child, and that he would +graciously pity me, and remember that _I_ cannot provide for these +children, and that therefore he would not allow this burden to lie upon +me long without sending help. + +8. That he would remember likewise my fellow-laborers in the work, who +trust in him, but who would be tried were he to withhold supplies. + +9. That he would remember that I should have to dismiss the children +from under our scriptural instruction to their former companions. + +10. That he would show that those were mistaken who said, that, _at the +first_, supplies might be expected, while the thing was new, but not +afterwards. + +11. That I should not know, were he to withhold means, what construction +I should put upon all the many most remarkable answers to prayer which +he had given me heretofore in connection with this work, and which most +fully have shown to me that it is of God. + +In some small measure I now understand, experimentally, the meaning of +that word, "_how long_," which so frequently occurs in the prayers of +the Psalms. But even now, by the grace of God, my eyes are up unto him +only, and I believe that he will send help. + +Sept. 10. Monday morning. Neither Saturday nor yesterday had any money +come in. It appeared to me now needful to take some steps on account of +our need, _i. e._ to go to the Orphan Houses, call the brethren and +sisters together (who, except brother T----, had never been informed +about the state of the funds), state the case to them, see how much +money was needed for the present, tell them that amidst all this trial +of faith I still believed that God would help, and to pray with them. +Especially, also, I meant to go for the sake of telling them that no +more articles must be purchased than we have the means to pay for, but +to let there be nothing lacking in any way to the children, as it +regards nourishing food and needful clothing; for I would rather at once +send them away than that they should lack. I meant to go for the sake +also of seeing whether there were still articles remaining which had +been sent for the purpose of being sold, or whether there were any +articles really needless, that we might turn them into money. I felt +that the matter was now come to a solemn crisis. About half-past nine +sixpence came in, which had been put anonymously into the box at Gideon +Chapel. This money seemed to me like an earnest that God would have +compassion and send more. About ten, after I had returned from brother +Craik, to whom I had unbosomed my heart again, whilst once more in +prayer for help, a sister called who gave two sovereigns to my wife for +the orphans, stating that she had felt herself stirred up to come, and +that she had delayed coming already too long. A few minutes after, when +I went into the room where she was, she gave me two sovereigns more, and +all this without knowing the least about our need. Thus the Lord most +mercifully has sent us a little help, to the great encouragement of my +faith. A few minutes after I was called on for money from the Infant +Orphan House, to which I sent two pounds, and one pound sixpence to the +Boys' Orphan House, and one pound to the Girls' Orphan House. + +To-day I saw a young brother who, as well as one of his sisters, has +been brought to the knowledge of the Lord through my Narrative. + +Sept. 11. The good Lord, in his wisdom, still sees it needful to keep us +very low. But this afternoon brother T---- called, and told me that one +of our fellow-laborers had sold his metal watch, and two gold pins, for +one pound one shilling, that nine shillings sixpence had come in, and +that two of our fellow-laborers had sent two lots of books of their own, +nineteen and twenty-one in number, to be sold for the orphans. + +Sept. 12. Still the trial continues. Only nine shillings came in to-day, +given by one of the laborers. In the midst of this great trial of faith +the Lord still mercifully keeps me in great peace. He also allows me to +see that our labor is not in vain; for yesterday died Leah Culliford, +one of the orphans, about nine years old, truly converted, and brought +to the faith some months before her departure. + +Sept. 13. No help has come yet. This morning I found it was absolutely +needful to tell the brethren and sisters about the state of the funds, +and to give necessary directions as to going into debt, etc. We prayed +together, and had a very happy meeting. They all seemed comfortable. +Twelve shillings sixpence was taken out of the boxes in the three +houses, twelve shillings one of the laborers gave, and one pound one +shilling had come in for needlework done by the children. One of the +sisters, who is engaged in the work, sent a message after me, not to +trouble myself about her salary, for she should not want any for a +twelvemonth. + +Sept. 14. I met again this morning with the brethren and sisters for +prayer, as the Lord has not yet sent help. After prayer one of the +laborers gave me all the money he had, sixteen shillings, saying that it +would not be upright to pray, if he were not to give what he had. One of +the sisters told me that in six days she would give six pounds, which +she had in the savings bank for such a time of need. Up to this day, the +matrons of the three houses had been in the habit of paying the bakers +and the milk-man weekly, _because they had preferred to receive the +payments in this way_, and sometimes it had thus been also with the +butcher and grocer. But now, as the Lord deals out to us _by the day_, +we consider it would be wrong to go on any longer in this way, as the +week's payment might become due, and we have no money to meet it; and +thus those with whom we deal might be inconvenienced by us, and we be +found acting against the commandment of the Lord, "Owe no man anything." +Rom. xiii. 8. From this day, and henceforward, whilst the Lord gives to +us our supplies by the day, we purpose, therefore, to pay at once for +every article as it is purchased, and never to buy any thing except we +can pay for it at once, however much it may seem to be needed, and +however much those with whom we deal may wish to be paid only by the +week. The little which was owed was paid off this day. + +Sept. 15. _Saturday._ We met again this morning for prayer. God comforts +our hearts. We are looking for help. I found that there were provisions +enough for to-day and to-morrow, but there was no money in hand to take +in bread as usual, in order that the children might not have newly baked +bread. This afternoon one of the laborers, who had been absent for +several days from Bristol, returned, and gave one pound. This evening we +met again for prayer, when I found that ten shillings sixpence more had +come in since the morning. With this one pound ten shillings sixpence we +were able to buy, even this Saturday evening, the usual quantity of +bread (as it might be difficult to get stale bread on Monday morning), +and have some money left. God be praised, who gave us grace to come to +the decision not to take any bread to-day, as usual, nor to buy anything +for which we cannot pay at once. We were very comfortable, thankfully +taking this money out of our Father's hands, as a proof that he still +cares for us, and that, in his own time, he will send us larger sums. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +DELIVERANCE. + +1838. + + "PERPLEXED BUT NOT IN DESPAIR"--FAITH JUSTIFIED--A LESSON OF + OBEDIENCE--BOUNTIFUL SUPPLIES--SPIRITUAL INGATHERING--A DAY OF + MERCIES--TIMELY AID--A SEASON OF PLENTY--OBEDIENCE REWARDED. + + +Sept. 16, 1838. Lord's day afternoon. We met again for prayer respecting +supplies for the orphans. We are in peace, and our hope is in God, that +he graciously will appear, though but one shilling has come in since +last evening. + +Sept. 17. The trial still continues. It is now more and more trying, +even to faith, as each day comes. But I am sure God will send help, if +we can but wait. One of the laborers had had a little money come in, of +which he gave twelve shillings sixpence; another laborer gave eleven +shillings eightpence, being all the money she had left: this, with +seventeen shillings sixpence, which partly had come in, and partly was +in hand, enabled us to pay what needed to be paid, and to purchase +provisions, so that nothing yet, in any way, has been lacking. This +evening I was rather tried respecting the long delay of larger sums +coming; but being led to go to the Scriptures for comfort, my soul was +greatly refreshed, and my faith again strengthened, by Psalm xxxiv., so +that I went very cheerfully to meet with my dear fellow-laborers for +prayer. I read to them the Psalm, and sought to cheer their hearts +through the precious promises contained in it. + +Sept. 18. Brother T. had twenty-five shillings in hand, and I had three +shillings. This one pound eight shillings enabled us to buy the meat and +bread which was needed, a little tea for one of the houses, and milk for +all: no more than this is needed. Thus the Lord has provided not only +for this day, but there is bread for two days in hand. Now, however, we +are come to an extremity. The funds are exhausted. The laborers who had +a little money have given as long as they had any left. Now observe how +the Lord helped us! A lady from the neighborhood of London, who brought +a parcel with money from her daughter, arrived four or five days since +in Bristol, and took lodgings next door to the Boys' Orphan House. This +afternoon she herself kindly brought me the money, amounting to three +pounds two shillings and sixpence. We had been reduced so low as to be +on the point of selling those things which could be spared; but this +morning I had asked the Lord, if it might be, to prevent the necessity +of our doing so. That the money had been so near the Orphan Houses for +several days without being given, is a plain proof that it was from the +beginning in the heart of God to help us; but, because he delights in +the prayers of his children, he had allowed us to pray so long; also to +try our faith, and to make the answer much the sweeter. It is indeed a +precious deliverance. I burst out into loud praises and thanks the first +moment I was alone after I had received the money. I met with my +fellow-laborers again this evening for prayer and praise; their hearts +were not a little cheered. This money was this evening divided, and will +comfortably provide for all that will be needed to-morrow. + +Sept. 20. Morning. The Lord has again kindly sent in a little. Last +evening was given to me one shilling and sixpence, and this morning one +pound three shillings. Evening. This evening the Lord sent still further +supplies; eight pounds eleven shillings and twopence halfpenny came in, +as a further proof that the Lord is not unmindful of us. There was in +the box of the Girls' Orphan House one pound one shilling, and in that +of the Boys' Orphan House one pound seven shillings and twopence +halfpenny. One of the laborers, in accordance with her promise this day +week, gave six pounds three shillings. About eighteen months ago she saw +it right no longer to have money for herself in the Savings Bank, and +she therefore, in her heart, gave the money which she had there to the +Orphan Houses, intending to draw it in a time of need. Some time since +(she told me this evening) she drew a part of it to buy several useful +articles for the Orphan Houses; now the sum was reduced to six pounds. +When she found out the present need, she went this day week to the +Savings Bank, and gave notice that she wished to draw her money to-day. + +Sept. 22. Both yesterday and to-day we have again assembled for prayer +and praise. We are in no immediate want, but on the 29th, nineteen +pounds ten shillings will be due for the rent of the three Orphan +Houses. To-day there was only four shillings and sevenpence in hand for +the other objects of the institution, though it was the payday for some +of the teachers. My comfort was the _living_ God. During this week he +had helped me so repeatedly and in such a remarkable way, as it regards +the Orphan Houses, that it would have been doubly sinful not to have +trusted in him for help under this fresh difficulty. No money came in +this morning. About two, the usual time when the teachers are paid, a +sovereign was given, with which I went immediately to brother T., who +attends to this part of the work, to pay, at least in part, the weekly +salaries. I found that he had received a sovereign in the morning. By +means of this sovereign, together with the one which I had received +_just at the moment when it was needed_, we were helped through this +day. + +Sept. 25. Yesterday and the previous days we have continued to assemble +for prayer. In four days the rent for the Orphan Houses will be due, and +we have nothing towards it; also the housekeeping money in the three +houses is now again gone. May the Lord have compassion on us, and +continue to send us help! This morning there was found nine shillings +and sixpence in the box in my house. We met yesterday again for prayer. +To-day I was not able to go, on account of indisposition; I sent, +therefore, to brother T. to request him to divide the eighteen shillings +and sixpence (ten shillings of which had come in last evening, and eight +shillings and sixpence of which we had in hand) between the three +matrons. + +Sept. 29. Saturday evening. Prayer has been made for several days past +respecting the rent, which is due this day. I have been looking out for +it, though I knew not whence a shilling was to come. This morning +brother T. called on me, and, as no money had come in, we prayed +together, and continued in supplication from ten till a quarter to +twelve. Twelve o'clock struck, the time when the rent ought to have been +paid, but no money had been sent. For some days past I have repeatedly +had a misgiving, whether the Lord might not disappoint us, in order that +we might be led _to provide by the week, or the day, for the rent_. This +is the second, and only the second, complete failure as to answers of +prayer in the work, during the past four years and six months. The first +was about the half-yearly rent of Castle-Green school-rooms, due July 1, +1837, which had come in only in part by that time. I am now fully +convinced that the rent ought to be put by daily or weekly, as God may +prosper us, in order that the work, even as to this point, may be a +testimony. May the Lord, then, help us to act accordingly, and may he +now mercifully send in the means to pay the rent! + +Oct. 2. Tuesday evening. The Lord's holy name be praised! He hath dealt +most bountifully with us during the last three days! The day before +yesterday five pounds came in for the orphans. O, how kind is the Lord! +Always before there has been actual want he has sent help. Yesterday +came in one pound ten shillings more. Thus the expenses of yesterday for +housekeeping were defrayed. The Lord helped me also to pay yesterday the +nineteen pounds ten shillings for the rent. The means for it were thus +obtained: One of the laborers had received through his family ten +pounds, and five pounds besides from a sister in the Lord; also some +other money. Of this he gave sixteen pounds, which, with the three +pounds ten shillings that was left of the above-mentioned five pounds, +made up nineteen pounds ten shillings, the sum which was needed. This +day we were again greatly reduced. There was no money in hand to take in +bread, as usual, for the Boys' and Infant Orphan Houses. But again the +Lord helped. A sister who had arrived this afternoon from Swansea +brought one pound seven shillings, and one of the laborers sold an +article, by means of which he was able to give one pound thirteen +shillings. Thus we had three pounds,--one pound for each house,--and +could buy bread before the day was over. Hitherto we have lacked +nothing! + +Oct. 9. To-day we were brought lower than ever. The provisions would +have lasted out only to-day, and the money for milk in one of the houses +could only be made up by one of the laborers selling one of his books. +The matron in the Boys' Orphan House had this morning two shillings +left. When in doubt whether to buy bread with it, or more meat, to make +up the dinner with the meat which she had in the house, the baker +called, and left three quarterns of bread as a present. In this great +need, some money having been given to one of the laborers, he gave two +pounds of it, by which we were able to buy meat, bread, and other +provisions. + +Oct. 10. The coals in the Infant Orphan House are out, and nearly so in +the other two houses. Also the treacle casks in all the three houses are +nearly empty. On this account we have asked the Lord for fresh supplies. + +Oct. 11. The "Father of the fatherless" has again shown his care over +us. An orphan from Devonshire arrived last evening. With her was sent +two pounds five shillings and sixpence. The sister who brought her gave +also a silver tea-pot, sugar-basin, and cream-jug, of the weight of +forty-eight ounces, having found true riches in Christ. There was also +in the boxes nine shillings. One of the laborers paid for a ton of +coals. We obtained sixteen pounds sixteen shillings for the silver +articles. Thus we were helped through the heavy expenses of the +following days. + +Oct. 12. To-day seven brethren and sisters were added to us in +fellowship, and eight were proposed. May the Lord send helpers for the +work! + +Oct. 15. I knew that there would be money needed this morning for many +things in the Orphan Houses, and my heart was therefore lifted up to the +Lord. Just when I was going to meet my fellow-laborers for prayer, I +received from Trowbridge four pounds. There had come in also at the +Orphan Houses seven shillings and threepence. To this one of the +laborers added one pound. Thus I was enabled abundantly to supply all +that was wanted, and to pay for a cask of treacle and a ton of coals. We +are now, however, cast again on the love of our Lord for further +supplies, as there is neither anything in hand, nor have the laborers +any more of their own to give. + +Oct. 16. I was looking up to the Lord for help early this morning, when, +almost immediately afterwards, brother T. came, and brought two silver +tablespoons and six teaspoons, which had been left anonymously, +yesterday afternoon, at the Girls' Orphan House. This afternoon I +received twelve pounds from Staffordshire. + +Oct. 22. To-day our funds were again quite low. In the Infant Orphan +House only twopence was left, and very little in the other two houses. +But the Lord most manifestly again answered prayer, by sending four +pounds three shillings and one penny. + +Oct. 27. Thanks to our adorable Lord! this day also we have not been +confounded; for there was six shillings in the box at the Infant Orphan +House, and six shillings came in for things which had been given to be +sold. To this one of the laborers added eighteen shillings. By means of +this one pound ten shillings we have been able to meet all pressing +demands, and to procure provisions for to-day and to-morrow. + +Oct. 29. Monday. The Lord has again given us this day our daily bread, +though in the morning there was not the least natural prospect of +obtaining supplies. + +Oct. 30. This has been again a day of peculiar mercies in reference to +the funds. Whilst I was in prayer respecting them a brother brought two +and a quarter yards of cloth. He had bought it for himself; but +afterwards, considering that he had sufficient clothes, he gave it to be +sold for the orphans. This evening a sister gave me twenty pounds, ten +of which were for the Orphans, and ten for the other objects. + +Nov. 7. The funds are now again completely exhausted. + +Nov. 10. Saturday. All seemed to be dark, so far as regards natural +appearances, at the commencement of this day. But the Lord has helped +us, and enabled us to meet all demands. We were brought to the close of +one more week, having been able to supply the necessities of +ninety-seven persons in the Orphan Houses, without owing anything. + +Nov. 13. This morning our want was again great. I have twenty pounds in +hand which has been put by for rent, but, for the Lord's honor, I would +not take of it. Nothing had come in, and the laborers had scarcely +anything to give. I went, however, to the Orphan Houses, to pray with my +fellow-laborers, and, if it might be, to comfort them, and see what +could be done. When I came there I found that nineteen shillings and +sixpence had come in this morning. On inquiry I heard that only two +shillings and sixpence more was needed to carry us through the day. This +one of the laborers was able to add of his own. Thus the Lord has again +helped us out of our difficulty. One of the laborers gave some things +which he could do without, and another gave a workbox to be sold for the +orphans. Before this day has come to an end, the Lord has sent in one +pound two shillings and fourpence more, so that we have also a little +for to-morrow. + +Nov. 20. To-day our need was exceedingly great, but the Lord's help was +great also. I went to meet with the brethren and sisters as usual. I +found that one pound would be needed to supply the necessities of +to-day, but three shillings only had come in. Just when we were going to +pray, one of the laborers came in, who, after prayer, gave ten +shillings. Whilst we were praying, another laborer came in, who had +received one pound. Thus we had one pound thirteen shillings,--even +more, therefore, than was absolutely needed. + +Nov. 21. Never were we so reduced in funds as to-day. There was not a +single halfpenny in hand between the matrons of the three houses. +Nevertheless, there was a good dinner, and by managing so as to help one +another with bread, etc., there was a prospect of getting over this day +also; but for none of the houses had we the prospect of being able to +take in bread. When I left the brethren and sisters at one o'clock, +after prayer, I told them that we must wait for help, and see how the +Lord would deliver us at this time. I was sure of help, but we were +indeed straitened. When I came to Kingsdown, I felt that I needed more +exercise, being very cold, wherefore I went not the nearest way home, +but round by Clarence-place. About twenty yards from my house I met a +brother, who walked back with me, and after a little conversation gave +me ten pounds to be handed over to the brethren, the deacons, towards +providing the poor saints with coals, blankets, and warm clothing; also +five pounds for the orphans, and five pounds for the other objects of +the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. The brother had called twice while +I was gone to the Orphan Houses, and had I now been _one half minute_ +later I should have missed him. But the Lord knew our need, and +therefore allowed me to meet him. + +Nov. 24. This again has been a very remarkable day. We had as little in +hand this morning as at any time, and yet several pounds were needed. +But God, who is rich in mercy, and whose word so positively declares +that none who trust in him shall be confounded, has helped us through +this day also. While I was in prayer, about ten in the morning, +respecting the funds, I was informed that a gentleman had called to see +me. He came to inform me that a lady had ordered three sacks of potatoes +to be sent to the Orphan Houses. Never could they have come more +seasonably. This was an encouragement to me to continue to expect help. +When I came to the prayer meeting, about twelve o'clock, I heard that +two shillings had come in, also one pound for a guitar, which had been +given for sale. The payment for this guitar had been expected for many +weeks. It had been mentioned among us repeatedly that it might come just +at a time when we most needed it; and O, how true! But with all this we +could not have put by the rents for this week, amounting to thirty +shillings. One of the laborers therefore gave his watch to the orphan +fund, under this condition, that should the Lord not enable us before +December 21 to make up this deficiency, it should be sold, but not +otherwise, as he needs it in the Lord's service. [A few days after the +Lord gave the means to put by the thirty shillings, and thirty shillings +besides for the next week's rent.] Thus the Lord helped us through this +day, and with it brought us to the close of one more week. + +Nov. 28. This is perhaps of all days the most remarkable as yet, so far +as it regards the funds. When I was in prayer this morning respecting +them, I was enabled firmly to believe that the Lord would send help, +though all seemed dark as to natural appearances. At twelve o'clock I +met as usual with the brethren and sisters for prayer. There had come in +only one shilling, which was left last evening anonymously at the Infant +Orphan House, and which, except twopence, had already been spent, on +account of the great need. I heard also that an individual had +gratuitously cleaned the timepiece in the Infant Orphan House, and had +offered to keep the timepieces in the three houses in repair. Thus the +Lord gave even in this a little encouragement, and a proof that he is +still mindful of us. On inquiry, I found that there was everything +needful for the dinner in all the three houses; but neither in the +Infant nor Boys' Orphan Houses was there bread enough for tea, nor money +to buy milk. Lower we had never been, and perhaps never so low. We gave +ourselves now unitedly to prayer, laying the case in simplicity before +the Lord. Whilst in prayer there was a knock at the door, and one of the +sisters went out. After the two brethren who labor in the Orphan Houses +and I had prayed aloud, we continued for a while silently in prayer. As +to myself, I was lifting up my heart to the Lord to make a way for our +escape, and in order to know if there were any other thing which I could +do with a good conscience, besides waiting on him, so that we might have +food for the children. At last we rose from our knees. I said, "God will +surely send help." The words had not quite passed over my lips, when I +perceived a letter lying on the table, which had been brought whilst we +were in prayer. It was from my wife, containing another letter from a +brother with ten pounds for the orphans. The evening before last I was +asked by a brother whether the balance in hand for the orphans would be +as great this time, when the accounts would be made up, as the last +time. My answer was that it would be as great as the Lord pleased. The +next morning this brother was moved to remember the orphans, and to send +to-day ten pounds, which arrived after I had left my house, and which, +on account of our need, was forwarded immediately to me. The brother who +sent the ten pounds for the orphans sent likewise ten pounds to be +divided between brother Craik and me, with the object of purchasing new +clothes for ourselves. + +Nov. 29. The Lord has greatly blessed our meetings for prayer. They have +been instrumental in leading us to much prayer for the children in the +Orphan Houses, in the day schools, and in the Sunday school. They have +led us to prayer for ourselves, for the day-school teachers, and for the +Sunday-school teachers, that grace may be given to us so to walk before +the children, and so to deal with them, as that the Lord may be +glorified by us. We have also often been led to intercede for the +believers with whom we are in fellowship, and for the church at large. +We have especially prayed that our work may lead the church generally to +a more simple confidence and trust in the Lord. That these meetings have +not been in vain, as regards the procuring of funds, has been already +sufficiently seen by the many instances which have been recorded in the +foregoing pages. To-day, however, we have had another particular proof +of this. When we met I found that ten shillings had come in yesterday +afternoon. When I returned home I found one pound had come in, and +shortly after I received another pound. In the evening I received fifty +pounds, which was sent from Suffolk by a sister who had often expressed +how gladly she would contribute more largely to the work which is in our +hands had she the means, and who just now, in this our time of need, has +obtained the means to carry out the desire of her heart. I rejoice in +the last donation particularly, not because of the largeness of the sum, +but because it enables me to pay to my brethren and sisters in the +Orphan Houses the salary which is due to them. + +Dec. 6. This afternoon I received one hundred pounds from a +sister,--fifty for the orphans, and fifty for the school, Bible, and +missionary fund. This same sister, who earns her bread with her own +hands, had given, on October 5, 1837, fifty pounds towards the Boys' +Orphan House, and gave for the necessities of the poor saints, in +August, 1838, one hundred pounds more; for she had been made willing to +act out those precious exhortations: "Having food and raiment, let us be +therewith content." "Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide +yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that +faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth." "Lay +not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth +corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for +yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth +corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal." Respecting +the fifty pounds which has been given of this sum for the school, Bible, +and missionary fund, it is worthy of remark, that we would not order +reference Bibles till we had the means. We had repeatedly prayed +respecting this want of Bibles, and particularly again this morning. It +had been also much laid on our hearts to-day to request that the Lord +would enable us to have the Report printed, which we could not do unless +he first sent the means. Lastly, we had also repeatedly asked him to +supply us so largely, if it were his will, as that at the time of the +public meetings we might be able to speak again of abundance. For though +for some months past the time has been fixed for the public meetings, +without any reference to the state of the funds, nevertheless, it might +have had the appearance that we had convened the brethren for the sake +of telling them about our poverty, and thus to induce them to give. + +Dec. 11, 12, and 13. On the evenings of these three days there were +public meetings, at which I gave an account of the Lord's dealing with +us in reference to the Orphan Houses and the other objects of the +Scriptural Knowledge Institution. As the work, and particularly that of +the Orphan Houses, was begun for the benefit of the church at large, it +appeared well to us that from time to time it should be publicly stated +how the Lord had dealt with us in reference to it; and as, on Dec. 9, +the third year had been completed since the commencement of the orphan +work, this seemed to be a suitable time for having these meetings. + +I notice briefly the following particulars respecting the first three +objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. 1. There is at +present--December, 1838--a Sunday school supported by it, which contains +four hundred and sixty-three children. This part of the work calls for +particular thanksgiving; for during these last eighteen months the +number of the children has been nearly three times as great as it used +to be. Five of the scholars have been converted within the last two +years, and are now in fellowship with the church, and three of them are +teachers in the school. 2. There is in connection with the Institution +an adult school, in which, since the commencement of the work, above +one hundred and twenty adults have been instructed, and in which at +present twelve are taught to read. 3. The Institution has entirely +supported, since its commencement, several day schools for poor +children, and within the last two years six of such,--three for boys and +three for girls. The number of all the children that have had schooling +in the day schools through the medium of the Institution, since its +formation, amounts to 1,534; the number of those at present in the six +day schools is 342. 4. During the last two years there have been +circulated 1,884 copies of the Scriptures in connection with the +Institution, and since the beginning of the work, March 5, 1834, 5,078 +copies. 5. For missionary purposes have been laid out L74, 18s. 4d. 6. +The total of the income for the first three objects, during the last two +years, was L1,129, 13s. 1d.; the total of the expense, L1,111, 13s. 71/2d. + +There are, at present, 86 orphans in the three houses, _i. e._ 31 in the +Girls' Orphan House, 31 in the Infant Orphan House, and 24 in the Boys' +Orphan House. The whole number of orphans who have been under our care +from April 11, 1836, to Dec. 9, 1838, amounts to 110. + +The total of the income for the orphans, from Dec. 9, 1836, to Dec. 9, +1838, has amounted to L1,341, 4s. 7d.; the total of the expenses to +L1,664, 4s. 03/4d. There was two years ago a balance of L373, 4s. +81/4d. in hand, and now the balance is L50, 5s. 3d. + +Dec. 16. There was a paper anonymously put into the box at Bethesda +Chapel containing four pounds ten shillings. In the paper was written, +"For the rent of the Orphan Houses, from Dec. 10 to Dec. 31, 1838. 'O, +taste and see that the _Lord is good_: _blessed_ is the man that +_trusteth in him_!'" In order that the reader may be able to enter into +the value of this donation, I would request him to read over once more +what I wrote under "Sept. 29" of this year. [The individual who gave +this four pounds ten shillings for the rent of the Orphan Houses for the +first three weeks after the public meetings, at which the matter about +the rent, for the instruction of the brethren, was fully stated, +continued for three years, up to Dec. 10, 1841, to give regularly, but +anonymously, one pound ten shillings a week for the same purpose, which +was exactly the sum required every week for the rent of those three +houses. Thus the Lord rewarded our faithfulness in carrying out the +light which he had given us. But the chief blessing resulting from this +circumstance I consider to be this,--that several brethren, who earn +their bread by the labor of their hands, have learned through this +circumstance that it is the will of the Lord they should lay by their +rent weekly. I beseech those brethren who are not pursuing this course +to do so, and they will soon prove by experience the benefit of acting +on scriptural principles even as it regards this life.] + +Dec. 17. To-day eleven brethren and sisters were proposed for +fellowship. + +Dec. 20. As the expenses for the orphans have been above forty-seven +pounds within the last six days, and as but little above thirteen pounds +has come in, and as the money for printing the Report had to be kept +back, in order that we might not be in debt, we were again to-day very +low in funds, though it is but six days since the public meetings. As I +knew that to-morrow several pounds would be needed to supply the +matrons, I gave myself this morning to prayer. About a quarter of an +hour afterwards I received three pounds, the payment of a legacy left by +a sister, who fell asleep in Jesus several months since, in Ireland. +Besides this I received from the brother through whom the legacy was +paid, two pounds ten shillings for the orphan fund. With this five +pounds ten shillings I hope to be able to meet the expenses of +to-morrow. + +Dec. 22. _A solemn day._ I received to-day the information that my +brother died on October 7. "_Shall not the Judge of all the earth do +right?_" must be the stay of the believer at such a time, and, by grace, +it is my stay now. _I know_ that the Lord is glorified in my brother, +whatever his end has been. May the Lord make this event a lasting +blessing to me, especially in leading me to earnestness in prayer for my +father! + + +REVIEW OF THE YEAR 1838. + +1. As to the church. There are 405 at present in fellowship with us; 61 +having been added last year, of whom 36 have been brought among us to +the knowledge of the truth. + +2. As to my temporal supplies. The Lord has been pleased to give me +during the past year L350, 4s. 8d. + +During no period of my life had I such need of means, on account of my +own long illness and that of my dear wife, and on account of the _many_ +and _particular_ calls for means, as during the past year; but also +during no period of my life has the Lord so richly supplied me. Truly, +it must be manifest to all that I have served a most kind Master, during +this year also, and that, even for this life, it is by far the best +thing to seek to act according to the mind of the Lord as to temporal +things! + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +ASKING AND RECEIVING. + +1839. + + HELP FOR THE POOR SAINTS--THE UNFAILING BANK--MEANS + EXHAUSTED--LIBERALITY OF A LABORING SISTER--"HE KNOWETH OUR + FRAME"--REDEEMING THE TIME--GODLINESS PROFITABLE UNTO ALL + THINGS. + + +January 1, 2, and 3, 1839. We have had three especial church prayer +meetings these three days. The year commenced with mercies. _In the +first hour_ of the year there came in for the orphans two pounds seven +shillings, which was given after our usual prayer meeting on December +31, which this time lasted from seven in the evening till after +midnight. + +Jan. 5. To-day I received another new hat, the eleventh which in +succession has been given to me since I have been in England. + +Jan. 20. For some time past it has appeared to me that the words, "Ye +have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them +good," which the Lord spoke to his disciples, _who were themselves very +poor_, imply that the children of God, as such, have power with God to +bring temporal blessings upon poor saints or poor unbelievers through +the instrumentality of prayer. Accordingly, I have been led to ask the +Lord for means to assist poor saints; and at different times he has +stirred up his children to intrust me with sums, both large and small, +_for that especial object_; or has, by some means or other, put money at +my disposal, which I might so use. In like manner I had been asking +again for means, a few days since, to be able more extensively to assist +the poor saints in communion with us, as just now many of them are not +merely tried by the _usual_ temporal difficulties arising from its being +winter, but especially from the high price of bread. And now this +evening the Lord has given me the answer to my prayer. When I came home +from the meeting I found a brother at my house who offered to give me +ten pounds a week, for twelve weeks, towards providing the poor saints +with coals and needful articles of clothing, but chiefly with bread. +[Accordingly, this brother sent me, two days afterwards, one hundred and +twenty pounds, whereby very many, especially poor widows, were greatly +assisted, chiefly with flour and bread. This money just lasted till the +price of bread was reduced from ninepence halfpenny to sevenpence +halfpenny.] + +Feb. 7. This day has been one of the most remarkable days as it regards +the funds. There was no money in hand. I was waiting upon God. I had +asked him repeatedly, but no supplies came. Brother T. called, between +eleven and twelve o'clock, to tell me that about one pound two shillings +would be needed, to take in bread for the three houses and to meet the +other expenses; but we had only two shillings ninepence, which yesterday +had been taken out of the boxes in the Orphan Houses. He went to Clifton +to make arrangements for the reception of the three orphans of our +sister Loader, who fell asleep on the 4th; for, though we have no funds +in hand, the work goes on, and our confidence is not diminished. I +therefore requested him to call, on his way back from Clifton, to see +whether the Lord might have sent any money in the mean time. When he +came I had received nothing, but one of the laborers, having five +shillings of his own, gave it. It was now four o'clock. I knew not how +the sisters had got through the day. Toward the close of the day I went +to the Girls' Orphan House, to meet with the brethren for prayer. When I +arrived there I found that a box had come for me from Barnstable. The +carriage was paid, else there would have been no money to pay for it. +(See how the Lord's hand is in the smallest matters!) The box was +opened, and it contained, in a letter from a sister, ten pounds, of +which eight pounds was for the orphans, and two pounds for the Bible +Fund; from brethren at Barnstable, two pounds eleven shillings twopence; +and from another brother, five shillings. Besides this, there were in +the box four yards of merino, three pairs of new shoes, two pairs of new +socks; also six books for sale; likewise a gold pencil-case, two gold +rings, two gold drops of earrings, a necklace, and a silver pencil-case. +On inquiry how the sisters had been carried through the day, I found it +thus: Everything was in the houses which was needed for dinner. After +dinner a lady from Thornbury came and bought one of my Narratives and +one of the Reports, and gave three shillings besides. About five minutes +afterwards the baker came to the Boys' Orphan House. The matron of the +Girls' Orphan House seeing him, went immediately with the six shillings +sixpence which she had just received (to prevent his being sent away, as +there was no money in hand at the Boys' Orphan House), and bought bread +to the amount of four shillings sixpence. The two remaining shillings, +with the little which was in hand, served to buy bread for the Girls' +Orphan House. By the donations sent in the box I was enabled to give a +rich supply to the matrons before the close of the day. + +February 13. This evening five pounds was given me, which had come in +under the following circumstances: A gentleman and lady visited the +Orphan Houses, and met at the Boys' Orphan House two ladies who were +likewise visiting. One of the ladies said to the matron of the Boys' +Orphan House, "Of course you cannot carry on these Institutions without +a good stock of funds." The gentleman, turning to the matron, said, +"Have you a good stock?" She replied, "Our funds are deposited in a bank +which cannot break." The tears came into the eyes of the inquiring lady. +The gentleman, on leaving, gave to the master of the boys five pounds, +which came in _when I had not a penny in hand_. + +March 5. To-day, however, I knew that there would be again several +pounds required, as, besides the daily provisions, there were coals +needed, the treacle casks in two houses were empty, and there was but +five shillings in hand. I gave myself therefore to prayer this morning. +WHILST I WAS IN PRAYER Q. Q. sent a check for seven pounds ten +shillings. + +March 23. To-day I received a letter from brother T., who is, on account +of his health, in Devonshire, to inform me that a heavy gold chain, a +ring set with ten brilliants, a pair of gold bracelets, and two pounds, +have been given to him. He gave a Report to a brother, who, having read +it, was thereby stirred up to prayer, and knowing that his believing +sister possessed these trinkets, he asked the Lord to incline her heart +to give them up for the benefit of our orphans, which she soon after +did. By means of these donations I am able both to meet the remaining +expenses of this week, and also to pay fifteen pounds, which still +remains due on account of the salaries. My fellow-laborers not only +never ask me for anything, but are willing to part with money, or +anything else, in the hour of need; nevertheless, I asked the Lord about +this point frequently, and he has now given me my request, whereof I am +glad. + +April 13. I conversed with another of the orphans, who seems to have +been truly converted, and who has walked consistently for many months. +To-morrow she will be united with the saints in communion. + +April 14. To-day five pounds eightpence came in for the orphans, one +pound of which is one of the most remarkable gifts that we have ever +had. A poor brother, with a large family and small wages,--there are +eight in the family, and he had fifteen shillings wages till lately, +when they were raised to eighteen shillings--put by this money by little +and little of what was given him by his master for beer. This brother, +who was converted about five years ago, was before that time a notorious +drunkard. + +July 2. To-day was given to me, _when there was not one shilling in +hand_, fifty pounds, for the school, Bible, and missionary fund. + +July 15. Monday. To-day two pounds seven shillings threepence was needed +for the orphans, but we had nothing. How to obtain the means for a +dinner, and for what else was needed, I knew not. My heart was perfectly +at peace, and unusually sure of help, though I knew not in the least +whence it was to come. Before brother T. came, I received a letter from +India, written in May, with an order for fifty pounds for the orphans. I +had said last Saturday to brother T. that it would be desirable to have +fifty pounds, as the salaries of all my fellow-laborers are due, the +three treacle casks empty, all the provision stores exhausted, several +articles of clothing needed, and worsted for the boys to go on with +their knitting. + +August 19. Monday. This has been again a day in which our faith has been +particularly tried; but even this day we have not been confounded. Not +one penny was in hand when the day began. We had, therefore, now, for +more than one hundred persons, again to look to the Lord. But this I +must say, to the praise of the Lord, my soul was perfectly at peace. I +meant to have gone very early to the Orphan Houses to meet with my +fellow-laborers for prayer; but as one person after the other called +upon me, I was kept from it the whole morning. When brother T. called +upon me, between twelve and one o'clock, for money, I had none to give. +In the afternoon at four I was able to meet with the brethren and +sisters. When I came to the Girls' Orphan House, I found that one of +those children, for the reception of whom we had given notice, had been +brought from Bath, and with him was sent one pound five shillings. After +the meeting was over one of the laborers gave ten shillings. By means of +this one pound fifteen shillings we were able for this day also to +provide everything needful. + +August 22. In my morning walk, when I was reminding the Lord of our +need, I felt assured that he would send help this day. My assurance +sprang from our need; for there seemed no way to get through the day +without help being sent. After breakfast I considered whether there was +anything which might be turned into money for the dear children. Among +other things there came under my hands a number of religious pamphlets +which had been given for the benefit of the orphans; but all seemed not +nearly enough to meet the necessities of the day. In this our deep +poverty, after I had gathered together the few things for sale, a +sister, _who earns her bread by the labor of her hands_, brought +eighty-two pounds. This sister had seen it to be binding upon believers +in our Lord Jesus to act out his commandments: "Sell that ye have (sell +your possessions) and give alms," Luke xii. 33; and "Lay not up for +yourselves treasures upon earth," Matt. vi. 19. Accordingly, she had +drawn her money out of the bank and stocks, being two hundred and fifty +pounds, and had brought it to me at three different times, for the +benefit of the orphans, the Bible, missionary, and school fund, and the +poor saints. About two months ago she brought me one hundred pounds +more, being the produce of some other possession which she had sold, +the half of which was to be used for the school Bible, and missionary +fund, and the other half for the poor saints. This eighty-two pounds +which she has brought to-day is the produce of the sale of her last +earthly possession. [At the time I am preparing this fifth edition for +the press, more than sixteen years have passed away, and this sister has +never expressed the least regret as to the step she took, but goes on +quietly laboring with her hands to earn her bread.] + +September 4. I have been led to pray whether it is the Lord's will that +I should leave Bristol for a season, as I have for the last fortnight +been suffering from indigestion, by which my whole system is weakened, +and thus the nerves of my head are more than usually affected. There +are, however, two hindrances in the way--want of means for the orphans, +and want of means for my own personal expenses. To-day I have received a +check from Q. Q. for seven pounds ten shillings for the orphans, which +came, therefore, very seasonably. Also four pounds besides have come in +since the day before yesterday. + +September 5. To-day a sister sent me five pounds for myself, to be used +for the benefit of my health. She had heard that my health is again +failing. I do not lay by money for such purposes; but whenever I really +need means, whether for myself or others, the Lord sends them, in answer +to prayer; for he had in this case again given me prayer respecting +means for myself, and for the orphans, that my way might be made plain +as to leaving Bristol for a season. + +September 7. Trowbridge. This has been a very good day. I have had much +communion with the Lord. How kind to take me from the work in Bristol +for a season, to give me more communion with himself. I remembered the +Lord's especial goodness to me in this place at the commencement of last +year. How kind has he also been since! I prayed much for myself, for +the church at large, for the saints here and in Bristol, for my +unconverted relatives, for my dear wife, and that the Lord would supply +my own temporal necessities, and those of the orphans; and _I know that +he has heard me_. I am surrounded with kind friends in the dear saints, +under whose roof I am, and feel quite at home. My room is _far better_ +than I need: yet an easy chair, _in this my weak state of body_, to +kneel before in prayer, would have added to my comfort. In the +afternoon, without having a hint about it, I found an easy chair put +into my room. I was struck with the kindness, the especial kindness of +my heavenly Father, in being mindful of the smallest wants and comforts +of his child. Having had more prayer than usual, I found that my +intercourse with the saints at tea was with unction, and more than +usually profitable. + +September 9. I returned to Bristol, to go from hence to-morrow to +Exeter, if the Lord permit, on account of my health. I had been +earnestly asking the Lord while I was staying at Trowbridge that he +would be pleased to send in supplies for the orphans before I go into +Devonshire, and I had the fullest assurance that means would come in +before I left Bristol. I therefore asked my wife, on my return, how much +had come in, and found that it was only eight pounds nine shillings +seven and three-fourths pence. This was not nearly as much as I had +expected, and would not answer the end for which I had particularly +asked means, _i. e._ that I might be able to leave enough for several +days. My reply, therefore, was according to the faith given to me, and +judging from the earnestness and confidence of my prayer _that the Lord +would send more before I left_. About an hour after, brother Craik +brought me ten pounds, and also a letter, in which the arrival of a +large box full of articles, to be sold for the benefit of the orphans, +is announced. + + Upon his return from his journey, Mr. M. writes:-- + +During my stay at Plymouth, I was stirred up afresh to early rising, a +blessing, the results of which I have not lost since. That which led me +to it was the example of the brother in whose house I was staying, and a +remark which he made in speaking on the sacrifices in Leviticus, "that +as not the refuse of the animals was to be offered up, _so the best part +of our time_ should be especially given to communion with the Lord." I +had been, on the whole, rather an early riser during former years. But +since the nerves of my head had been so weak, I thought that, as the day +was long enough for my strength, it would be best for me not to rise +early, in order that thus the nerves of my head might have the longer +quiet. On this account I rose only between six and seven, and sometimes +after seven. For the same reason also I brought myself _purposely_ into +the habit of sleeping a quarter of an hour, or half an hour, after +dinner: as I thought I found benefit from it, in quieting the nerves of +my head. In this way, however, my soul had suffered more or less every +day, and sometimes considerably, as now and then unavoidable work came +upon me before I had had sufficient time for prayer and reading the +word. After I had heard the remark to which I have alluded, I determined +that, whatever my body might suffer, I would no longer let the most +precious part of the day pass away while I was in bed. By the grace of +God I was enabled to begin the very next day to rise earlier; and have +continued to rise early since that time. I allow myself now about seven +hours' sleep, which, though I am far from being strong, and have much to +tire me mentally, I find is quite sufficient to refresh me. In addition +to this I gave up the sleeping after dinner. The result has been that I +have thus been able to procure long and precious seasons for prayer and +meditation before breakfast; and as to my body, and the state of the +nervous system in particular, I have been _much better_ since. Indeed, I +believe that the very worst thing I could have done for my weak nerves +was to have lain an hour or more longer in bed than I used to do before +my illness; for it was the very way to keep them weak. As this may fall +into the hands of some children of God who are not in the habit of +rising early, I make a few more remarks on the subject. + +I. It might be asked, How much time shall I allow myself for rest? The +answer is, that no rule of universal application can be given, as all +persons do not require the same measure of sleep, and also the same +persons, at different times, according to the strength or weakness of +their body, may require more or less. Females also, being generally +weaker in body, require more sleep than males. Yet, from what I can +learn, it is the opinion of medical persons that men in health do not +require more than between six and seven hours' sleep, and females no +more than between seven and eight hours; so that it would be rather _an +exception_ for a man to require more than seven and a woman more than +eight hours. But my decided advice, at the same time, is, that children +of God would be careful not to allow themselves _too little_ sleep, as +there are few men who can do with less than six hours' sleep, and yet be +well in body and mind, and few females who can do with less than seven +hours. Certain it is that for a long time, as a young man, before I went +to the university, I went to bed regularly at ten and rose at four, +studied hard, and was in good health; and certain also, that since I +have allowed myself only about seven hours, from the time of my visit at +Plymouth in Oct. 1839, I have been much better in body, and in my nerves +in particular, than when I was eight or eight hours and a half in bed. + +II. If it be asked, But why should I rise early? The reply is, "To +remain too long in bed" is, 1. _Waste of time_, which is unbecoming a +saint, who is bought by the precious blood of Jesus, with his _time_ and +all he has, to be used for the Lord. If we sleep more than is needful +for the refreshment of the body, it is wasting the time with which the +Lord has intrusted us as a talent, to be used for his glory, for our own +benefit, and the benefit of the saints and the unbelievers around us. 2. +To remain too long in bed _injures the body_. Just as when we take too +much food, we are injured thereby, so as it regards sleep. Medical +persons would readily allow that the lying longer in bed than is needful +for the strengthening of the body does _weaken_ it. 3. _It injures the +soul._ The lying too long in bed not merely keeps us from giving the +most precious part of the day to prayer and meditation, but this sloth +leads also to _many other evils_. Any one need but make the experiment +of spending one, two, or three hours in prayer and meditation before +breakfast, either in his room, or with his Bible in his hand in the +fields, and he will soon find out the beneficial effect which early +rising has upon the outward and inward man. I beseech all my brethren +and sisters into whose hands this may fall, and who are not in the habit +of rising early, to make the trial, and they will praise the Lord for +having done so. + +III. It may lastly be said, But how shall I set about rising early? My +advice is, 1. Commence at once, delay it not. To-morrow begin to rise. +2. But do not depend upon your own strength. This may be the reason why +before this you may have begun to rise early, but have given it up. As +surely as you depend upon your own strength in this matter, it will come +to nothing. In every good work we depend upon the Lord, and in this +thing we shall feel _especially_ how weak we are. If any one rises that +he may give the time which he takes from sleep to prayer and meditation, +let him be sure that Satan will try to put obstacles into the way. 3. +Do trust in the Lord for help. You will honor him if you _expect_ help +from him in this matter. Give yourself to prayer for help, expect help, +and you will have it. 4. Use, however, in addition to this, the +following means: _a._ Go early to bed. If you stay up late, you cannot +rise early. Let no society and no pressure of engagements keep you from +going _habitually_ early to bed. If you fail in this, you neither can +nor ought to get up early, as your body requires rest. Keep also +particularly in mind, that neither for the body nor soul is it the same +thing whether you go to bed _late_ and rise _late_, or whether you go to +bed _early_ and rise _early_. Even medical persons will tell you how +injurious it is to sit up late, and to spend the morning hours in bed; +but how much more important still is it to retire early and to rise +early, in order to _make sure of time for prayer and meditation before +the business of the day commences_, and to devote to those exercises +that part of our time when the mind and the body are _most fresh_, in +order thus to obtain spiritual strength for the conflict, the trials, +and the work of the day. _b._ Let some one call you, if possible, at the +time which you have determined before God that you will rise; or +procure, what is still better, an alarum, by which you may regulate +almost to a minute the time when you wish to rise. For about twelve +shillings a little German clock with an alarum may be bought almost in +every town. Though I have very many times been awakened by the Lord, in +answer to prayer, almost to the minute when I desired to rise; yet I +thought it well to procure an alarum to assist me in my purpose of +rising early: not indeed as if it could give the least help, without the +Lord's blessing, for I should remain in bed notwithstanding the noise of +the alarum, were he not to give me grace to rise; but simply looking +upon it as a means. _c._ Rise at once when you are awake. Remain not a +minute longer in bed, else you are likely to fall asleep again. _d._ Be +not discouraged by feeling drowsy and tired in consequence of your +rising early. This will soon wear off. You will after a few days feel +yourself stronger and fresher than when you used to lie an hour or two +longer than you needed. _e._ Allow yourself always the same hours for +sleep. Make no change except sickness oblige you. + +On December 10, 11, and 12 we had public meetings, at which the account +of the Lord's dealings with us in reference to the Orphan Houses and the +other objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution was given. It is +now--December 10, 1839--five years and nine months since the Scriptural +Knowledge Institution has been in operation. + +During the last year also. 1. We have been enabled to continue to +provide all the needful expenses connected with the six-day schools, +three for boys and three for girls. The number of the children who are +at present in them amounts to 286. The number of all the children that +have had schooling in the day schools, through the medium of the +Institution, since its formation, amounts to 1,795. 2. There are at +present 226 children in the Sunday school. 3. There are 14 taught to +read in the adult school, and there have been about 130 adults +instructed in that school since the formation of the Institution. 4. +There have been circulated, during the last year, 514 copies of the +Scriptures, and 5,592 since March 5, 1834. 5. There has been laid out, +during the last year, L91, 6s. for missionary purposes. 6. There have +been received into the three Orphan Houses, from December 9, 1838, to +December 9, 1839, 16 orphans. There are at present 96 orphans in the +three houses. The number of all the orphans who have been under our care +from April 11, 1836, to December 9, 1839, amounts to 126. + +For the Orphan Houses, _without any one having been asked for anything +by us_, the sum of L3,067, 8s. 91/4d. has been given, _entirely as the +result of prayer to God_, from the commencement of the work up to +December 9, 1839. + +The total of the expenses connected with the objects of the Institution, +exclusive of the Orphan Houses, from November 19, 1838, to November 19, +1839, is L542, 13s. The balance in hand on November 19, 1839, was 18s. +5d. + +The total of the expenses connected with the three Orphan Houses, from +December 9, 1838, to December 9, 1839, is L960, 9s. 23/4d. The balance +in hand on December 9, 1839, was L46, 8s. 1d. + +December 31. My health is much better than for years. My mental powers +also are as good as they have been at any time during the last three +years. I ascribe this to God's blessing, through the instrumentality of +early rising, and plunging my head into cold water when I rise. + + +REVIEW OF THE YEAR 1839. + +1. As to the church: During the last year have been added 115; of whom +34 have been brought to the knowledge of the Lord among us. + +2. As to my temporal supplies, the Lord has been pleased to give me, +during the past year, L313, 2s. 5d. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +PLENTY AND WANT. + +1840. + + A PURE OFFERING REQUIRED--A JOURNEY PROPOSED--SEASONABLE + PROVISION--LOOKING ONLY TO THE LORD--THE WRATH OF MAN PRAISING + GOD--A PROMISE FULFILLED--BENEFIT OF TRIAL--NEW SPRINGS + OPENED--BEFORE THEY CALL I WILL ANSWER--TRUST IN GOD + COMMENDED--SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS. + + +January 1, 1840. This morning, about one hour after midnight, I received +a paper with some money sealed up in it for the orphans. A few minutes +afterwards, I remembered that the individual who gave it was in debt, +and I was aware that she had been repeatedly asked by her creditors for +payment. I resolved, therefore, without opening the paper, to return it, +as no one has a right to give whilst in debt. This was done _when I knew +that there was not enough in hand to meet the expenses of the day_. +About eight, this morning, a brother brought five pounds, which he had +received just then from his mother, for the orphans. Observe, the +brother is led to bring it _at once_! + +January 25. I have been much in prayer this week about going to Germany: +1. To see certain brethren who purpose to go as missionaries to the East +Indies; and, 2. To see my father once more. I am led to go just now, +instead of delaying it, because my health is again so failing that it +seems desirable I should leave Bristol at all events; and thus I could +continue to serve in the work of the Lord, and yet attend to the benefit +of my health at the same time. Lord, keep me from making a mistake in +this matter! + +January 31. There is only one shilling fivepence in hand. The Lord will +provide! I feel quite comfortable, though in three days I shall have to +leave the work for several weeks. After I had written the above, I +received sixteen pounds for the orphans, and twenty-four pounds for the +other objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. Thus Lord will +kindly allow me to leave a little money behind on my departure, and I +have also a still further answer to my prayer for means to purchase +Bibles, for which I have asked the Lord repeatedly, and which he began +to answer by the donation which I received on the 22d. I have received +five pounds, besides, for the other objects. + +Feb. 2. To-day and yesterday has come in still further, before my +departure, nearly nine pounds for the orphans. How kind of the Lord to +send this money just now, on the eve of my leaving home! + + Mr. Mueller's absence lasted from Feb. 3 to March 9. Under the + latter date he writes:-- + +During the whole time of my absence the Lord not only supplied all the +need of the orphans, but on my return I found more in hand than there +was when I left. The donations, which came in during my absence, amount +to between eighty and ninety pounds. + +March 26. On the 17th of this month I received the following letter from +a brother who several times had been used by the Lord as an instrument +in supplying our need, and who also, two months since, sent thirty +pounds. + +"I have received a little money from ----. Have you any _present_ need +for the Institution under your care? I know you do not _ask_, except +indeed of Him whose work you are doing; but to _answer when asked_ seems +another thing, and a right thing. I have a reason for desiring to know +the present state of your means towards the objects you are laboring to +serve, viz. should you _not have_ need, other departments of the Lord's +work, or other people of the Lord, _may have_ need. Kindly then inform +me, and to what amount, _i. e._ what amount you at this present time +need, or can profitably lay out." + +At the time when this letter came we were indeed in need. Nevertheless, +I considered that, as I have hitherto acted (_i. e._ telling the Lord +alone about our need), I ought to continue to do, as otherwise the +principal object of the work, to be a help to the saints generally, by +seeking to lead them to increased dependence upon God _alone_, through +this Institution, would be frustrated. I answered therefore the letter +in substance as follows:-- + +"Whilst I thank you for your love, and whilst I agree with you, that, in +general, there is a difference between _asking for money_ and _answering +when asked_, nevertheless in our case I feel not at liberty to speak +about the state of our funds, as the primary object of the work in my +hands is to lead those who are weak in faith to see that there is +_reality_ in dealing with God _alone_." + +After having sent off the answer, I was again and again led to pray to +the Lord in this way: "Lord, thou knowest that for thy sake I did not +tell this brother about our need. Now, Lord, show afresh that there is +_reality_ in speaking to thee _only_ about our need, and speak therefore +to this brother, so that he may help us." + +To-day, in answer to this my request, this brother sent one hundred +pounds. Thus I have means for establishing the infant school, and for +ordering more Bibles. Also the orphans are again supplied for a week; +for when the money came in, there was _not one penny_ in hand for them. + +April 7. This evening I received information from my little half brother +that my dear father died on March 30. During no period did I pray more +frequently or more earnestly for the conversion of my dear aged parent +than during the last year of his life; but, at all events, it did not +please the Lord to let me _see_ the answer to my prayers. + +April 9. We are on the point of sending some money to the East Indies +for missionary objects. _Whilst I was on my knees_ respecting this +object, five pounds was brought for it. + +May 2. Nothing having come in for five days, we were to-day again +penniless. In answer to prayer five shillings sixpence came in, and some +trinkets were sent, the names of which the donor does not wish to be +known. Thus we were helped through this day. Observe here how the Lord +allowed five days to pass away without influencing the hearts of any to +send us supplies; but the moment there is real need, the stream runs +again. + +May 3. Last evening a brother was baptized, who on the first Lord's day +of this year came with his intended wife to Bethesda Chapel. Both were +in an unconverted state. Only since April 1, forty-one persons have come +to us to speak about their souls. + +May 8. There are four believers staying at my house, and to-day we had +only a few shillings of our own money left. I gave myself, therefore, to +prayer for means for our own personal expenses. In answer to my request, +I received this morning five pounds. + +May 10. To-day five of the orphans were baptized. There are now fourteen +of them in fellowship. + +May 26. Nothing had come in. My engagements kept me from going to the +Orphan Houses till seven in the evening, when the laborers met together +for prayer. When we met I found that one of them had given seventeen +shillings, which had been divided between the three houses. This, with +the little which had been left yesterday, had procured all necessary +articles. We are now very poor. + +May 27. We met for prayer at eleven this morning. No money had come in, +but there was enough for dinner in all the houses. This morning the last +coals were used in the Infant Orphan House, and in the Boys' Orphan +House there were only enough for to-day, and there was no money in hand +to buy more. In this our need T. P. C. sent a load of coals. We purpose +to meet again at four this afternoon. May the Lord graciously be pleased +to send help in the mean time! + +_Evening._ The Lord has had mercy! A person bought some days since +several articles, which had been given to be sold for the benefit of the +orphans, and owed six pounds fifteen shillings. This morning I asked the +Lord to incline his heart to bring the money, or a part of it, as we +were in such need. Just as I was going to meet for prayer with my +fellow-laborers this afternoon, he came and brought four pounds. But our +kind Father showed us still further to-day that only for the trial of +our faith he had for a season withheld supplies; for there was given +this evening, with Eccles. ix. 10, five pounds. There came in also nine +shillings for articles which had been put into the hand of a sister, who +has taken on her the service of disposing of articles which are given +for sale. Thus the day, which had begun with prayer, ended in praise. +But there is one thing more to be recorded respecting this day, as +precious or more so than what has been said: I was to-day informed that +the Lord has begun to stir up several of the boys to care about their +souls. + +June 17. For several days past I had been very poor in reference to my +own temporal necessities, as well as in reference to the orphans. To-day +we were especially poor, in both respects; but our kind Father +remembered not merely the need of the dear orphans, but gave me also +some money for my own personal expenses. The same sister just referred +to, who brought five pounds ten shillings sixpence for the orphans, +brought me also seven pounds for myself. + +June 22. To-morrow, the Lord willing, I purpose, with my wife, to +accompany the three German brethren and the five German sisters to +Liverpool, who purpose to sail from thence. Under these circumstances it +is desirable to leave at least a little money behind. This desire of my +heart the Lord has granted; for this morning D. C. gave me five pounds, +and there came in by sale of articles ten shillings fivepence. In the +evening a sister, who has left Bristol to-day, sent me by her mother +five pounds. + + During the absence of Mr. M. the wants of the orphans were + supplied in a wonderful manner. To mention but one instance, at + a time when there was extreme need, a poor German missionary, + just embarking for a heathen land, gave six pounds ten + shillings, being his all. + + The following event came to his notice during his journey:-- + +About October, 1837, I sent some Bibles and forty-six copies of my +Narrative to a brother in Upper Canada, who, in dependence upon the Lord +for temporal supplies, is laboring as a missionary in that country. +About eighteen months afterwards I heard that this box had not arrived. +I had reason to think that the broker had never sent off the box. My +comfort, however, was, that though this poor sinner had acted thus, yet +the Lord, in his own place and way, would use the Bibles and my +Narratives. Now, almost immediately after my arrival in Liverpool, a +brother told me that several persons wished to hear me preach who had +read my Narrative; and that he knew a considerable number had been +bought by a brother, a bookseller, from pawnbrokers, and sold again; and +that some also had been ordered from London when there were no more to +be had otherwise. It was thus evident that the ship-broker pawned these +Narratives before he absconded; but the Lord used them as I had hoped. + +Aug. 1. A few days since a brother was staying with me, on his way to +his father, whom he had not seen for above two years, and who was +greatly opposed to him, on account of the decided steps which his son +had taken for the Lord. Before this brother left, that precious promise +of our Lord was brought to my mind: "If two of you shall agree on earth +as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of +my Father which is in heaven." (Matt. xviii. 19.) Accordingly, I went to +the brother's room, and having agreed to pray about a kind reception +from his father, and the conversion of both parents, we prayed together. +To-day this brother returned. The Lord has answered already one part of +the prayer. The brother was most kindly received, contrary to all +natural expectation. May the Lord now help us both to look for an answer +to the other part of our prayer! There is nothing too hard for the Lord! + +Since the publication of the last edition, the father of this brother +died. He lived above ten years after Aug. 1, 1840, until he was about +eighty-six years of age, and as he continued a life of much sin and +opposition to the truth, the prospect with reference to his conversion +became darker and darker. But at last the Lord answered prayer. This +aged sinner was entirely changed, simply rested on the Lord Jesus for +the salvation of his soul, and became as much attached to his believing +son as before he had been opposed to him, and wished to have him about +him as much as possible, that he might read the Holy Scriptures to him +and pray with him. + +Aug. 8. Saturday. This evening I was meditating on the fourth Psalm. The +words in verse three, "But know that the Lord has set apart him that is +godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call upon him," I was +enabled to apply to myself, and they led me to prayer for spiritual +blessings. Whilst in prayer, the need of the orphans, there being now +again not one penny in hand, was also brought to my mind, and I asked +the Lord respecting this likewise. _About five minutes afterwards_ I was +informed that a sister wished to see me. She brought one pound ten +shillings for the orphans. Thus the Lord has already kindly sent a +little to begin the week with. There was also still further given +to-day, one shilling elevenpence; and five shillings one penny was taken +out of the boxes in the Orphan Houses. + +Aug. 15. There was to-day the greatest poverty in all the three houses; +all the stores were very low, as the income throughout the week had been +so small. In addition to this it was Saturday, when the wants are nearly +double in comparison with other days. At least three pounds was needed +to help us comfortably through the day; but there was nothing towards +this in hand. My only hope was in God. The very necessity led me to +expect help for this day; for if none had come, the Lord's name would +have been dishonored. Between twelve and one, two sisters in the Lord +called on me; and the one gave me two pounds, and the other seven +shillings sixpence for the orphans. With this I went to the Boys' Orphan +House about one o'clock, where I found the children at dinner. Brother +B. put the following note into my hand, which he was just going to send +off:-- + +"DEAR BROTHER,--With potatoes from the children's garden, and with +apples from the tree in the playground (which apples were used for +apple-dumplings), and four shillings sixpence, the price of some +articles given by one of the laborers, we have a dinner. There is much +needed. But the Lord has provided and will provide." + +August 23. Lord's day. As we have often found it to be the case, so it +is again now. After the Lord has tried our faith, he, in the love of his +heart, gives us an abundance, to show that not in anger, but for the +glory of his name, and for the trial of our faith, he has allowed us to +be poor. The Lord has kindly given to-day twelve pounds seventeen +shillings. + +August 29. For many weeks past very little has come in for the other +funds. The chief supply has been by the sale of Bibles. Last Saturday I +was not able to pay the whole of the weekly salaries of the teachers in +the day schools, which, however, does not make me a debtor to them, as +it is _an understood thing_ that they have not to look to me for +payment, but to the Lord. To-day again only two shillings was in hand, +whilst several pounds were needed to pay the salaries. It appeared now +plainly to be the will of the Lord that, as all the laborers in the +Orphan Houses know about the state of the funds, so the brethren and +sisters who labor in the day schools should share the trial of faith and +the joy of faith with us. Accordingly we all met, and after I had laid +on their hearts the importance of keeping to themselves, for the Lord's +sake, the state of the funds, we prayed together. + +September 5. Saturday. Because there had come in so little during the +last days, at least three pounds was requisite to supply the need of +to-day. There was, however, not one penny in hand when the day +commenced. Last evening, the laborers in the Orphan Houses, together +with the teachers of the day schools, met for prayer. This morning, one +of the teachers, who had a little money of his own, brought one pound +five shillings sixpence. Thus we were enabled to provide for the dinner. +In the afternoon all of us met again for prayer. Another teacher of the +day schools gave two shillings sixpence, and one shilling came in +besides. But all this was not enough. There was no dinner provided for +to-morrow, nor was there any money to take in milk to-morrow, and +besides this a number of other little things were to be purchased, that +there might be no real want of anything. Now observe how our kind Father +helped us! Between seven and eight this evening, a sister, whose heart +the Lord has made willing to take on her the service of disposing of the +articles which are sent for sale, brought two pounds ten shillings +sixpence, for some of the things which came a fortnight ago from +Worcester, and last Wednesday from Leeds. The sister stated, that though +she did not feel at all well, she had come because she had it so laid on +her heart that she could not stay away. + +September 8. How kindly has the Lord so ordered it that for some time +past the income for the school fund should have been so little, in order +that thus we might be constrained to let the laborers in the day schools +share our joys and our trials of faith, which had been before kept from +them! But as above two years ago the Lord ordered it so that it became +needful to communicate to the laborers in the Orphan Houses the state of +the funds, and made it a blessing to them, so that I am now able to +leave Bristol, and yet the work goes on, so, I doubt not, the brethren +and sisters who are teachers in the day schools will be greatly blessed +by being thus partakers of our precious secret respecting the state of +the funds. Our prayer meetings have been already a blessing to us, and +united us more than ever in the work. We have them now every morning at +seven, and we shall continue them, the Lord helping us, till we see his +hand stretched forth, not merely in giving us means for the teachers, +but also for other purposes; for we need a stove in one of the +school-rooms, a fresh supply of several kinds of Bibles and New +Testaments, and it is desirable to have means to help missionary +brethren who labor in dependence upon the Lord for the supply of their +temporal necessities. + +September 21. To-day a brother from the neighborhood of London gave me +ten pounds, to be laid out as it might be most needed. As we have been +praying many days for the school, Bible, and missionary funds, I took it +all for them. This brother knew nothing about our work, when he came +three days since to Bristol. Thus the Lord, to show his continual care +over us, raises up new helpers. They that trust in the Lord shall never +be confounded. Some who helped for a while may fall asleep in Jesus; +others may grow cold in the service of the Lord; others may be as +desirous as ever to help, but have no longer the means; others may have +both a willing heart to help, and have also the means, but may see it +the Lord's will to lay them out in another way;--and thus, from one +cause or another, were we to lean upon man, we should surely be +confounded; but, in leaning upon the living God alone, we are BEYOND +_disappointment_, and BEYOND _being forsaken because of death_, or _want +of means_, or _want of love_, or _because of the claims of other work_. + +October 7. It is now five weeks since we have daily met for prayer. Not +indeed merely to ask for means, but for grace and wisdom for ourselves +in reference to the work, for the conversion of the children under our +care, for grace for those children who stand already on the Lord's side, +for a blessing upon the circulation of the Scriptures, for a blessing +upon the work with reference to the church at large, etc. But whilst we +thus, as the Spirit led us, prayed for various things, nevertheless, the +lack of means was that which had brought us day after day together. We +asked the Lord to give us the means which are needed for carrying on the +day schools, for buying Bibles, as several sorts are needed, and to +enable us to assist missionary work in foreign countries. Never at any +previous time, since first the work commenced on March 5, 1834, have we +had to continue so long a time in prayer for these funds, without +obtaining the answer. The Lord, however, gave us grace to "continue in +prayer," and kept our hearts in the assurance that he would help. Now, +though he delayed long, before he sent us the answer, in his own time he +made it manifest that he had not only not shut his ear against our +prayers in anger, but that he had answered them _even before we called_; +for there was sent to-day, from the East Indies, a bank order for one +hundred pounds, which had been sent off two months since, therefore +several days _before we even began_ to pray. It was left to me to apply +this money as it might be needed. As we had so long and so particularly +prayed for these funds, I took the whole of it for them, and not for the +orphan fund. + +October 26. Yesterday morning, when I took my hat from the rail, I found +in one of my gloves a note containing a five-pound note, and the +following words: "Two pounds for the orphans, the rest for dear brother +and sister Mueller." There came in still further yesterday two pounds +twelve shillings sixpence. Thus we are again supplied for about three +days. + +In reference to the note which was put into my hat, containing five +pounds, I just add, that I had repeatedly asked the Lord for means for +our own personal expenses, previous to the reception of it, as we had +but very little money for ourselves. Indeed, the very moment before I +took my hat from the rail, I had risen from my knees, having again asked +the Lord for means for ourselves and for the orphans. + +November 8. I purposed to have gone to Trowbridge yesterday, and had +settled it so on Friday evening with brother ----. But no sooner had I +decided to do so, than I felt no peace in the prospect of going. After +having prayed about it on Friday evening and yesterday morning, I +determined not to go, and I felt sure the Lord had some reason for not +allowing me to feel happy in the prospect of going. I began now to look +out for blessings for this day, considering that the Lord had kept me +here for good to some souls. This evening I was especially led to press +the truth on the consciences of the unconverted, entreating and +beseeching them, and telling them also that I felt sure the Lord had, in +mercy to some of them, kept me from going to Trowbridge. I spoke on +Genesis vi. 1-5. Immediately after, I saw fruit of the word. An +individual fully opened his heart to me. I walked about with him till +about ten o'clock, even as long as I had any strength left. [About ten +days afterwards, a brother told me of a poor drunkard who heard me that +evening, and who since then had stayed up till about twelve o'clock +every night to read the Scriptures, and who had not been intoxicated +since.] + +At the close of these details, with reference to the year from December +9, 1839, to December 9, 1840, I make a few remarks. + +1. Though our trials of faith during this year also have been many, and +recurring more frequently than during any previous year, and though we +have been often reduced to the greatest extremity, _yet the orphans have +lacked nothing_; for they always have had good nourishing food, and the +necessary articles of clothing, etc. + +2. Should it be supposed by any one, in reading the plain details of +our trials of faith during this year, that on account of them we have +been disappointed in our expectations, or are discouraged in the work, +my answer is, that the very reverse is the fact. Such days were expected +from the commencement of the work; nay, more than this, the chief end +for which the Institution was established is, that the church of Christ +at large might be benefited by seeing manifestly the hand of God +stretched out on our behalf in the hour of need, in answer to prayer. +Our desire, therefore, is, not that we may be without trials of faith, +but that the Lord graciously would be pleased to support us in the +trial, that we may not dishonor him by distrust. + +3. This way of living brings the Lord remarkably near. He is, as it +were, morning by morning inspecting our stores, that accordingly he may +send help. Greater and more manifest nearness of the Lord's presence I +have never had than when after breakfast there were no means for dinner, +and then the Lord provided the dinner for more than one hundred persons; +or when, after dinner, there were no means for the tea, and yet the Lord +provided the tea; and all this without one single human being having +been informed about our need. This moreover I add, that although we who +have been eyewitnesses of these gracious interpositions of our Father, +have not been so benefited by them as we might and ought to have been, +yet we have in some measure derived blessings from them. One thing is +certain, that we are not tired of doing the Lord's work in this way. + +4. It has been more than once observed, that such a way of living must +lead the mind continually to think whence food, clothes, etc., are to +come, and so unfit for spiritual exercises. Now, in the first place, I +answer that our minds are very little tried about the necessaries of +life, just because the care respecting them is laid upon our Father, +who, because we are his children, _not only allows_ us to do so, _but +will have_ us to do so. Secondly, it must be remembered, that, even if +our minds were much tried about the supplies for the children, and the +means for the other work, yet, because we look to the Lord _alone_ for +these things, we should only be brought, by our sense of need, into the +presence of our Father for the supply of it; and that is a blessing, and +no injury to the soul. Thirdly, our souls realize that for the glory of +God, and for the benefit of the church at large it is that we have these +trials of faith, and that leads again to God, to ask him for fresh +supplies of grace, to be enabled to be faithful in this service. + +5. My heart's desire and prayer to God is, that all believers who read +this may by these many answers to prayer be encouraged to pray, +particularly as it regards the conversion of their friends and +relations, their own state of heart, the state of the church at large, +and the success of the preaching of the gospel. Do not think, dear +reader, that these things are peculiar to us, and cannot be enjoyed by +all the saints. Although every child of God is not called by the Lord to +establish schools and orphan houses, and to trust in the Lord for means +for them; yet there is nothing on the part of the Lord to hinder, why +you may not know, by experience, far more abundantly than we do now, his +willingness to answer the prayers of his children. Do but prove the +faithfulness of God. Do but carry your every want to him. Only maintain +an _upright_ heart. But if you live in sin; if you wilfully and +habitually do things respecting which you know that they are contrary +to the will of God, then you cannot expect to be heard by him. "If I +regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me; but verily +God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer." +Psalm lxvi. 18, 19. + +6. As it regards the children of God, who by the labor of their hands, +or in any business or profession, earn their bread, particularly the +poorer classes of them, I give my affectionate yet solemn advice to +carry into practice the principles on which this Institution is +conducted as it regards not going into debt. Are you in debt? then make +confession of sin respecting it. Sincerely confess to the Lord that you +have sinned against Rom. xiii. 8. And if you are resolved no more to +contract debt, whatever may be the result, and you are waiting on the +Lord and truly trust in him, your present debts will soon be paid. Are +you out of debt? then, whatever your future want may be, be resolved, in +the strength of Jesus, rather to suffer the greatest privation, whilst +waiting upon God for help, than to use unscriptural means, such as +borrowing, taking goods on credit, etc., to deliver yourselves. This way +needs but to be tried, in order that its excellency may be enjoyed. + +There are a few points more which may be of interest to the believing +reader, which I shall now add. + +1. There have been, during this year, six day schools for poor children +_entirely_ supported by the funds of our Institution, all of which have +been established by us. + +The number of all the children that have had schooling in the day +schools through the medium of the Institution, since its formation, +amounts to 2,216; the number of those at present in the six day schools +is 303. + +These day schools have defrayed, by the payments of the children, about +the sixth part of their own expenses. + +2. There is one Sunday school entirely supported by the funds of the +Institution. + +3. There has been, since the formation of the Institution, one adult +school connected with it, in which, on the Lord's day afternoons, since +that time, about 150 adults have been instructed. + +4. The number of Bibles and Testaments which have been circulated +through the medium of our Institution, during the last year, amounts to +452 copies. + +There have been circulated since March 5, 1834, 6,044 copies of the +Scriptures. + +5. There have been laid out, during the last year, of the funds of the +Institution, L120, 10s. 2d. for missionary purposes. + +6. There are at present ninety-one orphans in the three houses. The +total number of the orphans who have been under our care from April 11, +1836, to December 9, 1840, amounts to 129. + +_Without any one having been asked for anything by us_, the sum of +L3,937, 1s. 1d. has been given to us for the Orphan Houses, _as the +result of prayer to God_, since the commencement of the work. + + +THE BLESSING OF THE LORD UPON THE WORK IN REFERENCE +TO THE SOULS OF THE CHILDREN. + +1. During the last fourteen months there have been meetings purposely +for children, at which the Scriptures have been expounded to them. At +these meetings an almost universal attention is manifested by them, +which I thankfully ascribe to the Lord, and upon which I look as a +forerunner of greater blessing. + +2. During the last year three of the Sunday-school children have been +received into fellowship. + +3. At the end of last year there had been eight orphans received into +communion; during the present year fourteen have been received; in all, +twenty-two. + +It was stated in the last year's Report that we were looking for fruit +upon our labors as it regards the conversion of the children, as the +Lord had given to us a measure of earnestness in praying for them. The +Lord has dealt with us according to our expectations. But I expect far +more than what we have seen. While the chief object of our work has been +and is still the manifestation of the heart of God towards his children, +and the reality of power with God in prayer, yet, as we hoped, and as +it has been our prayer, the Lord gives to us also the joy of seeing one +child after another brought to stand openly on the Lord's side. As far +as my experience goes, it appears to me that believers generally have +expected far too little of _present_ fruit upon their labors among +children. There has been a hoping that the Lord some day or other would +own the instruction which they give to children, and would answer at +some time or other, though after many years only, the prayers which they +offer up on their behalf. Now, while such passages as Proverbs xxii. 6, +Ecclesiastes xi. 1, Galatians vi. 9, 1 Cor. xv. 58, give unto us +assurance not merely respecting everything which we do for the Lord, in +general, but also respecting bringing up children in the fear of the +Lord, in particular, that our labor is not in vain in the Lord; yet we +have to guard against abusing such passages, by thinking it a matter of +little moment whether we see _present_ fruit or not; but, on the +contrary, we should give the Lord no rest till we see present fruit, and +therefore in persevering yet submissive prayer we should make known our +requests unto God. I add, as an encouragement to believers who labor +among children, that during the last two years seventeen other young +persons or children, from the age of eleven and a half to seventeen, +have been received into fellowship among us, and that I am looking out +now for many more to be converted, and that not merely of the orphans, +but of the Sunday and day school children. As in so many respects we +live in remarkable times, so in this respect also, that the Lord is +working greatly among the children in many places. + +The total of the expenses connected with the objects of the Institution, +exclusive of the Orphan Houses, from November 19, 1839, to November 19, +1840, is L622, 2s. 61/2d. The balance in hand on Nov. 19, 1840, was +L13, 2s. 93/4d. + +The total of the expenses connected with the three Orphan Houses, from +December 9, 1839, to December 9, 1840, is L900, 11s. 21/2d. The balance +in hand on December 9, 1840, was L15, 1s. 61/4d. + + +REVIEW OF THE YEAR 1840. + +1. As to the church. There are 525 at present in communion; 114 have +been added during the past year, of whom 47 have been brought to the +knowledge of the Lord among us. + +2. As to the supply of my temporal necessities. The Lord has been +pleased to send me, by the freewill offerings of the saints, L242, +8s. 111/2.[17] + + [Footnote 17: It may not be improper to state here that the little + patrimony to which Mr. Mueller became entitled upon the decease of + his father was devoted to the purposes of charity and religion, in + accordance with the principle of action indicated on page 67. This + fact is not mentioned by Mr. M., but has come to the knowledge of + the editor through another channel.--ED.] + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +FAITH STRENGTHENED BY EXERCISE. + +1841. + + A WANT SUPPLIED--RESOURCES EXCEEDING THE DEMAND--EVIL OF + SURETYSHIP--POWER OF CHRISTIAN LOVE--GOD'S WORD THE FOOD OF THE + SOUL--PREPARATION FOR THE HOUR OF TRIAL--POVERTY--DEPENDING ONLY + ON THE LIVING GOD. + + +January 1, 1841. During this week we have daily met for prayer, for the +especial purpose of asking the Lord to give us the means of having the +last year's Report printed. It is three weeks since it might have been +sent to the press. We felt this now to be a matter of especial +importance, as, if the Report were not soon printed, it would be known +that it arose from want of means. By the donations which came in during +these last days for the orphans, and by ten pounds which was given +to-day for the other funds, we have the means of defraying the expense +of about two thirds of the printing, and therefore a part of the +manuscript was sent off, trusting that the Lord would be pleased to send +in more means before two sheets are printed off; but if not, we should +then stop till we have more. _Evening._ There came in still further five +pounds; also, ten shillings and three shillings. + +Jan. 11. Monday. During the last week the Lord not only supplied us +richly with all we needed for the orphans, but enabled us to put by +several pounds towards printing the Report. On Saturday evening there +was only three shillings sixpence left. On this account I was looking +out for answers to my prayers for means, and the Lord did not disappoint +me. There came in altogether yesterday nine pounds sixteen shillings +fourpence. We have now enough even for the last part of the Report. + +Jan. 12. To-day I have received a letter from a brother, in which he +empowers me to draw upon his bankers, during this year, to the amount of +one thousand pounds, for any brethren who have it in their hearts to +give themselves to missionary service in the East Indies, and whom I +shall consider called for this service, as far as I am able to judge. +[This power lasted only for that year; but no brethren who seemed to be +suitable offered themselves for this service. This is another fresh +proof how much more easily pecuniary means can be obtained than suitable +individuals. Indeed, in all my experience I have found it thus, that if +I could only settle that a certain thing to be done was according to the +will of God, the means were soon obtained to carry it into effect.] + +Jan. 13. This evening I was called to the house of a brother and sister +who are in the deepest distress. The brother had become surety for the +debts of his son, not in the least expecting that he ever should be +called upon for the payment of them; but, as his son has not discharged +his debts, the father has been called upon to do so; and except the +money is paid within a few days, he will be imprisoned. + +How precious it is, even for this life, to act according to the word of +God! This perfect revelation of his mind gives us directions for +everything, even the most minute affairs of this life. It commands us, +"Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties +for debts." Prov. xxii. 26. The way in which Satan ensnares persons, to +bring them into the net, and to bring trouble upon them by becoming +sureties, is, that he seeks to represent the matter as if there were no +danger connected with that particular case, and that one might be sure +one should never be called upon to pay the money; but the Lord, the +faithful Friend, tells us in his own word that the only way "to be sure" +in such a matter is "to hate suretyship." Prov. xi. 15. The following +points seem to me of solemn moment for consideration, if I were called +upon to become surety for another: 1. What obliges the person who wishes +me to become surety for him to need a surety? Is it really a good cause +in which I am called upon to become surety? I do not remember ever to +have met with a case in which in a plain, and godly, and in all respects +scriptural matter such a thing occurred. There was generally some sin or +other connected with it. 2. If I become surety, notwithstanding what the +Lord has said to me in his word, am I in such a position that no one +will be injured by my being called upon to fulfil the engagements of the +person for whom I am going to be surety? In most instances this alone +ought to keep one from it. 3. If still I become surety, the amount of +money for which I become responsible must be so in my power that I am +able to produce it whenever it is called for, in order that the name of +the Lord may not be dishonored. 4. But if there be the possibility of +having to fulfil the engagements of the person in whose stead I have to +stand, is it the will of the Lord that I should spend my means in that +way? Is it not rather his will that my means should be spent in another +way? 5. How can I get over the plain word of the Lord, which is to the +contrary, even if the first four points could be satisfactorily settled? + +March 4. From February 22 up to this day our necessities in the day +schools were supplied by thirteen small donations, and by a donation of +eight pounds from Q. Q. To-day I received fifteen pounds. When this +arrived there was not one penny in hand for the day schools, whilst two +days after about seven pounds was needed. This money came from a +considerable distance, and from a brother who never had assisted in this +work before, whereby the Lord afresh shows how easily he can raise up +new helpers. + +For the encouragement of believers, who are tried by having unconverted +relatives and friends, I will relate the following circumstance, the +truth of which I know. + +Baron Von K., who resided in my own country, the kingdom of Prussia, had +been for many years a disciple of the Lord Jesus. Even about the +commencement of this century, when there was almost universal darkness +or even open infidelity spread over the whole continent of Europe, he +knew the Lord Jesus; and when, about the year 1806, there was the +greatest distress in Silesia among many thousands of weavers, this +blessed man of God took the following gracious step for his Lord and +Master. As the weavers had no employment, the whole continent almost +being in an unsettled state on account of Napoleon's career, it seemed +to him the will of the Lord that he should use his very considerable +property to furnish these poor weavers with work, in order to save them +from the greatest state of destitution, though in doing this there was +not only no prospect of gain, but the certain prospect of immense loss. +He therefore found employment for about six thousand weavers. But he was +not content with this. Whilst he gave the bread which perishes, he also +sought to minister to the souls of these weavers. To that end he sought +to set believers as overseers over this immense weaving concern, and not +only saw to it that the weavers were instructed in spiritual things, but +he himself also set the truth before them. Thus it went on for a good +while, till at last, on account of the loss of the chief part of his +property, he was obliged to think about giving it up. But by this time +this precious act of mercy had so commended itself to the government +that it was taken up by them and carried on till the times altered. +Baron von K. was, however, appointed director of the whole concern as +long as it existed. + +This dear man of God was not content with this. He travelled through +many countries to visit the prisons, for the sake of improving the +temporal and spiritual condition of the prisoners, and among all the +other things which he sought to do for the Lord was this also in +particular: He assisted poor students whilst at the university of +Berlin, especially those who studied divinity, as it is called, in order +to get access to them, and to win them for the Lord. One day a most +talented young man, whose father lived at Breslau, where there is +likewise a university, heard of the aged baron's kindness to students, +and he therefore wrote to him, requesting him to assist him, as his own +father could not well afford to support him any longer, having other +children to provide for. A short time afterwards young T. received a +most kind reply from the baron, inviting him to come to Berlin; but, +before this letter arrived, the young student had heard that Baron von +K. was a pietist or mystic, as true believers are contemptuously called +in Germany; and as young T. was of a highly philosophical turn of mind, +reasoning about everything, questioning the truth of revelation, yea, +questioning, most sceptically, the existence of God, he much disliked +the prospect of going to the old baron. Still, he thought he could but +try, and if he did not like it, he was not bound to remain in connection +with him. He arrived in Berlin on a day when there was a great review of +the troops, and, being full of this, he began to speak about it to the +steward of the baron. The steward, however, being a believer, turned the +conversation, before the young student was aware of it, to spiritual +things; and yet he could not say that it had been forced. He began +another subject, and a third, but still it always came presently again +to spiritual things. + +At last the baron came, who received young T. in the most affectionate +and familiar manner, as if he had been his equal, and as if young T. +bestowed a favor on him, rather than that he was favored by the baron. +The baron offered him a room in his own house, and a place at his own +table, while he should be studying in Berlin, which young T. accepted. +He now sought in every way to treat the young student in the most kind +and affectionate way, and as much as possible to serve him, and to show +him the power of the gospel in his own life, without arguing with him, +yea, without speaking to him directly about his soul. For, discovering +in young T. a most reasoning and sceptical mind, he avoided in every +possible way getting into any argument with him, while the young student +again and again said to himself, "I wish I could get into an argument +with this old fool; I would show him his folly." But the baron avoided +it. When the young student used to come home in the evening, and the +baron heard him come, he would himself go to meet him on entering the +house, would light his candle, would assist and serve him, in any way he +could, even to the fetching the bootjack for him, and helping him to +take off his boots. Thus this lowly aged disciple went on for some time, +whilst the young student still sought an opportunity for arguing with +him, but wondered nevertheless how the baron could thus serve him. One +evening, on the return of young T. to the baron's house, when the baron +was making himself his servant as usual, he could refrain himself no +longer, but burst out thus: "Baron, how can you do all this? You see I +do not care about you, and how are you able to continue to be so kind to +me, and thus to serve me?" The baron replied, "My dear young friend, I +have learned it from the Lord Jesus. I wish you would read through the +Gospel of John. Good night." The student now for the first time in his +life sat down and read the word of God in a disposition of mind to be +willing to learn, whilst up to that time he had never read the Holy +Scriptures but with the view of wishing to find out arguments against +them. It pleased God to bless him. From that time he became himself a +follower of the Lord Jesus, and has been so ever since. + +May 7. It has recently pleased the Lord to teach me a truth, +irrespective of human instrumentality, as far as I know, the benefit of +which I have not lost, though now, while preparing the fifth edition for +the press, more than fourteen years have since passed away. The point is +this: I saw more clearly than ever that the first great and primary +business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy +in the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was not how much I +might serve the Lord, how I might glorify the Lord; but how I might get +my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man might be nourished. For +I might seek to set the truth before the unconverted, I might seek to +benefit believers, I might seek to relieve the distressed, I might in +other ways seek to behave myself as it becomes a child of God in this +world; and yet, not being happy in the Lord, and not being nourished and +strengthened in my inner man day by day, all this might not be attended +to in a right spirit. Before this time my practice had been, at least +for ten years previously, as an habitual thing to give myself to prayer, +after having dressed myself in the morning. Now, I saw that the most +important thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the +word of God, and to meditation on it, that thus my heart might be +comforted, encouraged, warned, reproved, instructed; and that thus, by +means of the word of God, whilst meditating on it, my heart might be +brought into experimental communion with the Lord. + +I began therefore to meditate on the New Testament from the beginning, +early in the morning. The first thing I did, after having asked in a few +words the Lord's blessing upon his precious word, was, to begin to +meditate on the word of God, searching as it were into every verse, to +get blessing out of it; not for the sake of the public ministry of the +word, not for the sake of preaching on what I had meditated upon, but +for the sake of obtaining food for my own soul. The result I have found +to be almost invariably this, that after a very few minutes my soul has +been led to confession, or to thanksgiving, or to intercession, or to +supplication; so that, though I did not, as it were, give myself to +_prayer_, but to _meditation_, yet it turned almost immediately more or +less into prayer. When thus I have been for a while making confession, +or intercession, or supplication, or have given thanks, I go on to the +next words or verse, turning all, as I go on, into prayer for myself or +others, as the word may lead to it, but still continually keeping before +me that food for my own soul is the object of my meditation. The result +of this is, that there is always a good deal of confession, +thanksgiving, supplication, or intercession mingled with my meditation, +and that my inner man almost invariably is even sensibly nourished and +strengthened, and that by breakfast time, with rare exceptions, I am in +a peaceful if not happy state of heart. Thus also the Lord is pleased to +communicate unto me that which, either very soon after or at a later +time, I have found to become food for other believers, though it was not +for the sake of the public ministry of the word that I gave myself to +meditation, but for the profit of my own inner man. + +With this mode I have likewise combined the being out in the open air +for an hour, an hour and a half, or two hours, before breakfast, walking +about in the fields, and in the summer sitting for a little on the +stiles, if I find it too much to walk all the time. I find it very +beneficial to my health to walk thus for meditation before breakfast, +and am now so in the habit of using the time for that purpose, that when +I get into the open air I generally take out a New Testament of +good-sized type, which I carry with me for that purpose, besides my +Bible; and I find that I can profitably spend my time in the open air, +which formerly was not the case, for want of habit. I used to consider +the time spent in walking a loss, but now I find it very profitable, not +only to my body, but also to my soul. The walking out before breakfast +is of course not necessarily connected with this matter, and every one +has to judge according to his strength and other circumstances. + +The difference, then, between my former practice and my present one is +this: Formerly, when I rose, I began to pray as soon as possible, and +generally spent all my time till breakfast in prayer, or almost all the +time. At all events I almost invariably began with prayer, except when I +felt my soul to be more than usually barren, in which case I read the +word of God for food, or for refreshment, or for a revival and renewal +of my inner man, before I gave myself to prayer. But what was the +result? I often spent a quarter of an hour, or half an hour, or even an +hour, on my knees, before being conscious to myself of having derived +comfort, encouragement, humbling of soul, etc.; and often, after having +suffered much from wandering of mind for the first ten minutes, or a +quarter of an hour, or even half an hour, I only then began _really to +pray_. I scarcely ever suffer now in this way. For my heart being +nourished by the truth, being brought into _experimental_ fellowship +with God, I speak to my Father and to my Friend (vile though I am, and +unworthy of it) about the things that he has brought before me in his +precious word. It often now astonishes me that I did not sooner see this +point. In no book did I ever read about it. No public ministry ever +brought the matter before me. No private intercourse with a brother +stirred me up to this matter. And yet now, since God has taught me this +point, it is as plain to me as anything, that the first thing the child +of God has to do morning by morning is, to _obtain food for his inner +man_. As the outward man is not fit for work for any length of time +except we take food, and as this is one of the first things we do in the +morning, so it should be with the inner man. We should take food for +that, as every one must allow. Now what is the food for the inner man? +Not _prayer_, but _the word of God_; and here again, not the simple +reading of the word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, +just as water runs through a pipe, but considering what we read, +pondering over it, and applying it to our hearts. When we pray, we speak +to God. Now, prayer, in order to be continued for any length of time in +any other than a formal manner, requires, generally speaking, a measure +of strength or godly desire, and the season, therefore, when this +exercise of the soul can be most effectually performed is after the +inner man has been nourished by meditation on the word of God, where we +find our Father speaking to us, to encourage us, to comfort us, to +instruct us, to humble us, to reprove us. We may therefore profitably +meditate, with God's blessing, though we are ever so weak spiritually; +nay, the weaker we are, the more we need meditation for the +strengthening of our inner man. There is thus far less to be feared from +wandering of mind than if we give ourselves to prayer without having had +previously time for meditation. I dwell so particularly on this point +because of the immense spiritual profit and refreshment I am conscious +of having derived from it myself, and I affectionately and solemnly +beseech all my fellow-believers to ponder this matter. By the blessing +of God I ascribe to this mode the help and strength which I have had +from God to pass in peace through deeper trials, in various ways, than I +had ever had before; and after having now above fourteen years tried +this way, I can most fully, in the fear of God, commend it. In addition +to this I generally read, after family prayer, larger portions of the +word of God, when I still pursue my practice of reading regularly onward +in the Holy Scriptures, sometimes in the New Testament and sometimes in +the Old, and for more than twenty-six years I have proved the +blessedness of it. I take, also, either then or at other parts of the +day, time more especially for prayer. + +How different, when the soul is refreshed and made happy early in the +morning, from what it is when, without spiritual preparation, the +service, the trials, and the temptations of the day come upon one! + +Oct. 1. When I had again not one penny in hand for the necessities of +this day, there was brought to me this morning ten shillings for the +orphans, which had been sent from Kensington. In the paper which +contained the money, was written: "_Your Heavenly Father_ knoweth that +ye have need of _these_ things." "Trust in the Lord." This word of our +Lord is to me of more value than many bank notes. About five minutes +later I received from an Irish sister ten pounds, through her banker in +London. I mention here, as a point particularly to be noticed, that +after the season of comparative abundance had come to an end in +September, the Lord did not _at once_ allow us to be so sharply tried as +we were afterwards. He dealt in the same gentle way with us three years +before, when the trials of faith in this part of the work first +commenced. + +Nov. 2. At a time of the greatest poverty one pound was sent by a lady +from Birmingham. About half an hour afterwards I received ten pounds +from a brother who had saved up one hundred and fifty pounds, and put it +into a savings bank, but who now sees that to devote this money to the +promotion of the work of God tends more to the glory of the name of +Jesus than to retain it in the savings bank upon interest for a time of +sickness or old age; for he is assured that should such times come, the +same Lord, who has hitherto cared for him whilst in health and strength +and able to work, will also care for him then. The same brother gave me +three pounds a fortnight since. This ten pounds came in very seasonably; +for, though we had been able to provide for the absolute necessities of +to-day, yet there was want in many respects, especially as a boy is just +going out as an apprentice, who needs tools and an outfit. + +Nov. 13. Saturday. This morning I took one shilling out of the box in my +house. This shilling was all there was towards the need of to-day. +Pause, dear reader, for a few moments! Consider that there are more than +a hundred persons to be provided with everything they require; consider +that there is no money in hand; and consider also that this is the case +not once nor twice in the course of the year, but very frequently. Is it +not precious, under such circumstances, to have the living God as a +father to go to, who is ever able and ever willing to help, as it may be +really needed? And to this privilege every one has a title who believes +in the Lord Jesus, being as such a child of God. Galatians iii. 26. For +though all believers in the Lord Jesus are not called upon to establish +orphan houses, schools for poor children, etc., and trust in God for +means; yet all believers, according to the will of God concerning them +in Christ Jesus, may cast, and ought to cast, all their care upon him +who careth for them, and need not be anxiously concerned about anything, +as is plainly to be seen from 1 Peter v. 7, Philippians iv. 6, Matthew +vi. 25-34. Under these circumstances of need, a silver watch, which +_only yesterday afternoon_ had become the property of the orphan fund, +was disposed of, whereby we were helped through the expenses of to-day. +The coals are almost gone in each of the houses. Every article of +provision, etc., is likewise much reduced. Truly, we are exceedingly +poor; nevertheless there are the necessary provisions till Monday +morning, and thus we are brought to the close of another week. This +afternoon all the laborers met for prayer. + +Nov. 14. When we met again this afternoon for prayer, we had reason to +praise, for the Lord had sent in means. This morning was given to me +five pounds, and six shillings had come in by sale of articles. + +Nov. 15. Last Friday brother Craik and I had a meeting for inquirers and +candidates for fellowship. We saw eight, and had to send away ten whom +we could not see, our strength being quite gone after we had seen the +eight, one after another. This evening we saw seven, and had to send +away three. + +Nov. 16. The last four days we have daily met for prayer, there being no +means to pay the teachers in the day schools. Besides this, we need a +stove in one of the school-rooms; also some Bibles and tracts. To-day I +received two pounds from a brother at Exmouth. + +Dec. 9. We are now brought to the close of the sixth year of this part +of the work, _having only in hand the money which has been put by for +the rent_; but during the whole of this year we have been supplied with +all that was needed. + +During the last three years we had closed the accounts on this day, and +had, a few days after, some public meetings, at which, for the benefit +of the hearers, we stated how the Lord had dealt with us during the +year, and the substance of what had been stated at those meetings was +afterwards printed for the benefit of the church at large. This time, +however, it appeared to us better to delay for a while both the public +meetings and the publishing of the Report. Through grace we had learned +to lean upon the Lord only, being assured that if we never were to speak +or write one single word more about this work, yet should we be supplied +with means, as long as he should enable us to depend on himself alone. +But whilst we neither had had those public meetings for the purpose of +exposing our necessity, nor had had the account of the Lord's dealings +with us published for the sake of working thereby upon the feelings of +the readers, and thus inducing them to give money, but only that we +might by our experience benefit other saints; yet it might have appeared +to some that in making known our circumstances we were actuated by some +such motives. What better proof, therefore, could we give of our +depending upon the living God alone, and not upon public meetings or +printed reports, than that, _in the midst of our deep poverty_, instead +of being glad for the time to have come when we could make known our +circumstances, we still went on quietly for some time longer, without +saying anything. We therefore determined, as we sought and still seek in +this work to act for the profit of the saints generally, to delay both +the public meetings and the Reports for a few months. _Naturally_ we +should have been, of course, as glad as any one to have exposed our +poverty at that time; but _spiritually_ we were enabled to delight even +then in the prospect of the increased benefit that might be derived by +the church at large from our acting as we did. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +WALKING IN DARKNESS. + +1841-1842. + + "GOD'S WAY LEADS INTO TRIAL"--GROUNDS OF + THANKFULNESS--PROTRACTED DARKNESS--CAST DOWN, BUT NOT + DESTROYED--TRUST IN GOD COMMENDED--THE MEANS OF ITS + ATTAINMENT--REVIEW OF THE WORK. + + +December 15, 1841. From Nov. 12 to this day my fellow-laborers in the +church and I have seen thirty inquirers and candidates for fellowship, +and some of them we have seen repeatedly. How can we sufficiently praise +the Lord for still continuing to use us in his service? + +Dec. 18. Saturday morning. There is now the greatest need, and only +fourpence in hand, which I found in the box at my house; yet I fully +believe the Lord will supply us this day also with all that is +required.--Pause a few moments, dear reader. Observe two things. We +acted _for God_ in delaying the public meetings and the publishing of +the Report; but _God's way leads always into trial, so far as sight and +sense are concerned_. _Nature_ always will be tried _in God's ways_. The +Lord was saying by this poverty, "I will now see whether you truly lean +upon me, and whether you truly look to me." Of all the seasons that I +had ever passed through since I had been living in this way, _up to that +time_, I never knew any period in which my faith was tried so sharply +as during the four months from December 12, 1841, to April 12, 1842. But +observe further: We might even now have altered our minds with respect +to the public meetings and publishing the Report; for _no one knew our +determination, at this time_, concerning this point. Nay, on the +contrary, we knew with what delight very many children of God were +looking forward to receive further accounts. But the Lord kept us +steadfast to the conclusion at which we arrived under his guidance.--Now +to return to Saturday, Dec. 18. _Evening._ The Lord has been very kind +to us this day. In the course of the morning six shillings came in. We +had thus, with what provisions there were in hand, all that was needed +for the dinner, but no means to provide for the next meal in the +afternoon. A few minutes after the laborers had met together for prayer +this morning, there was given to one of them a sovereign for himself. By +means of this all that was needed for tea could be procured. When we +again met in the evening for prayer, we found that the supplies amounted +to two pounds eight shillings twopence, enough for all that was required +to-day. But one thing more is to be noticed respecting this day. I was +informed that three more of the orphans have been recently brought to +the knowledge of the truth. We have now been meeting daily for prayer +during the last five weeks, and thus the Lord has not merely heard our +prayers respecting the funds, but has also blessed these children. + +Dec. 23. This is now the sixth week that the laborers in the day schools +and Orphan Houses have daily met for prayer. Several precious answers we +have already received since we began to meet, as it regards pecuniary +supplies, fresh instances of conversion among the children, etc. One of +our petitions has been that the Lord would be pleased to furnish us with +means for a stove at Callowhill Street schoolroom. But, though we had +often mentioned this matter before the Lord, he seemed not to regard our +request. Yesterday afternoon, while walking in my little garden, and +meditating and praying, I had an unusual assurance that the time was now +come when the Lord would answer our request, which arose partly from my +being able _to believe_ that _he would_ send the means, and partly from +the fact that the answer could no longer be delayed without prayer +having failed in this matter, as we could not assemble the children +again, after the Christmas vacation, without there being a stove put up. +And now, dear reader, observe: This morning I received from A. B. twenty +pounds, and we have thus much more than is required for a stove. + + +REVIEW OF THE YEAR 1841. + +1. In reading over my journal, I find that the Lord has given me, during +this year, many precious answers to prayer, in addition to those which +have been recorded in the previous part of the Narrative. I mention the +following for the encouragement of the reader: 1. One of the orphan boys +needed to be apprenticed. I knew of no suitable believing master who +would take an in-door apprentice. I gave myself to prayer, and brought +the matter daily before the Lord. I marked it down among the subjects +for which I would daily ask the Lord; and at last, though from May 21 to +September I had to pray about the matter, the Lord granted my request; +for in September I found a suitable place for him. 2. On May 23 I began +to ask the Lord that he would be pleased to deliver a certain sister in +the Lord from the great spiritual depression under which she was +suffering, and after three days the Lord granted me my request. 3. On +June 15 I began to ask the Lord to deliver a brother at a distance from +the great spiritual nervousness in which he found himself shut up, +which not only distressed him exceedingly, and in a great measure +hindered him in his service towards the world and the church, but which +in consequence was also a trial to the saints who knew and valued this +dear brother. This petition I brought many times before the Lord. The +year passed away, and it was not granted. But yet at last this request +also has been granted to me and to the many dear saints who I know +prayed for this dear brother; for though he was for some years in this +state, it is now [in 1845] two years and more since he has been quite +restored. 4. On June 15 I also began to ask the Lord daily in his mercy +to keep a sister in the Lord from insanity, who was then apparently on +the very border of it; and I have now [in 1845] to record to his praise, +after nearly four years have passed away, that the Lord has kept her +from it. 5. During this year I was informed about the conversion of one +of the very greatest sinners that I had ever heard of in all my service +for the Lord. Repeatedly I fell on my knees with his wife, and asked the +Lord for his conversion, when she came to me in the deepest distress of +soul, on account of her most barbarous and cruel treatment that she +received from him in his bitter enmity against her for the Lord's sake, +and because he could not provoke her to be in a passion, and _she would +not_ strike him again, and the like. At the time when it was at its +worst I pleaded especially on his behalf the promise in Matthew xviii. +19: "Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as +touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my +Father which is in heaven." And now this awful persecutor is converted. +6. On May 25 I began to ask the Lord for greater real spiritual +prosperity among the saints among whom I labor in Bristol than there +ever yet had been among them; and now I have to record to the praise of +the Lord that truly he has answered this request; for, considering all +things, at no period has there been more manifestation of grace, and +truth, and spiritual power among us, than there is now while I am +writing this for the press [1845]. + +2. The state of the church with reference to numbers. There are 572 at +present in communion, 88 having been added during the past year, of whom +30 have been brought to the knowledge of the Lord among us. + +3. The Lord's goodness as to my temporal supplies during this year. He +has been pleased to give me by freewill offerings of the saints, L238, +11s. 13/4d. + +January 3, 1842. This evening we had a precious public prayer meeting. +When the usual time for closing the meeting came, it appeared to me that +there was a desire to continue to wait upon the Lord. I therefore +proposed to the brethren that those who had bodily strength, time, and a +desire for waiting still longer upon the Lord, would do so. At least +thirty remained, and we continued till after ten in prayer, whilst +several brethren prayed. I never knew prayer more really in the Spirit. +I experienced for myself unusual nearness to the Lord, and was enabled +to ask in faith, nothing doubting. + +Jan. 4. As we have often found it to be the case, so it is now. After a +season of more than usual poverty, comes a time of more than usual +abundance. To-day the same brother who has been spoken of under November +2, and who has drawn his money out of the savings bank to spend it for +the Lord, sent twenty pounds more of it. There came in also from +Guernsey one pound, and one pound seven shillings besides. I am now able +to order oatmeal from Scotland, buy materials for the boys' clothes, +order shoes, etc. Thus the Lord has been pleased to answer _all_ our +requests with respect to the pecuniary necessities of the orphans, which +we have brought before him in our prayer meetings during the last seven +weeks. We have thus had of late an abundance, but the expenses have +been great also; for within the last twenty-five days I have paid out +above one hundred pounds. + +Feb. 5. Saturday. As only ten pounds ten shillings sixpence had been +received since January 29, _i. e._ only so much as day by day was needed +to provide necessaries for the orphans, there is again the greatest +need. It is now twelve o'clock, and there are no means as yet to meet +the expenses of to-day. The words in the prayer of Jehoshaphat, "Neither +know we what to do, but our eyes are upon thee," are at this moment the +language of my heart. _I_ likewise know not what to do, but my eyes are +upon the Lord, and _I am sure that he will help this day +also_.--_Evening._ In the course of the morning came in, by sale of +articles, twelve shillings. We were able likewise to dispose of one of +the articles which were sent last evening for five shillings. This +afternoon one of the laborers gave me ten shillings, and three shillings +came in for needlework. By means of this one pound ten shillings we were +able to supply all that was needed. + +Feb. 8. By what came in yesterday and the day before, the need of +yesterday was supplied, and there is enough in all the houses for the +meals of to-day; but in none of the houses have we been able to take in +any bread; and as yesterday also but little could be taken in, there +will not remain any for to-morrow; nor is there money enough to take in +milk to-morrow morning. There are likewise coals needed in two houses. +Indeed, so far as I know, these three years and seven months, since +first the funds were exhausted, we were never in greater poverty; and if +the Lord were not to send means before nine o'clock to-morrow morning, +his name would be dishonored. But I am fully assured that he will not +leave us.--_Evening._ The Lord has not yet been pleased to send us what +is needed for to-morrow, but he has given us a fresh proof that he is +mindful of us. Between four and five o'clock this afternoon were sent +nine plum cakes, which a sister had ordered to be baked as a treat for +the orphans. These cakes were an encouragement to me to continue to look +out for further supplies. There was also found in the boxes at the +Orphan Houses two shillings and a penny halfpenny, and one shilling +fourpence came in for stockings. These little donations are most +precious, but they are not enough to meet the need of to-morrow; yea, +before nine o'clock to-morrow morning we need more money to be able to +take in the milk. Truly, we are poorer than ever; but through grace my +eyes look not at the empty stores and the empty purse, but to the riches +of the Lord only. + +Feb. 9. This morning I went between seven and eight o'clock to the +Orphan Houses, to see whether the Lord had sent in anything. When I +arrived there, he had just two or three minutes before sent help. A +brother, in going to his house of business this morning, had gone +already about half a mile, when the Lord was pleased to lay the orphans +upon his heart. He said, however, to himself, I cannot well return now, +but will take something this evening; and thus he walked on. +Nevertheless, he could not go on any further, but felt himself +constrained to go back, and to take to brother R. B., at the Boys' +Orphan House, three sovereigns. [The donor himself stated this to me +afterwards.] Thus the Lord in his faithfulness helped us. Help was never +more truly needed, for our poverty was never greater; nor did the help +of the Lord ever come more manifestly from himself; for _the brother was +gone on a good distance_, it was _between seven and eight o'clock in the +morning_, and it was _so short a time before money would have been +needed_. Consider this, beloved reader, and with us praise the Lord for +his goodness. Praise him particularly that he enabled us to trust in +him in this trying hour. There came in besides, to-day, seven shillings +sixpence. + +Feb. 12. Saturday. Never since the funds were for the first time +exhausted had there come in less during any week than during this. We +were only able to supply the absolute necessities; but this we were +enabled to do. When the meal-times came, the Lord always provided what +was needful, and, considering the great distress there is now almost +everywhere, our dear orphans are very well provided for. Now this day +began not only without there being anything in hand, but our stores were +greatly reduced, and we had to procure provisions for two days. One of +the laborers gave five shillings in the morning, to provide the means to +take in the milk. I collected together some pamphlets, which had been +given for sale, to dispose of them, and they were sold about eleven +o'clock for four shillings. There came in also by sale of stockings +three shillings, and twelve shillings was paid on behalf of one of the +orphans. Thus we were provided with means to procure a dinner, and had a +_little_ towards purchasing bread, but by no means enough. All the +laborers were together in prayer from half-past eleven till one, and we +separated comfortably, with the purpose of meeting again in the evening. +When I came home there was given to me an old broken silver pencil-case, +which, though worth very little, I took as a fresh proof that our Father +was mindful of our need. When we met again this evening, we found that +three shillings sixpence had come in by sale of stockings, and sixpence +for two Reports. As all this was not enough, a few old and needless +articles were disposed of for four shillings, also the broken +pencil-case for sixpence. I say _needless_ articles, for other articles +it did not seem right to us to dispose of, in order that the Lord's own +deliverance might be manifest. A laborer was also still further able to +give seven shillings of his own. To one of the laborers two shillings +had been owed by a certain individual for more than a twelvemonth, which +being paid just now, and given by him for the orphans, came in most +seasonably. Thus we had one pound eighteen shillings sixpence, as much +as was needful to procure provisions till after breakfast on Monday +morning. However, the Lord helped still further. Between eight and nine +this evening, after we had been together for prayer, and had now +separated, some money was given to one of the laborers for himself, by +which means he was able to give nine shillings, so that altogether two +pounds seven shillings sixpence had come in this day. This has been, of +all the weeks, during the last three years and seven months, one of the +most trying, so far as it regards the trial of faith. Thanks to the Lord +who has helped us this day also! Thanks to him for enabling us already +this morning, when we met for prayer, to praise him for the deliverance +which we were sure he would work. + +Feb. 16. This morning there was now again only sufficient money in hand +to take in milk at two of the houses; but as a laborer was able to give +six shillings sixpence, we had sufficient for the milk, and had also +enough, with the provisions that were in the houses, to provide for the +dinner. Nothing more came in in the course of the morning, nor was I +able to make inquiries how matters stood. In the afternoon, between +three and four o'clock, having once more besought the Lord to send us +help, I sat peacefully down to give myself to meditation over the word, +considering that that was now my service, though I knew not whether +there was a morsel of bread for tea in any one of the houses, _but being +assured that the Lord would provide_. For, through grace, my mind is so +fully assured of the faithfulness of the Lord, that, in the midst of the +greatest need, I am enabled in peace to go about my other work. Indeed, +did not the Lord give me this, which is the result of trusting in him, +I should scarcely be able to work at all; for it is now comparatively a +rare thing that a day comes when I am not in need for one or the other +part of the work. Scarcely had I sat down to meditate, when a note was +sent to me from the Orphan Houses, in which brother R. B., master of the +orphan boys, had written thus: "On visiting the sisters in the Infant +and Girls' Orphan Houses, I found them in the greatest need. There was +not bread in one of the houses for tea this evening, and the six +shillings sixpence was scarcely enough to supply what was needed for the +dinner. I therefore opened the box in the Boys' Orphan House, and most +unexpectedly found one pound it. Thus, through the kindness of the Lord, +we were again abundantly supplied as it regards present necessities." In +the evening the Lord, in his love and faithfulness, stretched out his +hand still further. I had expounded at the meeting a part of John xi. +The last words on which I spoke were, "Said I not unto thee that if thou +wouldest believe thou shouldest see the glory of God?" When the meeting +was over, as a fresh proof of the truth of this word, a note was given +to me in which a sick sister sent me five pounds for the orphans. + +Feb. 19. Saturday. Our means were now again completely spent. Our +provision stores were, perhaps, even more exhausted than on any previous +Saturday. There was not the least human likelihood of obtaining means +for sufficient provisions for this _one_ day, and much less for _two_ +days. When I went before breakfast to the Orphan Houses, I found a +letter from Nottingham, containing one shilling, which had arrived last +evening. This was not only a sweet proof that our Father remembered our +need, but it was also like an earnest that he would supply us this day +also with all we required. In the course of the morning came in by sale +of stockings four shillings elevenpence. In the box at my house I found +one shilling. One of the laborers gave four shillings tenpence. Thus we +were provided with those things which were absolutely needed for this +day. We met between eleven and twelve o'clock for prayer. When we met +again in the evening, a second letter had arrived from Nottingham, with +another shilling. This was a further sweet proof of our Father's loving +remembrance of our need; but with all this we were still without any +means to provide bread for to-morrow, the Lord's day. At eight o'clock I +separated from my fellow-laborers, as I expected brother R. C. to arrive +a little after eight at my house. I therefore requested one of the +brethren to go with me, in order to take back to the Orphan Houses what +the Lord might send in by post or in any other way. It was now half past +eight in the evening, and there was no bread yet in any one of the three +houses for to-morrow. A few moments after, brother C. arrived, and he +had not been more than about five minutes in my house when he gave me +half a sovereign which he brought for the orphans. I soon found an +opportunity to leave the room for a little, gave the ten shillings to +the brother whom I had brought with me from the Orphan Houses, and who +was waiting in another room; and thus between nine and ten o'clock +sufficient bread could be bought. Observe! For the trial of our faith +the Lord had allowed us to be kept waiting so long. When, however, +brother C. had arrived, having money for the orphans, he _could not +delay giving it at once_, a matter most worthy of notice. This has been +a week full of trials of faith, but also full of deliverances. + +Feb. 21. Since Saturday evening came in one pound eight shillings +elevenpence. There was also sent from Plymouth a piece of blond, a piece +of quilling net, and eleven pairs of children's stockings, for sale. +Thus we were supplied with means for that which was requisite for the +beginning of this day; but, as our stores had been so reduced at the +end of last week, there was not enough for tea this afternoon. Four +o'clock had now come, one hour before the usual tea-time, when a brother +from Somersetshire came to see the Orphan Houses, and put a sovereign +into each of the boxes. Our great need soon brought out the money, and +thus we were supplied. [Observe! The brother, as he himself told me a +few days after in the course of conversation, had but little time, and +therefore rather hastily went over the houses. Had he stayed long and +conversed much, as might have been the case, his donations would not +have been in time for the tea.] There came in one shilling besides, by +needlework done by the children. + +Feb. 25. Greater than now our need had never been. Our trials of faith +have never been so sharp as during this week. Indeed, so much so, that +most of the laborers felt to-day considerably tried. Yet neither this +day has the Lord suffered us to be confounded. Through a remarkable +circumstance one of the laborers obtained some money this morning, so +that all the need of to-day could be amply met. + +Feb. 26. My prayer this morning was in particular that the Lord would be +pleased now to look in pity upon us, and take off his hand. Indeed, for +several days my prayer has been that he would enable us to continue to +trust in him, and not lay more upon us than he would enable us to bear. +This is now again Saturday. There having been given yesterday a rich +supply to the matrons, I knew that not so much as usual would be +required _this_ Saturday; still, I thought that one pound ten shillings +would be needed. Between ten and eleven o'clock this morning a parcel +came from Clapham, containing two pounds two shillings, with two frocks, +two petticoats, two chemises, two pinafores, and six handkerchiefs, all +new. Thus we were richly supplied for to-day, for only one pound ten +shillings was needed. + +March 2. This evening were sent, by order of an Irish sister, +thirty-three and a half pounds of woollen yarn. Respecting this donation +it is to be remarked that last Saturday we had asked the Lord, in our +prayer meeting, that he would be pleased to send us means to purchase +worsted, in order that the boys might go on with their knitting. + +March 9. At a time of the greatest need, both with regard to the day +schools and the orphans, so much so that we could not have gone on any +longer without help, I received this day ten pounds from a brother who +lives near Dublin. The money was divided between the day schools and the +Orphan Houses. The following little circumstance is to be noticed +respecting this donation. As our need was so great, and my soul was, +through grace, truly waiting upon the Lord, I looked out for supplies in +the course of this morning. The post, however, was out, and no supplies +had come. This did not in the least discourage me. I said to myself, the +Lord can send means without the post, or even now, though the post is +out, by this very delivery of letters he may have sent means, though the +money is not yet in my hands. It was not long after I had thus spoken to +myself when, according to my hope in God, we were helped; for the +brother who sent us the ten pounds, had this time directed his letter to +the Boys' Orphan House, whence it was sent to me. + +March 17. From the 12th to the 16th had come in four pounds five +shillings elevenpence halfpenny for the orphans. This morning our +poverty, which now has lasted more or less for several months, had +become exceedingly great. I left my house a few minutes after seven to +go to the Orphan Houses to see whether there was money enough to take in +the milk, which is brought about eight o'clock. On my way it was +especially my request that the Lord would be pleased to pity us, even +as a father pitieth his children, and that he would not lay more upon us +than he would enable us to bear. I especially entreated him that he +would now be pleased to refresh our hearts by sending us help. I +likewise reminded him of the consequences that would result, both in +reference to believers and unbelievers, if we should have to give up the +work because of want of means, and that he therefore would not permit +its coming to nought. I moreover again confessed before the Lord that I +deserved not that he should continue to use me in this work any longer. +While I was thus in prayer, about two minutes' walk from the Orphan +Houses, I met a brother who was going at this early hour to his +business. After having exchanged a few words with him, I went on; but he +presently ran after me, and gave me one pound for the orphans. Thus the +Lord speedily answered my prayer. Truly, it is worth being poor and +greatly tried in faith for the sake of having day by day such precious +proofs of the loving interest which our kind Father takes in everything +that concerns us. And how should our Father do otherwise? He that has +given us the greatest possible proof of his love which he could have +done, in giving us his own Son, surely he will with him also freely give +us all things. It is worth also being poor and greatly tried in faith, +if but thereby the hearts of the children of God may be comforted and +their faith strengthened, and if but those who do not know God, and who +may read or hear of his dealings with us, should be led thereby to see +that faith in God is more than a mere notion, and that there is indeed +reality in Christianity. In the course of this day there came in still +further thirteen shillings. + +March 19. Saturday. As it has often been the case on Saturdays, so it +was this day in particular. We began the day in very great poverty, as +only seven shillings had come in since the day before yesterday. There +was not one ray of light as to natural prospects. The heart would be +overwhelmed at such seasons, were there not an abundance of repose to be +found by trusting in God. The trial having continued so long, and our +poverty having now come to such a degree that it was necessary we should +have help in order that the name of the Lord might not be dishonored, I +had proposed to my fellow-laborers that we should set apart this day +especially for prayer. We met accordingly at half past ten in the +morning. By that time had come in four shillings sixpence, seven +shillings sixpence, and ten shillings. In the afternoon we met again at +three, when ten shillings came in. In the evening, at seven, we met once +more, there being yet about three shillings needed to provide all that +was required. This also we received, and even three shillings more than +was actually needed came in, just when we were about to separate. + +April 9. Saturday. Only one shilling sixpence had come in since +yesterday afternoon. We needed more money than there was in hand, +especially as it was Saturday, but the Lord was pleased particularly to +try our faith. In the course of the morning came from some sisters in +Dublin, eighteen yards of calico, thirty-four yards of print, +forty-three balls of cotton, and a pair of worn lady's boots. This +donation came most seasonably, as we had been mentioning repeatedly the +need of calico and print in our prayers, and the sewing-cotton and the +pair of boots came at once into use. Moreover, this donation was a sweet +encouragement to me to continue waiting upon the Lord. Evening was now +approaching, and no money had yet come in for provisions, etc., which +would be needed on the Lord's day. About six o'clock, I gave myself once +more to prayer with my wife, and requested the Lord in my prayer that if +the sister who in love to him has taken upon her the service of +disposing of the articles which are given for sale had any money in +hand, he would be pleased to incline her heart to bring or send the +money this evening. After this I sat down peacefully to read the +Scriptures, being assured that this time also the Lord would stretch out +his hand on our behalf. _About half past seven o'clock_, the sister, to +whom reference has just now been made, came and brought one pound ten +shillings fourpence for articles which she had sold, stating that, +though she was unwell, _yet she felt herself constrained not to delay +bringing this money_. Thus we had all that was needed, and six shillings +more. When I arrived with the money at the Infant Orphan House, about +eight o'clock, I found my fellow-laborers in prayer, and while we still +continued in prayer a sister sent a large basket of stale bread, being +five brown loaves, seven bread cakes, and five French loaves. + +April 12. We were never in greater need than to-day, perhaps never in so +much, when I received this morning one hundred pounds from the East +Indies. It is impossible to describe the real joy in God it gave me. My +prayer had been again this morning particularly that our Father would +pity us, and now at last send larger sums. I was not in the least +surprised or excited when this donation came, for I took it as that +_which came in answer to prayer, and had been long looked for_. + +May 6. Only three pounds ten shillings twopence halfpenny had been +received since the 2d, on which account there would have been only +enough means in hand to provide for the breakfast to-morrow morning, +when in this our fresh need we received eighty-six pounds, two pair of +gold earrings, a brooch, and two rupees. + +May 10. To-day, in closing the accounts, we have left, at the end of +this period of seventeen months, in which we have been so often +penniless, the sum of sixteen pounds eighteen shillings tenpence +halfpenny for the orphans, and forty-eight pounds twelve shillings five +and one fourth pence for the other objects of the Scriptural Knowledge +Institution. + +The time now seemed to us to have come, when, for the profit of the +church at large, the Lord's dealings with us, with reference to the +various objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, should be made +known by publishing another Report. For, whilst we, on purpose, had +delayed it at this time five months longer than during the previous +years, and that during a period when we were in deeper poverty than +during any previous time; yet, as from the commencement it had appeared +to me important from time to time to make known the Lord's dealings with +us, so I judged it profitable still to seek to comfort, to encourage, to +exhort, to instruct, and to warn the dear children of God by the printed +accounts of the Lord's goodness to us. + +Though our trials of faith during these seventeen months lasted longer +and were sharper than during any previous period, yet during all this +time the orphans had everything that was needful in the way of +nourishing food, the necessary articles of clothing, etc. Indeed, I +should rather at once send the children back to their relations than +keep them without sufficient maintenance. + +I desire that all the children of God who may read these details may +thereby be led to increased and more simple confidence in God for +everything which they may need under any circumstances, and that these +many answers to prayer may encourage them to pray, particularly as it +regards the conversion of their friends and relations, their own +progress in grace and knowledge, the state of the saints whom they may +know personally, the state of the church of Christ at large, and the +success of the preaching of the gospel. Especially, I affectionately +warn them against being led away by the device of Satan, to think that +these things are peculiar to me, and cannot be enjoyed by all the +children of God; for though, as has been stated before, every believer +is not called upon to establish orphan houses, charity schools, etc., +and trust in the Lord for means, yet all believers are called upon, in +the simple confidence of faith, to cast all their burdens upon him, to +trust in him for everything, and not only to make everything a subject +of prayer, but to expect answers to their petitions which they have +asked according to his will and in the name of the Lord Jesus. Think +not, dear reader, that I have _the gift of faith_, that is, that gift of +which we read in 1 Cor. xii. 9, and which is mentioned along with "the +gifts of healing," "the working of miracles," "prophecy," and that on +that account I am able to trust in the Lord. _It is true_ that the faith +which I am enabled to exercise is altogether God's own gift; it is true +that he alone supports it, and that he alone can increase it; it is true +that moment by moment, I depend on him for it, and that if I were only +one moment left to myself my faith would utterly fail; but _it is not +true_ that my faith is that gift of faith which is spoken of in 1 Cor. +xii. 9. It is the self-same faith which is found in _every believer_, +and the growth of which I am most sensible of to myself; for by little +and little it has been increasing for the last six and twenty years. + +This faith which is exercised respecting the Orphan Houses, and my own +temporal necessities shows itself in the same measure, for instance, +concerning the following points: I have never been permitted to doubt +during the last twenty-seven years that my sins are forgiven, that I am +a child of God, that I am beloved of God, and that I shall be finally +saved; because I am enabled by the grace of God to exercise faith upon +the word of God, and believe what God says in those passages which +settle these matters (1 John v. 1; Gal. iii. 26; Acts x. 43; Romans x. +9, 10; John iii. 16, etc.). Further, at the time when I thought I +should be insane, though there was not the least ground for thinking so, +I was in peace; because my soul believed the truth of that word, "We +know that all things work together for good to them that love God." Rom. +viii. 28. Further: When my brother in the flesh and my dear aged father +died, and when concerning both of them I had no _evidence_ whatever that +they were saved (though I dare not say that they are lost, for I know it +not), yet my soul was at peace, perfectly at peace, under this great +trial, this exceedingly great trial, this trial which is one of the +greatest perhaps which can befall a believer. And what was it that gave +me peace? My soul laid hold on that word, "Shall not the Judge of all +the earth do right?" This word, together with the whole character of +God, as he has revealed himself in his holy word, settled all +questionings. I believed what he has said concerning himself, and I was +at peace, and have been at peace ever since, concerning this matter. +Further: When the Lord took from me a beloved infant, my soul was at +peace, perfectly at peace; I could only weep tears of joy when I did +weep. And why? Because my soul laid hold in faith on that word, "Of such +is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew xix. 14. Further: When sometimes all +has been dark, exceedingly dark, with reference to my service among the +saints, judging from natural appearances; yea, when I should have been +overwhelmed indeed in grief and despair had I looked at things after the +outward appearance: at such times I have sought to encourage myself in +God, by laying hold in faith on his almighty power, his unchangeable +love, and his infinite wisdom, and I have said to myself, God is able +and willing to deliver me, if it be good for me; for it is written, "He +that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall +he not with him also freely give us all things?" Rom. viii. 32. This it +was which, being believed by me through grace, kept my soul in peace. +Further: When in connection with the Orphan Houses, day schools, etc., +trials have come upon me which were far heavier than the want of means, +when lying reports were spread that the orphans had not enough to eat, +or that they were cruelly treated in other respects, and the like; or +when other trials, still greater, but which I cannot mention, have +befallen me in connection with this work, and that at a time when I was +nearly a thousand miles absent from Bristol, and had to remain absent +week after week; at such times my soul was stayed upon God; I believed +his word of promise which was applicable to such cases; I poured out my +soul before God, and arose from my knees in peace, because the trouble +that was in the soul was in believing prayer cast upon God, and thus I +was kept in peace, though I saw it to be the will of God to remain far +away from the work. Further: When I needed houses, fellow-laborers, +masters and mistresses for the orphans or for the day schools, I have +been enabled to look for all to the Lord, and trust in him for help. + +Dear reader, I may seem to boast; but, by the grace of God, I do not +boast in thus speaking. From my inmost soul I do ascribe it to God alone +that he has enabled me to trust in him, and that hitherto he has not +suffered my confidence in him to fail. But I thought it needful to make +these remarks, lest any one should think that my depending upon God was +a particular gift given to me which other saints have no right to look +for; or lest it should be thought that this my depending upon him had +_only to do with the obtaining of_ MONEY _by prayer and faith_. By the +grace of God I desire that my faith in God should extend towards +EVERYTHING, the smallest of my own temporal and spiritual concerns, and +the smallest of the temporal and spiritual concerns of my family, +towards the saints among whom I labor, the church at large, everything +that has to do with the temporal and spiritual prosperity of the +Scriptural Knowledge Institution, etc. Dear reader, do not think that I +have attained in faith (and how much less in other respects!) to that +degree to which I might and ought to attain; but thank God for the faith +which he has given me, and ask him to uphold and increase it. And +lastly, once more, let not Satan deceive you in making you think that +_you_ could not have the same faith, but that it is only for persons who +are situated as I am. When I lose such a thing as a key, I ask the Lord +to direct me to it, and I look for an answer to my prayer; when a person +with whom I have made an appointment does not come, according to the +fixed time, and I begin to be inconvenienced by it, I ask the Lord to be +pleased to hasten him to me, and I look for an answer; when I do not +understand a passage of the word of God, I lift up my heart to the Lord, +that he would be pleased, by his Holy Spirit, to instruct me, and I +expect to be taught, though I do not fix the time when, and the manner +how it should be; when I am going to minister in the word, I seek help +from the Lord, and while I, in the consciousness of natural inability as +well as utter unworthiness, begin this his service, I am not cast down, +but of good cheer, because I look for his assistance, and believe that +he, for his dear Son's sake, will help me. And thus in other of my +temporal and spiritual concerns I pray to the Lord, and expect an answer +to my requests; and may not _you_ do the same, dear believing reader? +Oh! I beseech you, do not think me an extraordinary believer, having +privileges above other of God's dear children, which they cannot have; +nor look on my way of acting as something that would not do for other +believers. Make but trial! Do but stand still in the hour of trial, and +you will see the help of God, if you trust in him. But there is so often +a forsaking the ways of the Lord in the hour of trial, and thus the +_food for faith_, the means whereby our faith may be increased, is lost. +This leads me to the following important point. You ask, How may I, a +true believer, have my faith strengthened? The answer is this:-- + +I. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh +down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither +shadow of turning." James i. 17. As the increase of faith is a good +gift, it must come from God, and therefore he ought to be asked for this +blessing. + +II. The following means, however, ought to be used: 1. _The careful +reading of the word of God, combined with meditation on it._ Through +reading of the word of God, and especially through meditation on the +word of God, the believer becomes more and more acquainted with the +nature and character of God, and thus sees more and more, besides his +holiness and justice, what a kind, loving, gracious, merciful, mighty, +wise, and faithful being he is, and, therefore, in poverty, affliction +of body, bereavement in his family, difficulty in his service, want of a +situation or employment, he will repose upon the _ability_ of God to +help him, because he has not only learned from his word that he is of +almighty power and infinite wisdom, but he has also seen instance upon +instance in the Holy Scriptures in which his almighty power and infinite +wisdom have been actually exercised in helping and delivering his +people; and he will repose upon the _willingness_ of God to help him, +because he has not only learned from the Scriptures what a kind, good, +merciful, gracious, and faithful being God is, but because he has also +seen in the word of God, how in a great variety of instances he has +proved himself to be so. And the consideration of this, if _God has +become known to us through prayer and meditation on his own word_, will +lead us, in general at least, with a measure of confidence to rely upon +him: and thus the reading of the word of God, together with meditation +on it, will be one especial means to strengthen our faith. + +2. As, with reference to the growth of every grace of the Spirit, it is +of the utmost importance that we seek to maintain an upright heart and a +good conscience, and, therefore, do not knowingly and habitually indulge +in those things which are contrary to the mind of God, so it is also +particularly the case with reference to the _growth in faith_. How can I +possibly continue to act faith upon God, concerning anything, if I am +habitually grieving him, and seek to detract from the glory and honor of +him in whom I profess to trust, upon whom I profess to depend? All my +confidence towards God, all my leaning upon him in the hour of trial, +will be gone, if I have a guilty conscience, and do not seek to put away +this guilty conscience, but still continue to do things which are +contrary to the mind of God. And if, in any particular instance, I +cannot trust in God, because of the guilty conscience, then my faith is +weakened by that instance of distrust; for faith with every fresh trial +of it either increases by trusting God, and thus getting help, or it +decreases by not trusting him; and then there is less and less power of +looking simply and directly to him, and a habit of self-dependence is +begotten or encouraged. One or other of these will always be the case in +each particular instance. Either we trust in God, and in that case we +neither trust in ourselves, nor in our fellow-men, nor in circumstances, +nor in anything besides; or we DO trust in one or more of these, and in +that case do NOT trust in God. + +3. If we, indeed, desire our faith to be strengthened, we should not +shrink from opportunities where our faith may be tried, and, therefore, +through the trial, be strengthened. In our natural state we dislike +dealing with God alone. Through our natural alienation from God we +shrink from him, and from eternal realities. This cleaves to us more or +less, even after our regeneration. Hence it is that, more or less, even +as believers, we have the same shrinking from standing with God alone, +from depending upon him alone, from looking to him alone; and yet this +is the very position in which we ought to be, if we wish our faith to be +strengthened. The more I am in a position to be tried in faith with +reference to my body, my family, my service for the Lord, my business, +etc., the more shall I have opportunity of seeing God's help and +deliverance; and every fresh instance in which he helps and delivers me +will tend towards the increase of my faith. On this account, therefore, +the believer should not shrink from situations, positions, +circumstances, in which his faith may be tried, but should cheerfully +embrace them as opportunities where he may see the hand of God stretched +out on his behalf, to help and deliver him, and whereby he may thus have +his faith strengthened. + +4. The last important point for the strengthening of our faith is, that +we let God work for us, when the hour of the trial of our faith comes, +and do not work a deliverance of our own. Wherever God has given faith, +it is given, among other reasons, for the very purpose of being tried. +Yea, however weak our faith may be, God will try it; only with this +restriction, that as, in every way, he leads us on gently, gradually, +patiently, so also with reference to the trial of our faith. At first, +our faith will be tried very little in comparison with what it may be +afterwards; for God never lays more upon us than he is willing to enable +us to bear. Now, when the trial of faith comes, we are naturally +inclined to distrust God, and to trust rather in ourselves, or in our +friends, or in circumstances. We will rather work a deliverance of our +own, somehow or other, than simply look to God and wait for his help. +But if we do not patiently wait for God's help, if we work a +deliverance of our own, then at the next trial of our faith it will be +thus again, we shall be again inclined to deliver ourselves; and thus, +with every fresh instance of that kind, our faith will decrease; whilst, +on the contrary, were we to stand still in order to see the salvation of +God, to see his hand stretched out on our behalf, trusting in him alone, +then our faith would be increased, and with every fresh case in which +the hand of God is stretched out on our behalf in the hour of the trial +of our faith, our faith would be increased yet more. Would the believer, +therefore, have his faith strengthened, he must, especially, _give time +to God_, who tries his faith in order to prove to his child, in the end, +how willing he is to help and deliver him, the moment it is good for +him. + +I now return, dear reader, to the Narrative, giving you some further +information with reference to the seventeen months from Dec. 10, 1840, +to May 10, 1842, as it respects the Orphan Houses, and other objects of +the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, besides the +facts of which mention has been already made. + +During this period, also, 1. Two Sunday schools were entirely supported +by the funds of the Institution. 2. There were two adult schools, one +for females, and one for males, entirely supported during these +seventeen months, in which on two evenings of the week the males, and on +two evenings the females, were instructed, quite gratuitously, in +reading and writing, and were furnished with books and writing materials +gratuitously. There were, during these seventeen months, 344 adults +taught in these two schools, and on May 10, 1842, the number under +instruction amounted to 110. 3. There were, during these seventeen +months, also six day schools entirely supported by the funds of the +Institution, three for boys and three for girls. On May 10, 1842, the +number of the children who attended these day schools was 363; and the +total number who, from the formation of the Institution, March 5, 1834, +up to May 10, 1842, had been instructed in the day schools, which are +supported by the funds of the Institution, amounts to 2,616. 4. During +these seventeen months, 798 copies of the Holy Scriptures were +circulated, and from the commencement of the Institution, up to May 10, +1842, 6,842 copies. 5. During these seventeen months was spent for +missionary purposes the sum of L126, 15s. 3d. of the funds of the +Institution, whereby assistance was rendered to the work of God in +Jamaica, in Australia, in Canada, and in the East Indies. 6. At the +commencement of these seventeen months, _i. e._ on Dec. 10, 1840, a new +object was begun, the circulation of such publications as may be +beneficial, with the blessing of God, to both unbelievers and believers. +We laid out for this object during these seventeen months the sum of +L62, 17s. 4d., for which 22,190 such little publications were purchased, +and of which number 19,609 were actually given away. 7. There were +received into the three Orphan Houses 15 orphans, who, together with +those who were in the houses on Dec. 10, 1840, make up 106 in all. Of +these, five girls were sent out to service, two boys and one girl were +apprenticed, one girl was removed by a lady who had placed her for a +time under our care, and one was sent back to his relations, as he was +injurious to the other children. + +There were on May 10, 1842, 96 orphans in the three houses, _i. e._ 30 +in the Girls' Orphan House, 37 in the Infant Orphan House, and 29 in the +Boys' Orphan House. Besides this, three apprentices were supported by +the funds of the Institution; so that the total number was 99. The +number of orphans who were under our care from April, 1836, to May 10, +1842, amounts to 144. + +I notice further, in connection with the Orphan Houses, that, _without +any one having been asked for anything by me_, the sum of L5,276, 14s. +8d. was given to me from the beginning of the work up to May 10, 1842, +_as the result of prayer to God_. + +The total of the expenditure for the various objects of the Institution, +exclusive of the Orphan Houses, during these seventeen months, amounted +to L710, 11s. 5d.; the total of the income amounted to L746, 1s. 01/2d. +The total of the expenditure for the three Orphan Houses, from Dec. 10, +1840, to May 10, 1842, amounted to L1,337, 15s. 23/4d.; the total of +the income amounted to L1,339, 13s. 7d. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +PROSPERITY. + +1842-1843. + + ABUNDANT SUPPLIES--RESTING ON THE WRITTEN WORD--"SEEKING AND + FINDING"--ERRONEOUS IMPRESSIONS REMOVED--PERSEVERING AND + PREVAILING PRAYER ANSWERED--"LENGTHENING THE CORDS AND + STRENGTHENING THE STAKES"--A FOURTH ORPHAN HOUSE. + + +June 3, 1842. For several days past I had not been particularly led to +pray for means for the orphans. Last evening, however, I did so, as we +had now again no money in hand, there having come in only ten pounds two +shillings twopence during the last five days; and in answer to my +request two pounds nineteen shillings sixpence came in this morning. + + For several months succeeding the last date, means continued to + flow in, without interruption, as they were needed. There was no + excess of means, nor was there any lack. On Dec. 1, 1842, Mr. + Mueller writes:-- + +Nothing had come in, except five shillings for needlework. The laborers +had nothing to give, except one of them one shilling sixpence; yet this +little supplied the absolute need, which was only milk. We were unable +to take in the usual quantity of bread. Should it be said that the not +taking in the usual quantity of bread would at once prove to the bakers +that we are poor, my reply is, that that does not follow, because bread +has often been sent as a present, as may be seen in the list of +articles, given for the orphans, at the end of the printed Reports. But +perhaps it may be asked, Why do you not take the bread on credit? What +does it matter whether you pay immediately for it, or at the end of the +month, or the quarter, or the half year? Seeing that the Orphan Houses +are the work of the Lord, may you not trust in him that he will supply +you with means to pay the bills which you contract with the butcher, +baker, grocer, etc. as the things which you purchase are needful? My +reply is this: 1. If the work in which we are engaged is indeed the work +of God, then he whose work it is is surely able and willing to provide +the means for it. 2. But not only so, he will also provide the means _at +the time when they are needed_. I do not mean that he will provide them +when _we think_ that they are needed; but yet that when there is real +need, such as the necessaries of life being required, he will give them; +and on the same ground on which we suppose we do trust in God to help us +to pay the debt which we now contract, we may and ought to trust in the +Lord to supply us with what we require at present, so that there may be +no need for going into debt. 3. It is true, I might have goods on +credit, and to a very considerable amount; but, then, the result would +be, that the next time we were again in straits, the mind would +involuntarily be turned to further credit which I might have, instead of +being turned to the Lord, and thus faith, which is kept up and +strengthened only by being EXERCISED, would become weaker and weaker, +till at last, according to all human probability, I should find myself +deeply in debt and have no prospect of getting out of it. 4. Faith has +to do with the word of God,--rests upon the written word of God; but +there is no promise that he will pay our debts. The word says rather, +"Owe no man anything;" whilst there is the promise given to his +children, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee," and, "Whosoever +believeth on him shall not be confounded." On this account we could not +say, _upon the ground of the Holy Scriptures_, Why do you not trust in +God that he will supply you with means to pay your debts which you +contract in his service for the necessities of the orphans? 5. The last +reason why we do not take goods on credit is this: The chief and primary +object of the work was not the temporal welfare of the children, nor +even their spiritual welfare, blessed and glorious as it is, and much +as, through grace, we seek after it and pray for it; but the first and +primary object of the work was, _to show before the whole world and the +whole church of Christ, that even in these last evil days the living God +is ready to prove himself as the living God, by being ever willing to +help, succor, comfort, and answer the prayers of those who trust in +him_: so that we need not go away from him to our fellow-men, or to the +ways of the world, seeing that he is both able and willing to supply us +with all we can need in his service. + +From the beginning, when God put this service into my heart, I had +anticipated trials and straits; but knowing, as I did, the heart of God, +through the experience of several years previously, I also knew that he +would listen to the prayers of his child who trusts in him, and that he +would not leave him in the hour of need, but listen to his prayers, and +deliver him out of the difficulty, and that then, this being made known +in print for the benefit of both believers and unbelievers, others would +be led to trust in the Lord. We discern, therefore, more and more +clearly that it is for the church's benefit that we are put into these +straits, and if therefore in the hour of need we were to take goods on +credit, the first and primary object of the work would be completely +frustrated, and no heart would be further strengthened to trust in God; +nor would there be any longer that manifestation of the special and +particular providence of God which has hitherto been so abundantly shown +through this work, even in the eyes of unbelievers, whereby they have +been led to see _that there is after all reality in the things of God_, +and many, through these printed accounts, have been truly converted. For +these reasons, then, we consider it our precious privilege, as +heretofore, to continue to wait upon the Lord only, instead of taking +goods on credit, or borrowing money from some kind friends, when we are +in need. Nay, we purpose, as God shall give us grace, to look to him +only, though morning after morning we should have nothing in hand for +the work, yea, though from meal to meal we should have to look to him; +being fully assured that he who is now (1845) in the tenth year feeding +these many orphans, and who has never suffered them to want, and that he +who is now (1845) in the twelfth year carrying on the other parts of the +work, without any branch of it being stopped for want of means, will do +so for the future also. And here I do desire, in the deep consciousness +of my natural helplessness and dependence upon the Lord, to confess that +through the grace of God my soul has been in peace, though day after day +we have had to wait for our daily provisions upon the Lord; yea, though +even from meal to meal we have been required to do this. + +Dec. 16. Nothing has come in. Three shillings fivepence, which one of +the laborers was able to give, was all we had. At six o'clock this +evening, our need being now very great, not only with reference to the +Orphan Houses, but also the day schools, etc., I gave myself, with two +of the laborers, to prayer. There needed some money to come in before +eight o'clock to-morrow morning, as there was none to take in milk for +breakfast (the children have oatmeal porridge with milk for breakfast), +to say nothing about the many other demands of to-morrow, being +Saturday. Our hearts were at peace, while asking the Lord, and assured +that our Father would supply our need. WE HAD SCARCELY RISEN FROM OUR +KNEES when I received a letter, containing a sovereign for the orphans, +half of which was from a young East India officer, and the other half +the produce of the sale of a piece of work which the sister who sent the +money had made for the benefit of the orphans. She wrote, "I love to +send these little gifts. They so often come in season." Truly, thus it +was at this time. About five minutes later I received from a brother the +promise of fifty pounds for the orphans, to be given during the next +week; and a quarter of an hour after that, about seven o'clock, a +brother gave me a sovereign, which an Irish sister in the Lord had left +this day, on her departure for Dublin, for the benefit of the orphans. +How sweet and precious to see thus so manifestly the willingness of the +Lord to answer the prayers of his needy children! + +Dec. 19. Our need with reference to the school fund had been great +during the last three weeks, though we had received as much as the +teachers absolutely required. Now, however, it was very great, as one +brother especially needed to have several pounds within a day or two, +and three other teachers also required supplies. It had in addition to +this been much in my heart to send some money to several brethren who +labor in foreign lands, in dependence upon the Lord only for their +pecuniary supplies; but I had been kept from doing so for want of means. +On these accounts, therefore, I gave myself again especially to prayer +this morning, when, _within a quarter of an hour_ after I had risen +from my knees, I received the order for one hundred pounds, which I was +at liberty to use as need required. + + +REVIEW OF THE YEAR, 1842. + +1. As to the church. There are 601 at present in communion; 73 have been +added during the past year, of whom 27 have been brought to the +knowledge of the Lord among us. + +2. As to the supply of my temporal necessities, the Lord has been +pleased to send me L329, 16s. + + +Feb. 11, 1843. We had one pound fourteen shillings towards the expenses +of this day. But as this was not enough, I asked the Lord still further +for help, and, behold, this morning's post brought me a post-office +order for two pounds from Stafford, of which one pound seven shillings +sixpence is for the orphans. Thus we have three pounds one shilling +sixpence, which is quite enough for this day. + +Admire with me, my dear reader, if you know the Lord, his seasonable +help. Why does this post-office order not come a few days sooner or +later? Because the Lord would help us by means of it, and therefore +influences the donor just then, and not sooner nor later, to send it. +Surely, all who know the Lord, and who have no interest in disowning it, +cannot but see his hand in a remarkable manner in this work. Nor will +the godly and simple-minded reader say, "There is no difference between +this way of proceeding, on the one hand, and going from individual to +individual, asking them for means, on the other hand; for the writing of +the Reports is just the same thing." My dear reader, there is a great +difference. Suppose that we are in need. Suppose that our poverty lasts +for some weeks, or even some months, together. Is there not, in that +case, a difference between asking the Lord only from day to day, +without speaking to any human being not connected directly with the work +about our poverty, on the one hand, and writing letters or making +personal application to benevolent individuals for assistance, on the +other hand? Truly, there is a great difference between these two modes. +I do not mean to say that it would be acting against the precepts of the +Lord to seek for help in his work by personal and individual application +to _believers_ (though it would be in direct opposition to his will to +apply to _unbelievers_, 2 Cor. vi. 14-18); but _I_ act in the way in +which I do for the benefit of the church at large, cheerfully bearing +the trials, and sometimes the deep trials, connected with this life of +faith (which however brings along with it also its precious joys), if by +any means a part at least of my fellow-believers might be led to see the +reality of dealing with God only, and that there is such a thing as the +child of God having power with God by prayer and faith. That the Lord +should use for so glorious a service one so vile, so unfaithful, so +altogether unworthy of the least notice as I am, I can only ascribe to +the riches of his condescending _grace_, in which he takes up the most +unlikely instruments, that the honor may be _manifestly_ his. + +Should Satan seek to whisper into your ears, Perhaps the matter is made +known, after all, when there is need (as it has been once said about me +at a public meeting in a large town, that when we were in want I prayed +_publicly_ that the Lord would send help for the orphans, which is +entirely false); I say, should it be said that I took care that our +wants were made known, I reply: Whom did I ask for anything these many +years since the work has been going on? To whom did I make known our +wants, except to those who are closely connected with the work? Nay, so +far from wishing to make known our need, for the purpose of influencing +benevolent persons to contribute to the necessities of the Institution +under my care, I have even refused to let our circumstances be known, +after having been asked about them, when, on simply saying that we were +in need, I might have had considerable sums. Some instances of this have +been given in the former part of this Narrative. In such cases I refused +in order that the hand of God only might be manifest; for that, and not +the money, nor even the ability of continuing to carry on the work, is +my especial aim. And such self-possession has the Lord given me, that in +the times of the deepest poverty, whilst there was nothing at all in +hand, and whilst we had even from meal to meal to wait upon the Lord for +the necessities of more than one hundred persons, when a donation of +five pounds or ten pounds, or more, has been given to me, the donors +could not have read in my countenance whether we had much or nothing at +all in hand. But enough of this. I have made these few remarks, beloved +reader, lest by any means you should lose the blessing which might come +to your soul through reading the account of the Lord's faithfulness and +readiness to hear the prayers of his children. + +March 8. On Oct. 25, 1842, I had a long conversation with a sister in +the Lord, who opened her heart to me. On leaving me I told her that my +house and my purse were hers, and that I should be glad if she would +have one purse with me. This I said because I judged that at some future +time it might prove a comfort to her in an hour of trial, having at the +same time, to judge from a circumstance which had occurred two days +before, every reason to believe that she had not five pounds of her own. +This sister, after I had said so, readily took me at my word, and said, +I shall be glad of it, adding presently that she had five hundred +pounds. The moment I heard that, I drew back, and said that had I known +that she had any money I should not have made her this offer, and then +gave her my reason why I had supposed she had no property at all. She +then assured me that she possessed five hundred pounds, and that she had +never seen it right to give up this money, else she would have done so; +but that, as God had put this sum into her hands without her seeking, +she thought it was a provision which the Lord had made for her. I +replied scarcely anything to this; but she asked me to pray for her with +reference to this matter. This whole conversation about the money +occupied but very few minutes, and it all took place after the sister +had risen and was on the point of leaving me. After she was gone, I +asked the Lord if he would be pleased to make this dear sister so happy +in himself; and enable her so to realize her true riches and inheritance +in the Lord Jesus, and the reality of her heavenly calling, that she +might be constrained by the love of Christ cheerfully to lay down this +five hundred pounds at his feet. From that time I repeated this my +request before the Lord _daily_, and often two, three, or four times a +day; _but not a single word or line passed between me and this sister on +the subject, nor did I even see her_; for I judged that it would be far +better that she retained this money, than that by persuasion she should +give it up, and afterwards perhaps regret the step she had taken, and +thereby more dishonor than honor be brought on the name of the Lord. +After I had thus for twenty-four days daily besought the Lord on behalf +of this sister, I found her one day, on returning home, at my house; +when she told me that she wished to see me alone. She then said to me +that from the time she had last conversed with me she had sought to +ascertain the Lord's will with reference to the five hundred pounds, and +had examined the Scriptures and prayed about it, and that she was now +assured that it was the will of the Lord she should give up this money. +After she had told me this, I exhorted her to count well the cost, and +to do nothing rashly, lest she should regret the step she had taken, +and to wait at least a fortnight longer before she carried out her +intention. Thus we separated. On the eighteenth day after this +conversation I received the following letter:-- + + DEAR BROTHER: + + I believe the Lord has not permitted you to grow weary of + remembering me, but that he has still enabled you to bear me + upon your heart in his presence. All is well with me, dear + brother. Your petitions have been heard and answered; I am happy + and at peace. The Lord has indeed manifested his tender care of + and his great love towards me in Jesus, in inclining my heart + cheerfully to lay _all_ I have hitherto called my own at his + feet. It is a high privilege. + + I write in haste to ask you, as we have _now_ one purse, to + receive the money at a bank in Bristol. I will direct it to be + sent in my name, to be delivered into your hands, etc. + +As this whole circumstance is related only for the profit of the reader, +and as I knew that the sister still had my letters on the subject in her +possession, I wrote to her, requesting her to send them to me, at the +time when I published the last account about the Orphan Houses, etc., +and extracts of them were given in the last Report, in so far as they +might refer to the subject or tend to edification. These extracts are +here reprinted. My reply to the above was this:-- + + BRISTOL, DEC. 6, 1842. + + MY DEAR SISTER: + + Your letter found me in peace, and did not in the least surprise + me. Dealing with God is a reality. Saints have power with him + through Jesus. It is now forty-two days since you first + mentioned this matter to me. I cannot but admire the wisdom of + God and his love to you in allowing me to speak to you as I did + [_i. e._ offering her to have one purse with me, when I thought + she had no earthly possessions at all], that thus this great + privilege might be bestowed on you to give up this little sum + for him. Since that hour I have daily prayed for you, and often + thrice or more in the course of the day, that the Lord would + make you so happy in himself, and help you with such faith to + lay hold on all which he has given you in Jesus, that you might + be constrained by love cheerfully to lay down this little sum at + his feet. Thus I prayed again at six o'clock this morning for + you. Nor have I had the least doubt from the commencement that + the Lord did hear my prayer; yea, so fully have I been assured + that I had the petition, that again and again I have thanked him + that he had answered my prayer, before I saw you eighteen days + since, and before your letter came this morning. Moreover, I + have been fully assured, since you were last here, that he was + carrying on his work in your soul with reference to this matter, + and that no subtle suggestions of Satan, nor educational + prejudices, nor misinterpretations of the Scriptures, were able + to prevail; for I had asked the Lord by his Spirit to overcome + them in you, and that, if a brother's word should be needed, he + would be pleased to incline your heart to write to me; and as no + letter came, I felt fully confident you were going forward in + this matter in peace. When I had seen you this day six weeks, + and learned about this little sum, _I determined never to say or + write to you another word on the subject, but to leave you in + the hands of the Lord_. Thus I purposed again during the last + eighteen days; _for it was not the money given up_, that I cared + for in you, _but the money given up unto the Lord, and from + right motives_. On this very account I advised you to wait one + fortnight longer, though you had come to the conclusion; but + now, having done so, and seeing that you are fully purposed in + the Lord to be poor in this world indeed, that the more + abundantly you may enjoy his riches, his inexhaustible riches, I + change my advice. My word now, beloved sister, is this: + "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might," and + "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." Delay + then no longer, even as also you have no desire to delay; and + the Lord will bless you abundantly in doing so, _inasmuch as you + do it unto him_. As you desire to intrust me with this money, I + do not refuse it, knowing many ways to lay it out for him, etc. + [Then only follows the direction how the money is to be paid + into my banker's hands.] + +On Dec. 18, 1842, I received a reply to my letter, which answer was +begun to be written on Dec. 8th, but finished on the 16th. I give a few +extracts of the letter:-- + + Since I last saw you, dear brother, I have not had the slightest + doubt as to what I ought to do. The word of God has been so + clear to me on this head, that I have been kept resting on it, + and, in answer to your prayers, no temptation has been allowed + to _prevail_, indeed, I think I may add to _arise_. But I feel + that temptations _may_ come, and that I may in seasons of trial + not always have faith to be able to rejoice in this privilege. + My heart is so deceitful, and my faith so weak, that I shall + greatly need your prayers still. Will you, then, if the Lord + enables you, pray that I may never offend my Father by + regretting in the _least_ measure this act of obedience, which + he has by his grace inclined me to carry out? _Before I ever saw + you_ I had asked the Lord to make me willing to give this little + sum into your hands, if it were his will I should; but his time + to make me willing had not then come; even then I had in a + measure given it to you, having written a paper, desiring in + case I should fall asleep in Jesus, that you might get + possession of it. I had it signed by two witnesses, and I always + carried it about with me when I travelled, sealed, and directed + to you. When I wrote this, I little thought what grace the Lord + had in store for me. You will forgive my being thus tedious, but + I am sure you will praise the Lord with me for his gracious + dealings with me, etc. + +At the end of this letter, which was finished on Dec. 16, the sister +tells me that unexpectedly a hindrance had arisen to her having +possession of the money, so that it was not likely it could be paid over +to me till about the end of January, 1843. + +When this letter came, it would have been _naturally_ a great +disappointment to me, as the sister had told me in a previous letter +that the money should be paid into my hands, and as just at that time in +a variety of ways it was desirable that I should have considerable sums. +The Lord, however, enabled me to immediately lay hold on that word, "We +know that all things work together for good to them that love God," Rom. +viii. 28, and my soul was in peace, though we had only enough money in +hand to provide for one or at the most for two days the necessary +provisions in the Orphan Houses. It was but the next day, Dec. 19, 1842, +when I received one hundred pounds from A. B., and on Dec. 22, I +received fifty pounds from a brother in Bristol, besides other +donations; so that within one week after I had had grace to delight +myself in the will of God, he gave me about two hundred pounds, whereby +I was able to meet all the heavy expenses of replenishing the stores, +etc., on account of which I should _naturally_ have been tried in the +payment of the money being delayed. + +In reply to the letter which I received from this sister on Dec. 18, I +wrote another on Dec. 31, 1842, of which I give an extract on this +subject:-- + + I have continued to pray for you, or rather the Lord has enabled + me every day once, twice, thrice, or even more, to remember you. + The burden of my prayer still has been, that he would be pleased + to make you very happy in himself, and enable you to enter into + the inheritance which awaits you; further, that you may not be + permitted in the least to regret the step which you have taken, + but rather consider it a privilege to be permitted to give this + little sum back to him who gave it to you, and who gave himself + for you. With reference to the delay, I cannot but rejoice. This + gives you abundant opportunity to ponder the matter, and + afterwards to state to any (who, judging as those who know not + how rich the saints are, might blame you) that you did not do + the thing in haste. I consider this delay to be for the + furtherance of the honor of the Lord. You know my advice to you, + to wait at least a fortnight. That you have seen much of your + unfaithfulness, etc., I consider to be an especial blessing + which the Lord has bestowed upon you, lest this step you have + taken should become a snare to you. Humblings last our whole + life. Jesus came not to save _painted_ but _real_ sinners; but + he _has_ saved us, and will surely make it manifest. I have a + passage laid on my heart for you; read the whole of it + carefully: 2 Cor. viii. 1-9, especially verse 9. + + * * * * * + +Day after day now passed away and the money did not come. The month of +January was come to an end, and February also, and the money had not +come. Thus more than one hundred and twenty days were gone by, whilst +day by day I brought my petition before the Lord that he would bless +this sister, keep her steadfast in her purpose, and intrust me with this +money for his work in my hands. Amidst it all my heart was assured, +judging from the earnestness which he had given me in prayer, and that I +had only desired this matter to the praise of his name, that in his own +time he would bring it about. _But I never wrote one single line to this +sister on the subject all this time._ At last, on the one hundred and +thirty-fourth day since I had _daily_ besought the Lord about this +matter, on March 8, 1843, I received a letter from the sister, informing +me that the five hundred pounds had been paid into the hands of my +bankers. + +And now I only give a few lines of a letter which I received on July 3, +1844, from the sister who gave this donation, together with my letters +for which I had asked her, in order that I may show her state of mind on +the subject, after she had had it more than twenty months before her, +and after she had for sixteen months actually given up the money. She +writes thus: "I am thankful to say that I have never for one moment had +the slightest feeling of regret, but it is _wholly_ of the Lord's +abounding grace. I speak it to his praise." + +On March 31, 1843, I called at the Orphan Houses to make certain +arrangements, and one of the sisters told me by the way that she had +been asked by Miss G., who with her father occupied the house No. 4 +Wilson Street, to let me know that they wished to give up their house, +if I would like to take it; but she had replied that it was of no use +to tell me about it, for she was sure that I had no thought of opening +another Orphan House. When I came home, this matter greatly occupied my +mind. I could not but ask the Lord again and again whether he would have +me to open another Orphan House, and whether the time was now come that +I should serve him still more extensively in this way. The more I +pondered the matter, the more it appeared to me that this was the hand +of God moving me onwards in this service. The following remarkable +combination of circumstances struck me in particular: 1. There are more +applications made for the admission of orphans, especially of late, than +we are at all able to meet, though we fill the houses as much as the +health of the children and of the laborers will possibly admit. 2. If I +did take another house for orphans, it would be most desirable it should +be in the same street where the other three are, as thus the labor is +less, and in times of great need we are near together for prayer, the +distribution of the money, etc. But since the third Orphan House was +opened, in Nov. 1837, there never has been one of the larger houses in +the street to be let. 3. There are about fifteen children in the Infant +Orphan House, whom it would have been well some time ago to have removed +to the house for the older girls, had there been room; but when a +vacancy happened to occur in that house, there were generally several +waiting to fill it up, so that unintentionally the female children in +the Infant Orphan House remained where they were; but this is not well, +nor is it according to my original intention; for the infants were +intended only to be left till they are seven years old, and then to be +removed to the houses for older boys and girls. This my original plan +could be executed better for the future, and at once for the present, +were I to open another Orphan House. 4. I know two sisters who seem +suitable laborers for this fourth Orphan House, and who have a desire +thus to be engaged. 5. There are three hundred pounds remaining of the +five hundred pounds which I so lately received. This money may be used +for the furnishing and fitting up of a new Orphan House. So much money I +have never had in hand at any one time during the last five years. This +seemed to me a remarkable thing, in connection with the four other +reasons. 6. The establishing of a fourth Orphan House, which would +increase our expenses several hundred pounds a year, would be, after we +have gone for five years almost uninterruptedly through trials of faith, +a plain proof that I have not regretted this service, and that I am not +tired of this precious way of depending upon the Lord from day to day; +and thus the faith of other children of God might be strengthened. + +But most important, yea, decidedly conclusive as these points were, yet +they did not convince me that I ought to go forward in this service, if +the Spirit's leadings were not in connection with them. I therefore gave +myself to prayer. I prayed day after day, _without saying anything to +any human being_. I prayed two and twenty days without even mentioning +it to my dear wife. On that very day, when I did mention it to her, and +on which I had come to the conclusion, after three weeks' prayer and +consideration in the fear of God, to establish another Orphan House, I +received from A. B. fifty pounds. What a striking confirmation that the +Lord will help, though the necessities should increase more and more. At +last, on the twenty-fourth day, having been now for several days fully +assured that God would have me go forward in this service, I went to +inquire whether Mr. and Miss G. still wished to give up the house. But +here I found an apparent hindrance. Having heard no wish expressed on my +part to take the house, and the sister in the Orphan Houses, with whom +Miss G. had communicated, not having given her the least reason to think +that I should do so, Mr. and Miss G. had altered their plans, and now +purposed to remain in the house. However, I was to call again in a week, +when I should receive an answer. I was not in the least discomforted by +this obstacle. "Lord, if _thou_ hast no need of another Orphan House, +_I_ have none," was the burden of my prayer. I was willing to do God's +will, yea, to delight myself in his will. And just on this very ground, +because I knew I sought not my own honor, but the Lord's; because I knew +I was not serving myself, but the Lord, in this thing; and because I +knew that with so much calm, quiet, prayerful, self-questioning +consideration I had gone about this business, and had only after many +days, during which I had been thus waiting upon the Lord, come to the +conclusion that it was the will of God I should go forward in this +service. For these reasons I felt sure, notwithstanding what Mr. and +Miss G. had told me, that I should have the house. I also especially +judged that thus it would be, _because I was quite in peace_ when I +heard of the obstacle; a plain proof that I was not in self-will going +on in this matter, but according to the leading of the Holy Ghost; for +if according to my natural mind I had sought to enlarge the work, I +should have been excited and uncomfortable when I met with this +obstacle. After a week I called again on Mr. G. And now see how God had +wrought! On the same day on which I had seen Mr. G., he went out and met +with a suitable house, so that when I came the second time, he was +willing to let me have the one which he then occupied in Wilson Street; +and as the owner accepted me as a tenant, all the difficulties were +removed, so that after the 1st of June we began fitting up the house, +and in July the first orphans were received. + +Mr. M. having been invited by several Christians in Germany to visit +that, his native land, and to labor there for the promulgation of +scriptural truth and the advancement of religion, as well as to publish +a German translation of his Narrative, felt that it was his duty to +accede to the request. In answer to prayer, he received ample means for +his journey, for the support of the orphans during his absence, and for +the publication of the Narrative. He left Bristol on the 9th of August, +1843, and returned on March 6, 1844. During the journey he was greatly +aided by Providence in the purposes of his mission, and saw much fruit +of his labors. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +STEWARDSHIP. + +1844. + + EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY TREASURES--SEEKING THE KINGDOM OF + GOD--FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER--THE CHRISTIAN + MERCHANT--EXAMPLES--MISTAKES. + + +In concluding this portion of my Narrative, I would add some hints on a +few passages of the word of God, both because I have so very frequently +found them little regarded by Christians, and also because I have proved +their preciousness, in some measure, in my own experience; and therefore +wish that all my fellow-saints may share the blessing with me. + +I. In Matt. vi. 19-21, it is written: "Lay not up for yourselves +treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where +thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in +heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do +not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your +heart be also." Observe, dear reader, the following points concerning +this part of the divine testimony: + +1. It is the Lord Jesus, our Lord and Master, who speaks this as the +lawgiver of his people,--he who has infinite wisdom and unfathomable +love to us, who therefore both knows what is for our real welfare and +happiness, and who cannot exact from us any requirement inconsistent +with that love which led him to lay down his life for us. + +2. His counsel, his affectionate entreaty, and his commandment to us his +disciples is, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth." The +meaning obviously is, that the disciples of the Lord Jesus, being +strangers and pilgrims on earth, _i. e._ neither belonging to the earth +nor expecting to remain in it, _should not seek to increase their +earthly possessions_, in whatever these possessions may consist. This is +a word for poor believers as well as for rich believers; it has as much +a reference to putting shillings into the savings bank as to putting +thousands of pounds into the funds, or purchasing one house or one farm +after another. It may be said, But does not every prudent and provident +person seek to increase his means, that he may have a goodly portion to +leave to his children, or to have something for old age, or for the time +of sickness, etc.? My reply is, it is quite true that this is the custom +of the world. But whilst thus it is in the world, and we have every +reason to believe ever will be so among those that are of the world, and +who therefore have their portion on earth, we disciples of the Lord +Jesus, being born again, being the children of God, not nominally, but +really, being truly partakers of the divine nature, being in fellowship +with the Father and the Son, and having in prospect "an inheritance +incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away," (1 Peter i. 4,) +ought in every respect to act differently from the world, and so in this +particular also. If we disciples of the Lord Jesus seek, like the people +of the world, after an increase of our possessions, may not those who +are of the world justly question whether we believe what we say, when we +speak about our inheritance, our heavenly calling, our being the +children of God, etc.? Often it must be a sad stumbling-block to the +unbeliever to see a professed believer in the Lord Jesus acting in this +particular just like himself. Consider this, dear brethren in the Lord, +should this remark apply to you. + +3. Our Lord says about the earth that it is a place "Where moth and rust +doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal." All that is of +the earth, and in any way connected with it, is subject to corruption, +to change, to dissolution. There is no reality, or substance, in +anything else but in heavenly things. Often the careful amassing of +earthly possessions ends in losing them in a moment by fire, by robbery, +by a change of mercantile concerns, by loss of work, etc.; but suppose +all this were not the case, still, yet a little while, and thy soul +shall be required of thee; or, yet a little while, and the Lord Jesus +will return; and what profit shalt thou then have, dear reader, if thou +hast carefully sought to increase thy earthly possessions? + +4. Our Lord, however, does not merely bid us not to lay up treasure upon +earth; for if he had said no more, this his commandment might be abused, +and persons might find in it an encouragement for their extravagant +habits, for their love of pleasure, for their habit of spending +everything they have, or can obtain, _upon themselves_. It does not +mean, then, as is the common phrase, that we should "live up to our +income;" for he adds, "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." +There is such a thing as laying up as truly in heaven as there is laying +up on earth; if it were not so, our Lord would not have said so. Just as +persons put one sum after another into the bank, and it is put down to +their credit, and they may use the money afterwards: so truly the penny, +the shilling, the pound, the hundred pounds, the ten thousand pounds, +_given for the Lord's sake, and constrained by the love of Jesus_, to +poor brethren, or in any way spent in the work of God, he marks down in +the book of remembrance, he considers as laid up in heaven. _The money +is not lost, it is laid up in the bank of heaven_; yet so, that whilst +an earthly bank may break, or through earthly circumstances we may lose +our earthly possessions, the money which is thus secured in heaven +_cannot be lost_. But this is by no means the only difference. I notice +a few more points: Treasures laid up on earth bring along with them many +cares; treasures laid up in heaven never give care. Treasures laid up on +earth never can afford spiritual joy; treasures laid up in heaven bring +along with them peace and joy in the Holy Ghost even now. Treasures laid +up on earth, in a dying hour cannot afford peace and comfort, and when +life is over they are taken from us; treasures laid up in heaven draw +forth thanksgiving that we were permitted and counted worthy to serve +the Lord with the means with which he was pleased to intrust us as +stewards, and when this life is over we are not deprived of what was +laid up there, but when we go to heaven we go to the place where our +treasures are, and we shall find them there. Often we hear it said, when +a person has died, he died worth so much. But whatever be the phrases +common in the world, it is certain that a person may die worth fifty +thousand pounds sterling, as the world reckons, and yet that individual +may not possess, in the sight of God, one thousand pounds sterling, +because _he was not rich towards God_, he did not lay up treasure in +heaven. And so, on the other hand, we can suppose a man of God falling +asleep in Jesus, and his surviving widow finding scarcely enough left +behind him to suffice for the funeral, who was nevertheless _rich +towards God_: in the sight of God he may possess five thousand pounds +sterling, he may have laid up that sum in heaven. Dear reader, does your +soul long to be rich towards God, to lay up treasures in heaven? The +world passes away, and the lust thereof. Yet a little while and our +stewardship will be taken from us. At present we have the opportunity of +serving the Lord with our time, our talents, our bodily strength, our +gifts; and also with our property; but shortly this opportunity may +cease. Oh, how shortly may it cease! Before ever this is read by any +one, I may have fallen asleep; and the very next day after you have read +this, dear reader, you may fall asleep; and, therefore, whilst we have +the opportunity, let us serve the Lord. + +5. The Lord lastly adds: "For where your treasure is, there will your +heart be also." Where should the heart of the disciple of the Lord Jesus +be, but in heaven? Our calling is a heavenly calling, our inheritance is +a heavenly inheritance, and reserved for us in heaven; our citizenship +is in heaven; but if we believers in the Lord Jesus lay up treasures on +earth, the necessary result of it is, that our hearts will be upon +earth; nay, the very fact of our doing so proves that they are there! +Nor will it be otherwise, till there be a ceasing to lay up treasures +upon earth. The believer who lays up treasures upon earth may, at first, +not live openly in sin, he in a measure may yet bring some honor to the +Lord in certain things; but the injurious tendencies of this habit will +show themselves more and more, whilst the habit of laying up treasures +in heaven would draw the heart more and more heavenward; would be +continually strengthening his new, his divine nature, his spiritual +faculties, because it would call his spiritual faculties into use, and +thus they would be strengthened; and he would more and more, whilst yet +in the body, have his heart in heaven, and set upon heavenly things; and +thus the laying up treasures in heaven would bring along with it, even +in this life, precious spiritual blessings as a reward of obedience to +the commandment of our Lord. + +II. The next passage, on which I desire to make a few remarks, is Matt. +vi. 33: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and +all these things shall be added unto you." After our Lord, in the +previous verses, had been pointing his disciples "to the fowls of the +air," and "the lilies of the field," in order that they should be +without carefulness about the necessaries of life, he adds: "Therefore +take no thought (literally, be not anxious), saying, What shall we eat? +or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (for after +all these things do the Gentiles seek;) for your heavenly Father knoweth +that ye have need of all these things." Observe here particularly that +we, the children of God, should be different from the nations of the +earth, from those who have no Father in heaven, and who therefore make +it their great business, their first anxious concern, what they shall +eat, and what they shall drink, and wherewithal they shall be clothed. +We, the children of God, should, as in every other respect, so in this +particular also, be different from the world, and prove to the world +that we believe that we have a Father in heaven who knoweth that we have +need of all these things. The fact that our Almighty Father, who is full +of infinite love to us his children, and who has proved to us his love +in the gift of his only-begotten Son, and his almighty power in raising +him from the dead, knows that we have need of these things, should +remove all anxiety from our minds. There is, however, one thing that we +have to attend to, and which we _ought_ to attend to, with reference to +our temporal necessities; it is mentioned in our verse: "But seek ye +first the kingdom of God and his righteousness." The great business +which the disciple of the Lord Jesus has to be concerned about (for this +word was spoken to disciples, to professed believers) is, to seek the +kingdom of God, _i. e._ to seek, as I view it, after the external and +internal prosperity of the church of Christ. If, according to our +ability, and according to the opportunity which the Lord gives us, we +seek to win souls for the Lord Jesus, that appears to me to be seeking +the _external prosperity_ of the kingdom of God; and if we, as members +of the body of Christ, seek to benefit our fellow-members in the body, +helping them on in grace and truth, or caring for them in any way to +their edification, that would be seeking the _internal prosperity_ of +the kingdom of God. But in connection with this we have also "to seek +his righteousness," which means (as it was spoken to disciples, to those +who have a Father in heaven, and not to those who were without), to seek +to be more and more like God, to seek to be inwardly conformed to the +mind of God. If these two things are attended to (and _they imply also +that we are not slothful in business_), then do we come under that +precious promise: "And all these things (that is, food, raiment, or +anything else that is needful for this present life) shall be added unto +you." It is not _for_ attending to these two things that we obtain the +blessing, but _in_ attending to them. + +I now ask you, my dear reader, a few questions in all love, because I do +seek your welfare, and I do not wish to put these questions to you +without putting them first to my own heart. Do you make it your primary +business, your first great concern, to seek the kingdom of God and his +righteousness? Are the things of God, the honor of his name, the welfare +of his church, the conversion of sinners, and the profit of your own +soul, your chief aim? Or does your business, or your family, or your own +temporal concerns, in some shape or other _primarily_ occupy your +attention? If the latter be the case, then, though you may have all the +necessaries of life, yet could you be surprised if you had them not? +Remember that the world passeth away, but that the things of God endure +forever. + +I never knew a child of God, who acted according to the above passage, +in whose experience the Lord did not fulfil his word of promise, "All +these things shall be added unto you." + +III. The third portion of the divine testimony on which I desire to +throw out a few hints, is in 1 John i. 3: "And truly our fellowship is +with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." Observe, + +1. The words "fellowship," "communion," "coparticipation," and +"partnership," mean the same. + +2. The believer in the Lord Jesus does not only obtain forgiveness of +all his sins, as he does through the shedding of the blood of Jesus, by +faith in his name; does not only become a righteous one before God, +through the righteousness of the Lord Jesus, by faith in his name; is +not only begotten again, born of God, and partaker of the divine nature, +and therefore a child of God and an heir of God; but he is also in +fellowship or partnership with God. Now, so far as it regards God, and +our standing in the Lord Jesus, we have this blessing once for all; nor +does it allow of either an increase or a decrease. Just as God's love to +us believers, his children, is unalterably the same, whatever may be the +manifestations of that love; and as his peace with us is the same, +however much our peace may be disturbed; so it is also with regard to +our being in fellowship or partnership with him: it remains unalterably +the same so far as God is concerned. But then, + +3. There is an _experimental_ fellowship, or partnership, with the +Father and with his Son, which consists in this: that all which we +possess in God, as being the partners or fellows of God, is brought down +into our daily life, is enjoyed, experienced, and used. This +_experimental_ fellowship, or partnership, allows of an increase or a +decrease, in the measure in which faith is in exercise, and in which we +are entering into what we have received in the Lord Jesus. The measure +in which we enjoy this _experimental_ fellowship with the Father and +with the Son is without limit; for without limit we may make use of our +partnership with the Father and with the Son, and draw by prayer and +faith out of the inexhaustible fulness which there is in God. + +Let us now take a few instances in order to see the practical working of +this _experimental_ fellowship, or partnership, with the Father and with +the Son. Suppose there are two believing parents who were not brought to +the knowledge of the truth until some years after the Lord had given +them several children. Their children were brought up in sinful, evil +ways, whilst the parents did not know the Lord. Now the parents reap as +they sowed. They suffer from having set an evil example before their +children, for their children are unruly and behave most improperly. What +is now to be done? Need such parents despair? No. The first thing they +have to do is, to make confession of their sins to God, with regard to +neglecting their children whilst they were themselves living in sin, and +then to remember that they are in partnership with God, and therefore to +be of good courage, though they are in themselves still utterly +insufficient for the task of managing their children. They have in +themselves neither the wisdom, nor the patience, nor the long-suffering, +nor the gentleness, nor the meekness, nor the love, nor the decision and +firmness, nor anything else that may be needful in dealing with their +children aright. But their heavenly Father has all this. The Lord Jesus +possesses all this. And they are in partnership with the Father, and +with the Son, and therefore they can obtain by prayer and faith all they +need out of the fulness of God. I say by _prayer_ and _faith_, for we +have to make known our need to God in prayer, ask his help, and then we +have _to believe_ he will give us what we need. Prayer alone is not +enough. We may pray never so much, yet, if we do not believe that God +will give us what we need, we have no reason to expect that we shall +receive what we have asked for. So then these parents would need to ask +God to give them the needful wisdom, patience, long-suffering, +gentleness, meekness, love, decision; and firmness, and whatever else +they may judge they need. They may in humble boldness remind their +heavenly Father that his word assures them that they are in partnership +with him, and, as they themselves are lacking in these particulars, ask +him to be pleased to supply their need; and then they have _to believe_ +that God will do it, and they shall receive according to their need. + +Another instance: Suppose I am so situated in my business that day by +day such difficulties arise that I continually find that I take wrong +steps by reason of these great difficulties. How may the case be altered +for the better? In myself I see no remedy for the difficulties. In +looking at myself I can expect nothing but to make still further +mistakes, and, therefore, trial upon trial seems to be before me. And +yet I need not despair. The living God is my partner. _I_ have not +sufficient wisdom to meet these difficulties so as to be able to know +what steps to take, but _he_ is able to direct me. What I have, +therefore, to do, is this: in simplicity to spread my case before my +heavenly Father and my Lord Jesus. The Father and the Son are my +partners. I have to tell out my heart to God, and to ask him, that, as +he is my partner, and I have no wisdom in myself to meet all the many +difficulties which continually occur in my business, he would be pleased +to guide and direct me, and to supply me with the needful wisdom; and +then I have _to believe_ that God will do so, and go with good courage +to my business, and _expect_ help from him in the next difficulty that +may come before me. _I have to look out_ for guidance; _I have to +expect_ counsel from the Lord; and as assuredly as I do so, I shall have +it, I shall find that I am not nominally, but really, in partnership +with the Father and with the Son. + +Another instance: There is a father and mother with seven small +children. Both parents are believers. The father works in a manufactory, +but cannot earn more than ten shillings per week. The mother cannot +earn anything. These ten shillings are too little for the supply of +nourishing and wholesome food for seven growing children and their +parents, and for providing them with the other necessaries of life. What +is to be done in such a case? Surely not to find fault with the +manufacturer, who may not be able to afford more wages, and much less to +murmur against God; but the parents have in simplicity to tell God, +their partner, that the wages of ten shillings a week are not sufficient +in England to provide nine persons with all they need, so as that their +health be not injured. They have to remind God that he is not a hard +master, not an unkind being, but a most loving Father, who has +abundantly proved the love of his heart in the gift of his only begotten +Son. And they have in childlike simplicity to ask him that either he +would order it so that the manufacturer may be able to allow more wages; +or that he (the Lord) would find them another place, where the father +would be able to earn more; or that he would be pleased, somehow or +other, as it may seem good to him, to supply them with more means. They +have to ask the Lord, in childlike simplicity, again and again for it, +if he does not answer their request at once; and they have _to believe_ +that God, their Father and partner, will give them the desire of their +hearts. They have _to expect_ an answer to their prayers; day by day +they have _to look out_ for it, and to repeat their request till God +grants it. As assuredly as they _believe_ that God will grant them their +request, so assuredly it shall be granted. + +Thus, suppose I desired more power over my besetting sins; suppose I +desired more power against certain temptations; suppose I desired more +wisdom, or grace, or anything else that I may need in my service among +the saints, or in my service towards the unconverted: what have I to do +but to make use of my being in fellowship with the Father and with the +Son? Just as, for instance, an old faithful clerk, who is this day taken +into partnership by an immensely rich firm, though himself altogether +without property, would not be discouraged by reason of a large payment +having to be made by the firm within three days, though he himself has +no money at all of his own, but would comfort himself with the immense +riches possessed by those who so generously have just taken him into +partnership: so should we, the children of God and servants of Jesus +Christ, comfort ourselves by being in fellowship, or partnership, with +the Father, and with the Son, though we have no power of our own against +our besetting sins; though we cannot withstand temptations, which are +before us, in our own strength; and though we have neither sufficient +grace nor wisdom for our service among the saints, or towards the +unconverted. All we have to do is, to draw upon our partner, the living +God. By prayer and faith we may obtain all needful temporal and +spiritual help and blessings. In all simplicity have we to tell out our +heart before God, and then we have to believe that he will give to us +according to our need. + +But _if we do not believe_ that God will help us, could we be at peace? +The clerk, taken into the firm as partner, _believes_ that the firm will +meet the payment, though so large, and though in three days it is to be +made, and it is this that keeps his heart quiet, though altogether poor +himself. We have to believe that our infinitely rich partner, the living +God, will help us in our need, and we shall not only be in peace, but we +shall actually find that the help which we need will be granted to us. +Let not the consciousness of your entire unworthiness keep you, dear +reader, from believing what God has said concerning you. If you are +indeed a believer in the Lord Jesus, then this precious privilege, of +being in partnership with the Father and the Son, is yours, though you +and I are entirely unworthy of it. If the consciousness of our +unworthiness were to keep us from believing what God has said concerning +those who depend upon and trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation, then we +should find that there is not one single blessing, with which we have +been blessed in the Lord Jesus, from which, on account of our +unworthiness, we could derive any settled comfort or peace. + +IV. There is one other point, which, in connection with several portions +of the word of God which bear on the subject, I desire to bring before +the believing reader, and it refers to the "scriptural way of overcoming +the difficulties with which the believer now meets who is engaged in a +business, trade, profession, or any earthly calling whatever, which +arise from competition in business, too great a number of persons being +occupied in the same calling, stagnation of trade, and the like." The +children of God, who are strangers and pilgrims on earth, have at all +times had difficulty in the world, for they are not _at_ home, but +_from_ home; nor should they, until the return of the Lord Jesus, expect +it to be otherwise with them. But whilst this is true, it is also true +that the Lord has provided us in all our difficulties with something in +his own word to meet them. All difficulties may be overcome by acting +according to the word of God. At this time I more especially desire to +point out the means whereby the children of God who are engaged in any +earthly calling may be able to overcome the difficulties which arise +from competition in business, too great a number of persons being +occupied in the same calling, stagnation of trade, and the like. + +1. The first thing which the believer who is in such difficulties has to +ask himself is, _Am I in a calling in which I can abide with God?_ If +our occupation be of that kind that we cannot ask God's blessing upon +it, or that we should be ashamed to be found in it at the appearing of +the Lord Jesus, or that it _of necessity_ hinders our spiritual +progress, then we must give it up, and be engaged in something else; but +in few cases only this is needful. Far the greater part of the +occupations in which believers are engaged are not of such a nature as +that they need to give them up in order to maintain a good conscience, +and in order to be able to walk with God, though, perhaps, certain +alterations may need to be made in the manner of conducting their trade, +business, or profession. About these parts of our calling which may need +alteration, we shall receive instruction from the Lord if we indeed +desire it, and wait upon him for it, and expect it from him. + +2. Now suppose the believer is in a calling in which he can abide with +God, the next point to be settled is, "_Why do I carry on this business, +or why am I engaged in this trade or profession?_" In most instances, so +far as my experience goes, which I have gathered in my service among the +saints during the last fifteen years and a half [_i. e._ in 1845], I +believe the answer would be, "I am engaged in my earthly calling that I +may earn the means of obtaining the necessaries of life for myself and +family." Here is the chief error from which almost all the rest of the +errors which are entertained by the children of God, relative to their +calling, spring. It is no right and scriptural motive to be engaged in a +trade or business or profession _merely_ in order to earn the means for +the obtaining of the necessaries of life for ourselves and family, _but +we should work because it is the Lord's will concerning us_. This is +plain from the following passages: 1 Thess. iv. 11, 12; 2 Thess. iii. +10-12; Eph. iv. 28. It is quite true that, in general, the Lord provides +the necessaries of life by means of our ordinary calling: but that that +is not THE REASON why we should work, is plain enough from the +consideration that if our possessing the necessaries of life depended +upon our ability of working, we could never have _freedom from anxiety_, +for we should always have to say to ourselves, And what shall I do when +I am too old to work, or when by reason of sickness I am unable to earn +my bread? But if, on the other hand, we are engaged in our earthly +calling because _it is the will of the Lord concerning us that we should +work_, and that thus laboring we may provide for our families, and also +be able to support the weak, the sick, the aged, and the needy, then we +have good and scriptural reason to say to ourselves, Should it please +the Lord to lay me on a bed of sickness, or keep me otherwise by reason +of infirmity, or old age, or want of employment, from earning my bread +by means of the labor of my hands, or my business, or my profession, he +will yet provide for me. Because we who believe are servants of Jesus +Christ, who has bought us with his own precious blood, and are not our +own, and because this our precious Lord and Master has commanded us to +work, therefore we work: and _in doing so_ our Lord will provide for us, +but whether in this way or any other way he is sure to provide for us, +for we labor in obedience to him; and if even a just earthly master give +wages to his servants, the Lord will surely see to it that we have our +wages, if, in obedience to him, we are engaged in our calling, and not +for our own sake. + +How great the difference between acting according to the word of God and +according to our own natural desires, or the customs of the world, will +be plain, I trust, by the following case: Suppose I were engaged in some +useful trade. Suppose I had the certain human prospect that within the +next three months my labor would bring me in nothing, for certain +reasons connected with the state of mercantile affairs. As a man of the +world I should say, I shall not work at all, because my labor will not +be paid; but as a Christian, who desires to act according to God's holy +word, I ought to say, My trade is useful to society, and I will work, +notwithstanding all human prospects, because the Lord Jesus has +commanded me to labor; from him, and not from my trade, I expect my +wages. In addition to this, the Christian ought also to say, Idleness is +a dreadful snare of the devil; he has especial opportunity to get an +advantage over the children of God when they are unoccupied; and, +therefore, I will work though I have no human prospect of obtaining +payment for my labor, but shall get only the cost price of the material, +and shall have to give my work for nothing. Moreover, the Christian +ought to say, Though according to _human_ probability I shall have to +labor for nothing during the next three months, yet I will work, because +the Lord may speedily alter the state of things, contrary to all human +expectation; but whether he be pleased to do so or not, I labor because +I am the Lord's, bought by his precious blood, and he commands me to +labor. + +But there are motives still lower than to be engaged in our earthly +calling merely that we may earn the means of obtaining the necessaries +of life, why even Christians, true children of God, may be engaged in +their calling, such as, to obtain a certain sum of money, and then to +retire from business and to live upon the interest; or to provide +something for old age; or to obtain a certain amount of property, +without intending to give up business. If it be unscriptural to be +engaged in our calling merely even for the sake of earning the means for +procuring the necessaries of life for ourselves and family, how much +more unbecoming that a child of God should be engaged in his calling for +the sake of any of the last-mentioned reasons. + +This second point, then, Why do I carry on this business? Why am I +engaged in this trade or profession? ought first to be settled in the +fear of God, and according to the revealed will of God; and if we cannot +say, in honesty of heart, I do carry on my business, I am engaged in my +trade, or art, or profession, as a servant of Jesus Christ, whose I am, +because he has bought me with his precious blood, and he has commanded +me to work, and therefore I work,--I say, if we cannot say this in +honesty of heart, but must confess that we work on account of lower +motives, such as that we may earn our bread, or on account of still +lower motives, and such as are altogether unbecoming a child of God, who +is not of the world, but of God, such as to obtain a certain sum of +money in order to be able to live on the interest without having to +work, or to provide something for old age, or to obtain a certain amount +of property without intending to give up business;--if these are our +motives for being engaged in our calling, I say, can we be surprised +that we meet with great difficulties in our business, and that the Lord +in his abounding love to us, his erring children, does not allow us to +succeed? But suppose this second point is scripturally settled, and we +can honestly say that, because we are servants of Jesus Christ, we are +occupied as we are; we have further to consider,-- + +3. Whether we carry on our business, or are engaged in our trade, art, +or profession, _as stewards_ of the Lord. To the child of God it ought +not to be enough that he is in a calling in which he can abide with God, +nor that he is engaged in his calling because it is the will of his Lord +and Master that he should work, but he should consider himself in his +trade, business, art, or profession, only as the _steward_ of the Lord +with reference to his income. The child of God has been bought with the +precious blood of the Lord Jesus, and is altogether his property, with +all that he possesses, his bodily strength, his mental strength, his +ability of every kind, his trade, business, art, or profession, his +property, etc.; for it is written, "Ye are not your own; for ye are +bought with a price." 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20. The proceeds of our calling are +therefore not our own in the sense of using them as our natural heart +wishes us to do, whether to spend them on the gratification of our +pride, or our love of pleasure, or sensual indulgences, or to lay by the +money for ourselves or our children, or use it in any way as we +_naturally_ like, but we have to stand before our Lord and Master, whose +_stewards_ we are, to seek to ascertain his will, how he will have us +use the proceeds of our calling. + +But is this indeed the spirit in which children of God generally are +engaged in their calling? It is but too well known that it is not the +case! Can we then wonder at it, that even God's own dear children should +so often be found greatly in difficulty with regard to their calling, +and be found so often complaining about stagnation or competition in +trade, and the difficulties of the times, though there have been given +to them such precious promises as, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, +and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you;" +or, "Let your conversation (disposition or turn of mind) be without +covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath +said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Heb. xiii. 5. Is it +not obvious enough that when our heavenly Father sees that we his +children do or would use the proceeds of our calling, _as our natural +mind_ would desire, that he either cannot at all intrust us with means, +or will be obliged to decrease them? No wise and really affectionate +mother will permit her infant to play with a razor, or with fire, +however much the child may desire to have them; and so the love and +wisdom of our heavenly Father will not, cannot, intrust us with +pecuniary means, _except it be in the way of chastisement, or to show us +finally their utter vanity_, if he sees that we do not desire to possess +them as _stewards_ for him, in order that we may spend them as he may +point out to us by his Holy Spirit, through his word. + +In connection with this subject, I give a few hints to the believing +reader on three passages of the word of God. In 1 Cor. xvi. 2, we find +it written to the brethren at Corinth, "Upon the first day of the week +let every one of you lay by him in store, as God has prospered him." A +contribution for the poor saints in Judea was to be made, and the +brethren at Corinth were exhorted to put by for it, _every Lord's day_, +according to the measure of success which the Lord had been pleased to +grant them in their calling during the week. Now, ought not the saints +in our day also to act according to this word? There is no passage in +the word of God why we should not do so, and it is altogether in +accordance with our pilgrim character, not only once or twice, or four +times a year, to see how much we can afford to give to the poor saints, +or to the work of God in any way, but to seek to settle it weekly. If it +be said, I cannot ascertain how much I have gained in the course of the +week by my business, and therefore I cannot give accordingly; my reply +is this, Seek, dear brethren, as much as possible, to bring your +business upon such a footing as that you may be able, as nearly as +possible, to settle how much you have earned in your calling in the +course of the week. But suppose you should be unable to settle it +exactly to the shilling or pound, yet you will know pretty well how it +has been with you during the week, and therefore, _according to your +best knowledge_, contribute on the coming Lord's day towards the +necessities of the poor saints, and towards the work of God, as he, +after your having sought his guidance, may lead you. + +Perhaps you say, the weeks are so unlike; in one week I may earn three +or even ten times as much as in another week, and if I give according to +my earnings from my calling during a very good week, then how are such +weeks, when I earn scarcely any thing, or how are the bad debts to be +met? How shall I do when sickness befalls my family, or when other +trials productive of expense come upon me, if I do not make provision +for such seasons? My reply is, 1. I do not find in the whole New +Testament one single passage in which either directly or indirectly +exhortations are given to provide against deadness in business, bad +debts, and sickness, by laying up money. 2. Often the Lord is obliged to +allow deadness in business, or bad debts, or sickness in our family, or +other trials which increase our expenses, to befall us, because we do +not, as his _stewards_, act _according to stewardship_, but as if we +were owners of what we have, forgetting that the time has not yet come +when we shall enter upon _our possessions_; and he does so in order +that, by these losses and expenses, our property which we have collected +may be decreased, lest we should altogether set our hearts again upon +earthly things, and forget God entirely. His love is so great, that he +will not let his children quietly go their own way when they have +forsaken him; but if his loving admonitions by his Holy Spirit are +disregarded, he is obliged in fatherly love to chastise them. A striking +illustration of what I have said we have in the case of Israel +nationally. The commandment to them was, to leave their land +uncultivated in the seventh year, in order that it might rest, and the +Lord promised to make up for this deficiency by his abundant blessing +resting upon the sixth year. However, Israel acted not according to this +commandment, no doubt saying, in the unbelief of their hearts, as the +Lord had foretold, "What shall we eat in the seventh year? Behold, we +shall not sow, nor gather in our increase." Levit. xxv. But what did the +Lord do? He was determined the land should have rest, and as the +Israelites did not willingly give it, he sent them for seventy years +into captivity, in order that thus the land might have rest. See Levit. +xxvi. 33-35. Beloved brethren in the Lord, let us take heed so to walk +as that the Lord may not be obliged by chastisement to take a part of +our earthly possessions from us in the way of bad debts, sickness, +decrease of business, and the like, because we would not own our +position as _stewards_, but act as _owners_, and keep for ourselves the +means with which the Lord had intrusted us, not for the gratification of +our own carnal mind, but for the sake of using them in his service and +to his praise. + +It might also be said by a brother whose earnings are small, should _I_ +also give according to my earnings? They are already so small that my +wife can only with the greatest difficulty manage to make them +sufficient for the family. My reply is, Have you ever considered, my +brother, that the very reason why the Lord is obliged to let your +earnings remain so small may be the fact of your spending everything +upon yourselves, and that if he were to give you more you would only use +it to increase your own family comfort, instead of looking about to see +who among the brethren are sick, or who have no work at all, that you +might help them, or how you might assist the work of God at home or +abroad? There is a great temptation for a brother whose earnings are +small to put off the responsibility of assisting the needy and sick +saints, or helping on the work of God, and to lay it upon the few rich +brethren and sisters with whom he is associated in fellowship, and thus +rob his own soul! + +It might be asked, How much shall I give of my income? The tenth part, +or the fifth part, or the third part, or one half, or more? My reply is, +God lays down no rule concerning this point. What we do we should do +cheerfully and not of necessity. But if even Jacob, with the first +dawning of spiritual light (Genesis xxviii. 22), promised to God the +tenth of all he should give to him, how much ought we believers in the +Lord Jesus to do for him: we, whose calling is a heavenly one, and _who +know distinctly_ that we are children of God, and joint heirs with the +Lord Jesus! Yet do all the children of God give even the _tenth_ part +of what the Lord gives them? That would be two shillings per week for +the brother who earns one pound, and four shillings to him who earns two +pounds, and two pounds per week to him whose income is twenty pounds per +week. + +In connection with 1 Cor. xvi. 2, I would mention two other portions: 1. +"He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth +bountifully shall reap also bountifully." 2 Cor. ix. 6. It is certain +that we children of God are so abundantly blessed in Jesus, by the grace +of God, that we ought to need no stimulus to good works. The forgiveness +of our sins, the having been made forever the children of God, the +having before us the Father's house as our home;--these blessings ought +to be sufficient motives to constrain us in love and gratitude to serve +God abundantly all the days of our life, and cheerfully also to give up, +as he may call for it, that with which he has intrusted us of the things +of this world. But whilst this is the case, the Lord nevertheless holds +out to us in his holy word motives why we should serve him, deny +ourselves, use our property for him, etc., and the last mentioned +passage is one of that kind. The verse is true, both with reference to +the life that is now, and that which is to come. If we have been +sparingly using our property for him, there will have been little +treasure laid up in heaven, and therefore a small amount of capital will +be found in the world to come, so far as it regards reaping. Again, we +shall reap bountifully if we seek to be rich towards God, by abundantly +using our means for him, whether in ministering to the necessities of +the poor saints, or using otherwise our pecuniary means for his work. +Dear brethren, these things are realities! Shortly, very shortly, will +come the reaping-time, and then will be the question whether we shall +reap sparingly or bountifully. + +But while this passage refers to the life hereafter, it also refers to +the life that now is. Just as now the _love of Christ_ constrains us to +communicate of that with which the Lord intrusts us, so will be the +present reaping, both with regard to spiritual and temporal things. +Should there be found, therefore, in a brother, the want of entering +into his position as being merely a _steward_ for the Lord in his +calling, and should he give no heed to the admonitions of the Holy Ghost +to communicate to those who are in need or to help the work of God, then +can such a brother be surprised that he meets with great difficulties in +his calling, and that he cannot get on? This is according to the Lord's +word. He is _sowing sparingly_, and he therefore _reaps sparingly_. But +should _the love of Christ_ constrain a brother, out of the earnings of +his calling, to sow bountifully, he will even in this life reap +bountifully, both with regard to blessings in his soul, and with regard +to temporal things. Consider in connection with this the following +passage, which, though taken from the Book of Proverbs, is not of a +Jewish character, but true concerning believers under the present +dispensation also: "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and +there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. +The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth shall be +watered also himself." Prov. xi. 24, 25. + +In connection with 1 Cor. xvi. 2, I would also direct my brethren in the +Lord to the promise made in Luke vi. 38: "Give, and it shall be given +unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running +over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye +mete withal it shall be measured to you again." This refers evidently to +the present dispensation, and evidently in its primary meaning to +temporal things. Now let any one, _constrained by the love of Jesus_, +act according to this passage; let him on the first day of the week +communicate as the Lord has prospered him, and he will see that the +Lord will act according to what is contained in this verse. If pride +constrain us to give, if self-righteousness make us liberal, if natural +feeling induce us to communicate, or if we give whilst we are in a state +of insolvency, not possessing more perhaps than ten shillings in the +pound, were our creditors to come upon us; then we cannot expect to have +this verse fulfilled in our experience; nor should we give at any time +for the sake of receiving again from others, according to this verse; +but if indeed _the love of Christ constrain us_ to communicate according +to the ability which the Lord gives us, then we shall have this verse +fulfilled in our experience, though this was not the motive which +induced us to give. Somehow or other the Lord will abundantly repay us, +through the instrumentality of our fellow-men, what we are doing to his +poor saints, or in any way for his work, and we shall find that in the +end we are not losers, even with reference to temporal things, whilst we +communicate liberally of the things of this life with which the Lord has +intrusted us. + +Here it might be remarked, But if it be so that even in this life, and +with regard to temporal things, it is true that "to him that gives shall +be given, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running +over," and that "he which soweth bountifully shall reap also +bountifully," then in the end the most liberal persons would be +exceedingly rich. Concerning this remark we have to keep in mind, that +the moment persons were to begin to give for the sake of receiving more +back again from the Lord, through the instrumentality of their +fellow-men, than they have given; or the moment persons wished to alter +their way, and no more go on sowing bountifully, but sparingly, in order +to increase their possessions, whilst God is allowing them to reap +bountifully, the river of God's bounty toward them would no longer +continue to flow. God had supplied them abundantly with means, because +he saw them act as _stewards_ for him. He had intrusted them with a +little which they had used for him, and he therefore intrusted them with +more; and if they had continued to use the much also for him, he would +have still more abundantly used them as instruments to scatter abroad +his bounties. The child of God must be willing to be a channel through +which God's bounties flow, both with regard to temporal and spiritual +things. This channel is narrow and shallow at first, it may be; yet +there is room for some of the waters of God's bounty to pass through. +And if we cheerfully yield ourselves as channels for this purpose, then +the channel becomes wider and deeper, and the waters of the bounty of +God can pass through more abundantly. Without a figure, it is thus: At +first, we may be only instrumental in communicating five pounds, or ten +pounds, or twenty pounds, or fifty pounds, or one hundred pounds, or two +hundred pounds per year, but afterwards double as much; and, if we are +still more faithful in our stewardship, after a year or two four times +as much, afterwards perhaps eight times as much, at last perhaps twenty +times or fifty times as much. We cannot limit the extent to which God +may use us as instruments in communicating blessing, both temporal and +spiritual, if we are willing to yield ourselves as instruments to the +living God, and are content to be _only instruments, and to give him all +the glory_. + +But with regard to temporal things it will be thus, that if indeed we +walk according to the mind of God in these things, whilst more and more +we become instruments of blessing to others, we shall not seek to enrich +ourselves, but be content, when the last day of another year finds us +still in the body, to possess no more than on the last day of the +previous year, or even considerably less, whilst we have been, however, +in the course of the year, the instruments of communicating largely to +others, through the means with which the Lord had intrusted us. As to +my own soul, by the grace of God, it would be a burden to me that +however much my income in the course of the year might have been, I were +increasing in earthly possession; for it would be a plain proof to me +that I had not been acting as a _steward_ for God, and had not been +yielding myself as a channel for the waters of God's bounty to pass +through. I also cannot but bear my testimony here, that in whatever +feeble measure God has enabled me to act according to these truths for +the last fifteen years [this was written in 1845]; I have found it to be +profitable, most profitable to my own soul; and as to temporal things, I +never was a loser in doing so, but I have most abundantly found the +truth in 2 Cor. ix. 6, and Luke vi. 38, and Prov. xi. 24, 25, verified +in my own experience. I only have to regret that I have acted so little +according to what I have now been stating; but my godly purpose is by +the help of God, to spend the remainder of my days in practising these +truths more than ever; and I am sure that when I am brought to the close +of my earthly pilgrimage, either in death, or by the appearing of our +Lord Jesus, I shall not have the least regret in having done so; and I +know that, should I leave my dear child behind, the Lord will abundantly +provide for her, and prove that there has been a better provision made +for her than her father could have made, if he had sought to insure his +life or lay up money for her. + +Before leaving this part of the subject, I mention to the believing +reader, that I know instance upon instance in which what I have been +saying has been verified, but I will only mention the following: I knew +many years ago a brother as the manager of a large manufactory. Whilst +in this capacity he was liberal, and giving away considerably out of his +rather considerable salary. The Lord repaid this to him; for the +principals of the establishment, well knowing his value to their house +of business, gave him now and then, whilst he thus was liberally using +his means for the Lord, very large presents in money. In process of +time, however, this brother thought it right to begin business on his +own account, in a very small way. He still continued to be liberal, +according to his means, and God prospered him, and prospered him so that +now, whilst I am writing, his manufactory is as large as the one which +he formerly managed, or even larger, though that was a very considerable +one. And sure I am that if this brother shall be kept by God from +setting his heart upon earthly things, and from seeking more and more to +increase his earthly riches, but shall delight himself in being used as +a _steward_ by God, cheerfully communicating to the need of God's poor +children, or to his work in other ways, and doing so not sparingly, but +bountifully, the Lord will intrust him more and more with means; if +otherwise, if he shut up his hands, seek his own, wish to obtain +sufficient property that he may be able to live on his interest, then +what he has to expect is that God will shut up his hands, he will meet +with heavy losses, or there will be an alteration in his affairs for the +worse, or the like. + +I also mention two other cases, to show that the Lord increases our +ability of communicating temporal blessings to others if we distribute +according to the means with which he has intrusted us, though we should +not be in a trade or business or profession. I know a brother who many +years ago saw it right not only to spend his interest for the Lord, but +also the principal, as the Lord might point out to him opportunities. +His desire was not, as indeed it ought never to be, to get rid of his +money as fast as possible, yet he considered himself a steward for the +Lord, and was therefore willing, as his Lord and Master might point it +out to him, to spend his means. When this brother came to this +determination, he possessed about twenty thousand pounds sterling. +According to the light and grace which the Lord had been pleased to +give, he afterwards acted, spending the money for the Lord, in larger or +smaller sums, as opportunities were pointed out to him by the Lord. Thus +the sum more and more decreased, whilst the brother steadily pursued his +course, serving the Lord with his property, and spending his time and +ability also for the Lord, in service of one kind or another among his +children. At last, the twenty thousand pounds were almost entirely +spent, when at that very time the father of this very brother died, +whereby he came into the possession of an income of several thousand +pounds a year. It gives joy to my heart to be able to add, that this +brother still pursues his godly course, living in the most simple way, +and giving away perhaps ten times as much as he spends on himself or +family. Here you see, dear reader, that this brother, using faithfully +for the Lord what he had been intrusted with at first, was made steward +over more; for he has now more than one third as much in a year coming +in as he at first possessed altogether. + +I mention another instance: I know a brother to whom the Lord has given +a liberal heart, and who bountifully gave of that over which the Lord +had set him as steward. The Lord, seeing this, intrusted him with still +more, for through family circumstances he came into the possession of +many thousand pounds, in addition to the considerable property he +possessed before. I have the joy of being able to add also concerning +this brother, that the Lord continues to give him grace to use his +property as a steward for God, and that he has not been permitted to set +his heart upon his riches, through the very considerable increase of his +property, but that he continues to live as the steward of the Lord, and +not as the owner of all this wealth. + +And now, dear reader, when the brethren to whom I have been referring +are brought to the close of their earthly pilgrimage, will they have one +moment's regret that they have used their property for the Lord? Will it +be the least particle of uneasiness to their minds, or will their +children be the worse for it? O no! The only regret they will have +concerning this matter will be, that they did not serve the Lord still +more abundantly with their property. Dear reader, let us each in our +measure act in the same spirit. Money is really worth no more than as it +is used according to the mind of the Lord; and life is worth no more +than as it is spent in the service of the Lord. + +Whilst the three points mentioned--1. That our calling must be of that +nature that _we can abide in it with God_; 2. That unto the Lord we +should labor in our calling, as _his servants_, because he has bought us +with his blood, and because he will have us to labor; 3. That as +_stewards_ we should labor in our calling, because the earnings of our +calling are the Lord's and not our own, as he has bought us with his +blood;--I say, whilst these three points are particularly to be attended +to in order that the Lord's blessing may rest upon our calling, and we +be prospering in it, there are, nevertheless, some other points to be +attended to, which I mention in love to my brethren in the Lord, by whom +they may be needed. + +4. The next point is, that _a believer in the Lord Jesus should do +nothing in his calling which is purely for the sake of attracting the +world_; such as, for instance, fitting up his shop or rooms of business +in the most costly manner. I do not in the least mean to say that his +shop or rooms of business should not be clean, orderly, and of such a +character as that there may be no positive hindrance in persons going +there. All the _needful_ conveniences that are expected may be there, +and ought to be there. But if any child of God seek to have the front of +his shop, or the interior of his shop, or of his place of business, +fitted up in a most expensive way, simply for the sake of attracting +attention, then let him be aware that, just in so far as he is trusting +in these things, he is not likely to succeed in his calling, because he +puts the manner of fitting up the shop in the room of trust in the Lord. +Such things the Lord may allow to succeed in the case of an unbeliever, +but they will not prosper in the case of a child of God, except it be in +the way of chastisement, just as the Lord gave to Israel in the +wilderness the desire of their hearts, but sent leanness into their +souls. Should any brother have fallen into this error, the first thing +he has to do, when the Lord has instructed him concerning this point, is +to make confession of sin, and, as far as it can be done, to retrace his +steps in this particular. If this cannot be done, then to cast himself +upon the mercy of God in Christ Jesus. + +5. Of the same character is, to seek to attract the attention of the +world by "boasting advertisements," such as "no one manufactures so good +an article," "no one sells this article so cheap," "we sell the best +article in the city," etc. Suppose these statements were quite correct, +yet they are unbecoming for a child of God, who has the living God to +care for him and to provide for him, and therefore needs not to make use +of such boasting, whereby he may seek to insure custom to himself and +keep it from others. The law of love is, "Whatsoever ye would that men +should do to you, do ye even so to them." Matt. vii. 12. Now what do I +wish in this particular that others should do to me, but that they +should not seek to keep away persons from dealing with me; but if I use +such like expressions in my advertisements, as have been mentioned, what +do they imply but that I wish all people should come to me, and deal +with me? If, however, already under the old covenant it was said, "Thou +shalt not covet," how much more sinful and altogether unbecoming is it +for us children of God, who are in fellowship with the Father and the +Son, to make use of such means in order to insure to ourselves pecuniary +advantages. But, however much the Lord may allow a man of the world to +prosper in using such means, they are only hindrances to the child of +God to getting on in his calling, because the Lord sees that they are +substituted instead of trust in himself; and should the Lord for a +season allow his child apparently to be benefited by them, it will only +be for his chastisement and connected with leanness in his soul. +Therefore, my brethren in the Lord, I beseech you to put away all these +things out of your calling, lest you should be hindering instead of +furthering your real welfare. + +6. Likewise of a similar character is the following point, which God may +suffer to be a real hindrance to his children in their calling; it is, +To seek the very best, and therefore the most expensive, situations +which can be had in a town or city. Now, I do by no means intend to say, +that in our trade, business, art, or profession, we should seek the most +obscure, retired, out of the way place possible, and say, "God will +provide, and I need not mind in what part of the town I carry on my +calling." There are most assuredly certain things to be considered. The +persons who are likely to buy the articles I sell, or employ me, are to +be considered, and I have not to say, it matters nothing to me whether I +make them come a mile or two to my house, or to the most dirty and +disagreeable part of the town; this would be the extreme in the other +way. But whilst there is a certain consideration to be used with +reference to those who may employ us in our calling, yet if the trust of +the child of God respecting temporal prosperity is in the fact that he +lives in the best situation, the Lord will surely disappoint him. He +will have to pay a very high rent for the best situation, and yet not +succeed, because his trust is in the best situation. He is substituting +it for dependence upon the living God for customers. He is robbing his +soul, not only in not taking the customers as from the hands of the +Lord, but he is also obliging his heavenly Father, in the very love of +his heart, to cause him to be disappointed, because he is not trusting +in him. If the child of God were saying and acting thus: the best +situation would cost me fifty pounds a year more rent than one which is +not really inconvenient for my customers, nor in an improper +neighborhood, and the like; this fifty pounds I dedicate unto the Lord, +to be paid in instalments for his work or his poor saints, whenever the +rent-day comes; such a brother would find himself to be no loser, if +this indeed were done in dependence upon the Lord, and constrained by +the love of Jesus. But if the fifty pounds more is paid for rent, and +yet the living God, in the very love of his heart, should be obliged to +withhold prosperity from his child in his calling, because he sees that +he is laying undue stress upon the situation of the house, then not only +the fifty pounds extra rent per year is lost, but also that which the +Lord is obliged to withhold from his child besides, in order to teach +him the lesson; and thus year after year, by our own fault, we may have +scarcely anything to give for the work of God. + +7. The next obstacle to prosperity in our calling which I now would +mention is, That children of God often use such expressions as these +with reference to their calling: "This is our busy time," or "This is +our dead time;" which implies that they do not day after day deal with +God about their calling, but that they ascribe their having much or +little to do to circumstances, or to times and seasons. That the people +of the world should do so is not to be wondered at; but that the +children of God should act thus, who in the most minute affairs of life +should seek the help of God, and deal with God about them, is a matter +of sorrow to the spiritual mind, and is altogether unbecoming saints. +But what is the result? The Lord, according to the expectations of his +children, allows them to be without employment, because they say, "This +is our dead season." "He did not many mighty works there because of +their unbelief," contains a truth which comes in here. But what is the +right way of looking at the matter? It is this: the child of God should +say, though generally about this time of the year there is little +employment to be expected, looking at it naturally, just as want of +employment is neither good for the outward nor inward man, and as I only +desire employment to serve God in my business, to have to give to those +who are in need, or help in other ways the work of God, I will now give +myself to prayer for employment, for I can by prayer and faith as a +child of God obtain blessings from my heavenly Father, though not in the +ordinary course of things. If thus the child of God were to say and to +act, he would soon have employment in his calling, except the Lord meant +to use his time otherwise in his work, which he would point out to him. + +8. A further reason why God may be obliged to resist children of God in +their business, may be this, that they with the greatest carefulness +seek to obtain persons for their shop who are considered "good +salesmen," _i. e._ persons who have such persuasive ways, as that they +gain an advantage over the customers and induce them not only to buy +articles for which they ask, whether suitable or not, but that they also +induce them to buy articles which they did not at all intend to buy when +they came to the shop. Concerning this I notice, in the first place, +that if the child of God puts his dependence upon the "good salesmen," +let him not be surprised if his heavenly Father should be obliged to +disappoint him, because he sees his child lean upon the arm of flesh, +instead of trusting in the living God; and therefore the business does +not succeed. Further, it is altogether wrong for a child of God to +induce the customers, by means of such men or women who have a +persuasive tongue, to purchase articles whether they suit or not, and +whether they are needed or not. This is no less than defrauding persons +in a subtle way, or leading them into the sin of purchasing beyond their +means, or at least spending their money needlessly. However such sinful +tricks may be allowed to prosper in the case of a man of the world, in +the case of a child of God they will not prosper, except God allow them +to do so in the way of chastisement, whilst leanness and wretchedness +are brought into the soul. I knew a case of this kind where it was the +whole bent of the mind of a professed believer to obtain such "good +salesmen," and where even a Jew was kept outside the shop, walking up +and down, to induce persons to come in and buy; and yet that same +professed believer failed twice in his business. + +9. Another evil with reference to business, and why children of God do +not get on in their calling, is, that they enter upon business often +without any capital at all, or with too little. If a believer has no +capital at all, or only a very small capital, in comparison with what +his business requires, then ought he not to say this to himself: "If it +were my heavenly Father's will that I should enter upon business on my +own account, then would he not somehow or other have intrusted me with +the needful means? And since he has not, is it not a plain indication +that for the present I should remain a journeyman (or shopman, or clerk, +as the case may be)?" In a variety of ways the means might come. For +instance, a legacy might be left to him, or money might be given to him +by a brother in the Lord for that very purpose, or a brother or sister +might propose to the individual to lend him money, yet so that if he +were unable to pay it again they would not consider him their debtor. +But if in some such way the Lord did not remove the hindrance, and the +brother would still go into business, he would, through the bill system +and other things connected with the want of capital, not only bring +great distress into his mind, and subject himself to the possibility of +at last being unable to pay his creditors, whereby dishonor would be +brought upon the name of the Lord, but he likewise could not be +surprised (as he went into business contrary to the will of God, since +he pointed out to him that he was not to do so for want of means) if he +should find that he cannot get on, and that the blessing of God +manifestly is wanting. In such a case as this, if it can be done, the +retracing our steps is the best thing we can do; but often this cannot +be done, as others are involved in the matter, and then we have to make +acknowledgment of our sin, and seek God's merciful help to bring us into +a right position. + +10. But suppose all these nine previous points were attended to, and we +neglected _to seek God's blessing upon our calling_, we need still not +be surprised if we met with difficulty upon difficulty, and could not +get on at all. It is not enough that we seek God's help for that which +manifestly is of a spiritual character; but we should seek his help and +blessing by prayer and supplication for all our ordinary concerns in +life, and if we neglect doing so we shall surely suffer for the neglect. +"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own +understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy +paths." Prov. iii. 5, 6. + +Though these few remarks are written by one who never was in business +himself, yet the truths therein set forth have been learned by him in +the school of God, and he has had them abundantly confirmed through his +pastoral labors during the last fifteen years and a half. [This was +written in 1845.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +REAPING BOUNTIFULLY. + +1845-1846. + + AN UNEXPECTED REQUEST--DELIBERATION--A GREAT + UNDERTAKING--RELIANCE ON THE RESOURCES OF THE LIVING GOD--AN + ANSWER EXPECTED AND RECEIVED--PRAYER FOR FAITH AND + PATIENCE--FURTHER PROOFS OF DIVINE FAVOR--THE BLESSEDNESS OF + DEVISING LIBERAL THINGS. + + +I began the service of caring for children who are bereaved of _both_ +parents, by death, born in wedlock, and are in destitute circumstances, +on Dec. 9, 1835. For nearly ten years I had never had any desire to +_build_ an Orphan House. On the contrary, I decidedly preferred spending +the means which might come in for present necessities, and desired +rather to enlarge the work according to the means which the Lord might +be pleased to give. Thus it was till the end of October, 1845, when I +was led to consider this matter in a way in which I had never done +before.[18] The occasion of my doing so was this: On Oct. 30, 1845, I +received from a gentleman, who lived in the street where the four Orphan +Houses were, a polite and friendly letter, in which he courteously +stated to me that the inhabitants in the adjoining houses were in +various ways inconvenienced by the Orphan Houses being in Wilson Street. +He left to myself the judgment of the case. + + [Footnote 18: The reader will not fail to remark the striking + illustration afforded in the present chapter, of the truth stated + in Chapter XVI., that God rewards the right use of means of + benevolence by affording the means of enlarged usefulness.--ED.] + +This letter I received on Thursday morning, Oct. 30, 1845. Being very +much occupied that week, I had scarcely any time to consider the matter. +On Monday morning, however, Nov. 3, I set apart some hours for the +prayerful consideration of the subject, and after I had besought the +Lord to guide me to a right decision, I wrote down the reasons which +appeared to me to make it desirable that the Orphan Houses should be +_removed_ from Wilson Street, and also the reasons _against removing_. +As far as they are suitable for being stated in print they were these:-- + + +I. REASONS FOR REMOVING FROM WILSON STREET. + +1. The neighbors feel themselves inconvenienced by the noise of the +children in the play-hours. This complaint is neither without +foundation, nor unjust; for many persons are very much inconvenienced by +the noise of children, and those living close by the Orphan Houses must +be so during the play-hours, even though the noise be only of that kind +that one could not at all find fault with the dear children on account +of it. I should myself feel it trying to my head to live next door to +the Orphan Houses on that account. I therefore ought to do to others as +I should wish to be done by. This point had never before appeared to me +in so serious a light. + +2. The greatness of the number of the inmates in the houses had several +times prevented the drains from acting properly, and thus has a few +times affected the water in one or two of the neighbors' houses. With +reference to these two reasons as it regards those living near the +Orphan Houses, these words, "Let not your good be evil spoken of," Rom. +xiv. 16, and "Let your moderation (_i. e._ yieldingness) be known unto +all men," Philip. iv. 5, seemed to me two important portions of the word +of God to be acted out in this matter. + +But in addition to the reasons for removing the Orphan Houses from +Wilson Street on account of the unavoidable occasional inconvenience +that comes upon the neighbors, there appeared now to me, when once I was +led to consider seriously the reasons for removing the Institution from +Wilson Street, other reasons for doing so, in connection with the work +itself, which had occurred to me before, but never in so strong a light +as now, when the subject was brought more immediately before me by the +letter in which I was politely requested to remove the Orphan Houses +from Wilson Street. These reasons are:-- + +1. We have no proper play-grounds in Wilson Street. There is one +play-ground, which, however, is only large enough for the children of +_one house_ at a time; but as there are children in _four_ houses who +ought to have the benefit of it, we cannot arrange so that all the +children have the full benefit of that play-ground, as the meals, the +school-hours, the weather, and other hindrances interfere. The dear +orphans ought, I know, to be trained in habits of industry, but children +are children, and need to be treated as such; and they should, on +account of their health, have the full benefit of a play-ground. But +this they cannot have in Wilson Street: and to take them out into the +fields for the benefit of bodily exercise, as we have been in the habit +of doing, is often very inconvenient. + +2. We have no ground for cultivation near the Orphan Houses, and hence +there must be more walking for the children, on account of using proper +means for keeping them, with the blessing of God, in health, than is in +other respects good for them; because frequent walks easily beget in +children habits of idleness, which would be especially felt when boys +are apprenticed. But this difficulty cannot be obviated by remaining in +Wilson Street, and renting a piece of land somewhere else for +cultivation; for to get the children ready and conduct them to the piece +of ground not only takes a good deal of time, but is connected with +other great inconveniences, yea, with insurmountable difficulties, so +that we found it needful to give up a small piece of ground which we +once rented for about two years for the orphan boys, at a distance of +about half a mile from Wilson Street. Thus, by removing from Wilson +Street, and obtaining premises surrounded by land for cultivation, we +should be able to procure a most important moral benefit for the +children, by having the opportunity more fully than we now have of +training them in habits of industry, besides giving to the boys +occupation which is more suitable for them than knitting, which is now +the only employment they have, besides making their beds, cleaning the +house, and attending to the cooking of their meals. Moreover, this would +be occupation in the open air, which not only would bring into exercise +the use of their limbs, but also make walking for the sake of health +almost entirely needless. + +3. If we were to remove from Wilson Street, and obtain premises in the +country, we might have all the washing done at home, which now, for want +of room, can be only done in part. Thus the girls also would have more +laborious work at home, a point of great importance for them, so that +they would not feel so much the hardships connected with going out to +service. + +4. The situation of Wilson Street is _perhaps_ scarcely bracing enough +for strengthening the constitution of the orphans, most of whom, being +the offspring of very diseased parents, require a very invigorating +place of abode. + +5. The present situation is _certainly_ not desirable for the teachers, +especially as, when their hours of work are over, they have no garden or +fields close to the house immediately to go into for a little +refreshment of their body; and for some of them it is too far to go to +fields, where they might have a bracing air. + +6. In times of sickness we are too confined in the houses in Wilson +Street. If there were less than thirty children in each house, the +average expenses for each child would be too great, it being desirable, +as the arrangements are now, that there should not be less than three +laborers in each house; and yet, if there are thirty children in each +house, we are too full in time of sickness, as we have not a single +spare room in any of the houses. Now, though the Lord has during all +these years most mercifully helped us through such seasons, yet it has +not been without inconvenience, and without also, perhaps, having more +of the children in one room, at such times, than on account of health it +is desirable. + +7. Even ordinarily, when there is no sickness, it would be desirable to +have more room. + +There are no premises to be had in Bristol, or in the immediate +neighborhood, where we could have these advantages; _for I have been +looking about in all directions for this purpose during the last ten +years_. But suppose there were a large house to be had in one part of +the city, and a second a mile off, and a third and a fourth in other +directions, such houses, on account of our peculiar position in the +work, would not do. For in seasons of need the distance of the several +houses would render it very inconvenient for the laborers to meet +together for prayer, to divide the means that may be in hand, etc. +Besides, when in seasons of other peculiar difficulties, connected with +the work, I wished to meet all my fellow-laborers, there would arise +great difficulty by their being divided in different parts of the city. +It would also thus be very inconvenient to persons who wish to see the +work, to go from place to place, in order to have a view of all the +Orphan Houses. But this is not all. The more I have considered the +matter, the more am I now persuaded that no ordinary large houses, built +for private families, and therefore only calculated to accommodate, ten +or fifteen persons at most for any length of time in them, will do for +charitable institutions of any considerable size, as no ordinary house, +except built on purpose, furnishes the proper advantages of ventilation, +_a point so needful for the health of the inmates in a charitable +institution_. There seemed to me, therefore, to remain nothing but to +build premises for the purpose. + + +II. REASONS FOR REMAINING IN WILSON STREET. + +1. God _hitherto_ has pointed out the spot most plainly. At the +commencement of the work, in 1835, no other house was to be had but No. +6 Wilson Street. Afterwards, when in 1836 the Infant Orphan House was on +the point of being opened, again I was looking about in all directions, +and saw many houses, but found none that was suitable, till all at once, +most unlooked for, the occupiers of No. 1 Wilson Street were desirous of +immediately leaving that house, and I was able thus to rent it. When in +1837 I was on the point of opening the Boys' Orphan House, I looked +about again for a house in all directions; for I knew not at that time, +what I have since learned by experience, that it was so important that +all the houses should be near together. After seeking long in vain, I at +last found a very large house, not far from Wilson Street, which I +rented; but when the occupiers of the houses in the neighborhood heard +that that house had been let for a charitable institution, they +threatened the owner with an action, which led him to request me to give +up the agreement, which, of course, I did immediately. At last, most +unexpectedly, after having looked about in vain in all directions, the +occupiers of No. 3 Wilson Street offered it to me, and I rented it for +the orphan boys. Lastly, in the year 1843, when I was led to see it to +be the will of God to go forward in this work, and to establish the +Girls' Orphan House, No. 2, for older girls, one particular feature in +the matter was, that the house No. 4 in Wilson Street had been offered +to me, without being sought after, when there had not been for about six +years one single large house to be let in that street. + +[But though _hitherto_ God has pointed out Wilson Street as being the +spot where this work should be carried on, may not _now_ the time have +come for removing?] + +2. Perhaps we might also rent Nos. 2, 5, and 7, in Wilson Street, and +use two out of those three houses for Orphan Houses, and one of them for +an infirmary in the case of sickness. + +[But then, I said to myself, would not the objection, which the +neighbors on the opposite side of the street might make, on account of +the noise of the children in their play-hours, etc., remain? Also the +drains would be still more unsuitable, not being constructed for so many +inmates; and to alter them would be a heavy expense. The play-ground +would be still less sufficient, if two new houses were added. Lastly, +there was no reason to think that we could rent Nos. 2, 5, and 7.] + +3. There are these three great objections against building: The +considerable sum which is required, and which could be spent for present +use upon the orphans. The pilgrim character of the Christian seems lost +in building. The time that it will necessarily take in making +arrangements for it. + +[Do not all these objections only hold good, I said to myself, if I were +_needlessly_ to set about building? If I could rent premises, which are +really in every way suitable for the work, and I _preferred_ building, +then those objections would apply to the case; but when one is _forced_ +to it, it is no more than erecting a large building because there may be +eight hundred children of God in fellowship who have been hitherto +renting a meeting-place, but for certain reasons are obliged to leave +it, and cannot rent another. Such could not be accused of needlessly +spending money in building instead of renting; nor could it be justly +said that they have _on that account_ given up the pilgrim character; +nor would it be time wasted if some individuals were to make +arrangements about the building of that meeting-place. Therefore these +three objections just mentioned, which had been _for ten years strongly +in my own mind_, were removed when once I saw plainly that nothing +remained but to build.] + +After I had spent a few hours in prayer and consideration over the +subject, I began already to see that the Lord would lead me to build, +and that his intentions were not only the benefit of the orphans and the +better ordering of the whole work, but also the bearing still further +testimony that he _could_ and _would_ provide _large_ sums for those who +need them and trust in him for them; and besides, that he would enlarge +the work, so that, if I once did build a house, it might be large enough +to accommodate three hundred orphans, with their teachers and other +overseers and servants needful for the work. Concerning this latter +point, I think it important to remark, that during no period had the +number of the applications for the admission of orphans been greater +than just before I was led to think about building, so that it was quite +painful to me not to be able to comply with the wishes of all the many +persons who applied for the admission of orphans. There were many +waiting for admission, particularly orphan boys. + +In the afternoon of November 3, 1845, I laid the matter before my +fellow-laborers in the church (eight in number), to get their judgment, +whether I ought not to leave Wilson Street, and to build. All judged +that I ought to leave Wilson Street, and none saw reasons against +building. + +On Nov. 4, my dear wife and I began to meet for prayer about this +matter, and purposed to do so morning by morning. We asked God for +clearer light concerning the particular points connected with the +subject; and being assured that it was his will that I should build, I +began asking the Lord for means. + +On Nov. 7, I judged, having considered the matter more fully, that +sufficiently large premises to furnish all needful accommodation for +three hundred children (from their earliest days up to fifteen or +sixteen years old), together with a sufficiently large piece of ground +in the neighborhood of Bristol, for building the premises upon, and the +remainder for cultivation by the spade, would cost at least ten thousand +pounds. I was not discouraged by this, but trusted in the living God. + +We continued meeting for prayer morning by morning for fifteen days, but +not a single donation came in; yet my heart was not discouraged. The +more I prayed, the more assured I was that the Lord would give the +means. Yea, as fully assured was I that the Lord would do so, as if I +had already seen the new premises actually before me. This assurance +arose not from some vague, enthusiastical feeling, the mere excitement +of the moment, but, 1. From the reasons already related, and especially +from the commandment contained in Philip. iv. 5. For I saw that I should +not act according to the mind of our Lord Jesus if I did not, as soon as +I could, remove the orphans from Wilson Street, as it had been stated to +me, in the letter above referred to, that their living there was an +annoyance to some of the inhabitants in that street. 2. This assurance +that I should build an Orphan House arose further from the whole way in +which the Lord had been pleased to lead me in connection with the +Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad since its beginning +on March 5, 1834, _i. e._ he has been leading me forward as by an unseen +hand, and enlarging the work more and more from its commencement, and, +generally, without my seeking after it, and bringing things so clearly +before me that I could not but see that I ought to go forward. 3. Lastly +and chiefly, this, my assurance that I should build unto the Lord this +house of mercy, arose also particularly from this, that having strictly +examined my heart as to the motives for doing so, I found that, as +before God, I could say that my only motives were his honor and glory, +and the welfare of the church of Christ at large, the real temporal and +spiritual welfare of destitute orphans, and the welfare of all those who +might take care of them, in the building to be erected. And finding +that, after praying again and again about the matter, I still remained +in perfect peace, I judged it assuredly to be the will of God that I +should go forward. + +On Nov. 15, brother R. C. arrived, to labor for a little while in +Bristol. I communicated to him my position with reference to having to +remove the orphans from Wilson Street, and I had his judgment also as to +its being of God that I should _build_. This dear brother's judgment +greatly encouraged me. His visit was to me of great help in this +particular, especially in stirring me up yet more to bring everything in +connection with this matter before God. He also laid it on my heart to +seek direction from God with reference to the plan of the building. He +said, "You must ask help from God to show you the plan, so that all may +be according to the mind of God." + +Up to Dec. 9, thirty-five days had passed away, whilst I was day by day +waiting upon God for means for this work, and not a single penny had +been given to me. Nevertheless, this did not in the least discourage me, +but my assurance that God, in his own time and in his own way, would +give the means, increased more and more. The portion which came in +course of my meditation on the New Testament, was the beginning of the +epistle of James. More than at any period in my life was I struck with +these verses: "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers +temptations (_i. e._ trials); knowing this, that the trying of your +faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye +may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." James i. 2-4. It was +especially the last verse, "But let patience have her perfect work," +etc., which I found of exceeding great importance with reference to the +building of the Orphan House. It led out my soul in prayer day after +day, to ask the Lord to increase my faith, and to sustain my patience. I +had these verses so impressed upon my heart that I could not but think +that God meant particularly to bless me by them, with regard to the work +before me, and that I should especially need patience as well as faith. + +On the thirty-sixth day after having begun to pray, Dec. 10, 1845, I +received one thousand pounds towards the building of the Orphan House. +This is the largest donation that I had received up to that time for the +Scriptural Knowledge Institution; but when I received it I was as calm, +as quiet, as if I had only received one shilling. For my heart was +looking out for answers. Day by day I was expecting to receive answers +to my prayers. Therefore, having faith concerning the matter, this +donation did not in the least surprise me. Yea, if five thousand pounds +or ten thousand pounds had been given to me, instead of one thousand +pounds, it would not have surprised me. + +Dec. 13. On the thirty-ninth day my sister-in-law, who had been for +some weeks absent in London, and who had now returned to Bristol, told +me that she had met a gentleman in London, who, having quite recently +read with deep interest the Narrative of the Lord's dealings with me, +wished to know as many particulars about the work in my hands as he +could. Being told by my sister-in-law that I purposed to build an Orphan +Mouse, he, an architect, offered to make the plan, and superintend the +building _gratuitously_. Unsolicited, he pressed this matter upon her +with deep and lively interest. I hear also that he is a Christian. The +fact that this offer comes _unsolicited_, and from a Christian +architect, shows especially the hand of God. This is the _second_ proof +that God will help me in this matter. + +Dec. 23. This is now the fiftieth day since I have come to the +conclusion to build, and the forty-ninth day since we have been daily +waiting upon God for help. Nothing more has come in since Dec. 10, not +even one penny. This morning I have been particularly encouraged by the +consideration that the Lord has sent me the one thousand pounds, and the +promise from that pious architect, whom I have never seen, and of whose +name I am as yet in ignorance, _not to mock me, but as an earnest that +he will give all that is needed_. + +It seems desirable that we should have a large piece of ground, at least +six or seven acres. This piece of ground must be in the vicinity of +Bristol: 1. In order that the Orphan House may be accessible to me, as +my place at present is fixed by my other work in Bristol. 2. That the +laborers in the Institution, and the orphans may be able to attend our +meetings, at least on the Lord's day. For if meetings were held on +purpose in the Orphan House, either the laborers or the children would +not be benefited by them in that measure in which it is desirable. 3. +That the inhabitants of Bristol may have the benefit of seeing with +their own eyes this work of God, which is so manifestly his and not +mine. 4. That strangers who pass through Bristol may have easy access to +it, for the same reason. But then, such a piece of ground near Bristol, +where there is just now such an inordinate desire for building, in the +way of speculation, would cost, in all human probability, between two +and three thousand pounds. Then the building itself, however plain, +would not cost less than from six to eight thousand pounds, being for +three hundred orphans, besides all their overseers, teachers, and +assistants. In addition to this, the fitting up and furnishing the house +for all these between three and four hundred inmates would not cost less +than fifteen hundred pounds more. This is indeed a large sum of money +which I need; but my hope is in God. I have not sought after this thing. +It has not begun with me. God has altogether unexpectedly, by means of +the letter before mentioned, led me to it. Only the day before I +received the letter, I had no more thought about _building_ premises for +the accommodation of the orphans than I had had during the ten previous +years. My especial prayer is that God would continue to me _faith_ and +_patience_. If he shall be pleased to help me in faith and patience to +continue to wait on him, help will surely come. + +Dec. 24. No further donation yet. But my hope in God is unshaken. He +most assuredly will help. I have on purpose not issued any circular in +connection with this matter, in order that the hand of God may be the +more manifest. To some persons residing in or out of Bristol I have +spoken about my intention of building, when conversation led to it. +Through this, if the Lord please, he can make it known to others, and +thus send means for the building fund. Or he can send in such an +abundance of means for the work which is already in existence, that +from that abundance there might be a rich surplus towards the building +fund. But howsoever God may help, I do desire to see his hand made most +manifest. There will be, no doubt, many trials connected with this +enlargement of the field of labor (for if with the one hundred and +thirty orphans there has been so much trial of faith, what is to be +expected when the number is three hundred); and therefore I desire to +see as clearly as daylight that God himself is leading me onward. + +Dec. 29. This is the fifty-sixth day since I came to the conclusion to +build, and the fifty-fifth since I have been day by day waiting upon God +concerning it. Only that one donation had come in till this evening, +when I received fifty pounds. This donation is exceedingly precious to +me, not only because I am sure it is most cheerfully given, nor even +because of its largeness, but because it is another precious proof that +God will bring about the matter, else he would not give me these +earnests. All _my_ business therefore is, to continue in faith and +patience to wait upon God. My assurance has been more and more +increasing that God will build for himself a large Orphan House in this +city, to show to the inhabitants, and to all who may read and hear about +it, what a blessed thing it is to trust in him. Of late I have seen, by +God's grace, more and more how entirely unworthy I am of being used by +God for this glorious and honorable service, and I can only say: "Lord, +here is thy servant, if thou art pleased to use such a one as I am." + +Dec. 30, 1845. This morning I came, in course of my reading, to the +commencement of the book of Ezra. I was particularly refreshed by the +two following points contained in the first chapter, in applying them to +the building of the Orphan House: 1. Cyrus, an _idolatrous_ king, was +used by God to provide the means for building the temple at Jerusalem: +how easy therefore for God to provide ten thousand pounds for the +Orphan House, or even twenty or thirty thousand pounds, if needed. 2. +The people were stirred up by God to help those who went up to +Jerusalem. Thus it is a small matter for him to put it into the hearts +of his children to help me, in desiring to build this house of mercy +unto his name. This meditation I had before breakfast. After family +prayer in the morning, I had again my usual season for prayer about the +building, and at this time it was particularly coupled with thanksgiving +for the fifty pounds received last evening, and with entreating +blessings on the donor. I was now looking out for more, as I am doing +day by day, when this afternoon I received from a person at Clevedon two +shillings sixpence, from her grandson sixpence, and from the sister in +the Lord who brought the money the change which she did not wish back, +being another sixpence. These donations, though small, are nevertheless +very precious to me, as I take them as further proofs out of the hands +of God that he will most assuredly bring this thing to pass. This +evening I received one thousand pounds towards the building fund. When I +received this donation I was as calm, yea as perfectly calm, as if I had +received a single penny, because, by God's grace, I have faith in him, +and therefore I am looking for answers to my prayers, and am sure that +God will give every shilling that is needed. + +January 2, 1846. This evening I received from Bideford eleven shillings +towards the building fund. + +Jan. 3. One of the orphans gave sixpence. + +Jam 6. Received a little bag made of foreign seed, and a shell flower, +to be sold for the building fund. The sister who sent these articles +wrote to me, that the moment she heard of my intention of building an +Orphan House, this text was before her mind: "Who art thou, O great +mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain." Zech. iv. 7. +Also one of the orphans sent fourpence. + +Having asked the Lord to go before me, I went out to-day to look for a +piece of ground. The armory which is to be sold had been several times +mentioned to me as a suitable place. I did not think so, yet I thought I +ought at least to look at it. Having seen it and been confirmed in my +judgment about its unsuitableness, I asked the Lord whether I should +turn towards the city or towards Stapleton. I felt led to go towards the +city, and saw immediately after some fields near the armory. After +having made inquiry to whom they belonged, I have been led to write this +evening to the owner of them, asking him whether he is disposed to sell +them, etc. I am now quietly waiting the Lord's pleasure. If his time is +come to answer our requests as to a suitable piece of land, I shall be +glad; if it is not yet come, I desire that "patience may have her +perfect work, being perfect and entire, wanting nothing." + +Jan. 8. This evening I received a reply to my letter. The owner of those +fields writes, that, if he did sell them, it would be only for building +land, and therefore they will be too dear. + +Jan. 9. Went this morning once more to see those fields, which seem very +suitable. Met there Mr. L., a land agent, who told me that they would be +nearly a thousand pounds per acre, and therefore too dear. I asked Mr. +L. to inform me if he should hear of any suitable land for sale. + +Jan. 31. It is now eighty-nine days since I have been daily waiting upon +God about the building of an Orphan House. The time seems to me now near +when the Lord will give us a piece of ground, and I told the brethren +and sisters so this evening, after our usual Saturday evening prayer +meeting at the Orphan House. + +Feb. 1. A poor widow sent to-day ten shillings. + +Feb. 2. To-day I heard of suitable and cheap land on Ashley Down. + +Feb. 3. Saw the land. It is the most desirable of all I have seen. There +was anonymously put into an orphan box at my house a sovereign, in a +piece of paper, on which was written, "The New Orphan House." + +Feb. 4. This evening I called on the owner of the land on Ashley Down, +about which I had heard on the 2d, but he was not at home. As I, +however, had been informed that I should find him at his house of +business, I went there, but did not find him there either, as he had +_just before_ left. I might have called again at his residence at a +later hour, having been informed by one of the servants that he would be +sure to be at home about eight o'clock; but I did not do so, judging +that there was the hand of God in my not finding him at either place: +and I judged it best therefore not to force the matter, but to "let +patience have her perfect work." + +Feb. 5. Saw this morning the owner of the land. He told me that he awoke +at three o'clock this morning and could not sleep again till five. While +he was thus lying awake his mind was all the time occupied about the +piece of land respecting which inquiry had been made of him for the +building of an Orphan House, at my request; and he determined with +himself that, if I should apply for it, he would not only let me have +it, but for one hundred and twenty pounds per acre, instead of two +hundred pounds, the price which he had previously asked for it. How good +is the Lord! The agreement was made this morning, and I purchased a +field of nearly seven acres, at one hundred and twenty pounds per acre. + +Observe the hand of God in my not finding the owner at home last +evening! The Lord meant to speak to his servant first about this matter, +during a sleepless night, and to lead him _fully_ to decide before I had +seen him. + +Feb. 8. I wrote the day before yesterday to the architect, who has +offered his help gratuitously. + +Feb. 11. Received from a sister in the Lord five pounds. Received also +from the architect the following reply to my letter:-- + + MY DEAR SIR: + + It will afford me a gratification, beyond what I can communicate + by letter, to lend you the helping hand in the labor of love you + are engaged in, and I shall esteem it a very great privilege + being allowed to exercise my abilities as an architect and + surveyor in the erection of the building you propose to erect + for the orphans. I really do mean what I say, and, if all is + well, by the blessing of God, I will _gratuitously_ furnish you + with plans, elevations, and sections, with specification of the + work, so that the cost may be accurately estimated. I will also + make you an estimate and superintend the works for you + _gratuitously_, etc. + +The total amount which has been given for the building fund, up to June +4, 1846, is two thousand seven hundred and ten pounds three shillings +five and a half pence. This is only a small part of what will be needed; +but, by the grace of God, I am in perfect peace, being fully assured +that God in his own time will send the whole sum which is required. Many +and great have already been the exercises of faith and patience since I +first began to give myself to prayer about this work, and still greater +they may be, before it is accomplished; but God, in the riches of his +grace, will help me through them all. It is now (June 4, 1846) two +hundred and twelve days since I first began to pray about this work, and +day after day, since then, have I been enabled to continue to wait upon +God, and I am more than ever assured that, not withstanding all my +exceeding great unworthiness, God will condescend to use me, to build +this house. Had it been the excitement of the moment, the difficulties +which have already come upon me in connection with this work (and which +are not stated here, on account of their occupying too much room) would +have overwhelmed me; but as God himself, I trust, led me to this work, +so he has helped me, and does help me, and I doubt not will help me to +the end. + +The house is intended to be built so as to accommodate one hundred and +forty orphan girls above seven years of age, eighty orphan boys above +seven, and eighty male and female orphans from their earliest days, till +they are seven years old, together with all the overseers and teachers, +etc., that may be needed. The infants, after having passed the age of +seven, will be removed into the different departments for older boys and +girls. + +Before leaving this period, it may be proper to recur to the following +miscellaneous points, respecting the Scriptural Knowledge Institution +for Home and Abroad, with reference to the period from July 14, 1844, to +May 26, 1846. + +1. During the whole of this period four day schools, with 278 children +in them, were _entirely_ supported by the funds of the Institution. +Three day schools besides were _assisted_. The number of the children +that were taught in the day schools, entirely supported by the funds of +the Institution, from March 5, 1834, to May 26, 1846, amounts to 3,983. +During the period from July 14, 1844, to May 26, 1846, L628, 19s. +43/4d. was spent on all the schools, which were either entirely or in +part supported by the funds of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. +Further: during this period there were also entirely supported a Sunday +school with 80 children, and an adult school with 60 persons attending +it. The total number of the adult scholars who received instruction, +from the formation of this Institution to May 26, 1846, is 1,146. + +2. During this period were circulated 269 Bibles and 171 Testaments; and +5,079 Bibles and 3,528 Testaments were circulated from the commencement +of the work up to May 26, 1846. From July 14, 1844, to May 26, 1846, +L40, 7s. 10d. was expended of the funds of the Institution on this +object. + +3. From July 14, 1844, to May 26, 1846, was laid out for foreign and +home missions the sum of L595, 7s. 9d. During no period previously was +so much of the funds of this Institution spent on missionary work, which +arose from the fact that the more I corresponded with brethren who +labored in the word and doctrine in foreign lands, the more I saw how +much they stood in need of assistance, and thus, my heart having been +led out in prayer to God on their behalf, that he would be pleased to +send me means, whereby I might be able to assist them, he was pleased to +do so. This led me to the purpose, as God should give me grace, to be +still more mindful of them in future, and to seek to be able still more +to assist them. The same was the case with regard to those brethren who +labor in England, but who have no salary or stipend, but trust in the +living God for the supply of their daily necessities; I did long to help +such brethren, and had no doubt that God would enable me to do so. + +4. There was laid out for the circulation of tracts from July 14, 1844, +to May 26, 1846, the sum of L56, 6s. 91/2d., for which 52,003 such +little publications were bought, which, with 5,315 in hand on July 14, +1844, makes 57,318, of which number 40,565 were circulated. The total +number circulated from Nov. 19, 1840, to May 26, 1846, amounts to +99,647. + +5. There were received into the four Orphan Houses, from July 14, 1844, +to May 26, 1846, 30 orphans, who, together with those who were in the +four houses on July 14, 1844, make up 151 in all. + +On May 26, 1846, there were 121 orphans in the four houses. Besides +this, six apprentices were still supported by the funds of the +Institution, so that the total number was 127. The number of the +orphans who were under our care from April, 1836, to May 26, 1846, +amounts to 213. + +I notice further the following points in connection with the Orphan +Houses. + +1. _Without any one having been personally applied to for anything by +me_, the sum of L13,275, 6s. 93/4d. was given to me _as the result of +prayer to God_, from the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1846. +This sum includes the L2,710, 3s. 51/2d. which, up to June 4, 1846, was +given towards the building fund. (It may be interesting to the reader to +know that the total amount which was given as free contributions, for +the other objects, from the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1846, +amounts to L4,833, 18s. 103/4d.; and that which came in by the sale of +Bibles and tracts, and by the payments of the children in the day +schools, amounts to L2,097, 18s. 21/2d.) 2. Besides this, also a great +variety and number of articles of clothing, furniture, provisions, etc., +were given for the orphans, as has been stated in the printed Reports. +The total expenditure for the orphans from July 14, 1844, to May 26, +1846, was L2,732, 14s. 11/2d., and for the other objects, L1,325, 7s. +71/4d. + +In conclusion, I cannot but mention to the praise of the Lord concerning +this period, that four of the Sunday-school children were admitted to +communion. Likewise three more of the orphans were received into church +fellowship; so that up to that time, altogether, thirty-two of the +orphans had been admitted. I also mention with peculiar joy, and as a +matter for thankfulness, that of those who were apprenticed or sent out +to service, from July 14, 1844, to May 26, 1846, ten were believers, +most of whom had been for several years in fellowship before they were +sent out to service. But whilst we desire to receive these instances as +precious encouragements from the Lord to continue our service, we cannot +but believe, judging from the many prayers the Lord gives us for the +children and adults under our care and instruction, that that which we +_see_ is but an earnest of a far larger harvest in the day of Christ's +appearing. + +Dec. 31, 1844. Since brother Craik and I came to Bristol, 982 believers +have been received into communion. During this year 73 have been +received. + +The Lord has been pleased to give me during this year L267, 6s. 9d. To +this is to be added that for the first two months and six days of this +year, my expenses, and those of my dear wife, during our stay in +Germany, were met, as also our travelling expenses back, as stated in +another part of my Narrative. Also during the whole of this year a +Christian lady gave to our dear child board and schooling without any +remuneration, a present worth to us not less than fifty pounds. On this +point I cannot help making a few remarks: I had clearly seen it to be +the will of God that my daughter should be brought up at school, and not +at home. My reasons for it were these: 1. My dear wife, though well +qualified to instruct our daughter, so far as knowledge goes, was +unable, on account of being engaged as my wife in a variety of things +connected with the Lord's service, to give herself uninterruptedly to +this work; and to do it partially we judged to be injurious to our +daughter. 2. I had seen instances in which a home education for an only +child had turned out very badly. 3. I judged that the mixing with other +children would be beneficial to our daughter, provided that intercourse +was under proper oversight; as thus a child is in early life introduced +into a little world, and things do not all at once come upon a young +person, when at last obliged to leave the parental roof. 4. But that +which most of all led me to this decision was, that as in the church of +Christ the Lord has qualified the members of the body for the +performance of certain work, and all have not the same gift and service, +so, in the same way, certain believers are called and qualified above +others for instructing children, and give themselves to this particular +service, and that, therefore, I ought to make use of the qualifications +of such, and of their having given their whole time to this particular +service. These reasons led us to place our daughter at school, instead +of educating her at home, and we have never had cause to regret the step +we took, but, on the contrary, have had abundant reason to praise God +for it. I have purposely made these remarks, as I am fully aware that +some believers have different views on this subject, and I desire to +serve them with the measure of light and experience I have obtained. + +After our daughter had been at school for half a year, I asked for the +account, when it was stated to me by the Christian lady in whose +establishment she was that she had a pleasure in educating her +gratuitously. However, as I pressed the matter, I obtained the account. +It was paid, but the exact sum was returned to me anonymously, which, of +course, I found out at once to be from the Christian sister at whose +school my daughter was. From that time I could never more obtain the +account, though my dear child was about six years longer at school. I +refer to this point for this especial reason: God had laid it on my +heart to care about poor destitute orphans. To this service I had been +led to give myself; he, in return, as a recompense, even for this life, +took care that my own beloved child should have a very good education, +free of expense to me. I was able and well able to pay for her +education, and most willing to do so; but the Lord gave it gratuitously; +thus also showing how ready he is abundantly to help me, and to supply +my wants. + + Having learned that the brethren in Germany were led away by + false teachers, and having received, in answer to prayer, five + hundred pounds, for the expenses of his journey thither, Mr. M. + left Bristol July 19, 1845, and, after laboring in word and + doctrine in Germany, he returned to Bristol Oct. 11, 1845. + +Perhaps the reader may ask, What has been the result of this labor in +Germany? My reply is, God only knows. The day of Christ will declare it. +Judging from the constant labor in prayer during eight months before I +went the second time, and day by day while I was on the Continent, and +day by day for a long time after my return, I am warranted to expect +fruit, and I do expect it. I expect abundant fruit in the day of +Christ's appearing. In the mean time my comfort is that two hundred and +twenty thousand tracts have been circulated, many of which, through the +providence of God, found their way not only into the darkest places of +the continent of Europe, but went also to America and Australia. +Further: four thousand copies of my Narrative, in German, are almost all +circulated. And, again, the publishing of my Narrative in German led me +to do the same in French, which was accomplished about three years +later. Further: these tracts were reprinted at Hamburg and at Cologne, +and are circulated by other Christians; in addition to which, my having +published them in Germany led me to get them stereotyped in England, and +they continue to be circulated in many countries. + +December 31, 1845. There have been received into communion 53 during +this year, and 1,055 since the commencement of our coming to Bristol. + +During this year the Lord has been pleased to give to me L433, 19s. +13/4d. To this is to be added that my dear child had again during the +whole of this year her education free at a boarding-school, as stated at +the close of the last year, whereby I saved about fifty pounds. Also my +travelling expenses to and from Germany, and other expenses connected +with my service in Germany, were paid out of the L500 pounds to which +reference has been made. Adding these two items to L433, I had at least +L500. + +April 29, 1846. To-day my beloved wife and myself had the inexpressibly +great joy of receiving a letter from our beloved daughter, while we are +staying in the Lord's service at Chippenham, in which she writes that +she has now found peace in the Lord Jesus. Thus our prayers are turned +into praises. About eighteen months before this I began especially to +pray for the conversion of my dear child, and the Lord soon after seems +to have begun to work in her heart. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +FAITH CONFIRMED BY PROSPERITY. + +1846-1848. + + THE SPIRIT OF SUPPLICATION BESTOWED AND PRAYER ANSWERED--THE + TIME OF MAN'S NEED AND OF GOD'S BOUNTY--FAITH NOT + SHAKEN--DEALING ONLY WITH GOD--THE NEEDED AMOUNT + FURNISHED--PERPETUAL "NEED"--NOT WEARY IN GOD'S WORK--JOY IN + ANSWERED PRAYER--FOUR REQUESTS GRANTED--"CONTINUING INSTANT IN + PRAYER"--THE BUILDING COMMENCED--PERSONAL HISTORY--A MARKED + DELIVERANCE. + + + In the following chapter, Mr. Mueller has grouped together, under + the appropriate heads, the leading events connected with each of + the departments of the work of the Lord in his hands. + + +I. ASSISTANCE TO THE MISSIONARY LABORERS. + +During no former period since undertaking to send aid to laborers at +home and abroad was I intrusted by the Lord with such large sums as +during the one to which this chapter refers. I had never had more need +of pecuniary supplies than during those two years, on account of the +many pressing calls; but, at the same time, I had the exceeding great +joy and privilege of being able to respond to them in such a way as I +had never before been allowed to do. These remarks apply to all the +various objects of the Institution, but especially to the supplies for +brethren who labor at home and abroad in word and doctrine, without +being connected with any society, or without having any regular salary +for preaching the word. + +On May 26, 1846, after the accounts had been closed, a check for one +hundred pounds was given to me, the application of which was left to my +disposal. I put half of the amount to the fund for these objects, and +half to the orphan fund. When the accounts were closed, there was +ninety-one pounds four shillings elevenpence three farthings in hand for +these objects, to which this fifty pounds was added; therefore I began +this period with more means than I had had in hand at any time +previously at the beginning of a fresh period; and as was its beginning, +so was the continuance. It has often struck me that one especial reason +why, on the whole, I was allowed to have so little trial with regard to +means for the work during those two years, in comparison with former +times, may have been, that thereby the Lord would say that he was +willing to give what would be needed, when once the new Orphan House +should be built, though the expenses would be about two thousand five +hundred pounds a year more than they were before. + +June 4, 1846. To-day was given to me, _just when I rose from my knees_, +after having asked the Lord for more means, especially for missionary +purposes, the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds, with the request to +use of it fifty pounds for the orphans, fifty pounds for laborers in +England, and fifty pounds for laborers abroad. + +From the commencement of this Institution, on March 5, 1834, it had been +my desire to employ part of the funds, with which I might be intrusted, +in aiding missionary brethren in foreign lands, who are not supported by +any regular salary; and for several years I had likewise had the desire +to assist brethren, laboring in similar circumstances, in Great Britain +and Ireland. The Lord also had given me the great privilege to assist +such brethren more or less during the time that this Institution had +been in operation; but especially he began during the two years to which +this chapter refers to allow me to do so in a far greater degree than +before. I knew it to be a fact that many brethren who preach the word, +without having any salary for doing so, or property to live upon, were +in need. Now it might be said that such brethren ought to trust in God; +that, if they preach Jesus as the only hope for the salvation of +sinners, they ought to set them a good example by trusting themselves in +God for the supply of their temporal necessities, in order that +unconverted persons thereby might be led to trust in the Lord Jesus +alone for the salvation of their souls. This is true, quite true. +Preachers of the precious good news of salvation to every sinner who +puts his trust in the merits of the Lord Jesus, ought indeed themselves +to depend upon God, their Lord and Father, for the supply of their +temporal necessities; but I also felt that I, as their brother, ought to +seek to help them as far as lay in me. To this I set myself more than +ever after the beginning of the year 1846, as I knew, that, from +particular causes, there was an especial call to help such brethren; and +as my own means would go but a little way, I gave myself to more earnest +prayer than ever for such brethren. The result was, that, during the two +years of this period, the Lord so answered my _daily_ supplications with +regard to this particular, that I was honored to send nearly three times +as much to home and foreign laborers as during any previous period of +the same length. One thousand five hundred and fifty-nine pounds eleven +shillings sixpence was spent in this way, by which twenty-one brethren +were assisted who labored in foreign lands, and nineteen who labored in +Great Britain and Ireland. Large as this sum is, in comparison with +what I had been able to do in this particular in former years, yet it is +small, very small, in comparison with what my heart desired to be able +to do for these forty brethren. It has frequently, yea almost always, so +happened, that the assistance which God has allowed me to send to such +brethren has come to them _at a time of great need_. Sometimes _they had +no money at all left_. Sometimes _even their last provisions were almost +consumed_, when I sent them supplies. Some of them are fathers of large +families, or have sickly wives and children; some were once well off in +this world, but for Christ's sake have become poor; and some have had +for Christ's sake their all taken from them. Is it not an honor to help +such brethren? I could fill hundreds of pages by giving extracts from +the letters of the dear brethren to whom I have sent help, and they +would be greatly to the edification of the reader; but I do not feel +free to do so. As I have not only been laboring for these brethren in +prayer that God would intrust me with means and allow me the privilege +of helping them, but as I also have asked God to direct me especially to +send to those who might be in particular need, in case I could not help +them all; and as I have sought by an encouraging word to strengthen +their hands in God; I have great reason to believe that these dear +brethren have not only been helped by these pecuniary supplies in a +temporal point of view, but also that the fact of God sending them help +in their extremity has tended to refresh and strengthen their hearts, +and to lead them more and more to trust in him. + +March 7, 1847. Often of late had I entreated the Lord that he would be +pleased to condescend to use me still further as a steward, in allowing +me to send help to the many dear brethren whom I know laboring at home +and abroad without any salary, the need of many of whom I knew. Under +these circumstances I received this morning one hundred and fifty +pounds, with the following lines:-- + + DEAR BROTHER: + + I have great pleasure in sending you one hundred pounds on + account of laborers in the Lord's vineyard at home and abroad, + and fifty pounds for other work in your hands. + + Yours very affectionately, + * * * + +April 5. I have been praying day by day, ever since I was able during +the last month to send about one hundred and thirty pounds to home and +foreign laborers, that the Lord would be pleased soon again to give me +means for them, on account of their great need; indeed, all our means +were so exhausted, that I had only just enough for to-morrow evening to +meet the weekly expenses connected with the six day schools, when this +morning I received one hundred and twenty-five pounds for these objects. +Almost immediately after this donation had been given to me, I received +a letter from Demerara about the great need among the brethren who labor +there, by which intelligence the seasonable help just received has +become still more precious to me. + +May 26, 1848. By the Lord's faithful love I have been enabled to meet +all the heavy expenses connected with _these objects_ during the last +two years, amounting to nearly two thousand and six hundred pounds, and +at the same time owe no one anything, and have a balance of five pounds +nineteen shillings seven pence halfpenny left in hand. + + +II. THE SUPPORT OF THE ORPHANS. + +Jan. 20, 1847. For the whole of this period since May 26, 1846, +therefore nearly eight months, when the accounts were closed, we have +had always an abundance of means, and for the greater part of the time +about two hundred pounds in hand. The sum of one thousand sixty-five +pounds has come in for the orphans in less than eight months, to which +is to be added the balance of eighty-five pounds four shillings +ninepence three farthings in hand when the accounts were closed. +Invariably I have thus been able to give to the matrons of the four +Orphan Houses the money in advance, which was required for the +necessities of one week. But now, after having paid away last evening +forty-five pounds five shillings for the housekeeping of a week in +advance and for other expenses, the money which remains in hand is +needed for rent, and oatmeal, which has been ordered from Scotland. This +morning therefore I gave myself particularly to prayer with regard to +means for present use for the orphans. How blessed to have the living +God to go to! Particularly precious to know him in these days of +wide-spread distress! Potatoes are too dear for food for the orphans at +this time. The rice, which we have substituted instead of them, is twice +as dear as usual; the oatmeal more than twice as dear, and the bread one +half dearer than usual. But the riches of God are as great as ever. He +knows that our expenses are great. He knows that a little will not do in +these days, when provisions are so dear, as there are about one hundred +and fifty persons to be provided for, including teachers and +apprentices. My soul is at peace.--_Evening._ About noon I received from +a pious physician the following note, with a check for five pounds:-- + + MY DEAR SIR: + + I send you something towards buying bread for the orphans. The + dearness of food must be felt by many; but the Lord in judgment + is nevertheless gracious. He will sustain. I am your sincere + friend and well-wisher, + * * * * + +March 9. This evening, Tuesday, I find that since last Tuesday evening +again forty-four pounds one shilling sixpence three farthings has come +in. How good is the Lord in helping me week after week through the heavy +expenses, especially in this season of deep distress and dearness of +provisions! To his praise I can say we have lacked nothing all this +winter. Whilst preparing these extracts from my journal for the press, I +remember to have heard the following remarks made with reference to the +time about which I am just now writing, I mean the season of dearth +during the winter of 1846-7: "I wonder how it is now with the orphans? +If Mr. Mueller is now able, to provide for them as he has, we will say +nothing." When I heard such like remarks I said nothing except this: "We +lack nothing;" or, "God helps us." Should this fall into the hands of +any who have had such thoughts, let them remember that it is the very +time for _faith_ to work, when _sight_ ceases. The greater the +difficulties, the easier for _faith_. As long as there remain certain +natural prospects, faith does not get on even as easily (if I may say +so) as when all natural prospects fail. It is true that during the time +of the dearth our expenses were considerably greater than usual; it is +also true that many persons, who otherwise might have given, were unable +to do so, or had their surplus directed into other channels, such as +Ireland, etc.; but the gold and silver are the Lord's. To him we made +our prayer. In him we put our trust. And he did not forsake us. _For we +went as easily through that winter as through any winter since the work +had been in existence._ Nor could it be otherwise; for God had at this +very time an especial opportunity of showing the blessedness of trusting +in him. Seek, dear reader, more and more to put your trust in him for +everything, and you will even concerning this life find it most precious +so to do. + +March 10. I was able, last evening, to meet most comfortably all the +expenses for the coming week, yet we had then nothing left, as I put by +the rest of the money, that we might not get into debt with regard to +the rent, the expenses of the apprentices, etc. When now there was again +nothing left for future housekeeping expenses, a Christian lady at a +considerable distance informed me by this morning's post that she has +paid into the hands of Messrs. Stuckey & Co. of Bristol, my bankers, the +sum of one hundred pounds for my use for the benefit of the orphans. By +the same post I have received also ten shillings from Droitwich. The +Lord's holy name be praised for this seasonable help! + +May 11. This evening I have been able to meet all the expenses connected +with housekeeping during the coming week, through what has come in since +May 4, but at the same time I have nothing left. Hitherto the children +have lacked nothing. Never were provisions nearly so dear since the +commencement of the work as they are now. The bread is almost twice as +much as eighteen months ago, the oatmeal nearly three times as much as +formerly, the rice more than double the usual price, and no potatoes can +be used on account of the exceeding high price. + +May 30. Lord's-day morning. I have just now received, in our great need, +when there was not sufficient in hand to meet the necessities of +to-morrow, six pounds six shillings, from a Christian gentleman of title +at Zurich in Switzerland, a distance of about one thousand miles. What a +most seasonable help! Thus I am able to send all the remainder of the +supplies which are needed till Tuesday evening. + +In these days of straitness the question would naturally arise, If, when +you have only to care for one hundred and thirty orphans, you are so +poor, what will you do when there are three hundred, for whom you are +just on the point of building a house? And, further, Is it not an +indication not to increase the work, seeing you are now so poor with +only about one third of the number of orphans which you purpose to +receive into the new Orphan House? I am not tried, however, with such +thoughts; for I know that, 1. Only for the trial of my faith, as +heretofore, the Lord allows me now again to be poor. Never at any time +have the expenses been so great for the work as from May 26, 1846, to +May 26, 1847; but also never has so much come in in the same space of +time during any other period of this work. 2. It is for the profit of +the church at large that I have now again to pass through these days of +poverty. 3. It is as easy for the Lord to supply me with all the means +that the work will require when once the new Orphan House is opened, as +it is for him to give me what I need now, though the expenses in all +likelihood will then be two thousand five hundred pounds a year more +than they are at present. + +July 13. The proceeds of an orphan box from Stafford, four pounds seven +shillings sixpence. The friend who sent the money wished to know whether +it arrived in a time of need. I have had many similar requests, to which +I can reply nothing, or say at the most that the answer may be learnt +from the next Report. It will be easily perceived, on reflection, that +if I said it came seasonably, that would imply we had little or nothing +at all in hand, and what would that again mean but this, "As our +expenses are so great, that which you have now sent will be soon gone +again, and therefore send us some more, or get some friend to help us." +But by this very thing the chief object of this work, "_To show how +blessed it is to deal with God alone, and how blessed to trust in him in +the darkest moments_," would be hindered. It is also for this very +reason that I do not publish the accounts very frequently, for instance +quarterly, as I have been requested to do; but I am delighted to wait a +year, or eighteen months, or two years, or more; and even then I do not +publish them for the sake of obtaining money (though unquestionably God +has used the Reports as instruments to procure us means), but for the +benefit of the church of God, to refresh, encourage, exhort, and +instruct my brethren in Christ; and also because it is needful that from +time to time I should give a public account of the way in which the +considerable sums with which I have been intrusted have been spent. + +Oct. 19. I left Bristol with my dear wife, partly because both of us +much needed change of air, and partly because I had a great desire to +labor in the word for a few weeks in Westmoreland and Cumberland. I was +not able to leave more means than enough for about three days for +housekeeping expenses. But I could not have stayed in Bristol, though +there had been nothing at all in hand; my hope was that God would help +during my absence. During all the time of my stay at Bowness in +Westmoreland, from Oct. 20 to Nov. 20, there was day by day, with the +exception of the first three days after my departure, need to wait upon +God for daily supplies for the orphans. In consequence of this, _every +donation, without exception, which was received during my absence, came +in most seasonably_. Partly on account of my health, and partly on +account of opportunities for service in Westmoreland and elsewhere, I +did not feel it right to return to Bristol sooner than I did, though +there was such great poverty; nor could I have done anything in Bristol +which I could not do in Westmoreland, as it regards procuring means, +since prayer and faith are all the means I make use of to obtain +supplies when we are in need. + +Dec. 23. The need of to-day was eleven pounds. This sum the Lord gave me +thus: Last evening I received one pound, together with a pair of +trousers and gaiters, and a remnant of fustian for the orphans. But as +I knew how much there would be needed to-day, I waited further upon the +Lord this morning for help, and, in ONE MINUTE after I had risen from my +knees, I received a letter from Liverpool with ten pounds for the +orphans. The donor writes: "I have had the inclosed ten-pound note in my +drawer for some time, intending to send it to you for the orphans; but +my time is so occupied that at a suitable time when at my desk I have +overlooked it. I now, however, inclose it," etc. How seasonable this +help! How exactly _to the very shilling_ what is needed to-day! How +remarkable that _just now_ this donor in Liverpool is led to send the +ten pounds which had been, according to his own words, for some time in +his drawer for the purpose of sending it! All this abundantly proves +_the most minute and particular providence_ of God, and his readiness to +answer the supplications of his children. + +Dec. 30. When this day began, I was without anything for the necessities +of the day, though I had reason to believe that several pounds would +again be required. I was therefore again looking out for fresh supplies. +Accordingly, about ten o'clock this morning, a brother in the Lord, who +had come last evening to stay for a night in my house, gave me ten +pounds, to be used as it might be most needed. To be noticed in +connection with this donation is: 1. I had, not long since, received a +donation from him. 2. This brother had generally stated how he wished +his donations to be appropriated, and they had been chiefly for +missionary purposes; but this time he left it to me to use this money, +as most needed, and therefore I could take of it what was needed for the +orphans. 3: I was now extremely poor also with regard to the funds for +all the other objects, so that I was obliged to tell the teachers of the +day schools last Tuesday evening, 28th, that if no fresh supplies came +in, I should not be able to give them their weekly salaries, as usual, +next Tuesday evening, being now poorer in this particular than I had +been for years. How kind therefore of the Lord, not only to give me this +money through this brother at this time, but also to dispose his heart +to leave the application of it to me as most needed. I took half of it +for this day's housekeeping expenses for the orphans, and half for the +school fund, for the weekly salaries of the teachers next Tuesday. I +also received further this morning a half sovereign from Droitwich. The +little that was left, after the housekeeping expenses were met, was put +by for rent and the expenses for the apprentices, and I was again +without a penny, looking out for fresh supplies for to-morrow. + +Dec. 31, 1847. The last day of another year had now come. Great and many +had been the mercies of God to me this year in every way, particularly +also in connection with the orphans; but now I had again nothing for +to-day, except two shillings which are in one of the boxes in my house. +I was, however, by God's grace, able to look out for supplies for this +last day of another year also, being fully assured that the Lord would +not confound me. And thus it has been, according to my expectation; for, +before I was called on for money, I received one hundred pounds, which +was left to me to apply to any part of the Lord's service where there +seemed the most need. + +Feb. 2, 1848. This morning, on my walk before breakfast, I felt myself +led out of my usual track into a direction in which I had not gone for +some months. In stepping over a stile I said to myself: "Perhaps God has +a reason even in this." About five minutes afterwards I met a Christian +gentleman who gave me two sovereigns for the orphans, and then I knew +the reason why I had been led this way. + +Feb. 3. The reader might say, "_You are continually in need. No sooner +is the one demand met, than another comes. Do you not find it a trying +life, and are you not tired of it?_" My reply is, It is true I am more +or less continually in need in connection with this work. And if I were +to tell out all my heart to the reader concerning it, he would have +still more reason to say that I am continually in need. For what I have +here written is almost exclusively about the way in which God has been +pleased to supply me with _money_ for carrying on the work; but I do +deliberately state that this, much as it might appear to one or the +other, is by no means the chief thing that I stand in need of from day +to day. I will just hint at a few other things. Sickness among the +children, very difficult and tedious cases, in which, notwithstanding +all the means which are used month after month, yea, year after year, +the children remain ill. Nothing remains but either to keep them, or to +send them to the Parish Union, to which they belong, as they have no +relatives able to provide for them. The very fact of having cared for +them and watched over them for years only endears them the more to us, +and would make it the more trying to send them back to their parish. +This is a "need" which brings me to God. Here is prayer required, not +only for means which such sick children call for, but for guidance and +wisdom from on high. + +Sometimes children are to be placed out as servants or apprentices. A +suitable place is needed, or else they had better remain under our care. +The obtaining of this suitable place is a "need" indeed. It is more +difficult to be obtained than money. Sometimes for many weeks have I had +to wait upon God to have this "need" supplied; but he has always at last +helped. Sometimes great has been my "need" of wisdom and guidance in +order to know how certain children ought to be treated under particular +circumstances; and especially how to behave towards certain apprentices +or servants who were formerly in the Orphan Houses. A "need" in this +respect is no small thing; though I have found that in this and in all +other matters, concerning which I was in "need," I have been helped, +provided I was indeed able to wait patiently upon God. That word, +"godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life +that now is and of that which is to come," (1 Tim. iv. 8,) I have in +times almost without number found to be true in my own experience. + +Further, when one or the other of the laborers needed to leave the work +on account of health, or for other reasons, I have been at such times in +far greater "need" than when I required money for the various objects of +the Institution. I could only have such "need" supplied by waiting upon +God. I could do nothing but speak to my heavenly Father about this +matter, and he has always helped. One of the greatest difficulties +connected with this work is to obtain suitable godly persons for it; so +many things are to be taken into the account. Suitable age, health, +gift, experience, love for children, true godliness, a ready mind to +serve God in the work and not themselves, a ready mind to bear with the +many trials and difficulties connected with it, a manifest purpose to +labor, not for the sake of the remuneration, but to serve God in their +work; surely, to obtain godly persons, in whom these qualifications even +in some measure are found combined, is not an easy matter. Not that any +one will suppose me to mean that I am looking out for perfect +fellow-laborers. Not that any one will suppose that my fellow-laborers +are referred to by me as if they were without weaknesses, deficiencies, +and failings. I am myself far, very far from being without weaknesses, +deficiencies, and failings. Moreover, I never expect to find +fellow-laborers for this work who have not their weaknesses; but _this I +do mean to say_, that the work of God in my hands is of that character, +and, by God's grace, is really carried on with such a true purpose to +serve God thereby (however much I and my fellow-laborers may fail), that +it is with me a matter of deep moment to find truly suitable individuals +for it, in whom, as much as possible, the above qualifications should be +found united. And, however much there may be wanting, this is more and +more my aim, that I may obtain _such_ helpers; and hence it can be +easily perceived how great my "need" must be again and again on this +very account. I do here especially advise, that if any should apply in +future for situations in connection with this work, they would keep +these remarks before them; for, by God's grace, it is my purpose never +to give to any persons a situation in connection with the Institution, +if they are not suitable for it according to the light which God gives +me. + +Further, that the laborers work happily together among themselves, and +that I go on happily in service with them; that I be their servant, on +the one hand, and yet, on the other, maintain the place which God has +given me in this work; surely, if any one carefully looks at this, he +will at once see that there is a difficulty and a "need" far greater +than any that is connected with _money_. O, how these matters lead one +to call upon God! How they continually make one sensible of one's +"need!" Truly, I am in need, in continual need. I might refer to many +more points, in connection with this work, in which I am more or less +continually in "need;" but I will only mention one. It is now many years +since I have made my boast in the living God in so public a manner by my +publications. On this account Satan unquestionably is waiting for my +halting, and if I were left to myself I should fall a prey to him. +Pride, unbelief, or other sins would be my ruin, and lead me to bring a +most awful disgrace upon the name of Jesus. Here is then a "need," a +great "need." I do feel myself in "need," in great "need," even to be +upheld by God; for I cannot stand for a moment if left to myself. O that +none of my dear readers might admire me, and be astonished at my faith, +and think of me as if I were beyond unbelief! O, that none of my dear +readers might think that I could not be puffed up by pride, or in other +respects most awfully dishonor God, and thus at last, though God has +used me in blessing hitherto to so many, become a beacon to the church +of Christ! No, I am as weak as ever. I need as much as ever to be upheld +as to faith, and every other grace. I am therefore in "need," in great +"need;" and therefore help me, dear Christian reader, with your prayers. + +I allow, then, most fully that I am in continual "need." This is the +case with regard to money matters, because the work is now so large. A +few hundred pounds go but a little way. There have often been weeks when +my demands have been several hundred pounds a week, and it can therefore +easily be supposed that, even if large donations come in, they do not +last long. But whilst I allow this, I desire that the Christian reader +may keep in mind that there are other necessities, and even greater ones +than those connected with _money_. Should, however, the reader say that +he thinks "_I must find this a very trying life, and that I must be +tired of it_," I beg to state that he is entirely mistaken. I do not +find the life in connection with this work a trying life, but a very +happy one. It is impossible to describe the abundance of peace and +heavenly joy that often has flowed into my soul by means of the fresh +answers which I have obtained from God, after waiting upon him for help +and blessing; and the longer I have had to wait upon him, or the greater +my need was, the greater the enjoyment when at last the answer came, +which has often been in a very remarkable way, in order to make the hand +of God the more manifest. I do therefore solemnly declare that I do not +find this life a trying life, but a very happy one, and I am +consequently not in the least tired of it. Straits and difficulties I +expected from the very beginning. Before I began this service I expected +them; nay, the chief object of it was, that the church at large might be +strengthened in faith, and be led more simply, habitually, and +unreservedly to trust in the living God, by seeing his hand stretched +out in my behalf in the hour of need. I did, therefore, expect trials, +great trials and straits; but cheerfully, for the glory of God, and the +profit of God's dear children, did I desire to pass through them, if +only the saints might be benefited by the dealings of God with me. The +longer I go on in this service, the greater the trials of one kind or +another become; but at the same time the happier I am in this my +service, and the more I am assured that I am engaged as the Lord would +have me to be. How then could I be tired of carrying on the work of God +on such principles as I do? + + +III. THE NEW ORPHAN HOUSE ON ASHLEY DOWN. + +Up to May 26, 1846, L2,710, 3s. 51/2d. had been received toward +building the new Orphan House. + +July 4, 1846. For about three months my faith and patience have been +exceedingly tried about the field which I have purchased for the +building of the orphan house, as the greatest difficulties arose about +my possessing the land after all; but, by God's grace, my heart was kept +in peace, being fully assured that if the Lord were to take this piece +of land from me _it would be only for the purpose of giving me a still +better one; for our heavenly Father never takes any earthly thing from +his children except he means to give them something better instead_. But +in the midst of all this great trial of faith I could not but think, +judging from the way in which God so manifestly had given me this piece +of land, that the difficulties were only allowed _for the trial of my +faith and patience_. And thus it was. Last evening I received a letter +by which all the difficulties were removed, and now, with the blessing +of God, in a few days the conveyance will be made out. + +July 6. The reason why, for several months, there had come in so little +for the building fund, appeared to me this, that we did not need the +money at present; and that when it was needed, and when my faith and +patience had been sufficiently tried, the Lord would send more means. +And thus it has proved; for to-day was given to me the sum of two +thousand and fifty pounds, of which two thousand pounds is for the +building fund, and fifty pounds for present necessities. + +It is impossible to describe my joy in God when I received this +donation. I was neither excited nor surprised; for _I look out_ for +answers to my prayers. _I believe that God hears me._ Yet my heart was +so full of joy that I could only _sit_ before God, and admire him, like +David in 2 Sam. vii. At last I cast myself flat down upon my face, and +burst forth in thanksgiving to God, and in surrendering my heart afresh +to him for his blessed service. + +July 21. This morning a gentleman from Devonshire, on his way to London, +called on me. When he came I was just in prayer, having, among other +matters, brought also before the Lord the following points: 1. I had +been asking him for some supplies for my own temporal necessities, being +in need. 2. I had asked him for more means for the building fund, and +besought him to hasten the matter, on account of the inhabitants in +Wilson Street, on account of the welfare of the children and those who +have the oversight of them in the Orphan Houses, and lastly that I might +be able to admit more orphans, the number of applications being so +great. 3. I had also asked the Lord for means for present use for the +orphans, as the outgoings are so great. 4. I had asked for means for +the other objects. When I saw this gentleman from Devonshire, he gave me +twenty pounds, of which ten pounds is to be used for the building fund, +five pounds for present use of the orphans, two pounds for brother Craik +and myself, and the remaining three pounds were left to my disposal, +which I applied to the other objects of the Scriptural Knowledge +Institution. Thus I received, _at the very moment that I had been asking +God_, FOUR answers to my prayers. + +Nov. 19. I am now led more and more to importune the Lord to send me the +means which are requisite in order that I may be able to commence the +building. Because, 1. It has been for some time past publicly stated in +print that I consider it is not without ground that some of the +inhabitants of Wilson Street consider themselves inconvenienced by the +Orphan Houses being in that street, and I long therefore to be able to +remove the orphans from thence, as soon as possible. 2. I become more +and more convinced that it would be greatly for the benefit of the +children, both physically and morally, with God's blessing, to be in +such a position as they are intended to occupy, when the new Orphan +House is built. And, 3. Because the number of very poor and destitute +orphans, that are waiting for admission, is so great, and there are +constantly fresh applications made. Now whilst, by God's grace, I would +not wish the building to be begun one single day sooner than it is his +will; and whilst I firmly believe that he will give me, in his own time, +every shilling which I need; yet I also know that he delights in being +earnestly entreated, and that he takes pleasure in the continuance in +prayer, and in the importuning him, which so clearly is to be seen from +the parable of the widow and the unjust judge. Luke xviii. 1-8. For +these reasons I gave myself again particularly to prayer last evening, +that the Lord would send further means, being also especially led to do +so, in addition to the above reasons, because there had come in but +little comparatively since the 29th of last month. This morning between +five and six o'clock I prayed again, among other points, about the +building fund, and then had a long season for the reading of the word of +God. In the course of my reading I came to Mark xi. 24: "What things +soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye +shall have them." The importance of the truth contained in this portion +I have often felt and spoken about; but this morning I felt it again +most particularly, and, applying it to the new Orphan House, said to the +Lord: "Lord, I believe that thou wilt give me all I need for this work. +I am sure that I shall have all, because I believe that I receive in +answer to my prayer." Thus, with the heart full of peace concerning this +work, I went on to the other part of the chapter, and to the next +chapter. After family prayer I had again my usual season for prayer with +regard to all the many parts of the work, and the various necessities +thereof, asking also blessings upon my fellow-laborers, upon the +circulation of Bibles and tracts, and upon the precious souls in the +adult school, the Sunday schools, the six day schools, and the four +Orphan Houses. Amidst all the many things I again made my requests about +means for the building: And now observe: About five minutes after I had +risen from my knees, there was given to me a registered letter, +containing a check for three hundred pounds, of which two hundred and +eighty pounds are for the building fund, ten pounds for my own personal +expenses, and ten pounds for brother Craik. The Lord's holy name be +praised for this precious encouragement, by which the building fund is +now increased to more than six thousand pounds. + +Dec. 9. It is now four hundred days since day after day I have been +waiting upon God for help with regard to the building of the Orphan +House; but as yet he keeps me still in the trial of faith and patience. +He is still saying, as it were, "Mine hour is not yet come." Yet he does +sustain me in continuing to wait upon him. By his grace my faith is not +in the least shaken; but I am quite sure that he, in his own time, will +give me everything which I need concerning this work. _How_ I shall be +supplied with the means which are yet requisite, and _when_, I know not; +but I am sure that God will help me in his own time and way. In the mean +time I have abundant reason to praise God that I am not waiting on him +in vain; for since this day twelvemonth he has given me, in answer to +prayer, a most suitable piece of ground, and six thousand three hundred +and four pounds for the building fund, and about two thousand seven +hundred pounds for present use for the work, so that altogether I have +received, since this day twelvemonth, solely in answer to prayer, the +sum of nine thousand pounds. Surely, I am not waiting upon the Lord in +vain! By his help, then, I am resolved to continue this course unto the +end. + +Dec. 22. To-day I have again a precious proof that _continuing_ to wait +upon the Lord is not in vain. During this month comparatively little had +come in for the building fund; yet, by God's grace, I had been enabled, +as before, yea, even with more earnestness perhaps than before, to make +known my requests unto God, being more and more convinced that I ought +to seek by earnest prayer soon to be able to begin the building. In +addition to this I had also especially besought the Lord to give me +means for missionary brethren, and also for brethren who labor in the +word in various parts of England and Ireland, as all my means for them +were now gone. I had also been waiting upon God for means to order a +fresh stock of tracts. I had lastly again and again besought the Lord to +give me means for the poor saints in Bristol, of whom there are many, +and whose need is now particularly great. Now to-day the Lord has +granted me precious answers to my requests concerning these various +objects, for I received this morning one thousand pounds, with these +words: "I send you some money, part of which you can apply to the +orphans and the other objects of your Institution, according to their +need, and the rest you can put to the building fund. At the present +price of provisions your expenses must be large for the orphans. Please +also take twenty-five pounds for your own need." + +January 25, 1847. The season is now approaching when building may be +begun. Therefore with increased earnestness I have given myself unto +prayer, importuning the Lord that he would be pleased to appear on our +behalf, and speedily send the remainder of the amount which is required, +and I have increasingly, of late, felt that the time is drawing near +when the Lord will give me all that which is requisite for commencing +the building. All the various arguments which I have often brought +before God I brought also again this morning before him. It is now +fourteen months and three weeks since day by day I have uttered my +petitions to God on behalf of this work. I rose from my knees this +morning in full confidence not only that God _could_, but also _would_, +send the means, and that soon. Never, during all these fourteen months +and three weeks, have I had the least doubt that I should have all that +which is requisite. And now, dear believing reader, rejoice and praise +with me. About an hour after I had prayed thus, there was given to me +the sum of two thousand pounds for the building fund. Thus I have +received altogether L9,285, 3s. 91/2d. towards this work. I cannot +describe the joy I had in God when I received this donation. It must be +known from experience in order to be felt. Four hundred and forty-seven +days I have had to wait upon God before the sum reached the above +amount. How great is the blessing which the soul obtains by _trusting +in God_ and _by waiting patiently_. Is it not manifest how precious it +is to carry on God's work in this way, even with regard to the obtaining +of means? From Dec. 10, 1845, to Jan. 25, 1847, being thirteen months +and a half, I have received, solely in answer to prayer, nine thousand +two hundred and eighty-five pounds. Add to this what came in during that +time for present use for the various objects of the Institution, and the +total is about twelve thousand and five hundred pounds, entirely the +fruit of prayer to God. Can it be said, therefore, with good ground, +that this way of carrying on the work of God may do very well in a +limited and small way, but it would not do on a large scale? The fact +brought out here contradicts such statements. + +June 23. This day the Lord in his great goodness, by a donation of one +thousand pounds for the building fund, has again encouraged my heart +abundantly to trust in him for all that which I shall yet need to meet +the remainder of the expenses connected with the fitting up and +furnishing the new Orphan House, etc. + +April 29, 1848. The total amount which I have received for the building +fund is L11,062, 4s. 111/2d. This sum enables me to meet all the +expenses connected with the purchase of the piece of land and with the +erection of the house. I stated before that I did not mean to commence +the building until I had all the means requisite for it, and this +intention was carried out. It was not until I had a sufficient amount of +means to meet all the sums required for the various contractors that a +single thing was done; but when I once had as much as was required for +them, I did not consider it right to delay any longer, though I saw then +clearly, and have since seen still more clearly, that I should need yet +a considerable sum to complete the work. For whilst in every respect the +building will be most plain and inexpensive, yet, it being intended to +be the abode of three hundred orphans, with all their teachers and +overseers, it necessarily must be a very large building, and was +therefore found to be even somewhat more expensive than I had thought, +as the whole (including fittings and furniture) cannot be accomplished +for less than fourteen thousand five hundred pounds, towards which the +Lord has already given me, as stated, eleven thousand and sixty-two +pounds four shillings elevenpence halfpenny. The sum still needed is +required for all the ordinary fittings, the heating apparatus, the gas +fittings, the furnishing the whole house, making three large +play-grounds and a small road, and for some additional work which could +not be brought into the contracts. I did not think it needful to delay +commencing the building, though several thousand pounds more would be +required, as all these expenses needed not to be met till many months +after the beginning of the building. + +The work of the building commenced on July 5, 1847. Six hundred and +seven days I sought the help of God day by day, before we came so far as +to be able to commence the building; yet at last he gave me the desire +of my heart. + + +IV. MISCELLANEOUS POINTS RESPECTING THE SCRIPTURAL KNOWLEDGE INSTITUTION +FOR HOME AND ABROAD. + +1. During the whole of this period six day schools, with 330 children, +were supported by the funds of the Institution; two Sunday schools were +entirely supported by it, and a third one was occasionally assisted. +Again, four from among the Sunday-school children were, during these two +years, received into church fellowship. The total number of the children +who received instruction in the day schools of the Institution, from its +commencement up to May 26, 1848, amounted to 4,519. The number of the +adult scholars who were instructed during this period in the adult +school, which was supported by the funds of the Institution, amounted to +292; and the total number of adults who had instruction from March 5, +1834, to May 26, 1848, was 1,438. The total of the expenses connected +with all these schools, during these two years, amounted to L886, 1s. +111/2d. + +2. During this period were circulated 649 Bibles and 232 New Testaments. +There were circulated from March 5, 1834, up to May 26, 1848, 5,746 +Bibles and 3,760 New Testaments. During this period, L74, 9s. 10d. was +expended of the funds of the Institution on this object. + +3. From May 26, 1846, to May 26, 1848, was expended of the funds of the +Institution on missionary objects, L1,559, 11s. 6d., whereby 43 laborers +in the gospel, at home and abroad, were assisted. + +4. During this period 64,021 tracts were circulated, and the sum of L63, +1s. 5d. was expended on this object of the funds of the Institution. The +total number of tracts circulated from Nov. 19, 1840, to May 26, 1848, +amounted to 163,668. + +5. There were received into the four Orphan Houses, from May 26, 1846, +to May 26, 1848, 51 orphans, who, together with those who were in the +four houses on May 26, 1846, made up 172 in all. + +On May 26, 1848, there were 122 orphans in the four houses. The number +of the orphans under our care from April, 1836, to May 26, 1848, was +264. The total amount of expenditure in connection with the support of +the orphans from May 26, 1846, to May 26, 1848, was L3,228, 5s. 11d. + +I notice, in connection with the Orphan Houses, that _without any one +having been personally applied to for anything by me_, the sum of +L24,771, 19s. 83/4d. was given to me _as the result of prayer to God_ +from the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1848. This sum includes +the L11,062, 4s. 111/2d., which up to May 26, 1848, had been given +towards the building fund. It may be interesting to the reader to know +that the total amount which was given as free contributions for the +other objects, from the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1848, was +L7,060, 14s. 13/4d.; and that which came in by the sale of Bibles and +tracts, and by the payment of the children in the day schools, amounted +to L2,373, 3s. 71/2d. + + +V. PERSONAL HISTORY. + +Dec. 31, 1846. During this year there have been received into fellowship +66. The Lord has been pleased to give me during this year L399, 2s. 11d. +To this is again to be added, what I have enlarged on in a former +chapter, that during the whole of this year also my daughter was, free +of all expenses, at a boarding-school, worth about fifty pounds. + +In November, 1847, I had a most remarkable deliverance, which, to the +praise of the Lord, is here recorded, as it is a further illustration of +how the Lord watches over his children. + +I was laboring for a little while at Bowness and Keswick in the ministry +of the word, in October and November. When at Keswick, I stayed with my +dear wife in a large boarding-house, in which, however, we were then +alone, except a single gentleman. Just before we left Keswick, on the +morning of Nov. 24, I heard that the gentleman, lodging in the same +house, had shot himself during the night, but was not quite dead. We had +not heard the report of the pistol, it being a very stormy night and the +house large. Two days after, I received from a Christian brother at +Keswick the following information respecting the transaction. + + KESWICK, Nov. 25, 1847. + + DEAR MR. MUeLLER: + + The tender and Almighty care of our loving Father was never more + over _you_, and indeed over all of us, than in your stay at Mrs. + ----'s. Mr. ---- was quite deranged for two or three days before + you left. Without any control, he had been walking about his + room for the last two days and nights, with loaded pistols in + his hands. Furthermore, he had taken into his head that you were + going to kill him. How gracious of God that he spread his wings + over you, and over dear Mrs. Mueller, so that Satan could not + break through the fence, to hurt even a hair of your heads. + Speaking after the manner of men, there was nothing to have + hindered him coming into the room, where we were all at tea,[19] + and of firing amongst us; but the Lord was our refuge and + fortress, and preserved us from danger, which we knew not of. He + shot himself in the neck and breast, but is not dead. He has a + strait-waistcoat on. I assisted in cutting his clothes off, and + in other little offices needed at such a time, and told him of + Christ's love in dying for poor sinners. "I know it," he said. + He shot himself the first time about three o'clock in the + morning, and again about seven. What a scene his room presented; + pistols lying in gore; bloody knives, lancets, and razors + strewed about the floor, etc. + + [Footnote 19: The evening before my departure I had invited a + number of believers to tea, to spend some time together in prayer, + reading the Holy Scriptures, and in intercourse on spiritual + subjects.] + +I add an extract from a second letter, written by the same Christian +brother, because it shows still further how very merciful the Lord was +to us at that time, in protecting us. + + Mr. ---- is still alive, and has been removed by his friends + into Yorkshire. It appears, insanity is in his family, his + father being at this time in an asylum. It is evident that he + had the pistols in his pockets, but of this no one knew until + after the occurrence took place. I do not know what time of + night you went to bed, but I judge it was about ten. If so, it + was at ten o'clock Mr. ---- came down from his bedroom, after + having been there six hours. It was a mercy you did not meet + him, as it is plain that he had loaded pistols on his person. + +Dec. 31, 1847. There have been received into fellowship, during this +year, 39; and altogether, since Mr. Craik and I began laboring in +Bristol, 1,157, besides the 68 whom we found in fellowship. During this +year the Lord has been pleased to give me L412, 18s. 81/2d. To this is +again to be added the free education of my dear daughter, at a boarding +school, worth to us at least fifty pounds. + +In April, 1848, I was enabled, by the help of the Lord, to complete all +the arrangements for the publication of the Narrative of the Lord's +dealings with me, in the French language; and about September of the +same year the book appeared, under the following title: "Expose de +quelques-unes des dispensations de Dieu envers Georges Mueller. Paris, +librairie Protestante, Rue Tronchet, 2." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +CONTINUED MERCIES. + +1848-1850. + + HUMBLE BEGINNINGS--DEVISING LIBERAL THINGS--THE ORPHANS PROVIDED + FOR--A MEMORABLE DAY--MONEY "AT INTEREST"--MEANS FROM AN + UNEXPECTED SOURCE--THE PROGRESS OF THE NEW ORPHAN HOUSE--MEANS + PROVIDED FOR ITS COMPLETION--INEXPRESSIBLE DELIGHT IN + GOD--REVIEW OF THE TWO YEARS PAST. + + +On the 26th of May, 1848, I had on hand for the Bible, tract, +missionary, and school funds of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, +five pounds nineteen shillings sevenpence one farthing; a sum so small, +that, without the help of God, I could not have gone on even for a few +days; for during this period our average expenditure for one single day, +merely for this part of the work, was as much as the whole balance left +in hand. Now see how God carried me through, in meeting the expenditure +of the thousands of pounds which were laid out for these objects, +irrespective of the orphan work, from May 26, 1848, to May 26, 1850. + +On the very next day, after the accounts were closed, May 27, 1848, I +received from Westmoreland five pounds, being the first donation during +this period towards this part of the work, of which sum one half was +intended by the donor for the current expenses of the orphans, and the +other half for these objects. On the following day, May 28, was +anonymously put into the chapel boxes for missions one shilling +sixpence, and twopence. Now it happened so that all the expenses, +connected with these objects, during the first two days amounted only to +about three pounds, which I was able to meet by what had come in and the +balance left in hand; and on May 29 I received one hundred pounds. As +the application of this sum was left to me, I took one half of it for +the orphans, and the other half for these objects. Thus I was supplied +with means to meet the expenses which came on me the following day, May +30, when I had to pay the weekly salaries of the teachers in the day +schools. + +June 9. Great has been my desire, and many have been my prayers to God, +that he would be pleased to condescend to use me still further, in +allowing me the privilege of helping brethren who labor in the word and +doctrine, at home and abroad, without any salary, as I have been able to +do but very little for them comparatively during the last four months. +Now at last, in answer to my prayers, I have received this morning one +hundred and sixty pounds for home and foreign laborers. The Lord may see +it needful, for the trial of our faith, to seem for a season not to +regard our supplications; yet, if we patiently and believingly continue +to wait upon him, it will be manifest, in his own time and way, that we +did not call upon him in vain. + +July 12. My soul has been longing for further supplies for home and +foreign laborers, to whom I have sent of late all I could. Almost all +the letters which I have received from the brethren, to whom I have sent +money, have shown to me their great need. Some were in the greatest +necessity when my remittances were received by them. Under these +circumstances a donation of one hundred and seventeen pounds two +shillings sevenpence came in this morning, of which I took fifty pounds +for these objects, and sixty-seven pounds two shillings sevenpence for +the orphans. + +Nov. 9. Only a few shillings were left in my hands on Tuesday evening, +the 7th instant, towards the weekly salaries of the teachers, for the +coming week. Also, almost all the tracts are again gone, and it is +nearly four weeks since I paid out the last money I had in hand for +missionary objects. As to this latter point, my heart had been +especially longing to be able to send again help to home and foreign +laborers, knowing how very great the need of many is. Thus I was +situated with regard to means, when I received to-day one thousand +pounds. + +Since March 5, 1834, I have received above forty-four thousand pounds +altogether [up to May 26, 1850, only]; and so has the Lord enlarged the +work and helped me that during the last three years I have had the +privilege of paying away in his service, in connection with this work, +about twenty-five thousand pounds; nor have I had during this period, in +any one instance, to meet a payment without being previously provided by +the Lord with means for it. If it pleased the Lord to condescend to use +me further in this way, he could so order it that even a still larger +field of labor were intrusted to me, which would require still greater +sums. Truly, it must be manifest to all simple-hearted children of God, +who will carefully read the accounts respecting this Institution, that +he is most willing to attend to the supplications of his children who in +their need cry to him; and to make this manifest is the great object I +aim at, through the means of this Institution. + +Jan. 2, 1850. The new year commences, even as to this part of the work, +with new mercies. There was given to me one hundred and sixty pounds, to +be used as might be most needed. + +Jan. 30. During this month I had been especially led to send much +assistance to home and foreign laborers. Also in other respects the +expenses for _these_ objects had been considerable. On this account the +funds for them had been reduced to about eighty pounds when I received +this evening four hundred and fifty pounds, of which the donor kindly +wished me to take fifty pounds for my own personal expenses, to give to +brother Craik fifty pounds, and to use the other as might be most +needed. + +May 3. The work is now large, the outgoings great. During the month were +again expended about five hundred pounds for the various objects of the +Institution, nor have I any prospect that the expenses will decrease; +yea, _I have no desire that they should_. I have as great satisfaction, +as much joy, in writing checks for large amounts upon my bankers, as I +have joy in paying over to them checks, or bank orders, or large notes, +which I receive from the living God, by means of donors, for this work. +For the money is of no more value to me than as I can use it for God; +and the more I can pay out for the work of God, the more prospect I have +of being again supplied by him; and the larger the sum is which I can +obtain from him, in answer to prayer only, the greater the proof of the +blessedness and the reality of this mode of dealing directly with the +living God for what I need; therefore, I say, I have as much joy in +giving out as in receiving. I have been devoting myself, for instance, +with all my might, and expending much exertion both of body and mind, +but especially by laboring in spirit to have the Orphan House filled +with children, not only that thus three hundred destitute orphans, none +of whom have either father or mother, might be lodged, boarded, clothed, +instructed, and in every way cared for, bodily, mentally, and +spiritually; _but also in order that thus large sums might be needed and +expended_, and I might have a greater call than ever to draw largely +upon the inexhaustible treasures of God. That I do not mean, in thus +speaking, to say that money so obtained by prayer may be wasted, will +scarcely need to be noticed; for if any one would obtain means from God +by prayer only, and then waste them, he would soon find that he was not +able to pray in faith for further supplies. + + * * * * * + +When the accounts were closed, on May 26, 1848, I had on hand for the +orphans a balance of one pound ten shillings three and three-fourths +pence. With this amount then we began, whilst day by day above one +hundred and thirty persons were to be provided for in the four Orphan +Houses in Wilson Street. + +On the very next day, after the accounts were closed, May 27, 1848, I +received from Westmoreland five pounds, half of which sum was intended +by the donor for the orphans, and half for the other objects. This +donation I took as an earnest out of the hands of the living God, that +during the whole of this period also he would provide for these many +orphans, as he had done in former years. + +Nov. 9. Up to date the wants of the orphans have been supplied as +heretofore. Yesterday, only five shillings sixpence came in. To-morrow +more money will be needed for housekeeping. In this our poverty I +received this morning one thousand pounds. The money being left to my +disposal as it might be most needed, I took of it six hundred pounds for +the building fund, three hundred pounds for missionary purposes and the +circulation of Bibles and tracts, and one hundred pounds for present use +for the orphans. I have thus the means which are yet needed for this +week's housekeeping expenses, besides being able to meet other heavy +expenses which are before me next week. + +Feb. 20, 1849. For three months and ten days, since Nov. 9, 1848, the +donations had always come in so that we abounded during the whole +period, there having been always fresh donations received before all the +money in hand was disbursed. The total amount that came in during this +period was four hundred and sixty-nine pounds fourteen shillings +tenpence. Now to-day there was no money in hand for advancing the amount +needed for the next week's housekeeping. All the money in hand was due +for rent, and therefore unavailable, as I never go into debt for +anything. In this our need there was given to me this afternoon the sum +of two hundred pounds, which was left to my disposal for fitting up the +new Orphan House, or for any of the objects in connection with the +Scriptural Knowledge Institution that might be in need. As, however, I +have all the means for fitting up and furnishing the new Orphan House, +as far as I know, and as there is no money in hand for the present use +of the orphans, I took one hundred pounds for that object. + +March 9. The new Orphan House is now nearly ready. On this account we +have to get in large supplies for the children's clothes. Within the +last few days I have ordered thousands of yards of material for this +purpose, and thousands more will need to be ordered, besides providing a +stock of many other things. For this large sums are needed. Under these +circumstances I received to-day a donation of three hundred pounds, to +be used for the building fund, or the current expenses of the various +objects, just as it might be most required. As I judge that we have all +that is needed for the fitting up and furnishing of the house, and as +there is more in hand than usual for the missionary objects, the +circulation of Bibles and tracts, and for the various schools, and as we +have only about sixty pounds for present use for the orphans, towards +meeting all the heavy expenses before us, I took the whole of this +donation for the orphans, as the donor has kindly left the disposal of +the money entirely to me. This donation coming in just now has been an +exceedingly great refreshment to my spirit; for it is at the +commencement of the great increase of our expenses, in connection with +the three hundred orphans, instead of one hundred and twenty, like an +earnest from God that he will supply us also with means when the demands +for the three hundred will be more than twice as great as they are now. +Through this donation I have means to meet all the expense which will be +incurred in getting in for the new establishment the stores of +provisions, soap, material for clothes, haberdashery, and of the many +other articles of which it would be desirable to buy our supplies on +wholesale terms. The Lord be praised for his kindness! + +June 18. To-day, as the fruit of the prayers of three years and seven +months, the children began to be moved from the four Orphan Houses in +Wilson Street, Bristol, into the new Orphan House. + +June 23. Saturday Evening. This has been indeed a week of great and many +and peculiar mercies. All the orphans with their teachers and overseers +have been moved into the new Orphan House during Monday, Tuesday, +Wednesday, and Thursday; so that there are now about one hundred and +forty persons under one roof. The Lord has most signally helped. As I +had for more than three years sought the help of God concerning all +matters connected with the new Orphan House, I did expect his help in +this particular also; but he has done beyond my expectations. Though +only the day before yesterday the last children were moved in, there is +already such a measure of order established in the house, by the help of +God, as that things can be done by the minute hands of the timepieces. +His name is to be praised for this, and my soul does magnify him for his +goodness! Also with regard to temporal supplies for the dear orphans, +the Lord has been exceedingly kind. On the second day of receiving the +children, there was sent twenty pounds. On the third day, an individual +who walked with me through part of the house said, "These children must +consume a great deal of provisions," and, whilst saying it, took out of +his pocket a roll of Bank of England notes to the amount of one hundred +pounds, and gave them to me for the orphans. On the same evening I had +also sent for the orphans a very large cask of treacle, and for their +teachers and overseers six loaves of sugar. Also a cooper made +gratuitously two large new casks for treacle. On the next day I received +information that about one thousand pounds of rice had been purchased +for the orphans, which should be sent. Besides this, several small +donations have come in. So bountifully has the Lord been pleased to help +of late, that I have not only been able to meet all the extraordinary +heavy expenses connected with moving the orphans from Wilson Street into +the new Orphan House, filling the stores of the new Orphan House, etc.; +but I have more than five hundred pounds in hand to begin housekeeping +in the new Orphan House. How true that word that those that trust in the +Lord shall not be confounded! After all the many and long-continued +seasons of great trial of faith within these thirteen years and two +months, during which the orphans were in Wilson Street, the Lord +dismisses us from thence in comparative abundance. His holy name be +praised for it! + +Aug. 30. Received a fifty-pound note with these words: "I send you +herewith a fifty-pound note, half for the missions, half for the +orphans, unless you are in any personal need; if so, take five pounds +for yourself. This will be the last large sum I shall be able to +transmit to you. Almost all the rest is already _out at interest_." I +took half of this fifty pounds for the orphans, and half for +missionaries. The writer sold some time since his only earthly +possession, and sent me at different times sums of one hundred and +twenty pounds, of one hundred pounds, of fifty-five pounds, of fifty +pounds, and of twenty pounds for the work of the Lord in my hands. When +he says, therefore, "the rest is already out _at interest_," he means +that he has given it away for the Lord, which indeed both for time and +eternity is the very best way of using the means with which the Lord may +be pleased to intrust us, in so far as, considering in the fear of God +all our various claims and duties and relationships, we may do so. As +this is written for the spiritual profit of the reader, I cannot but add +to this extract from my journal under Aug. 30, 1849, that since that +time I have received other donations from the same donor, and much +larger still. He used for God the means with which he was pleased to +intrust him, and, contrary to this brother's expectation, the above +fifty pounds was not the last large donation; for it pleased God soon +after to intrust him with another considerable sum, which he again used +for the Lord. This did not at all surprise me; for it is the Lord's +order that, in whatever way he is pleased to make us his stewards, +whether as to temporal or spiritual things, if we are indeed acting as +_stewards_, and not as _owners_, he will make us stewards over _more_. + +Jan. 9, 1850. To-day was sent to me from the Committee of the Cholera +Fund in Bristol, twenty pounds, which the gentlemen constituting it had +voted for the benefit of the twenty children who had lost their parents +in the cholera, and whom I had received into the new Orphan House. + +I had not applied either directly or indirectly for this money; indeed, +I was reluctant even to give information as to the number of cholera +orphans whom I had received, lest there should be even the appearance as +if after all I asked for money, instead of solely trusting in the living +God. But some of the gentlemen on the committee, I understand, knowing +the fact that I had received many orphans, made such by means of the +cholera, proposed that there should be paid to the Institution a +sovereign on account of each such child whom I had received. This sum +was especially remarkable to me as a fresh proof of the numberless ways +which God has at his command for providing me with means. + +I also cannot help noticing the remarkable coincidence that, at the time +that God visited this land with the cholera, in 1849, I had so much room +for the reception of orphans. The Lord was pleased to allow me the joy +and sweet privilege of receiving altogether twenty-six children, from +ten months old and upward, who lost their parents in the cholera _at +that time_, and many besides, since then, who were bereaved of their +parents through this fearful malady. + +At the time when I last referred to the _progress_ of the new Orphan +House, it was being built. A part of it was already roofed in, and the +remainder was to be roofed not many weeks afterwards. But how much did +there yet remain to be done in other respects! A building so +considerable as to contain about three hundred large windows would +require, even after it was finished, an immense amount of labor to be +fitted up and furnished for three hundred and thirty persons. Then, +after this was done, the settling in of the orphans and their teachers, +and other overseers, needed still more abundant help. Further, the +obtaining of suitable helpers for this part of the work was indeed no +small matter. Lastly, though the Lord had been pleased to give me +already above eleven thousand pounds for the new Orphan House, yet I +needed several thousand pounds more, in order to bring the whole into +such a state as might render the building fit for the reception of the +orphans. And now, in looking back, and finding that I not only was +helped in _all_ these matters, but also _in every one of them_ far +beyond my largest expectations, does it not become me to say to those +who love the Lord Jesus, and into whose hands this account may fall: "O +magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!" Each one +of the foregoing difficulties which still existed on the 26th of May, +1848, was so great, that if only one of them had remained, and I had not +been helped, what would have been the result? But while the prospect +before me would have been overwhelming had I looked at it _naturally_, I +was never, even for once, permitted to question what would be the end. +For as, from the beginning, I was sure _that it was the will of God_ +that I should go to the work of building for him this large Orphan +House, so also, from the beginning, I was as certain that the whole +would be finished as if the building had been already before my natural +eyes, and as if the house had been already filled with three hundred +destitute orphans. I was therefore of good courage in the midst of an +overwhelming pressure of work yet to be done, and very many difficulties +yet to be overcome, and thousands of pounds yet needed; and I gave +myself still further to prayer, and sought still further to exercise +faith on the promises of God. And now the work is done, the difficulties +are overcome, all the money that was needed has been obtained, and even +more than I needed; and, as to helpers in the work, I have obtained even +beyond my expectations and prayers. Nearly seven years have passed away +(1856) since the new Orphan House was opened, and about three hundred +and thirty persons sit down in it day by day to their meals. + + * * * * * + +Up to May 26, 1848, I had received altogether towards meeting the +expenses connected with the building of the new Orphan House the sum of +eleven thousand and sixty-two pounds four shillings elevenpence +halfpenny. + +Aug. 19. It is this day a twelvemonth since the foundation stone of the +new Orphan House was laid, and now the building is up, and almost +entirely roofed in. Also part of the inside plastering is already done. +How can my soul sufficiently magnify the Lord for all the help which he +has been pleased to give since this day twelvemonth! As we are now so +far advanced, I have been increasingly entreating God that he would be +pleased to give me the means which are yet requisite for fitting up and +furnishing the house; for even now I am completely depending upon him +for considerable sums to accomplish this. But while much is still +needed, I have never had, by God's grace, the least misgiving as to his +willingness to give me all I need; on the contrary, I have been assured +that, when I actually required the money for the fittings and the +furniture, it would come. And now this day the Lord has again proved to +me how willing he is to act according to my faith; for there was given +to me this morning eight hundred and eighty-seven pounds, under the kind +condition that I should take of it twenty pounds for my own personal +expenses, and the rest might be used for the building fund, or the +present need of the various objects of the Institution, as it appeared +best to me. + +Nov. 9. To-day the Lord has helped still more abundantly. I have +received a donation of one thousand pounds, to be used for the building +fund and the present necessities of the work generally, as the various +objects of the Institution might require it. + +Jan. 17, 1849. The time is now near when further steps are to be taken +to fit up and furnish the house, as more than two thirds of the rooms +are all but ready. Under these circumstances I have prayed the more +earnestly, day by day, that the Lord would be pleased to give me the +means which are yet needed; and as my heart has been assured from the +beginning, and all through these three years and two months, since I +first began to pray about this subject, that God would in every way +help me in this work, so I have also been particularly satisfied that he +would be pleased to provide the means which may be required to meet all +the heavy expenses which yet remain to be met. Now, to-day I have had +again a precious answer to my daily supplications with reference to this +work; for I received this evening six hundred pounds, concerning which +it was desired that brother Craik and myself should each take of it +fifty pounds for ourselves; the remaining five hundred pounds was left +entirely to my disposal; yet an especial reference was made to the heavy +expenses connected with fitting up and furnishing the new Orphan House, +towards which I might, either in part or entirely, take this sum. + +Feb. 12. The new Orphan House is now almost entirely finished. In six +weeks, with the help of God, all will be completed. On this account I +have been during the last fortnight much occupied in making the +necessary arrangements for fitting it up and furnishing it; but the more +I have been occupied about this, the more I have seen how large a sum +the whole of the fittings and the furniture will require; and this +consideration has led me still more earnestly of late to entreat the +Lord that he would be pleased to give me the means which may yet be +needed for the completion of the whole. Under these circumstances a +brother in the Lord came to me this morning, and after a few minutes' +conversation gave me two thousand pounds, concerning which sum he kindly +gave me permission to use it for the fitting up and furnishing of the +new Orphan House, or for anything else needed in connection with the +orphans. I have placed the whole of this sum, at least for the present, +to the building fund. Now, dear reader, place yourself in my position. +Eleven hundred and ninety-five days it is since I began asking the Lord +for means for the building and fitting up of an Orphan House. Day by +day have I, by his grace, since that time, continued to bring this +matter before him. Without one moment's doubt, or misgiving, or +wavering, have I been enabled to trust in God for the means. From the +beginning, after I had once ascertained the will of God concerning this +work, have I been assured that he would bring it about; yea, as sure +have I been from the beginning that he would do so, as if I had already +had all the means in hand for it, or as if the house had been actually +before me, occupied by the children. But though to faith even three +years ago the whole work was accomplished, to sight there remained many +and great difficulties to be overcome. And even at the commencement of +this day there remained many difficulties in the way of means, as well +as in other respects; and therefore I was on the point of giving myself +again especially to prayer, at the very moment when I was informed that +the donor of the above-mentioned two thousand pounds had called to see +me. Now I have the means, as far as I can see, which will enable me to +meet all the expenses; and in all probability I shall have even several +hundred pounds more than are needed. Thus the Lord shows that he can and +will not only give _as much as is absolutely needed_ for his work, but +also that he can and will give _abundantly_. It is impossible to +describe the real joy I had in God when I received this sum. I was calm, +not in the least excited, able to go on immediately with other work that +came upon me at once after I had received the donation; but +inexpressible was the delight which I had in God, who had thus given me +the full answer to my thousands of prayers, during these eleven hundred +and ninety-five days. + +I have thus given a few out of the hundreds of donations, varying from +one farthing to two thousand pounds, as specimens, to show how the Lord +was pleased to furnish me with the means. The total amount which came in +for the building fund was fifteen thousand seven hundred and +eighty-four pounds eighteen shillings tenpence. + +After all the expenses had been met for the purchase of the land, the +conveyance of the same, the enrolment of the trust-deeds in chancery, +the building, fitting up, and furnishing of the new Orphan House, there +remained a balance of seven hundred and seventy-six pounds fourteen +shillings threepence three farthings, affording a manifest proof that +the Lord cannot only supply us with all we need in his service, simply +in answer to prayer, but that he can also give us even more than we +need. + + * * * * * + +During the whole of the two years ending May 26, 1850, five day schools, +with 329 children in them, were entirely supported by the funds of this +Institution; and some pecuniary assistance was rendered to four other +day schools. Also a Sunday school, with 168 children, was entirely +supported, and another was occasionally assisted. Lastly, an adult +school, with 106 adult scholars, was supported during this period. There +was expended on these various schools L851, 1s. 51/2d., during these +two years. The number of all the children that were taught in the day +schools, through the medium of this Institution, from March 5, 1834, to +May 26, 1850, amounted to 5,114; the number of those in the Sunday +schools amounted to 2,200; and the number of the persons in the adult +school to 1,737. In all, 9,051. + +From May 26, 1848, to May 26, 1850, were circulated 719 Bibles, and 239 +New Testaments. There was expended on this object, during this period, +of the funds of the Institution, L104, 15s. 11d. There were circulated +altogether from March 5, 1834, to May 26, 1850, 6,465 Bibles, and 3,999 +New Testaments. + +From May 26, 1848, to May 26, 1850, were spent L2,574, 16s. 6d. of the +funds of the Institution for missionary objects, whereby forty +preachers of the gospel in British Guiana, the East Indies, Switzerland, +France, Germany, Canada, Scotland, Ireland, and England, were assisted. + +The reader will notice how greatly this object of the Institution was +increased during the last four years previous to May 26, 1850. This +arose from the fact that, in the early part of 1846, the need of certain +brethren who labored in the word and doctrine came before me, and God +laid them on my heart to labor for them in prayer, in order that I might +obtain means from him for such brethren to a greater extent than I had +done before. Ever since then the Lord has been pleased increasingly to +use me in this way. For from May 26, 1846, to May 26, 1848, there was +spent for that object nearly three times as much as during any former +period of the same length; and during the period from May 26, 1848, to +May 26, 1850, I was not only allowed to do as much as before, but to +expend even L1,016, 5s. more than during the former period, +notwithstanding all the many heavy additional expenses for the various +other objects of the Institution. + +It is my sweet privilege to state that the labors of many of these forty +servants of the Lord, whom I assisted, were especially owned of God +during these two years. There took place very many conversions through +their instrumentality. + +From May 26, 1848, to May 26, 1850, the sum of L184, 9s. 41/2d. was +expended on the circulation of tracts. There were circulated during this +period 130,464 tracts. The total number which was circulated from Nov. +19, 1840, up to May 26, 1850, amounted to 294,128. + +From July 24, 1849, up to May 26, 1850, altogether 170 orphans were +received, from ten months old and upwards. On May 26, 1850, there were, +therefore, 275 orphans in the new Orphan House; and with the teachers, +overseers, nurses, and in-door and out-door servants, etc., the whole +number of persons connected with the establishment was 308. The total +number of orphans who were under our care from April, 1836, up to May +26, 1850, was 443. + +_Without any one having been personally applied to for anything by me_, +the sum of L33,868, 11s. 11/4d. was given to me for the orphans, _as +the result of prayer to God_, from the commencement of the work up to +May 26, 1850. It may be also interesting to the reader to know that the +total amount which was given as free contributions, for the other +objects, from the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1850, amounted +to L10,531, 3s. 33/4d.; and that which came in by the sale of Bibles +and tracts, and by the payments of the children in the schools, up to +May 26, 1850, amounted to L2,707, 9s. 31/2d. + +The total of the current expenses for the orphans from May 26, 1848, to +May 26, 1849, was L1,559, 6s. 9d., and the total of the current expenses +for them from May 26, 1849, to May 26, 1850, was only L2,665, 13s. +23/4d., _i. e._ only about L1,100 more than the previous year. + +As to matters connected with my own personal affairs, from May 26, 1848, +to May 26, 1850:-- + +Dec. 31, 1848. During this year the Lord was pleased to give me L474, +17s. 7d. To this is again to be added, for this year also, as before +stated, the free education of my daughter at a boarding-school, worth at +least L50. + +Dec. 31, 1849. The Lord sent me, during the past year, L413, 2s. 4d. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +A NEW VICTORY OF FAITH. + +1850-1851. + + PAST MERCIES AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO NEW UNDERTAKINGS--A HOUSE FOR + SEVEN HUNDRED ORPHANS PROPOSED--WALKING BY FAITH--COUNSEL SOUGHT + FROM GOD--THE PURPOSE FORMED--DELIGHT IN THE MAGNITUDE AND + DIFFICULTY OF THE DESIGN. + + +December 5, 1850. It is now sixteen years and nine months this evening +since I began the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad. +This Institution was in its beginning exceedingly small. Now it is so +large that I have not only disbursed, since its commencement, about +fifty thousand pounds sterling, but that also the current expenses, +after the rate of the last months, amount to above six thousand pounds a +year. I did "open my mouth wide," this very evening fifteen years ago, +and the Lord has filled it. The new Orphan House is now inhabited by +three hundred orphans; and there are altogether three hundred and +thirty-five persons connected with it. My labor is abundant. The +separation from my dear wife and child is great, on account of my being +the greater part of the day at the new Orphan House; sometimes also by +night. But notwithstanding all this, I have again and again thought +about laboring more than ever in serving poor orphans. Within the last +ten days this matter has much occupied my mind, and for the last five +days I have had much prayer about it. It has passed through my mind to +build another Orphan House, large enough for seven hundred orphans, so +that I might be able to care for one thousand altogether. The points +which have led me to this thought are: 1. The many distressing cases of +children, bereaved of _both_ parents, who have no helper. I have +received two hundred and seven orphans within the last sixteen months, +and have now seventy-eight waiting for admission, without having +vacancies for any. I had about sixty children waiting for admission +about sixteen months since, so about two hundred and thirty children +have been applied for within these sixteen months. But, humanly +speaking, for the next sixteen months the number of applications will be +far greater, as the work is now so much more widely known; except it be +that persons may hear that the new Orphan House is quite full, and on +that account may consider it useless to apply. 2. The constitution of +most other charitable institutions for orphans makes the admission of a +really destitute orphan, _i. e._ a child bereaved of _both_ parents, and +_without an influential friend_, very difficult, if not hopeless; for +the admission by means of the votes of the donors precludes _really +poor_ persons from having, in most instances, the benefit of these +institutions, as they cannot give the time nor expend the money +necessary for obtaining such votes. I have myself seen that certain +candidates had several thousand votes. The necessity of this arrangement +being continued may be much regretted by many who are connected with +such institutions, but they have no power to alter it. In our case, +nothing is needed but application to me; and the _very poorest person, +without influence, without friends, without any expense_, no matter +where he lives, or of whatever religious denomination, who applies for +children born in lawful wedlock, bereaved of _both_ parents, and in +destitute circumstances, may procure their admission. Now, as the new +poor-law is against giving relief to relatives for orphan children out +of the poor-houses; and as there is such a difficulty for really poor +people to get their orphan relatives admitted into ordinary orphan +establishments; I feel myself particularly called upon to be the friend +of the orphan, by making an easy way for admission, _provided it is +really a destitute case_. 3. The confidence which God has caused +thousands of his children to repose in me calls upon me to make use of +it to the utmost of my power, and to seek yet more largely to be their +almoner. 4. The experience which I have had in this service now for +fifteen years, during which time I have gone from the smallest +commencement of the work to the having at present three hundred orphans +under my care, calls upon me to make use of this my experience to the +utmost of my power. No member of a committee, no president of a society, +could possibly have the same experience, except he himself had +practically been engaged in such a work for a number of years, as I have +been. 5. This very experience makes things light to me, under God's +help, which were difficult to me formerly, and which would be very +difficult now to many: might I not therefore proceed still further? 6. +If seven hundred more young souls could be brought under regular godly +training (and their number would be renewed from time to time), what +blessed service for the kingdom of Christ, and what profitable +expenditure of labor, too, with the blessing of God, even for this +realm, in a civil and moral point of view! 7. But that which outweighs +every one of these six reasons is, lastly, this: I began this orphan +work fifteen years ago for the very purpose of illustrating to the world +and to the church that there is verily a God in heaven who hears prayer; +that God is the living God. Now, this last object is more and more +fully accomplished the larger the work is, provided I am helped in +obtaining the means simply through prayer and faith. + +But whilst such like thoughts have passed through my mind, there are +others of another character. For instance: 1. I have already an +abundance of work. 2. My dear wife has already an abundance of work. Her +whole time, with little intermission (except for prayer and reading of +the Word of God), is occupied, directly or indirectly, about the +orphans. 3. Am I not undertaking too much for my bodily strength and my +mental powers, by thinking about another Orphan House? 4. Am I not going +beyond the measure of my faith in thinking about enlarging the work so +as to double or treble it? 5. Is not this a delusion of Satan, an +attempt to cast me down altogether from my sphere of usefulness, by +making me to go beyond my measure? 6. Is it not also, perhaps, a snare +to puff me up, in attempting to build a very large Orphan House? + +Under these circumstances I can only pray that the Lord in his tender +mercy would not allow Satan to gain an advantage over me. By the grace +of God my heart says,--Lord, if I could be sure that it is thy will that +I should go forward in this matter, I would do so cheerfully; and, on +the other hand, if I could be sure that these are vain, foolish, proud +thoughts, that they are not from thee, I would, by thy grace, hate them, +and entirely put them aside. + +My hope is in God; he will help me and teach me. Judging, however, from +his former dealings with me, it would not be a strange thing to me, nor +surprising, if he called me to labor yet still more largely in this way. + +The thoughts about enlarging the orphan work have not arisen on account +of an abundance of money having lately come in; for I have had of late +to wait for about seven weeks upon God, whilst little, very little +comparatively, came in, _i. e._ about four times as much was going out +as came in; and, had not the Lord previously sent me large sums, we +should have been distressed indeed. + +Lord, how can thy servant know thy will in this matter? Wilt thou be +pleased to teach him? + +Dec. 11. During the last six days, since writing the above, I have been, +day after day, waiting upon God concerning this matter. It has generally +been more or less all the day on my heart. When I have been awaking at +night, it has not been far from my thoughts. Yet all this without the +least excitement. I am perfectly calm and quiet respecting it. My soul +would be rejoiced to go forward in this service, could I be sure that +the Lord would have me to do so; for then, notwithstanding the +numberless difficulties, all would be well, and his name would be +magnified. + +On the other hand, were I assured that the Lord would have me to be +satisfied with my present sphere of service, and that I should not pray +about enlarging the work, by his grace I could, _without an effort_, +cheerfully yield to it; for he has brought me into such a state of heart +that I only desire to please him in this matter. Moreover, hitherto I +have not spoken about this thing even to my beloved wife, the sharer of +my joys and sorrows and labors for more than twenty years; nor is it +likely that I shall do so for some time to come; for I prefer quietly +waiting on the Lord, without conversing on this subject, in order that +thus I may be kept the more easily, by his blessing, from being +influenced by things from without. The burden of my prayer concerning +this matter is, that the Lord would not allow me to make a mistake, and +that he would teach me his will. As to outward things, I have had +nothing to encourage me during these six days, but the very reverse; for +the income for the various objects of the Scriptural Knowledge +Institution for Home and Abroad has been unusually small, only six +pounds fourteen shillings altogether, while the outgoings have been one +hundred and thirty-three pounds eleven shillings sevenpence. But all +this would not weigh the least with me, could I be quite sure that the +Lord would have me to go forward. + +The especial burden of my prayer, therefore, is, that God would be +pleased to teach me his will. My mind has also been especially pondering +how I could know his will satisfactorily concerning this particular. +Sure I am that I shall be taught. I therefore desire to patiently wait +for the Lord's time, when he shall be pleased to shine on my path +concerning this point. + +Dec. 26. Fifteen days have elapsed since I wrote the preceding +paragraph. Every day since then I have continued to pray about this +matter, and that with a goodly measure of earnestness, by the help of +God. There has passed away scarcely an hour during these days in which, +whilst awake, this matter has not been more or less before me; but all +without even a shadow of excitement. I converse with no one about it. +Hitherto have I not even done so with my dear wife. From this I refrain +still, and deal with God alone about the matter, in order that no +outward influence and no outward excitement may keep me from attaining +unto a clear discovery of his will. I have the fullest and most peaceful +assurance that he will clearly show me his will. This evening I have had +again an especial solemn season for prayer, to seek to know the will of +God. But whilst I continue to entreat and beseech the Lord that he would +not allow me to be deluded in this business, I may say that I have +scarcely any doubt remaining on my mind as to what will be the issue, +even that I should go forward in this matter. As this, however, is one +of the most momentous steps that I have ever taken, I judge that I +cannot go about this matter with too much caution, prayerfulness, and +deliberation. I am in no hurry about it. I could wait for years, by +God's grace, were this his will, before even taking one single step +towards this thing, or even speaking to any one about it; and, on the +other hand, I would set to work to-morrow, were the Lord to bid me do +so. This calmness of mind, this having no will of my own in the matter, +this only wishing to please my heavenly Father in it, this only seeking +his and not my honor in it; this state of heart, I say, is the fullest +assurance to me that my heart is not under a fleshly excitement, and +that if I am helped thus to go on I shall know the will of God to the +full. But, while I write thus, I cannot but add, at the same time, that +I do crave the honor and the glorious privilege to be more and more used +by the Lord. I have served Satan much in my younger years, and I desire +now with all my might to serve God during the remaining days of my +earthly pilgrimage. I am forty-five years and three months old. Every +day decreases the number of days that I have to stay on earth. I +therefore desire with all my might to work. There are vast multitudes of +orphans to be provided for. About five years ago a brother in the Lord +told me that he had seen, in an official report, that there were at that +time six thousand young orphans in the prisons of England. My heart +longs to be instrumental in preventing such young orphans from having to +go to prison. I desire to be used by the Lord as an instrument in +providing all the necessary temporal supplies, not only for the three +hundred now under my care, but for seven hundred more. I desire to +alleviate yet further the sufferings of poor dying widows, when looking +on their helpless orphans about to be left behind. I desire yet further +to assist poor persons to whom destitute orphans are left, and who are +unable to provide for them. I desire to be allowed to provide scriptural +instruction for a thousand orphans, instead of doing so for three +hundred. I desire to expound the Holy Scriptures regularly to a +thousand orphans, instead of doing so to three hundred. I desire that +thus it may be yet more abundantly manifest that God is still the hearer +and answerer of prayer, and that he is the living God now, as he ever +was and ever will be, when he shall, simply in answer to prayer, have +condescended to provide me with a house for seven hundred orphans, and +with means to support them. This last consideration is the most +important point in my mind. The Lord's honor is the principal point with +me in this whole matter; and just because that is the case, if he would +be more glorified by my not going forward in this business, I should, by +his grace, be perfectly content to give up all thoughts about another +Orphan House. Surely, in such a state of mind, obtained by thy Holy +Spirit, thou, O my heavenly Father, wilt not suffer thy child to be +mistaken, much less to be deluded! By the help of God I shall continue +further, day by day, to wait upon him in prayer concerning this thing +till he shall bid me act. + +January 2, 1851. A week ago I wrote the preceding paragraph. During this +week I have still been helped, day by day, and more than once every day, +to seek the guidance of the Lord about another Orphan House. The burden +of my prayer has still been, that he in his great mercy would keep me +from making a mistake. During the last week the Book of Proverbs has +come in the course of my Scripture reading, and my heart has been +refreshed, in reference to this subject, by the following passages: +"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own +understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy +paths." Prov. iii. 5, 6. By the grace of God I do acknowledge the Lord +in my ways, and in this thing in particular; I have therefore the +comfortable assurance that he will direct my paths concerning this part +of my service, as to whether I shall be occupied in it or not. Further: +"The integrity of the upright shall preserve them; but the perverseness +of fools shall destroy them." Prov. xi. 3. By the grace of God I am +upright in this business. My honest purpose is to get glory to God. +Therefore I expect to be guided aright. Further: "Commit thy works unto +the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established." Prov. xvi. 3. I do +commit my works unto the Lord; I therefore expect that my thoughts will +be established. My heart is more and more coming to a calm, quiet, and +settled assurance that the end will be that the Lord will condescend to +use me yet further in the orphan work. Here, Lord, is thy servant! + +Jan. 14. Twelve days have passed away since I wrote the last paragraph. +I have still day by day been enabled to wait upon the Lord with +reference to my enlarging the orphan work. I have been during the whole +of this period also in perfect peace, which is the result of seeking in +this thing only the Lord's honor and the temporal and spiritual benefit +of my fellow-men. Without an effort could I, by his grace, put aside all +thoughts about this whole affair, could I be only assured that it is the +will of God that I should do so; and, on the other hand, at once would I +go forward, if he would have it to be so. I have still kept this matter +entirely to myself. Though it is now about seven weeks since day by day, +more or less, my mind has been exercised about it, and since I have +daily prayed concerning it, yet not one human being knows of it. As yet +I have not mentioned it even to my dear wife, in order that thus, by +quietly waiting upon the Lord, I might not be influenced by what might +be said to me on the subject. This evening I have particularly set apart +for prayer, beseeching the Lord once more not to allow me to be mistaken +in this thing, and much less to be deluded by the devil. I have also +sought to let all the reasons _against_ building another Orphan House, +and all the reasons _for_ doing so, pass before my mind; and I now, for +the sake of clearness and definiteness, write them down. + +_Reasons_ AGAINST _establishing another Orphan House for Seven Hundred +Orphans._--1. Would not this be going beyond my measure _spiritually_? +according to that word: "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to +every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he +ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to +every man the measure of faith." Rom. xii. 3. Answer: If the Lord were +to leave me to myself, the tenth part of the difficulties and trials +which befall me now in connection with the various objects of the +Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad would be enough to +overwhelm me; but, whilst he is pleased to sustain me, I am able day by +day to pass on peacefully, and am carried through one difficulty after +the other: and thus, by God's help, even with my present measure of +faith, if continued to me, I should be enabled to bear up under other +difficulties and trials; but I look for an increase of faith with every +fresh difficulty through which the Lord is pleased to help me. + +2. Would it not be going beyond my measure _naturally_, with reference +to mental and bodily strength? Answer: Of all the objections against +establishing another Orphan House, there is none that weighs more with +me than this one; I might say, it is the only real difficulty. This, +however, too, I am enabled to put aside and to overcome thus: By +husbanding my strength, by great order, by regular habits, by lightening +the work as much as possible, by using every help that I can, I have +been enabled to get through a vast quantity of work. My immense +correspondence of about three thousand letters a year I have been +enabled to accomplish without a secretary. The whole management and +direction and the whole vast correspondence of the Scriptural Knowledge +Institution has devolved upon myself alone these sixteen years and ten +months, and I have been thinking that, by seeking for an efficient +secretary, and an efficient clerk, and an inspector of the schools, I +might, with God's help, accomplish yet more, though much of what I have +been doing hitherto would need to be done by others. There have been +several other arrangements brought before my mind, since I have been +exercised about this matter, whereby, with the blessing of God, the work +might be lightened. I should certainly need efficient helpers to carry +out the plans before me; but with such, I, as director, might be +enabled, by God's help, to accomplish yet more. + +3. There must be a limit to my work and service. Answer: That is true, +and if I were quite sure that the present state of the Scriptural +Knowledge Institution were to be the limit, I would at once lay aside +this thing; but I am not sure that I am come as yet to God's limit. All +these sixteen years and ten months the work has been constantly +progressing, and the Lord has helped me continually; and now my mind is +just in the same way exercised as when, fifteen years ago, I began the +orphan work, and as when, thirteen years ago, I enlarged the orphan +work, and as when, seven years and nine months since, I still further +enlarged the orphan work, and as when, five years and two months since, +I was led to decide on building the new Orphan House. Under these +circumstances, having been helped through all these difficulties, and +seeing such a vast field of usefulness before me, and as I have so many +applications for the admission of very destitute orphans, I long to be +used still further, and cannot say that as yet the Lord has brought me +to his limit. + +4. Is it not like "tempting God," to think of building another Orphan +House for seven hundred more orphans? Answer: "Tempting God" means, +according to the Holy Scriptures, to limit him in any of his +attributes; I, by his grace, do not wish to limit his power or his +willingness to give to me, his poor servant, simply in answer to prayer, +all the means and every other help and blessing which I shall need to +build another large Orphan House. + +5. You will not get the means for building and fitting up so large an +Orphan House; and, even if you did, how will you, _at the same time_, +get the means for carrying on the work which already exists? Answer: +Looking at the matter _naturally_, this is indeed a weighty objection. + +The new Orphan House, with its three hundred orphans only, cost about +fifteen thousand pounds to build and to fit up and furnish, and still +the expenses are not all met even now. It will, in all probability, cost +several hundred pounds yet. And this large sum was needed, though the +style of the building is most simple, and though the field in which it +was built was comparatively cheap. After this rate, a building to +accommodate seven hundred orphans, with the necessary ground attached to +it for the cultivation of the vegetables used in the Institution, could +not be less than thirty-five thousand pounds. Now, looking at it +naturally, where is this great sum to come from? Though I looked at all +my friends who have given hitherto, and several have done so very +liberally, yet I should have no natural prospect whatever that I should +receive this amount; especially if it be kept in mind that I should need +six or seven thousand pounds besides, every year, for carrying on _that +which is already in existence_. I might, therefore, well tremble, +looking at the matter naturally, and say, I shall never have the money +for this intended Orphan House for seven hundred children; for where is +this large sum of thirty-five thousand pounds to come from? And even if +I were to get the money, will not persons, in giving means for such a +building fund, take it away from what they might have given me for +carrying on the work which exists already? But whilst thus, +_naturally_, I have no hope of succeeding, I am not in the least +discouraged _spiritually_; for by faith in the living God I say this: He +has the power to give me this thirty-five thousand pounds, and much more +were it needed; and he has the power, in the mean time, to give me also +all the large sums required, week after week, for meeting the current +expenses for the present state of the work. Moreover, I delight in the +greatness of the difficulty as it respects the large sum needed for +building and fitting up such an establishment; for I desire to be most +fully assured, from the very outset, that I go forward in this matter +according to the Lord's bidding. If so, he will give me the means; if +not, I shall not have them. Nor do I mean to apply to any one personally +for pecuniary help, but purpose to give myself to prayer for means, as +heretofore. + +6. Suppose, now, you were even to succeed in getting this large Orphan +House built, how will you be able to provide for seven hundred other +orphans? Answer: There is much weight in this objection, looking at it +_naturally_. I am too much a man of business, and too much a person of +calm, quiet, cool calculation, not to feel its force. And indeed, were I +only to look at the thing _naturally_, I should at once be ready to own +that I am going too far; for the increase of expenditure for the support +of these seven hundred other orphans could not be less than eight +thousand pounds a year more, so that the current expenses of the +Scriptural Knowledge Institution, reckoning its present state, and +including those eight thousand pounds, would be about fifteen thousand +pounds a year. Now I am free to own that I have no human prospect of +obtaining such a sum year by year. But while matters stand thus, looking +at them _naturally_, I see no difficulty at all in them _spiritually_. +If according to the will of God I am enabled to go about this intended +second Orphan House; and if, under his help, I shall be enabled to +finish it; he will surely provide for those who are gathered together in +it as long as he shall be pleased to enable me to trust in him for +supplies. And here I look back upon the way in which the Lord has led me +and dealt with me. When, about seventeen years ago, I took up, in +dependence upon the living God for means, two charity schools, with +which the Scriptural Knowledge Institution commenced (and this involved +an expense of less than one hundred pounds a year), I had no certain +prospect of being able to meet even that small sum; but God so helped me +that I had shortly _six_ charity schools. He helped me then, also, and +enabled me to meet all their expenses. When, fifteen years ago, I began +the orphan work, which was connected with far heavier expenses, I had +still less prospect, according to natural reason, of being able to meet +_them_; but I trusted in God, and he helped me, and he not only enabled +me to meet the current expenses of thirty orphans in the first house +rented for them, but enabled me also soon to open another for thirty-six +more, and I was also enabled to meet all those expenses; for as I had +begun in faith in the living God, and not in putting my trust in my +brethren in Christ, so I was not confounded. After I had gone on some +time with these orphans in the two rented houses, about thirteen years +ago the Lord was pleased greatly to encourage me and to increase my +faith by a donation of five hundred pounds for the orphans; for up to +that period I had never received more than one hundred pounds at once. +But this kind donor, a stranger to me up to that time, suggested to me +the propriety of investing this sum and using only the interest of it, +as I could not expect to have the orphans supported for a continuance in +the way they had been till then; for that such institutions must depend +upon regular subscriptions or funded property, otherwise they could not +go on. As, however, this was only a friendly hint, and no condition +under which the money was given, I took this five hundred pounds towards +fitting up a third house, for the reception of thirty more orphans. From +that time the work has been increasing more and more, till it has come +to what it is at present. Now, suppose I had said, seventeen years ago, +looking at matters according to natural reason, "The two charity schools +are enough, I must not go any further;" then the work would have stopped +there. Or, if I had had a little more trust in my exertions or my +friends, I might have taken at the utmost one or two steps further. +Instead of this, however, I looked in no degree whatever at things +according to my natural fallen reason, and I trusted not in the circle +of my Christian friends, but in the living God; and the result has been +that there have been since 1834 ten thousand souls under our instruction +in the various day schools, Sunday schools, and adult schools; several +hundred orphans have been brought up, and many of them from their very +tenderest infancy; several hundred thousand tracts and many thousand +copies of the Word of God have been circulated; about forty preachers of +the gospel at home and abroad have been, for several years, assisted in +connection with the Scriptural Knowledge Institution; and a house has +been built and fitted up for the accommodation of three hundred +destitute orphans, each of whom has neither father nor mother. How +blessed therefore is it to trust in God, and in him alone, and not in +circumstances nor friends! There is, however, one thing which I must +record here, because it has taken place since I last wrote in my journal +on this subject, on January 2. It is this. During these twelve days I +have received for the various objects of the Scriptural Knowledge +Institution, in smaller donations, sixty-four pounds fifteen shillings +sixpence two farthings, also a donation of one hundred and fifty pounds, +and one of three thousand pounds. Is not this a plain proof that God is +both able and willing to help simply in answer to prayer? Is not human +reason confounded by such instances? When I first began to write these +exercises of my mind about another Orphan House, I knew not that on +January 4, I should receive a donation of three thousand pounds; yet I +was fully assured that God was able to support one thousand orphans as +easily as he did the thirty whom I first received in a rented house. +Does he not, however, tell me by all this, Go forward, my servant, and I +will help thee? + +7. But, it might be said, suppose you were able by prayer to obtain this +large sum for building a house for seven hundred other orphans; and +suppose you were able to provide for them during your lifetime,--what +would become of this Institution after your death? Answer: I am quite +familiar with this objection. I have heard it many times as a reason +against the way of obtaining the means for the Scriptural Knowledge +Institution, simply by trusting in God, without any funded property, and +without looking to regular subscribers; but my reply is this. My +business is, with all my might to serve my own generation; in doing so I +shall best serve the next generation, should the Lord Jesus tarry. Soon +he may come again; but, if he tarry, and I have to fall asleep before +his return, I shall not have been altogether without profit to the +generation to come, were the Lord only to enable me to serve my own +generation. Suppose this objection were a sound one, I ought never to +have commenced the orphan work at all, for fear of what might become of +it after my death, and thus all the hundreds of destitute children +without father and mother, whom the Lord has allowed me to care for +during the last fifteen years, would not have been taken up by me. The +same argument was again and again used to Franke, my esteemed +countryman, who at Halle, in Prussia, commenced, about A. D. 1696, the +largest charitable establishment for poor children that, as far as I +know, exists in the world. He trusted in God alone. He went on trusting +in God alone. And God helped him throughout abundantly. Simply by trust +in the living God, the Institutions, resembling a large street rather +than a house, were erected, and about two thousand children instructed +in them. For about thirty years all was going on under his own eye, +until 1727, when it pleased God to take his servant to himself. At his +death these Institutions were directed by his truly pious son-in-law. It +is true that, at the latter part of the last century, and during the +first part of the present, there was little real vital godliness in +these Institutions; still, they were a temporal blessing to many tens of +thousands of young persons even then. So then for several tens of years +they were carried on in a truly godly way, after Franke's death, and +when afterwards there was but little real, vital godliness found in +these schools, yet tens of thousands of children were benefited at least +for this life. Now these Institutions have existed already one hundred +and fifty years, and are in existence still; and, if the Lord Jesus +tarry, are likely, humanly speaking, to exist hereafter, as they have +existed hitherto. Suppose, then, that dear man of God, A. H. Franke, had +listened to the suggestions of unbelief, and said, I must not undertake +this work, for what will become of it after my death?--then all the +blessing which spiritually resulted from it to thousands, and all the +temporal benefits which have resulted from it to hundreds of thousands, +would have been lost. I add, however, this. The new Orphan House has +been placed in the hands of eleven trustees, and has been properly +enrolled in chancery, and so also, should God condescend to honor me +further in building for him this intended house for seven hundred +orphans, it would likewise be placed in the hands of trustees and +enrolled in chancery. I say one word in conclusion on this subject: let +every one take heed lest, in caring about what will become of the next +generation, he forget to serve his own generation. The latter, each one +should seek to do with his might, and thus it should be with each +succeeding generation; then, though we be dead, yet should we be +speaking. A. H. Franke is long since gone to his rest, but he spoke to +my soul in 1826, and he is speaking to my soul now; and to his example I +am greatly indebted in having been stirred up to care about poor +children in general, and about poor orphans in particular. + +8. The last objection which has occurred to my own mind is, that, by +building another Orphan House, I should be in danger of being lifted up. +Answer: I should be in danger of it indeed; and so I am in great danger, +even were I not in the least degree to go forward. Yea, the tenth part +of the honor which the Lord has condescended to bestow upon me, and the +tenth part of service with which he has been pleased to intrust me, +would be enough, if I were left to myself, exceedingly to puff me up. I +cannot say that hitherto the Lord has kept me humble; but I can say that +hitherto he has given me a hearty desire to give to him all the glory, +and to consider it a great condescension on his part that he has been +pleased to use me as an instrument in his service. I do not see, +therefore, that fear of being lifted up ought to keep me from going +forward in this work; but that I have rather to beseech the Lord that he +would be pleased to give me a lowly mind, and never suffer me to rob him +of the glory which is due to him alone. + +_Reasons_ FOR _establishing another Orphan House for Seven Hundred +Orphans._--1. The many applications for the admission of destitute +orphans which continue to be made, I consider as a call from God upon me +to do all that is in my power to provide a home and scriptural +education for a still greater number of orphans. Nothing but positive +inability to go forward ought to keep me standing still, whilst I have +almost daily fresh entreaties to receive orphans. Since I began writing +on this subject in my journal, thirty more orphans have been applied +for, from two years old and upward. I cannot refuse to help, as long as +I see a door open, and opened by God, as I consider, to help them. + +2. The moral state of the poor-houses greatly influences me to go +forward. I have heard it again and again, from good authority, that +children, placed at the Unions, are corrupted, on account of the +children of vagrants, and other very bad young people, who are in such +places; so that many poor relatives of orphans, though unable to provide +for them, cannot bear the idea of their going there, lest they should be +corrupted. I therefore judge that, even for the sake of keeping orphans +of poor yet respectable people from being obliged to mix with the +children of vagabonds, I ought to do, to my utmost power, all I can to +help them. For this reason, then, I purpose, in dependence upon the +living God, to go forward and to establish another Orphan House for +seven hundred destitute children, who are bereaved of both parents. When +I write thus about the poor-houses, I do not wish to be understood in +the way of reproof: for I know not how these matters could be altered; +but I simply state the fact that thus it is. + +3. In this my purpose I am the more confirmed, since I know it to be a +fact that the Orphan Houses already in existence in the kingdom are by +no means sufficient to admit _even the most deserving and distressing +cases_, and far less all that it would be well to provide for. Moreover, +there is great difficulty connected with the admission of an orphan into +most of the ordinary orphan establishments, on account of the votes +which must be obtained, so that _really_ needy persons have neither +time nor money to obtain them. Does not the fact that there were six +thousand young orphans in the prisons of England about five years ago +call aloud for an extension of orphan institutions? By God's help I will +try to do what I can to keep poor orphans from prison. + +4. In this purpose I am still further encouraged by the great help which +the Lord has hitherto given me in this blessed service. When I look at +the small beginning, and consider how the Lord has helped me now for +more than fifteen years in the orphan work; and when I consider how he +has been pleased to help me through one great difficulty after another; +and when I consider, especially, how, as with an unseen hand, I might +say almost against my will and former desires and thoughts, he has led +me on from one step to another, and has enlarged the work more and +more,--I say, when I review all this, and compare with it my present +exercise of mind, I find the great help, the uninterrupted help which +the Lord has given me for more than fifteen years, a great reason for +going forward in this work. And this, trusting in him, I am resolved to +do. + +5. A further reason for going forward in this service I see in the +experience which I have had in it. From the smallest commencement up to +the present state of the establishment, with its three hundred orphans, +all has gone through my own hands. In the work itself I obtained the +experience. _It_ has grown _with the work_. I have been the sole +director of the work, under God, from its smallest commencement. Now +this is not an every-day case. No committee member of a society, no +president or vice-president of an institution, except they had been +situated as myself, could have this experience. Coupled with this is the +measure of gift which the Lord has been pleased to give me for such +work, and for the exercise of which I am responsible to him. These +things, in connection with the former reasons, it appears to me, are a +call from God to go forward in a greater degree than ever in this work. + +6. The spiritual benefit of still more orphans is another especial +reason with me why I feel called to go forward. The orphans who have +been under my care hitherto were almost all the children of parents who +were naturally weak in body, if not consumptive. The very fact of a +child being deprived of _both_ parents when four, five, six, or seven +years old, shows that, except the parents lost their lives by casualty, +they were constitutionally weak. On this account young orphans, +generally speaking, require particular care as to their health. In this +respect I desire to care for them; but there is more than that to be +attended to. I further heartily desire to keep them from the corrupting +and demoralizing effect of the lowest sort of children in the streets +and courts and Unions. But I desire more for them than mere decency and +morality; I desire that they should be useful members of society, and +that the prisons of the United Kingdom should not be filled with poor, +destitute, and homeless orphans; and we bring them up therefore in +habits of industry, and seek to instruct them in those things which are +useful for the life that now is. But I desire more than this for the +orphans. I cannot be satisfied with anything concerning them short of +this, that their souls be won for the Lord. For this reason I long to +have them from their early days, yea, the younger the better, under my +care, that thus, under the care of godly nurses and teachers, they may +be brought up from their earliest days in the fear of the Lord. Now, as +this is the chief and primary aim concerning the dear orphans, even the +salvation of their souls through faith in the Lord Jesus, I long to be +more extensively used than hitherto, even that I may have a thousand of +them instead of three hundred under my care. + +7. But there is one point which weighs more strongly with me than even +the last mentioned one. It is this: When I began the orphan work more +than fifteen years ago, it was for the definite and especial purpose +that, by means of it, the unconverted might see, through the answers of +prayer that I received in connection with it, that there is verily +reality in the things of God; and that the children of God might have +their faith strengthened by means of it, and might be encouraged, in all +simplicity, to deal with God under every circumstance, and trust in him +at all times. But if this would be answered in a measure by the state in +which the orphan work has been in former times, and more so by what it +has been since the erection of the new Orphan House, it would be still +more so, by the blessing of God, by my going forward in it to a far +greater degree than before. This point, even the glory of God in the +manifestation of his readiness to hear prayer, has weighed especially +and supremely with me in purposing to enlarge the orphan work. + +8. Lastly, I am peaceful and happy, spiritually, in the prospect of +enlarging the work, as on former occasions when I had to do so. This +weighs particularly with me as a reason for going forward. After all the +calm, quiet, prayerful consideration of the subject for about eight +weeks, I am peaceful and happy, spiritually, in the purpose of enlarging +the field. This, after all the heart-searching which I have had, and the +daily prayer to be kept from delusion and mistake in this thing, and the +betaking myself to the word of God, would not be the case, I judge, had +not the Lord purposed to condescend to use me more than ever in this +service. + +I therefore, on the ground of the objections answered, and these eight +reasons FOR enlarging the work, come to the conclusion that it is the +will of the blessed God that his poor and most unworthy servant should +yet more extensively serve him in this work, which he is quite willing +to do. + +Up to this day, Jan. 25, 1851, I have not spoken to one human being +about it. As yet even my dear wife knows not about it. I purpose to keep +the matter still for some time entirely to myself, dealing with God +alone about it, in order that no outward excitement may be in the least +degree a stimulus to me. I still pray to be kept from mistake and +delusion in this thing; not that I think I am mistaken or deluded, quite +the reverse, but yet I would distrust myself and cling to God, to be +kept from mistakes and delusions. + +Jan. 31. For several weeks past I have now had no doubt that the Lord +would have me to serve him in the erection and fitting up of another +Orphan House for seven hundred orphans, and I am quite decided on doing +so, under his help; and I am now quiet about it, not because I have the +least misgiving in my own mind, but because I know that it is most +suitable that I should still for some time continue to deal quietly with +God alone about it. + +March 5. Nearly five weeks have passed away since I wrote the last +paragraph, and my mind has not been once during this time, even for a +moment, in uncertainty as to what I ought to do. It is now about fifteen +weeks since I have been especially praying about this subject, and three +months since I began first to write on the subject in my journal, and +about ten weeks since I have had any doubt as to what is the will of the +Lord concerning this service. I believe that, altogether unworthy though +I am of this great honor, he will condescend to use me further and more +extensively than before in caring for destitute children who are +bereaved of both parents. And this I purpose to do. + +May 24. From the time that I began to write down the exercises of my +mind on Dec. 5, 1850, till this day, ninety-two more orphans have been +applied for, and seventy-eight were already waiting for admission +before. But this number increases rapidly as the work becomes more and +more known. + +On the ground of what has been recorded above, I purpose to go forward +in this service, and to seek to build, to the praise and honor of the +living God, another Orphan House, large enough to accommodate seven +hundred orphans. + +When I published these exercises of my mind, and made known my purpose +respecting the intended Orphan House for seven hundred orphans, in the +Twelfth Report of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, the following +particulars were added to what has been stated:-- + +1. All this time, though now six months have elapsed since I first began +to be exercised about this matter, I have never once been led to ask the +Lord for means for this work, but have only continued day by day to seek +guidance from him as to whether I should undertake it or not. + +2. The means requisite to accomplish the building and fitting up of a +house which shall be really suitable for my intended purposes, though +the building be quite simple, cannot be less than thirty-five thousand +pounds, including fifteen or twenty acres of land round the building for +cultivation by the spade, in order to obtain out of our own grounds all +the vegetables which are so important to the health of the children. + +3. I do not mean to begin the building until I have the means requisite +in hand, just as was the case with regard to the new Orphan House. If +God will condescend to use me in building for him another Orphan House +(as I judge he will), he will give me the means for it. Now, though I +have not on my own mind any doubt left that it is his will that I should +do so, which has been stated again and again in the preceding pages; +yet there is one point still wanting for confirmation, and that is, that +he will also furnish me, without personal application to any one, with +all the means requisite for this new part of my service. I am the more +needing also to my own soul this last of all the proofs that I have not +been mistaken (as I firmly believe I have not been), in order to have +unquestionable assurance that, whatever trials hereafter might be +allowed to befall me in connection with this work, I did not at my own +bidding and according to my own natural desire undertake it, but that it +was under the guidance of God. The greatness of the sum required affords +me a kind of secret joy; for the greater the difficulty to be overcome, +the more will it be seen, to the glory of God, how much can be done by +prayer and faith; and also because, when God himself overcomes our +difficulties for us, we have, in this very fact, the assurance that we +are engaged in his work, and not in our own. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +UNVARYING PROSPERITY. + +1850-1852. + + DESIRES FOR MORE ENLARGED USEFULNESS GRATIFIED--A LARGE DONATION + ANTICIPATED AND RECEIVED--REVIEW OF 1851--PERSONAL + EXPERIENCE--BUILDING FUND FOR THE SECOND NEW ORPHAN HOUSE--DOUBT + RESISTED--WAITING ON GOD NOT IN VAIN--REVIEW OF 1852. + + +At the commencement of the year beginning with May, 1850, it was my +purpose to seek help from the Lord that I might be able, in a still +greater degree than before, to assist brethren who labor in the gospel +at home and abroad, in dependence upon God for their temporal supplies, +and to labor more than ever in the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, +and of simple gospel tracts. + +June 11. By the sums which came in within the first fifteen days of this +period I was able to begin to carry out the purpose I had formed; and as +the Lord enabled me, without anxious reckoning, to go on giving out as +he was pleased to intrust me with means, so again he sent further +supplies before all was gone. It is a point of great importance in the +divine life not to be anxiously reckoning about the morrow, nor dealing +out sparingly on account of possible future wants which never may come; +but to consider that the _present_ moment to serve the Lord only is +ours, and that the morrow may never come to _us_. + +April 20, 1851. During the whole of the current year, up to this date, +the Lord has so abundantly supplied me with means that there came not +one single case before me in which it would have been desirable to help, +according to the measure of light given to me, or to extend the work, +without my having at the same time ample means for doing so. In the +midst of the great depression of the times, which was so generally felt, +and on account of which, humanly speaking, I also might have been +exceedingly tried for want of means, I, on the contrary, at no period of +the work for the seventeen years previous had a greater abundance of +means. I do on purpose lay stress upon this because I desire that it may +become increasingly known that there is no easier, no better, and no +happier way in the end than God's way, and this in particular also with +regard to the obtaining of means _simply in answer to prayer, without +personal application to any one_. + +At the beginning of the year I had more in hand for the orphans than for +many years before, under similar circumstances, the balance for current +expenses on May 26, 1850, being one hundred and fifty pounds seven +shillings tenpence. Yet, much as this was in comparison with what the +balance had generally been before, how small was the amount in reality! +About three hundred persons were connected with the new Orphan House, +who day by day were to be provided with all they needed, besides several +apprentices who also were still to be supported. On this account the one +hundred and fifty pounds in hand would only furnish that which was +needed for about fifteen days, as the average expenses of the orphan +work alone were about ten pounds daily. Place yourself, therefore, dear +reader, in my position. Three hundred persons daily at table, and one +hundred and fifty pounds in hand! Looking at it naturally, it is enough +to make one tremble; but trusting in the living God, as by his grace I +was enabled to do, I had not the least trial of mind, and was assured +that God would as certainly help me as he had done fourteen years +before, when the number of the orphans was only the tenth part as large. + +Nov. 27. For seven weeks the income has been very small, in comparison +with what has been expended, both for the orphans and for the various +other objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. There has come in +for the orphans L187, 16s. 23/4d., and for the other objects L62, 11s. +1d.; and the expenditure has been for the orphans during these seven +weeks L477, 2s. 11d., and for the various other objects L394, 9s. 8d. +Therefore altogether L871, 12s. 7d. has been expended, whilst the income +altogether has been only L250, 7s. 33/4d. We have, of course, not gone +into debt, as we never order anything except we have the means in hand +for it. Nor has there been even the least difficulty experienced with +regard to means, as the Lord in his kindness had sent in considerable +sums just before this season commenced. About three hundred and thirty +persons now sit down to their meals in the new Orphan House, day by day, +and the expenses for the orphans alone are about ten pounds daily, and +those for the other parts of the work are also about ten pounds daily, +so that I need to receive after the rate of twenty pounds a day, in +order to go on with the work; but during these forty-nine days there has +been only one single day that I have received about twenty pounds, and +for the greater part of the time only a few pounds daily, and sometimes +even only a few shillings. But what was to be done under these +circumstances? I gave myself to prayer. God, whom I have now been +enabled to make my refuge, and my only refuge, for more than twenty +years, I have besought day by day. And when now day by day I still have +received only small sums, and sometimes nothing or scarcely anything at +all, the only effect that it has had upon me has been _to pray the more +earnestly_. My confidence in God is not at all shaken. I have never had +a thought that he would not help me: nor have I even once been allowed +to look upon these seven weeks in any other way than that the Lord, for +the trial of my faith, has ordered it thus that only so little should +come in. I am sure that, when he has tried me sufficiently, there will +come in again larger sums. In the mean time, how good has the Lord been, +not only to have given all I have needed, but I have even now money in +hand! And as to our stores in the new Orphan House, they are as full as +usual. We have at least one hundred and fifty sacks of potatoes in the +house, twenty sacks of flour, thirty-three barrels of oatmeal, each +containing about two hundred pounds, about three hundred pairs of new +shoes (besides about nine hundred pairs in use), about ten tons of +coals, a large quantity of soap and rice; and so all other parts of the +stores in proportion. Indeed, while there has been little coming in, I +have just ordered articles in the wholesale way as formerly, when our +income was perhaps four or five times as much during the same period. My +judgment is, that it will now soon please the Lord again to send in +larger sums, as he has been pleased to exercise my faith for some time +in this way. Let me see the result! + +Jan. 4, 1851. This very day the Lord has given me a most precious proof +that he delights in our having large expectations from him. I have +received this evening the sum of three thousand pounds, being the +largest donation which I have had as yet. I now write again that I +expect far larger sums still, in order that it may be yet more and more +manifest that there is no happier, no easier, and no better way of +obtaining pecuniary means for the work of the Lord than the one in which +I have been led. How great my joy in God is, on account of this +donation, cannot be described; but it is not in the least coupled with +excitement. I take this donation out of the hands of the living God; I +continually look for his help, and am perfectly assured that I shall +have it, and therefore is my soul calm and peaceful, without any +excitement, though the donation is so large. This donation is, however, +like a voice from heaven speaking to me concerning a most deeply +important matter respecting which I am seeking guidance from the Lord, +the building of another Orphan House. + +May 26. I am brought to the close of this period. The work is more and +more enlarging. During the last month I have paid out for the orphans +more than four hundred and fifty pounds, and for the other objects more +than five hundred pounds, being nearly one thousand pounds during one +month; and yet I have a greater balance left in hand, through the Lord's +kindness, than at the close of any of the previous periods. + +From May 26, 1850, to May 26, 1851, there were four day schools in +Bristol, with 286 children in them, _entirely supported_ by the funds of +the Institution; and three others in Devonshire, Gloucestershire, and +Norfolk, with 180 children in them, were _assisted_. Further, one Sunday +school in Bristol, with 184 children, was entirely supported, and two +others in Devonshire and Gloucestershire, with 213 children, were +assisted. Lastly, an adult school in Bristol, with 90 persons in it, was +entirely supported. The expenses connected with all these various +schools were, during this period, L379, 17s. From the formation of the +Institution, on March 5, 1834, up to May 26, 1851, there were 5,343 +children in the various day schools in Bristol alone, 2,379 in the +Sunday school, and 1,896 persons in the adult school, besides the +thousands in the schools out of Bristol which were assisted. + +There was expended during this period, out of the funds of the +Institution, on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, L150, 16s. 5d. +There were 345 Bibles sold, and 899 given away; and 30 New Testaments +sold, and 413 given away, during this period. From March 5, 1834, to +May 26, 1851, there were circulated 7,709 Bibles and 4,442 New +Testaments. + +During this year was spent of the funds of the Institution, for +missionary objects, the sum of L2,000, 11s. 1d. By this sum forty-five +laborers in the word and doctrine in various parts of the world were to +a greater or less degree assisted. The total amount of L2,000 was sent +to these forty-five servants of the Lord Jesus in 264 different sums. + +During this period L358, 7s. 3d. was expended on the circulation of +tracts, and 303,098 tracts and little books were circulated. I was +permitted to send out more tracts than _during the whole of the previous +ten years taken together_. Nor must it be withheld from the reader, as +matter for thankfulness, that the Lord was pleased to allow me to hear +again and again of instances of conversion, by means of the distribution +of these tracts during this period. + +On May 26, 1850, there were 275 orphans in the new Orphan House on +Ashley Down, Bristol. On May 26, 1851, there were 300 orphans in the new +Orphan House. The total number of orphans who were under our care from +April, 1836, to May 26, 1851, is 488. There came in altogether during +this year L4,102, 14s. 91/4d. for the support of the orphans, and +L3,640, 9s. 13/4d. for the other objects; and, after having met to the +full every demand with reference to the orphans, the balance of L970, +13s. 113/4d. remained in hand. Also, after having entered into every +door which the Lord was please to set before me respecting the other +objects, and to do far more than during any one year previously, the +balance of L809, 10s. 6d. remained in hand on May 26, 1851. Verily we do +not trust in the Lord in vain! + +_Without any one having been personally applied to for anything by me_, +the sum of L38,018, 4s. 61/2d. was given to me for the orphans _as the +result of prayer to God_ from the commencement of the work to May 26, +1851. It may be also interesting to the reader to know that the total +amount which was given as free contributions for the other objects from +the commencement of the work to May 26, 1851, amounted to L13,988, 11s. +91/4d.; and that which came in by the sale of Bibles and tracts, and by +the payments of the children in the day schools, amounted to L2,890, 9s. +113/4d. + +It pleased the Lord greatly to gladden our hearts by the working of his +Holy Spirit among the orphans during this period. + +Dec. 31, 1850. During this year there have been received into fellowship +57, and altogether, from the time that brother Craik and I began to +labor in Bristol, 1,313. The Lord has been pleased to give me, for my +personal expenses, L402, 4s. 5d. + +May 26, 1851. The reader will remember that I stated in a previous +chapter that I purposed, not in dependence upon my Christian friends, +nor in dependence upon former donors, but alone in dependence upon the +living God, to enlarge the orphan work. Before I brought before the +public what I purposed to do, I gave the record of the exercises of my +mind on this subject to a valued Christian friend to read, the only one +who, besides my family, knew anything of this my intention before it +came before the public. I did this particularly in order that, after I +had been waiting for several months in secret upon God for guidance and +direction concerning it, I might also have the counsel of a prayerful, +judicious, and cautious man of God. When this brother returned the +manuscript, he spoke to me words of encouragement concerning this +purpose, and gave me a half sovereign towards the building fund for this +house for seven hundred destitute orphans. This was the first donation, +which I received on May 13, 1851, and which, I confess, was a great +refreshment and encouragement to me, the more so as it came from so +cautious a brother, and after I had been for several months, through +secret prayer, assured that I should go forward. + +On May 28, 1851, my intention became publicly known, and in the evening +of May 29 I received from a Christian lady a sovereign towards the +building fund. + +June 1. A brother in the Lord, who gives his donations with the letter +"P.," gave me ten shillings. I also received a sovereign. This evening I +received still further four half crowns, with very encouraging words and +expressions of joy that I have been led to this purpose of building +another Orphan House for seven hundred more orphans. There came to hand, +also anonymously, three shillings. Ditto an old shilling, a small +American coin, and two shillings. Also from a Christian servant in +Clifton two shillings sixpence. + +June 21. Twenty-four days have now passed away since I have been +enabled, day by day, to wait with a goodly measure of earnestness and in +faith upon the Lord for means; but as yet only a little above +twenty-eight pounds has come in. But I am not discouraged. The less +there comes in, the more earnestly I pray, the more I look out for +answers, and the more assured I am that the Lord, in his own time, after +he has tried my faith, will send me larger sums, and, at last, all I +need. + +Aug. 12. Day by day I am waiting upon the Lord for means for this +object, and generally more than once a day am I bowing my knees before +God with reference to it. Moreover, of late I have been enabled, with +increasing earnestness, to beseech the Lord that he would be pleased to +send in means for the building fund. My soul has been all along at +peace, though only so little, as yet, comparatively, has come in (in +all, one hundred and twenty-seven pounds nineteen shillings ninepence); +and though Satan has in the most subtle way sought to shake my +confidence, and to lead me to question whether, after all, I had not +been mistaken concerning this whole matter. Yet, though he has aimed +after this, to the praise of God I have to confess that he has not been +allowed to triumph. I have especially besought the Lord of late that he +would be pleased to refresh my spirit by sending in some large donation +for this part of the work. Under these circumstances I received this +morning five hundred pounds for the new building. I was not in the least +excited. I look out for means. _Even that very moment_, when I received +this donation, I was looking out for means, for large donations; and I +should not have been surprised if five thousand pounds had come in, or +more. The Lord be praised for this precious encouragement, which has +still further quickened me for prayer! + +Sept. 13. Patience and faith are still called for, and, by God's grace, +my desire is to "let patience have her perfect work." Not one penny has +come in to-day for the building fund, but five more orphans have been +applied for, so that now forty in less than one single month have been +brought before me, all bereaved of _both_ parents, and all very +destitute. Under these circumstances, how can I but fervently labor in +prayer that the Lord would be pleased to intrust me with means for the +building another Orphan House for seven hundred orphans. The more I look +at things according to natural appearances and prospects, the less +likely is it that I should have the sum which is needed; but I have +faith in God, and my expectation is from him alone. From the beginning I +depended upon him only concerning this proposed enlargement of the work, +and therefore have I not been disappointed, though as yet only the +fortieth part of what is needed has come in (eight hundred and +eighty-two pounds eighteen shillings sevenpence halfpenny). But how +soon, how very soon can the Lord alter the aspect of things. Even this +very evening, while I am writing, he could give me many thousand pounds. +I continue, therefore, to wait upon God, and seek to encourage my heart +by his holy word, and, while he delays giving me answers, to be occupied +in his blessed service. Of this, however, my soul has not the least +doubt, that, when the Lord shall have been pleased to exercise my soul +by the trial of faith and patience, he will make bare his arm, and send +help. The fact that the applications for the admission of destitute +orphans are so many, does both quicken me to prayer, and is also a great +encouragement to me that the Lord will give me the desire of my heart, +to provide another home for these destitute, fatherless and motherless +children. + +March 17, 1852. Day by day I am waiting upon God for means. With full +confidence, both as to the power of the Lord to give me the means, and +likewise his willingness, I am enabled to continue to wait. But he is +pleased to exercise my faith and patience, and especially has this been +the case of late. Not more than twenty-seven pounds eleven shillings has +come in during the last four weeks for the building fund. Yet, amidst it +all, by the help of God, my heart has been kept looking to the Lord, and +expecting help from him. Now to-day my heart has been greatly refreshed +by a donation of nine hundred and ninety-nine pounds thirteen shillings +fivepence. I cannot describe to any one how refreshing this donation is +to my spirit. After having been for weeks, day by day, waiting upon the +Lord, and receiving so little comparatively, either for current expenses +or for the building fund, this answer to many prayers is exceedingly +sweet to my spirit. + +May 20. There remained in hand from the _former_ building fund the +balance of L776, 14s. 43/4d., which I added to the _present_ building +fund, so that on the evening of May 26, 1852, I had altogether L3,530, +9s. 01/4d. + +_Supplies for the School, Bible, Missionary, and Tract Fund, sent in +answer to prayer from May 26, 1851, to May 26, 1852._--At no time during +the past eighteen years did I begin a new period with so much money in +hand as was the case at the commencement of this. There was a balance of +L809, 10s. 6d. left for _these_ objects. Long before this balance was +expended, however, the Lord was pleased to send in further supplies; so +that during all the year there did not come before me one single +instance in which, according to my judgment, it would have been +desirable to help forward schools or missionary objects, or the +circulation of the Holy Scriptures and tracts, but I had always the +means in hand for doing so. + +_Supplies for the Support of the Orphans sent in answer to prayer from +May 26, 1851, to May 26, 1852._--When this period commenced, I had in +hand for the current expenses for the orphans L970, 13s. 113/4d. We had +never had so large a balance for the other objects at the commencement +of any new period as was the case at the commencement of this, and so it +was also with regard to the orphan work. But though there was this large +balance to begin with, dependence upon God was still required day by +day, as the _pecuniary_ help is only a very small part of that which is +needed; and even as to means, this sum would not have lasted long, had +the Lord not sent in further supplies. This, however, he did; and thus +it was that while there were other trials, varied and many, yet, as to +means, we experienced scarcely any difficulty at all. + +During the period from May 26, 1851, to May 26, 1852, there were +_entirely supported_ by the funds of the Institution four day schools in +Bristol, with 248 poor children in them, and three others in Devonshire, +Monmouthshire, and Norfolk, were _assisted_. Further, one Sunday school +in Bristol, with 243 children, was entirely supported, and two others +in Devonshire and Gloucestershire, with 230 children, were assisted. +Lastly, one adult school in Bristol, with 120 adult scholars, was +entirely supported during this period. From March 5, 1834, up to May 26, +1852, there were 5,525 children in the day schools in Bristol, 2,600 in +the Sunday school, and 2,033 grown-up persons in the adult school. There +was expended of the funds of the Institution, for these various schools, +during this period, L360, 1s. 9d. + +During this period there was expended of the funds of the Institution +L207, 3s. 1d. for the purpose of circulating the Holy Scriptures, +especially among the very poorest of the poor. There were issued during +this period 1,101 Bibles and 409 New Testaments. There were altogether +circulated from March 5, 1834, up to May 26, 1852, 8,810 Bibles, and +4,851 New Testaments. + +During this year there was spent of the funds of the Institution, for +missionary objects, the sum of L2,005, 7s. 5d. By this sum fifty-one +laborers in the word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were +to a greater or less degree assisted. + +There was laid out for the circulation of tracts, from May 26, 1851, to +May 26, 1852, the sum of L356, 11s. 31/2d. There were circulated during +the year 489,136 tracts. + +The total number of tracts which were circulated from the beginning up +to May 26, 1852, was 1,086,366. + +On May 26, 1851, there were 300 orphans in the new Orphan House on +Ashley Down, Bristol. From that day up to May 26, 1852, there were +admitted into it 27 orphans. The total of the expenses connected with +the support of the orphans, from May 26, 1851, to May 26, 1852, was +L3,035, 3s. 4d. The total number of orphans who were under our care from +April, 1836, to May 26, 1852, was 515. + +_Without any one having been personally applied to for anything by me_, +the sum of L42,970, 17s. 6d. was given to me for the orphans _as the +result of prayer to God_ from the commencement of the work up to May 26, +1852. It may be also interesting to the reader to know that the total +amount which was given as free contributions, for the other objects, +from the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1852, amounted to +L15,976, 10s. 61/4d.; and that which came in by the sale of Bibles and +tracts, and by the payments of the children in the day schools, amounted +to L3,073, 1s. 93/4d. Besides this, also, a great variety and number of +articles of clothing, furniture, provisions, etc., were given for the +use of the orphans. + +Several of the orphans who left the establishment during this year went +away as believers, having been converted some time before they left; one +also who died gave very decided evidence of a true change of heart by +faith in our Lord Jesus; several who in former years were under our +care, as we heard during this year, took their stand openly on the +Lord's side, and dated their first impressions to the instructions +received whilst under our care; and, lastly, of those under our care, +there were not a few whose spiritual state gave us joy and comfort. +Thus, amidst many difficulties and trials and some discouragements, we +had abundant cause to praise God for his goodness, and to go forward in +the strength of the Lord. + +Dec. 31, 1851. During this year the Lord was pleased to give me, for my +personal expenses, L465, 13s. 13/4d. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +REAPING IN JOY. + +1852-1854. + + EXPECTING GREAT THINGS FROM GOD--MUNIFICENT DONATION--INCREASING + USEFULNESS OF THE SCRIPTURAL KNOWLEDGE INSTITUTION--ACCESS TO + GOD THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST--A VOICE FROM MOUNT LEBANON--BENEFIT + OF WAITING GOD'S TIME--CAREFUL STEWARDSHIP--FAITH, THE ONLY + RELIANCE--"THIS POOR WIDOW HATH CAST IN MORE THAN THEY + ALL"--GREATER ACHIEVEMENTS OF FAITH ANTICIPATED--COUNSEL TO + TRACT DISTRIBUTORS--A NEW AND SEVERE TRIAL OF FAITH. + + + On May 26, 1852, there was in hand toward the erection of the + second new Orphan House three thousand five hundred and thirty + pounds nine shillings sixpence and one farthing. Donations + varying in amount from three hundred pounds to fourpence + continued to be received in answer to prayer. On the 4th of Jan. + 1853, Mr. M. writes:-- + +From London two shillings sixpence. Day by day I have now been waiting +upon God for means for the building fund for more than nineteen months, +and almost daily I have received something in answer to prayer. These +donations have been, for the most part, small, in comparison with the +amount which will be required for the completion of this object; +nevertheless, they have shown that the Lord, for the sake of his dear +Son, listens to my supplications, and to those of my fellow-laborers and +helpers in the work; and they have been precious encouragements to me to +continue to wait upon God. I have been for many months assured that the +Lord, in his own time, would give larger sums for this work; and for +this I have been more and more earnestly entreating him during the last +months. Now at last he has abundantly refreshed my spirit, and answered +my request. I received to-day the promise that, as _the joint donation +of several Christians_, there should be paid me a donation of eight +thousand and one hundred pounds, for the work of the Lord in my hands. + +It is impossible to describe the spiritual refreshment which my heart +received through this donation. Day by day, for nineteen months, I had +been looking out for more abundant help than I had had. I was fully +assured that God would help me with larger sums; yet the delay was long. +See how precious it is to wait upon God! See how those who do so are not +confounded! Their faith and patience may long and sharply be tried; but +in the end it will most assuredly be seen that those who honor God he +will honor, and will not suffer them to be put to shame. The largeness +of the donation, whilst it exceedingly refreshed my spirit, did not in +the least surprise me; _for I expect_ GREAT _things from God_. Have I +been boasting in God in vain? Is it not manifest that it is most +precious in every way to depend upon God? Do I serve God for naught? Is +it not obvious that the principles on which I labor are not only +applicable to the work of God _on a small scale_, but also, as I have so +many times affirmed during the past nineteen years, _for the most +extensive operations for God_? + + During the year ending May 26, 1853, nine thousand and one + pounds three shillings was received toward the building fund, + making the present amount of that fund twelve thousand five + hundred and thirty-one pounds twelve shillings one farthing. + +For the various objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, viz. +for school, missionary, Bible, and tract purposes, I had to expend +during the year from May, 1852, to May, 1853, about six hundred pounds +per month, or above seven thousand pounds in all; but I had sufficient +to meet every demand; and over and above I was helped by the Lord to +increase the building fund nine thousand pounds. The current expenses of +the Institution were never so great during the previous nineteen years; +but the extent of its operations, and the means which the Lord was +pleased to send in, were also never so great. + +You see, dear reader, that we are richly recompensed for our waiting +upon God. You perceive the readiness of his heart to listen to the +supplications of his children who put their trust in him. If you have +never made trial of it, do so now. But in order to have your prayers +answered, you need to make your requests unto God on the ground of the +merits and worthiness of the Lord Jesus. You must not depend upon your +own worthiness and merits, but solely on the Lord Jesus, as the ground +of acceptance before God, for your person, for your prayers, for your +labors, and for everything else. Do you really believe in Jesus? Do you +verily depend upon him alone for the salvation of your soul? See to it +well, that not the least degree of your own righteousness is presented +unto God as a ground of acceptance. But then, if you believe in the Lord +Jesus, it is further necessary, in order that your prayers may be +answered, that the things which you ask God should be of such a kind +that God can give them to you, because they are for his honor and your +real good. If the obtaining of your requests were not for your real +good, or were not tending to the honor of God, you might pray for a long +time without obtaining what you desire. The glory of God should be +always before the children of God, in what they desire at his hands; and +their own spiritual profit, being so intimately connected with the honor +of God, should never be lost sight of in their petitions. But now, +suppose we are believers in the Lord Jesus, and suppose we make our +requests unto God, depending alone on the Lord Jesus as the ground of +having them granted; suppose also, that, so far as we are able honestly +and uprightly to judge, the obtaining of our requests would be for our +real spiritual good, and for the honor of God; we yet need, lastly, to +_continue_ in prayer until the blessing is granted unto us. It is not +enough to begin to pray, nor to pray aright; nor is it enough to +continue _for a time_ to pray; but we must patiently, believingly +continue in prayer until we obtain an answer; and, further, we have not +only _to continue_ in prayer unto the end, but we have also _to believe_ +that God does hear us, and will answer our prayers. Most frequently we +fail _in not continuing_ in prayer until the blessing is obtained, and +_in not expecting_ the blessing. As assuredly as in any individual these +various points are found united together, so assuredly will answers be +granted to his requests. + +During the year 1852-53, the expense of the support of the orphans was +fully met by unsolicited donations. Two or three particulars only will +be given. + +June 29, 1852. To-day I received one of the most remarkable donations +which I ever had. I give the whole account, without the name of the +donor. + + LYONS, JUNE 24, 1852, + + DEAR BROTHER IN CHRIST: + + It is now several years that I read with great interest, and I + hope with some benefit to my soul, the account of your labors + and experiences. Ever since then your work was the object of + many thoughts and prayers, and I gave many copies of your book + to Christian friends. One of them has read it in Syria, on Mount + Lebanon, where he is for commercial business; and, whilst + praying for you and your dear orphans, the Lord put it in his + heart to send you two pounds, to which my husband added two + others; and we beg you to accept that small offering in the name + of the Lord. If you have published anything of the Lord's + dealings with you since the year 1844, we shall be very happy to + receive it. You could forward it to Messrs. * * * *, London, for + * * * * of Lyons. And now, dear brother, may the grace and peace + of the Lord rest on you and your dear home's inhabitants. + + Affectionately yours in the Lord, + * * * * + +I have had donations from Australia, the East Indies, the West Indies, +the United States, Canada, from the Cape of Good Hope, from France, +Switzerland, Germany, Italy, etc.; and now comes also this donation from +Mount Lebanon, with the prayer of a Christian brother whose name I never +heard nor know even now. See, dear reader, this is the way in which the +Lord has helped me in this precious service for twenty-two years. With +my fellow-laborers, or without them, and they without me, our prayers +are offered up unto the Lord for help, and he is pleased, for Jesus' +sake, to listen to our supplications, and to influence the hearts of +some of his children, known to us or not, to send us help. The donors +may be rich or poor; they may live near, or at a distance of more than +ten thousand miles; they may give much or little; they may have often +given before, or never; they may be well known to us, or not at all: in +these and many other things there may be constant variations; but God +continually helps us; we are never confounded. And why not? Simply +because we are enabled by the grace of God to put our trust in him for +what we need. + +Oct. 9. This morning Luke vii. came in the course of my reading before +breakfast. While reading the account about the centurion and the raising +from death of the widow's son at Nain, I lifted up my heart to the Lord +Jesus thus: "Lord Jesus, thou hast the same power now. Thou canst +provide me with means for thy work in my hands. Be pleased to do so." +About half an hour afterwards I received two hundred and thirty pounds +fifteen shillings; also one shilling. This two hundred and thirty pounds +fifteen shillings was left at my disposal, as most needed. I took one +half of it for the current expenses for the orphans, and the other half +for the other objects. I am now amply provided for meeting the demands +of this day. + +The joy which such answers to prayer afford cannot be described. I was +determined to wait upon God only, and not to work an unscriptural +deliverance for myself. I have thousands of pounds for the building +fund; but I would not take of it, because it was once set apart for that +object. There is also a legacy of one hundred pounds for the orphans two +months overdue, in the prospect of the payment of which the heart might +be naturally inclined to use some money from the building fund, to be +replaced by the legacy money, when it comes in; but I would not thus +step out of God's way of obtaining help. At the very time when this +donation arrived, I had packed up one hundred pounds which I happened to +have in hand, received for the building fund, in order to take it to the +bank, as I was determined not to touch it, but to wait upon God. My soul +does magnify the Lord for his goodness! + +This last paragraph is copied out of my journal, written down at the +time. I add a few words more to the last sentences. + +The natural mind is ever prone _to reason_, when we ought _to believe_; +to be _at work_, when we ought to be _quiet_; to go our own way, when we +ought steadily to walk on in God's ways, however trying to nature. When +I was first converted, I should have said, What harm can there be to +take some of the money which has been put by for the building fund? God +will help me again after some time with means for the orphans, and then +I can replace it. Or, there is this money due for the legacy of one +hundred pounds. This money is quite sure; may I not, therefore, on the +strength of it, take some of the money from the building fund, and, when +the legacy is paid, replace the money which I have taken? From what I +have seen of believers, I know that many would act thus. But how does it +work, when we thus anticipate God, by going our own way? We bring, in +many instances, guilt on our conscience; but if not, we certainly weaken +faith instead of increasing it; and each time we work thus a deliverance +of our own we find it more and more difficult to trust in God, till at +last we give way entirely to our natural fallen reason, and unbelief +prevails. How different, if one is enabled to wait God's own time, and +to look alone to him for help and deliverance! When at last help comes, +after many seasons of prayer it may be, and after much exercise of faith +and patience it may be, how sweet it is, and what a present recompense +does the soul at once receive for trusting in God, and waiting patiently +for his deliverance! Dear Christian reader, if you have never walked in +this path of obedience before, do so now, and you will then know +experimentally the sweetness of the joy which results from it. + +Oct. 12. By sale of rags and bones twelve shillings sixpence. I copy +literally from the receipt book. We seek to make the best of +everything. As a steward of public money, I feel it right that even +these articles should be turned into money; nor could we expect answers +to our prayers if _knowingly_ there were any waste allowed in connection +with this work. For just because the money is received from God, simply +in answer to prayer only, therefore it becomes us the more to be careful +in the use of it. + +From Dec. 20, 1852, to Jan. 4, 1853, we had nothing in advance of our +wants. Means came in only as they were required for pressing needs. But +on the 4th January, we received, as stated under another head, the +largest donation I ever had, of which I took six hundred pounds for the +support of the orphans. These facts I state, in order to give a +practical illustration that those are entirely mistaken who suppose that +the work is now _no longer_ a work of faith, as it used to be in former +years. It is true, we have now a larger income than we used to have in +the years 1838, 1839, and 1840; but it is also true that our expenses +are three times as great. We have no regular income now, even as we had +not then. We ask no human being now for help; even as we did not then. +We depend alone upon God, by his grace; even as we did then. Who is +there in the whole world who will state that I ever asked him for help +in this orphan work, from its commencement, on Dec. 9, 1835, up till +now? Now, as we have no funds to live upon; as we have no regular +subscribers or donors upon whom we could depend; as we never ask help +from man, but God alone; and as, finally, we never did go into debt for +this work, nor do we now: why is it not now a work of faith, as +formerly? Will those who say it is not, place themselves in the position +in which I was, when, at the close of the year 1852, I had not two +pounds left, and about three hundred and thirty persons were day by day +to be provided for, with all they need, and prove whether it is now +anything else than a work of faith? But perhaps I have said too much +about this. For every one, except those who are _determined_ not to see, +will have no difficulty in perceiving that now, as formerly, one could +only be kept from being overwhelmed in such a position by looking day by +day to the Lord, and that not merely for pecuniary supplies, but for +help under the numberless difficulties which continually are met with in +such a work. + +How can I sufficiently praise, and adore, and magnify the Lord for his +love and faithfulness in carrying me thus from year to year through this +his service, supplying me with all I need in the way of means, +fellow-laborers, mental strength, and, above all, spiritual support! But +for his help and support I should be completely overpowered in a very +short time; yet, by his help I go on, and am very happy, spiritually, in +my service; nor am I now generally worse in health than I was twenty +years ago, but rather better. + +During the year 1852-53, there were four day schools, with 235 children +in them, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution. Further, +one Sunday school in Bristol, with 150 children, was entirely supported, +and three others in Devonshire, Somersetshire, and Gloucestershire, with +280 children, were assisted. Lastly, one adult school, with 103 adult +scholars, was entirely supported by the funds of the Institution. There +were under our care, from March 5, 1834, to May 26, 1853, in the various +day schools 5,686 children, in the Sunday schools 2,673 children, and in +the adult school 2,132 persons. There was expended of the funds of the +Institution during this year, for the various schools, L349, 12s. 11d. + +During this year there was laid out of the funds of the Institution, on +the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, L431, 5s, 11/2d., and there +were circulated 1,666 Bibles and 1,210 New Testaments. There were +circulated from March 5, 1834, up to May 26, 1853, 10,476 Bibles, and +6,061 New Testaments. + +For several years past this part of the work has appeared more and more +important to me on account of the fearful attempts which have been made +by the powers of darkness to rob the church of Christ of the Holy +Scriptures. I have on this account sought to embrace every opportunity +to circulate the Holy Scriptures in England, Ireland, Canada, British +Guiana, the East Indies, China, Australia, etc. Every open door which +the Lord was pleased to set before me in these or other parts of the +world, I have joyfully entered; yea, I have counted it a privilege, +indeed, to be permitted of God to send forth his Holy Word. Many +servants of Christ, in various parts of the world, have assisted me in +this service, through whose instrumentality copies of the Holy +Scriptures have been circulated. + +During this year there was spent of the funds of the Institution for +missionary objects L2,234, 2s. 6d. By this sum fifty-four laborers in +the word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were to a greater +or less degree assisted. + +There was laid out for the circulation of tracts, from May 26, 1852, to +May 26, 1853, the sum of L555, 16s. 71/2d.; and there were circulated +within this year 733,674 tracts. + +The total number of tracts which were circulated up to May 26, 1853, was +1,820,040. From Nov. 19, 1840, to May 10, 1842, the first period that +the circulation of tracts was in operation in connection with the +Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, there were +circulated 19,609; from May 26, 1851, to May 26, 1852, 489,136; and +during this period 733,674. + +At the beginning of this period there were 300 orphans in the new Orphan +House on Ashley Down, Bristol. During the year there were admitted into +it 13 orphans, making 313 in all. The total number of orphans who were +under our care from April, 1836, to May 26, 1853, was 528. + +_Without any one having been personally applied to for anything by me_, +the sum of L55,408, 17s. 53/4d. was given to me for the orphans, _as +the result of prayer to God_, from the commencement of the work up to +May 26, 1853. It may be also interesting to the reader to know that the +total amount which was given for the other objects, from the +commencement of the work up to May 26, 1853, amounted to L19,163, 14s. +11/2d.; and that which came in by the sale of Bibles and tracts, and by +the payments of the children in the day schools, amounted to L3,490, 7s. +11/4d. Besides this, also, a great variety and number of articles of +clothing, furniture, provisions, etc., were given _for the use_ of the +orphans. + +The expenses in connection with the support of the 300 orphans and the +apprentices during this year were L3,453, 15s. 11/2d. + +Dec. 31, 1852. During this year there have been received into fellowship +35 believers. The Lord has been pleased to give unto me L445, 8s. +81/2d. + +My brother-in-law, Mr. A. N. Groves, of whom mention has been made in +the first part of this Narrative, as having been helpful to me by his +example when I began my labors in England in 1829, in that he, without +any visible support, and without being connected with any missionary +society, went with his wife and children to Bagdad, as a missionary, +after having given up a lucrative practice of about one thousand five +hundred pounds per year, returned in autumn 1852, from the East Indies, +a third time, being exceedingly ill. He lived, however, till May 20, +1853, when, after a most blessed testimony for the Lord, he fell asleep +in Jesus in my house. + +I have already stated that on May 26, 1853, I had on hand toward +building premises large enough for the accommodation of 700 children, +the sum of L12,531, 12s. 01/4d. + + A single circumstance will illustrate the widely diverse sources + from which donations are received, as well as the great + disparity in amount. + +Jan. 17, 1854. From S. R. and E. R., two poor factory girls, near +Stroud, 1s. 7d. This day I also received the promise that there should +be paid to me, for the work of the Lord in my hands, L5,207, to be +disposed of as I might consider best. + +The whole amount received for the new Orphan House, during the year +closing May 26, 1854, was L5,285, 17s. 5d., which made the total of +L17,816, 19s. 51/4d. in hand on May 26, 1854. + +During this year the current expenses for the various objects of the +Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad amounted to L7,507, +0s. 111/2d., being L471, 8s. 11d. more than during any previous year; +yet the Lord not only enabled me to meet them all, but to add the sum of +L5,285, 7s. 5d. to the building fund. + +There is yet a large sum required before I shall be enabled to build +another house for 700 orphans; nor have I now, any more than at the +first, any natural prospect of obtaining what is yet needed; but my hope +is in the living God. When I came to the conclusion that it was the will +of God that I should build another Orphan House, I had not only no +natural prospect of obtaining the L35,000 which would be needed for this +object, but also I had no natural prospect of being able to provide for +the necessities of the three hundred orphans already under my care. +Three years have elapsed since then, and I have had all I needed for +them, amounting to about L10,500; and L17,816, 19s. 51/4d. I have +received for the building fund. May I not well trust in the Lord for +what is yet needed for the building fund? By his grace I will do so, and +delight in doing so; for I know that at last all my prayers will be +turned into praises concerning this part of the service. + +There is one point which is particularly an encouragement to me to go on +waiting upon the Lord for the remainder of the means which are required, +viz: applications for the admission of orphans _continue_ to be made. On +May 26, 1853, there were 480 orphans waiting for admission. Since then +181 more have been applied for, making in all 661. These children are +from three months old and upwards, and all bereaved of both parents by +death. + +During the year now under review I received the following donation for +the missionary laborers, under circumstances of peculiar interest. + +On Aug. 9, 1853, I received a letter from a Christian brother, +accompanied with an order for eighty-eight pounds two shillings sixpence +on his bankers, of which three pounds two shillings sixpence were the +proceeds of an orphan box in a meeting-place of believers, and +eighty-five pounds from a poor widow who had sold her little house, +being all her property, and who had put ninety pounds, the total amount +of what she had received, into that orphan box two months before, on +June 9, 1853. In this box the money had been for some time, without its +being known, till the orphan box was opened, and the ninety pounds with +a few lines without name were found in it. As, however, the fact of her +intending to sell the little house, and her intention of sending me the +money for the Lord's work, had been known to the brother who sent me the +money, he did not feel free to send it to me without remonstrating with +her through two brethren, whom he sent with the money, offering it again +to her; for he knew her to be very poor, and feared that this might be +an act of excitement, and therefore be regretted afterwards. These +brethren could not prevail on her to receive back the money, but they +did _persuade_ her to receive back five pounds of the amount, and then +the brother referred to felt no longer free to keep the money from me, +and hence sent me the eighty-five pounds. + +On the receipt of this, I wrote at once to the poor godly widow, +offering her the travelling expenses for coming to Bristol, that I might +have personal intercourse with her; for I feared lest this should be an +act of excitement, and the more so, as she had received back five pounds +of the sum. This sister in the Lord, a widow of about sixty years of +age, came to Bristol, and told me in all simplicity how that ten years +before, in the year 1843, she had purposed that if ever she should come +into the possession of the little house in which she lived with her +husband, she would sell it, and give the proceeds of it to the Lord. +About five years afterwards her husband died, and she, having no +children, nor any one having particular claim upon her, then sought to +dispose of her little property, as had been her mind all those years +before. However, one difficulty after another prevented her being able +to effect a sale. At last she felt in particular difficulty on account +of her inability to pay the yearly ground-rent of the little house and +garden, and she asked the Lord to enable her to sell the property, in +order that she might be able to carry out her desire which she had had +for ten years, to give to him the proceeds of this her possession. He +now helped her. The house was sold, the money paid, and she put the +whole ninety pounds into the orphan box for me, being assured that the +Lord would direct me how best the money might be used for him. I still +questioned her again and again, to find out whether it was not +excitement which had led her to act as she had done; but I not only saw +that her mind had been fully decided about this act for ten years +before, but that she also was able to answer from the word of God all +the objections which I purposely made, in order to probe her, whether +she had intelligently and from right motives acted in what she had done. +At last I was fully satisfied that it was not from impulse, nor under +excitement, that she had given the money. I next stated to her something +like this: "You are poor, and you are about sixty years old, therefore +decreasing in strength, and may you not therefore keep this money for +yourself?" Her reply was, as nearly as I remember, something like this: +"God has always provided for me, and I have no doubt he will do so in +future also. I am able to work and to earn my bread as well as others, +and am willing to work as a nurse, or in any other way." What could I +say against this? This is just what a child of God would say, and should +say. But the greatest of all the difficulties to the accepting of the +eighty-five pounds remained in my mind, and I state it, as I relate the +whole for the profit of the reader. It was this. The house had been sold +for ninety pounds. The whole amount had been put into the box, but, on +the persuasion of those two brethren who were requested to remonstrate +with this widow, she had been induced to take back five pounds out of +the ninety pounds. I therefore said to myself, might she not be willing, +after a time, to take back the whole ninety pounds; how, therefore, can +I feel happy in accepting this money? On this account I particularly +laid stress upon this point, and told her that I feared she might regret +her act altogether after some time, as she had taken back this five +pounds. I now learned the circumstances under which she had been induced +to take back this five pounds. + +The two brethren who had called on her for the purpose of pointing out +to her the propriety of receiving back again the ninety pounds, or part +of it, told her that Barnabas sold his land, but afterwards lived with +others on that which he and others had thrown into the common stock, +and that, therefore, she might receive at least part of the ninety +pounds back again, if she would not take the whole. She then said to +herself that, "as a child of God, she might take the children's +portion," and, as she had given to God this ninety pounds, she might +receive five pounds back again. She told me that she considered the +brethren had shown her from the Holy Scriptures what she might do, and +therefore she had taken this five pounds. I did not myself agree with +the judgment of those brethren who had said this (as there is no +evidence that Barnabas ever was supported out of the common stock, the +proceeds of the sale of houses and lands, out of which the poor were +supported); but I purposely said nothing to the widow, lest she should +at once be induced to give me this five pounds also. She had, however, +this five pounds untouched, and showed it to me; and before she left she +would make me take one pound of it for the benefit of the orphans, which +I did not refuse, as I had no intention of keeping the eighty-five +pounds. She also gave me a sixpence for the orphans, which some one had +given her for herself, a few days before. + +I now asked her, as this matter concerning the retaining of the five +pounds was satisfactorily explained, as far as it respected her own +state of heart, what she wished me to do with the money, in case I saw +it right to keep it. Her reply was that she would leave that with me, +that God would direct me concerning it; but that, if she said anything +at all about it, she should most like it to be used for the support of +brethren who labor in the word without any salary, and who hazard their +lives for the name of Christ. She wished _me_ to have a part of the +money; but this I flatly refused, lest I should be evil spoken of in +this matter. I then offered to pay her travelling expenses, as she had +come to me, which she would not accept, as she did not stand in need of +it. In conclusion, I told her that I would now further pray respecting +this matter, and consider what to do concerning it. I then prayed with +this dear, godly woman, commended her to God, separated from her, and +have not seen her since. + +I waited from Aug. 9, 1853, to March 7, 1854, when I wrote to her, +offering her back again the whole eighty-five pounds, or a part of it. +On March 9, 1854, just seven months after I had received the money, and +just nine months after she had actually given it, and ten years and nine +months after she had made the resolution to give her house and garden to +God, I heard from her, stating that she was of the same mind as she had +been for years. I therefore disposed of the money, to aid such foreign +missionary brethren as, according to the best of my knowledge, resembled +most the class of men whom she wished to assist. + +The reasons why I have so minutely dwelt upon this circumstance are: 1. +If, as a steward of the bounties of the children of God, I should be +blamed for receiving from a poor widow almost literally her all, it may +be seen in what manner I did so. To have refused on March 9, 1854, also, +would be going beyond what I should be warranted to do. 2. I desired, +also, to give a practical illustration that I only desire donations in +God's way. It is not the money only I desire; but the money received in +answer to prayer, in God's order. 3. This circumstance illustrates how +God helps me often in the most unexpected manner. 4. I have also related +this instance that there may be a fresh proof that even in these last +days the love of Christ is of constraining power, and may work mightily, +as in the days of the apostles. I have witnessed _many_ such instances +as this, in the twenty years during which I have been occupied in this +my service. Let us give thanks to God for such cases, and let us seek +for grace rather to imitate such godly men and women, than think that +they are going too far. I cannot, however, dismiss this subject, +without commending this poor widow to the prayers of all who love our +Lord Jesus, that she may be kept humble, lest, thinking highly of +herself, on account of what she has been enabled to do, by the grace of +God, she should not only lose blessing in her own soul, but this +circumstance should become a snare to her. Pray also, believing reader, +that she may never be allowed to regret what she has done for the Lord. + + After giving in detail the sources and manner of supply for the + maintenance of the orphans during twenty-four days, Mr. M. adds:-- + +The particular end why I have been so minute, is, _to show that the work +is now, as much as ever, a work carried on entirely in dependence upon +the living God, who alone is our hope, and to whom alone we look for +help, and who never has forsaken us in the hour of need_. There is, +however, one thing different with reference to this year, when compared +with former years, and that is, that, while our trials of faith during +this year were just as great as in previous years, the amount needed in +former times was never so great as during this year, especially as the +bread during the greater part of this year was about twice as dear as +for several years before. + +But then, it may be said, If you have had this trial of faith, with +these three hundred orphans, why do you seek to build another Orphan +House for seven hundred more, and thus have a thousand to care for? Will +you not have still greater trials of faith? + +My reply is: 1. God has never failed me all the twenty years of this my +service. 2. I am going on as easily now, with three hundred orphans, as +with thirty, the number with which I commenced. Their number is ten +times as large as it was at the first; but God has always helped me. 3. +Trials of faith were anticipated, yea, were one chief end of the work, +for the profit of the church of Christ at large. 4. I had courage given +me to go forward, solely in dependence upon God, being assured that he +would help me; yet I waited in secret upon him for six months before I +made this my intention known, in order that I might not take a hasty +step; and I have never regretted my having gone forward. 5. But it needs +to be added that the very abundance which the Lord gave me at the time, +when my mind was exercised about this matter, was a great confirmation +to me that I had not mistaken his mind. And even during this year, how +great has been his help; for the income for the work altogether has been +twelve thousand seven hundred and eighty-five pounds fifteen shillings +sevenpence halfpenny. I am, therefore, assured that the Lord will, in +his own time, not only allow me to build another Orphan House, but that +he will also, when he shall have been pleased to fill it, find the means +to provide for these children. + +During this year four day schools, with 202 children, were _entirely +supported_ by the funds of the Institution. Further, one Sunday school +in Bristol, with 137 children, was _entirely supported_, and three +others in Devonshire, Somersetshire, and Gloucestershire, with 300 +children, were _assisted_. Lastly, one adult school, with 154 adult +scholars, was _entirely_ supported. The total amount which was spent +during this year in connection with these schools was L359, 15s. +101/2d. The number of all the children who were under our care merely +in the schools which were _entirely_ supported by this Institution, from +March 5, 1834, to May 26, 1854, was 5,817 in the day schools, 2,748 in +the Sunday schools, and 2,315 persons in the adult school. + +During this year was expended on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, +of the funds of the Institution, L433, 2s. 9d. There were circulated +during this year 1,890 Bibles and 1,288 New Testaments; and from the +commencement of the work up to May 26, 1854, 12,366 Bibles and 7,349 +Testaments. + +During this year there was spent of the funds of the Institution, for +missionary objects, the sum of L2,249, 10s. 81/2d. By this sum +fifty-six laborers in the word and doctrine, in various parts of the +world, were to a greater or less degree assisted. + +During this year, the Lord was pleased to bless again abundantly the +labors of many of those servants of Christ who were assisted through the +funds of this Institution, and this has been the case in foreign +countries as well as at home. + +There was laid out for the circulation of tracts, from May 26, 1853, to +May 26, 1854, the sum of L563, 5s. 01/2d.; and there were circulated +869,636 tracts. + +The total number of all the tracts which were circulated from the +beginning up to May 26, 1854, was 2,689,676. + +We desire to be grateful to the Lord that during no period previously we +were enabled to circulate more tracts, and more copies of the Holy +Scriptures, and to aid to a greater degree missionary labors, than +during this period; yet we would not rest in that. It is the blessing of +the Lord upon our labors which we need, which we desire, and which by +his grace we also seek. + +If any of the Christian readers are in the habit of circulating tracts, +and yet have never seen fruit, may I suggest to them the following hints +for their prayerful consideration. 1. Seek for such a state of heart, +through prayer and meditation on the Holy Scriptures, as that you are +willing to let God have all the honor, if any good is accomplished by +your service. If you desire for yourself the honor, yea, though it were +in part only, you oblige the Lord, so to speak, to put you as yet aside +as a vessel not meet for the Master's use. One of the greatest +qualifications for usefulness in the service of the Lord is a heart +truly desirous of getting honor for him. 2. Precede all your labors with +earnest, diligent prayer; go to them in a prayerful spirit; and follow +them by prayer. Do not rest on the number of tracts you have given. A +million of tracts may not be the means of converting one single soul; +and yet how great, beyond calculation, may be the blessing which results +from one single tract. Thus it is also with regard to the circulation of +the Holy Scriptures, and the ministry of the word itself. Expect, then, +everything from the blessing of the Lord, and nothing at all from your +own exertions. 3. And yet, at the same time, labor, press into every +open door, be instant in season and out of season, as if everything +depended upon your labors. This, as has been stated before, is one of +the great secrets in connection with successful service for the Lord: to +work, as if everything depended upon our diligence, and yet not to rest +in the least upon our exertions, but upon the blessing of the Lord. 4. +This blessing of the Lord, however, should not merely be sought in +prayer, but it should also be _expected, looked for, continually looked +for_; and the result will be that we shall surely have it. 5. But +suppose that, for the trial of our faith, this blessing were for a long +time withheld from our sight; or suppose, even, that we should have to +fall asleep before we see much good resulting from our labors; yet will +our labors, if carried on in such a way and spirit as has been stated, +be at last abundantly owned, and we shall have a rich harvest in the day +of Christ. + +At the beginning of this period there were 300 orphans in the new Orphan +House on Ashley Down, Bristol. During the year there were admitted into +it 30 orphans, making 330 in all. The total number of orphans who were +under our care from April, 1836, to May 26, 1854, was 558. + +The expenses during this year for the support of the orphans were +L3,897, 2s. 01/2d. + +_Without any one having been personally applied to for anything by me_, +the sum of L64,591, 6s. 111/4d. was given to me for the orphans, _as +the result of prayer to God_, from the commencement of the work up to +May 26, 1854. It may be also interesting to the reader to know that the +total amount which was given for the other objects, from the +commencement of the work up to May 26, 1854, amounted to L22,268, 2s. +111/4d.; and that which came in by the sale of Bibles and tracts, and +by the payments of the children in the day schools, from the +commencement up to May 26, 1854, amounted to L3,989, 4s. 53/4d. + +Our labors continued to be blessed among the orphans. We saw also again +fruit of our labors, during this year, with regard to orphans who +formerly were under our care. + +In July, 1853, it pleased the Lord to try my faith in a way in which +before it had not been tried. My beloved daughter, an only child, and a +believer since the commencement of the year 1846, was taken ill on June +20. This illness, at first a low fever, turned to typhus. On July 3 +there seemed no hope of her recovery. Now was the trial of faith. But +faith triumphed. My beloved wife and I were enabled to give her up into +the hands of the Lord. He sustained us both exceedingly. But I will only +speak about myself. Though my only and beloved child was brought near +the grave, yet was my soul in perfect peace, satisfied with the will of +my heavenly Father, being assured that he would only do that for her and +her parents which in the end would be the best. She continued very ill +till about July 20, when restoration began. On Aug. 18 she was so far +restored that she could be removed to Clevedon, for change of air, +though exceedingly weak. It was then fifty-nine days since she was first +taken ill. + +While I was in this affliction, this great affliction, besides being at +peace, as far as the Lord's dispensation was concerned, I also felt +perfectly at peace with regard to the cause of the affliction. When in +August, 1831, the hand of the Lord was heavily laid on me in my family, +as related in the first part of this Narrative, I had not the least +hesitation in knowing that it was the Father's rod, applied in infinite +wisdom and love for the restoration of my soul from a state of +lukewarmness. At this time, however, I had no such feeling. Conscious as +I was of my manifold weaknesses, failings, and shortcomings, so that I +too would be ready to say with the Apostle Paul, "O wretched man than I +am!" yet I was assured that this affliction was not upon me in the way +of the fatherly rod, but for the trial of my faith. Persons often have, +no doubt, the idea respecting me, that all my trials of faith regard +matters connected with money, though the reverse has been stated by me +very frequently; now, however, the Lord would try my faith concerning +one of my dearest earthly treasures, yea, next to my beloved wife, the +dearest of all my earthly possessions. Parents know what an only child, +a beloved child, is, and what to believing parents an only child, a +believing child, must be. Well, the Father in heaven said, as it were, +by this his dispensation, Art thou willing to give up this child to me? +My heart responded, As it seems good to thee, my heavenly Father. Thy +will be done. But as our hearts were made willing to give back our +beloved child to him who had given her to us; so he was ready to leave +her to us, and she lived. "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he +shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Psalm xxxvii. 4. The +desires of my heart were, to retain the beloved daughter, if it were the +will of God; the means to return her were, to be satisfied with the will +of the Lord. + +Of all the trials of faith that as yet I have had to pass through, this +was the greatest; and, by God's abundant mercy, I own it to his praise, +I was enabled to delight myself in the will of God; for I felt +perfectly sure that if the Lord took this beloved daughter, it would be +best for her parents, best for herself, and more for the glory of God +than if she lived: this better part I was satisfied with; and thus my +heart had peace, perfect peace, and I had not a moment's anxiety. Thus +would it be under all circumstances, however painful, were the believer +exercising faith. + +Dec. 31, 1853. During this year the Lord was pleased to give me L638, +11s. 81/2d. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +THREE YEARS OF PROSPERITY. + +1854-1857. + + THE SITE SELECTED--SIX THOUSAND ORPHANS IN PRISON--HOW TO ASK + FOR DAILY BREAD--REVIEW OF TWENTY-FOUR YEARS--"TAKE NO THOUGHT + FOR THE MORROW"--INSURANCE AGAINST BAD DEBTS. + + + During the year ending May 26, 1855, Mr. M. received toward the + erection of the second new Orphan House five thousand two + hundred and forty-two pounds eighteen shillings threepence, and + the whole sum on hand for this object amounted to twenty-three + thousand and fifty-nine pounds seventeen shillings eightpence + one farthing. After recording the amount thus obtained, he adds:-- + +I judged that, though I had not such an amount of means in hand as I +considered necessary before being warranted to begin to build, yet that +I might make inquiries respecting land. Accordingly, I applied in the +beginning of February for the purchase of two fields which join the land +on which the new Orphan House is built. On these two fields I had had my +eye for years, and had purposed to endeavor to purchase them whenever I +might be in such a position, as to means for the building fund, that it +would be suitable to do so. I found, however, that, according to the +will of the late owner of these fields, they could not be sold _now_. +Thus my prospects were blighted. When I obtained this information, +though _naturally_ tried by it and disappointed, I said; by _God's +grace_, to myself, "The Lord has something better to give me, instead of +these two fields;" and thus my heart was kept in peace. But when now the +matter was fully decided that I could not obtain those fields, which had +appeared to me so desirable for the object, the question arose, what I +was to do for the obtaining of land. Under these circumstances some of +my Christian friends again asked, as they had done before, why I did not +build on the ground which we have around the new Orphan House. My reply +was, as before, that it could not be done: 1. Because it would throw the +new Orphan House for nearly two years into disorder, on account of the +building going on round about it. 2. There would not be sufficient room +without shutting in the present house to a great extent. 3. That, as the +new Orphan House stands in the centre of our ground, there would not be +sufficient room on any of the sides for the erection of a building so +large as would be required. I was, however, led to consider whether +there was any way whereby we could accomplish the building on the ground +belonging to the new Orphan House. In doing so, I found that,--1. By +having a high temporary boundary made of old boards, the building ground +could be entirely distinct from the present establishment. 2. By +building on an entirely different plan from that of the present house, +we should not only have room enough; but that, also, 3. The present +house would not be so inclosed that the health of the inmates of the +establishment would thereby be injured. + +But there was in connection with this another point which now came under +consideration in addition to the particulars already mentioned: it was +this. Though for four years past I had never had a doubt as to its being +the will of God that I should build accommodation for seven hundred more +orphans; yet, at the same time, I had for a long time seen the +desirableness of having two houses instead of one, for the seven hundred +orphans. This previously formed judgment of having two houses for three +hundred and fifty orphans in each, or four hundred in the one, and three +hundred in the other, led me now to see whether there could be another +house built on each side of the present new Orphan House; and I judged, +from measuring the ground, that there was no objection to this plan. I +then called in the aid of architects, to survey the ground, and to make +a rough plan of two houses, one on each side, and it was found that it +could be accomplished. Having arrived thus far, I soon saw that we +should not only save expense by this plan in various ways, but +especially that thus the direction and inspection of the whole +establishment would be much more easy and simple, as the buildings would +be so near together. This, indeed, on being further considered, soon +appeared to be a matter of such importance, that if even land could be +had but a quarter of a mile off, the difficulties would be greatly +increased thereby. At the same time I found that we still should retain +so much land for cultivation by the spade as would furnish some out-door +employment for many boys, and would produce such kind of vegetables as +are the most important for young children to be had fresh out of the +ground; or that we could easily _rent_ a piece of ground near for that +purpose, though it could not be _bought_. + +The result, then, to which I have arrived at present is this: that +having seen what could be accomplished on the ground which we have +already, I decided to build, without any further delay than was +necessary for preparing the plans, at the south side of the new Orphan +House, another house for four hundred children. The plans are now +ready, and in a very short time, God willing, _i. e._ as soon as all the +necessary preliminary arrangements can be made, the building will +commence, which I think will be in the early part of July of the present +year (_i. e._ 1855). + +This house is intended for four hundred female orphans, bereaved of both +parents, from their _earliest_ days until they can be placed out in +service. With regard to the other house for three hundred orphans, to be +built at the north side of the new Orphan House, nothing definitely can +be stated at present. There is enough money in hand to build, fit up, +and furnish the house for four hundred orphans, and it is expected that +something will be left; but there is not sufficient money in hand, at +present, to warrant the commencement of the building of both. As soon, +however, as there is, I shall be delighted to take active measures with +regard to that for three hundred orphans also. I do not ask persons to +help me with their means. I speak to the Lord about my need in prayer, +and I do not wait upon him in vain. At the same time I feel it right to +state that there is a loud and an abundant call for caring for destitute +orphans. On May 26, 1854, I had six hundred and two waiting for +admission, each bereaved of both parents by death. Since then one +hundred and ninety-seven more have been applied for, making in all seven +hundred and ninety-nine. Of these I have been able to receive only +thirty-nine during the past year, and forty-five who were waiting for +admission have been otherwise provided for, or have died since +application was made for them; so that still seven hundred and fifteen +orphans are waiting for admission, from three months old and upward. But +this number, I state unhesitatingly, would be much larger, had not very +many persons refrained from making application because they judged it +would be of no use, as there are already so many waiting for admission. +Indeed, there is every reason to believe that there are many tens of +thousands of destitute orphans in this country. And what provision is +there in the way of orphan establishments it may be asked. At the last +census, in 1851, there were in England and Wales thirty-nine orphan +establishments, and the total number of orphans, provided for through +them, amounted only to three thousand seven hundred and sixty-four; but +at the time the new Orphan House was being built there were about six +thousand young orphans in the prisons of England. To prevent their going +to prison, to prevent their being brought up in sin and vice, yea, to be +the honored instrument to win their souls for God, I desire, by his +help, to enlarge the present establishment so as to be able to receive +one thousand orphans; and individuals who have purposed not to live for +time but for eternity, and to look on their means as in the light of +eternity, will thus have an opportunity of helping me to care for these +children. It is a great honor to be allowed to do anything for the Lord; +therefore I do not press this matter. We can only give to him of his +own; for all we have is his. When the day of recompense comes, the +regret will only be that we have done so little for him, not that we +have done too much. + + During the year from May, 1854, to May, 1855, ample means were + provided, in answer to prayer only, for the maintenance of the + orphans, and for the various purposes of the Scriptural + Knowledge Institution. The following statement exhibits the + results of Mr. Mueller's labors during the year under review:-- + +During this year four day schools in Bristol, with 184 children in them, +were _entirely supported_ by the funds of the Institution; and several +other day schools in Devonshire, Cornwall, Suffolk, Ireland, and +Scotland, were _assisted_ with copies of the Holy Scriptures. Further, +one Sunday school in Bristol, with 158 children, was _entirely +supported_, and seven others in Cornwall, Devonshire, Somersetshire, and +Gloucestershire, with about 400 children in them, were _assisted_. +Lastly, one adult school, with 133 adults was entirely supported during +this year. The amount expended during this year, on these various +schools, was L338, 2s. 5d. + +In connection with all these various schools, I would suggest the +following important matter for prayer. From March, 1834, to May 26, +1855, there were 5,956 children in the day schools. In the adult schools +there were 2,459 persons. The number of the Sunday-school children +amounted to 2,817. Thus, without reckoning the orphans, 11,232 souls +were brought under _habitual_ instruction in the things of God in these +various schools; besides the many thousands in the schools in various +parts of England, Ireland, Scotland, British Guiana, the West Indies, +the East Indies, etc., which were to a greater or less degree assisted. + +The total sum which was expended during the twenty-one years, from March +5, 1834, to May 26, 1855, in connection with the schools, which were +either entirely or in part supported by the funds of this Institution, +amounted to L7,204, 12s. 81/4d. + +The number of Bibles, New Testaments, and portions of the Holy +Scriptures, which were circulated from May 26, 1854, to May 26, 1855, is +as follows:-- + +Bibles sold, 693. Bibles given away, 890. Testaments sold, 950. +Testaments given away, 748. Copies of the Psalms sold, 82. Other small +portions of the Holy Scriptures sold, 136. + +There were circulated from March 5, 1834, to May 26, 1855, through the +medium of this Institution, 13,949 Bibles, 9,047 New Testaments, 188 +copies of the Psalms, and 789 other small portions of the Holy +Scriptures. + +The total amount of the funds of this Institution spent on the +circulation of the Holy Scriptures, from March 5, 1834, to May 26, 1855, +is L3,389, 10s. 1d. The amount spent during this year, L476, 12s. 3d. + +During this year there was spent of the funds of the Institution, for +missionary objects, the sum of L2,081, 3s. 2d. By this sum fifty-seven +laborers in the word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were +to a greater or less degree assisted. + +The total amount of the funds of the Institution spent on missionary +operations, from March 5, 1834, to May 26, 1855, was L16,115, 0s. 51/2d. + +There was laid out for tracts, from May 26, 1854, to May 26, 1855, the +sum of L624, 8s. 4d.; and there were circulated within this year 895,034 +tracts and books. + +The total number of all the tracts and books which were circulated from +the beginning up to May 26, 1855, was 3,584,710. + +The total amount of means expended on this object, from Nov. 19, 1840, +to May 26, 1855, was L2,868, 15s. 63/4d. + +At the commencement of this period there were 298 orphans in the new +Orphan House on Ashley Down, Bristol. During the year there were +admitted into it 39 orphans. + +The expenses for the orphans during this year were L4,304, 4s. 71/2d. + +_Without any one having been personally applied to for anything_ by me, +the sum of L74,132, 6s. 103/4d. was given to me for the orphans, _as +the result of prayer to God_, from the commencement of the work up to +May 26, 1855, which sum includes the L15,055, 3s. 21/4d., which was the +cost of the building, fitting up and furnishing of the present new +Orphan House, and the L23,059, 17s. 81/4d., which was in hand on the +26th May, 1855, for the building fund, and the L116, 17s. 81/2d., the +balance for the current expenses. It may also be interesting to the +reader to know that the total sum which was given for the other objects, +from the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1855, amounted to +L25,239, 8s. 103/4d.; and that which came in by the sale of Bibles and +tracts, and by the payments of the children in the day schools, from the +commencement, amounted to L4,531, 12s. 103/4d. Besides this also a +great variety and number of articles of clothing, furniture, provisions, +etc., were given _for the use_ of the orphans. + +I have the joy of being able to state that we have great cause for +thankfulness in that in the midst of many difficulties our labors among +the orphans continue to be blessed, and that especially again and again +instances now come before us in which those who were formerly under our +care declare themselves on the Lord's side. + +Besides being able to meet the expenses for the orphans and the other +objects, amounting altogether to L7,832, 7s. 01/2d., during this year I +was able to add to the building fund L5,242, 18s. 3d. The total income +during the year was L13,054, 14s. 4d. + +Dec. 31, 1854. During this year there have been received into +fellowship 61. + +The Lord has been pleased to give me during this year L697, 11s. 5d. + +One or the other of my readers may be ready to exclaim, six hundred and +ninety-seven pounds eleven shillings fivepence! What a large sum! Not +one out of a hundred ministers has such a large salary, nor one out of +twenty clergymen such a good living! Should you, esteemed reader, say +so, my reply is: Indeed, mine is a happy way for the obtaining of my +temporal supplies; but if any one desires to go this way, he must,-- + +1. Not _merely say_ that he trusts in God, but must _really do so_. +Often individuals profess to trust in God, but they embrace every +opportunity where they may directly or indirectly be able to expose +their need, and thus seek to induce persons to help them. I do not say +it is wrong to make known our wants; but I do say it ill agrees with +trust in God to expose our wants for the sake of inducing persons to +help us. God will take us at our word. If we say we trust in him, he +will try whether we _really_ do so, or only _profess_ to do so; and if +_indeed_ we trust in him, we are satisfied to stand with him alone. + +2. The individual who desires to go this way must be willing to be rich +or poor, as the Lord pleases. He must be willing to know what it is to +have an abundance or scarcely anything. He must be willing to leave this +world without any possessions. + +3. He must be willing to take the money in God's way, not merely in +large sums, but in small. Again and again have I had a single shilling +given or sent to me. To have refused such tokens of Christian love would +have been ungracious. + +4. He must be willing to live as the Lord's steward. If any one were to +begin this way of living, and did not communicate out of that which the +Lord gives to him, but hoard it up, or if he would live up to his +income, as it is called, then the Lord, who influences the hearts of his +children to help him with means, would soon cause those channels to be +dried up. How it came that my already good income still more increased +so as to come to what it is, I have stated in the early part of this +volume; it was when I determined that, by God's help, _his_ poor and +_his_ work should more than ever partake of my means. From that time +the Lord was pleased more and more to intrust me with means for my own +purse. + +Various reasons might have kept me from publishing these accounts; but I +have for my object in writing the glory of God, and therefore I delight +in thus showing what a loving Master I serve, and how bountifully he +supplies my necessities; and I write for the comfort and encouragement +of my fellow-believers, that they may be led to trust in God more and +more, and therefore I feel it due to them to state how, even with regard +to this life, I am amply provided for, though that is not what I seek +after. + +Up to May 26, 1856, the total income for the building fund was L29,297, +18s. 111/2d., so that only about L5,700 more will be required, as far +as I am able to see, in order to accomplish to the full my purpose +respecting the accommodation for 700 more orphans. + + During the year 1855-1856, the wants of the orphans, as well as + the demands of the missionary, Bible, tract, and school work, + were supplied more amply than ever before, and a blessing rested + upon all these departments of labor, as will appear from the + following statement:-- + +During this year four day schools, with 203 children, were _entirely +supported_ by the funds of the Institution; and nine day schools were +assisted with copies of the Holy Scriptures. Further, one Sunday school, +with 158 children, was _entirely supported_, and eight others were +_assisted_. Lastly, one adult school, with 158 adult scholars, was +_entirely supported_, and two other adult schools, in Kent and Norfolk, +were _assisted_ with books. The amount which was spent during this year, +in connection with these schools, was L348, 5s. 111/4d.; and the sum +total expended during the last twenty-two years, in connection with the +schools which were either entirely or in part supported by the funds of +this Institution, amounts to L7,552, 18s. 71/2d. The number of all the +children who were under our care, merely in the schools which were +_entirely_ supported by this Institution, from March 5, 1834, to May 26, +1856, was 6,104 in the day schools, 2,911 in the Sunday schools, and +2,611 persons in the adult school. Thus, without reckoning the orphans, +11,626 have been brought under habitual instruction in the things of God +in these various schools; besides the many thousands in the schools in +various parts of England, Ireland, Scotland, British Guiana, the East +Indies, etc., which have been to a greater or less degree assisted. + +During this year was expended on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, +of the funds of this Institution, L496; 10s. There were circulated +during this year 2,175 Bibles, 1,233 New Testaments, 119 copies of the +Psalms, and 155 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. There have +been circulated since March 5, 1834, through the medium of this +Institution, 16,124 Bibles, 10,280 New Testaments, 307 copies of the +Psalms, and 944 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. The sum +total spent on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, since March 5, +1834, is L3,886, 0s. 1d. + +During this year there was spent, of the funds of the Institution, for +missionary objects, L2,501, 9s. 1d. By this sum sixty-one laborers in +the word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were to a greater +or less degree assisted. + +The sum total which has been expended on missionary operations, of the +funds of the Institution, since March 5, 1834, is L18,616, 9s. 61/2d. + +There was laid out for the circulation of tracts, from May 26, 1855, to +May 26, 1856, the sum of L791, 1s. 01/2d., and there were circulated +812,970 tracts and books. The sum total which has been expended on this +object since Nov. 19, 1840, amounts to L3,659, 16s. 71/4d. The total +number of all the tracts and books which have been circulated since Nov. +19, 1840, is 4,397,680. + +At the beginning of this period there were 297 orphans in the new Orphan +House. During the past year there have been admitted into it 25 orphans. +The total number of orphans who have been under our care since April, +1836, is 622. + +_Without any one having been personally applied to for anything by me_, +the sum of L84,441, 6s. 31/4d. has been given to me for the orphans, +_as the result of prayer to God_, since the commencement of the work, +which sum includes the L15,055, 3s. 21/4d. which was the cost of the +building, fitting up, and furnishing of the present new Orphan House, +and the L29,297, 18s. 111/2d. received up to May 26, 1856, for the +building fund, and the L167, 18s. 113/4d., the balance of the current +expenses. The total sum which has been given for the other objects since +the commencement of the work amounts to L28,904, 11s. 33/4d.; and that +which has come in by the sale of Bibles and tracts, and by the payments +of the children in the day schools, from the commencement up to May 26, +1856, amounts to L5,145, 17s. + +Dec. 31, 1855. During this year the Lord has been pleased to give me +L726, 16s. 21/4d. + +May 26, 1856. Yesterday evening it was twenty-four years since I came to +labor in Bristol. In looking back upon this period, as it regards the +Lord's goodness to my family and myself, the Scriptural Knowledge +Institution, and the saints among whom I seek to serve him, I exclaim, +What has God wrought! I marvel at his kindness, and yet I do not; for +such is his manner; and, if it please him that I remain longer on +earth, I expect, not fewer manifestations of his love, but more and +more. + +Since my beloved friend and fellow-laborer and I first came to Bristol, +1,586 believers have been received into fellowship, which number, with +the 68 we found in communion, makes 1,654. But out of that number 252 +have fallen asleep, 53 have been separated from fellowship, 145 have +left us, some, however, merely through circumstances and in love, and +510 have left Bristol; so that there are only 694 remaining in +communion. + + By the contributions received during the year 1856-7, the whole + amount on hand for the new buildings was raised to thirty-one + thousand eight hundred seventeen pounds one shilling and + elevenpence. For the Bible, tract, and missionary work, and for + schools, Mr. M. had the pleasure of receiving and of expending + eight hundred and twenty-nine pounds more than in the previous + year. For the support of the orphans all means were so + abundantly provided that at the end of the year there was on + hand a balance of one thousand four hundred and eighty-nine + pounds. + + The following incident illustrates the author's reliance upon + God for his own future support. + +On Oct. 12, 1856, was sent to me a check for one hundred pounds, with +the request of the donor to receive this for myself, as the beginning of +raising a fund for my support when advanced in years, and for that of my +family. This very kind and well-intended proposal by the donor, who +since has died, appeared to me as a subtle temptation laid for me, +though far from being intended so by him, to depart from the principles +on which I had been acting for twenty-six years previously, both +regarding myself and the orphan work. I give the account of this +circumstance fully, as it may be profitable to one or other of the +readers. + + * * * * OCT. 11, 1856. + + DEAR SIR:-- + + In admiration of the services which you have rendered to poor + orphans and mankind in general, I think it right that some + provision should be made for yourself. I think it right to send + you one hundred pounds, as a beginning to form a fund, which I + hope many good Christians will add to, * * * * for the + maintenance of you and your family, if your own labors should be + unequal to it, and I hope you will lay out this as a beginning + accordingly. May God bless you and your labors, as he has + hitherto done everything connected with your Institutions. + + I am, dear Sir, + * * * * + +By God's grace I had not a moment's hesitation as to what to do. While I +most fully appreciated the great kindness of the donor, I looked upon +this as being permitted by God as a temptation to put my trust in +something else than himself, and I therefore sent the following letter +in reply:-- + + BRISTOL, OCT. 12, 1856. + + MY DEAR SIR:-- + + I hasten to thank you for your kind communication, and to inform + you that your check for one hundred pounds has safely come to + hand. + + I have no property whatever, nor has my dear wife; nor have I + had one single shilling regular salary as minister of the gospel + for the last twenty-six years, nor as the director of the Orphan + House and the other objects of the Scriptural Knowledge + Institution for Home and Abroad. When I am in need of anything, + I fall on my knees, and ask God that he would be pleased to give + me what I need; and he puts it into the heart of some one or + other to help me. Thus all my wants have been amply supplied + during the last twenty-six years, and I can say, to the praise + of God, I have lacked nothing. My dear wife and my only child, a + daughter of twenty-four years, are of the same mind with me. Of + this blessed way of living none of us are tired, but become day + by day more convinced of its blessedness. + + I have never thought it right to make provision for myself, or + my dear wife and daughter, except in this way, that when I saw a + case of need, such as an aged widow, or a sick person, or a + helpless infant, I would use my means freely which God had given + me, fully believing that if either myself, or my dear wife or + daughter, at some time or other, should be in need of anything, + God would richly repay what was given to the poor, considering + it as lent to himself. + + Under these circumstances, I am unable to accept your kindness + of the gift of one hundred pounds _towards making a provision + for myself and family_; for so I understand your letter. Any + gift given to me, unasked for, by those who have it in their + heart to help me to supply my personal and family expenses, I + thankfully accept; or any donation given to me for the work of + God in which I am engaged, I also thankfully accept, as a + steward for the orphans, etc.; but your kind gift seems to me + especially given to _make a provision for myself_, which I think + would be displeasing to my heavenly Father, who has so + bountifully given me my daily bread hitherto. But should I have + misunderstood the meaning of your letter, be pleased to let me + know it. I hold the check till I hear again from you. + + In the mean time, my dear sir, however you meant your letter, I + am deeply sensible of your kindness, and daily pray that God + would be pleased richly to recompense you for it, both + temporally and spiritually. + + I am, dear Sir, + Yours very gratefully, + GEORGE MUeLLER. + +Two days after I received a reply, in which the donor desired me to use +the one hundred pounds for the support of the orphans, for which object +I gladly accepted this sum. The day after that I received another one +hundred pounds from the same donor, and four days after that one +hundred pounds more, all for the support of the orphans, and all from an +individual whom I have never seen. + + In the following words is contained a useful lesson to persons + engaged in business:-- + +Feb. 24, 1857. Received five pounds as a thank-offering to the Lord for +preservation from making bad debts the past year. Has it ever occurred +to the reader that the Lord only can preserve any one engaged in +business from making bad debts? Has it also occurred to the reader that +often the Lord is obliged, because we do not use for him, as good +stewards, that with which he has been pleased to intrust us, to allow +bad debts to be made? Consider these things, dear Christian reader, you +who are engaged in business. If you were engaged in mercantile affairs, +connected with hundreds of thousands of pounds, you may by the help of +God, be preserved year after year from making bad debts, though several +millions of pounds should be turned in the course of a few years, +provided you keep before you that you are the Lord's steward, and carry +on business for him; whilst, on the other hand, thousands of pounds may +be lost in one single year, out of only a comparatively small business, +because he who carries it on "withholds more than is meet, and therefore +it tends to poverty," the Lord being obliged by bad debts (as they are +called), which he uses as one of his rods, to deprive his servants of +that which was not used aright. + + The review of the year ending May, 1857, presents us with the + following results:-- + +There have been during this period four day schools _entirely supported_ +by the funds of this Institution. There are at present in these four day +schools 181 children. + +In addition to the entire support of these four day schools, six schools +were assisted with money, or books, or copies of the Holy Scriptures, or +both money and books. + +There was one Sunday school, in which there were 175 children, _entirely +supported_ by the funds of this Institution; and six others were +_assisted_. + +There has been, since the formation of the Institution, one adult school +connected with it, the expenses of which have been _entirely_ borne by +the Institution, and in which, since March 5, 1834, altogether 2,699 +adults have been instructed. The number at present on the books is 72. + +There were also two other adult schools _assisted_ during the past year. + +The total amount of means which has been expended during the last +twenty-three years in connection with the schools, which have been +either entirely or in part supported by the funds of this Institution, +amounts to L7,938, 13s. 4d. + +The number of Bibles, Testaments, and portions of the Holy Scriptures, +which have been circulated since May 26, 1856, is as follows:-- + +Bibles sold, 601. Bibles given away, 1,476. Testaments sold, 829. +Testaments given away, 393. Copies of the Psalms sold, 151. Other small +portions of the Holy Scriptures sold, 316. + +There have been circulated since March 5, 1834, through the medium of +this Institution, 18,201 Bibles, 11,502 Testaments, 458 copies of the +Psalms, and 1,260 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. + +The total amount of the funds of this Institution spent on the +circulation of the Holy Scriptures, since March 5, 1834, is L4,407, 7s. +21/2d. The amount spent during the past year, L521, 7s. 11/2d. + +Some time since a brother in the Lord wrote to me that he had it in his +heart to visit from house to house, in a large manufacturing town in +Yorkshire, and, if possible, to supply each house with a tract, and to +seek out persons who were destitute of copies of the Holy Scriptures. I +supplied him, therefore, with 10,000 gospel tracts and 30 Bibles, and +subsequently with 127 more Bibles, and finally with 10,000 more tracts +and 74 Bibles. + +The third object of this Institution is, to aid missionary efforts. + +During the past year has been spent of the funds of the Institution for +this object, the sum of L3,177, 17s. 111/2d. By this sum seventy-four +laborers in the word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, have +been to a greater or less degree assisted. + +The year before last, I had been enabled to spend on this part of the +work more than during any previous year; but the last year I was, by +God's help, enabled not only to disburse for this object as much as +during the previous year, but L676, 8s. 101/2d. more. For this +privilege I feel grateful; yet I long to be permitted by the Lord to do +much more still. But whilst it has been a source of joy to me to be able +to assist seventy-four servants of Christ in many parts of the world, +that which was far more than this a cause of thankfulness, was, that +almost week by week, and often repeatedly in the same week, I had +refreshing intelligence from the brethren whom I sought to help. + + The letters of these brethren exhibit the fact that the aid + conveyed through Mr. M. was most timely, coming often in the + hour of sore need. They also give assurance that their labors + had been singularly blessed to the conversion of the heathen, + and of the ignorant and deluded among whom they preached. + +The total amount of the funds of the Institution which has been spent +on missionary operations, since March 5, 1834, is L21,794, 7s. 6d. + +There has been laid out for tracts, from May 26, 1856, to May 26, 1857, +the sum of L975, 18s. 71/2d.; and there have been circulated within the +last year 1,313,301 tracts and books. The sum total which has been +expended on this object, since Nov. 19, 1840, amounts to L4,635, 15s. +23/4d. + +The total number of all the tracts and books which have been circulated +since Nov. 19, 1840, is 5,710,981. + + Letters from those to whom tracts were sent for distribution, + convey the intelligence that in very many instances the tracts + were blessed to the conversion of sinners. + +At the commencement of the last period there were 299 orphans in the new +Orphan House on Ashley Down, Bristol. During the past year there were +admitted into it 30 orphans, making 329 in all. When the last Report was +published, there were 847 orphans waiting for admission. Since then 231 +more destitute orphans, bereaved of both parents by death, and some only +a few weeks old, have been applied for to be admitted, making 1,078 in +all. Of these 1,078 we were only able to receive 30, as has been stated, +and 58 either died or were otherwise provided for, as their relatives or +friends have informed us, so that there are still 990 waiting for +admission. Christian reader, think of these 990 destitute orphans, +bereaved of both parents! I have now, however, before me the most +pleasant prospect, if the Lord permit, of being able to receive 400 of +them in about three months, and also of being permitted to build the +third house for 300 more. + +_Without any one having been personally applied to for anything_ by me, +the sum of L92,175, 4s. 21/2d. has been given to me for the orphans, +_as the result of prayer to God_, since the commencement of the work, +which sum includes the L15,055, 3s. 21/4d. which was the cost of the +building, fitting up, and furnishing of the present new Orphan House, +and the L31,817, 1s. 11d., which had been received up to May 26, 1857, +for the building fund, and the L1,489, 7s. 9d., the balance of the +current expenses. It may also be interesting to the reader to know that +the total amount which has been given for the other objects, since the +commencement of the work, amounts to L33,293, 9s. 101/4d.; and that +which has come in by the sale of Bibles, since the commencement, amounts +to L2,080, 9s. 101/2d.; by sale of tracts, L1,778, 2s. 5d.; and by the +payments of the children in the day schools, from the commencement, +L2,066, 13s. 41/2d. + +The Lord is pleased to continue to allow us to see fruit in connection +with the orphan work, with reference to those who are _now_ under our +care, and we hear still again and again of cases in which those who were +_formerly_ under our care, have been led to declare themselves openly +for the Lord, besides those in whom we saw the work of grace manifestly +begun before they left the Orphan House. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +CONCLUSION. + +1857-1860. + + THE HOUSE FOR FOUR HUNDRED OPENED--PRAYER MORE THAN + ANSWERED--THE RESORT IN TROUBLE--AN OUTPOURING OF THE SPIRIT ON + THE ORPHANS--LAND FOR A NEW BUILDING PURCHASED--"BUT ONE LIFE TO + SPEND FOR GOD"--"SCATTERING, YET INCREASING"--A MEMORABLE + YEAR--THE GERM OF THE IRISH REVIVAL--LETTER FROM AN ORPHAN--THE + FRUIT OF SIX MONTHS' PRAYER--THE RESULTS OF THE WORK--REVIVAL + AMONG THE ORPHANS. + + + Under date of Nov. 12, 1857, Mr. M. writes:-- + +The long looked-for and long prayed-for day had now arrived when the +desire of my heart was granted to me, to be able to open the house for +four hundred additional orphans. Much had I labored in prayer and active +engagements to accomplish what was to be done previously; and now things +were so far advanced as that the new house was ready for use; and a few +days after we began to receive the children into it. How precious this +was to me, such will be able to enter into, who, having day by day +prayed for a blessing for seven years, and often repeatedly on the same +day, at last obtain the desire of their heart. Yet this blessing came +not unexpectedly to me, but had been looked for, and had, in the full +assurance of faith, been expected to be obtained in God's own time. + +Feb. 17, 1858. As far as I am able to judge, I have now all I require in +the way of pecuniary means for the third house also, so that I am able +to accomplish the full enlargement of the orphan work to one thousand +orphans. + + By the conclusion of the year under consideration, Mr. M. had + received, from all sources, thirty-five thousand three hundred + and thirty-five pounds nine shillings threepence toward the new + Orphan Houses, "being actually three hundred and thirty-five + pounds nine shillings threepence more than I had been from the + commencement praying for." + + The following circumstance, connected with the maintenance and + care of the orphans, exhibits the reliance placed upon prayer + and faith for relief in every exigency:-- + +Towards the end of November, 1857, I was most unexpectedly informed that +the boiler of our heating apparatus at the new Orphan House, No. 1, +leaked very considerably, so that it was impossible to go through the +winter with such a leak. Our heating apparatus consists of a large +cylinder boiler, inside of which the fire is kept, and with which boiler +the water pipes which warm the rooms are connected. Hot air is also +connected with this apparatus. This now was my position. The boiler had +been considered suited for the work of the winter; the having had ground +to suspect its being worn out, and not to have done anything towards its +being replaced by a new one, and to have said I will trust in God +regarding it, would be careless presumption, but not faith in God. It +would be the counterfeit of faith. + +The boiler is entirely surrounded by brickwork; its state, therefore, +could not be known without taking down the brickwork; this, if needless, +would be rather injurious to the boiler than otherwise; and as, year +after year, for eight winters, we had had no difficulty in this way, we +had not anticipated it now. But suddenly and most unexpectedly, at the +commencement of the winter, this difficulty occurred. What then was to +be done? For the children, especially the younger infants, I felt deeply +concerned that they might not suffer through want of warmth. But how +were we to obtain warmth? The introduction of a _new_ boiler would, in +all probability, take many weeks. The _repairing_ of the boiler was a +questionable matter, on account of the greatness of the leak; but, if +not, nothing could be said of it, till the brick-chamber in which the +boiler, with Hazard's patent heating apparatus, is inclosed, was, at +least in part, removed; but that would, at least as far as we could +judge, take days, and what was to be done in the mean time to find warm +rooms for three hundred children? It naturally occurred to me to +introduce temporary gas stoves, but, on further weighing the matter, it +was found that we should be unable to heat our very large rooms with gas +except we had very many stoves, which we could not introduce, as we had +not a sufficient quantity of gas to spare from our lighting apparatus. +Moreover, for each of these stoves we needed a small chimney, to carry +off the impure air. This mode of heating, therefore, though applicable +to a hall, a staircase, or a shop, would not suit our purposes. I also +thought of the temporary introduction of Arnott's stoves; but they would +be unsuitable, as we needed chimneys, long chimneys, for them, as they +would have been of a temporary kind, and therefore must go out of the +windows. On this account, the uncertainty of its answering in our case, +the disfigurement of the rooms almost permanently, led me to see it +needful to give up this plan also. But what was to be done? Gladly would +I have paid one hundred pounds if thereby the difficulty could have been +overcome, and the children not be exposed to suffer for many days from +being in cold rooms. At last I determined on falling entirely into the +hands of God, who is very merciful and of tender compassion, and I +decided on having, at all events, the brick-chamber opened, to see the +extent of the damage, and to see whether the boiler might be repaired, +so as to carry us through the winter. The day was fixed when the workmen +were to come, and all the necessary arrangements were made. The fire, of +course, had to be let out while the repairs were going on. But now see. +After the day was fixed for the repairs, a bleak north wind set in. It +began to blow either on Thursday or Friday before the Wednesday +afternoon when the fire was to be let out. Now came the first really +cold weather which we had in the beginning of last winter, during the +first days of December. What was to be done? The repairs could not be +put off. I now asked the Lord for two things, viz. that he would be +pleased to change the north wind into a south wind, and that he would +give to the workmen "a mind to work;" for I remembered how much Nehemiah +accomplished in fifty-two days, whilst building the walls of Jerusalem, +because "the people had a mind to work." Well, the memorable day came. +The evening before, the bleak north wind blew still; but on the +Wednesday the south wind blew: exactly as I had prayed. The weather was +so mild that no fire was needed. The brickwork is removed, the leak is +found out very soon, the boiler-makers begin to repair in good earnest. +About half-past eight in the evening, when I was going to leave the new +Orphan House for my home, I was informed at the lodge that the acting +principal of the firm whence the boiler-makers came was arrived, to see +how the work was going on, and whether he could in any way speed the +matter. I went immediately into the cellar, therefore, to see him with +the men, to seek to expedite the business. In speaking to the principal +of this, he said in their hearing, "the men will work late this evening, +and come very early again to-morrow." "We would rather, sir," said the +leader, "work all night." Then remembered I the second part of my +prayer, that God would give the men "a mind to work." Thus it was: by +the morning the repair of the boiler was accomplished, the leak was +stopped, though with great difficulty, and within about thirty hours the +brickwork was up again and the fire in the boiler; and all the time the +south wind blew so mildly that there was not the least need of a fire. + +Here, then, is one of our difficulties which was overcome by prayer and +faith. + +For nearly three months all went on well; but at the end of February +another leak appeared, which was worse than the previous one. But over +this also we were helped through prayer, so that without any real +inconvenience the repairs were accomplished within about thirty hours. +From that time the Lord has not tried us any further in this way. While +I am writing this it is fine warm weather, and I have ordered in both +houses the fires to be discontinued in the heating apparatuses, and, the +Lord willing, a new boiler will of course be substituted. + +Feb. 2, 1858. "From Newton" one pound. To-day I took the first active +steps towards the building of the third house, when immediately +afterwards I was informed by letter that a lady in London, an entire +stranger to me, had ordered her bankers to send me three hundred pounds +for the support of the orphans. I was also further informed in the +evening that in two weeks eight hundred pounds shall be paid to me for +the work of the Lord. The three hundred pounds was sent the next day, +and the eight hundred pounds a fortnight after. See how, with +enlargement of the work, the Lord keeps pace with the expenses, helping +when help is really needed, often also giving beforehand. + + During the year 1857-8, twenty-four schools were supported or + assisted out of the funds of the Institution, three thousand + nine hundred and sixty-three Bibles and portions of Scripture + were circulated, and three thousand five hundred and thirty-one + pounds expended for the aid of eighty-two laborers in various + parts of the world. From these men Mr. Mueller received letters + containing the delightful intelligence that their labor had been + blessed of the Lord. After giving copious extracts from these + letters, Mr. M. adds:-- + +Such extracts might be greatly multiplied, and, as I said before, a +large volume might easily be written; but space forbids me giving any +more. I feel it, however, due to the Christian reader to state that +there is good reason to believe that many hundreds of souls have been +brought to the knowledge of the Lord through the instrumentality of +these brethren within the last year; and may we not hope that even that +which is known is not nearly all that the Lord has been pleased to +accomplish through them? How seasonably, often, the help for which I had +labored in prayer has come to these dear servants of Christ, the +following extracts from letters may show, though hundreds of similar +letters have been received by me within the last twenty years. + +May 19, 1858. "I gratefully acknowledge the Lord's goodness in the +receipt of your check for ten pounds. Being brought low, my dear wife +and myself, when specially waiting on him last evening, pleaded with the +Lord that he would graciously send a supply this morning; and again we +have the proof of his love by your letter and its contents. Bless the +Lord, O my soul! With many thanks to you, in which my dear wife unites, +I am," etc. + +Feb. 27, 1858. "O, how my heart goes out towards you for your +affectionate remembrance of us in our low estate! _Not a shilling_ had +we in the house, nor any human prospect of any money, when your +remittance of five pounds reached us." + +A laborer on the Continent writes on Dec. 17, 1857: "We received +yesterday your kind note inclosing eight pounds. The very day you sent +your letter to the post-office, the 12th instant, was a day set apart +for prayer, with fasting, to ask the Lord for means." + + There were also circulated during the year 1,334,791 tracts and + books. Letters received from the persons who distributed them + show that they were greatly blessed in awakening and converting + souls. + +At the commencement of the last period there were 299 orphans in the new +Orphan House on Ashley Down, Bristol. During the past year there were +admitted into it, and into the new house for 400, altogether 219 +orphans. The total number of orphans who have been under our care since +April 11, 1836, is 871. + +The opening of the new house for 400 orphans, which is not a wing of the +house that has been before in existence, but an entirely distinct +establishment, and larger than the former, has made it needful to +distinguish between these two houses in this way, that the house which +was opened on June 18, 1849, is now called the new Orphan House No. 1, +and the one which was opened on Nov. 12, 1857, is called the new Orphan +House No. 2. The new Orphan House No. 1 is fitted up for the +accommodation of 140 orphan girls above seven years of age, 80 orphan +boys above seven years, and 80 male and female orphans from their +earliest days, till they are about seven or eight years of age. The +infants, after having passed the age of seven or eight years, are +removed into the different departments for older boys and girls. The new +Orphan House No. 2 is fitted up for 200 female infant orphans, and for +200 elder female orphans. + +_Without any one having been personally applied to for anything_ by me, +the sum of L102,714, 9s. 6d. has been given to me for the orphans, _as +the result of prayer to God_, since the commencement of the work, which +sum includes the amount received for the building fund for the houses +already built and the one to be built. It may also be interesting to the +reader to know that the total amount which has been given for the other +objects, since the commencement of the work, amounts to L38,297, 12s. +111/2d.; and that which has come in by the sale of Bibles since the +commencement amounts to L2,222, 4s. 31/2d.; by sale of tracts, L2,294, +6s. 111/2d., and by the payments of children in the day schools, from +the commencement, L2,138, 11s. 41/4d. + +During the past twenty-two years the Spirit of God has been again and +again working among the orphans who were under our care, so that very +many of them have been brought to the knowledge of the Lord; but we +never had so great a work, and at the same time one so satisfactory, +_within so short a time_, as during the past year. I will enter somewhat +into details for the benefit of the reader. There are one hundred and +forty elder girls in the new Orphan House No. 1, of whom, at the +beginning of the last period, ten were considered to be believers. + +On May 26, 1857, the death of an orphan, Caroline Bailey, took place. +The death of this beloved girl, who had known the Lord several months +before she fell asleep, seems to have been used by the Lord as a means +of answering in a goodly measure our daily prayers for the conversion of +the orphans. It pleased God at the beginning of the last period mightily +to work among the orphans, so that all at once, within a few days, +without any apparent cause, except it be the peaceful end of the beloved +Caroline Bailey, more than fifty of these girls were brought to be under +concern about their souls, and some with deep conviction of sin +accompanying it, so that they were exceedingly distressed. And how is it +now? my readers may ask; for young persons are often apparently much +concerned about the things of God, but these impressions pass away. +True, dear reader, I have seen this myself, having had to do with many +thousands of children and young persons within the last thirty years. +Had, therefore, this work among the orphans begun within the last few +days, or even weeks, I should have passed it over in silence; but more +than a year has now elapsed since it commenced, and it will, therefore, +give joy to the godly reader to hear that in addition to those ten who +were previously believers, and of whom one has been sent to service, +there are twenty-three girls respecting whom for several months there +has been no doubt as to their being believers; two died in the faith +within the year; and there are thirty-eight more who are awakened and +under concern about their souls, but respecting whom we cannot speak as +yet so decidedly. All this regards only one branch of the Orphan +Establishment, the elder girls of the House No. 1. In addition to this, +I am glad also to be able to state that among the other girls in the New +House No. 2, and among the boys also, some are interested about the +things of God; yea, our labors begin already to be blessed to the +hearts of some of the new received orphans. + + Continuing the narrative of the progress of the new Orphan + Houses, Mr. M. writes under date of Oct. 29, 1858:-- + +In the last Report I stated that I was looking out for land for the +third house. Regarding this, I waited day by day upon God. But for many +months it pleased him to exercise my faith and patience. When, more than +once I seemed to have obtained my desire, I again appeared further from +it than ever. However, I continued to pray and to exercise faith, being +fully assured that the Lord's time was not yet come, and that, when it +was, he would help. And so it proved. At last, in September, 1858, I +obtained eleven and a half acres of land, quite close to the new Orphan +Houses No. 1 and No. 2, and only separated from them by the road. On +these eleven and a half acres of land a house is built. The price for +house and land was three thousand six hundred and thirty-one pounds +fifteen shillings, being more money than I should have seen it right to +expend on the site, had it not been of the utmost importance that the +third house should be quite near the other two, to facilitate the +superintendence and direction of the establishment. Thus, at last, this +prayer also was answered, concerning which I had been waiting upon God +for so many months, and concerning which the difficulties as to sight +and reason seemed so great, but respecting which my mind was continually +at peace; for I was sure that, as I was doing God's work, he would, in +his own time, help me in this particular also. The longer I go on in +this service, the more I find that prayer and faith can overcome every +difficulty. + +Having now obtained land, and so much, my desire was to make the best +use of it, and to build for four hundred orphans, instead of for three +hundred, as I had previously purposed to do. After having had several +meetings with the architects, and finding that it was possible to +accommodate, with comparatively little more expense, four hundred and +fifty orphans, instead of four hundred, I finally determined on that +number, so as to have eventually one thousand one hundred and fifty +orphans under my care, instead of one thousand, as for several years +previously had been contemplated. The greatness of the number of +destitute children bereaved of both parents by death,--together with the +greatness of the Lord's blessing, which has during all these many years +rested upon my service in this way,--and the greatness of the Lord's +help in giving me assistants and helpers in the work as well as +means,--and, above all, the deep realization that I have but one life to +spend for God on earth, and that that one life is but a brief +life;--these were the reasons which led me to this further enlargement. +To this determination of a still further enlargement _I came solely in +dependence upon the living God for help_, though the increase of expense +for the building fund, on account of the purchase of the land, and +accommodation to be built for the additional one hundred and fifty +orphans more than had been from the beginning contemplated, would not be +less than from six thousand to seven thousand five hundred pounds _more_ +than I had originally expected the total of the premises, which were to +be erected, would cost; and though, in addition to this, the yearly +additional expenditure for the maintenance of these one hundred and +fifty orphans, beyond the intended number of one thousand, could not be +less than one thousand eight hundred pounds a year. But none of these +difficulties discouraged me. + +Nov. 27. It is this day a twelvemonth since we began to receive fresh +children into the new Orphan House No. 2. Since then the mercies of the +Lord have been very many, and his help has been very great. There have +been received from Nov. 27, 1857, to Nov. 27, 1858, altogether three +hundred and eight orphans. Such a year I never spent in this +service,--one so full of help and blessing in every way. + +Jan. 4, 1859. Received seven thousand pounds, which was entirely left at +my disposal, as the work of God in which I am engaged might more +especially require it. When I decided at the end of October, 1858, to +build for four hundred and fifty orphans, instead of three hundred, I +needed several thousand pounds more, and was fully assured that God +would give me the required means, because in reliance upon him, and for +the honor of his name, I had determined on this enlargement; and now +see, esteemed reader, how the Lord honored this my faith in him! + +Jan. 12. From Westerham, in eighty-eight small donations, L4, 8s. 6d. +Without my knowledge these eighty-eight small donations had been +contributed, and were sent to me. + +May 26. During the year now closing, four thousand one hundred and +forty-nine-pounds seventeen shillings fivepence was expended in aid of +ninety-one brethren laboring in England, Scotland, Ireland, Belgium, +France, Switzerland, Sardinia, Canada, Nova Scotia, East Indies, China, +and British Guiana. Also, during the past year 1,885,401 tracts and +books have been circulated. + +At the commencement of the last period there were four hundred and +ninety-nine orphans in the new Orphan Houses No. 1 and No. 2. On May 26, +1859, there were six hundred and seventy-two orphans in the two houses, +_i. e._ in No. 1, 299, and in No. 2, 373. The total number of orphans +who have been under our care since April 11, 1836, is 1,083. + +Though during the past year we have not had so great and so sudden a +work of the Spirit of God going on among the orphans as during the +previous year, when, within a few days, above fifty out of one +department of one hundred and forty girls were suddenly brought under +deep concern about their souls; yet, the blessing of the Lord has not +been withheld even spiritually. There are already many caring about the +things of God among the four hundred and twenty-four orphans who were +received within the last eighteen months, and who ask it, as a +privilege, to be allowed, in the summer, to take their Bibles with them +to bed, so that, should they awake in the morning before the bell is +rung, they may be able to read it. Out of the thirteen girls who were +sent to service, nine had been believers for some time before they left +the establishment. + +When I began the orphan work, one of the especial objects which I had in +view was to benefit the church of Christ at large, by the accounts which +I might be enabled to write in connection with this service; for I +expected, from the beginning, to have many answers to prayer granted to +me, and I confidently anticipated that the recording of them would be +beneficial to believers, in leading them to look for answers to their +own prayers, and in encouraging them to bring all their own necessities +before God in prayer. I likewise firmly believed that many unconverted +persons would, by means of such writings, be led to see the reality of +the things of God. As I expected, so it has been. In very many instances +the reading of the Reports of this Institution, or the "Narrative of the +Lord's Dealings" with me, has been blessed by God to the conversion of +those who knew not our Lord Jesus. In thousands of instances, likewise, +believers have been benefited through them, being thereby comforted, +encouraged, led more simply to the Holy Scriptures, led more fully to +trust in God for everything; in a word, led, in a greater or less +degree, to walk in the same path of faith in which the writer, by the +help of God, is walking. The thousands of instances of blessing which +have been brought before me during the past twenty-four years (for +almost daily I have heard of fresh cases, and often of several on the +same day), have only still further led me to earnestness in prayer, that +the Lord would condescend to use these publications still more, and make +them a blessing to many tens of thousands of his children, and to many +tens of thousands of the unconverted. And now the reader will rejoice +with me, when he reads what follows. I am the more led to relate the +following, that the godly reader more than ever may be encouraged to +prayer, and, also, that an _accurate_ statement may be given of this +fact, which has been already referred to in many public places in +connection with revival-meetings, and which likewise has been several +times stated in print. + +In November, 1856, a young Irishman, Mr. James McQuilkin, was brought to +the knowledge of the Lord. Soon after his conversion he saw my Narrative +advertised. He had a great desire to read it, and procured it +accordingly, about January, 1857. God blessed it greatly to his soul, +especially in showing to him what could be obtained by prayer. He said +to himself something like this: See what Mr. Mueller obtains simply by +prayer. Thus _I_ may obtain blessing by prayer. He now set himself to +pray that the Lord would give him a spiritual companion, one who knew +the Lord. Soon after, he became acquainted with a young man who knew the +Lord. These two began a prayer meeting in one of the Sunday schools in +the parish of Connor. Having his prayer answered in obtaining a +spiritual companion, Mr. James McQuilkin asked the Lord to lead him to +become acquainted with some more of his hidden ones. Soon after, the +Lord gave him two more young men, who knew the Lord previously, as far +as he could judge. In autumn, 1857, Mr. James McQuilkin stated to these +three young men, given him in answer to believing prayer, what blessing +he had derived from my Narrative,--how it had led him to see the power +of believing prayer; and he proposed that they should meet for prayer, +to seek the Lord's blessing upon their various labors in the Sunday +schools, prayer meetings, and preachings of the gospel. Accordingly, in +autumn, 1857, these four young men met together for prayer in a small +schoolhouse near the village of Kells, in the parish of Connor, every +Friday evening. On January 1, 1858, the Lord gave them the first +remarkable answer to prayer in the conversion of a farm servant. He was +taken into the number, and thus there were five who gave themselves to +prayer. Shortly after, another young man, about twenty years old, was +converted; there were now six. This greatly encouraged the other three +who first had met with Mr. James McQuilkin. Others now were converted, +who were also taken into the number; but only believers were admitted to +these fellowship meetings, in which they read, prayed, and offered to +each other a few thoughts from the Scriptures. These meetings, and +others for the preaching of the gospel, were held in the parish of +Connor, Antrim, Ireland. Up to this time all was going on most quietly, +though many souls were converted. There were no physical prostrations, +as afterwards. About Christmas, 1858, a young man from Ahoghill, who had +come to live at Connor, and who had been converted through this little +company of believers, went to see his friends at Ahoghill, and spoke to +them about their own souls and the work of God at Connor. His friends +desired to see some of these converts. Accordingly, Mr. James McQuilkin, +with two of the first who met for prayer, went, on February 2, 1859, and +held a meeting at Ahoghill in one of the Presbyterian churches. Some +believed, some mocked, and others thought there was a great deal of +presumption in these young converts; yet many wished to have another +meeting. This was held by the same three young men, on February 16, +1859; and now the Spirit of God began to work, and to work mightily. +Souls were converted, and from that time conversions multiplied rapidly. +Some of these converts went to other places, and carried the spiritual +fire, so to speak, with them. The blessed work of the Spirit of God +spread in _many places_. On April 5, 1859, Mr. James McQuilkin went to +Ballymena, held a meeting there in one of the Presbyterian churches, and +on April 11 held another meeting in another of the Presbyterian +churches. Several were convinced of sin, and the work of the Spirit of +God went forward in Ballymena. On May 28, 1859, he went to Belfast. +During the first week, there were meetings held in five different +Presbyterian churches, and from that time the blessed work commenced at +Belfast. In all these visits he was accompanied and helped by Mr. +Jeremiah Meneely, one of the three young men who first met with him +after the reading of my Narrative. From this time the work of the Holy +Ghost spread further and further; for the young converts were used by +the Lord to carry the truth from one place to another. + +Such was the _beginning_ of that mighty work of the Holy Spirit, which +has led to the conversion of many tens of thousands, and which is still +going on even in Ireland, and the blessed results of which are still +felt in Scotland, England, and other countries. It is almost needless to +add, that in no degree the honor is due to the instruments, but to the +Holy Spirit alone; yet these facts are stated in order that it may be +seen what delight God has in answering abundantly the believing prayers +of his children. + +Seeing, then, how greatly he has condescended to own these records +regarding his willingness to listen to prayer, made to him in the name +of the Lord Jesus, I am delighted, at the close of another year, in +connection with this Institution, to recount a few of the very many +instances in which God has been pleased to answer our prayers, and to +grant blessing to rest upon the various objects of this Institution; +yea, blessing greater far than during any part of the past twenty-six +years, while it has been in operation. + + Up to May 26, 1860, Mr. M. received for the building fund the + sum of L45,113, 14s. 41/2d. + +In May, 1859, I had in hand for the Bible, school, tract, and missionary +funds, L2,009, 11s. 21/2d., a balance far greater than I ever had had +before. This arose not from the fact of unwillingness to spend the means +which the Lord had been pleased to intrust me with, but chiefly from the +fact that some large donations had come in during the last part of the +previous year; and I had not, as a steward who desires to act in the +fear of God, had opportunities brought before me to spend all. But much +as the balance was, all the various schools, directly or indirectly +connected with the Institution, required means; the circulation of the +Holy Scriptures and tracts, which objects increase more and more, needed +much, in order to enter every suitable open door; and lastly, and +especially, the ninety-one preachers of the gospel in various parts of +the world, on my list on May 26, 1859, required a large sum to aid them. +All these various objects, therefore, needed so much, that the balance, +large as it was, would have lasted but a short time, had not the living +God, who has been my helper from the beginning, and to whom I have +looked, and looked alone, opened, in answer to our prayers, his +bountiful hands, and sent in more before the balance was expended; so +that, though without any human probability of meeting even one half of +the probable expenses in connection with these objects, not only have I +been able to meet the whole, but also, so bountifully has God helped, +that though the expenses were L1,584, 7s. 33/4d. more than during the +preceding year, I had not only enough, but even a larger balance was +left than at the end of the previous year. + +Jan. 31, 1860. On this day I received a donation of three thousand +pounds, of which I took for these objects two thousand pounds. Day by +day, during this period also, I had been asking the Lord for means for +these objects; and day by day I had been entreating him that he would be +pleased to enable me to accomplish during this period as much as during +the former one in the way of circulating the Holy Scriptures and tracts, +and in aiding missionary operations, though I had no natural prospect +whatever of being able to do so. My eyes were alone directed to the +living God, who year after year for many years past had allowed me to +increase the operations of these three objects, notwithstanding the +continual increase of expense in connection with the orphan work; and +thus I expected, fully expected, though all appearance was against it, +that during this period also I should be again helped by God, the living +God. Think, then, Christian reader, how great my spiritual refreshment, +when, by this one donation in a great measure, I saw these my daily +prayers being again answered. In like manner may you, in your sphere of +service, in your family affairs, in your business, in your profession, +in your various temporal or spiritual necessities, have your prayers +answered. + +Dec. 9, 1859. To-day it is twenty-four years since the orphan work +commenced. What has God wrought! There have been received since then +altogether 1,129 orphans, and during the last two years and two months +alone 469, so greatly has the work increased of late. We have now 700 +orphans under our care. + +Dec. 10. The following letter was received to-day from an apprentice:-- + + MOST BELOVED SIR: + + With feelings of gratitude and great thankfulness to you for all + the kindness I experienced whilst under your care, and for now + apprenticing me to a suitable trade whereby I can earn my own + living, I write you these few lines. I arrived at my destined + abode in safety, and was kindly received by my master and + mistress. Dear sir, I thank you for the education, food, + clothing, and for every comfort; but, above all, for the + instruction from God's word which I received when in that happy + Orphan House; for it was there I was brought to know Jesus as my + Saviour; and I hope to have him as my guide through all my + difficulties, temptations, and trials in this world; and, having + him for my guide, I hope to prosper in my trade, and thereby + show my gratitude to you for all the kindness I have received. + Please to accept my gratitude and thanks; and I hope you will be + spared many, many more years, to care for poor destitute + children like me. I am sure I shall often look back with + pleasure and regret to the time I was in that happy home;--with + pleasure that I lived there, and regret that I left it. Begging + you to accept my grateful thanks, and with my kind love to Mr. + L----, Mr. B----, Mr. W----, and Mr. S----, + + I am, dear sir, + Yours gratefully, + * * * * + +The Christian reader, I doubt not, in perusing such letters, will with +us thank God for condescending to give such blessing, such abundant +blessing, to our labors. + +Feb. 14, 1860. Two pounds ten shillings sixpence, with the following +letter:-- + + MY DEAR BROTHER IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST: + + Will you please to accept an order for two pounds ten shillings + sixpence by the same post, for the dear orphans under your care? + The history of this small sum is as follows. About seven and a + half years ago your Narrative was put into my hands, which the + Lord very greatly blessed to my soul. Six years and eleven + months ago I was enabled to cast myself, my wife and family, + upon the Lord, and look to _Him alone_ for the supply of our + temporal necessities while laboring in his glorious cause. From + that time to the present we have had no claims upon any person + for a single penny; nor have we made known our wants to any, or + applied to any person for help, but to our heavenly Father + alone; and he has supplied our need and not suffered us to be + confounded, blessed be his name! My dear wife, as well as + myself, from the very first had a strong desire to help you a + _little_ in your blessed work of love and labor of faith; but, + for a long time, owing to the continued ill-health of my wife, + and the growing expenses of our family, we never seemed to have + any money to spare; so all we did was to _wish, desire_, and + _talk about it_, and say how happy we should be if the Lord + would enable us to do so. At length, we both felt we were acting + wrong, and on the eighth of August last we solemnly decided we + would give the Lord back a tenth of the money he was pleased to + send us, though at that time we were very poor, I may add in + deeper poverty than we had ever been before; yet, under those + circumstances, we were enabled in the strength of the Lord to + come to the above decision and act up to it that very morning; + and the peace and joy we both felt it is in vain for me to + attempt to describe. The Lord has kept us firm ever since, and + instead of having less for our own use, we have had even more; + so, dear sir, this sum is the fruit of six months' prayers. + Pardon me for troubling you with so long an account of so + trifling a sum; but I want you to bless our heavenly Father for + his goodness to us his unworthy servants, and to remember us in + your petitions at a throne of grace. + + I am, my dear brother, + Yours very affectionately and respectfully, + * * * * + +During the year 1859-60 there have been received for the orphans 3,542 +separate sums. Of these there were 1,494 under 5s., 560 above 5s. and +not exceeding 10s., 614 above 10s. and not exceeding L1, 288 above L1 +and not exceeding L2, 411 above L2 and not exceeding L5, 93 above L5 and +not exceeding L10, 49 above L10 and not exceeding L20, 10 above L20 and +under L50, 11 of L50, 1 of L59, 19s. 9d., 1 of L62, 17s., 1 of L89, 4s., +1 of L96, 12s. 3d., 5 of L100, 2 of L500, and 1 of L1,500. Among these +donations were some from East India, Australia, Cape of Good Hope, +Saxony, Holland, South America, United States, from vessels on the +ocean, and from missionaries among the heathen. + +During the year under consideration twenty-three schools in England were +supported or aided by the funds of the Institution. In all of these the +teachers are persons of piety, and instruction is given not only in +secular knowledge, but in the way of salvation. Without reckoning the +orphans, 13,124 souls have been brought under _habitual_ instruction in +the things of God in these various schools; besides the many thousands +in the schools in the various parts of England, Ireland, Scotland, +British Guiana, the West Indies, the East Indies, etc., which have been +to a greater or less degree assisted. + +The total amount of means which has been expended during the last +twenty-six years in connection with the schools, which have been either +entirely or in part supported by the funds of this Institution, amounts +to L9,275, 0s. 81/2d. + +The number of Bibles, Testaments, and portions of the Holy Scriptures, +which have been circulated since May 26, 1859, is as follows: Bibles +sold, 579. Bibles given away, 1,120. Testaments sold, 409. Testaments +given away, 725. Copies of the Psalms sold, 63. Other small portions of +the Holy Scriptures sold, 248. + +There have been circulated since March 5, 1834, through the medium of +this Institution, 24,768 Bibles, 15,100 Testaments, 719 copies of the +Psalms, and 1,876 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. + +The amount of the funds of the Institution spent during the past year on +the circulation of the Holy Scriptures is L398, 3s. 7d. The total amount +spent since March 5, 1834, is L5,681, 13s. 31/2d. + +During the past year has been spent of the funds of the Institution, in +aid of missionary efforts at home and abroad, the sum of L5,019, 6s. 1d. +By this sum one hundred and one laborers in the word and doctrine, in +various parts of the world, have been to a greater or less degree +assisted. It is an interesting fact that these laborers are located in +England, Scotland, Ireland, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Sardinia, +Canada, Nova Scotia, East India, China, and British Guiana. + +The laborers aided by the Institution were peculiarly blessed during the +year 1859-60. While the preaching of those laboring in _foreign_ lands +was very useful, the brethren preaching in Ireland and Scotland were +signally favored with success, and were permitted to see in a wonderful +measure the fruit of their prayers and toils. A single extract only can +be given from the letter of a laborer in Scotland. + +A devoted servant of Christ has been laboring in a manufacturing town in +Scotland, where, by means of schools, Bible classes, visiting from house +to house, and preaching the gospel among thousands of the most wretched, +most debased, and most ignorant, he seeks to win souls for the Lord. In +this service he has been going on year after year. In a measure his +labors had been blessed up to the period of the last Report, but far +more abundantly since, as the following account, given by himself to me +in a letter dated Oct. 28, 1859, will show:-- + +"This month, through which we have passed, has brought me to a point in +my history which for years I have contemplated and looked forward to +with deeper and more intense desire than to any anticipated event in my +whole life. More than thirty years ago there sprang up in my soul a +longing and craving for the effusion of the Holy Ghost on the church and +on the world, such as would extend throughout the whole of Scotland. For +this I have labored, and spoken, and prayed increasingly. As I grew +older, the craving for this blessing grew stronger. To see it became the +ruling passion of my soul, and, as years rolled away, my hope of seeing +it realized strengthened apace. On this season of expected blessing we +seem at length to have entered. The religious movement is creeping +steadily along the whole of the west of Scotland. It has not acquired a +sudden or very powerful momentum. We are, so far as I can judge, in the +initiatory stage in all the points where the work has found a +settlement. A sound has gone out as from the Lord; the rumor travels on, +and in its course awakens the careless, opens the ear, quickens the +attention, and everywhere is making preparation for something coming. +This note of preparation is calling the people together. Their ear is +open to listen. In every place this hearing is bringing faith in its +train; men are turning to God; intensity is given to those silent cases +of conviction where for months or years there has been concern ebbing +and flowing with circumstances. Not a few of these have come to light +through their concern all at once ripening into deep distress. Forced +out of the old ruts in which they have moved, they are forced to venture +their all into the hands of Jesus, and are set at liberty. Such has been +the process at work here. I am continually falling in with solitary +cases, and a number of these have found peace. It would take far more +time than I can spare to record their history, and how they obtained +deliverance." + +The total amount of the funds of the Institution which has been spent on +missionary operations since March 5, 1834, is L34,495, 3s. 4d. + +There has been laid out for tracts and books, from May 26, 1859, to May +26, 1860, the sum of L1,650, 11s. 43/4d.; and there have been +circulated within the last year 2,562,001 tracts and books. The sum +total which has been expended on this object, since Nov. 19, 1840, +amounts to L8,064, 12s. 61/2d. The total number of all the tracts and +books which have been circulated since Nov. 19, 1840, is 11,493,174. + +During the past year there were again circulated 676,600 tracts and +books more than during the year before. The great number of laborers for +God who have been raised up for service within the last two years in +various parts of the world, and the mighty working of the Spirit of God, +which has created in multitudes a desire gladly to receive tracts and +books, account for this. Nor is there in these two particulars a +decrease, but a continual increase. So great has been the call for +tracts that of late we have sent out repeatedly 100,000 in one week, for +gratuitous circulation, and sometimes even more than this. When the +mighty working of the Spirit of God commenced in Ireland, I sought from +the beginning to send very large supplies of tracts to Belfast and +elsewhere, in order that thus the holy flame might be fanned, as it +were, and that in the very outset the simplicity of the gospel might be +set before the young converts. About two millions of the tracts and +books circulated during the past year were given away _gratuitously_. +Hundreds of believers have been engaged in spreading them abroad, not +merely in many parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland, but in various +other parts of the world. + +At the commencement of the last period, there were 672 orphans in the +new Orphan Houses No. 1 and No. 2. During the past year were admitted +into the two houses 70 orphans. On May 26, 1860, there were just 700 +orphans under our care, our full number in the two houses, _i. e._ in +No. 1, 300, in No. 2, 400. The total number of orphans who have been +under our care since April 11, 1836, is 1,153. + +_Without any one having been personally applied to for anything_ by me, +the sum of L133,528, 14s. has been given to me for the orphans, _as the +result of prayer to God_, since the commencement of the work, which sum +includes the amount received for the building fund for the houses +already built and the one to be built. It may also be interesting to the +reader to know that the total amount which has been given for the other +objects since the commencement of the work amounts to L51,777, 14s. +11d.; and that which has come in by the sale of Bibles, since the +commencement, amounts to L2,530, 4s. 51/2d.; by sale of tracts, L3,546, +19s. 11/4d.; and by the payments of the children in the day schools, +from the commencement, L2,304, 18s. 9d. Besides this, also, a great +variety and number of articles of clothing, furniture, provisions, etc., +have been given _for the use_ of the orphans. + +Day after day, and year after year, by the help of God, we labor in +prayer for the spiritual benefit of the orphans under our care. These +our supplications, which have been for twenty-four years brought before +the Lord concerning them, have been abundantly answered in former years +in the conversion of hundreds from among them. We have also had repeated +seasons in which, within a short time, or even all at once, _many_ of +the orphans were converted. Such a season we had about three years +since, when within a few days about sixty were brought to believe in the +Lord Jesus; and such seasons we have had again twice during the past +year. The first was in July, 1859, when the Spirit of God wrought so +mightily in one school of 120 girls, as that very many, yea, more than +one half, were brought under deep concern about the salvation of their +souls. This work, moreover, was not a mere momentary excitement; but, +after more than eleven months have elapsed, there are 31 concerning whom +there is _full_ confidence as to their conversion, and 32 concerning +whom there is likewise a goodly measure of confidence, though not to the +same amount as regarding the 31. There are therefore 63 out of the 120 +orphans in that one school who are considered to have been converted in +July, 1859. This blessed and mighty work of the Holy Spirit cannot be +traced to any particular cause. It was, however, a most precious answer +to prayer. As such we look upon it, and are encouraged by it to further +waiting upon God. The second season of the mighty working of the Holy +Spirit among the orphans, during the past year, was at the end of +January and the beginning of February, 1860. The particulars of it are +of the deepest interest. A very profitable pamphlet might be written on +the subject. I have prayed again and again for guidance how to act, and +have at last come to the decision _not_ to relate the details, lest the +dear children, who would recognize themselves in the description, should +be injured; for my experience of laboring twenty-six years among +children, and of having had to deal with so _many very young believers_, +has led me to the full conviction _that it is injurious to make them +prominent_. If God makes them prominent by using them as evidently he is +using children in these days, we have only to admire and to praise; but +this is very different from ourselves making them prominent. I must +therefore content myself by stating that this great work of the Spirit +of God in January and February, 1860, began among the younger class of +the children under our care, little girls of about six, seven, eight, +and nine years old; then extended to the older girls, and then to the +boys; so that within about ten days above 200 of the orphans were +stirred up to be anxious about their souls, and in _many_ instances +found peace _immediately_, through faith in our Lord Jesus. They at once +requested to be allowed to hold prayer meetings among themselves, and +have had these meetings ever since. Many of them also manifested a +concern about the salvation of their companions and relations, and spoke +or wrote to them about the way to be saved. Should the believing reader +desire to know how it has been with these children since the end of +January and the beginning of February, our reply is, we have, in most +cases, cause for thankfulness. The present state of the 700 orphans, +spiritually, is, that there are 118 under our care, regarding whose +conversion we have full confidence; 89 regarding whom we have also +confidence, though not to that full degree as concerning the 118; and 53 +whom we consider in a hopeful state. To these 260 are to be added the 14 +who were sent out as believers, and the three who died in the faith +during the past year. It is to be remembered that very many of the +children in the Orphan Houses are quite young, as we have received them +from four months old and upward. During no year have we had greater +cause for thanksgiving on account of the spiritual blessing among the +children than during the last; AND YET WE LOOK FOR FURTHER AND GREATER +BLESSING STILL. + + + + +APPENDIX. + + +Mr. Mueller is constantly receiving not only contributions in money, but +a great variety of useful articles, which are regularly sent to a shop +provided for their sale. The following list of such articles, given +anonymously during the first six months of the year 1859-60, will not be +without interest to the reader, as showing by what an endless diversity +of means resources are furnished for the work in which Mr. M. is +engaged:-- + + JUNE. A bead bag, a bouquet-holder, 6 gilt brooches, a gilt + bracelet, a waist-buckle, and an agate heart.--5 pairs of + knitted travelling shoes, a compass and thermometer, a + court-plaster case, a guinea piece, 2 half franc pieces, a + copper coin, 4 rings, a brooch, a gold pencil-case, a pair of + earrings, top of a seal, and a gold waist-buckle.--A silver + watch guard; a small brooch, a breastpin, and a ring.--12 pairs + of garters.--A sofa tidy.--A small stereoscopic box. 6 frocks, 6 + shirts, 4 pocket handkerchiefs, 2 pairs of socks, 2 nightcaps, + 12 kettle-holders, 2 pairs of wristlets, 4 thimbles, 2 brooches, + steel slides, a bracelet, and waist-buckle. A bead mat, 2 bags, + a penwiper, 3 book-marks, and a scent-bag.--A pencil, 2 pairs of + spectacles, a smelling-bottle, a pocketbook, some gloves, + stockings, combs, and various articles of clothing, etc., + together with a half-sovereign. + + JULY. An old silver watch, an old metal watch, and an old + shilling.--2 coats, 1 jacket, one waistcoat, 1 pair of trousers, + and 1 pair of garters. 5 dresses, a body, and 2 shillings.--9 + penwipers, 4 babies' shirts, 9 mats, 1 pair of baby's boots, 2 + nightcaps, 6 pinafores, 2 pairs of watch pockets, 1 ribbon mat, + 1 pincushion, 2 needlebooks, and 3 book-markers.--2 dolls, 2 + dolls' hats, a pair of bracelets, a pincushion, a needlebook, a + shaving cloth, a sampler, 2 pairs of cuffs, a kettle-holder, a + penwiper, a pair of baby's shoes, a book-mark, a bag, a + watch-guard, a pinafore, and a pamphlet.--2 buckles, a + smelling-bottle, some mock pearls, 3 hair bracelets, a hair + ring, and a wig. + + AUGUST. Some fancy envelopes.--A ring, 2 shirt studs, and a + watch-hook.--A pattern for a collar.--A ring from Stroud.--12 + new bonnets.--A brooch, a bracelet, a book-marker, some cuffs, a + pattern for work, and some trimming.--A frame for ladies' + work.--"From the friend at Devizes," 2 skirts of dresses, a + jacket, and a shawl.--Some pencil lead for polishing.--Some + knitting and sewing cotton.--2 old wedding rings.--3 balls.--8 + book-marks, 4 postage-stamp cases, and 6 pincushions. + + SEPTEMBER. A parcel containing some worsted, some brass + thimbles, bodkins, and needles.--4 black ostrich feathers, 1 + white ditto, 4 colored drawings.--3 pairs of socks, 6 pairs of + stockings, and 2 waistcoats.--A pair of patent renovators (or + flesh gloves).--A small work-bag of silk and straw.--A guinea + piece, a lace habit shirt, a pair of lace sleeves, and a French + cambric handkerchief.--3 collars, 1 pocket handkerchief, and 1 + pair of sleeves.--2 flannel petticoats, a table cover, a silver + wine-strainer, a silver marrow spoon, 1 sugar spoon, a punch + ladle, 6 chemises, and 6 pinafores.--A small hamper of books.--1 + alpaca coat, 1 check waistcoat, 1 pair of trousers, 3 pairs of + shoes, 1 travelling cap, 1 pair of spectacles in case, 2 pairs + of boots, 2 muffetees, 1 pair of gaiters, 1 pair of boots, 8 + copper pens, 1 pair of slippers, 1 black leather bag, 1 pair of + new boots, 1 coat, 1 waistcoat, 5 pairs of gloves, 1 pair of + braces, a necktie, a dressing box, 2 brushes, 3 razors, a + stiletto, a pair of spectacles, and 2 pieces of teeth set in + gold.--12 book covers, 7 small ditto, 1 small box, 4 ditto in + one.--A large box of toys.--A collar.--A large tea chest, + containing 160 articles of ladies' dress, etc.--A dress, 3 + bodies, 3 berthas, a waistband, a pair of cuffs, a feather, an + ornament for the hair, some artificial flowers, some whalebone, + and some pieces of ribbon.--A cloth mantle, a velvet jacket, and + a muslin ditto. + + OCTOBER. 3 pairs of crotchet ladies' slippers, and 1 pair of + child's ditto.--A pair of gilt bracelets, a collar, a pair of + cuffs, and a pair of worked sleeves.--2 paper mats, a bead + ditto, a plaister case, 3 needlebooks, 5 small cushions, 4 + pincushions, 2 penwipers, a book-mark, 2 little baskets, a + little bag, a doll, a pair of candlestick ornaments, and 6 + napkin rings. The parcel also contained 5s. from + "Hephzibah."--An urn-stand, a bag, and a mat.--A collar.--6 + pence purses.--3 dolls' bonnets.--"A Canadian lady's purse."--9 + pairs of boots, 3 pairs of shoes, and a single boot, all new. + + NOVEMBER. A box containing 5 bonnets, 2 muslin jackets, 1 silk + ditto, 1 silk body, 3 muslin dresses, 1 silk ditto, 1 barege + skirt, 18 pairs of fine stockings, 17 pairs of coarse ditto, 3 + pairs of boots, 3 stockings, 10 chemises, 3 pairs of drawers, 5 + nightdresses, some pieces of ribbon, and a few artificial + flowers.--6 pairs of night socks.--A riding habit, a box, a silk + body, some velvet trimming, some satin ditto, 2 waistbands, some + fringe, some satin ribbon, a feather, a scarf, a veil, and a + pair of woollen sleeves.--3 silver coins.--A silver tablespoon, + some satin trimming, and a frill.--4 dresses, a skirt, a jacket, + 3 children's skirts, and 2 frocks.--A small gold pencil-case, a + gold breastpin, and a pair of small gold earrings.--A collar.--3 + antimacassars, and a baby's cap.--2 silver coins, and a pair of + silver shirt studs.--7 boys' shirts.--A jacket and a feather.--A + jacket, a pair of drawers, 2 chemises, 2 nightcaps, 5 skirts, + and 1 body.--4 pairs of new boots, and 2 pairs of new shoes.--A + crumb scraper. + + * * * * * + +Mr. Mueller, as a faithful steward, renders an annual account of all the +sums intrusted to him. Appended (p. 476) is the "Auditor's Report" for +1859-60, showing the total amount in hand for the year, including the +building fund, to have been L72,188, 16s. 53/4d.--almost _three hundred +and fifty thousand dollars_. Mr. M. says:-- + + The audited accounts, together with the books containing the + income and expenses, may be inspected by the donors. I + particularly state this, because I do not publish a list of the + donors, nor do I mention their names otherwise, in order that + there may not be held out the least temptation of giving for the + sake of worldly applause; but, at the same time, as I do this + work in the light, it can bear the light, and therefore any + donor can satisfy himself, if he please, that his donation is + accounted for. + + To avoid mistakes, delays, and other difficulties, I would + request that all letters for me should be directed to my house, + No. 21, Paul Street, Kingsdown, Bristol. + + GEORGE MUeLLER. + + BRISTOL, July 2, 1860. + + + THE INCOME AND EXPENSES OF THE INSTITUTION FOR 1859-60. + + ======================================================================= + The Income of the first | The Expenses of the first + four objects from May 26, 1859, | four objects from May 26, 1859, + to May 26, 1860. | to May 26, 1860. + ----------------------------------+------------------------------------ + L s. d. | L s. d. + By balance in hand on | For all the schools 515 4 4 + May 26, 1859 2,009 11 21/2 | " Bibles 398 3 7 + " Donations 7,029 14 10 | " missionary + " Sale of articles | purposes 5,019 6 1 + given for | + the purpose 35 17 7 | " tracts 1,650 11 43/4 + " Sale of tracts 636 2 93/4 | " stationery 2 14 8 + " Sale of Bibles 152 8 9 | " postage 32 17 5 + " Payments of the | Balance in hand on + children in the day | May 26, 1860 2,392 2 21/2 + schools 97 4 6 | + ------ -- -- | ------ -- -- + L10,010 19 81/4 | L10,010 19 81/4 + + + ======================================================================= + The Income for the orphans, from | The Expenses for the orphans, from + May 26, 1859, to May 26, 1860. | May 26, 1859, to May 26, 1860. + ----------------------------------+------------------------------------ + L s. d. | L s. d. + ----------------------------------+------------------------------------ + By balance in hand | Current expen's in + on May 26, 1859, 7,461 19 1 | connection with the + " donations in money 8,714 6 21/2 | Orphan Houses. 7,255 17 6 + " sale of articles | For the Apprentices 200 5 41/2 + given for the | " 18,000 copies of the + purpose 570 13 61/2 | Twentieth Report 179 3 0 + " sale of Reports 173 18 3 | " postage and carriage + " cash paid on behalf | of boxes + of orphans, 137 5 4 | and parcels 57 1 61/2 + | " stationery 7 6 61/2 + | Balance in hand on + | May 26, 1860 9,858 8 51/2 + ------ -- -- | ------ -- -- + L17,058 2 5 | L17,058 2 5 + + + ===================================================================~~ + Income for the Building Fund, from May 26, 1859, to May 26, 1860. | + ------------------------------------------------------------------+~~ + L s. d. | + By amount received up to May 26, 1859 41,911 15 11 | + " Donations in money 1,964 6 31/2 | + " Sale of grass and rent of the field, | + March 25, 1859, to March 25, 1861 72 0 0 | + " Interest 1,120 14 5 | + " Drawbacks of property tax 44 17 9 | + ------ -- -- | + L45,113 14 41/2 | + + ~=================================================================== + | Expenditure in connection with the Building Fund. + ~-+----------------------------------------------------------------- + | L s. d. + | Expended up to May 26, 1859 21,402 18 10 + | " for additional furniture, etc., + | on the new Orphan House, No. 2. 49 0 91/2 + | " on the building of the + | new Orphan House, No. 3 2,379 4 9 + | Balance in hand on May 26, 1860 21,282 10 0 + | ------ -- -- + | L45,113 14 41/2 + +We have examined these accounts and find them correct. + + RICHARD BALL. ROBERT H. RICHARDS. + SAMUEL BUTLER. JOHN MEREDITH. + + BRISTOL, JUNE 22, 1860. + + + * * * * * + + +VALUABLE WORKS + +PUBLISHED BY + +GOULD AND LINCOLN, + +59 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON. + + +THE CHRISTIAN LIFE; SOCIAL AND INDIVIDUAL. By PETER BAYNE, M. A. 12mo, +cloth, $1.25. + + There is but one voice respecting this extraordinary book,--men + of all denominations, in all quarters, agree in pronouncing it + one of the most admirable works of the age. + +MODERN ATHEISM; Under its forms of Pantheism, Materialism, Secularism, +Development, and Natural Laws. By JAMES BUCHANAN, D. D., L. L. D. 12mo, +cloth, $1.25. + + "The work is one of the most readable and solid which we have + ever perused."--_Hugh Miller in the Witness._ + +NEW ENGLAND THEOCRACY. From the German of Uhden's History of the +Congregationalists of New England, with an INTRODUCTION BY NEANDER. By +MRS. H. C. CONANT, author of "The English Bible," etc. 12mo, cloth, +$1.00. + + A work of rare ability and interest, presenting the early + religious and ecclesiastical history of New England, from + authentic sources, with singular impartiality. The author + evidently aimed throughout to do exact justice to the dominant + party, and all their opponents of every name. The standpoint + from which the whole subject is viewed is novel, and we have in + this volume a new and most important contribution to Puritan + History. + +THE MISSION OF THE COMFORTER; with copious Notes. By JULIUS CHARLES +HARE. With the Notes translated for the AMERICAN EDITION. 12mo, cloth, +$1.25. + +THE BETTER LAND; or, The Believer's Journey and Future Home. By the Rev. +A. C. THOMPSON. 12mo, cloth, 85 cts. + + A most charming and instructive book for all now journeying to + the "Better Land." + +THE EVENING OF LIFE; or, Light and Comfort amidst the Shadows of +Declining Years. By REV. JEREMIAH CHAPLIN, D. D. A new Revised, and much +enlarged edition. With an elegant Frontispiece on Steel. 12mo, cloth, +$1.00. + + [pointing finger graphic] A most charming and appropriate work for + the aged,--large type and open page. An admirable "Gift" for the + child to present the parent. + +THE STATE OF THE IMPENITENT DEAD. By ALVAH HOVEY, D. D., Prof. of +Christian Theology in Newton Theol. Inst. 16mo, cloth, 50 cts. + +A WREATH AROUND THE CROSS; or, Scripture Truths Illustrated. By the Rev. +A. MORTON BROWN, D. D. Recommendatory Preface, by JOHN ANGELL JAMES. +With a beautiful Frontispiece. 16mo, cloth, 60 cts. + + "'Christ, and Him crucified' is presented in a new, striking, + and matter-of-fact light. The style is simple, without being + puerile, and the reasoning is of that truthful, persuasive kind + that 'comes from the heart, and reaches the heart.'"--_N. Y. + Observer._ + + + + +VALUABLE WORKS. + + +THE PURITANS; or the Court, Church, and Parliament of England, during +the reigns of Edward VI. and Elizabeth. By SAMUEL HOPKINS, author of +"Lessons at the Cross," etc. In 3 vols. Vol. I. _now ready_. Octavo, +cloth, per vol., $2.50. + + VOL. II. READY IN FEBRUARY, " " " " $2.50. + + It will be found the most interesting and reliable History of + the Puritans yet published, narrating in a dramatic style many + facts hitherto unknown. + + +LIMITS OF RELIGIOUS THOUGHT EXAMINED, in Eight Lectures delivered in the +Oxford University Pulpit, in the year 1858, on the "Bampton Foundation." +By Rev. H. LONGUEVILLE MANSEL, B. D., Reader in Moral and Metaphysical +Philosophy at Magdalen College, Oxford, and Editor of Sir William +Hamilton's Lectures. With the Copious NOTES TRANSLATED for the American +Ed. 12mo, cloth, $1.00. + + This volume is destined to create a profounder sensation in this + country than any philosophical or religious work of this + century. It is a defence of revealed religion, equal in ability + to the "Analogy" of Bishop Butler, and meets the scepticism of + our age as effectually as that great work in an earlier day. The + Pantheism and Parkerism infused into our popular literature will + here find an antidote. The Lectures excited the highest + enthusiasm at Oxford, and the Volume has already reached a + _third_ edition in England. The copious "Notes" of the author + having been translated for the American edition by an + accomplished scholar, adds greatly to its value. + + +THE HISTORICAL EVIDENCES OF THE TRUTH OF THE SCRIPTURE RECORDS, STATED +ANEW, with Special Reference to the Doubts and Discoveries of Modern +Times. In Eight Lectures, delivered in the Oxford University pulpit, at +the Bampton Lecture for 1859. By GEO. RAWLINSON, M.A., Editor of the +Histories of Herodotus. With the Copious NOTES TRANSLATED for the +_American Edition_ by an accomplished scholar. 12mo, cloth, $1.00. + + +SIR WILLIAM HAMILTON'S LECTURES ON LOGIC. With Notes from Original +Materials, and an Appendix containing the Latest Development of his New +Logical Theory. Edited by Prof. H. LONGUEVILLE MANSEL, Oxford, and JOHN +VEITCH, M. A., Edinburgh. Royal octavo, cloth, $3.00. (_In press._) + + +MORAL PHILOSOPHY, including Theoretical and Practical Ethics. By JOSEPH +HAVEN, D. D., late Professor of Moral and Intellectual Philosophy in +Amherst College; author of "Mental Philosophy." Royal 12mo, cloth, +embossed, $1.25. + + It is eminently scientific in method, and thorough in + discussion, and its views on unsettled questions in morals are + discriminating and sound. It treats largely of Political + Ethics--a department of morals of great importance to American + youth, but generally overlooked in text-books. In the history of + ethical opinions it is unusually rich and elaborate. + + +POPULAR GEOLOGY; With Descriptive Sketches from a Geologist's Portfolio. +By Hugh Miller. With a Resume of the Progress of Geological Science +during the last two years. By MRS. MILLER. 12mo, cloth, $1.25. + + This work is likely to prove the most popular of Hugh Miller's + writings, and to attain the widest circulation. It is written in + his best style, and makes the mysteries of Geology intelligible + to the common mind. As an architect explains the structure of a + house from cellar to attic, so this accomplished geologist takes + the globe to pieces, and explains the manner in which all its + strata have been formed, from the granite foundation to the + alluvial surface. It supplies just the information which many + readers have been longing for, but unable to find. Also, + + +HUGH MILLER'S WORKS. Seven volumes, uniform style, in an elegant box, +embossed cloth, $8.25; library sheep, $10.00; half calf, $14.00; +antique, $14.00. + + +MANSEL'S MISCELLANIES; including "Prolegomina Logica," "Metaphysics," +"Limits of Demonstrative Evidence," "Philosophy of Kant," etc. 12mo, +cloth, (_In press._) + + + + +WORKS FOR CHURCH MEMBERS. + +THE CHRISTIAN'S DAILY TREASURY; a Religious Exercise for every Day in +the Year. By Rev. E. TEMPLE. A new and improved edition. 12 mo, cloth, +$1.00. + + [pointing finger graphic] A work for every Christian. It + is indeed a "Treasury" of good things. + + +THE SCHOOL OF CHRIST; or, Christianity Viewed in its Leading Aspects. By +the Rev. A. R. L. FOOTE, author of "Incidents in the Life of our +Saviour," etc. 16 mo, cloth, 50 cts. + + +THE CHRISTIAN PASTOR; His Work and the Needful Preparation. By ALVAN +HOVEY, D. D., Prof. of Theology in the Newton Theol. Inst. 16 mo, pp. +60; flexible cloth, 25 cents; paper covers, 12 cents. + + +APOLLOS; or, Directions to Persons just commencing a Religious Life. 32 +mo, paper covers, cheap, for distribution, per hundred, $6.00. + + +THE HARVEST AND THE REAPERS. Home Work for All, and how to do it. By +Rev. HARVEY NEWCOMB. 16 mo, cloth, 63 cts. + + This work is dedicated to the converts of 1858. It shows what + _may_ be done, by showing what has been done. It shows how much + there is now to be done at home. It shows how to do it. Every + man interested in the work of saving men, every professing + Christian, will find this work to be for him. + + +THE CHURCH-MEMBER'S MANUAL of Ecclesiastical Principles, Doctrines, and +Discipline. By Rev. WILLIAM CROWELL, D. D. Introduction by H. J. RIPLEY, +D. D. Second edition, revised and improved. 12 mo, cloth, 75 cts. + + +THE CHURCH-MEMBER'S HAND-BOOK; a Plain Guide to the Doctrines and +Practice of Baptist Churches. By the Rev. WILLIAM CROWELL, D. D. 18 mo, +cloth, 38 cts. + + +THE CHURCH-MEMBER'S GUIDE. By the Rev. JOHN A. JAMES. Edited by J. O. +CHOULES, D. D. New edition. With Introductory Essay, by Rev. HUBBARD +WINSLOW. Cloth, 33 cts. + + "The spontaneous effusion of our heart, on laying the book down, + was: 'May every church, member in our land possess this book, + and be blessed with all the happiness which conformity to its + evangelical sentiments and directions is calculated to + confer.'"--_Christian Secretary._ + + +THE CHURCH IN EARNEST. By Rev. JOHN A. JAMES. 18 mo, cloth, 40 cts. + + "Its arguments and appeals are well adapted to prompt to action, + and the times demand such a book. We trust it will be + universally read."--_N. Y. Observer._ + + "Those who have the means should purchase a number of copies of + this work, and lend them to church-members, and keep them in + circulation _till they are worn out_!"--_Mothers' Assistant._ + + +CHRISTIAN PROGRESS. A Sequel to the Anxious Inquirer. By JOHN ANGELL +JAMES. 18 mo, cloth, 31 cts. + + [pointing finger graphic] One of the best and most useful + works of this popular author. + + "It ought to be sold by hundreds of thousands, until every + church-member in the land has bought, read, marked, learned, and + inwardly digested a copy."--_Congregationalist._ + + "So eminently is it adapted to do good, that we feel no surprise + that it should make one of the publishers' excellent + publications. It exhibits the whole subject of growth in grace + with great simplicity and clearness."--_Puritan Recorder._ + + * * * * * + +GOULD AND LINCOLN + +59 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, + +Would call particular attention to the following valuable works described +in their Catalogue of Publications, viz.: + + + Hugh Miller's Works. + Bayne's Works. + Walker's Works. + Miall's Works. + Bungener's Work. + Annual of Scientific Discovery. + Knight's Knowledge is Power. + Krummacher's Suffering Saviour. + Banvard's American Histories. + The Aimwell Stories. + Newcomb's Works. + Tweedie's Works. + Chambers's Works. + Harris' Works. + Kitto's Cyclopaedia of Biblical Literature. + Mrs. Knight's Life of Montgomery. + Kitto's History of Palestine. + Whewell's Work. + Wayland's Works. + Agassiz's Works. + Williams' Works. + Guyot's Works. + Thompson's Better Land. + Kimball's Heaven. + Valuable Works on Missions. + Haven's Mental Philosophy. + Buchanan's Modern Atheism. + Cruden's Condensed Concordance. + Eadie's Analytical Concordance. + The Psalmist: a Collection of Hymns. + Valuable School Books. + Works for Sabbath Schools. + Memoir of Amos Lawrence. + Poetical Works of Milton, Cowper, Scott. + Elegant Miniature Volumes. + Arvine's Cyclopaedia of Anecdotes. + Ripley's Notes on Gospels, Acts, and Romans. + Sprague's European Celebrities. + Marsh's Camel and the Hallig. + Roget's Thesaurus of English Words. + Hackett's Notes on Acts. + M'Whorter's Yahveh Christ. + Siebold and Stannius's Comparative Anatomy. + Maroon's Geological Map, U.S. + Religious and Miscellaneous Works. + Works in the various Departments of Literature, Science and Art. + + * * * * * + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: + +Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as +possible, including obsolete and variant spellings. Obvious +typographical errors in punctuation (misplaced quotes and the like) have +been fixed. Corrections [in brackets] in the text are noted below: + +throughout: + + It is possible that the same name is spelled variously: Franke; + Francke; Franke. The names have been left as in the original. + +page 203: typo corrected + + the Lord Jesus. Even about the commencment[commencement] of this + century, when there was almost universal darkness or even + +page 302: typo corrected + + with a sufficiently large piece of ground in the + neghborhood[neighborhood] of Bristol, for building the premises + +page 342: possible typo corrected + + from among the sunday[Sunday]-school children were, during these + two years, received into church fellowship. The + +page 399: possible typo corrected + + added to the _present_ building fund, so that on the evening of + May 26, 1852, I had altogether L3,530, 9s. 0-1/4[d]. + +page 408: possible typo corrected + + and unbelief prevails. How different, if one is enabled to + wait's[wait] God's own time, and to look alone to him for help + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life of Trust: Being a Narrative +of the Lord's Dealings With George Mueller, by George Mueller + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIFE OF TRUST *** + +***** This file should be named 27288.txt or 27288.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/2/8/27288/ + +Produced by Bryan Ness and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was +produced from scanned images of public domain material +from the Google Print project.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |