{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_27288/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_27288","id":"gutenberg_27288","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27288","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Biographies","Category: Religion/Spirituality","Orphanages -- Great Britain","Prayer"],"text":"Produced by Bryan Ness and the Online Distributed\nProofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was\nproduced from scanned images of public domain material\nfrom the Google Print project.)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nTRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: Every effort has been made to replicate this text as\nfaithfully as possible; please see detailed list of printing issues at\nthe end of the text.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n    [Illustration: ASHLEY DOWN ORPHAN HOUSES, BRISTOL, ENG.]\n\n\nTHE LIFE OF TRUST:\n\n    BEING A\n\nNARRATIVE OF THE LORD'S DEALINGS\n\n    WITH\n\nGEORGE MUeLLER, WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.\n\n\n  EDITED AND CONDENSED BY\n  REV. H. LINCOLN WAYLAND,\n  PASTOR OF THE THIRD BAPTIST CHURCH, WORCESTER, MASS.\n\n  With an Introduction\n\n      BY\n\n  FRANCIS WAYLAND.\n\n  BOSTON:\n  GOULD AND LINCOLN,\n  59 WASHINGTON STREET.\n  NEW YORK: SHELDON AND COMPANY.\n  CINCINNATI: GEORGE S. BLANCHARD.\n\n  1861.\n\n\n  Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1860, by\n  GOULD AND LINCOLN,\n\n  In the Clerk's office of the District Court\n  of the District of Massachusetts.\n\n  STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY\n  GEO. C. RAND AND AVERY, 3 CORNHILL.\n\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n\n\n\nEDITOR'S PREFACE.\n\n\nHaving been requested by MESSRS. GOULD AND LINCOLN to examine the work\nentitled \"A NARRATIVE OF SOME OF THE LORD'S DEALINGS WITH GEORGE\nMUeLLER,\" the Editor was convinced that its republication in this country\nwould greatly promote the piety of American Christians. But to reproduce\nthe work in its original form was attended with difficulty. The\n\"Narrative,\" in four parts, (published respectively in 1837, 1841, 1845,\nand 1856,) and the four \"Annual Reports\" issued in 1857, 1858, 1859, and\n1860, would occupy not less than eighteen hundred pages of the size of\nthose contained in this volume. The cost of such a work would greatly\nlimit its circulation and its usefulness, if indeed any publisher should\nundertake its issue. There seemed no alternative except to abandon the\nidea of an American edition altogether, or to present it to the public\nin a condensed form.\n\nSuch a condensation seemed, on examination, to be entirely practicable.\nOwing to the \"Parts\" of the \"Narrative\" having been published at four\nseparate periods, it often happens that the same matter is several\ntimes repeated. A large portion of the space is occupied with the\nacknowledgment of donations received. These entries, although\nappropriate in a report made to the donors and to the British public,\nhave not the same interest for American readers. The discussion of some\npoints in church polity, and the account of the Author's journeys upon\nthe Continent, though interesting and instructive, are not necessary to\nthe continuity of the history. Although in some cases the portions which\nhave been omitted cover a considerable period of time, yet it is\nbelieved that all which is essential has been retained. No pains have\nbeen spared on the part of the Editor to preserve the value of the work\nwhile reducing its compass, and to give, in a form universally\naccessible, a clear exhibition of the wonderful results of the life of\nGeorge Mueller, as well as of the principles by which his life has been\ngoverned.\n\nBelieving that the book would be rendered more attractive to the reader,\nand more convenient for reference, the Editor has divided it into\nChapters, and has prefixed to each a brief statement of some of the\nleading subjects introduced in the Chapter. For these \"contents,\" as\nwell as for the headings of the Chapters, and for the general title of\nthe volume, the Editor alone is responsible.\n\nThe \"Narrative\" of George Mueller has been blessed in other lands to the\nawakening of spiritual life. It was the means, as will be observed by\nthe reader, of greatly forwarding, if not of originating, the work of\ngrace now advancing in Ireland. \"THE LIFE OF TRUST\" is submitted to the\nChristian public of America, in the hope that its still small voice may\nbe heard even amid the clangor of political strife and the revulsion of\ncommercial interests, and that it may be used by the Divine Spirit to\npromote and strengthen in the hearts of American Christians, FAITH IN\nTHE LIVING GOD.\n\nH. L. W.\n\nWORCESTER, DEC. 12, 1860\n\n\n\n\nAUTHOR'S PREFACE.\n\n\nIt was only after the consideration of many months, and after much\nself-examination as to my motives, and after much earnest prayer, that I\ncame to the conclusion to write this work. I have not taken one single\nstep in the Lord's service concerning which I have prayed so much. My\ngreat dislike to increasing the number of religious books would, in\nitself, have been sufficient to have kept me forever from it, had I not\ncherished the hope of being instrumental in this way to lead some of my\nbrethren to value the Holy Scriptures more, and to judge by the standard\nof the Word of God the principles on which they act. But that which\nweighed more with me than anything, was, that I have reason to believe,\nfrom what I have seen among the children of God, that many of their\ntrials arise either from want of confidence in the Lord as it regards\ntemporal things, or from carrying on their business in an unscriptural\nway. On account, therefore, of the remarkable way in which the Lord has\ndealt with me as to temporal things, I feel that I am a debtor to the\nchurch of Christ, and that I ought, for the benefit of my poorer\nbrethren especially, to make known the way in which I have been led. In\naddition to this, I know that to many souls the Lord has blessed what I\nhave told them about the way in which he has led me, and therefore it\nseemed a duty to use such means, whereby others also, with whom I could\nnot possibly converse, might be benefited. That which induced me finally\nto determine to write this Narrative was, that if the Lord should permit\nthe book to sell, I might, by the profits arising from the sale, be\nenabled in a greater degree to help the poor brethren and sisters among\nwhom I labor;--a matter which, just at that time, weighed much on my\nmind. I therefore began to write. But after three days I was obliged to\nlay the work aside on account of my other pressing engagements.\nSubsequently, I was laid aside on account of an abscess; and being\nunable, for many weeks, to walk about as usual, though able to work at\nhome, I had time for writing. When the manuscript was nearly completed I\ngave it to a brother to look over, that I might have his judgment; and\nthe Lord so refreshed his spirit through it, that he offered to advance\nthe means for having it printed, with the understanding that if the book\nshould not sell he would never consider me his debtor. By this offer not\na small obstacle was removed, as I have no means of my own to defray the\nexpense of printing. These last two circumstances, connected with many\nother points, confirmed me that I had not been mistaken, when I came to\nthe conclusion that it was the will of God that I should serve his\nchurch in this way.\n\nThe fact of my being a foreigner, and therefore but very imperfectly\nacquainted with the English language, I judged to be no sufficient\nreason for keeping me from writing. The Christian reader, being\nacquainted with this fact, will candidly excuse any inaccuracy of\nexpression.\n\nFor the poor among the brethren this Narrative is especially intended,\nand to their prayers I commend it in particular.\n\nGEORGE MUeLLER.\n\n\n\n\nCONTENTS.\n\n\nINTRODUCTION                                                      XV\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\nBoyhood and Youth.\n\n1805-1825.\n\n   BIRTH--EARLY DISHONESTY--INSENSIBILITY--CONFIRMATION IN\n   THE STATE CHURCH--DISSOLUTENESS OF LIFE--THE HARD WAY OF\n   TRANSGRESSORS--THE GYMNASIUM AT NORDHAUSEN--THE\n   UNIVERSITY AT HALLE--ROVINGS                                   31\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\nThe Prodigal's Return.\n\n1825-1826.\n\n   A TREASURE FOUND--DAWNING OF THE NEW LIFE--THE PEACE OF\n   GOD--\"I AM COME TO SET A MAN AT VARIANCE AGAINST HIS\n   FATHER\"--\"LET HIM THAT HEARETH SAY, COME\"--THE FIRST\n   SERMON--DELIGHT IN THE LORD--A COMMON ERROR--THE FOUNTAIN\n   NEGLECTED                                                      38\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\nSelf-Dedication.\n\n1826-1829.\n\n   DESIRE FOR MISSIONARY LABOR--PROVIDENTIAL RELEASE FROM\n   MILITARY SERVICE--VISIT AT HOME--LED TO THE LAND OF HIS\n   FUTURE LABORS--PROGRESS IN RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE--DESIRE\n   FOR IMMEDIATE USEFULNESS                                       47\n\n\nCHAPTER IV.\n\nLeaning on Jesus.\n\n1830-1832.\n\n   A DOOR OPENED--TOKENS FOR GOOD--TRUST EXERCISED IN THE\n   STUDY AND MINISTRY OF THE WORD--THE SWORD OF THE\n   SPIRIT--TRUSTING IN GOD FOR DAILY BREAD--BLESSEDNESS OF\n   WAITING UPON THE LORD--\"OWE NO MAN\"--\"ACCORDING TO YOUR\n   FAITH BE IT UNTO YOU\"--THE GIFT OF FAITH AND THE GRACE\n   OF FAITH                                                       58\n\n\nCHAPTER V.\n\nMinistry at Bristol Begun.\n\n1832-1833.\n\n   \"HERE HAVE WE NO CONTINUING CITY\"--CAUTION TO THE\n   CHRISTIAN TRAVELLER--NEW TOKENS FOR GOOD--THE WAY MADE\n   CLEAR--MEETINGS FOR INQUIRY--NO RESPECT OF PERSONS WITH\n   GOD--FRANCKE, \"BEING DEAD, YET SPEAKETH\"--DAILY BREAD\n   SUPPLIED--A PECULIAR PEOPLE                                    80\n\n\nCHAPTER VI.\n\nThe Scriptural Knowledge Institution.\n\n1834-1835.\n\n   UNSCRIPTURAL CHARACTER OF THE EXISTING RELIGIOUS AND\n   BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES--A NEW INSTITUTION PROPOSED--GOD'S\n   WORD THE ONLY RULE, AND GOD'S PROMISE THE ONLY\n   DEPENDENCE--\"IN EVERYTHING LET YOUR REQUEST BE MADE KNOWN\n   UNTO GOD\"--EARNEST OF THE DIVINE BLESSING ON THE\n   INSTITUTION--BEREAVEMENT--HELPER SEASONABLY SENT--REWARD\n   OF SEEKING GOD'S FACE                                          94\n\n\nCHAPTER VII.\n\nHome for Destitute Orphans.\n\n1835-1836.\n\n   FRANKE'S WORKS FOLLOW HIM--A GREAT UNDERTAKING\n   CONCEIVED--REASONS FOR ESTABLISHING AN ORPHAN\n   HOUSE--PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE--TREASURE LAID UP IN HEAVEN IN\n   PRAYER AND IN FAITH THE WORK IS BEGUN                         111\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII.\n\nThe Field Widening.\n\n1836-1837.\n\n   AN UNEXPECTED OBSTACLE--IMPLICIT SUBMISSION--A SECOND\n   ORPHAN HOUSE PROPOSED--AN ENCOURAGING TEXT--THE NEW\n   ORPHAN HOUSE OPENED--COMPLETED ANSWER TO PRAYER--PROGRESS\n   OF THE LORD'S WORK--THE OVERSIGHT OF THE FLOCK                125\n\n\nCHAPTER IX.\n\nTrial.\n\n1838.\n\n   THE MINISTRY OF SICKNESS--PEACE OF MIND--JESUS A PRESENT\n   HELP--DEEP POVERTY--PLEADING WITH GOD--UNITED PRAYER          138\n\n\nCHAPTER X.\n\nDeliverance.\n\n1838.\n\n   \"PERPLEXED BUT NOT IN DESPAIR\"--FAITH JUSTIFIED--A LESSON\n   OF OBEDIENCE--BOUNTIFUL SUPPLIES--SPIRITUAL\n   INGATHERING--A DAY OF MERCIES--TIMELY AID--A SEASON OF\n   PLENTY--OBEDIENCE REWARDED                                    151\n\n\nCHAPTER XI.\n\nAsking and Receiving.\n\n1839.\n\n   HELP FOR THE POOR SAINTS--THE UNFAILING BANK--MEANS\n   EXHAUSTED--LIBERALITY OF A LABORING SISTER--\"HE KNOWETH\n   OUR FRAME\"--REDEEMING THE TIME--GODLINESS PROFITABLE\n   UNTO ALL THINGS                                               167\n\n\nCHAPTER XII.\n\nPlenty and Want.\n\n1840.\n\n   A PURE OFFERING REQUIRED--A JOURNEY PROPOSED--SEASONABLE\n   PROVISION--LOOKING ONLY TO THE LORD--THE WRATH OF MAN\n   PRAISING GOD--A PROMISE FULFILLED--BENEFIT OF TRIAL--NEW\n   SPRINGS OPENED--BEFORE THEY CALL I WILL ANSWER--TRUST IN\n   GOD COMMENDED--SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS                            181\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII.\n\nFaith Strengthened by Exercise.\n\n1841.\n\n   A WANT SUPPLIED--RESOURCES EXCEEDING THE DEMAND--EVIL OF\n   SURETYSHIP--POWER OF CHRISTIAN LOVE--GOD'S WORD THE FOOD\n   OF THE SOUL--PREPARATION FOR THE HOUR OF\n   TRIAL--POVERTY--DEPENDING ONLY ON THE LIVING GOD              200\n\n\nCHAPTER XIV.\n\nWalking in Darkness.\n\n1841-1842.\n\n   \"GOD'S WAY LEADS INTO TRIAL\"--GROUNDS OF\n   THANKFULNESS--PROTRACTED DARKNESS--CAST DOWN, BUT NOT\n   DESTROYED--TRUST IN GOD COMMENDED--THE MEANS OF ITS\n   ATTAINMENT--REVIEW OF THE WORK                                214\n\n\nCHAPTER XV.\n\nProsperity.\n\n1842-1843.\n\n   ABUNDANT SUPPLIES--RESTING ON THE WRITTEN WORD--\"SEEKING\n   AND FINDING\"--ERRONEOUS IMPRESSIONS REMOVED--PERSEVERING\n   AND PREVAILING PRAYER ANSWERED--\"LENGTHENING THE CORDS\n   AND STRENGTHENING THE STAKES\"--A FOURTH ORPHAN HOUSE          241\n\n\nCHAPTER XVI.\n\nStewardship.\n\n1844.\n\n   EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY TREASURES--SEEKING THE KINGDOM OF\n   GOD--FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER--THE CHRISTIAN\n   MERCHANT--EXAMPLES--MISTAKES                                  259\n\n\nCHAPTER XVII.\n\nReaping Bountifully.\n\n1845-1846.\n\n   AN UNEXPECTED REQUEST--DELIBERATION--A GREAT\n   UNDERTAKING--RELIANCE ON THE RESOURCES OF THE LIVING\n   GOD--AN ANSWER EXPECTED AND RECEIVED--PRAYER FOR FAITH\n   AND PATIENCE--FURTHER PROOFS OF DIVINE FAVOR--THE\n   BLESSEDNESS OF DEVISING LIBERAL THINGS                        294\n\n\nCHAPTER XVIII.\n\nFaith Confirmed by Prosperity.\n\n1846-1848.\n\n   THE SPIRIT OF SUPPLICATION BESTOWED AND PRAYER\n   ANSWERED--THE TIME OF MAN'S NEED AND OF GOD'S\n   BOUNTY--FAITH NOT SHAKEN--DEALING ONLY WITH GOD--THE\n   NEEDED AMOUNT FURNISHED--PERPETUAL \"NEED\"--NOT WEARY IN\n   GOD'S WORK--JOY IN ANSWERED PRAYER--FOUR REQUESTS\n   GRANTED--\"CONTINUING INSTANT IN PRAYER\"--THE BUILDING\n   COMMENCED--PERSONAL HISTORY--A MARKED DELIVERANCE             319\n\n\nCHAPTER XIX.\n\nContinued Mercies.\n\n1848-1850.\n\n   HUMBLE BEGINNINGS--DEVISING LIBERAL THINGS--THE ORPHANS\n   PROVIDED FOR--A MEMORABLE DAY--MONEY \"AT INTEREST\"--MEANS\n   FROM AN UNEXPECTED SOURCE--THE PROGRESS OF THE NEW ORPHAN\n   HOUSE--MEANS PROVIDED FOR ITS COMPLETION--INEXPRESSIBLE\n   DELIGHT IN GOD--REVIEW OF THE TWO YEARS PAST                  347\n\n\nCHAPTER XX.\n\nA New Victory of Faith.\n\n1850-1851.\n\n   PAST MERCIES AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO NEW UNDERTAKINGS--A\n   HOUSE FOR SEVEN HUNDRED ORPHANS PROPOSED--WALKING BY\n   FAITH--COUNSEL SOUGHT FROM GOD--THE PURPOSE\n   FORMED--DELIGHT IN THE MAGNITUDE AND DIFFICULTY\n   OF THE DESIGN                                                 364\n\n\nCHAPTER XXI.\n\nUnvarying Prosperity.\n\n1850-1852.\n\n   DESIRES FOR MORE ENLARGED USEFULNESS GRATIFIED--A LARGE\n   DONATION ANTICIPATED AND RECEIVED--REVIEW OF\n   1851--PERSONAL EXPERIENCE--BUILDING FUND FOR THE SECOND\n   NEW ORPHAN HOUSE--DOUBT RESISTED--WAITING ON GOD NOT\n   IN VAIN--REVIEW OF 1852                                       389\n\n\nCHAPTER XXII.\n\nReaping in Joy.\n\n1852-1854.\n\n   EXPECTING GREAT THINGS FROM GOD--MUNIFICENT\n   DONATION--INCREASING USEFULNESS OF THE SCRIPTURAL\n   KNOWLEDGE INSTITUTION--ACCESS TO GOD THROUGH FAITH IN\n   CHRIST--A VOICE FROM MOUNT LEBANON--BENEFIT OF WAITING\n   GOD'S TIME--CAREFUL STEWARDSHIP--FAITH, THE ONLY\n   RELIANCE--\"THIS POOR WIDOW HATH CAST IN MORE THAN THEY\n   ALL\"--GREATER ACHIEVEMENTS OF FAITH ANTICIPATED--COUNSEL\n   TO TRACT DISTRIBUTORS--A NEW AND SEVERE TRIAL OF FAITH        402\n\n\nCHAPTER XXIII.\n\nThree Years of Prosperity.\n\n1854-1857.\n\n   THE SITE SELECTED--SIX THOUSAND ORPHANS IN PRISON--HOW TO\n   ASK FOR DAILY BREAD--REVIEW OF TWENTY-FOUR YEARS--\"TAKE\n   NO THOUGHT FOR THE MORROW\"--INSURANCE AGAINST BAD DEBTS       426\n\n\nCHAPTER XXIV.\n\nConclusion.\n\n1857-1860.\n\n   THE HOUSE FOR FOUR HUNDRED OPENED--PRAYER MORE THAN\n   ANSWERED--THE RESORT IN TROUBLE--AN OUTPOURING OF THE\n   SPIRIT ON THE ORPHANS--LAND FOR A NEW BUILDING\n   PURCHASED--\"BUT ONE LIFE TO SPEND FOR GOD\"--\"SCATTERING,\n   YET INCREASING\"--A MEMORABLE YEAR--THE GERM OF THE IRISH\n   REVIVAL--LETTER FROM AN ORPHAN--THE FRUIT OF SIX MONTHS'\n   PRAYER--THE RESULTS OF THE WORK--REVIVAL AMONG\n   THE ORPHANS                                                   446\n\n\nAPPENDIX                                                         473\n\n\n\n\nINTRODUCTION.\n\n\nWhat is meant by the prayer of faith? is a question which is beginning\nto arrest, in an unusual degree, the attention of Christians. What is\nthe significance of the passages both in the New Testament and the Old\nwhich refer to it? What is the limit within which they may be safely\nreceived as a ground of practical reliance? Were these promises limited\nto prophetical or apostolical times; or have they been left as a legacy\nto all believers until the end shall come?\n\nSomehow or other, these questions are seldom discussed either from the\npulpit or the press. I do not remember to have heard any of them\ndistinctly treated of in a sermon. I do not know of any work in which\nthis subject is either theoretically explained or practically enforced.\nIt really seems as if this portion of Revelation was, by common consent,\nignored in all our public teachings. Do not men believe that God means\nwhat he appears plainly to have asserted? or, if we believe that he\nmeans it, do we fear the charge of fanaticism if we openly avow that we\ntake him at his word?\n\nThe public silence on this subject does not, however, prevent a very\nfrequent private inquiry in respect to it. The thoughtful Christian,\nwhen in his daily reading of the Scriptures he meets with any of those\nwonderful promises made to believing prayer, often pauses to ask\nhimself, What can these words mean? Can it be that God has made such\npromises as these to me, and to such men as I am? Have I really\npermission to commit all my little affairs to a God of infinite wisdom,\nbelieving that he will take charge of them and direct them according to\nthe promptings of boundless love and absolute omniscience? Is prayer\nreally a power with God, or is it merely an expedient by which our own\npiety may be cultivated? Is it not merely a power (that is, a stated\nantecedent accompanied by the idea of causation), but is it a\ntranscendent power, accomplishing what no other power can, over-ruling\nall other agencies, and rendering them subservient to its own wonderful\nefficiency? I think there are few devout readers of the Bible to whom\nthese questions are not frequently suggested. We ask them, but we do not\noften wait for an answer. These promises seem to us to be addressed\neither to a past or to a coming age, but not to us, at the present day.\nYet with such views as these the devout soul is not at all satisfied. If\nan invaluable treasure is here reserved for the believer, he asks, why\nshould I not receive my portion of it? He cannot doubt that God has in a\nremarkable manner, at various times, answered his prayers; why should he\nnot always answer them? and why should not the believer always draw near\nto God in full confidence that he will do as he has said? He may\nremember that the prayer which has been manifestly answered was the\noffspring of deep humility, of conscious unworthiness, of utter\nself-negation, and of simple and earnest reliance on the promises of God\nthrough the mediation of Christ. Why should not his prayers be always of\nthe same character? With the apostles of old he pours out his soul in\nthe petition, \"Lord, increase our faith.\"\n\nAnd yet it can scarcely be denied that the will of God has been\ndistinctly revealed on this subject. The promises made to believing\nprayer are explicit, numerous, and diversified. If we take them in their\nsimple and literal meaning, or if in fact we give to them any reasonable\ninterpretation whatever, they seem to be easily understood. Our\ndifficulty seems to be this: the promise is so \"exceeding great\" that we\ncannot conceive God really to mean what he clearly appears to have\nrevealed. The blessing seems too vast for our comprehension; we \"stagger\nat the promises, through unbelief,\" and thus fail to secure the treasure\nwhich was purchased for us by Christ Jesus.\n\nIt may be appropriate for us to review some of the passages which refer\nmost directly to this subject:--\n\n\"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it\nshall be opened unto you; for _every one_ that asketh receiveth, and he\nthat seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh _it shall_ be opened.\"\n\"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children,\n_how much more_ shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to\nthem that _ask_ him.\"[1]\n\n  [Footnote 1: Matthew vii. 7-11.]\n\nIn the Gospel of Luke the same words are repeated, with a single\nvariation at the close. \"If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts\nunto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the\n_Holy Spirit to them that ask him_.\"[2]\n\n  [Footnote 2: Luke xi. 13.]\n\n\"I say unto you that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching\nanything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father\nwhich is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my\nname, there am I in the midst of them.\"[3]\n\n  [Footnote 3: Matthew xviii. 19, 20.]\n\n\"Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have\nfaith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do that which is done to the\nfig-tree, but also ye shall say to this mountain, Be thou removed, and\nbe thou cast into the sea, and it shall be done. And _all things\nwhatsoever_ ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.\"[4]\n\n  [Footnote 4: Matthew xxi. 21, 22.]\n\nThe same promise, slightly varied in form, is found in the Gospel of\nMark. \"_Have faith in God._ For verily I say unto you that whosoever\nshall say to this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the\nsea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those\nthings which he hath said shall come to pass, he shall have whatever he\nsaith. Therefore I say unto you, Whatsoever things ye desire, when ye\npray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.\"[5]\n\n  [Footnote 5: Mark xi. 22-24.]\n\nNow I do not pretend that we are obliged to receive these words\nliterally. Unless, however, we believe the Saviour to have spoken\nrepeatedly on the same subject, at random, and with no definite meaning,\nwe must understand him to have asserted that things impossible by the\nordinary laws of material causation are possible by faith in God. I do\nnot perceive, if we allow these words to have any meaning whatever, that\nwe can ascribe to them any other significance.\n\n\"Verily I say unto you, He that believeth in me, the works that I do\nshall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do, because I go\nunto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that I will do,\nthat the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in\nmy name I will do it.\"[6]\n\n  [Footnote 6: John xiv. 12-14.]\n\n\"Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name,\nhe will give it you. Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and\nye shall receive, that your joy may be full.\"[7]\n\n  [Footnote 7: John xvi. 23, 24.]\n\n\"The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man _availeth much_;\"[8]\nthat is, it is a real power, a positive energy. The apostle illustrates\nwhat he means by availing prayer by the example of Elias, a man subject\nto like passions as we are: \"He prayed earnestly that it might not rain,\nand it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six\nmonths; and he prayed again, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth\nbrought forth her fruit.\"[9]\n\n  [Footnote 8: James v. 16.]\n\n  [Footnote 9: James v. 17, 18.]\n\nThe conditions on which prayer will be heard are in various places\nspecified, but particularly in John xv. 7: \"If ye abide in me and my\nwords abide in you, ye shall _ask what ye will_, and it shall be done\nunto you.\" That is, if I understand the passage, prevalence in prayer is\nconditioned by the conformity of our souls to the will of God; \"if ye\nabide in me and my words abide in you.\" On this condition, and on this\nonly, may we ask what we will, with the assurance that it will be done\nunto us. Faith, in its most simple meaning, is that temper of the mind\nin the creature which responds to every revealed perfection of the\nCreator. Just according to the degree in which this correspondence\nexists, is the promise made that we shall have whatsoever we ask.\n\nIt is evident, from the eleventh of Hebrews, that the views of the\nApostle Paul concerning faith were entirely in harmony with the passages\nrecited above. He reviews the lives of the most eminent saints, for the\nexpress purpose of showing that the impressive events in their history,\nwhether physical or moral, were controlled entirely by faith. He sums up\nthe whole in this remarkable language:--\n\n\"And what shall I say more? For the time would fail me to tell of those\nwho _through faith_ subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained\npromises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire,\nescaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed\nvaliant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens; women\nreceived their dead raised to life again; and others were tortured, not\naccepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.\" We\nare, I think, taught by this passage that the apostle believed faith to\nbe a power capable of transcending and modifying every other agency, by\nwhich changes became possible which to every other known power were\nimpossible. We see that in this catalogue of the victories of faith he\nincludes the subjection of almost every form of what we call natural\nlaws. The whole passage seems an illustration of the meaning of our\nLord, when he says, \"If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye\nshall say to this sycamine tree, Be thou removed and planted in the\nmidst of the sea, and it shall obey you.\"\n\nIt seems then apparent that the doctrine of the peculiar and wonderful\npower of the prayer of faith is as clearly revealed in the Scriptures as\nany other doctrine. It would seem evident, at any rate, from the\npassages just quoted, that the Apostle Paul understood the teachings of\nour Saviour to mean what they say. From the general tenor of the\nScriptures I think we may learn two important truths: First, that there\nis a certain state of mind in a devout soul to which God has promised\nall that it asks, subject, however, as to the manner of the answer, to\nthe dictates of his infinite wisdom and goodness; and, second, that in\ngranting such petitions he does not always limit his action within the\nordinary or acknowledged laws of matter or of mind. I do not perceive\nhow we can interpret the passages above cited, as well as many others,\nwithout giving them a meaning at least as extensive as this.\n\nWhy is it, then, that this whole range of revealed truth has so\ngenerally been looked upon as an unknown and unexplored region? Why\nshould we limit either the goodness or the power of God by our own\nknowledge of what we call the laws of nature? Why should we not admit\nthat \"there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in\nour philosophy\"? In a universe governed by moral law, why should not\nmoral laws take precedence of all others? Why should we deny that there\nis a power in prayer to which we have not commonly attained? We are\nstraitened in ourselves, and suppose that we are straitened in God. We\ninterpret the gracious promises of our most loving Father in heaven by\nthe rule of our own imperfect and unbelieving piety. We ask for light\nfrom without, while the light can only come from a more elevated piety\nwithin. We ask for examples of the effects of faith at the present day,\ncorresponding to those spoken of in the sacred Scriptures. Thoughtful\nmen acknowledge that there must be a meaning in these promises, which\nthey have not yet understood, and they see plainly that the kingdom of\nGod can never come with power until this prevalence in prayer shall have\nbecome a matter of universal attainment; and yet they dare hardly\nbelieve that God is as good as he has revealed himself to be.\n\nThere have, nevertheless, from time to time, occurred, what plainly\nappear to be, remarkable instances of answers to prayer. Many of them\nhave faded from recollection, with the generation in which they\noccurred; those which are remembered, however, seem to teach us that God\nis a living God now as truly as in times past. The history of\npersecutions is always filled with remarkable answers to prayer. The\nrescue of Peter from the power of the Sanhedrim in one case, and from\nthe power of Herod in another, has been a thousand times repeated in the\nhistory of the church of Christ. The answer to prayer for divine\ndirection as to the time and manner of performing some Christian\nservice, to which an individual has felt himself specially called, has\nfrequently been very remarkable. The biographies of the early and of\nmany of the later Friends are replete with such instances. Any one who\nwill read the edifying memoirs of George Fox, John Woolman, William\nAllen, and Stephen Grellet, will find what I have alluded to abundantly\nexemplified. The well-authenticated accounts of the late revivals in\nthis country and in Ireland teach us that most remarkable instances of\nanswers to prayer were of almost daily occurrence. In the last century a\nsingle instance deserves particular remembrance; it was the founding of\nFranke's Orphan House at Halle. It seemed to him to be a Christian duty\nto attempt something for the relief of orphans, and he commenced the\nundertaking. From time to time, as the number of applicants increased,\nthe means for their support was provided, in answer, as he firmly\nbelieved, to fervent and unceasing prayer. Thus an extensive\nestablishment was reared, which has continued to the present day,\nproviding education and support for thousands of the poor and destitute,\nand it has been for a century and a half one of the most honored of the\ncharitable institutions of the continent of Europe.\n\nThe most remarkable instance of the efficacy of prayer with which I am\nacquainted, is that recorded in the following pages. It seems, in fact,\nto be a practical illustration of the meaning of those passages of\nScripture which I have already recited. A young German Christian,\nfriendless and unknown, is conscious of what he believes to be a call\nfrom the Lord to attempt something for the benefit of the poor vagabond\nchildren of Bristol. He is at this time preaching the gospel to a small\ncompany of believers, from whom, at his own suggestion, he receives no\nsalary, being supported day by day by the voluntary offerings of his\nbrethren. Without the promise of aid from any being but God, he\ncommences his work. In answer to prayer, funds are received as they are\nneeded, and the attempt succeeds beyond his expectation. After a few\nyears he is led to believe that God has called him to establish a house\nfor the maintenance and education of orphans. He was impelled to this\neffort, not only from motives of benevolence, but from a desire to\nconvince men that God was a LIVING GOD, as ready now as ever to answer\nprayer; and that, in the discharge of any duty to which he calls us, we\nmay implicitly rely upon his all-sufficient aid in every emergency.\n\nMr. Mueller was led to undertake this work in such a manner that aid\ncould not be expected from any being but God. He did not of course\nexpect God to create gold and silver and put them into his hands. He\nknew, however, that God could incline the hearts of men to aid him, and\nhe believed, if the thing that he attempted was of Him, that he would so\nincline them, in answer to prayer, as his necessities should require.\nMost men in making such an attempt would have spread the case before the\npublic, employed agents to solicit in its behalf, and undertaken\nnothing until funds adequate to the success of the enterprise had been\nalready secured. But Mr. Mueller, true to his principles, would do no\nsuch thing. From the first day to the present moment he has neither\ndirectly nor indirectly solicited either of the public or of an\nindividual a single penny. As necessities arose he simply laid his case\nbefore God and asked of him all that he needed, and the supply has\nalways been seasonable and unfailing.\n\nThe conductors of benevolent enterprises generally consider it important\nto publish the names of donors, appealing thus to what is considered an\ninnocent desire in man to let our good deeds be known, and thus also to\nstimulate others to do likewise. Ignoring every motive of this kind, Mr.\nMueller made it his rule to publish the name of no contributor. When the\nname was known to him, which, however, was not often the case, he made a\nprivate acknowledgment; while in his printed account he only made known\nthe sum received, and the date of its reception. In this manner,\nforsaking every other reliance but God, and in childlike simplicity\nlooking to him alone for the supply of every want, all that he needed\nwas furnished as punctually as if, in possession of millions, he had\ndrawn from time to time on his banker.\n\nThus has he continued from, I think, the year 1834. By degrees the\nestablishment increased, and it was necessary to leave the hired houses\nin which the children had thus far been accommodated. Land was\npurchased, and a building was erected in the vicinity of Bristol. This\nwas soon filled to overflowing, and another building was demanded. This\nwas erected, and it also was very soon filled. These buildings were\nsufficient to accommodate seven hundred orphans. At the present moment,\na third building, larger than either, is in the process of erection, and\nis to be finished in the course of the ensuing summer. When this shall\nbe completed, accommodations will have been provided for eleven hundred\nand fifty orphans. These expensive buildings have been erected; the\nland has been purchased on which they stand; this multitude of children\nhas been clothed and fed and educated; support and remuneration have\nbeen provided for all the necessary teachers and assistants, and all\nthis has been done by a man who is not worth a dollar. He has never\nasked any one but God for whatever they needed, and from the beginning\nthey have never wanted a meal, nor have they ever allowed themselves to\nbe in debt. There seems in this to be something as remarkable as if Mr.\nMueller had commanded a sycamine tree to be removed and planted in the\nsea, and it had obeyed him.\n\nBut this is not all. Mr. Mueller saw that there was a great demand for\ncopies of the Holy Scriptures, both in Great Britain and on the\nContinent, and he commenced the work of Bible distribution. This so\nrapidly extended itself that he was soon obliged to open in Bristol a\nlarge Bible House. He believed that great good might be done by the\ncirculation of religious tracts, and he has carried on this work\nextensively. He was moved to make an attempt to aid and even to support\nmissionaries among the heathen, as well as other good men, of various\ndenominations, who, with very inadequate means of living, were preaching\nthe gospel to the poor and destitute at home. He began to aid them as\ntheir necessities came to his knowledge, and now one hundred such men\nare depending on him, wholly or in part, for support.\n\nHere, then, we certainly behold a remarkable phenomenon. A single man,\nwholly destitute of funds, is supporting and educating seven hundred\norphans, providing everything needful for their education, is in himself\nan extensive Bible and Tract and Missionary Society, the work is daily\nincreasing in magnitude, and the means for carrying it on are abundantly\nsupplied, while he is connected with no particular denomination, is\naided by no voluntary association, and he has asked the assistance of\nnot a single individual. He has asked no one but God, and all his wants\nhave been regularly supplied. In these labors of love he has, up to the\npresent time, expended nearly a million of dollars. It is thus that he\nhas endeavored to show to an unbelieving world that God is a living God,\nand that he means what he has said in every one of his promises.[10]\n\n  [Footnote 10: The following brief statistics will show the\n  magnitude of the work already accomplished:--\n\n  The number of pupils hitherto instructed in all the day,\n  evening, and Sunday schools, is 13,124. The whole number\n  of _orphans_ educated within the establishment is 1,153.\n  Of the 700 now in the Institution, 260 are hopefully\n  pious. Missionaries aided at the present time, 100. Since\n  1834 there have been circulated,--Bibles, 24,768;\n  Testaments, 15,100; Psalms, 719; other portions of\n  Scripture, 1,876; or, total, 42,463 Bibles or portions of\n  Scripture. Tracts and books (not pages, but separate\n  publications), 11,493,174.\n\n  Two large buildings have been erected, a third is in the\n  process of erection; the land on which they stand has been\n  purchased. The expense of the orphan work alone has\n  amounted to L133,528 sterling, and the expenses are daily\n  increasing.\n\n  The contributions by which these expenditures have been\n  met have been sent from every quarter of the globe. The\n  largest amounts have been, as might be expected, from\n  England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales; but to these may be\n  added the Cape of Good Hope, Mt. Lebanon, Demerara,\n  Newport, R. I., New York, Philadelphia, California,\n  France, Holland, Sardinia, Australia, etc., etc.]\n\nI have referred to Mr. Mueller as if he were the sole agent in this work.\nThis, however, is by no means true. His co-workers in the Institution\nare all of the same spirit as himself. Mr. Craik, a gentleman from\nScotland, has been with him from the beginning, has shared in all the\nlabors and responsibilities of these vast undertakings, and has been\nspecially blessed as a preacher of the gospel. The remuneration of all\nthe assistants is contingent on the means received in answer to prayer.\nWhen sacrifices are to be made, they are all prompt to make them, and\nthey do not expect an answer to prayer until they have contributed, from\ntheir own scanty wages, whatever can be spared after providing for their\nactual necessities.\n\nThe last Report of Mr. Mueller's labors has just been received. From this\nwe learn another interesting fact. It seems that the late revival in\nIreland is indirectly connected with these labors in Bristol. A pious\nyoung Irishman read \"The Dealings of the Lord with George Mueller,\" and\nreceived from it new views of the power of believing prayer. He felt the\nneed of prayer for the perishing around him, and determined by prayer\nand conversation to labor for their salvation. First, however, he asked\nthat God would give him an associate. This prayer was granted. These two\nthen united in earnest prayer for some additions to their number. This\nprayer was granted. In this manner a small company was united in asking\nfor an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on their neighborhood. They devoted\nthemselves to prayer and to labor among the people by whom they were\nsurrounded. Their prayers were answered. The Spirit was poured out;\ntwenty-five souls were converted. Multitudes united with them in\nsupplication. They went from place to place, praying and laboring for\nthe conversion of men; and thus the work extended, until the whole\ndistrict of Ulster was visited with that remarkable outpouring of the\nHoly Spirit.\n\nAll these we suppose to be indisputable facts. If in any respect there\nhas been a misstatement, or even an exaggeration, the means are abundant\nfor detecting it. The whole work has been carried on in the presence and\nunder the inspection of the whole city of Bristol. There stand those\nlarge and expensive buildings. There are seen the seven hundred orphans\nwho are in every respect admirably cared for. Everything has been paid\nfor, for Mr. Mueller is never in debt. His poverty is well known, and he\nwill not accept of any money as a provision for his future necessities.\nHis accounts have been annually audited by a competent committee. There\nis not the man living who can contradict his assertion, \"I never asked\naid from a single individual.\" Hundreds weekly visit the Institution,\nand no one has ever found in it anything at variance with Mr. Mueller's\npublished statements. Last of all, the Rev. Dr. Sawtelle, a gentleman\nknown to thousands in this country, has added his independent testimony\nto the truth of all that is here related. More conclusive evidence to\nthe truth of facts cannot be desired.\n\nTo account for a fact is to refer it to some general law whose existence\nis already established. When it is therefore asked, How shall these\nfacts be accounted for? we inquire, to what known law can they be\nreferred? They cannot certainly be referred to any known law of human\naction. How would we decide if a similar case should occur in physics?\nSuppose a series of experiments should be made daily for twenty-five\nyears in chemistry or mechanics, with the same invariable result, and\nthis result could be referred to no previously established law,--to what\nconclusion should we arrive? There could be but one conclusion, in which\nall men of science would unite. They would all declare that a new law\nhad been discovered, and would modify their systems accordingly. It\nseems to me that on all sound philosophical principles we are bound to\ncome to the same conclusion in the present case. We can refer these\nfacts to no other law than to that announced by the Saviour in his\npromise to answer the prayer of faith. There is no reason to suppose\nthat in the case of Mr. Mueller and his associates there is anything\nexceptional or peculiar. What God has done for them we cannot doubt\nthat, under the same conditions, he will do for every other believing\ndisciple of Christ.\n\nWhat, then, are the conditions of this remarkable experiment, if such we\nmay call it? They are something like the following. A poor and unknown\nman is convinced that it is his duty, as a servant of Christ, to labor\nin several ways for the relief of the temporal and spiritual wants of\nthe ignorant and destitute. He consecrates himself to the work by\ndedicating to it his time and labor, and whatever pecuniary means should\ncome into his possession. He resolved that he would neither appeal to\nany of the ordinary motives which dispose men to humanity, nor even\nsolicit aid from any human being, but simply make his wants known to\nGod, believing that, if he was doing the work of God, the divine\npromise was pledged in his behalf. Not only did he trust in God that\nall the pecuniary aid which he needed would be furnished, but that, in\nanswer to prayer, all needed wisdom would be given him in the conduct of\nhis complicated and arduous undertakings. The result has met his most\nsanguine expectations. The institution has increased to a most\nmagnificent charity, aside from its missionary, Bible, and tract\noperations; all its wants have been from time to time supplied; and it\nis at the present moment carried on upon precisely the same principles\non which it commenced. We cannot resist the conclusion that if any one\nwill undertake any other Christian work in a similar spirit, and on the\nsame principles, his labor will be attended with a similar result.\n\nWhile we believe this, however, we do not pretend to affirm that just\nsuch immediate results will always be seen. This would be to limit the\nomniscience of God by the short-sighted ignorance of man. It may best\nsuit the purposes of infinite goodness to answer the prayer of faith by\ncrosses and disappointments; but these in the end shall be found in the\nmost signal manner to promote the object to be accomplished. While the\ndisciples were praying and laboring for the extension of the kingdom of\nChrist in Jerusalem, it seemed a strange answer to prayer that they\nshould be driven out of the city; but the meaning of it was evident when\nchurches arose in Phenice and Cyprus and Antioch, and it became manifest\nthat the gospel was designed not for Jews alone; but for the whole\nfamily of man. Paul devoted himself with unquenchable zeal to the\nsalvation of men, and, with a fervid eloquence which has given him a\nplace among the noblest orators of antiquity, delighted to spend his\nlife in persuading men to be reconciled to God. He was a man whose\nconfidence in God was as unshaken as any whose history has been recorded\nby the pen of inspiration. It doubtless was to the disciples of that\nage, as well as to himself, a most unaccountable dispensation that he\nshould have been impeded in his great work by the necessity of composing\ndissensions and rectifying errors which were constantly arising in the\nchurches which he had planted, and, most of all, that so many years of\nhis life should have been spent in prison. Yet it is to these, at the\ntime untoward circumstances, that we owe the writing of those epistles\nwhich occupy so large a portion of the volume of inspiration, and\nwithout which the message of God to man would not have been completed.\nIn no other way could his prayer to be useful to the cause of Christ\nhave been so fully answered.\n\nWith this understanding of the promise granted to the prayer of faith, I\ndo not see why we should not take the case of Mr. Mueller as an example\nfor our imitation. Whoever attains to this same simple desire in all\nthings to do the will of God, and to the same childlike trust in his\npromises, may, I think, hope for a similar blessing. God is no respecter\nof persons. \"If _any_ man _do his will_, him he heareth.\" And all the\nteaching of the Scriptures confirms us in this belief. The passages\nwhich we have quoted at the commencement of this paper, with hundreds of\nothers, all lead to the same conclusion. In the Scriptures every form of\nillustration is used to impress upon us the conviction that God is\nindeed our Father, and that he delights to grant our requests for\nanything that is for our benefit, and specially that he pledges himself\nto direct by his counsel, and aid by his providence, every one who\nhonestly labors to promote the cause of true benevolence and real\nreligion.\n\nIf this be so, how important is this subject in its bearing on\nindividual effort. No Christian, though the poorest and humblest, ever\nneed despair of doing a noble work for God. He need never wait until he\ncan obtain the co-operation of the multitude or the wealthy. Let him\nundertake what he believes to be his duty, on ever so small a scale, and\nlook directly to God for aid and direction. If it be a seed which God\nhas planted, it will take root, grow, and bear fruit, \"_having seed\nwithin itself_.\" \"It is better to trust in God than to put confidence in\nman; it is better to trust in God than to put confidence in princes.\" A\nmultitude of cases can be adduced to prove that this course is in\nharmony with the designs of God. It is abundantly shown in the case of\nMr. Mueller. Take the case of Robert Raikes. Suppose that he had\nestablished no school until a powerful association, formed from\necclesiastical dignitaries, millionaires, and the multitude, had united\nin his support, his effort could hardly have escaped ridiculous failure.\nOn the contrary, he simply established a school by himself. It was a\nseed which God had planted, and its fruit now shakes like Lebanon.\n\nOn the contrast which is seen between the plan of Mr. Mueller and the\nplans by which our missionary and other benevolent operations are\nconducted, it is unnecessary to enlarge. If Mr. Mueller is right, I think\nit is evident that we are all wrong. We cannot go into this subject in\ndetail. We may, however, be permitted to remark, that the means which\nare frequently employed to secure the approbation and pecuniary aid of\nworldly men, in carrying forward the cause of Christ, are intensely\nhumiliating. It would seem as though God was the last being to be relied\non in carrying forward the work which he has given us to do.\n\nBut it is time to bring these remarks to a close. We commend this most\nunpretending of narratives to the thoughtful consideration of Christians\nof all denominations. We have greatly overrated the teaching of these\nfacts, if they do not furnish strong incentives to A LIFE OF HOLY\nEXERTION, AND IMPART AN UNWONTED AND POWERFUL MOTIVE TO EARNEST AND\nBELIEVING PRAYER.\n\nPROVIDENCE, December 17, 1860.\n\n\n\n\nTHE LIFE OF TRUST.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\nBOYHOOD AND YOUTH.\n\n1805-1825.\n\n  BIRTH--EARLY DISHONESTY--INSENSIBILITY--CONFIRMATION IN THE\n  STATE CHURCH--DISSOLUTENESS OF LIFE--THE HARD WAY OF\n  TRANSGRESSORS--THE GYMNASIUM AT NORDHAUSEN--THE UNIVERSITY\n  AT HALLE--ROVINGS.\n\n\nI was born at Kroppenstaedt, near Halberstadt, in the kingdom of\nPrussia, September 27, 1805. In January, 1810, my parents removed to\nHeimersleben, about four miles from Kroppenstaedt, where my father was\nappointed collector in the excise.\n\nMy father, who educated his children on worldly principles,[11] gave us\nmuch money, considering our age. The result was, that it led me and my\nbrother into many sins. Before I was ten years old, I repeatedly took of\nthe government money which was intrusted to my father, and which he had\nto make up; till one day, as he had repeatedly missed money, he\ndetected my theft, by depositing a counted sum in the room where I was,\nand leaving me to myself for a while. Being thus left alone, I took some\nof the money, and hid it under my foot in my shoe. When my father, after\nhis return, had counted and missed the money, I was searched and my\ntheft detected.\n\n  [Footnote 11: The opinion is often entertained that persons who\n  become eminent for power in prayer and nearness of communion with\n  God, owe their attainments to natural excellence of character, or\n  to peculiarly favoring circumstances of early education. The\n  narrative of the youth of Mueller exhibits the fallaciousness of\n  this view, and shows that the attainments which he made are within\n  the reach of any one who will \"ask of God, that giveth to _all men\n  liberally_ and upbraideth not.\"--ED.]\n\nWhen I was between ten and eleven years of age I was sent to\nHalberstadt, there to be prepared for the university; for my father's\ndesire was that I should become a clergyman; not, indeed, that thus I\nmight serve God, but that I might have a comfortable living. My time was\nnow spent in studying, reading novels, and indulging, though so young,\nin sinful practices. Thus it continued till I was fourteen years old,\nwhen my mother was suddenly removed. The night she was dying, I, not\nknowing of her illness, was playing at cards till two in the morning,\nand on the next day, being the Lord's day, I went with some of my\ncompanions in sin to a tavern, and then we went about the streets half\nintoxicated.\n\nThis bereavement made no lasting impression on my mind. I grew worse and\nworse. Three or four days before I was confirmed, and thus admitted to\npartake of the Lord's Supper, I was guilty of gross immorality; and the\nvery day before my confirmation, when I was in the vestry with the\nclergyman to confess my sins, after a formal manner, I defrauded him;\nfor I handed over to him only the twelfth part of the fee which my\nfather had given me for him. In this state of heart, without prayer,\nwithout true repentance, without faith, without knowledge of the plan of\nsalvation, I was confirmed, and took the Lord's Supper, on the Sunday\nafter Easter, 1820. Yet I was not without some feeling about the\nsolemnity of the thing, and stayed at home in the afternoon and evening,\nwhilst the other boys and girls, who had been confirmed with me, walked\nabout in the fields.\n\nMy time till midsummer, 1821, was spent partly in study, but in a great\ndegree in playing the piano-forte and guitar, reading novels,\nfrequenting taverns, forming resolutions to become different, yet\nbreaking them almost as fast as they were made. My money was often spent\non my sinful pleasures, through which I was now and then brought into\ntrouble, so that once, to satisfy my hunger, I stole a piece of coarse\nbread, the allowance of a soldier who was quartered in the house where I\nlodged.\n\nAt midsummer, 1821, my father obtained an appointment at Schoenebeck,\nnear Magdeburg, and I embraced the opportunity of entreating him to\nremove me to the cathedral classical school of Magdeburg; for I thought\nthat if I could but leave my companions in sin, and get out of certain\nsnares, and be placed under other tutors, I should then live a different\nlife. My father consented, and I was allowed to leave Halberstadt, and\nto stay at Heimersleben till Michaelmas. Being thus quite my own master,\nI grew still more idle, and lived as much as before in all sorts of sin.\nWhen Michaelmas came, I persuaded my father to leave me at Heimersleben\ntill Easter, and to let me read the classics with a clergyman living in\nthe same place. I was now living on the premises belonging to my father,\nunder little real control, and intrusted with a considerable sum of\nmoney, which I had to collect for my father, from persons who owed it to\nhim. My habits soon led me to spend a considerable part of this money,\ngiving receipts for different sums, yet leaving my father to suppose I\nhad not received them.\n\nIn November, I went on a pleasure excursion to Magdeburg, where I spent\nsix days in much sin, and though my absence from home had been found out\nby my father before I returned from thence, yet I took all the money I\ncould obtain, and went to Brunswick, after I had, through a number of\nlies, obtained permission from my tutor. I spent a week at Brunswick,\nin an expensive hotel. At the end of the week my money was expended. I\nthen went, without money, to another hotel, in a village near Brunswick,\nwhere I spent another week in an expensive way of living. At last, the\nowner of the hotel, suspecting that I had no money, asked for payment,\nand I was obliged to leave my best clothes as security. I then walked\nabout six miles, to Wolfenbuttel, went to an inn, and began again to\nlive as if I had plenty of money. On the second or third morning I went\nquietly out of the yard, and then ran off; but being suspected and\nobserved, and therefore seen to go off, I was immediately called after,\nand so had to return. I was arrested, and being suspected to be a thief,\nwas examined for about three hours, and then sent to jail. I now found\nmyself, at the age of sixteen, an inmate of the same dwelling with\nthieves and murderers. I was locked up in this place day and night,\nwithout permission to leave my cell.\n\nI was in prison from Dec. 18, 1821, till January 12, 1822, when the\nkeeper told me to go with him to the police office. Here I found that\nthe commissioner before whom I had been tried, had acquainted my father\nwith my conduct; and thus I was kept in prison till my father sent the\nmoney which was needed for my travelling expenses, to pay my debt in the\ninn, and for my maintenance in the prison. So ungrateful was I now for\ncertain little kindnesses shown to me by a fellow-prisoner, that,\nalthough I had promised to call on his sister, to deliver a message from\nhim, I omitted to do so; and so little had I been benefited by this, my\nchastisement, that, though I was going home to meet an angry father,\nonly two hours after I had left the town where I had been imprisoned, I\nchose an avowedly wicked person as my travelling companion for a great\npart of my journey.\n\nMy father, who arrived two days after I had reached Heimersleben, after\nhaving severely beaten me, took me home to Schoenebeck, intending, at\nEaster, to send me to a classical school at Halle, that I might be under\nstrict discipline and the continual inspection of a tutor. Easter came,\nand I easily persuaded him to let me stay at home till Michaelmas. But\nafter that period he would not consent to my remaining any longer with\nhim, and I left home, pretending to go to Halle to be examined. But\nhaving a hearty dislike to the strict discipline of which I had heard, I\nwent to Nordhausen, and had myself examined to be received into that\nschool. I then went home, but never told my father a word of all this\ndeception till the day before my departure, which obliged me to invent a\nwhole chain of lies. He was then very angry; but at last, through my\nentreaties and persuasion, he gave way and allowed me to go. This was in\nOctober, 1822.\n\nI continued at Nordhausen two years and six months. During this time I\nstudied with considerable diligence the Latin classics, French, history,\nmy own language, etc.; but did little in Hebrew, Greek, and the\nmathematics. I lived in the house of the director, and got, through my\nconduct, highly into his favor, so much so that I was held up by him in\nthe first class as an example to the rest. I used now to rise regularly\nat four, winter and summer, and generally studied all the day, with\nlittle exception, till ten at night.\n\nBut whilst I was thus outwardly gaining the esteem of my\nfellow-creatures, I did not care in the least about God, but lived\nsecretly in much sin, in consequence of which I was taken ill, and for\nthirteen weeks confined to my room. During my illness I had no real\nsorrow of heart, yet, being under certain natural impressions of\nreligion, I read through Klopstock's works without weariness. I cared\nnothing about the word of God. I had about three hundred books of my\nown, but no Bible. Now and then I felt that I ought to become a\ndifferent person, and I tried to amend my conduct, particularly when I\nwent to the Lord's Supper, as I used to do twice every year, with the\nother young men. The day previous to attending that ordinance, I used to\nrefrain from certain things; and on the day itself I was serious, and\nalso swore once or twice to God, with the emblem of the broken body in\nmy mouth, to become better, thinking that for the oath's sake I should\nbe induced to reform. But after one or two days were over, all was\nforgotten, and I was as bad as before.\n\nAt Easter, 1825, I became a member of the University of Halle, and that\nwith very honorable testimonials. I thus obtained permission to preach\nin the Lutheran Establishment; but I was as truly unhappy and as far\nfrom God as ever. I had made strong resolutions now at last to change my\ncourse of life, for two reasons: first, because, without it, I thought\nno parish would choose me as their pastor; and secondly, that without a\nconsiderable knowledge of divinity I should never get a good living. But\nthe moment I entered Halle, the university town, all my resolutions came\nto nothing. Being now more than ever my own master, I renewed my\nprofligate life afresh, though now a student of _divinity_. Yet in the\nmidst of it all I had a desire to renounce this wretched life, for I had\nno enjoyment in it, and had sense enough left to see that the end, one\nday or other, would be miserable. But I had no sorrow of heart on\naccount of offending God.\n\nOne day, when I was in a tavern with some of my wild fellow-students, I\nsaw among them one of my former school-fellows, named Beta, whom I had\nknown four years before at Halberstadt, but whom at that time I had\ndespised, because he was so quiet and serious. It now appeared well to\nme to choose him as my friend, thinking that, if I could but have better\ncompanions, I should by that means improve my own conduct. \"_Cursed be\nthe man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm._\"\n\nThis Beta was a backslider. When formerly he was so quiet at school, I\nhave reason to believe it was because the Spirit of God was working on\nhis heart; but now, having departed from the Lord, he tried to put off\nthe ways of God more and more, and to enjoy the world of which he had\nknown but little before. _I_ sought his friendship, because I thought it\nwould lead me to a steady life; and _he_ gladly formed an acquaintance\nwith me, as he told me afterwards, because he thought it would bring him\ninto gay society.\n\nAt the commencement of August, Beta and I, with two other students,\ndrove about the country for four days. When we returned, instead of\nbeing truly sorry on account of this sin, we thought of fresh pleasures;\nand as my love for travelling was stronger than ever, through what I had\nseen on this last journey, I proposed to my friends to set off for\nSwitzerland. The obstacles in the way, the want of money, and the want\nof the passports, were removed by _me_. For, through forged letters from\nour parents, we procured passports, and through pledging all we could,\nparticularly our books, we obtained as much money as we thought would be\nenough. Forty-three days we were day after day travelling, almost always\non foot.\n\nI had now obtained the desire of my heart. I had seen Switzerland. But\nstill I was far from being happy. I was on this journey like Judas; for,\nhaving the common purse, I was a thief. I managed so that the journey\ncost me but two thirds of what it cost my friends. I had, by many lies,\nto satisfy my father concerning the travelling expenses. During the\nthree weeks I stayed at home, I determined to live differently for the\nfuture. I was different for a few days; but when the vacation was over,\nand fresh students came, and, with them, fresh money, all was soon\nforgotten.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\nTHE PRODIGAL'S RETURN.\n\n1825-1826.\n\n    A TREASURE FOUND--DAWNING OF THE NEW LIFE--THE PEACE OF GOD--\"I\n    AM COME TO SET A MAN AT VARIANCE AGAINST HIS FATHER\"--\"LET HIM\n    THAT HEARETH SAY, COME\"--THE FIRST SERMON--DELIGHT IN THE\n    LORD--A COMMON ERROR--THE FOUNTAIN NEGLECTED.\n\n\nThe time was now come when God would have mercy upon me. At a time when\nI was as careless about him as ever, he sent his Spirit into my heart. I\nhad no Bible, and had not read in it for years. I went to church but\nseldom; but, from custom, I took the Lord's Supper twice a year. I had\nnever heard the gospel preached. I had never met with a person who told\nme that he meant, by the help of God, to live according to the Holy\nScriptures. In short, I had not the least idea that there were any\npersons really different from myself, except in degree.\n\nOn Saturday afternoon, about the middle of November, 1825, I had taken a\nwalk with my friend Beta. On our return he said to me that he was in the\nhabit of going on Saturday evenings to the house of a Christian, where\nthere was a meeting. On further inquiry, he told me that they read the\nBible, sang, prayed, and read a printed sermon. No sooner had I heard\nthis than it was to me as if I had found something after which I had\nbeen seeking all my life long. We went together in the evening. As I did\nnot know the manners of believers, and the joy they have in seeing poor\nsinners, even in any measure, caring about the things of God, I made an\napology for coming. The kind answer of the dear brother I shall never\nforget. He said: \"Come as often as you please; house and heart are open\nto you.\" We sat down and sang a hymn. Then brother Kayser, now a\nmissionary in Africa, fell on his knees and asked a blessing on our\nmeeting. This kneeling down made a deep impression upon me; for I had\nnever either seen any one on his knees, nor had I ever myself prayed on\nmy knees. He then read a chapter and a printed sermon; for no regular\nmeetings for expounding the Scriptures were allowed in Prussia, except\nan ordained clergyman was present. At the close we sang another hymn,\nand then the master of the house prayed. Whilst he prayed, my feeling\nwas something like this: \"I could not pray as well, though I am much\nmore learned than this illiterate man.\" The whole made a deep impression\non me. I was happy; though, if I had been asked why I was happy, I could\nnot have clearly explained it.\n\nWhen we walked home, I said to Beta: \"All we have seen on our journey to\nSwitzerland, and all our former pleasures, are as nothing in comparison\nwith this evening.\" Whether I fell on my knees when I returned home, I\ndo not remember; but this I know, that I lay peaceful and happy in my\nbed. This shows that the Lord may begin his work in different ways. For\nI have not the least doubt that on that evening he began a work of grace\nin me, though I obtained joy without any deep sorrow of heart, and with\nscarcely any knowledge. But that evening was the turning-point in my\nlife. The next day, and Monday, and once or twice besides, I went again\nto the house of this brother, where I read the Scriptures with him and\nanother brother; for it was too long for me to wait till Saturday came\nagain.\n\nNow my life became very different, though not so that all sins were\ngiven up at once. My wicked companions were given up; the going to\ntaverns was entirely discontinued; the habitual practice of telling\nfalsehoods was no longer indulged in; but still a few times after this I\nspoke an untruth. I read the Scriptures, prayed often, loved the\nbrethren, went to church from right motives, and stood on the side of\nChrist, though laughed at by my fellow-students.\n\nIn January, 1826, I began to read missionary papers, and was greatly\nstirred up to become a missionary myself. I prayed frequently concerning\nthis matter, and thus made more decided progress for a few weeks. About\nEaster, 1826, I saw a devoted young brother, named Hermann Ball, a\nlearned man, and of wealthy parents, who, constrained by the love of\nChrist, preferred laboring in Poland among the Jews as a missionary to\nhaving a comfortable living near his relations. His example made a deep\nimpression on me. The Lord smiled on me, and I was, for the first time\nin my life, able fully and unreservedly to give up myself to him.\n\nAt this time I began truly to enjoy the peace of God which passeth all\nunderstanding. In my joy I wrote to my father and brother, entreating\nthem to seek the Lord, and telling them how happy I was; thinking that,\nif the way to happiness were but set before them, they would gladly\nembrace it. To my great surprise an angry answer was returned. About\nthis period the Lord sent a believer, Dr. Tholuck, as professor of\ndivinity to Halle, in consequence of which a few believing students came\nfrom other universities. Thus also, through becoming acquainted with\nother brethren, the Lord led me on.\n\nMy former desire to give myself to missionary service returned, and I\nwent at last to my father to obtain his permission, without which I\ncould not be received into any of the German missionary institutions. My\nfather was greatly displeased, and particularly reproached me, saying\nthat he had expended so much money on my education, in hope that he\nmight comfortably spend his last days with me in a parsonage, and that\nhe now saw all these prospects come to nothing. He was angry, and told\nme he would no longer consider me as his son. But the Lord gave me grace\nto remain steadfast. He then entreated me, and wept before me; yet even\nthis by far harder trial the Lord enabled me to bear. After I had left\nmy father, though I wanted more money than at any previous period of my\nlife, as I had to remain two years longer in the university, I\ndetermined never to take any more from him; for it seemed to me wrong,\nso far as I remember, to suffer myself to be supported by him, when he\nhad no prospect that I should become what he would wish me to be,\nnamely, a clergyman with a good living. This resolution I was enabled to\nkeep.\n\nShortly after this had occurred, several American gentlemen, three of\nwhom were professors in American colleges, came to Halle for literary\npurposes, and, as they did not understand German, I was recommended by\nDr. Tholuck to teach them. These gentlemen, some of whom were believers,\npaid so handsomely for the instruction which I gave them, and for the\nlectures of certain professors which I wrote out for them, that I had\nenough and to spare. Thus did the Lord richly make up to me the little\nwhich I had relinquished for his sake. \"_O fear the Lord, ye his saints;\nfor there is no want to them that fear him._\"\n\nWhitsuntide, and the two days following, I spent in the house of a pious\nclergyman in the country; for all the ministers at Halle, a town of more\nthan twenty thousand inhabitants, were unenlightened men. God greatly\nrefreshed me through this visit. Dear Beta was with me. On our return we\nrelated to two of our former friends, whose society we had not quite\ngiven up, though we did not any longer live with them in sin, how happy\nwe had been on our visit. I then told them how I wished they were as\nhappy as ourselves. They answered, We do not feel that we are sinners.\nAfter this I fell on my knees, and asked God to show them that they were\nsinners. Having done so, I went into my bedroom, where I continued to\npray for them. After a little while, I returned to my sitting-room and\nfound them both in tears, and both told me that they now felt themselves\nto be sinners. From that time a work of grace commenced in their hearts.\n\nThough very weak and ignorant, yet I had now, by the grace of God, some\ndesire to benefit others, and he who so faithfully had once served\nSatan, sought now to win souls for Christ. I circulated every month\nabout three hundred missionary papers. I also distributed a considerable\nnumber of tracts, and often took my pockets full in my walks, and\ndistributed them, and spoke to poor people whom I met. I also wrote\nletters to some of my former companions in sin. I visited, for thirteen\nweeks, a sick man, who, when I first began to speak to him about the\nthings of God, was completely ignorant of his state as a sinner,\ntrusting for salvation in his upright and moral life. After some weeks,\nhowever, the Lord allowed me to see a decided change in him, and he\nafterwards repeatedly expressed his gratitude that I had been sent to\nhim by God to be the means of opening his blind eyes.\n\nHaving heard that there was a schoolmaster living in a village about six\nmiles from Halle, who was in the habit of holding a prayer meeting at\nfour o'clock every morning, with the miners, before they went into the\npit, giving them also an address, I thought he was a believer; and as I\nknew so very few brethren, I went to see him, in order, if it might be,\nto strengthen his hands. About two years afterwards, he told me that\nwhen I came to him first he knew not the Lord, but that he had held\nthese prayer meetings merely out of kindness to a relative, whose office\nit was, but who had gone on a journey; and that those addresses which\nhe had read were not his own, but copied out of a book. He also told me\nthat he was much impressed with my kindness, and what he considered\ncondescension on my part in coming to see him, and this, together with\nmy conversation, had been instrumental in leading him to care about the\nthings of God, and I knew him ever afterwards as a true brother.\n\nThis schoolmaster asked me whether I would not preach in his parish, as\nthe aged clergyman would be very glad of my assistance. Up to this time\nI had never preached; yet I thought that by taking a sermon, or the\ngreater part of one, written by a spiritual man, and committing it to\nmemory, I might benefit the people. I set about putting a printed sermon\ninto a suitable form, and committing it to memory. There is no joy in\nman's own doings and choosings. I got through it, but had no enjoyment\nin the work. It was on August 27, 1826, at eight in the morning, in a\nchapel of ease. There was one service more, in the afternoon, at which I\nneeded not to have done anything; but having a desire to serve the Lord,\nthough I often knew not how to do it scripturally, and knowing that this\naged and unenlightened clergyman had had this living for forty-eight\nyears, and having therefore reason to believe that the gospel scarcely\never had been preached in that place, I had it in my heart to preach\nagain in the afternoon. It came to my mind to read the fifth chapter of\nMatthew, and to make such remarks as I was able. I did so. Immediately\nupon beginning to expound \"Blessed are the poor in spirit,\" etc., I felt\nmyself greatly assisted; and whereas in the morning my sermon had not\nbeen simple enough for the people to understand it, I now was listened\nto with the greatest attention, and I think was also understood. My own\npeace and joy were great. I felt this a blessed work.\n\nOn my way to Halle I thought, this is the way I should like always to\npreach. But then it came immediately to my mind that such sort of\npreaching might do for illiterate country people, but that it never\nwould do before a well-educated assembly in town. I thought the truth\nought to be preached at all hazards, but it ought to be given in a\ndifferent form, suited to the hearers. Thus I remained unsettled in my\nmind as it regards the mode of preaching; and it is not surprising that\nI did not then see the truth concerning this matter, for I did not\nunderstand the work of the Spirit, and therefore saw not the\npowerlessness of human eloquence. Further, I did not keep in mind that\nif the most illiterate persons in the congregation can comprehend the\ndiscourse, the most educated will understand it too; but that the\nreverse does not hold true.\n\nIt was not till three years afterwards that I was led, through grace, to\nsee what I now consider the right mode of preparation for the public\npreaching of the word. But about this, if God permit, I will say more\nwhen I come to that period of my life.\n\nIt was about this time that I formed the plan of exchanging the\nUniversity of Halle for that of Berlin, on account of there being a\ngreater number of believing professors and students in the latter place.\nBut the whole plan was formed without prayer, or at least without\nearnest prayer. When, however, the morning came on which I had to apply\nfor the university testimonials, the Lord graciously stirred me up\nprayerfully to consider the matter; and finding that I had no sufficient\nreason for leaving Halle, I gave up the plan, and have never had reason\nto regret having done so.\n\nThe public means of grace by which I could be benefited were very few.\nThough I went regularly to church when I did not preach myself, yet I\nscarcely ever heard the truth; for there was no enlightened clergyman in\nthe town. And when it so happened that I could hear Dr. Tholuck, or any\nother godly minister, the prospect of it beforehand, and the looking\nback upon it afterwards, served to fill me with joy. _Now and then I\nwalked ten or fifteen miles to enjoy this privilege._\n\nAnother means of grace which I attended, besides the Saturday-evening\nmeetings in brother Wagner's house, was a meeting every Lord's-day\nevening with the believing students, six or more in number, increased,\nbefore I left Halle, to about twenty. In these meetings, one or two, or\nmore, of the brethren prayed, and we read the Scriptures, sang hymns,\nand sometimes also one or another of the brethren spoke a little in the\nway of exhortation, and we read also such writings of godly men as were\ncalculated for edification. I was often greatly stirred up and refreshed\nin these meetings; and twice, being in a backsliding state, and\ntherefore cold and miserable, I opened my heart to the brethren, and was\nbrought out of that state through the means of their exhortations and\nprayers.\n\nAs to the other means of grace, I would say, I fell into the snare into\nwhich so many young believers fall, the reading of religious books in\npreference to the Scriptures. I read tracts, missionary papers, sermons,\nand biographies of godly persons. I never had been at any time of my\nlife in the habit of reading the Holy Scriptures. When under fifteen\nyears of age, I occasionally read a little of them at school; afterwards\nGod's precious book was entirely laid aside, so that I never read one\nsingle chapter of it till it pleased God to begin a work of grace in my\nheart. Now the scriptural way of reasoning would have been: God himself\nhas consented to be an author, and I am ignorant about that precious\nbook, which his Holy Spirit has caused to be written through the\ninstrumentality of his servants, and it contains that which I ought to\nknow, the knowledge of which will lead me to true happiness; therefore I\nought to read again and again this most precious book of books, most\nearnestly, most prayerfully, and with much meditation; and in this\npractice I ought to continue all the days of my life. But instead of\nacting thus, my difficulty in understanding it, and the little enjoyment\nI had in it, made me careless of reading it; and thus, like many\nbelievers, I practically preferred, for the first four years of my\ndivine life, the works of uninspired men to the oracles of the living\nGod. The consequence was, that I remained a babe, both in knowledge and\ngrace.\n\nThe last and most important means of grace, prayer, was comparatively\nbut little used by me. I prayed, and prayed often, and in general, by\nthe grace of God, with sincerity; but had I prayed as earnestly as I\nhave of late years, I should have made much more rapid progress.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\nSELF-DEDICATION.\n\n1826-1829.\n\n    DESIRE FOR MISSIONARY LABOR--PROVIDENTIAL RELEASE FROM MILITARY\n    SERVICE--VISIT AT HOME--LED TO THE LAND OF HIS FUTURE\n    LABORS--PROGRESS IN RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE--DESIRE FOR IMMEDIATE\n    USEFULNESS.\n\n\nIn August, 1827, I heard that the Continental Society in England\nintended to send a minister to Bucharest, the residence of many nominal\nGerman Christians, to help an aged brother in the work of the Lord.\nAfter consideration and prayer, I offered myself for this work to\nProfessor Tholuck, who was requested to look out for a suitable\nindividual; for with all my weakness I had a great desire to live wholly\nfor God. Most unexpectedly my father gave his consent, though Bucharest\nwas above a thousand miles from my home, and as completely a missionary\nstation as any other. I now prepared with earnestness for the work of\nthe Lord. I set before me the sufferings which might await me. And he\nwho once so fully served Satan was now willing, constrained by the love\nof Christ, rather to suffer affliction for the sake of Jesus than to\nenjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. I also prayed with a degree of\nearnestness concerning my future work.\n\nOne day, at the end of October, the above-mentioned brother, Hermann\nBall, missionary to the Jews, stated that he feared, on account of his\nhealth, he should be obliged to give up laboring among the Jews. When I\nheard this, I felt a peculiar desire to fill up his place. About this\nvery time, also, I became exceedingly fond of the Hebrew language, which\nI had cared about very little up to that time, and which I had merely\nstudied now and then, from a sense of duty. But now I studied it, for\nmany weeks, with the greatest eagerness and delight. Whilst I thus from\ntime to time felt a desire to fill up brother Ball's place, and whilst I\nthus greatly delighted in the study of Hebrew, I called, in the evening\nof November 17, on Dr. Tholuck. In the course of conversation he asked\nme whether I had ever had a desire to be a missionary to the Jews, as I\nmight be connected with the London Missionary Society for promoting\nChristianity among them, for which he was an agent. I was struck with\nthe question, and told him what had passed in my mind, but added that it\nwas not proper to think anything about that, as I was going to\nBucharest; to which he agreed.\n\nWhen I came home, however, these few words were like fire within me. The\nnext morning I felt all desire for going to Bucharest gone, which\nappeared to me very wrong and fleshly, and I therefore entreated the\nLord to restore to me the former desire for laboring on that missionary\nstation. He graciously did so almost immediately. My earnestness in\nstudying Hebrew, and my peculiar love for it, however, continued.\n\nAbout ten days after, Dr. Tholuck received a letter from the\nContinental. Society, stating, that on account of the war between the\nTurks and Russians, it appeared well to the committee for the time being\nto give up the thought of sending a minister to Bucharest, as it was the\nseat of war between the two armies. Dr. Tholuck then asked me again what\nI now thought about being a missionary to the Jews. My reply was that I\ncould not then give an answer, but that I would let him know, after I\nhad prayerfully considered the matter. After prayer and consideration,\nand consulting with experienced brethren, in order that they might probe\nmy heart as to my motives, I came to this conclusion, that I ought to\noffer myself to the committee, leaving it with the Lord to do with me\nafterwards as it might seem good in his sight. Accordingly, Dr. Tholuck\nwrote, about the beginning of December, 1827, to the committee in\nLondon.\n\nIt was not before March, 1828, that he received an answer from London\nrespecting me, in which the committee put a number of questions to me,\non the satisfactory answers to which my being received by them would\ndepend. After replying to this first communication, I waited daily for\nan answer, and was so much the more desirous of having it, as my course\nin the university was completed. At last, on June 13, I received a\nletter from London, stating that the committee had determined to take me\nas a missionary student for six months on probation, provided that I\nwould come to London.\n\nI had now had the matter before me about seven months, having supposed\nnot only that it would have been settled in a few weeks, but also, that,\nif I were accepted, I should be sent out immediately, as I had passed\nthe university. Instead of this, not only seven months passed over\nbefore the decision came, but I was also expected to come to London; and\nnot only so, but though I had from my infancy been more or less\nstudying, and now at last wished actively to be engaged, it was required\nthat I should again become a student. For a few moments, therefore, I\nwas greatly disappointed and tried. But on calmly considering the\nmatter, it appeared to me but right that the committee should know me\npersonally, and that it was also well for me to know them more\nintimately than merely by correspondence, as this afterwards would make\nour connection much more comfortable. I determined, therefore, after I\nhad seen my father, and found no difficulty on his part, to go to\nLondon.\n\nThere was, however, an obstacle in the way of my leaving the country.\nEvery Prussian male subject is under the necessity of being for three\nyears a soldier, provided his state of body allows it; but those who\nhave had a classical education up to a certain degree, and especially\nthose who have passed the university, need to be only one year in the\narmy, but have to equip and maintain themselves during that year. I\ncould not obtain a passport out of the country till I had either served\nmy time or had been exempted by the king himself. The latter I hoped\nwould be the case; for it was a well-known fact that those who had given\nthemselves to missionary service had always been exempted. Certain\nbrethren of influence, living in the capital, to whom I wrote on the\nsubject, wrote to the king; but he replied that the matter must be\nreferred to the ministry and to the law, and no exception was made in my\nfavor.\n\nMy chief concern now was how I might obtain a passport for England,\nthrough exemption from military duty. But the more certain brethren\ntried, though they knew how to set about the matter, and were also\npersons of rank, the greater difficulty there appeared to be in\nobtaining my object; so that in the middle of January, 1829, it seemed\nas if I must immediately become a soldier. There was now but one more\nway untried, and it was at last resorted to. A believing major, who was\non good terms with one of the chief generals, proposed that I should\nactually offer myself for entering the army, and that then I should be\nexamined as to my bodily qualifications, in the hope that, as I was\nstill in a very weak state of body, I should be found unfit for military\nservice. In that case it would belong to the chief general finally to\nsettle the matter; who, being a godly man himself, on the major's\nrecommendation, would, no doubt, hasten the decision, on account of my\ndesire to be a missionary to the Jews.\n\nThus far the Lord had allowed things to go, to show me, it appears, that\nall my friends could not procure me a passport till his time was come.\nBut now it was come. The King of kings had intended that I should go to\nEngland, because he would bless me there and make me a blessing, though\nI was at that time, and am still, most unworthy of it; and, therefore,\nthough the king of Prussia had not been pleased to make an exemption in\nmy favor, yet now all was made plain, and that at a time when hope had\nalmost been given up, and when the last means had been resorted to. I\nwas examined, and was declared to be unfit for military service. With a\nmedical certificate to this effect, and a letter of recommendation from\nthe major, I went to this chief general, who received me very kindly,\nand who himself wrote instantaneously to a second military physician,\nlikewise to examine me _at once_. This was done, and it was by him\nconfirmed that I was unfit. Now, the chief general himself, as his\nadjutants happened to be absent, in order to hasten the matter, wrote,\nwith his own hands, the papers which were needed, and I got a complete\ndismissal, and that for life, from all military engagements.\n\nOn February 5 I arrived at my father's house; it was the place where I\nhad lived as a boy, and the scene of many of my sins, my father having\nnow returned to it after his retirement from office. There were but\nthree persons in the whole town with whom my soul had any fellowship.\nOne of them was earning his daily bread by thrashing corn. As a boy I\nhad in my heart laughed at him. Now I sought him out, having been\ninformed that he was a brother, to acknowledge him as such, by having\nfellowship with him, and attending a meeting in his house on the\nLord's-day evening. My soul was refreshed, and his also. Such a\nspiritual feast as meeting with a brother was a rare thing to him.\n\nI left my father's house on February 10, and about February 22 arrived\nat Rotterdam. My going to England by the way of Rotterdam was not the\nusual way; but, consulting with a brother in Berlin, who had been twice\nin England, I was told that this was the cheapest route. My asking this\nbrother, to be profited by his experience, would have been quite right,\nhad I, besides this, like Ezra, sought of the Lord the right way.[12]\nBut I sought unto men only, and not at all unto the Lord, in this\nmatter. When I came to Rotterdam, I found that no vessels went at that\ntime from that port to London, on account of the ice having just broken\nup in the river. Thus I had to wait nearly a month at Rotterdam, and\nneeded much more time than I should have required to go by way of\nHamburg, and also much more money.\n\n  [Footnote 12: Then I proclaimed a fast, to seek of God a right way\n  for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.--Ezra\n  viii. 21.]\n\nOn March 19, 1829, I landed in London. Soon after my arrival, I heard\none of the brethren speak of Mr. Groves, a dentist, who, for the Lord's\nsake, had given up his profession, which brought him in at least\nL1,500[13] a year, and who intended to go as a missionary to Persia,\nwith his wife and children, simply trusting in the Lord for temporal\nsupplies. This made such an impression on me, and delighted me so, that\nI not only marked it down in my journal, but also wrote about it to my\nGerman friends.\n\n  [Footnote 13: To avoid the necessity of reducing the sums named to\n  federal money, it may be stated that a pound (L.) is equal to\n  about $4.88, a sovereign to the same, a shilling (s.) to about 28\n  cts. and a penny (d.) to 2 cts. For convenience of computation,\n  when exactness is not required, we may call the pound $5.00, and\n  the shilling 25 cts.--ED.]\n\nI came to England weak in body, and, in consequence of much study, as I\nsuppose, I was taken ill on May 15, and was soon, at least in my own\nestimation, apparently beyond recovery. The weaker I became in body, the\nhappier I was in spirit. Never in my whole life had I seen myself so\nvile, so guilty, so altogether what I ought not to have been, as at this\ntime. It was as if every sin of which I had been guilty was brought to\nmy remembrance; but at the same time I could realize that all my sins\nwere completely forgiven,--that I was washed and made clean, completely\nclean, in the blood of Jesus. The result of this was great peace. I\nlonged exceedingly to depart and be with Christ. When my medical\nattendant came to see me, my prayer was something like this: \"Lord, thou\nknowest that he does not know what is for my real welfare, therefore do\nthou direct him.\" When I took my medicine, my hearty prayer each time\nwas something like this: \"Lord, thou knowest that this medicine is in\nitself nothing, no more than as if I were to take a little water. Now\nplease, O Lord, to let it produce the effect which is for my real\nwelfare, and for thy glory. Let me either be taken soon to thyself, or\nlet me be soon restored; let me be ill for a longer time, and then taken\nto thyself, or let me be ill for a longer time, and then restored. O\nLord, do with me as seemeth thee best!\"\n\nAfter I had been ill about a fortnight, my medical attendant\nunexpectedly pronounced me better. As I recovered but slowly, my friends\nentreated me to go into the country for change of air. I thought that it\nmight be the will of God that I should do so, and I prayed therefore\nthus to the Lord: \"Lord, I will gladly submit myself to thy will, and\ngo, if thou wilt have me to go. And now let me know thy will by the\nanswer of my medical attendant. If, in reply to my question, he says it\nwould be very good for me, I will go; but if he, says it is of no great\nimportance, then I will stay.\" When I asked him, he said that it was the\nbest thing I could do. I was then enabled willingly to submit, and\naccordingly went to Teignmouth.\n\nA few days after my arrival at Teignmouth, the chapel, called Ebenezer,\nwas reopened, and I attended the opening. I was much impressed by one of\nthose who preached on the occasion. For though I did not like all he\nsaid, yet I saw a gravity and solemnity in him different from the rest.\nAfter he had preached, I had a great desire to know more of him; and,\nbeing invited by two brethren of Exmouth, in whose house he was staying,\nto spend some time with them, I had an opportunity of living ten days\nwith him under the same roof. It was at this time that God began to show\nme that his word alone is our standard of judgment in spiritual things;\nthat it can be explained only by the Holy Spirit; and that in our day,\nas well as in former times, he is the teacher of his people. The office\nof the Holy Spirit I had not experimentally understood before that time.\nIndeed, of the office of each of the blessed persons, in what is\ncommonly called the Trinity, I had no experimental apprehension. I had\nnot before seen from the Scriptures that the Father chose us before the\nfoundation of the world; that in him that wonderful plan of our\nredemption originated, and that he also appointed all the means by which\nit was to be brought about. Further, that the Son, to save us, had\nfulfilled the law, to satisfy its demands, and with it also the holiness\nof God; that he had borne the punishment due to our sins, and had thus\nsatisfied the justice of God. And, further, that the Holy Spirit alone\ncan teach us about our state by nature, show us the need of a Saviour,\nenable us to believe in Christ, explain to us the Scriptures, help us in\npreaching, etc. It was my beginning to understand this latter point in\nparticular which had a great effect on me; for the Lord enabled me to\nput it to the test of experience, by laying aside commentaries, and\nalmost every other book, and simply reading the word of God and studying\nit. The result of this was, that the first evening that I shut myself\ninto my room, to give myself to prayer and meditation over the\nScriptures, I learned more in a few hours than I had done during a\nperiod of several months previously. _But the particular difference was,\nthat I received real strength for my soul in doing so._ I now began to\ntry by the test of the Scriptures the things which I had learned and\nseen, and found that only those principles which stood the test were\nreally of value.\n\nMy stay in Devonshire was most profitable to my soul. My prayer had\nbeen, before I left London, that the Lord would be pleased to bless my\njourney to the benefit of my body and soul. In the beginning of\nSeptember I returned to London, much better in body; and as to my soul,\nthe change was so great that it was like a second conversion. After my\nreturn to London, I sought to benefit my brethren in the seminary, and\nthe means which I used were these: I proposed to them to meet together\nevery morning from six to eight for prayer and reading the Scriptures;\nand that then each of us should give out what he might consider the Lord\nhad shown him to be the meaning of the portion read. One brother in\nparticular was brought into the same state as myself; and others, I\ntrust, were more or less benefited. Several times, when I went to my\nroom after family prayer in the evening, I found communion with God so\nsweet that I continued in prayer till after twelve, and then, being full\nof joy, went into the room of the brother just referred to; and finding\nhim also in a similar frame of heart, we continued praying until one or\ntwo; and even then I was a few times so full of joy that I could\nscarcely sleep, and at six in the morning again called the brethren\ntogether for prayer.\n\nAfter I had been for about ten days in London, and had been confined to\nthe house on account of my studies, my health began again to decline;\nand I saw that it would not be well, my poor body being only like a\nwreck or brand brought out of the devil's service, to spend my little\nremaining strength in study, but that I now ought to set about actual\nengagement in the Lord's work. I wrote to the committee of the Society,\nrequesting them to send me out at once; and, that they might do so more\ncomfortably, to send me as a fellow-laborer with an experienced brother.\nHowever, I received no answer.\n\nAfter having waited about five or six weeks, in the mean time seeking,\nin one way or other, to labor for the Lord, it struck me that,\nconsidering myself called by the Lord to preach the gospel, I ought to\nbegin at once to labor among the Jews in London, whether I had the title\nof missionary or not. In consequence of this, I distributed tracts among\nthe Jews, with my name and residence written on them, thus inviting them\nto conversation about the things of God; preached to them in those\nplaces where they most numerously collect together; read the Scriptures\nregularly with about fifty Jewish boys; and became a teacher in a Sunday\nschool. In this work I had much enjoyment, and the honor of being\nreproached and ill-treated for the name of Jesus. But the Lord gave me\ngrace, never to be kept from the work by any danger, or the prospect of\nany suffering.\n\n    Mr. Mueller was led, toward the close of 1829, to doubt the\n    propriety of continuing under the patronage of the London\n    Society. It seemed to him unscriptural for a servant of Christ\n    to put himself under the control and direction of any one but\n    the Lord. A correspondence with the Society, evincing on his\n    part, and on their part, entire kindness and love, resulted in a\n    dissolution of his relation to them. He was left free to preach\n    the gospel wherever Providence might open the way.\n\nOn December 30, I went to Exmouth, where I intended to spend a fortnight\nin the house of some Christian friends. I arrived at Exmouth on December\n31, at six in the evening, an hour before the commencement of a\nprayer-meeting at Ebenezer Chapel. My heart was burning with a desire to\ntell of the Lord's goodness to my soul. Being, however, not called on,\neither to speak or pray, I was silent. The next morning, I spoke on the\ndifference between being _a Christian_ and _a happy Christian_, and\nshowed whence it generally comes that we rejoice so little in the Lord.\nThis, my first testimony, was blessed to many believers, that God, as it\nappears, might show me that he was with me. At the request of several\nbelievers, I spoke again in the afternoon, and also proposed a meeting\nin the chapel every morning at ten, to expound the epistle to the\nRomans. The second day after my arrival, a brother said to me, \"I have\nbeen praying for this month past that the Lord would do something for\nLympstone, a large parish where there is little spiritual light. There\nis a Wesleyan chapel, and I doubt not you would be allowed to preach\nthere.\" Being ready to speak of Jesus wherever the Lord might open a\ndoor, yet so that I could be faithful to the truths which he had been\npleased to teach me, I went, and easily obtained liberty to preach twice\non the next day, being the Lord's day.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV.\n\nLEANING ON JESUS.\n\n1830-1832.\n\n    A DOOR OPENED--TOKENS FOR GOOD--TRUST EXERCISED IN THE STUDY AND\n    MINISTRY OF THE WORD--THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT--TRUSTING IN GOD\n    FOR DAILY BREAD--BLESSEDNESS OF WAITING UPON THE LORD--\"OWE NO\n    MAN\"--\"ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH BE IT UNTO YOU\"--THE GIFT OF\n    FAITH, AND THE GRACE OF FAITH.\n\n\nAfter I had preached about three weeks at Exmouth and its neighborhood,\nI went to Teignmouth, with the intention of staying there ten days, to\npreach the word among the brethren with whom I had become acquainted\nduring the previous summer, and to tell them of the Lord's goodness to\nme. In the evening, Monday, I preached for Brother Craik, at Shaldon, in\nthe presence of three ministers, none of whom liked the sermon; yet it\npleased God, through it, to bring to the knowledge of his dear Son a\nyoung woman. How differently does the Lord judge from man! Here was a\nparticular opportunity for the Lord to get glory to himself. A foreigner\nwas the preacher, with great natural obstacles in the way, for he was\nnot able to speak English with fluency; but he had a desire to serve\nGod, and was by this time also brought into such a state of heart as to\ndesire that God alone should have the glory, if any good were done\nthrough his instrumentality.\n\nOn Tuesday evening, I preached at Ebenezer Chapel, Teignmouth, the same\nchapel at the opening of which I became acquainted with the brother whom\nthe Lord had afterwards used as an instrument of benefiting me so much.\n\n    During the week ensuing, Mr. M. preached almost daily at the\n    same place, a blessing attending his labors.\n\nBy this time, the request that I might stay at Teignmouth, and be the\nminister of the above chapel, had been repeatedly expressed by an\nincreasing number of the brethren; but others were decidedly against my\nremaining there. This opposition was instrumental in settling it in my\nmind that I should stay for a while, at least until I was formally\nrejected.\n\nI preached again three times on the Lord's day, none saying we wish you\nnot to preach, though many of the hearers did not hear with enjoyment.\nSome of them left, and never returned; some left, but returned after a\nwhile. Others came to the chapel who had not been in the habit of\nattending there previous to my coming. There was a great stir, a spirit\nof inquiry, and a searching of the Scriptures, whether these things were\nso. And, what is more than all, God set his seal upon the work, in\nconverting sinners. Twelve weeks I stood in this same position, whilst\nthe Lord graciously supplied my temporal wants, through two brethren,\nunasked for. After this time, the whole little church, eighteen in\nnumber, unanimously gave me an invitation to become their pastor. They\noffered to supply my temporal wants by giving me fifty-five pounds a\nyear, which sum was afterwards somewhat increased, on account of the\nincrease of the church.\n\nThat which I now considered the best mode of preparation for the public\nministry of the word, no longer adopted from necessity, on account of\nwant of time, but from deep conviction, and from the experience of God's\nblessing upon it, both as it regards my own enjoyment, the benefit of\nthe saints, and the conversion of sinners, is as follows: First, I do\nnot presume to know myself what is best for the hearers, and I therefore\nask the Lord, in the first place, that he would graciously be pleased to\nteach me on what subject I shall speak, or what portion of his word I\nshall expound. Now, sometimes it happens that, previous to my asking\nhim, a subject or passage has been in my mind, on which it has appeared\nwell for me to speak. In that case, I ask the Lord whether I should\nspeak on this subject or passage. If, after prayer, I feel persuaded\nthat I should, I fix upon it, yet so that I would desire to leave myself\nopen to the Lord to change it if he please. Frequently, however, it\noccurs that I have no text or subject in my mind, before I give myself\nto prayer for the sake of ascertaining the Lord's will concerning it. In\nthis case, I wait some time on my knees for an answer, trying to listen\nto the voice of the Spirit to direct me. If, then, a passage or subject,\nwhilst I am on my knees, or after I have finished praying for a text, is\nbrought to my mind, I again ask the Lord, and that sometimes repeatedly,\nespecially if, humanly speaking, the subject or text should be a\npeculiar one, whether it be his will that I should speak on such a\nsubject or passage. If, after prayer, my mind is peaceful about it, I\ntake this to be the text, but still desire to leave myself open to the\nLord for direction, should he please to alter it, or should I have been\nmistaken. Frequently, also, in the third place, it happens that I not\nonly have no text nor subject on my mind previous to my praying for\nguidance in this matter, but also I do not obtain one after once, or\ntwice, or more times praying about it. I used formerly at times to be\nmuch perplexed when this was the case, but, for more than twenty years,\nit has pleased the Lord, in general at least, to keep me in peace about\nit. What I do is, to go on with my regular reading of the Scriptures,\nwhere I left off the last time, praying (whilst I read) for a text, now\nand then also laying aside my Bible for prayer, till I get one. Thus it\nhas happened that I have had to read five, ten, yea, twenty chapters,\nbefore it has pleased the Lord to give me a text; yea, many times I have\neven had to go to the place of meeting without one, and obtained it,\nperhaps, only a few minutes before I was going to speak; but I have\nnever lacked the Lord's assistance at the time of preaching, provided I\nhad earnestly sought it in private. The preacher cannot know the\nparticular state of the various individuals who compose the\ncongregation, nor what they require, but the Lord knows it; and if the\npreacher renounces his own wisdom, he will be assisted by the Lord; but\nif he will choose in his own wisdom, then let him not be surprised if he\nshould see little benefit result from his labors.\n\nBefore I leave this part of the subject, I would just observe one\ntemptation concerning the choice of a text. We may see a subject to be\nso very full that it may strike us it would do for some other occasion.\nFor instance, sometimes a text brought to one's mind for a week-evening\nmeeting may appear more suitable for the Lord's day, because then there\nwould be a greater number of hearers present. Now, in the first place,\nwe do not know whether the Lord ever will allow us to preach on another\nLord's day; and, in the second place, we know not whether that very\nsubject may not be especially suitable for some or many individuals\npresent just that week-evening. Thus I was once tempted, after I had\nbeen a short time at Teignmouth, to reserve a subject which had been\njust opened to me for the next Lord's day. But being able, by the grace\nof God, to overcome the temptation by the above reasons, and preaching\nabout it at once, it pleased the Lord to bless it to the conversion of\na sinner, and that, too, an individual who meant to come but that once\nmore to the chapel, and to whose case the subject was most remarkably\nsuited.\n\n2. Now, when the text has been obtained in the above way, whether it be\none, or two, or more verses, or a whole chapter or more, I ask the Lord\nthat he would graciously be pleased to teach me by his Holy Spirit\nwhilst meditating over it. Within the last twenty-five years, I have\nfound it the most profitable plan to meditate with my pen in my hand,\nwriting down the outlines as the word is opened to me. This I do, not\nfor the sake of committing them to memory, nor as if I meant to say\nnothing else, but for the sake of clearness, as being a help to see how\nfar I understand the passage. I also find it useful afterwards to refer\nto what I have thus written. I very seldom use any other help besides\nthe little I understand of the original of the Scriptures, and some good\ntranslations in other languages. My chief help is prayer. I have NEVER\nin my life begun to study one single part of divine truth without\ngaining some light about it when I have been able really to give myself\nto prayer and meditation over it. But _that_ I have often found a\ndifficult matter, partly on account of the weakness of the flesh, and\npartly, also, on account of bodily infirmities and multiplicity of\nengagements. This I most firmly believe, that no one ought to expect to\nsee much good resulting from his labors in word and doctrine, if he is\nnot much given to prayer and meditation.\n\n3. Having prayed and meditated on the subject or text, I desire to leave\nmyself entirely in the hands of the Lord. I ask him to bring to my mind\nwhat I have seen in my closet concerning the subject I am going to speak\non, which he generally most kindly does, and often teaches me much\nadditionally whilst I am preaching.\n\nIn connection with the above, I must, however, state that it appears to\nme there is a preparation for the public ministry of the word which is\neven more excellent than the one spoken of. It is this; to live in such\n_constant_ and _real_ communion with the Lord, and to be so _habitually_\nand _frequently_ in meditation over the truth, that without the above\n_effort_, so to speak, we have obtained food for others, and know the\nmind of the Lord as to the subject or the portion of the word on which\nwe should speak.\n\nThat which I have found most beneficial in my experience for the last\ntwenty-six years in the public ministry of the word, is _expounding_ the\nScriptures, and especially the going now and then through a whole gospel\nor epistle. This may be done in a twofold way, either by entering\nminutely into the bearing of every point occurring in the portion, or by\ngiving the general outlines, and thus leading the hearers to see the\nmeaning and connection of the whole. The benefits which I have seen\nresulting from _expounding_ the Scriptures, are these: 1. The hearers\nare thus, with God's blessing, led to the Scriptures. They find, as it\nwere, _a practical_ use of them in the public meetings. This induces\nthem to bring their Bibles, and I have observed that those who at first\ndid not bring them, have afterwards been induced to do so; so that, in a\nshort time, few (of the believers at least) were in the habit of coming\nwithout them. This is no small matter; for everything which in our day\nwill lead believers to value the Scriptures is of importance. 2. The\nexpounding of the Scriptures is in general more beneficial to the\nhearers than if, on a single verse, or half a verse, or two or three\nwords of a verse, some remarks are made, so that the portion of\nScripture is scarcely anything but a motto for the subject; for few have\ngrace to meditate much over the word, and thus exposition may not merely\nbe the means of opening to them the Scriptures, but may also create in\nthem a desire to meditate for themselves. 3. The expounding of the\nScriptures leaves to the hearers a connecting link, so that the reading\nover again the portion of the word which has been expounded brings to\ntheir remembrance what has been said, and thus, with God's blessing,\nleaves a more lasting impression on their minds. This is particularly of\nimportance as it regards the illiterate, who sometimes have neither much\nstrength of memory nor capacity of comprehension. 4. The _expounding_ of\nlarge portions of the word as the whole of a gospel or an epistle,\nbesides leading the _hearer_ to see the connection of the whole, has\nalso this particular benefit for the _teacher_, that it leads him, with\nGod's blessing, to the consideration of portions of the word which\notherwise he might not have considered, and keeps him from speaking too\nmuch on favorite subjects, and leaning too much to particular parts of\ntruth, which tendency must surely sooner or later injure both himself\nand his hearers. Expounding the word of God brings little honor to the\npreacher from the _unenlightened_ or _careless_ hearer, but it tends\nmuch to the benefit of the hearers in general.\n\nSimplicity in expression, whilst the truth is set forth, is, in\nconnection with what has been said, of the utmost importance. It should\nbe the aim of the teacher to speak so that children, servants, and\npeople who cannot read may be able to understand him, so far as the\nnatural mind can comprehend the things of God. It ought also to be\nremembered that there is, perhaps, not a single congregation in which\nthere are not persons of the above classes present, and that if _they_\ncan understand, the well-educated or literary persons will understand\nlikewise; but the reverse does not hold good. It ought further to be\nremembered that the expounder of the truth of God speaks for God, for\neternity, and that it is not in the least likely that he will benefit\nthe hearers, except he use plainness of speech, which nevertheless\nneeds not to be vulgar or rude. It should also be considered that if the\npreacher strive to speak according to the rules of this world, he may\nplease many, particularly those who have a literary taste; but, in the\nsame proportion, he is less likely to become an instrument in the hands\nof God for the conversion of sinners, or for the building-up of the\nsaints. For neither eloquence nor depth of thought makes the truly great\npreacher, but such a life of prayer and meditation and spirituality as\nmay render him a vessel meet for the Master's use, and fit to be\nemployed both in the conversion of sinners and in the edification of the\nsaints.\n\n    Becoming convinced, after a prayerful examination of the\n    Scriptures, that baptism should be administered only by\n    immersion, Mr. Mueller was then baptized in the spring of 1830.\n\nIt was so usual for me to preach with particular assistance, especially\nduring the first months of this year, that once, when it was otherwise,\nit was much noticed by myself and others. The circumstance was this. One\nday, before preaching at Teignmouth, I had more time than usual, and\ntherefore prayed and meditated about six hours in preparation for the\nevening meeting, and I thought I saw many precious truths in the passage\non which I had meditated. It was the first part of the first chapter of\nthe epistle to the Ephesians. After I had spoken a little time, I felt\nthat I spoke in my own strength, and I, being a foreigner, felt\nparticularly the want of words, which had not been the case before. I\ntold the brethren that I felt I was left to myself, and asked their\nprayers. But after having continued a little longer, and feeling the\nsame as before, I closed, and proposed that we should have a meeting\nfor prayer, that the Lord still might be pleased to help me. We did so,\nand I was particularly assisted the next time.\n\nOn October 7, 1830, I was united by marriage to Miss Mary Groves, sister\nof the brother whose name has already been mentioned. This step was\ntaken after prayer and deliberation, from a full conviction that it was\nbetter for me to be married; and I have never regretted since either the\nstep itself or the choice, but desire to be truly grateful to God for\nhaving given me such a wife.\n\nAbout this time, I began to have conscientious objections against any\nlonger receiving a stated salary. My reasons against it were these:\n\n1. The salary was made up by pew-rents; but pew-rents are, according to\nJames ii. 1-6, against the mind of the Lord, as, in general, the poor\nbrother cannot have so good a seat as the rich. 2. A brother may\n_gladly_ do something towards my support if left to his own time; but,\nwhen the quarter is up, he has perhaps other expenses, and I do not know\nwhether he pays his money grudgingly, and of necessity, or cheerfully;\nbut God loveth a cheerful giver. Nay, _I knew it to be a fact_ that\nsometimes it had not been convenient to individuals to pay the money\nwhen it had been asked for by the brethren who collected it. 3. Though\nthe Lord had been pleased to give me grace to be faithful, so that I had\nbeen enabled not to keep back the truth when he had shown it to me;\nstill, I felt that the pew-rents were a snare to the servant of Christ.\nIt was a temptation to me, at least for a few minutes, at the time when\nthe Lord had stirred me up to pray and search the word respecting the\nordinance of baptism, because thirty pounds of my salary was at stake if\nI should be baptized.\n\nFor these reasons, I stated to the brethren, at the end of October,\n1830, that I should for the future give up having any regular salary.\nAfter I had given my reasons for doing so, I read Philippians iv., and\ntold the saints that if they still had a desire to do something towards\nmy support, by voluntary gifts, I had no objection to receive them,\nthough ever so small, either in money or provisions. A few days after,\nit appeared to me that there was a better way still; for, if I received\npersonally every single gift offered in money, both my own time and that\nof the donors would be much taken up; and in this way, also, the poor\nmight, through temptation, be kept from offering their pence, a\nprivilege of which they ought not to be deprived; and some also might in\nthis way give more than if it were not known who was the giver, so that\nit would still be doubtful whether the gift were given grudgingly or\ncheerfully. For these reasons especially, there was a box put up in the\nchapel, over which was written that whoever had a desire to do something\ntowards my support might put his offering into the box.\n\nAt the same time, it appeared to me right that henceforth I should ask\nno man, not even my beloved brethren and sisters, to help me, as I had\ndone a few times, according to their own request, as my expenses, on\naccount of travelling much in the Lord's service, were too great to be\nmet by my usual income. For, unconsciously, I had thus again been led,\nin some measure, to trust in an arm of flesh, going to man instead of\ngoing to the Lord at once. _To come to this conclusion before God\nrequired more grace than to give up my salary._\n\nAbout the same time, also, my wife and I had grace given to us to take\nthe Lord's commandment, \"Sell that ye have, and give alms,\" Luke xii.\n33, literally, and to carry it out. Our staff and support in this matter\nwere Matthew vi. 19-34, John xiv. 13, 14. We leaned on the arm of the\nLord Jesus. It is now twenty-five years since we set out in this way,\nand _we do not in the least regret the step we then took_. As I have\nwritten down how the Lord has been pleased to deal with us since, I\nshall be able to relate some facts concerning this matter, as far as\nthey may tend to edification.\n\nNov. 18, 1830. Our money was reduced to about eight shillings. When I\nwas praying with my wife in the morning, the Lord brought to my mind the\nstate of our purse, and I was led to ask him for some money. About four\nhours after, a sister said to me, \"Do you want any money?\" \"I told the\nbrethren,\" said I, \"dear sister, when I gave up my salary, that I would\nfor the future tell the Lord _only_ about my wants.\" She replied, \"But\nhe has told me to give you some money. About a fortnight ago, I asked\nhim what I should do for him, and he told me to give you some money; and\nlast Saturday it came again powerfully to my mind, and has not left me\nsince, and I felt it so forcibly last night that I could not help\nspeaking of it to brother P.\" My heart rejoiced, seeing the Lord's\nfaithfulness, but I thought it better not to tell her about our\ncircumstances, lest she should be influenced to give accordingly; and I\nalso was assured that, if it were of the Lord, she could not but give. I\ntherefore turned the conversation to other subjects, but when I left she\ngave me two guineas. We were full of joy on account of the goodness of\nthe Lord. I would call upon the reader to admire the gentleness of the\nLord, that he did not try our faith much at the commencement, but\nallowed us to see his willingness to help us, before he was pleased to\ntry it more fully.\n\nThe next Wednesday I went to Exmouth, our money having then again been\nreduced to about nine shillings. I asked the Lord on Thursday, when at\nExmouth, to be pleased to give me some money. On Friday morning, about\neight o'clock, whilst in prayer, I was particularly led to ask again for\nmoney; and before I rose from my knees I had the fullest assurance that\nwe should have the answer that very day. About nine o'clock I left the\nbrother with whom I was staying, and he gave me half a sovereign,\nsaying, \"Take this for the expenses connected with your coming to us.\" I\ndid not expect to have my expenses paid, but I saw the Lord's fatherly\nhand in sending me this money within one hour after my asking him for\nsome. But even then I was so fully assured that the Lord would send more\nthat very day, or had done so already, that, when I came home about\ntwelve o'clock, I asked my wife whether she had received any letters.\nShe told me she had received one the day before from a brother in\nExeter, with three sovereigns. Thus even my prayer on the preceding day\nhad been answered. The next day one of the brethren came and brought me\nfour pounds, which was due to me of my former salary, but which I could\nnever have expected, as I did not even know that this sum was due to me.\nThus I received, within thirty hours, in answer to prayer, seven pounds\nten shillings.\n\nAbout Christmas, when our money was reduced to a few shillings, I asked\nthe Lord for more; when, a few hours after, there was given to us a\nsovereign by a brother from Axminster. This brother had heard much\nagainst me, and was at last determined to hear for himself, and thus\ncame to Teignmouth, a distance of forty miles; and having heard about\nour manner of living, gave us this money.\n\nWith this closes the year 1830. Throughout it the Lord richly supplied\nall my temporal wants, though at the commencement of it I had no certain\nhuman prospect for one single shilling: so that, even as it regards\ntemporal things, I had not been in the smallest degree a loser in acting\naccording to the dictates of my conscience; and as it regards spiritual\nthings, the Lord had dealt bountifully with me, and had condescended to\nuse me as an instrument in doing his work.\n\nOn the 6th, 7th, and 8th of Jan. 1831, I had repeatedly asked the Lord\nfor money, but received none. On the evening of January 8, I left my\nroom for a few minutes, and was then tempted to distrust the Lord,\nthough he had been so gracious to us in that he not only, up to that\nday, had supplied all our wants, but had given us also those answers of\nprayer which have been in part just mentioned. I was so sinful, for\nabout five minutes, as to think it would be of no use to trust in the\nLord in this way. I also began to say to myself, that I had perhaps gone\ntoo far in living in this way. But, thanks to the Lord! this trial\nlasted but a few minutes. He enabled me again to trust in him, and Satan\nwas immediately confounded; for when I returned to my room, out of which\nI had not been absent ten minutes, the Lord had sent deliverance. A\nsister in the Lord had brought us two pounds four shillings: so the Lord\ntriumphed, and our faith was strengthened.\n\nJan. 10. To-day, when we had again but a few shillings, five pounds were\ngiven to us, which had been taken out of the box. I had, once for all,\ntold the brethren, who had the care of these temporal things, to have\nthe kindness to let me have the money every week; but as these beloved\nbrethren either forgot to take it out weekly, or were ashamed to bring\nit in such small sums, it was generally taken out every three, four, or\nfive weeks. As I had stated to them, however, from the commencement,\nthat I desired to look neither to man nor the box, but to the living\nGod, I thought it not right on my part to remind them of my request to\nhave the money weekly, lest it should hinder the testimony which I\nwished to give, of trusting in the living God alone. It was on this\naccount that on January 28, when we had again but little money, though I\nhad seen the brethren, on January 24, open the box and take out the\nmoney, I would not ask the brother, in whose hands it was, to let me\nhave it; but standing in need of it, as our coals were almost gone, I\nasked the Lord to incline his heart to bring it; and but a little time\nafterwards it was given to us; even one pound eight shillings and\nsixpence.\n\nI would here mention, that, since the time I began living in this way, I\nhave been kept from speaking, either directly or indirectly, about my\nwants, at the time I was in need. The only exception is, that in a few\ninstances, twenty years or more since, I have, at such times, spoken to\n_very poor_ brethren, in the way of encouraging them to trust in the\nLord, telling them that I had to do the same, being myself in similar\nstraits; or, in a few instances, where it was needful to speak about my\nown want, lest I should appear unfeeling, in that I did not help at all,\nin cases of distress, or not as much as might have been expected.\n\nOn February 14 we had again very little money, and, whilst praying, I\nwas led to ask the Lord graciously to supply our wants; and _the instant\nthat I got up from my knees_ a brother gave me one pound, which had been\ntaken out of the box.\n\nOn March 7, I was again tempted to disbelieve the faithfulness of the\nLord, and though I was not miserable, still, I was not so fully resting\nupon the Lord that I could triumph with joy. It was _but one hour\nafter_, when the Lord gave me another proof of his faithful love. A\nChristian lady brought five sovereigns for us, with these words written\nin the paper: \"I was an hungered, and ye gave _me_ meat; I was thirsty,\nand ye gave _me_ drink,\" etc.\n\nApril 16. This morning I found that our money was reduced to three\nshillings; and I said to myself, I must now go and ask the Lord\nearnestly for fresh supplies. But before I had prayed, there was sent\nfrom Exeter two pounds, as a proof that the Lord hears before we call.\n\nI would observe here, by the way, that if any of the children of God\nshould think that such a mode of living leads away from the Lord, and\nfrom caring about spiritual things, and has the effect of causing the\nmind to be taken up with the question, What shall I eat?--What shall I\ndrink?--and Wherewithal shall I be clothed?--I would request him\nprayerfully to consider the following remarks: 1. I have had experience\nof both ways, and know that my present mode of living, as to temporal\nthings, is connected with less care. 2. Confidence in the Lord, to whom\nalone I look for the supply of my temporal wants, keeps me, when a case\nof distress comes before me, or when the Lord's work calls for my\npecuniary aid, from anxious reckoning like this: Will my salary last\nout? Shall I have enough myself the next month? etc. In this my freedom,\nI am, by the grace of God, generally, at least, able to say to myself\nsomething like this: My Lord is not limited; he can again supply; he\nknows that this present case has been sent to me: and thus, this way of\nliving, so far from _leading to anxiety_, is rather the means of\n_keeping from it_. And truly it was once said to me by an\nindividual,--You can do such and such things, and need not to lay by,\nfor the church in the whole of Devonshire cares about your wants. My\nreply was: The Lord can use not merely any of the saints throughout\nDevonshire, but those throughout the world, as instruments to supply my\ntemporal wants. 3. This way of living has often been the means of\nreviving the work of grace in my heart, when I have been getting cold;\nand it also has been the means of bringing me back again to the Lord,\nafter I have been backsliding. For it will not do,--it is not possible\nto live in sin, and at the same time, by communion with God, to draw\ndown from heaven everything one needs for the life that now is. 4.\nFrequently, too, a fresh answer to prayer, obtained in this way, has\nbeen the means of quickening my soul, and filling me with much joy.\n\nMay 12. A sister has been staying for some time at Teignmouth on account\nof her health; and when she was about to return home to-day, we saw it\nthe Lord's will to invite her to stay with us for some time; as we knew\nthat she would stay longer if her means allowed it. We were persuaded\nthat, as we saw it to be the Lord's will to invite her, he himself would\npay the expenses connected with her stay. About the time when she came\nto our house, a parcel with money was sent from Chumleigh. A few weeks\nbefore, I had preached at Chumleigh and in the neighborhood. The\nbrethren, knowing about my manner of living, after my departure\ncollected some money for me, and thus, in small offerings (one hundred\nand seven altogether, as I have been told), two pounds and one penny\nhalfpenny were given. Thus the Lord paid for the expenses connected with\nour sister's staying with us.\n\nJune 12. Lord's day. On Thursday last I went with brother Craik to\nTorquay, to preach there. I had only about three shillings with me, and\nleft my wife with about six shillings at home. I asked the Lord\nrepeatedly for money; but when I came home my wife had only about three\nshillings left, having received nothing. We waited still upon the Lord.\nYesterday passed away, and no money came. We had ninepence left. This\nmorning we were still waiting upon the Lord, and looking for\ndeliverance. We had only a little butter left for breakfast, sufficient\nfor brother E. and a relative living with us, to whom we did not mention\nour circumstances, that they might not be made uncomfortable. After the\nmorning meeting, brother Y. most unexpectedly opened the box, and, in\ngiving me quite as unexpectedly the money at such a time, he told me\nthat _he and his wife could not sleep last night, on account of thinking\nthat we might want money_. The most striking point is, that after I had\nrepeatedly asked the Lord, but received nothing, _I then prayed\nyesterday that the Lord would be pleased to impress it on brother Y.\nthat we wanted money, so that he might open the box_. There was in it\none pound eight shillings and tenpence halfpenny.\n\nNovember 16. This morning I proposed united prayer respecting our\ntemporal wants. Just as we were about to pray, a parcel came from\nExmouth. In prayer we asked the Lord for meat for dinner, having no\nmoney to buy any. After prayer, on opening the parcel, we found, among\nother things, a ham, sent by a brother at Exmouth, which served us for\ndinner.\n\nNovember 19. We had not enough to pay our weekly rent; but the Lord\ngraciously sent us again to-day fourteen shillings and sixpence. I would\njust observe, that we never contract debts, which we believe to be\nunscriptural (according to Romans xiii. 8); and therefore we have no\nbills with our tailor, shoemaker, grocer, butcher, baker, etc.; but all\nwe buy we pay for in ready money. The Lord helping us, we would rather\nsuffer privation than contract debts. Thus we always know how much we\nhave, and how much we have a right to give away. I am well aware that\nmany trials come upon the children of God, on account of not acting\naccording to Rom. xiii. 8.\n\nNovember 27. Lord's day. Our money had been reduced to two pence\nhalfpenny; our bread was hardly enough for this day. I had several times\nbrought our need before the Lord. After dinner, when I returned thanks,\nI asked him to give us our daily bread, meaning literally that he would\nsend us bread for the evening. Whilst I was praying, there was a knock\nat the door of the room. After I had concluded, a poor sister came in,\nand brought us some of her dinner, and from another poor sister five\nshillings. In the afternoon she also brought us a large loaf. Thus the\nLord not only literally gave us bread but also money.\n\nAfter we had, on December 31, 1831, looked over the Lord's gracious\ndealings with us during the past year, in providing for all our temporal\nwants, we had about ten shillings left. A little while after, the\nprovidence of God called for that, so that not a single farthing\nremained. Thus we closed the old year, in which the Lord had been so\ngracious in giving to us, without our asking any one,--1. Through the\ninstrumentality of the box, thirty-one pounds fourteen shillings. 2.\nFrom brethren of the church at Teignmouth, in presents of money, six\npounds eighteen shillings and sixpence. 3. From brethren living at\nTeignmouth and elsewhere, not connected with the church at Teignmouth,\nninety-three pounds six shillings and twopence. Altogether, one hundred\nand thirty-one pounds eighteen shillings and eightpence. There had been\nlikewise many articles of provision, and some articles of clothing given\nto us, worth at least twenty pounds. I am so particular in mentioning\nthese things, to show that we are never losers from acting according to\nthe mind of the Lord. For had I had my regular salary, humanly speaking,\nI should not have had nearly as much; but whether this would have been\nthe case or not, this is plain, that I have not served a hard master,\nand that is what I delight to show.\n\nJanuary 7, 1832. We had been again repeatedly asking the Lord to-day and\nyesterday to supply our temporal wants, having no means to pay our\nweekly rent, and this evening, as late as eleven o'clock, a brother gave\nus nineteen shillings and sixpence,--a proof that the Lord is not\nlimited to time.\n\nJanuary 14. This morning we had nothing but dry bread with our tea; only\nthe second time since we have been living by simple faith upon Jesus for\ntemporal supplies. We have more than forty pounds of ready money in the\nhouse for two bills,[14] which will not be payable for several weeks;\nbut we do not consider this money to be our own, and would rather suffer\ngreat privation, God helping us, than take of it. We were looking to our\nFather, and he has not suffered us to be disappointed. For when now we\nhad but threepence left, and only a small piece of bread, we received\ntwo shillings and five shillings.\n\n  [Footnote 14: One bill I had to meet for a brother, the other was\n  for money which, in the form of a bill, I had sent to the\n  Continent; but in both cases the money was in my hands before the\n  bills were given.]\n\nFebruary 18. This afternoon I broke a bloodvessel in my stomach, and\nlost a considerable quantity of blood. I was very happy immediately\nafterwards. February 19. This morning, Lord's day, two brethren called\non me, to ask me what arrangement there should be made to-day, as it\nregarded the four villages, where some of the brethren were in the habit\nof preaching, as, on account of my not being able to preach, one of the\nbrethren would need to stay at home to take my place. I asked them,\nkindly, to come again in about an hour, when I would give them an\nanswer. After they were gone, the Lord gave me faith to rise. I dressed\nmyself; and determined to go to the chapel. I was enabled to do so,\nthough so weak when I went, that walking the short distance to the\nchapel was an exertion to me. I was enabled to preach this morning with\nas loud and strong a voice as usual, and for the usual length of time.\nAfter the morning meeting, a medical friend called on me, and entreated\nme not to preach again in the afternoon, as it might greatly injure me.\nI told him that I should indeed consider it great presumption to do so\nhad the Lord not given me faith. I preached again in the afternoon, and\nthis medical friend called again, and said the same concerning the\nevening meeting. Nevertheless, having faith, I preached again in the\nevening. After each meeting I became stronger, which was a plain proof\nthat the hand of God was in the matter.\n\nFebruary 20. The Lord enabled me to rise early in the morning, and to go\nto our usual prayer meeting, where I read, spoke, and prayed. Afterwards\nI wrote four letters, expounded the Scriptures at home, and attended the\nmeeting again in the evening. February 21. I attended the two meetings\nas usual, preached in the evening, and did my other work besides.\nFebruary 22. To-day I attended the meeting in the morning, walked\nafterwards six miles with two brethren, and rode to Plymouth. February\n23. I am now as well as I was before I broke the bloodvessel. In\nrelating the particulars of this circumstance, I would earnestly warn\nevery one who may read this not to imitate me in such a thing if he has\nno faith; but if he has, it will, as good coin, most assuredly be\nhonored by God. I could not say that if such a thing should happen again\nI would act in the same way; for when I have been not nearly so weak as\nwhen I had broken the bloodvessel, having no faith, I did not preach;\nyet, if it were to please the Lord to give me faith, I might be able to\ndo the same, though even still weaker than at the time just spoken of.\n\nAbout this time I repeatedly prayed with sick believers till they were\nrestored. _Unconditionally_ I asked the Lord for the blessing of bodily\nhealth (a thing which I could not do now), and almost always had the\npetition granted. In some instances, however, the prayer was not\nanswered. In the same way, whilst in London, November, 1829, in answer\nto my prayers, I was immediately restored from a bodily infirmity under\nwhich I had been laboring for a long time, and which has never returned\nsince. The way in which I now account for these facts is as follows. It\npleased the Lord, I think, to give me in such cases something like the\ngift (not grace) of faith, so that unconditionally I could ask and look\nfor an answer. The difference between the _gift_ and the _grace_ of\nfaith seems to me this. According to _the gift of faith_, I am able to\ndo a thing, or believe that a thing will come to pass, the not doing of\nwhich, or the not believing of which, _would not be sin_; according to\n_the grace of faith_, I am able to do a thing, or believe that a thing\nwill come to pass, respecting which I have the word of God as the ground\nto rest upon, and, therefore, the not doing it, or the not believing it,\n_would be sin_. For instance, _the gift of faith_ would be needed to\nbelieve that a sick person should be restored again, though there is no\nhuman probability, for _there is no promise to that effect_; _the grace\nof faith_ is needed to believe that the Lord will give me the\nnecessaries of life, if I first seek the kingdom of God and his\nrighteousness, for _there is a promise to that effect_.[15]\n\n  [Footnote 15: Matt. vi.]\n\nMarch 18. These two days we have not been able to purchase meat. The\nsister in whose house we lodge gave us to-day part of her dinner. We are\nstill looking to Jesus for deliverance. We want money to pay the weekly\nrent and to buy provisions. March 19. Our landlady sent again of her\nmeat for our dinner. We have but a halfpenny left. I feel myself very\ncold in asking for money: still, I hope for deliverance, though I do not\nsee whence money is to come. We were not able to buy bread to-day as\nusual. March 20. This has been again a day of very great mercies. In the\nmorning we met round our breakfast which the Lord had provided for us,\nthough we had not a single penny left. The last halfpenny was spent for\nmilk. We were then still looking to Jesus for fresh supplies. We both\nhad no doubt that the Lord would interfere. I felt it a trial that I had\nbut little earnestness in asking the Lord, and had this not been the\ncase, perhaps we might have had our wants sooner supplied. We have\nabout seven pounds in the house; but considering it no longer our own,\nthe Lord kept us from taking of it, with the view of replacing what we\nhad taken, as formerly I might have done. The meat which was sent\nyesterday for our dinner was enough also for to-day. Thus the Lord had\nprovided another meal. Two sisters called upon us about noon, who gave\nus two pounds of sugar, one pound of coffee, and two cakes of chocolate.\nWhilst they were with us, a poor sister came and brought us one shilling\nfrom herself and two shillings and sixpence from another poor sister.\nOur landlady also sent us again of her dinner, and also a loaf. Our\nbread would scarcely have been enough for tea, had the Lord not thus\ngraciously provided. In the afternoon, the same sister who brought the\nmoney brought us also, from another sister, one pound of butter and two\nshillings, and from another sister five shillings.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V.\n\nMINISTRY AT BRISTOL BEGUN.\n\n1832-1835.\n\n    \"HERE HAVE WE NO CONTINUING CITY\"--CAUTION TO THE CHRISTIAN\n    TRAVELLER--NEW TOKENS FOR GOOD--THE WAY MADE CLEAR--MEETINGS FOR\n    INQUIRY--NO RESPECT OF PERSONS WITH GOD--FRANCKE, \"BEING DEAD,\n    YET SPEAKETH\"--DAILY BREAD SUPPLIED--A PECULIAR PEOPLE.\n\n\nApril 8. I have felt much this day that Teignmouth is no longer my\nplace, and that I shall leave it. I would observe that in August of 1831\nI began greatly to feel as if my work at Teignmouth were done, and that\nI should go somewhere else. I was led to consider the matter more\nmaturely, and at last had it settled in this way,--that it was not\nlikely to be of God, because, for certain reasons, I should _naturally_\nhave liked to leave Teignmouth. Afterwards, I felt quite comfortable in\nremaining there. In the commencement of the year 1832 I began again much\nto doubt whether Teignmouth was my place, or whether my gift was not\nmuch more that of going about from place to place, seeking to bring\nbelievers back to the Scriptures, than to stay in one place and to labor\nas a pastor. I resolved to try whether it were not the will of God that\nI should still give myself to pastoral work among the brethren at\nTeignmouth; and with more earnestness and faithfulness than ever I was\nenabled to give myself to this work, and was certainly much refreshed\nand blessed in it; and I saw immediately blessings result from it. This\nmy experience seemed more than ever to settle me at Teignmouth. But\nnotwithstanding this, the impression that my work was done there came\nback after some time, as the remark in my journal of April 8 shows, and\nit became stronger and stronger. There was one point remarkable in\nconnection with this. Wherever I went I preached with much more\nenjoyment and power than at Teignmouth, the very reverse of which had\nbeen the case on my first going there. Moreover, almost everywhere I had\nmany more hearers than at Teignmouth, and found the people hungering\nafter food, which, generally speaking, was no longer the case at\nTeignmouth.\n\nApril 11. Felt again much that Teignmouth will not much longer be my\nresidence. April 12. Still feel the impression that Teignmouth is no\nlonger my place. April 13. Found a letter from brother Craik, from\nBristol, on my return from Torquay, where I had been to preach. He\ninvites me to come and help him. It appears to me, from what he writes,\nthat such places as Bristol more suit my gifts. O Lord, teach me! I have\nfelt this day more than ever that I shall soon leave Teignmouth. I fear,\nhowever, there is much connected with it which savors of the flesh, and\nthat makes me fearful. It seems to me as if I should shortly go to\nBristol, if the Lord permit. April 14. Wrote a letter to brother Craik,\nin which I said I should come, if I clearly saw it to be the Lord's\nwill. Have felt again very much to-day, yea, far more than ever, that I\nshall soon leave Teignmouth.\n\nApril 15. Lord's day. This evening I preached, as fully as time would\npermit, on the Lord's second coming. After having done so, I told the\nbrethren what effect this doctrine had had upon me, on first receiving\nit, even to determine me to leave London, and to preach throughout the\nkingdom; but that the Lord had kept me chiefly at Teignmouth for these\ntwo years and three months, and that it seemed to me now that the time\nwas near when I should leave them. I reminded them of what I told them\nwhen they requested me to take the oversight of them, that I could make\nno certain engagement, but stay only so long with them as I should see\nit to be the Lord's will to do so. There was much weeping afterwards.\nBut I am now again in peace.\n\nApril 16. This morning I am still in peace. I am glad I have spoken to\nthe brethren, that they may be prepared, in case the Lord should take me\naway. I left to-day for Dartmouth, where I preached in the evening. I\nhad five answers to prayer to-day. 1. I awoke at five, for which I had\nasked the Lord last evening. 2. The Lord removed from my dear wife an\nindisposition under which she had been suffering. It would have been\ntrying to me to have had to leave her in that state. 3. The Lord sent us\nmoney. 4. There was a place vacant on the Dartmouth coach, which only\npasses through Teignmouth. 5. This evening I was assisted in preaching,\nand my own soul refreshed.\n\nApril 21. I would offer here a word of warning to believers. Often the\nwork of the Lord itself may be a temptation to keep us from that\ncommunion with him which is so essential to the benefit of our own\nsouls. On the 19th I had left Dartmouth, conversed a good deal that day,\npreached in the evening, walked afterwards eight miles, had only about\nfive hours' sleep, travelled again the next day twenty-five miles,\npreached twice, and conversed very much besides, went to bed at eleven,\nand arose before five. All this shows that my body and spirit required\nrest, and, therefore, however careless about the Lord's work I might\nhave appeared to my brethren, I ought to have had a great deal of quiet\ntime for prayer and reading the word, especially as I had a long journey\nbefore me that day, and as I was going to Bristol, which in itself\nrequired much prayer. Instead of this, I hurried to the prayer meeting,\nafter a few minutes' private prayer. But let none think that public\nprayer will make up for closet communion. Then again, afterwards, when I\nought to have withdrawn myself, as it were, by force, from the company\nof beloved brethren and sisters, and given my testimony for the Lord,\n(and, indeed, it would have been the best testimony I could have given\nthem,) by telling them that I needed secret communion with the Lord, I\ndid not do so, but spent the time, till the coach came, in conversation\nwith them. Now, however profitable in some respects it may have been\nmade to those with whom I was on that morning, yet my own soul needed\nfood; and not having had it, I was lean, and felt the effects of it the\nwhole day; and hence I believe it came that I was dumb on the coach, and\ndid not speak a word for Christ, nor give away a single tract, though I\nhad my pockets full on purpose.\n\nApril 22. This morning I preached at Gideon Chapel, Bristol. In the\nafternoon I preached at the Pithay Chapel. This sermon was a blessing to\nmany, many souls; and many were brought through it to come afterwards to\nhear brother Craik and me. Among others it was the means of converting a\nyoung man who was a notorious drunkard, and who was just again on his\nway to a public house, when an acquaintance of his met him, and asked\nhim to go with him to hear a foreigner preach. He did so; and from that\nmoment he was so completely altered, that he never again went to a\npublic house, and was so happy in the Lord afterwards that he often\nneglected his supper, from eagerness to read the Scriptures, as his wife\ntold me. He died about five months afterwards. This evening I was much\ninstructed in hearing brother Craik preach. I am now fully persuaded\nthat Bristol is the place where the Lord will have me to labor.\n\nApril 27. It seems to brother Craik and myself the Lord's will that we\nshould go home next week, in order that in quietness, without being\ninfluenced by what we see here, we may more inquire into the Lord's will\nconcerning us. It especially appears to us much more likely that we\nshould come to a right conclusion among the brethren and sisters in\nDevonshire, whose tears we shall have to witness, and whose entreaties\nto stay with them we shall have to hear, than here in Bristol, where we\nsee only those who wish us to stay.\n\nApril 28. It still seems to us the Lord's will that we should both leave\nsoon, to have quiet time for prayer concerning Bristol. April 29. I\npreached this morning on Rev. iii. 14-22. As it afterwards appeared,\nthat testimony was blessed to many, though I lacked enjoyment in my own\nsoul. This afternoon brother Craik preached in a vessel called the\nClifton Ark, fitted up for a chapel. In the evening I preached in the\nsame vessel. These testimonies also God greatly honored, and made them\nthe means of afterwards bringing several, who then heard us, to our\nmeeting places. How was God with us, and how did he help us, thereby\nevidently showing that he himself had sent us to this city!\n\nApril 30. It was most affecting to take leave of the dear children of\nGod, dozens pressing us to return soon, many with tears in their eyes.\nThe blessing which the Lord has given to our ministry seems to be very\ngreat. We both see it fully the Lord's will to come here, though we do\nnot see under what circumstances. A brother has promised to take\nBethesda Chapel for us, and to be answerable for the payment of the\nrent; so that thus we should have two large chapels. I saw, again, two\ninstances to-day in which my preaching has been blessed.\n\nMay 1. Brother Craik and I left this morning for Devonshire.\n\nMay 3. I saw several of the brethren to-day, and felt so fully assured\nthat it is the Lord's will that I should go to Bristol, that I told them\nso. This evening I had a meeting with the three deacons, when I told\nthem plainly about it; asking them, if they see anything wrong in me\nconcerning this matter, to tell me of it. They had nothing to say\nagainst it; yea, though much wishing me to stay, they were convinced\nthemselves that my going is of God.\n\nMay 5. One other striking proof to my mind that my leaving Teignmouth is\nof God, is, that some truly spiritual believers, though they much wish\nme to stay, themselves see that I ought to go to Bristol.\n\nMay 7. Having received a letter from Bristol on May 5, it was answered\nto-day in such a way that the Lord may have another opportunity to\nprevent our going thither if it be not of him.\n\nMay 15. Just when I was in prayer concerning Bristol, I was sent for to\ncome to brother Craik. Two letters had arrived from Bristol. The\nbrethren assembling at Gideon accept our offer to come under the\nconditions we have made, _i. e._ for the present, to consider us only as\nministering among them, but not in any fixed pastoral relationship, so\nthat we may preach as we consider it to be according to the mind of God,\n_without reference to any rules among them; that the pew-rents should be\ndone away with; and that we should go on, respecting the supply of our\ntemporal wants, as in Devonshire_. We intend, the Lord willing, to leave\nin about a week, though there is nothing settled respecting Bethesda\nChapel.\n\nMay 21. I began to-day to take leave of the brethren at Teignmouth,\ncalling on each of them. It has been a trying day. Much weeping on the\npart of the saints. Were I not so fully persuaded that it is the will of\nGod we should go to Bristol, I should have been hardly able to bear it.\n\nMay 22. The brethren at Teignmouth say that they expect us soon back\nagain. _As far as I understand the way in which God deals with his\nchildren, this seems very unlikely._ Towards the evening, the Lord,\nafter repeated prayer, gave me Col. i. 21-23 as a text for the last word\nof exhortation. It seemed to me best to speak as little as possible\nabout myself, and as much as possible about Christ. I scarcely alluded\nto our separation, and only commended myself and the brethren, in the\nconcluding prayer, to the Lord. The parting scenes are very trying, but\nmy full persuasion is that the separation is of the Lord. May 23. My\nwife, Mr. Groves, my father-in-law, and I left this morning for Exeter.\nDear brother Craik intends to follow us to-morrow.\n\nWe had unexpectedly received, just before we left Teignmouth, about\nfifteen pounds, else we should not have been able to defray all the\nexpenses connected with leaving, travelling, etc. By this, also, the\nLord showed his mind concerning our going to Bristol.\n\nThe following record will now show to the believing reader how far what\nI have said concerning my persuasion that it was the will of God that we\nshould go to Bristol has been proved by facts.\n\nMay 25, 1832. This evening we arrived at Bristol. May 27. This morning\nwe received a sovereign, sent to us by a sister residing in\n_Devonshire_, which we take as an earnest that the Lord will provide for\nus here also. May 28. When we were going to speak to the brethren, who\nmanage the temporal affairs of Gideon Chapel, about giving up the\npew-rents, having all the seats free, and receiving the free-will\nofferings through a box, a matter which was not quite settled on their\npart, as brother Craik and I had thought, we found that the Lord had so\ngraciously ordered this matter for us that there was not the least\nobjection on the part of these brethren.\n\nJune 4. For several days we have been looking about for lodgings, but\nfinding none plain and cheap enough, we were led to make this also a\nsubject of earnest prayer; and now, immediately afterwards, the Lord has\ngiven us such as are suitable. We pay only eighteen shillings a week for\ntwo sitting-rooms and three bedrooms, coals, and attendance. It was\nparticularly difficult to find _cheap_ furnished lodgings, having five\nrooms in the same house, which we need, as brother Craik and we live\ntogether. How good is the Lord to have thus appeared for us, in answer\nto prayer, and what an encouragement to commit everything to him in\nprayer!\n\nJune 25. To-day it was finally settled to take Bethesda Chapel for a\ntwelvemonth, on condition that a brother at once paid the rent, with the\nunderstanding that, if the Lord shall bless our labors in that place, so\nthat believers are gathered together in fellowship, he expects them to\nhelp him; but if not, that he will pay all. This was the only way in\nwhich we could take the chapel; for we could not think it to be of God\nto have had this chapel, though there should be every prospect of\nusefulness, if it had made us in any way debtors.\n\nJuly 6. To-day we commenced preaching at Bethesda Chapel. It was a good\nday. July 13. To-day we heard of the first cases of cholera in Bristol.\nJuly 16. This evening, from six to nine o'clock, we had appointed for\nconversing at the vestry, one by one, with individuals who wished to\nspeak to us about their souls. There were so many that we were engaged\nfrom six till twenty minutes past ten.\n\nThese meetings we have continued ever since, twice a week, or once a\nweek, or once a fortnight, or once a month, as our strength and time\nallowed it, or as they seemed needed. We have found them beneficial in\nthe following respects:--\n\n1. Many persons, on account of timidity, would prefer coming at an\nappointed time to the vestry to converse with us, to calling on us in\nour own house. 2. The very fact of appointing a time for seeing people,\nto converse with them in private concerning the things of eternity, has\nbrought some, who, humanly speaking, never would have called upon us\nunder other circumstances; yea, it has brought even those who, though\nthey thought they were concerned about the things of God, yet were\ncompletely ignorant; and thus we have had an opportunity of speaking to\nthem. 3. These meetings have also been a great encouragement to\nourselves in the work, for often, when we thought that such and such\nexpositions of the word had done no good at all, it was through these\nmeetings found to be the reverse; and likewise, when our hands were\nhanging down, we have been afresh encouraged to go forward in the work\nof the Lord, and to continue sowing the seed in hope, by seeing at these\nmeetings fresh cases in which the Lord has condescended to use us as\ninstruments, particularly as in this way instances have sometimes\noccurred in which individuals have spoken to us about the benefit which\nthey derived from our ministry not only a few months before, but even as\nlong as two, three, and four years before.\n\nFor the above reasons I would particularly recommend to other servants\nof Christ, especially to those who live in large towns, if they have not\nalready introduced a similar plan, to consider whether it may not be\nwell for them also to set apart such times for seeing inquirers. Those\nmeetings, however, require much prayer, to be enabled to speak aright to\nall those who come, according to their different need; and one is led\ncontinually to feel that one is not sufficient of one's self for these\nthings, but that our sufficiency can be alone of God. These meetings\nalso have been by far the most wearing-out part of all our work, though\nat the same time the most refreshing.\n\nJuly 18. To-day I spent the whole morning in the vestry, to procure a\nquiet season. This has now for some time been the only way, on account\nof the multiplicity of engagements, to make sure of time for prayer,\nreading the word, and meditation. July 19. I spent from half past nine\ntill one in the vestry, and had real communion with the Lord. The Lord\nbe praised, who has put it into my mind to use the vestry for a place of\nretirement!\n\nAugust 5. _When all our money was gone to-day, the Lord again graciously\nsupplied our wants._ August 6. This afternoon, from two till after six,\nbrother Craik and I spent in the vestry, to see the inquirers. We have\nhad again, in seeing several instances of blessing upon our labors,\nabundant reason brought before us to praise the Lord for having sent us\nto Bristol.\n\nAugust 13. This evening one brother and four sisters united with brother\nCraik and me in church-fellowship at Bethesda, _without any rules,\ndesiring only to act as the Lord shall be pleased to give us light\nthrough his word_.\n\nSeptember 17. This morning the Lord, in addition to all his other\nmercies, has given us a little girl, who, with her mother, is doing\nwell.\n\nOctober 1. A meeting for inquirers this afternoon from two to five. Many\nmore are convinced of sin through brother Craik's preaching than my own.\nThis circumstance led me to inquire into the reasons, which are probably\nthese: 1. That brother Craik is more spiritually minded than I am. 2.\nThat he prays more earnestly for the conversion of sinners than I do. 3.\nThat he more frequently addresses sinners, as such, in his public\nministrations, than I do. This led me to more frequent and earnest\nprayer for the conversion of sinners, and to address them more\nfrequently as such. The latter had never been intentionally left undone,\nbut it had not been so frequently brought to my mind as to that of\nbrother Craik. Since then, the cases in which it has pleased the Lord\nto use me as an instrument of conversion have been quite as many as\nthose in which brother Craik has been used.\n\nFebruary 9, 1833. I read a part of Franke's life. The Lord graciously\nhelp me to follow him, as far as he followed Christ. Most of the Lord's\npeople whom we know in Bristol are poor, and if the Lord were to give us\ngrace to live more as this dear man of God did, we might draw much more\nthan we have as yet done out of our heavenly Father's bank, for our poor\nbrethren and sisters. March 2. A man in the street ran up to brother\nCraik and put a paper containing ten shillings into his hand, saying,\n\"That is for you and Mr. Mueller,\" and went hastily away. May 28. This\nmorning, whilst sitting in my room, the distress of several brethren and\nsisters was brought to my mind, and I said to myself, \"O that it might\nplease the Lord to give me means to help them!\" About an hour afterwards\nI received sixty pounds from a brother whom up to this day I never saw,\nand who then lived, as he does still, a distance of several thousand\nmiles.\n\nMay 29. Review of the last twelve months, as it regards the fruits of\nour labors in Bristol: 1. The total number of those added to us within\nthe year has been one hundred and nine. 2. There have been converted\nthrough our instrumentality, _so far as we have heard and can judge\nrespecting the individuals_, sixty-five. 3. Many backsliders have been\nreclaimed, and many of the children of God have been encouraged and\nstrengthened in the way of truth.\n\nJune 12. I felt, this morning, that we might do something for the souls\nof those poor boys and girls, and grown-up or aged people, to whom we\nhave daily given bread for some time past, in establishing a school for\nthem, reading the Scriptures to them, and speaking to them about the\nLord. This desire was not carried out. The chief obstacle in the way was\na pressure of work coming upon brother Craik and me just about that\ntime. Shortly after, the number of the poor who came for bread increased\nto between sixty and eighty a day, whereby our neighbors were molested,\nas the beggars were lying about in troops in the street, on account of\nwhich we were obliged to tell them no longer to come for bread. This\nthought ultimately issued in the formation of the Scriptural Knowledge\nInstitution, and in the establishment of the Orphan Houses.\n\nDecember 17. This evening brother Craik and I took tea with a family of\nwhom five had been brought to the knowledge of the Lord through our\ninstrumentality. As an encouragement to brethren who may desire to\npreach the gospel in a language not their own, I would mention that the\nfirst member of this family who was converted came merely out of\ncuriosity to hear my foreign accent, some words having been mentioned to\nher which I did not pronounce properly.\n\nDecember 31. In looking over my journal, I find,--1. That at least two\nhundred and sixty persons (according to the number of names we have\nmarked down, but there have been many more) have come to converse with\nus about the concerns of their souls. Out of these, one hundred and\nfifty-three have been added to us in fellowship these last eighteen\nmonths, sixty of whom have been brought to the knowledge of the Lord\nthrough our instrumentality.\n\n2. In looking over the Lord's dealings with me as to temporal things, I\nfind that he has sent me, during the past year,--\n\n 1. In freewill offerings through the boxes, _as my part_    L152 14 51/4\n 2. Presents in money given to me                              25  1 3\n 3. Presents in clothes and provisions, worth, at least        20  0 0\n 4. A brother sent me, from a distance                         60  0 0\n 5. We live free of rent, which is worth _for our part_        10  0 0\n                                                             ----------\n                                                             L267 15 81/4\n\nIt is just now four years since I first began to trust in the Lord alone\nfor the supply of my temporal wants. My little all I then had, at most\nworth one hundred pounds a year, I gave up for the Lord, having then\nnothing left but about five pounds. The Lord greatly honored this little\nsacrifice, and he gave me, in return, not only as much as I had given\nup, but considerably more. For during the first year, he sent me\nalready, in one way or other, including what came to me through family\nconnection, about one hundred and thirty pounds. During the second year,\none hundred and fifty-one pounds eighteen shillings and eight pence.\nDuring the third year, one hundred and ninety-five pounds three\nshillings. During this year, two hundred and sixty-seven pounds fifteen\nshillings and eight and one fourth pence. The following points require\nparticular notice: 1. During the last three years and three months I\nnever have asked any one for anything; but, by the help of the Lord, I\nhave been enabled at all times to bring my wants to him, and he\ngraciously has supplied them all. 2. At the close of each of these four\nyears, though my income has been comparatively great, I have had only a\nfew shillings or nothing at all left; and thus it is also to-day, by the\nhelp of God. 3. During the last year a considerable part of my income\nhas come from a distance of several thousand miles, from a brother whom\nI never saw. 4. Since we have been obliged to discontinue the giving\naway of bread to about fifty poor people every day, on account of our\nneighbors, our income has not been during the second part of this year\nnearly so great, scarcely one half as much, as during the first part of\nit.\n\nJanuary 9, 1834. Brother Craik and I have preached during these eighteen\nmonths, once a month, at Brislington, a village near Bristol, but have\nnot seen any fruit of our labors there. This led me to-day very\nearnestly to pray to the Lord for the conversion of sinners in that\nplace. I was also, in the chapel, especially led to pray again about\nthis, and asked the Lord in particular that he would be pleased to\nconvert, at least, one soul this evening, that we might have a little\nencouragement. I preached with much help, and I hope there has been good\ndone this evening. The Lord did according to my request. There was a\nyoung man brought to the knowledge of the truth.\n\nJanuary 14. I was greatly tried by the difficulty of fixing upon a text\nfrom which to preach on the morning of October 20, and at last preached\nwithout enjoyment. To-day I heard of a NINTH instance in which this very\nsermon has been blessed.\n\nJanuary 31. This evening a Dorcas Society was formed among the sisters\nin communion with us, but not according to the manner in which we found\none when we came to Bristol; for, as we have dismissed all teachers from\nthe Sunday School who were not real believers, so now believing females\nonly will meet together to make clothes for the poor. The being mixed up\nwith unbelievers had not only proved a barrier to spiritual conversation\namong the sisters, but must have been also injurious to both parties in\nseveral respects. One sister, now united to us in fellowship,\nacknowledged that the being connected with the Dorcas Society, previous\nto her conversion, had been, in a measure, the means of keeping her in\nsecurity; as she thought that, by helping on such like things, she might\ngain heaven at last. O that the saints, in _faithful_ love, according to\nthe word of God (2 Cor. vi. 14-18), might be more separated in all\nspiritual matters from unbelievers, and not be unequally yoked together\nwith them!\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI.\n\nTHE SCRIPTURAL KNOWLEDGE INSTITUTION.\n\n1834-1835.\n\n    UNSCRIPTURAL CHARACTER OF THE EXISTING RELIGIOUS AND BENEVOLENT\n    SOCIETIES--A NEW INSTITUTION PROPOSED--GOD'S WORD THE ONLY RULE,\n    AND GOD'S PROMISE THE ONLY DEPENDENCE--\"IN EVERYTHING, LET YOUR\n    REQUEST BE MADE KNOWN UNTO GOD\"--EARNEST OF THE DIVINE BLESSING\n    ON THE INSTITUTION--BEREAVEMENT--HELPER SEASONABLY SENT--REWARD\n    OF SEEKING GOD'S FACE.\n\n\nFeb. 21. I was led this morning to form a plan for establishing, upon\nscriptural principles, an institution for the spread of the gospel at\nhome and abroad. I trust this matter is of God. Feb. 25. I was led again\nthis day to pray about the forming of a new Missionary Institution, and\nfelt still more confirmed that we should do so.\n\n[Some readers may ask why we formed a _new_ Institution for the spread\nof the gospel, and why we did not unite with some of the religious\nsocieties, already in existence, seeing that there are several\nmissionary, Bible, tract, and school societies. I give, therefore, our\nreasons, in order to show that nothing but the desire to maintain a good\nconscience led us to act as we have done. For as, by the grace of God,\nwe acknowledged the word of God as the only rule of action for the\ndisciples of the Lord Jesus, we found, in comparing the then existing\nreligious societies with the word of God, that they departed so far\nfrom it, that we could not be united with them, and yet maintain a good\nconscience. I only mention here the following points.\n\n1. The _end_ which these religious societies propose to themselves, and\nwhich is constantly put before their members, is, that the world will\ngradually become better and better, and that at last the whole world\nwill be converted. To this end, there is constantly reference made to\nthe passage in Habakkuk ii. 14: \"For the earth shall be filled with the\nknowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea;\" or the\none in Isaiah xi. 9: \"For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of\nthe Lord, as the waters cover the sea.\" But that these passages can have\nno reference to the present dispensation, but to the one which will\ncommence with the return of the Lord,--that in the present dispensation\nthings will not become spiritually better, but rather worse,--and that\nin the present dispensation it is not the whole world that will be\nconverted, but only a people gathered out from among the Gentiles for\nthe Lord,--is clear from many passages of the divine testimony, of which\nI only refer to the following: Matt. xiii. 24-30, and verses 36-43, 2\nTim. iii. 1-13, Acts xv. 14.\n\nA hearty desire for the conversion of sinners, and earnest prayer for it\nto the Lord, is quite _scriptural_; but it is _unscriptural_ to expect\nthe conversion of the whole world. _Such an end_ we could not propose to\nourselves in the service of the Lord.\n\n2. But that which is worse, is, the connection of those religious\nsocieties with the world, which is completely contrary to the word of\nGod (2 Cor. vi. 14-18). In temporal things the children of God need,\nwhilst they remain here on earth, to make use of the world; but when the\nwork to be done requires that those who attend to it should be possessed\nof spiritual life (of which unbelievers are utterly destitute), the\nchildren of God are bound, by their loyalty to their Lord, entirely to\nrefrain from association with the unregenerate. But, alas! the\nconnection with the world is but too marked in these religious\nsocieties; for every one who pays a guinea, or, in some societies,\nhalf-a-guinea, is considered as a member. Although such an individual\nmay live in sin; although he may manifest to every one that he does not\nknow the Lord Jesus; if only the guinea or the half-guinea be paid, he\nis considered a member, and has a right as such to vote. Moreover,\nwhoever pays a larger sum, for instance, ten pounds or twenty pounds,\ncan be, in many societies, a member for life, however openly sinful his\nlife should be for the time, or should become afterwards. Surely such\nthings ought not to be.\n\n3. The means which are made use of in these religious societies to\nobtain money for the work of the Lord are also in other respects\nunscriptural; for it is a most common case _to ask_ the _unconverted_\nfor money, which even Abraham would not have done (Genesis xiv. 21-24);\nand how much less should _we_ do it, who are not only forbidden to have\nfellowship with unbelievers in all such matters (2 Cor. vi. 14-18), but\nwho are also in fellowship with the Father and the Son, and can\ntherefore obtain everything from the Lord which we possibly can need in\nhis service, without being obliged to go to the unconverted world! How\naltogether differently the first disciples acted, in this respect, we\nlearn from 3 John 7.\n\n4. Not merely, however, in these particulars is there a connection with\nthe world in these religious societies; but it is not a rare thing for\neven committee members (the individuals who manage the affairs of the\nsocieties) to be manifestly unconverted persons, if not open enemies to\nthe truth; and this is suffered because they are rich, or of influence,\nas it is called.\n\n5. It is a most common thing to endeavor to obtain for patrons and\npresidents of these societies and for chairmen at the public meetings,\npersons of rank or wealth, to attract the public. Never once have I\nknown a case of a POOR, but very devoted, wise, and experienced servant\nof Christ being invited to fill the chair at such public meetings.\nSurely, the Galilean fishermen, who were apostles, or our Lord himself,\nwho was called the carpenter, would not have been called to this office,\naccording to these principles. These things ought not so to be among the\ndisciples of the Lord Jesus, who should not judge with reference to a\nperson's fitness for service in the church of Christ by the position he\nfills in the world, or by the wealth he possesses.\n\n6. Almost all these societies contract debts, so that it is a\ncomparatively rare case to read a report of any of them without finding\nthat they have expended more than they have received, which, however, is\ncontrary both to the spirit and to the letter of the New Testament.\n(Rom. xiii. 8.)\n\nNow, although brother Craik and I were ready, by the grace of God,\nheartily to acknowledge that there are not only many true children of\nGod connected with these religious societies, but that the Lord has also\nblessed their efforts in many respects, notwithstanding the existence of\nthese and other principles and practices which we judged to be\nunscriptural; yet it appeared to us to be his will that we should be\nentirely separate from these societies, (though we should be considered\nas singular persons, or though it should even appear that we despised\nother persons, or would elevate ourselves above them,) in order that, by\nthe blessing of God, we might direct the attention of the children of\nGod in those societies to their unscriptural practices; and we would\nrather be entirely unconnected with these societies than act contrary to\nthe Holy Scriptures. We therefore separated entirely from them, although\nwe remained united in brotherly love with individual believers\nbelonging to them, and would by no means judge them for remaining in\nconnection with them, if they do not see that such things are contrary\nto Scripture. But seeing them to be so ourselves, we could not with a\nclear conscience remain. After we had thus gone on for some time, we\nconsidered that it would have an injurious tendency upon the brethren\namong whom we labored, and also be at variance with the spirit of the\ngospel of Christ, if we did nothing at all for missionary objects, the\ncirculation of the Holy Scriptures, tracts, etc., and we were therefore\nled, for these and other reasons, to do something for the spread of the\ngospel at home and abroad, however small the beginning might be.]\n\nMarch 5. This evening, at a public meeting, brother Craik and I stated\nthe principles on which we intend to carry on the institution which we\npropose to establish for the spread of the gospel at home and abroad.\nThere was nothing outwardly influential either in the number of people\npresent or in our speeches. May the Lord graciously be pleased to grant\nhis blessing upon the institution, which will be called \"The Scriptural\nKnowledge Institution, for Home and Abroad.\"\n\n\nI. THE PRINCIPLES OF THE INSTITUTION.\n\n1. We consider every believer bound, in one way or other, to help the\ncause of Christ, and we have scriptural warrant for expecting the Lord's\nblessing upon our work of faith and labor of love; and although,\naccording to Matt. xiii. 24-43, 2 Tim. iii. 1-13, and many other\npassages, the world will not be converted before the coming of our Lord\nJesus, still, while he tarries, all scriptural means ought to be\nemployed for the ingathering of the elect of God.\n\n2. The Lord helping us, we do not mean to seek the patronage of the\nworld; _i. e._ we never intend to ask _unconverted_ persons of rank or\nwealth to countenance this Institution, because this, we consider, would\nbe dishonorable to the Lord. In the name of our God we set up our\nbanners, Ps. xx. 5; he alone shall be our patron, and if he helps us we\nshall prosper, and if he is not on our side we shall not succeed.\n\n3. We do not mean to _ask_ unbelievers for money (2 Cor. vi. 14-18);\nthough we do not feel ourselves warranted to refuse their contributions,\nif they of their own accord should offer them. Acts xxviii. 2-10.\n\n4. We reject altogether the help of unbelievers in managing or carrying\non the affairs of the Institution. 2 Cor. vi. 14-18.\n\n5. We intend never to enlarge the field of labor by contracting debts\n(Rom. xiii. 8), and afterwards appealing to the Church of Christ for\nhelp, because this we consider to be opposed both to the letter and the\nspirit of the New Testament; but in secret prayer, God helping us, we\nshall carry the wants of the Institution to the Lord, and act according\nto the means that God shall give.\n\n6. We do not mean to reckon the success of the Institution by the amount\nof money given, or the number of Bibles distributed, etc., but by the\nLord's blessing upon the work (Zech. iv. 6); and we expect this in the\nproportion in which he shall help us to wait upon him in prayer.\n\n7. While we would avoid aiming after needless singularity, we desire to\ngo on simply according to Scripture, without compromising the truth; at\nthe same time thankfully receiving any instruction which experienced\nbelievers, after prayer, upon scriptural ground, may have to give us\nconcerning the Institution.\n\n\nII. THE OBJECTS OF THE INSTITUTION.\n\n1. To _assist_ day schools, Sunday schools, and adult schools, in which\ninstruction is given upon _scriptural principles_, and as far as the\nLord may give the means, and supply us with suitable teachers, and in\nother respects make our path plain, to establish schools of this kind.\nWith this we also combine _the putting of poor children to such day\nschools_.\n\n_a._ By day schools upon scriptural principles, we understand day\nschools in which the teachers are godly persons,--in which the way of\nsalvation is scripturally pointed out,--and in which no instruction is\ngiven opposed to the principles of the gospel.\n\n_b._ Sunday schools, in which all the teachers are believers, and in\nwhich the Holy Scriptures are alone the foundation of instruction, are\nsuch only as the Institution assists with the supply of Bibles,\nTestaments, etc.; for we consider it unscriptural that any persons who\ndo not profess to know the Lord themselves should be allowed to give\nreligious instruction.\n\n_c._ The Institution does not assist any adult school with the supply of\nBibles, Testaments, spelling-books, etc., except the teachers are\nbelievers.\n\n2. To circulate the Holy Scriptures.\n\n3. The third object of this Institution is to aid missionary efforts.\n\nWe desire to assist those missionaries whose proceedings appear to be\nmost according to the Scriptures.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nMarch 7. To-day we have only one shilling left. This evening, when we\ncame home from our work, we found a brother, our tailor, waiting for us,\nwho brought a new suit of clothes both for brother Craik and me, which a\nbrother, whose name was not to be mentioned, had ordered for us.\n\nApril 23. Yesterday and to-day I had asked the Lord to send us twenty\npounds, that we might be able to procure a larger stock of Bibles and\nTestaments than our small funds of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution\nwould allow us to purchase; and this evening a sister, unasked, promised\nto give us that sum, adding that she felt a particular pleasure in\ncirculating the Holy Scriptures, as the simple reading of them had been\nthe means of bringing her to the knowledge of the Lord.\n\nJune 8. Lord's day. I obtained no text yesterday, notwithstanding\nrepeated prayer and reading of the word. This morning I awoke with these\nwords: \"My grace is sufficient for thee.\" As soon as I had dressed\nmyself, I turned to 2 Cor. xii. to consider this passage; but in doing\nso, after prayer, I was led to think that I had not been directed to\nthis portion for the sake of speaking on it, as I at first thought, and\nI therefore followed my usual practice in such cases, _i. e._ to read on\nin the Scriptures where I left off last evening. In doing so, when I\ncame to Heb. xi. 13-16, I felt that this was the text. Having prayed, I\nwas confirmed in it, and the Lord was pleased to open this passage to\nme. I preached on it with great enjoyment. It pleased God greatly to\nbless what I said on that passage, and at least one soul was brought\nthrough it to the Lord.\n\nJune 25. These last three days I have had very little real communion\nwith God, and have therefore been very weak spiritually, and have\nseveral times felt irritability of temper.\n\nJune 26. I was enabled, by the grace of God, to rise early, and I had\nnearly two hours in prayer before breakfast. I feel now this morning\nmore comfortable.\n\nJuly 11. I have prayed much about a master for boys' school, to be\nestablished in connection with our little Institution. Eight have\napplied for the situation, but none seemed to be suitable. Now, at\nlast, the Lord has given us a brother, who will commence the work.\n\nOctober 9. Our little Institution, established in dependence upon the\nLord, and supplied by him with means, has now been seven months in\noperation, and through it have been benefited with instruction,--1. In\nthe Sunday school, about 120 children. 2. In the adult school, about 40\nadults. 3. In the two day schools for boys and the two days schools for\ngirls, 209 children, of whom 54 have been entirely free; the others pay\nabout one third of the expense. There have been also circulated 482\nBibles and 520 New Testaments. Lastly, fifty-seven pounds has been spent\nto aid missionary exertion. The means which the Lord has sent us, as the\nfruit of many prayers, during these seven months, amount to one hundred\nand sixty-seven pounds ten shillings and halfpenny.\n\nOctober 28. We heard a most affecting account of a poor little orphan\nboy who for some time attended one of our schools, and who seems there,\nas far as we can judge, to have been brought to a real concern about his\nsoul, through what I said concerning the torments of hell, and who some\ntime ago was taken to the poorhouse, some miles out of Bristol. He has\nexpressed great sorrow that he can no longer attend our school and\nministry. May this, if it be the Lord's will, lead me to do something\nalso for the supply of the _temporal_ wants of poor children, the\npressure of which has caused this poor boy to be taken away from our\nschool!\n\nNovember 4. I spent the greater part of the morning in reading the word\nand in prayer, and asked also for our daily bread, for we have scarcely\nany money left. November 5. I spent almost the whole of the day in\nprayer and reading the word. I prayed also again for the supply of our\ntemporal wants, but the Lord has not as yet appeared. November 8.\nSaturday. The Lord has graciously again supplied our temporal wants\nduring this week, though at the commencement of it we had but little\nleft. I have prayed much this week, for money, more than any other week,\nas far as I remember, since we have been in Bristol. The Lord has\nsupplied us through our selling what we did not need, or by our being\npaid what was owed to us.\n\nDecember 10. To-day we found that a departed brother had left both to\nbrother Craik and me twelve pounds.\n\nDecember 31, 1834. 1. Since brother Craik and I have been laboring in\nBristol, 227 brethren and sisters have been added to us in fellowship.\nOut of the 227 who have been added to us, 103 have been converted\nthrough our instrumentality, and many have been brought into the liberty\nof the gospel, or reclaimed from backsliding. Forty-seven young converts\nare at Gideon, and fifty-six at Bethesda. 2. The income which the Lord\nhas given me during this year is:--\n\n 1. My part of the freewill offerings through the boxes,  L135 13 21/4\n\n 2. Money given to me by saints in and out of Bristol       92  7 6\n                                                          -------------\n    Altogether                                            L228  0 81/4\n\n 3. Besides this, many articles in provisions, clothing,\n     and furniture, worth to us about                       60  0 0\n\nJanuary 1, 1835. We had last evening an especial prayer meeting, for the\nsake of praising the Lord for all his many mercies, which we have\nreceived during the past year, and to ask him to continue to us his\nfavor. January 13. I visited from house to house the people living in\nOrange Street, and saw in this way the families living in nine houses,\nto ascertain whether any individuals wanted Bibles, whether they could\nread, whether they wished their children put to our day schools or\nSunday school, with the view of helping them accordingly. This afforded\nopportunities to converse with them about their souls.\n\nJanuary 15. This morning I went again from house to house in Orange\nStreet. I should greatly delight in being frequently engaged in such\nwork, for it is a most important one; but our hands are so full with\nother work that we can do but little in this way. January 21. Received,\nin answer to prayer, from an unexpected quarter, five pounds, for the\nScriptural Knowledge Institution. The Lord pours in, whilst we seek to\npour out. For during the past week, merely among the poor, in going from\nhouse to house, fifty-eight copies of the Scriptures were sold at\nreduced prices, the going on with which is most important, but will\nrequire much means.\n\nJanuary 28. I have, for these several days, prayed much to ascertain\nwhether the Lord will have me to go as a missionary to the East Indies,\nand I am most willing to go, if he will condescend to use me in this\nway. January 29. I have been greatly stirred up to pray about going to\nCalcutta as a missionary. May the Lord guide me in this matter! (After\nall my repeated and earnest prayer in the commencement of 1835, and\nwillingness on my part to go, if it were the Lord's will, still, he did\nnot send me.)\n\nFebruary 25. In the name of the Lord, and in dependence upon him alone\nfor support, we have established a fifth day school for poor children,\nwhich to-day has been opened. We have now two boys' schools and three\ngirls' schools.\n\n    Mr. Mueller having determined to visit Germany, chiefly on\n    missionary business, reached London February 27, and writes:--\n\nThis morning I went to the Alien Office for my passport. On entering the\noffice, I saw a printed paper, in which it is stated that every alien\nneglecting to renew every six months his certificate of residence, which\nhe receives on depositing his passport, subjects himself to a penalty\nof fifty pounds, or imprisonment. This law I have ignorantly broken ever\nsince I left London, in 1829. It appeared to me much better to confess\nat once that I had ignorantly done so than now wilfully break it;\n_trusting in the Lord as it regarded the consequences of the step_. I\ndid so, and _the Lord inclined the heart of the officer with whom I had\nto do to pass over my non-compliance with the law, on account of my\nhaving broken it ignorantly_. Having obtained my passport, I found an\nunexpected difficulty in the Prussian ambassador refusing to sign it, as\nit did not contain a description of my person, and therefore I needed to\nprove that I was the individual spoken of in the passport. This\ndifficulty was not removed for three days, when, _after earnest prayer_,\nthrough a paper signed by some citizens of London, to whom I am known,\nthe ambassador was satisfied. This very difficulty, when once the Lord\nhad removed it, afforded me cause for thanksgiving; for I now obtained a\n_new_ passport, worded in a way that, should I ever need it again, will\nprevent similar difficulties.\n\n    Mr. Mueller was absent for five weeks, during which time he\n    experienced many answers to prayer and encouragements to faith.\n\nApril 15. Bristol. Yesterday, at one, we landed in London. In answer to\nprayer, I soon obtained my things from the custom-house, and reached my\nfriends in Chancery Lane a little before two.\n\nJune 3. To-day we had a public meeting on account of the Scriptural\nKnowledge Institution for Home and Abroad. It is now fifteen months\nsince, in dependence upon the Lord for the supply of means, we have been\nenabled to provide poor children with schooling, circulate the Holy\nScriptures, and aid missionary labors. During this time, though the\nfield of labor has been continually enlarging, and though we have now\nand then been brought low in funds, the Lord has never allowed us to be\nobliged to stop the work. We have been enabled during this time to\nestablish three day schools, and to connect with the Institution two\nother charity day schools, which, humanly speaking, otherwise would have\nbeen closed for want of means. The number of the children that have been\nthus provided with schooling, in the day schools only, amounts to 439.\nThe number of copies of the Holy Scriptures which have been circulated\nis 795 Bibles and 753 New Testaments. We have also sent, in aid of\nmissionary labors in Canada, in the East Indies, and on the Continent of\nEurope, one hundred and seventeen pounds, eleven shillings. The whole\namount of the free-will offerings put into our hands for carrying on\nthis work from March 5, 1834, to May 19, 1835, is L363 12s. 03/4d.\n\nJune 22. This morning at two my father-in-law died. June 25. Our little\nboy is so ill that I have no hope of his recovery. The Lord's holy will\nbe done concerning the dear little one. June 26. My prayer, last\nevening, was, that God would be pleased to support my dear wife under\nthe trial, should he remove the little one; and to take him soon to\nhimself, thus sparing him from suffering. I did not pray for the child's\nrecovery. It was but two hours after that the dear little one went home.\nI am so fully enabled to realize that the dear infant is so much better\noff with the Lord Jesus than with us, that I scarcely feel the loss at\nall, and when I weep I weep for joy.\n\nJuly 18. I have felt for several days weak in my chest. This weakness\nhas been increasing, and to-day I have felt it more than ever. I have\nthought it well to refrain next week from all public speaking. May the\nLord grant that I may be brought nearer to him through this, for I am\nnot at all in the state in which I ought to be, and I think sometimes\nthat our late afflictions have been lost upon me, and that the Lord will\nneed to chastise me severely.\n\nJuly 31. To-day brother C----r, formerly a minister in the\nestablishment, who came to us a few days since, began, in connection\nwith the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, to go from house to house to\nspread the truth as a city missionary. [This was a remarkable\ninterposition of God. Brother Craik had before this, for some months,\nbeen unable, on account of bodily infirmity, to labor in the work of the\nschools, the circulation of the Scriptures, etc., and my own weakness,\nshortly after brother C----r's arrival, increased so that I was obliged\nto give up the work entirely. How gracious, therefore, of the Lord to\nsend brother C----r, that thus the work might go on! Up to July, 1837,\nthis beloved brother was enabled to continue in his work, and thus this\nlittle Institution was in a most important way enlarged as it regards\nthe field of labor.]\n\nAugust 24. I feel very weak, and suffer more than before from the\ndisease. I am in doubt whether to leave Bristol entirely for a time. I\nhave no money to go away for a change of air. I have had an invitation\nto stay for a week with a sister in the country, and I think of\naccepting the invitation, and going to-morrow. August 26. To-day I had\nfive pounds given to me _for the express purpose of using change of\nair_. August 29. To-day I received another five pounds _for the same\npurpose_.\n\nAugust 30. To-day, for the first Lord's day since our arrival in\nBristol, I have been kept from preaching through illness. How mercifully\nhas the Lord dealt in giving me so much strength for these years! I had\nanother five pounds sent _to aid me in procuring change of air_. How\nkind is the Lord in thus providing me with the means for leaving\nBristol! September 2. Went with my family to Portishead.\n\nSeptember 15. As I clearly understood that the person who lets me his\nhorse has no license, I saw that, being bound as a believer to act\naccording to the laws of the country, I could use it no longer; and as\nhorse exercise seems most important, humanly speaking, for my\nrestoration, and as this is the only horse which is to be had in the\nplace, we came to the conclusion to leave Portishead to-morrow.\n_Immediately after_, I received a kind letter from a brother and two\nsisters in the Lord, who live in the Isle of Wight, which contained a\nfourth invitation, more pressing than ever, to come and stay with them\nfor some time. In addition to this, they wrote that they had repeatedly\nprayed about the matter, and were persuaded that I ought to come. This\nmatter has been to-day a subject for prayer.\n\nSeptember 16. We came this morning to the conclusion that _I_ should go\nto the Isle of Wight; but we saw not how my wife and child and our\nservant could accompany me, as we had not sufficient money for\ntravelling expenses; and yet this seemed of importance. The Lord\ngraciously removed the difficulty this evening; for we received, _most\nunexpectedly and unasked for_, five pounds and thirteen shillings, which\nwas owed to us, and also, when we had already retired to rest, a letter\nwas brought, containing a present of two pounds. How very, very kind and\ntender is the Lord!\n\nSeptember 19. This evening we arrived at our friends' in the Isle of\nWight, by whom we were most kindly received.\n\nSeptember 29. Last evening, when I retired from the family, I had a\ndesire to go to rest at once, for I had prayed a short while before; and\nfeeling weak in body, the coldness of the night was a temptation to me\nto pray no further. However, the Lord did help me to fall upon my knees;\nand no sooner had I commenced praying than he shone into my soul, and\ngave me such a spirit of prayer as I had not enjoyed for many weeks. He\ngraciously once more revived his work in my heart. I enjoyed that\nnearness to God and fervency in prayer, for more than an hour, for which\nmy soul had been panting for many weeks past. For the first time, during\nthis illness, I had now also a spirit of prayer as regards my health. I\ncould ask the Lord earnestly to restore me again, which had not been the\ncase before. I now long to go back again to the work in Bristol, yet\nwithout impatience, and feel assured that the Lord will strengthen me to\nreturn to it. I went to bed especially happy, and awoke this morning in\ngreat peace, rose sooner than usual, and had again, for more than an\nhour, real communion with the Lord, before breakfast. May he in mercy\ncontinue this state of heart to his most unworthy child!\n\nOctober 9. I have many times had thoughts of giving in print some\naccount of the Lord's goodness to me, for the instruction, comfort, and\nencouragement of the children of God. I have considered to-day all the\nreasons for and against, and find that there are scarcely any against,\nand many for it.\n\nNovember 15. Bristol. Brother C----r and I have been praying together,\nthe last five days, that the Lord would be pleased to send us means for\ncarrying on the work of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. This\nevening, a brother gave me six shillings and one penny, being money\nwhich he formerly used to pay towards the support of a trade club, which\nhe has lately given up for the Lord's sake. November 18. This evening\nthirty pounds were given to me; twenty-five pounds for the Scriptural\nKnowledge Institution, and five pounds for myself. This is a most\nremarkable answer to prayer. Brother C----r and I have prayed repeatedly\ntogether during the last week concerning the work, and especially that\nthe Lord would be pleased to give us the means to continue, and even\nenlarge the field. In addition to this, I have several times asked for a\nsupply for myself, and he has kindly granted both these requests. O that\nI may have grace to trust him more and more!\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII.\n\nHOME FOR DESTITUTE ORPHANS.\n\n1835-1836.\n\n    FRANKE'S WORKS FOLLOW HIM--GREAT UNDERTAKING CONCEIVED--REASONS\n    FOR ESTABLISHING AN ORPHAN HOUSE--PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE--TREASURE\n    LAID UP IN HEAVEN--IN PRAYER AND IN FAITH, THE WORK IS BEGUN.\n\n\nNovember 20. This evening I took tea at a sister's house, where I found\nFranke's life. I have frequently, for a long time, thought of laboring\nin a similar way, on a much smaller scale; not to imitate Franke, but in\nreliance upon the Lord. May God make it plain! November 21. To-day I\nhave had it very much impressed on my heart, no longer merely to _think_\nabout the establishment of an orphan house, but actually to set about\nit, and I have been very much in prayer respecting it, in order to\nascertain the Lord's mind. November 23. To-day I had ten pounds sent\nfrom Ireland, for our Institution. The Lord, in answer to prayer, has\ngiven me, in a few days, about fifty pounds. I had asked only for forty\npounds. This has been a great encouragement to me, and has still more\nstirred me up to think and pray about the establishment of an orphan\nhouse. Nov. 25. I have been again much in prayer yesterday and to-day\nabout the orphan house, and am more and more convinced that it is of\nGod. May he in mercy guide me!\n\nIt may be well to enter somewhat minutely upon the reasons which led me\nto establish an orphan house. Through my pastoral labors, through my\ncorrespondence, and through brethren who visited Bristol, I had\nconstantly cases brought before me, which proved that one of the\nespecial things which the children of God needed in our day, was, _to\nhave their faith strengthened_. I might visit a brother who worked\nfourteen or even sixteen hours a day at his trade, the necessary result\nof which was, that not only his body suffered, but his soul was lean,\nand he had no enjoyment in God. I might point out to him that he ought\nto work less, in order that his bodily health might not suffer, and that\nhe might gather strength for his inner man, by reading the word of God,\nby meditation over it, and by prayer. The reply, however, I generally\nfound to be something like this: \"But if I work less, I do not earn\nenough for the support of my family. Even now, whilst I work so much, I\nhave scarcely enough.\" There was no trust in God, no real belief in the\ntruth of that word, \"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his\nrighteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.\" I might\nreply something like this: \"My dear brother, it is not your work which\nsupports your family, but the Lord; and he who has fed you and your\nfamily when you could not work at all, on account of illness, would\nsurely provide for you and yours; if, for the sake of obtaining food for\nyour inner man, you were to work only for so many hours a day as would\nallow you proper time for retirement. And is it not the case now that\nyou begin the work of the day after having had only a few hurried\nmoments for prayer; and when you leave off your work in the evening, and\nmean then to read a little of the word of God, are you not too much worn\nout in body and mind to enjoy it, and do you not often fall asleep\nwhilst reading the Scriptures, or whilst on your knees in prayer?\" The\nbrother would allow it was so; he would allow that my advice was good;\nbut still I read in his countenance, even if he should not have actually\nsaid so, \"How should I get on, if I were to _carry out_ your advice?\" I\nlonged, therefore, to have something to point the brother to, as a\nvisible proof that our God and Father is the same faithful God that he\never was,--as willing as ever to PROVE himself the LIVING GOD, in our\nday as formerly, _to all who put their trust in him_.\n\nAgain, sometimes I found children of God tried in mind by the prospect\nof old age, when they might be unable to work any longer, and therefore\nwere harassed by the fear of having to go into the poorhouse. If in such\na case I pointed out to them how their heavenly Father has always helped\nthose who put their trust in him, they might not _say_ that times have\nchanged; but yet it was evident enough that God was not looked upon by\nthem as the LIVING God. I longed to set something before the children of\nGod whereby they might see that he does not forsake, even in our day,\nthose who rely upon him.\n\nAnother class of persons were brethren in business, who suffered in\ntheir souls, and brought guilt on their consciences, by carrying on\ntheir business almost in the same way as unconverted persons do. The\ncompetition in trade, the bad times, the over-peopled country, were\ngiven as reasons why, if the business were carried on simply according\nto the word of God, it could not be expected to do well. Such a brother,\nperhaps, would express the wish that he might be differently situated,\nbut very rarely did I see _that there was a stand made for God, that\nthere was the holy determination to trust in the living God, and to\ndepend on him, in order that a good conscience might be maintained_. To\nthis class, likewise, I desired to show by a visible proof that God is\nunchangeably the same.\n\nThen there was another class of persons, individuals who were in\nprofessions in which they could not continue with a good conscience, or\npersons who were in an unscriptural position with reference to spiritual\nthings; but both classes feared, on account of the consequences, to give\nup the profession in which they could not abide with God, or to leave\ntheir position, lest they should be thrown out of employment. My spirit\nlonged to be instrumental in strengthening their faith, by giving them\nnot only instances from the word of God of his willingness and ability\nto help all those who rely upon him, but _to show them by proofs_ that\nhe is the same in our day. I well knew _that the word of God ought to be\nenough_; but I considered that I ought to lend a helping hand to my\nbrethren, if by any means, by this visible proof to the unchangeable\nfaithfulness of the Lord, I might strengthen their hands in God; for I\nremembered what a great blessing my own soul had received through the\nLord's dealings with his servant A. H. Franke, who, in dependence upon\nthe living God alone, established an immense orphan house, which I had\nseen many times with my own eyes. I therefore judged myself bound to be\nthe servant of the church of Christ in the particular point on which I\nhad obtained mercy; namely, _in being able to take God by his word, and\nto rely upon it_.\n\nAll these exercises of my soul, which resulted from the fact that so\nmany believers with whom I became acquainted were harassed and\ndistressed in mind, or brought guilt on their consciences on account of\nnot trusting in the Lord, were used by God to awaken in my heart the\ndesire of setting before the church at large, and before the world, a\nproof that he has not in the least changed; and this seemed to me best\ndone by the establishing of an orphan house. It needed to be something\nwhich could be seen, even by the natural eye. Now, if I, a poor man,\nsimply by prayer and faith, obtained, _without asking any individual_,\nthe means for establishing and carrying on an orphan house, there would\nbe something which, with the Lord's blessing, might be instrumental in\nstrengthening the faith of the children of God, besides being a\ntestimony to the consciences of the unconverted of the reality of the\nthings of God.\n\nThis, then, was the primary reason for establishing the orphan house. I\ncertainly did from my heart desire to be used by God to benefit the\nbodies of poor children, bereaved of both parents, and seek in other\nrespects, with the help of God, to do them good for this life. I also\nparticularly longed to be used by God in getting the dear orphans\ntrained up in the fear of God; but still, the first and primary object\nof the work was, and still is, that God might be magnified by the fact\nthat the orphans under my care are provided with all they need, only\n_by prayer and faith_, without any one being asked by me or my\nfellow-laborers, whereby it may be seen that God is FAITHFUL STILL, and\nHEARS PRAYER STILL. That I was not mistaken, has been abundantly proved\nsince November, 1835, both by the conversion of many sinners who have\nread the accounts which have been published in connection with this\nwork, and also by the abundance of fruit that has followed in the hearts\nof the saints, for which, from my inmost soul, I desire to be grateful\nto God, and the honor and glory of which not only is due to him alone,\nbut which I, by his help, am enabled to ascribe to him.\n\nNovember 28. I have been, every day this week, very much in prayer\nconcerning the orphan house, chiefly entreating the Lord to take away\nevery thought concerning it out of my mind if the matter be not of him;\nand have also repeatedly examined my heart concerning my motives in the\nmatter. But I have been more and more confirmed that it is of God.\n\nDecember 2. I have again these last days prayed much about the orphan\nhouse, and have frequently examined my heart, that if it were at all my\ndesire to establish it for the sake of gratifying myself I might find it\nout. To that end I have also conversed with brother Craik about it, that\nhe might be instrumental in showing me any hidden corruption of my heart\nconcerning the matter, or any other scriptural reason against my\nengaging in it. The one only reason which ever made me at all doubt as\nto its being of God that _I_ should engage in this work, is the\nmultiplicity of engagements which I have already. But if the matter be\nof God, he will in due time send suitable individuals, so that\ncomparatively little of my time will be taken up in this service.\n\nThis morning I asked the Lord especially that he would be pleased to\nteach me through the instrumentality of brother C.; and I went to him,\nthat he might have an opportunity of probing my heart. For as I desire\nonly the Lord's glory, I should be glad to be instructed through the\ninstrumentality of any brother, if the matter be not of him. But brother\nC., on the contrary, greatly encouraged me in it. Therefore, I have this\nday taken the first actual step in the matter, in having ordered bills\nto be printed, announcing a public meeting on December 9, at which I\nintend to lay before the brethren my thoughts concerning the orphan\nhouse, as a means of ascertaining more clearly the Lord's mind\nconcerning the matter. December 5. This evening I was struck, in reading\nthe Scriptures, with these words: \"Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill\nit.\" I was led to apply this Scripture to the orphan house, and asked\nthe Lord for premises, one thousand pounds, and suitable individuals to\ntake care of the children. December 7. To-day I received the first\nshilling for the orphan house.\n\nDecember 9. This afternoon the first piece of furniture was given,--a\nlarge wardrobe. This afternoon and evening I was low in spirit as it\nregards the orphan house, but as soon as I began to speak at the meeting\nI received peculiar assistance from God. After the meeting, ten\nshillings was given to me. _There was purposely no collection_, nor did\nany one speak besides myself; for it was not in the least intended to\nwork upon the feelings, for I sought to be quite sure concerning the\nmind of God. After the meeting, a sister offered herself for the work. I\nwent home, happy in the Lord, and full of confidence that the matter\nwill come to pass, though but ten shillings has been given. December 10.\nI have sent to the press a statement, which contains the substance of\nwhat I said at the meeting last evening. I have received a letter, in\nwhich a brother and sister wrote thus: \"We propose ourselves for the\nservice of the intended orphan house, if you think us qualified for it;\nalso to give up all the furniture, etc., which the Lord has given us,\nfor its use; and to do this without receiving any salary whatever,\nbelieving that if it be the will of the Lord to employ us, he will\nsupply all our need,\" etc. In the evening a brother brought, from\nseveral individuals, three dishes, twenty-eight plates, three basins,\none jug, four mugs, three salt-stands, one grater, four knives, and five\nforks.\n\nDecember 12. While I was praying this morning that the Lord would give\nus a fresh token of his favor concerning the orphan house, a brother\nbrought three dishes, twelve plates, one basin, and one blanket. After\nthis had been given, I thanked God, and asked him to give even this day\nanother encouragement. Shortly after, fifty pounds was given, and that\nby an individual from whom, for several reasons, I could not have\nexpected this sum. Thus the hand of God appeared so much the more\nclearly. Even then I was led to pray that this day the Lord would give\nstill more. In the evening, accordingly, there was sent, by a sister,\ntwenty-nine yards of print. Also a sister offered herself for the work.\nDecember 13. A brother was influenced this day to give four shillings\nper week, as long as the Lord gives the means: eight shillings was given\nby him as two weeks' subscription. To-day a brother and sister offered\nthemselves, with all their furniture, and all their provisions which\nthey have in the house, if they can be usefully employed in the concerns\nof the orphan house.\n\nDecember 14. To-day a sister offered her services for the work. In\nthe evening another sister offered herself for the institution.\nDecember 15. A sister brought, from several friends, ten basins, eight\nmugs, one plate, five dessert spoons, six teaspoons, one skimmer, one\ntoasting-fork, one flour-dredge, three knives and forks, one sheet, one\npillow-case, one table-cloth; also one pound. In the afternoon were sent\nfifty-five yards of sheeting, and twelve yards of calico. December 16. I\ntook out of the box in my room one shilling. December 17. I was rather\ncast down last evening and this morning about the matter; questioning\nwhether I ought to be engaged in this way, and was led to ask the Lord\nto give me some further encouragement. Soon after were sent by a brother\ntwo pieces of print, the one seven and the other twenty-three and three\nfourths yards, six and three fourths yards of calico, four pieces of\nlining, about four yards altogether, a sheet, and a yard measure. This\nevening another brother brought a quantity of household articles, and\ntold me that it had been put into the heart of an individual to send\nto-morrow one hundred pounds.\n\nDecember 18. This afternoon the same brother brought, from a sister, a\ncounterpane, a flatiron-stand, eight cups and saucers, a sugar-basin, a\nmilk jug, a teacup, sixteen thimbles, five knives and forks, six\ndessert-spoons, twelve teaspoons, four combs, and two little graters;\nfrom another friend a flatiron, and a cup and saucer. At the same time\nhe brought the hundred pounds above referred to. Since the publication\nof the second edition, it has pleased the Lord to take to himself the\ndonor of this hundred pounds, and I therefore give, in this present\nedition, some further account of the donation and the donor.\n\nA. L. was known to me almost from the beginning of my coming to Bristol,\nin 1832. She earned her bread by needle-work, by which she gained from\ntwo shillings to five shillings per week; the average, I suppose, was\nnot more than three shillings sixpence, as she was weak in body. But I\ndo not remember ever to have heard her utter a word of complaint on\naccount of earning so little. Some time before I had been led to\nestablish an orphan house, her father had died, through which event she\nhad come in possession of four hundred and eighty pounds, which sum had\nbeen left to her (and the same amount to her brother and two sisters) by\nher grandmother, but of which her father had had the interest during his\nlifetime. The father, who had been much given to drinking, died in debt,\nwhich debts the children wished to pay; but the rest, besides A. L., did\nnot like to pay in full, and offered to the creditors twenty-five per\ncent, which they gladly accepted, as they had not the least legal claim\nupon the children. After the debts had been paid according to this\nagreement, sister A. L. said to herself, \"However sinful my father may\nhave been, yet he was my father, and as I have the means of paying his\ndebts to the full amount, I ought, as a believing child, to do so,\nseeing that my brother and sisters will not do it.\" She then went to all\nthe creditors secretly, and paid the full amount of the debts, which\ntook forty pounds more of her money, besides her share, which she had\ngiven before: Her brother and two sisters now gave fifty pounds each of\ntheir property to their mother; but A. L. said to herself, \"I am a\n_child of God_; surely I ought to give my mother twice as much as my\nbrothers and sisters.\" She therefore gave her mother one hundred pounds.\nShortly after this she sent me the hundred pounds towards the orphan\nhouse. I was not a little surprised when I received this money from her,\nfor I had always known her as a poor girl, and I had never heard\nanything about her having come into the possession of this money, and\nher dress had never given me the least indication of an alteration in\nher circumstances. Before, however, accepting this money from her, I had\na long conversation with her, in which I sought to probe her as to her\nmotives, and in which I sought to ascertain whether, as I had feared,\nshe might have given this money in the feeling of the moment, without\nhaving counted the cost. But I had not conversed long with this beloved\nsister, before I found that she was, in this particular, a quiet, calm,\nconsiderate follower of the Lord Jesus, and one who desired, in spite of\nwhat human reason might say, to act according to the words of our Lord,\n\"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth.\" \"Sell that ye have,\nand give alms.\" When I remonstrated with her, in order that I might see\nwhether she had counted the cost, she said to me, \"The Lord Jesus has\ngiven his _last_ drop of blood for me, and should I not give him this\nhundred pounds?\" She would also have me take five pounds for the poor\nsaints in communion with us. I mention here particularly that this dear\nsister kept all these things to herself, and did them as much as\npossible in secret; and during her lifetime, I suppose, not six brethren\nand sisters among us knew that she had ever possessed four hundred and\neighty pounds, or that she had given one hundred pounds towards the\norphan house.\n\nI relate one instance more. August 4, 1836, seven months and a half\nafter she had given the hundred pounds, she came one morning to me, and\nsaid: \"Last evening I felt myself particularly stirred up to pray about\nthe funds of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution; but whilst praying, I\nthought, _what good is it for me to pray for means, if I do not give\nwhen I have the means_, and I have therefore brought you this five\npounds.\" As I had reason to believe that, by this time, by far the\ngreater part of her money was gone, I again had a good deal of\nconversation with her, to see whether she really did count the cost, and\nwhether this donation also was given unto the Lord, or from momentary\nexcitement, in which case it was better not to give the money. However,\nshe was at this time also steadfast, grounded upon the word of God; and\nevidently constrained by the love of Christ; and all the effect my\nconversation had upon her was, that she said, \"You must take five\nshillings in addition to the five pounds, as a proof that I give the\nfive pounds cheerfully.\" And thus she constrained me to take the five\npounds and five shillings.--Four things are especially to be noticed\nabout this beloved sister, with reference to all this period of her\nearthly pilgrimage: 1. She did all these things in secret, avoiding to\nthe utmost all show about them, and thus proved that she did not desire\nthe praise of man. 2. She remained, as before, of an humble and lowly\nmind, and she proved thus that she had done what she did unto the Lord,\nand not unto man. 3. Her dress remained, during all the time that she\nhad this comparative abundance, the same as before. It was clean, yet as\nsimple and as inexpensive as it was at the time when all her income\nconsisted of three shillings and sixpence, or at most five shillings per\nweek. There was not the least difference as to her lodging, dress,\nmanner of life, etc. She remained in every way the poor handmaid of the\nLord, as to all outward appearance. 4. But that which is as lovely as\nthe rest, she continued working at her needle all this time. She earned\nher two shillings-sixpence, or three shillings, or a little more, a\nweek, by her work, as before; whilst she gave away the money in\nsovereigns or five-pound notes. At last all her money was gone, and that\nsome years before she fell asleep; and as her bodily health never had\nbeen good as long as I had known her, and was now much worse, she found\nherself peculiarly dependent upon the Lord, who never forsook her, up to\nthe last moments of her earthly course. Her body became weaker and\nweaker, in consequence of which she was able to work very little, for\nmany months before she died; but the Lord supplied her with all she\nneeded, though she never asked for anything. For instance, a sister in\ncommunion With us sent her, for many months, all the bread she used. Her\nmouth was full of thanksgiving, even in the midst of the greatest bodily\nsufferings.\n\nDecember 20. A sister gave five pounds. December 21. A friend sent one\npound. Weekly subscription of four shillings. December 22. A sister gave\nme one pound, and a friend sent two shillings and sixpence. December 23.\nA brother gave, this evening, a piece of blind line and a dozen of blind\ntassels. About ten in the evening, a gentleman brought me from an\nindividual, whose name he was not to mention, four pounds, of which I\nwas allowed to take two pounds for the orphan house, and to give the\nother two pounds to poor believers. December 31. This evening we had a\nspecial meeting for prayer and praise. There have been received into the\nchurch, during the past year, 59. There are men in communion with us,\n95. I have received for my temporal wants, in freewill offerings,\npresents, etc., L285 1s. 11/4d.\n\n    During January to May of 1836, numerous donations were made of\n    furniture, provisions, half-worn clothing, and money (varying\n    from one hundred pounds to a halfpenny). Encouraged by these\n    _unsolicited_ offerings, Mr. Mueller determined to open the\n    Orphan House.\n\nApril, 21. This day was set apart for prayer and thanksgiving concerning\nthe Orphan House, as it is now opened. In the morning, several brethren\nprayed, and brother Craik spoke on the last verses of Psalm xx. In the\nafternoon, I addressed our day and Sunday school children, the orphans,\nand other children present. In the evening we had another prayer\nmeeting. There are now seventeen children in the Orphan House.\n\nMay 6. I have now been for some years, and especially these last few\nmonths, more or less thinking and praying respecting publishing a short\naccount of the Lord's dealings with me. To-day I have at last settled to\ndo so, and have begun to write.\n\nMay 16. For these several weeks our income has been little; and though I\nhad prayed many times that the Lord would enable us to put by the taxes,\nyet the prayer remained unanswered. In the midst of it all, my comfort\nwas, that the Lord would send help by the time it would be needed. One\nthing particularly has been a trial to us of late, far more than our own\ntemporal circumstances, which is, that we have scarcely, in any measure,\nbeen able to relieve the distress among the poor saints. To-day, the\nLord, at last, after I had many times prayed to him for these weeks\npast, answered my prayers, there being seven pounds twelve shillings and\none farthing given to me as my part of the freewill offerings through\nthe boxes,--two five-pound notes having been put in yesterday, one for\nbrother Craik and one for me. Thus the Lord has again delivered us, and\nanswered our prayers, and that _not one single hour too late_; for the\ntaxes have not as yet been called for. May he fill my heart with\ngratitude for this fresh deliverance, and may he be pleased to enable me\nmore and more to trust in him, and to wait patiently for his help?\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII.\n\nTHE FIELD WIDENING.\n\n1836-1837.\n\n    AN UNEXPECTED OBSTACLE--IMPLICIT SUBMISSION--A SECOND ORPHAN\n    HOUSE PROPOSED--AN ENCOURAGING TEXT--THE NEW ORPHAN HOUSE\n    OPENED--COMPLETED ANSWER TO PRAYER--PROGRESS OF THE LORD'S\n    WORK--THE OVERSIGHT OF THE FLOCK.\n\n\n    Under date of May 18, 1836, Mr. M.  says:--\n\nIn the foregoing pages, a statement has been given of the success with\nwhich the Lord has been pleased to crown the prayers of his servant\nrespecting the establishment of an Orphan House in this city. The\nsubject of my prayer was, that he would graciously provide a house,\neither as a loan or as a gift, or that some one might be led to pay the\nrent for one; further, that he would give me one thousand pounds for the\nobject, and likewise suitable individuals to take care of the children.\nA day or two after, I was led to ask, in addition to the above, that he\nwould put it into the hearts of his people to send me articles of\nfurniture, and some clothes for the children. In answer to these\npetitions, many articles of furniture, clothing, and food were sent, a\nconditional offer of a house, as a gift, was made, individuals proposed\nthemselves to take care of the children, and various sums of money were\ngiven, varying from one hundred pounds to a halfpenny.\n\nIt may be well to state that the above results have followed in answer\nto prayer, without any one having been asked by me for one single thing;\nfrom which I have refrained, not on account of want of confidence in the\nbrethren, or because I doubted their love to the Lord, but that I might\nsee the hand of God so much the more clearly.\n\nSo far as I remember, I brought even the most minute circumstances\nconcerning the Orphan House before the Lord in my petitions, being\nconscious of my own weakness and ignorance. There was, however, one\npoint I never had prayed about, namely, that the Lord would send\nchildren; for I naturally took it for granted that there would be plenty\nof applications. The appointed time came, and not even one application\nwas made. This circumstance now led me to lie low before my God in\nprayer, and to examine my heart once more as to all the motives\nconcerning it; and being able, as formerly, to say, that his glory was\nmy chief aim, _i. e._ that it might be seen that it is not a vain thing\nto trust in the living God, and still continuing in prayer, I was at\nlast brought to this state, that I could say _from my heart_ that I\nshould rejoice in God being glorified in this matter, though it were _by\nbringing the whole to nothing_. But as still, after all, it seemed to me\nmore tending to the glory of God to establish and prosper the Orphan\nHouse, I could then ask him heartily to send applications. I enjoyed now\na peaceful state of heart concerning the subject, and was also more\nassured than ever that God would establish it. _The very next day_ the\nfirst application was made, and within a short time forty-three applied.\nI rented the house No. 6, Wilson Street, as being, on account of its\ncheapness and largeness, very suitable.\n\nI have mentioned that we intended to take in the children from the\nseventh to the twelfth year. But after six applications had been made\nfor children between four and six years of age, it became a subject of\nsolemn and prayerful consideration, whether, as long as there were\nvacancies, such children should not be received, though so young. I came\nat last to the conclusion to take in the little girls under seven years\nof age, for whom application had been made. Further, it has been\nrepeatedly brought before me, how desirable it would be to establish\nalso, in this city, an Orphan House for _male_ children, and there were\neven articles sent for _little orphan boys_. Partly, then, on account of\nthese reasons; and partly because the Institution already opened was\nquite filled in a few days; and partly because the Lord has done\nhitherto far above what I could have expected; I have at last, after\nrepeated prayer, come to the conclusion, in the name of the Lord, and in\ndependence upon him alone for support, to propose the establishment of\nan Infant Orphan House.\n\nJune 3. From May 16 up to this day I have been confined to the house,\nand a part of the time to my bed, on account of a local inflammation,\nwhich keeps me from walking. Almost every day during this time I have\nbeen able to continue writing a narrative of the Lord's dealings with\nme, which had been again laid aside after May 7, on account of a number\nof pressing engagements. It is very remarkable that the greatest\nobjection against writing it for the press was want of time. Now,\nthrough this affliction, which leaves my mind free, and gives me time,\non account of confinement to the house, I have been able to write about\na hundred quarto pages.\n\nJune 14. This morning brother C----r and I prayed unitedly, chiefly\nabout the schools and the circulation of the Scriptures. Besides asking\nfor blessings upon the work, we have also asked the Lord for the means\nwhich are needed; for on July 1, seventeen pounds ten shillings will be\ndue for the rent of school-rooms, and, besides this, we want at least\nforty pounds more to go on with the circulation of the Scriptures, to\npay the salaries of the masters, etc. Towards all this we have only\nabout seven pounds. I also prayed for the remainder of the thousand\npounds for the Orphan House.\n\nJune 21. This evening brother C----r and I found that the Lord has not\nonly been pleased to send us, through the offerings which have come in\nduring the last week, in answer to our prayers, the seventeen pounds ten\nshillings which will be due for the rent of two school-rooms on July 1,\nbut that we have five pounds more than is needed. Thus the Lord once\nmore has answered our prayers.\n\nJuly 28. For some weeks past we have not been able to pay the salary of\nthe masters and governesses _a month in advance_, but have been obliged\nto pay it _weekly_. Brother C----r and I have lately prayed repeatedly\ntogether respecting the funds, but we were now brought so low, that we\nshould not have been able to pay even this _weekly_ salary of the\nteachers, had not the Lord most remarkably helped us again to-day. For,\nbesides one pound, which was given to us, this evening a brother gave\neight pounds, which sum had been made up by a number of his workmen\n_paying weekly one penny each_, of their own accord, towards our funds.\nThe money had been collecting for many months, and, in this our\nnecessity, it had been put into the heart of this brother to bring it.\n\nJuly 29. This evening, from six to half past nine, we had a meeting for\ninquirers. There came twelve fresh cases before us.\n\nOctober 1. To-day, in dependence upon the Lord alone for means, we\nengaged a brother as a master for a sixth day school. On account of the\nmany deliverances which we have had of late, we have not hesitated to\nenlarge the field, as another boys' school was greatly needed.\n\nOctober 5. This evening twenty-five pounds was given to me for the\nScriptural Knowledge Institution. Thus the Lord has already given the\nmeans of defraying the expenses of the new boys' school for some months\nto come.\n\nOctober 19. To-day, after having many times prayed respecting the\nmatter, I have at last engaged a sister as matron for the Infant Orphan\nHouse, never having been able, up to this day, to meet with an\nindividual who seemed suitable, though there has been money enough in\nhand, for some time past, for commencing this work, and there have been\napplications made for several infant orphans.\n\nOctober 25. To-day we obtained, without any trouble, through the kind\nhand of God, very suitable premises for the Infant Orphan House.\n\nNovember 5. There was given by a brother one hundred pounds, fifty\npounds of which was previously promised, to insure the rent for\npremises. It is a remarkable fact, concerning this donation, that I had,\nin December of last year, repeatedly asked the Lord to incline the heart\nof this brother to give this hundred pounds, and I made a memorandum of\nthis prayer in my journal of December 12, 1835. On January 25, 1836,\nfifty pounds was promised by him, and on November 5, fifty pounds\nbesides that sum was given; but it was not till some days after, that I\nremembered that the very sum for which I had asked the Lord had been\ngiven. When it came to my mind that this prayer had been noted down in\nmy journal, and I showed it to the donor, we rejoiced together; _he_, to\nhave been the instrument in giving, and _I_ to have had the request\ngranted.\n\nNovember 30. On account of many pressing engagements, I had not been\nled, for some time past, to pray respecting the funds. But _being in\ngreat need_, I was led, yesterday morning, earnestly to ask the Lord;\nand in answer to this petition a brother gave me, last evening, ten\npounds. He had had it in his heart, for several months past, to give\nthis sum, but had been hitherto kept from it, not having the means.\nJust now, in this our great necessity, the Lord furnished him with the\nmeans, and we were helped in this way. In addition to this ten pounds, I\nreceived last evening a letter with five pounds, from a sister whom I\nnever saw, and who has been several times used by God as an instrument\nto supply our wants. She writes thus: \"It has been so much on my mind\nlately to send you some money, that I feel as if there must be some\nneed, which the Lord purposes to honor me by making me the instrument of\nsupplying. I therefore enclose you five pounds, all I have in the house\nat this moment.\"\n\nDecember 9. One pound, with Mark ix. 36-7: \"And taking a little child,\nhe set him in the midst of them,\" etc., a most encouraging passage for\nthis work, the force of which I had never felt before.\n\nDecember 15. This day was set apart for prayer and thanksgiving\nrespecting the Infant Orphan House, which was opened on November 28. In\nthe morning we had a prayer meeting. In the afternoon, besides prayer\nand thanksgiving, I addressed the children of our day schools and the\norphans, about 350, on Ecclesiastes xii. 1.\n\n    In addition to the items mentioned above, donations were\n    received during the year, of money, food, clothes, books, boxes,\n    coal-hods, ornaments (to be sold), etc.; also, the offer of\n    gratuitous medical attendance, and medicine. Up to the close of\n    1836, seven hundred and seventy pounds and ninepence halfpenny\n    had been given, and forty pounds promised.\n\nDecember 31. We had this evening a prayer meeting to praise the Lord for\nhis goodness during the past year, and to ask him for a continuance of\nhis favors.\n\nDuring the past year there have been received into the church, 52; and\nthe Lord has been pleased to give me, as it regards my temporal\nsupplies, L232 11s. 9d.\n\nJanuary 2, 1837. This evening the two churches had again an especial\nprayer meeting.\n\nJanuary 5. To-day a sister called and told me about the conversion of\nher father, who, in his eightieth year, after having for many years\nlived openly in sin, is at last brought to the knowledge of the Lord.\nThis sister had long prayed for the conversion of her father, and at\nlast, though only after twenty years, the Lord gave her the desire of\nher heart.\n\nMay 18. There are now sixty-four children in the two Orphan Houses, and\ntwo more are expected, which will fill the two houses.\n\nMay 28. The narrative of some of the Lord's dealings with me is now near\nbeing published, which has led me again most earnestly this day week,\nand repeatedly since, to ask the Lord that he would be pleased to give\nme what is wanting of the one thousand pounds, for which sum I have\nasked him on behalf of the orphans; for though, in my own mind, the\nthing is as good as done, so much so that I have repeatedly been able to\nthank God that he will surely give me every shilling of that sum, yet to\nothers this would not be enough. As the whole matter, then, about the\nOrphan House had been commenced for the glory of God, that in this way\nbefore the world and the church there might be another visible proof\nthat the Lord delights in answering prayer; and as there was yet a part\nof the thousand pounds wanting; and _as I earnestly desired the book\nmight not leave the press_ before every shilling of that sum had been\ngiven in answer to prayer, _without one single individual having been\nasked by me for anything_, that thus I might have the sweet privilege of\nbearing my testimony for God in this book;--for these reasons, I say, I\nhave given myself earnestly to prayer about this matter since May 21. On\nMay 22 came in seven pounds and ten shillings, and on May 23, three\npounds. On May 24, a lady, whom I never saw before, called on me, and\ngave me forty pounds. This circumstance has greatly encouraged me; for\nthe Lord showed me thereby, afresh, his willingness to continue to send\nus _large sums_, and that they can even come from individuals whom we\nhave never seen before. On May 25, three pounds and six shillings were\nsent, from two unexpected quarters. On May 27 was sent, anonymously, a\nparcel of worn clothes, from London, and a sovereign. To-day (May 28) I\nreceived again four pounds three shillings and sixpence; and also a\nparcel was sent from a considerable distance, containing seven pairs of\nsocks, and the following trinkets, to be sold for the support of the\norphans: one gold pin with an Irish pearl, fifteen Irish pearls, two\npins, two brooches, two lockets, one seal, two studs, eleven rings, one\nchain, and one bracelet, all of gold.\n\nJune 15. To-day I gave myself once more earnestly to prayer respecting\nthe remainder of the thousand pounds. This evening five pounds were\ngiven, so that now the whole sum is made up. During eighteen months and\nten days this petition has been brought before God almost daily. From\nthe moment I asked till the Lord granted it fully, I had never been\nallowed to doubt that he would give every shilling of that sum. Often\nhave I praised him beforehand, in the assurance that he would grant my\nrequest. The thing after which we have especially to seek in prayer is,\nthat we believe that we receive, according to Mark xi. 24: \"_What things\nsoever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye\nshall have them._\"\n\nAs the Lord has so greatly condescended to listen to my prayers, and as\nI consider it one of the particular talents which he has intrusted to me\nto exercise faith upon his promises, as it regards my own temporal\nwants and those of others; and as an Orphan House for _boys_ above seven\nyears of age seems greatly needed in this city; and as also without it\nwe know not how to provide for the little _boys_ in the Infant Orphan\nHouse, when they are above seven years of age, I purpose to establish an\nOrphan House for about forty boys above seven years of age.\n\nJuly 12. The same friend who gave me on May 24, 1837, forty pounds for\nthe orphans, and whom, up to that time, I had never seen, gave four\nhundred and sixty pounds more, being altogether five hundred pounds.\n\nIt is now three years and four months since brother Craik and I began,\nin dependence upon the Lord for funds, to seek to help the spread of the\ngospel through the instrumentality of schools, the circulation of the\nHoly Scriptures, and by aiding missionary exertions. Since then there\nhave been circulated, through our instrumentality, 4,030 copies of the\nScriptures; four day schools, for poor children, have been _established_\nby us; 1,119 children have been instructed in the six day schools, and\n353 children are now in those six day schools. Besides this, a Sunday\nschool and an adult school have been supplied with all they needed, and\nmissionary exertions in the East Indies, in Upper Canada, and on the\ncontinent of Europe, have been aided. In addition to this, the word of\nGod has been preached from house to house among the poor, in connection\nwith the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, by brother C----r, within the\nlast two years.\n\n    On the 15th of August, 1837, the preceding portion of this\n    narrative was published.\n\nAug. 17. To-day two more children were received into the Infant Orphan\nHouse, which makes up our full number, sixty-six in the Girls' and\nInfant Orphan Houses.\n\nSeptember 2. I have been looking about for a house for the orphan boys,\nthese last three days. Everything else has been provided. The Lord has\ngiven suitable individuals to take care of the children, money, etc. In\nhis own time he will give a house also.\n\nSeptember 19. It was to-day particularly impressed upon my heart that I\nought to seek for more retirement, though the work should _apparently_\nsuffer ever so much; and that arrangements should be made whereby I may\nbe able to visit the brethren more, as an _unvisited_ church will sooner\nor later become an _unhealthy church_. Pastors, as fellow-laborers, are\ngreatly needed among us.\n\nSeptember 28. I have for a long time been too much outwardly engaged.\nYesterday morning I spent about three hours in the vestry of Gideon, to\nbe able to have more time for retirement. I meant to do the same in the\nafternoon, but before I could leave the house I was called on, and thus\none person after the other came, till I had to go out. Thus it has been\nagain to-day.\n\nOctober 16. For a long time past brother Craik and I have felt the\nimportance of more pastoral visiting, and it has been _one of our\ngreatest trials_ that we have been unable to give more time to it. This\nevening we had purposely a meeting of the two churches, at which brother\nCraik and I, and a brother from Devonshire, spoke on: I. The importance\nof pastoral visiting. II. The particular obstacles which hindered us in\nattending to it. III. The question whether there was any way of removing\nsome of the obstacles.\n\nI. As to the importance of pastoral visiting, the following points were\nmentioned: 1. Watching over the saints, by means of visiting them, to\nprevent coldness, or to recover them from backsliding. 2. To counsel and\nadvise them in family affairs, in their business, and in spiritual\nmatters. 3. To keep up that loving and familiar intercourse which is so\ndesirable between saints and those who have the oversight of them. These\nvisits should be, if possible, frequent; but in our case there have been\nseveral obstacles in the way.\n\nII. The particular obstacles in our case are: 1. The largeness of the\nnumber who are in communion with us. One hundred would be quite as many\nas we have strength to visit regularly, and as often as would be\ndesirable; but there are nearly four hundred in fellowship with us. 2.\nThe distance of the houses of the saints from our own dwellings, as many\nlive more than two miles off. 3. The Lord's blessing upon our labors.\nNot one year has passed away, since we have been in Bristol, without\nmore than fifty having been added to our number, each of whom, in\ngeneral, needed several times to be conversed with before being admitted\ninto fellowship. 4. That brother Craik and I have each of us the care of\ntwo churches. At the first sight it appears as if the work is thus\ndivided, but the double number of meetings, etc., nearly double the\nwork. 5. The mere ruling, and taking care, in general, of a large body\nof believers, irrespective of the other work, takes much more time, and\nrequires much more strength, than the taking care of a small body of\nbelievers, as we, by grace, desire not to allow known sin among us. 6.\nThe position which we have in the church at large brings many brethren\nto us who travel through Bristol, who call on us, or lodge with us, and\nto whom, according to the Lord's will, we have to give some time. 7. In\nmy own case, an extensive needful correspondence. 8. The weakness of\nbody on the part of both of us. When the preaching is done,--when\nstrangers who lodge with us are gone,--when the calls at our house are\nover,--when the needful letters, however briefly, are written,--when the\nnecessary church business is settled,--our minds are often so worn out\nthat we are glad to be quiet. 9. But suppose we have bodily strength\nremaining, after the above things have been attended to, yet the frame\nof mind is not always so as that one could visit. After having been\nparticularly tried by church matters, which in so large a body does not\nrarely occur, or being cast down in one's own soul, one may be fit for\nthe closet, but not for visiting the saints. 10. Lastly, in my own case,\nno small part of my time is taken up by attending to the affairs of the\nOrphan Houses, schools, the circulation of the Scriptures, the aiding\nmissionary efforts, and other work connected with the Scriptural\nKnowledge Institution.\n\nIII. What is to be done under these circumstances? 1. In the days of the\napostles there would have been more brethren to take the oversight of so\nlarge a body as we are. The Lord has not laid upon us a burden which is\ntoo heavy for us; he is not a hard master. It is evident that he does\nnot mean us _even to attempt to visit all the saints_ as much as is\nevidently needful, and much less as frequently as it would be desirable.\nWe mention this, to prevent uncomfortable feelings on the part of the\ndear saints under our pastoral care, who find themselves not as much\nvisited as they used to be when we came to Bristol, when the number of\nthem was not seventy, and now it is about four hundred, and when in many\nother respects the work in our hands was not half so much as it is now,\nand when we had much more bodily strength. 2. It is therefore evident\nthat there are other pastors needed; not nominal pastors, but such as\nthe Lord has called, to whom he has given a pastor's heart and pastoral\ngifts. 3. Such may be raised up by the Lord from our own number, or the\nLord may send them from elsewhere. 4. But in the mean time we should at\nleast see whether there are not helpers among us. 5. As to the work\nitself, in order that time may be saved, it appears desirable that the\ntwo churches, Bethesda and Gideon, should be united into one, that the\nbreaking of bread should be alternately, and that the number of weekly\nmeetings should be reduced.\n\nOctober 21. To-day the Lord has given me a house for the Orphan Boys, in\nthe same street in which the other two Orphan Houses are.\n\n    Mr. Mueller's health having suffered from his cares, money was\n    sent him from unexpected sources, to be used in travelling and\n    recreation.\n\n\nREVIEW OF THE YEAR 1837.\n\n1. There are now eighty-one children in the three Orphan Houses, and\nnine brethren and sisters, who have the care of them. Ninety, therefore,\ndaily sit down to table. Lord, look on the necessities of thy servant!\n\n2. The schools require as much help as before; nay, more, particularly\nthe Sunday school, in which there are at present about 320 children, and\nin the day schools about 350. Lord, thy servant is a poor man; but he\nhas trusted in thee, and made his boast in thee, before the sons of men;\ntherefore let him not be confounded! Let it not be said all this was\nenthusiasm, and therefore it is come to naught!\n\n3. My temporal supplies have been L307 2s. 61/2d.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX.\n\nTRIAL.\n\n1838.\n\n    THE MINISTRY OF SICKNESS--PEACE OF MIND--JESUS A PRESENT\n    HELP--DEEP POVERTY--PLEADING WITH GOD--UNITED PRAYER.\n\n\nJanuary 6, 1838. I feel little better in my head, though my general\nhealth seems improved; but my kind physician says I am much better, and\nadvises me now change of air. This evening a sister, who resides about\nfifty miles from hence, and who is quite unacquainted with the medical\nadvice given to me this morning, sent me fifteen pounds for the express\npurpose of change of air; and wrote that she felt assured, from having\nbeen similarly afflicted, that nothing would do me so much good, humanly\nspeaking, as quiet and change of air.\n\nJanuary 7. This is the ninth Lord's day that I have been kept from\nministering in the word. My affliction is connected with a great\ntendency to irritability of temper; yea, with some satanic feeling,\nforeign to me even naturally.\n\nJanuary 10. To-day I went with my family to Trowbridge. Jan. 14. Lord's\nday. I have spent several hours in prayer to-day, and read on my knees,\nand prayed for two hours over Psalm lxiii. God has blessed my soul much\nto-day. My soul is now brought into that state that I delight myself in\nthe will of God, as it regards my health. Yea, I can now say, _from my\nheart_, I would not have this disease removed till God, by its means,\nhas bestowed the blessing for which it was sent.\n\nJanuary 15. I have had, since yesterday afternoon, less suffering in my\nhead than for the last eight days; though it is even now far from being\nwell. I have still an inward assurance, on account of the spiritual\nblessings which the Lord has granted to me, that through this affliction\nhe is only purifying me for his blessed service, and that I shall be\nsoon restored to the work. To-day, also, God has continued to me\nfervency of spirit, which I have now enjoyed for three days following.\nHe has to-day, also, drawn out my soul into much real communion with\nhimself, and into holy desires to be more conformed to his dear Son.\nWhen God gives a spirit of prayer, how easy then to pray! Nevertheless,\nit was given to me in the use of the means, as I fell on my knees last\nSaturday, to read his word with meditation, and to turn it into prayer.\nTo-day I spent about three hours in prayer over Psalms lxiv. and lxv. In\nreference to that precious word, \"O thou that hearest prayer,\" (Ps. lxv.\n2,) I asked the Lord the following petitions, and entreated him to\nrecord them in heaven, and to answer them.\n\n1. That he would give me grace to glorify him by a submissive and\npatient spirit under my affliction.\n\n2. That as I was enabled now, and _only now from my heart_, to praise\nGod for this affliction, he would not remove his hand from me until he\nhad qualified me for his work more than I have been hitherto.\n\n3. That he would be pleased to grant that the work of conversion,\nthrough the instrumentality of brother Craik and myself, might not\ncease, but go on as much now as when we first came to Bristol, yea, more\nabundantly than even then.\n\n4. That he would be pleased to give more real spiritual prosperity to\nthe church under our care than ever we have as yet enjoyed.\n\n5. Having praised him for the sale of so many copies of my Narrative in\nso short a time, I entreated him to cause every copy to be disposed of.\n\n6. I asked him to continue to let his rich blessing rest upon this\nlittle work, and more abundantly, so that many may be converted through\nit, and many of the children of God truly benefited by it, and that thus\nI might now be speaking through it, though laid aside from active\nservice.\n\n7. I asked him for his blessing, in the way of conversion, to rest upon\nthe orphans, and upon the Sunday and day-school children under our care.\n\n8. I asked him for means to carry on these Institutions, and to enlarge\nthem.\n\nThese are some of the petitions which I have asked of my God this\nevening, in connection with this his own word. I believe _he has heard\nme_. I believe he will make it manifest in his own good time that _he\nhas heard_ me, and I have recorded these my petitions, this 15th day of\nJanuary, 1838, that when God has answered them he may get, through this,\nglory to his name. [Whilst writing this second part, I add to the praise\nof the Lord, and for the encouragement of the children of God, that\npetitions 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, have been _fully_ answered, and the other\npetitions, likewise, in part.]\n\nJanuary 16. Tuesday. A blessed day. How very good is the Lord! Fervency\nof spirit, through his grace, is continued to me; though this morning,\nbut for the help of God, I should have lost it again. The weather has\nbeen very cold for several days; but to-day I suffered much, either\nbecause it was colder than before, or because I felt it more, owing to\nthe weakness of my body, and having taken so much medicine. I arose from\nmy knees and stirred the fire, but I still remained very cold. I was a\nlittle irritated by this. I moved to another part of the room, but felt\nthe cold still more. At last, having prayed for some time, I was obliged\nto rise up and take a walk to promote circulation. I now entreated the\nLord on my walk that this circumstance might not be permitted to rob me\nof the precious communion which I have had with him the last three days;\nfor this was the object at which Satan aimed. I confessed also my sin of\nirritability on account of the cold, and sought to have my conscience\ncleansed through the blood of Jesus. He had mercy upon me, my peace was\nrestored, and when I returned I sought the Lord again in prayer, and had\nuninterrupted communion with him.\n\n    His health remaining feeble, Mr. M. left England on April 6, for\n    Germany, and returned to Bristol May 7. He continues his  narrative:--\n\nMay 8. This evening I went to the prayer meeting at Gideon. I read Psalm\nciii., and was able to thank the Lord publicly for my late affliction.\nThis is the first time that I have taken any part in the public meetings\nof the brethren since November 6, 1837.\n\nJuly 12. The funds, which were this day twelvemonth about seven hundred\nand eighty pounds, are now reduced to about twenty pounds; but, thanks\nbe to the Lord, my faith is as strong, or stronger, than it was when we\nhad the larger sum in hand; nor has he at any time, from the\ncommencement of the work, allowed me to distrust him. Nevertheless, as\nour Lord will be inquired of, and as real faith is manifested as such by\nleading to prayer, I gave myself to prayer with brother T----, of the\nBoys' Orphan House, who had called on me, and who, besides my wife and\nbrother Craik, is the only individual to whom I speak about the state\nof the funds. While we were praying, an orphan child from Frome was\nbrought, and some believers at Frome, having collected among them five\npounds, sent this money with the child. Thus we received the first\nanswer at a time of need. _We have given notice for seven children to\ncome in, and purpose to give notice for five more, though our funds are\nso low, hoping that God will look on our necessities._\n\nJuly 17 and 18. These two days we have had two especial prayer meetings,\nfrom six to nine in the evening, to commend publicly to the Lord the\nBoys' Orphan House. Our funds are how very low. There are about twenty\npounds in hand, and in a few days thirty pounds, at least, will be\nneeded; but I _purposely_ avoided saying anything about our present\nnecessities, and spoke only to the praise of God, about the abundance\nwith which our gracious Father, \"the Father of the fatherless,\" has\nhitherto supplied us. This was done in order that the hand of God, in\nsending help, may be so much the more clearly seen.\n\nJuly 22. This evening I was walking in our little garden, meditating on\nHeb. xiii. 8, \"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and\nforever.\" Whilst meditating on his unchangeable love, power, wisdom,\netc., and turning all, as I went on, into prayer respecting myself; and\nwhilst applying likewise his unchangeable love, and power, and wisdom,\netc., both to my present spiritual and temporal circumstances,--all at\nonce the present need of the Orphan Houses was brought to my mind.\nImmediately I was led to say to myself, Jesus in his love and power has\nhitherto supplied me with what I have needed for the orphans, and in the\nsame unchangeable love and power he will provide me with what I may need\nfor the future. A flow of joy came into my soul whilst realizing thus\nthe unchangeableness of our adorable Lord. About one minute after, a\nletter was brought me, enclosing a bill for twenty pounds.\n\nAugust 18. I have not one penny in hand for the orphans. In a day or two\nagain many pounds will be needed. My eyes are up to the Lord. _Evening._\nBefore this day is over, I have received from a sister five pounds. She\nhad some time since put away her trinkets, to be sold for the benefit of\nthe orphans. This morning, whilst in prayer, it came to her mind, \"I\nhave this five pounds, and owe no man anything, therefore it would be\nbetter to give this money at once, as it may be some time before I can\ndispose of the trinkets.\" She therefore brought it, little knowing that\nthere was not a penny in hand.\n\nAugust 29. To-day sixteen believers were baptized. Among those who were\nbaptized was an aged brother of above eighty-four years, and one above\nseventy. For the latter, his believing wife had prayed thirty-eight\nyears, and at last the Lord answered her prayers in his conversion.\n\nAugust 31. I have been waiting on the Lord for means, as the matron's\nbooks from the Girls' Orphan House have been brought, and there is no\nmoney in hand to advance for housekeeping. But, as yet, the Lord has not\nbeen pleased to send help. As the matron called to-day for money, one of\nthe laborers gave two pounds of his own, for the present necessities.\n\nSeptember 1. The Lord in his wisdom and love has not yet sent help.\nWhence it is to come, need not be my care. But _I believe_ God will, in\ndue time, send help. His hour is not yet come. As there was money needed\nin the Boys' Orphan House also, the same brother just alluded to gave\ntwo pounds for that also. Thus we were delivered at this time likewise.\nBut now his means are gone. This is the most trying hour that as yet I\nhave had in the work, as it regards means; but I know that I shall yet\npraise the Lord for his help.\n\nSeptember 5. Our hour of trial continues still. The Lord mercifully has\ngiven enough to supply our daily necessities; but he gives _by the day_\nnow, and almost _by the hour_, as we need it. Nothing came in yesterday.\nI have besought the Lord again and again, both yesterday and to-day. It\nis as if the Lord said: \"Mine hour is not yet come.\" But I have faith in\nGod. I believe that he surely will send help, though I know not whence\nit is to come. Many pounds are needed within a few days, and there is\nnot a penny in hand. This morning two pounds was given for the present\nnecessities, by one of the laborers in the work. _Evening._ This very\nday the Lord sent again some help to encourage me to continue to wait on\nhim, and to trust in him. As I was praying this afternoon respecting the\nmatter, I felt fully assured that the Lord would send help, and praised\nhim beforehand for his help, and asked him to encourage our hearts\nthrough it. I have been also led, yesterday and to-day, to ask the Lord\nespecially that he would not allow my faith to fail. A few minutes after\nI had prayed, brother T---- came and brought four pounds one shilling\nand fivepence, which had come in in several small donations. He told me,\nat the same time, that to-morrow the books will be brought from the\nInfant Orphan House, when money must be advanced for housekeeping. I\nthought for a moment it might be well to keep three pounds of this money\nfor that purpose. But it occurred to me immediately, \"_Sufficient unto\nthe day is the evil thereof._\" The Lord can provide by to-morrow much\nmore than I need; and I therefore sent three pounds to one of the\nsisters whose quarterly salary was due, and the remaining one pound one\nshilling and fivepence to the Boys' Orphan House for housekeeping. Thus\nI am still penniless. My hope is in God; he will provide.\n\nSeptember 6. This morning the books were brought from the Infant Orphan\nHouse, and the matron sent to ask when she should fetch them, implying\nwhen they would have been looked over, and when money would be advanced\nfor housekeeping. I said, \"to-morrow,\" though I had not a single penny\nin hand. About an hour after, brother T---- sent me a note, to say that\nhe had received one pound this morning, and that last evening a brother\nhad sent twenty-nine pounds of salt, forty-four dozen of onions, and\ntwenty-six pounds of groats.[16]\n\n  [Footnote 16: Groats. Oats or other grain, with the hulls\n  removed.--ED.]\n\nSeptember 7. The time had come that I had to send money to the Infant\nOrphan House, but the Lord had not sent any more. I gave, therefore, the\npound which had come in yesterday, and two shillings and twopence which\nhad been put into the box in my house, trusting to the good Lord to send\nin more.\n\nSeptember 8. It has not pleased my gracious Lord to send me help as yet.\nYesterday and to-day I have been pleading with God eleven arguments why\nhe would be graciously pleased to send help. The arguments which I plead\nwith God are:--\n\n1. That I set about the work for the glory of God, _i. e._ that there\nmight be a visible proof, by God supplying, _in answer to prayer only_,\nthe necessities of the orphans, that he is the _living_ God, and most\nwilling, even in _our_ day, to answer prayer; and that, therefore, he\nwould be pleased to send supplies.\n\n2. That God is the \"Father of the fatherless,\" and that he, therefore,\nas their father, would be pleased to provide. Psalm lxviii. 5.\n\n3. That I have received the children in the name of Jesus, and that\ntherefore he, in these children, has been received, and is fed, and is\nclothed; and that therefore he would be pleased to consider this. Mark\nix. 36, 37.\n\n4. That the faith of many of the children of God has been strengthened\nby this work hitherto, and that, if God were to withhold the means for\nthe future, those who are weak in faith would be staggered; whilst, by a\ncontinuance of means, their faith might still further be strengthened.\n\n5. That many enemies would laugh, were the Lord to withhold supplies,\nand say, Did we not foretell that this enthusiasm would come to nothing?\n\n6. That many of the children of God, who are uninstructed, or in a\ncarnal state, would feel themselves _justified_ to continue their\nalliance with the world in the work of God, and to go on as heretofore\nin their unscriptural proceedings respecting similar institutions, so\nfar as the obtaining of means is concerned, if he were not to help me.\n\n7. That the Lord would remember that I am his child, and that he would\ngraciously pity me, and remember that _I_ cannot provide for these\nchildren, and that therefore he would not allow this burden to lie upon\nme long without sending help.\n\n8. That he would remember likewise my fellow-laborers in the work, who\ntrust in him, but who would be tried were he to withhold supplies.\n\n9. That he would remember that I should have to dismiss the children\nfrom under our scriptural instruction to their former companions.\n\n10. That he would show that those were mistaken who said, that, _at the\nfirst_, supplies might be expected, while the thing was new, but not\nafterwards.\n\n11. That I should not know, were he to withhold means, what construction\nI should put upon all the many most remarkable answers to prayer which\nhe had given me heretofore in connection with this work, and which most\nfully have shown to me that it is of God.\n\nIn some small measure I now understand, experimentally, the meaning of\nthat word, \"_how long_,\" which so frequently occurs in the prayers of\nthe Psalms. But even now, by the grace of God, my eyes are up unto him\nonly, and I believe that he will send help.\n\nSept. 10. Monday morning. Neither Saturday nor yesterday had any money\ncome in. It appeared to me now needful to take some steps on account of\nour need, _i. e._ to go to the Orphan Houses, call the brethren and\nsisters together (who, except brother T----, had never been informed\nabout the state of the funds), state the case to them, see how much\nmoney was needed for the present, tell them that amidst all this trial\nof faith I still believed that God would help, and to pray with them.\nEspecially, also, I meant to go for the sake of telling them that no\nmore articles must be purchased than we have the means to pay for, but\nto let there be nothing lacking in any way to the children, as it\nregards nourishing food and needful clothing; for I would rather at once\nsend them away than that they should lack. I meant to go for the sake\nalso of seeing whether there were still articles remaining which had\nbeen sent for the purpose of being sold, or whether there were any\narticles really needless, that we might turn them into money. I felt\nthat the matter was now come to a solemn crisis. About half-past nine\nsixpence came in, which had been put anonymously into the box at Gideon\nChapel. This money seemed to me like an earnest that God would have\ncompassion and send more. About ten, after I had returned from brother\nCraik, to whom I had unbosomed my heart again, whilst once more in\nprayer for help, a sister called who gave two sovereigns to my wife for\nthe orphans, stating that she had felt herself stirred up to come, and\nthat she had delayed coming already too long. A few minutes after, when\nI went into the room where she was, she gave me two sovereigns more, and\nall this without knowing the least about our need. Thus the Lord most\nmercifully has sent us a little help, to the great encouragement of my\nfaith. A few minutes after I was called on for money from the Infant\nOrphan House, to which I sent two pounds, and one pound sixpence to the\nBoys' Orphan House, and one pound to the Girls' Orphan House.\n\nTo-day I saw a young brother who, as well as one of his sisters, has\nbeen brought to the knowledge of the Lord through my Narrative.\n\nSept. 11. The good Lord, in his wisdom, still sees it needful to keep us\nvery low. But this afternoon brother T---- called, and told me that one\nof our fellow-laborers had sold his metal watch, and two gold pins, for\none pound one shilling, that nine shillings sixpence had come in, and\nthat two of our fellow-laborers had sent two lots of books of their own,\nnineteen and twenty-one in number, to be sold for the orphans.\n\nSept. 12. Still the trial continues. Only nine shillings came in to-day,\ngiven by one of the laborers. In the midst of this great trial of faith\nthe Lord still mercifully keeps me in great peace. He also allows me to\nsee that our labor is not in vain; for yesterday died Leah Culliford,\none of the orphans, about nine years old, truly converted, and brought\nto the faith some months before her departure.\n\nSept. 13. No help has come yet. This morning I found it was absolutely\nneedful to tell the brethren and sisters about the state of the funds,\nand to give necessary directions as to going into debt, etc. We prayed\ntogether, and had a very happy meeting. They all seemed comfortable.\nTwelve shillings sixpence was taken out of the boxes in the three\nhouses, twelve shillings one of the laborers gave, and one pound one\nshilling had come in for needlework done by the children. One of the\nsisters, who is engaged in the work, sent a message after me, not to\ntrouble myself about her salary, for she should not want any for a\ntwelvemonth.\n\nSept. 14. I met again this morning with the brethren and sisters for\nprayer, as the Lord has not yet sent help. After prayer one of the\nlaborers gave me all the money he had, sixteen shillings, saying that it\nwould not be upright to pray, if he were not to give what he had. One of\nthe sisters told me that in six days she would give six pounds, which\nshe had in the savings bank for such a time of need. Up to this day, the\nmatrons of the three houses had been in the habit of paying the bakers\nand the milk-man weekly, _because they had preferred to receive the\npayments in this way_, and sometimes it had thus been also with the\nbutcher and grocer. But now, as the Lord deals out to us _by the day_,\nwe consider it would be wrong to go on any longer in this way, as the\nweek's payment might become due, and we have no money to meet it; and\nthus those with whom we deal might be inconvenienced by us, and we be\nfound acting against the commandment of the Lord, \"Owe no man anything.\"\nRom. xiii. 8. From this day, and henceforward, whilst the Lord gives to\nus our supplies by the day, we purpose, therefore, to pay at once for\nevery article as it is purchased, and never to buy any thing except we\ncan pay for it at once, however much it may seem to be needed, and\nhowever much those with whom we deal may wish to be paid only by the\nweek. The little which was owed was paid off this day.\n\nSept. 15. _Saturday._ We met again this morning for prayer. God comforts\nour hearts. We are looking for help. I found that there were provisions\nenough for to-day and to-morrow, but there was no money in hand to take\nin bread as usual, in order that the children might not have newly baked\nbread. This afternoon one of the laborers, who had been absent for\nseveral days from Bristol, returned, and gave one pound. This evening we\nmet again for prayer, when I found that ten shillings sixpence more had\ncome in since the morning. With this one pound ten shillings sixpence we\nwere able to buy, even this Saturday evening, the usual quantity of\nbread (as it might be difficult to get stale bread on Monday morning),\nand have some money left. God be praised, who gave us grace to come to\nthe decision not to take any bread to-day, as usual, nor to buy anything\nfor which we cannot pay at once. We were very comfortable, thankfully\ntaking this money out of our Father's hands, as a proof that he still\ncares for us, and that, in his own time, he will send us larger sums.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER X.\n\nDELIVERANCE.\n\n1838.\n\n    \"PERPLEXED BUT NOT IN DESPAIR\"--FAITH JUSTIFIED--A LESSON OF\n    OBEDIENCE--BOUNTIFUL SUPPLIES--SPIRITUAL INGATHERING--A DAY OF\n    MERCIES--TIMELY AID--A SEASON OF PLENTY--OBEDIENCE REWARDED.\n\n\nSept. 16, 1838. Lord's day afternoon. We met again for prayer respecting\nsupplies for the orphans. We are in peace, and our hope is in God, that\nhe graciously will appear, though but one shilling has come in since\nlast evening.\n\nSept. 17. The trial still continues. It is now more and more trying,\neven to faith, as each day comes. But I am sure God will send help, if\nwe can but wait. One of the laborers had had a little money come in, of\nwhich he gave twelve shillings sixpence; another laborer gave eleven\nshillings eightpence, being all the money she had left: this, with\nseventeen shillings sixpence, which partly had come in, and partly was\nin hand, enabled us to pay what needed to be paid, and to purchase\nprovisions, so that nothing yet, in any way, has been lacking. This\nevening I was rather tried respecting the long delay of larger sums\ncoming; but being led to go to the Scriptures for comfort, my soul was\ngreatly refreshed, and my faith again strengthened, by Psalm xxxiv., so\nthat I went very cheerfully to meet with my dear fellow-laborers for\nprayer. I read to them the Psalm, and sought to cheer their hearts\nthrough the precious promises contained in it.\n\nSept. 18. Brother T. had twenty-five shillings in hand, and I had three\nshillings. This one pound eight shillings enabled us to buy the meat and\nbread which was needed, a little tea for one of the houses, and milk for\nall: no more than this is needed. Thus the Lord has provided not only\nfor this day, but there is bread for two days in hand. Now, however, we\nare come to an extremity. The funds are exhausted. The laborers who had\na little money have given as long as they had any left. Now observe how\nthe Lord helped us! A lady from the neighborhood of London, who brought\na parcel with money from her daughter, arrived four or five days since\nin Bristol, and took lodgings next door to the Boys' Orphan House. This\nafternoon she herself kindly brought me the money, amounting to three\npounds two shillings and sixpence. We had been reduced so low as to be\non the point of selling those things which could be spared; but this\nmorning I had asked the Lord, if it might be, to prevent the necessity\nof our doing so. That the money had been so near the Orphan Houses for\nseveral days without being given, is a plain proof that it was from the\nbeginning in the heart of God to help us; but, because he delights in\nthe prayers of his children, he had allowed us to pray so long; also to\ntry our faith, and to make the answer much the sweeter. It is indeed a\nprecious deliverance. I burst out into loud praises and thanks the first\nmoment I was alone after I had received the money. I met with my\nfellow-laborers again this evening for prayer and praise; their hearts\nwere not a little cheered. This money was this evening divided, and will\ncomfortably provide for all that will be needed to-morrow.\n\nSept. 20. Morning. The Lord has again kindly sent in a little. Last\nevening was given to me one shilling and sixpence, and this morning one\npound three shillings. Evening. This evening the Lord sent still further\nsupplies; eight pounds eleven shillings and twopence halfpenny came in,\nas a further proof that the Lord is not unmindful of us. There was in\nthe box of the Girls' Orphan House one pound one shilling, and in that\nof the Boys' Orphan House one pound seven shillings and twopence\nhalfpenny. One of the laborers, in accordance with her promise this day\nweek, gave six pounds three shillings. About eighteen months ago she saw\nit right no longer to have money for herself in the Savings Bank, and\nshe therefore, in her heart, gave the money which she had there to the\nOrphan Houses, intending to draw it in a time of need. Some time since\n(she told me this evening) she drew a part of it to buy several useful\narticles for the Orphan Houses; now the sum was reduced to six pounds.\nWhen she found out the present need, she went this day week to the\nSavings Bank, and gave notice that she wished to draw her money to-day.\n\nSept. 22. Both yesterday and to-day we have again assembled for prayer\nand praise. We are in no immediate want, but on the 29th, nineteen\npounds ten shillings will be due for the rent of the three Orphan\nHouses. To-day there was only four shillings and sevenpence in hand for\nthe other objects of the institution, though it was the payday for some\nof the teachers. My comfort was the _living_ God. During this week he\nhad helped me so repeatedly and in such a remarkable way, as it regards\nthe Orphan Houses, that it would have been doubly sinful not to have\ntrusted in him for help under this fresh difficulty. No money came in\nthis morning. About two, the usual time when the teachers are paid, a\nsovereign was given, with which I went immediately to brother T., who\nattends to this part of the work, to pay, at least in part, the weekly\nsalaries. I found that he had received a sovereign in the morning. By\nmeans of this sovereign, together with the one which I had received\n_just at the moment when it was needed_, we were helped through this\nday.\n\nSept. 25. Yesterday and the previous days we have continued to assemble\nfor prayer. In four days the rent for the Orphan Houses will be due, and\nwe have nothing towards it; also the housekeeping money in the three\nhouses is now again gone. May the Lord have compassion on us, and\ncontinue to send us help! This morning there was found nine shillings\nand sixpence in the box in my house. We met yesterday again for prayer.\nTo-day I was not able to go, on account of indisposition; I sent,\ntherefore, to brother T. to request him to divide the eighteen shillings\nand sixpence (ten shillings of which had come in last evening, and eight\nshillings and sixpence of which we had in hand) between the three\nmatrons.\n\nSept. 29. Saturday evening. Prayer has been made for several days past\nrespecting the rent, which is due this day. I have been looking out for\nit, though I knew not whence a shilling was to come. This morning\nbrother T. called on me, and, as no money had come in, we prayed\ntogether, and continued in supplication from ten till a quarter to\ntwelve. Twelve o'clock struck, the time when the rent ought to have been\npaid, but no money had been sent. For some days past I have repeatedly\nhad a misgiving, whether the Lord might not disappoint us, in order that\nwe might be led _to provide by the week, or the day, for the rent_. This\nis the second, and only the second, complete failure as to answers of\nprayer in the work, during the past four years and six months. The first\nwas about the half-yearly rent of Castle-Green school-rooms, due July 1,\n1837, which had come in only in part by that time. I am now fully\nconvinced that the rent ought to be put by daily or weekly, as God may\nprosper us, in order that the work, even as to this point, may be a\ntestimony. May the Lord, then, help us to act accordingly, and may he\nnow mercifully send in the means to pay the rent!\n\nOct. 2. Tuesday evening. The Lord's holy name be praised! He hath dealt\nmost bountifully with us during the last three days! The day before\nyesterday five pounds came in for the orphans. O, how kind is the Lord!\nAlways before there has been actual want he has sent help. Yesterday\ncame in one pound ten shillings more. Thus the expenses of yesterday for\nhousekeeping were defrayed. The Lord helped me also to pay yesterday the\nnineteen pounds ten shillings for the rent. The means for it were thus\nobtained: One of the laborers had received through his family ten\npounds, and five pounds besides from a sister in the Lord; also some\nother money. Of this he gave sixteen pounds, which, with the three\npounds ten shillings that was left of the above-mentioned five pounds,\nmade up nineteen pounds ten shillings, the sum which was needed. This\nday we were again greatly reduced. There was no money in hand to take in\nbread, as usual, for the Boys' and Infant Orphan Houses. But again the\nLord helped. A sister who had arrived this afternoon from Swansea\nbrought one pound seven shillings, and one of the laborers sold an\narticle, by means of which he was able to give one pound thirteen\nshillings. Thus we had three pounds,--one pound for each house,--and\ncould buy bread before the day was over. Hitherto we have lacked\nnothing!\n\nOct. 9. To-day we were brought lower than ever. The provisions would\nhave lasted out only to-day, and the money for milk in one of the houses\ncould only be made up by one of the laborers selling one of his books.\nThe matron in the Boys' Orphan House had this morning two shillings\nleft. When in doubt whether to buy bread with it, or more meat, to make\nup the dinner with the meat which she had in the house, the baker\ncalled, and left three quarterns of bread as a present. In this great\nneed, some money having been given to one of the laborers, he gave two\npounds of it, by which we were able to buy meat, bread, and other\nprovisions.\n\nOct. 10. The coals in the Infant Orphan House are out, and nearly so in\nthe other two houses. Also the treacle casks in all the three houses are\nnearly empty. On this account we have asked the Lord for fresh supplies.\n\nOct. 11. The \"Father of the fatherless\" has again shown his care over\nus. An orphan from Devonshire arrived last evening. With her was sent\ntwo pounds five shillings and sixpence. The sister who brought her gave\nalso a silver tea-pot, sugar-basin, and cream-jug, of the weight of\nforty-eight ounces, having found true riches in Christ. There was also\nin the boxes nine shillings. One of the laborers paid for a ton of\ncoals. We obtained sixteen pounds sixteen shillings for the silver\narticles. Thus we were helped through the heavy expenses of the\nfollowing days.\n\nOct. 12. To-day seven brethren and sisters were added to us in\nfellowship, and eight were proposed. May the Lord send helpers for the\nwork!\n\nOct. 15. I knew that there would be money needed this morning for many\nthings in the Orphan Houses, and my heart was therefore lifted up to the\nLord. Just when I was going to meet my fellow-laborers for prayer, I\nreceived from Trowbridge four pounds. There had come in also at the\nOrphan Houses seven shillings and threepence. To this one of the\nlaborers added one pound. Thus I was enabled abundantly to supply all\nthat was wanted, and to pay for a cask of treacle and a ton of coals. We\nare now, however, cast again on the love of our Lord for further\nsupplies, as there is neither anything in hand, nor have the laborers\nany more of their own to give.\n\nOct. 16. I was looking up to the Lord for help early this morning, when,\nalmost immediately afterwards, brother T. came, and brought two silver\ntablespoons and six teaspoons, which had been left anonymously,\nyesterday afternoon, at the Girls' Orphan House. This afternoon I\nreceived twelve pounds from Staffordshire.\n\nOct. 22. To-day our funds were again quite low. In the Infant Orphan\nHouse only twopence was left, and very little in the other two houses.\nBut the Lord most manifestly again answered prayer, by sending four\npounds three shillings and one penny.\n\nOct. 27. Thanks to our adorable Lord! this day also we have not been\nconfounded; for there was six shillings in the box at the Infant Orphan\nHouse, and six shillings came in for things which had been given to be\nsold. To this one of the laborers added eighteen shillings. By means of\nthis one pound ten shillings we have been able to meet all pressing\ndemands, and to procure provisions for to-day and to-morrow.\n\nOct. 29. Monday. The Lord has again given us this day our daily bread,\nthough in the morning there was not the least natural prospect of\nobtaining supplies.\n\nOct. 30. This has been again a day of peculiar mercies in reference to\nthe funds. Whilst I was in prayer respecting them a brother brought two\nand a quarter yards of cloth. He had bought it for himself; but\nafterwards, considering that he had sufficient clothes, he gave it to be\nsold for the orphans. This evening a sister gave me twenty pounds, ten\nof which were for the Orphans, and ten for the other objects.\n\nNov. 7. The funds are now again completely exhausted.\n\nNov. 10. Saturday. All seemed to be dark, so far as regards natural\nappearances, at the commencement of this day. But the Lord has helped\nus, and enabled us to meet all demands. We were brought to the close of\none more week, having been able to supply the necessities of\nninety-seven persons in the Orphan Houses, without owing anything.\n\nNov. 13. This morning our want was again great. I have twenty pounds in\nhand which has been put by for rent, but, for the Lord's honor, I would\nnot take of it. Nothing had come in, and the laborers had scarcely\nanything to give. I went, however, to the Orphan Houses, to pray with my\nfellow-laborers, and, if it might be, to comfort them, and see what\ncould be done. When I came there I found that nineteen shillings and\nsixpence had come in this morning. On inquiry I heard that only two\nshillings and sixpence more was needed to carry us through the day. This\none of the laborers was able to add of his own. Thus the Lord has again\nhelped us out of our difficulty. One of the laborers gave some things\nwhich he could do without, and another gave a workbox to be sold for the\norphans. Before this day has come to an end, the Lord has sent in one\npound two shillings and fourpence more, so that we have also a little\nfor to-morrow.\n\nNov. 20. To-day our need was exceedingly great, but the Lord's help was\ngreat also. I went to meet with the brethren and sisters as usual. I\nfound that one pound would be needed to supply the necessities of\nto-day, but three shillings only had come in. Just when we were going to\npray, one of the laborers came in, who, after prayer, gave ten\nshillings. Whilst we were praying, another laborer came in, who had\nreceived one pound. Thus we had one pound thirteen shillings,--even\nmore, therefore, than was absolutely needed.\n\nNov. 21. Never were we so reduced in funds as to-day. There was not a\nsingle halfpenny in hand between the matrons of the three houses.\nNevertheless, there was a good dinner, and by managing so as to help one\nanother with bread, etc., there was a prospect of getting over this day\nalso; but for none of the houses had we the prospect of being able to\ntake in bread. When I left the brethren and sisters at one o'clock,\nafter prayer, I told them that we must wait for help, and see how the\nLord would deliver us at this time. I was sure of help, but we were\nindeed straitened. When I came to Kingsdown, I felt that I needed more\nexercise, being very cold, wherefore I went not the nearest way home,\nbut round by Clarence-place. About twenty yards from my house I met a\nbrother, who walked back with me, and after a little conversation gave\nme ten pounds to be handed over to the brethren, the deacons, towards\nproviding the poor saints with coals, blankets, and warm clothing; also\nfive pounds for the orphans, and five pounds for the other objects of\nthe Scriptural Knowledge Institution. The brother had called twice while\nI was gone to the Orphan Houses, and had I now been _one half minute_\nlater I should have missed him. But the Lord knew our need, and\ntherefore allowed me to meet him.\n\nNov. 24. This again has been a very remarkable day. We had as little in\nhand this morning as at any time, and yet several pounds were needed.\nBut God, who is rich in mercy, and whose word so positively declares\nthat none who trust in him shall be confounded, has helped us through\nthis day also. While I was in prayer, about ten in the morning,\nrespecting the funds, I was informed that a gentleman had called to see\nme. He came to inform me that a lady had ordered three sacks of potatoes\nto be sent to the Orphan Houses. Never could they have come more\nseasonably. This was an encouragement to me to continue to expect help.\nWhen I came to the prayer meeting, about twelve o'clock, I heard that\ntwo shillings had come in, also one pound for a guitar, which had been\ngiven for sale. The payment for this guitar had been expected for many\nweeks. It had been mentioned among us repeatedly that it might come just\nat a time when we most needed it; and O, how true! But with all this we\ncould not have put by the rents for this week, amounting to thirty\nshillings. One of the laborers therefore gave his watch to the orphan\nfund, under this condition, that should the Lord not enable us before\nDecember 21 to make up this deficiency, it should be sold, but not\notherwise, as he needs it in the Lord's service. [A few days after the\nLord gave the means to put by the thirty shillings, and thirty shillings\nbesides for the next week's rent.] Thus the Lord helped us through this\nday, and with it brought us to the close of one more week.\n\nNov. 28. This is perhaps of all days the most remarkable as yet, so far\nas it regards the funds. When I was in prayer this morning respecting\nthem, I was enabled firmly to believe that the Lord would send help,\nthough all seemed dark as to natural appearances. At twelve o'clock I\nmet as usual with the brethren and sisters for prayer. There had come in\nonly one shilling, which was left last evening anonymously at the Infant\nOrphan House, and which, except twopence, had already been spent, on\naccount of the great need. I heard also that an individual had\ngratuitously cleaned the timepiece in the Infant Orphan House, and had\noffered to keep the timepieces in the three houses in repair. Thus the\nLord gave even in this a little encouragement, and a proof that he is\nstill mindful of us. On inquiry, I found that there was everything\nneedful for the dinner in all the three houses; but neither in the\nInfant nor Boys' Orphan Houses was there bread enough for tea, nor money\nto buy milk. Lower we had never been, and perhaps never so low. We gave\nourselves now unitedly to prayer, laying the case in simplicity before\nthe Lord. Whilst in prayer there was a knock at the door, and one of the\nsisters went out. After the two brethren who labor in the Orphan Houses\nand I had prayed aloud, we continued for a while silently in prayer. As\nto myself, I was lifting up my heart to the Lord to make a way for our\nescape, and in order to know if there were any other thing which I could\ndo with a good conscience, besides waiting on him, so that we might have\nfood for the children. At last we rose from our knees. I said, \"God will\nsurely send help.\" The words had not quite passed over my lips, when I\nperceived a letter lying on the table, which had been brought whilst we\nwere in prayer. It was from my wife, containing another letter from a\nbrother with ten pounds for the orphans. The evening before last I was\nasked by a brother whether the balance in hand for the orphans would be\nas great this time, when the accounts would be made up, as the last\ntime. My answer was that it would be as great as the Lord pleased. The\nnext morning this brother was moved to remember the orphans, and to send\nto-day ten pounds, which arrived after I had left my house, and which,\non account of our need, was forwarded immediately to me. The brother who\nsent the ten pounds for the orphans sent likewise ten pounds to be\ndivided between brother Craik and me, with the object of purchasing new\nclothes for ourselves.\n\nNov. 29. The Lord has greatly blessed our meetings for prayer. They have\nbeen instrumental in leading us to much prayer for the children in the\nOrphan Houses, in the day schools, and in the Sunday school. They have\nled us to prayer for ourselves, for the day-school teachers, and for the\nSunday-school teachers, that grace may be given to us so to walk before\nthe children, and so to deal with them, as that the Lord may be\nglorified by us. We have also often been led to intercede for the\nbelievers with whom we are in fellowship, and for the church at large.\nWe have especially prayed that our work may lead the church generally to\na more simple confidence and trust in the Lord. That these meetings have\nnot been in vain, as regards the procuring of funds, has been already\nsufficiently seen by the many instances which have been recorded in the\nforegoing pages. To-day, however, we have had another particular proof\nof this. When we met I found that ten shillings had come in yesterday\nafternoon. When I returned home I found one pound had come in, and\nshortly after I received another pound. In the evening I received fifty\npounds, which was sent from Suffolk by a sister who had often expressed\nhow gladly she would contribute more largely to the work which is in our\nhands had she the means, and who just now, in this our time of need, has\nobtained the means to carry out the desire of her heart. I rejoice in\nthe last donation particularly, not because of the largeness of the sum,\nbut because it enables me to pay to my brethren and sisters in the\nOrphan Houses the salary which is due to them.\n\nDec. 6. This afternoon I received one hundred pounds from a\nsister,--fifty for the orphans, and fifty for the school, Bible, and\nmissionary fund. This same sister, who earns her bread with her own\nhands, had given, on October 5, 1837, fifty pounds towards the Boys'\nOrphan House, and gave for the necessities of the poor saints, in\nAugust, 1838, one hundred pounds more; for she had been made willing to\nact out those precious exhortations: \"Having food and raiment, let us be\ntherewith content.\" \"Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide\nyourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that\nfaileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.\" \"Lay\nnot up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth\ncorrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for\nyourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth\ncorrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.\" Respecting\nthe fifty pounds which has been given of this sum for the school, Bible,\nand missionary fund, it is worthy of remark, that we would not order\nreference Bibles till we had the means. We had repeatedly prayed\nrespecting this want of Bibles, and particularly again this morning. It\nhad been also much laid on our hearts to-day to request that the Lord\nwould enable us to have the Report printed, which we could not do unless\nhe first sent the means. Lastly, we had also repeatedly asked him to\nsupply us so largely, if it were his will, as that at the time of the\npublic meetings we might be able to speak again of abundance. For though\nfor some months past the time has been fixed for the public meetings,\nwithout any reference to the state of the funds, nevertheless, it might\nhave had the appearance that we had convened the brethren for the sake\nof telling them about our poverty, and thus to induce them to give.\n\nDec. 11, 12, and 13. On the evenings of these three days there were\npublic meetings, at which I gave an account of the Lord's dealing with\nus in reference to the Orphan Houses and the other objects of the\nScriptural Knowledge Institution. As the work, and particularly that of\nthe Orphan Houses, was begun for the benefit of the church at large, it\nappeared well to us that from time to time it should be publicly stated\nhow the Lord had dealt with us in reference to it; and as, on Dec. 9,\nthe third year had been completed since the commencement of the orphan\nwork, this seemed to be a suitable time for having these meetings.\n\nI notice briefly the following particulars respecting the first three\nobjects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. 1. There is at\npresent--December, 1838--a Sunday school supported by it, which contains\nfour hundred and sixty-three children. This part of the work calls for\nparticular thanksgiving; for during these last eighteen months the\nnumber of the children has been nearly three times as great as it used\nto be. Five of the scholars have been converted within the last two\nyears, and are now in fellowship with the church, and three of them are\nteachers in the school. 2. There is in connection with the Institution\nan adult school, in which, since the commencement of the work, above\none hundred and twenty adults have been instructed, and in which at\npresent twelve are taught to read. 3. The Institution has entirely\nsupported, since its commencement, several day schools for poor\nchildren, and within the last two years six of such,--three for boys and\nthree for girls. The number of all the children that have had schooling\nin the day schools through the medium of the Institution, since its\nformation, amounts to 1,534; the number of those at present in the six\nday schools is 342. 4. During the last two years there have been\ncirculated 1,884 copies of the Scriptures in connection with the\nInstitution, and since the beginning of the work, March 5, 1834, 5,078\ncopies. 5. For missionary purposes have been laid out L74, 18s. 4d. 6.\nThe total of the income for the first three objects, during the last two\nyears, was L1,129, 13s. 1d.; the total of the expense, L1,111, 13s. 71/2d.\n\nThere are, at present, 86 orphans in the three houses, _i. e._ 31 in the\nGirls' Orphan House, 31 in the Infant Orphan House, and 24 in the Boys'\nOrphan House. The whole number of orphans who have been under our care\nfrom April 11, 1836, to Dec. 9, 1838, amounts to 110.\n\nThe total of the income for the orphans, from Dec. 9, 1836, to Dec. 9,\n1838, has amounted to L1,341, 4s. 7d.; the total of the expenses to\nL1,664, 4s. 03/4d. There was two years ago a balance of L373, 4s.\n81/4d. in hand, and now the balance is L50, 5s. 3d.\n\nDec. 16. There was a paper anonymously put into the box at Bethesda\nChapel containing four pounds ten shillings. In the paper was written,\n\"For the rent of the Orphan Houses, from Dec. 10 to Dec. 31, 1838. 'O,\ntaste and see that the _Lord is good_: _blessed_ is the man that\n_trusteth in him_!'\" In order that the reader may be able to enter into\nthe value of this donation, I would request him to read over once more\nwhat I wrote under \"Sept. 29\" of this year. [The individual who gave\nthis four pounds ten shillings for the rent of the Orphan Houses for the\nfirst three weeks after the public meetings, at which the matter about\nthe rent, for the instruction of the brethren, was fully stated,\ncontinued for three years, up to Dec. 10, 1841, to give regularly, but\nanonymously, one pound ten shillings a week for the same purpose, which\nwas exactly the sum required every week for the rent of those three\nhouses. Thus the Lord rewarded our faithfulness in carrying out the\nlight which he had given us. But the chief blessing resulting from this\ncircumstance I consider to be this,--that several brethren, who earn\ntheir bread by the labor of their hands, have learned through this\ncircumstance that it is the will of the Lord they should lay by their\nrent weekly. I beseech those brethren who are not pursuing this course\nto do so, and they will soon prove by experience the benefit of acting\non scriptural principles even as it regards this life.]\n\nDec. 17. To-day eleven brethren and sisters were proposed for\nfellowship.\n\nDec. 20. As the expenses for the orphans have been above forty-seven\npounds within the last six days, and as but little above thirteen pounds\nhas come in, and as the money for printing the Report had to be kept\nback, in order that we might not be in debt, we were again to-day very\nlow in funds, though it is but six days since the public meetings. As I\nknew that to-morrow several pounds would be needed to supply the\nmatrons, I gave myself this morning to prayer. About a quarter of an\nhour afterwards I received three pounds, the payment of a legacy left by\na sister, who fell asleep in Jesus several months since, in Ireland.\nBesides this I received from the brother through whom the legacy was\npaid, two pounds ten shillings for the orphan fund. With this five\npounds ten shillings I hope to be able to meet the expenses of\nto-morrow.\n\nDec. 22. _A solemn day._ I received to-day the information that my\nbrother died on October 7. \"_Shall not the Judge of all the earth do\nright?_\" must be the stay of the believer at such a time, and, by grace,\nit is my stay now. _I know_ that the Lord is glorified in my brother,\nwhatever his end has been. May the Lord make this event a lasting\nblessing to me, especially in leading me to earnestness in prayer for my\nfather!\n\n\nREVIEW OF THE YEAR 1838.\n\n1. As to the church. There are 405 at present in fellowship with us; 61\nhaving been added last year, of whom 36 have been brought among us to\nthe knowledge of the truth.\n\n2. As to my temporal supplies. The Lord has been pleased to give me\nduring the past year L350, 4s. 8d.\n\nDuring no period of my life had I such need of means, on account of my\nown long illness and that of my dear wife, and on account of the _many_\nand _particular_ calls for means, as during the past year; but also\nduring no period of my life has the Lord so richly supplied me. Truly,\nit must be manifest to all that I have served a most kind Master, during\nthis year also, and that, even for this life, it is by far the best\nthing to seek to act according to the mind of the Lord as to temporal\nthings!\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XI.\n\nASKING AND RECEIVING.\n\n1839.\n\n    HELP FOR THE POOR SAINTS--THE UNFAILING BANK--MEANS\n    EXHAUSTED--LIBERALITY OF A LABORING SISTER--\"HE KNOWETH OUR\n    FRAME\"--REDEEMING THE TIME--GODLINESS PROFITABLE UNTO ALL\n    THINGS.\n\n\nJanuary 1, 2, and 3, 1839. We have had three especial church prayer\nmeetings these three days. The year commenced with mercies. _In the\nfirst hour_ of the year there came in for the orphans two pounds seven\nshillings, which was given after our usual prayer meeting on December\n31, which this time lasted from seven in the evening till after\nmidnight.\n\nJan. 5. To-day I received another new hat, the eleventh which in\nsuccession has been given to me since I have been in England.\n\nJan. 20. For some time past it has appeared to me that the words, \"Ye\nhave the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them\ngood,\" which the Lord spoke to his disciples, _who were themselves very\npoor_, imply that the children of God, as such, have power with God to\nbring temporal blessings upon poor saints or poor unbelievers through\nthe instrumentality of prayer. Accordingly, I have been led to ask the\nLord for means to assist poor saints; and at different times he has\nstirred up his children to intrust me with sums, both large and small,\n_for that especial object_; or has, by some means or other, put money at\nmy disposal, which I might so use. In like manner I had been asking\nagain for means, a few days since, to be able more extensively to assist\nthe poor saints in communion with us, as just now many of them are not\nmerely tried by the _usual_ temporal difficulties arising from its being\nwinter, but especially from the high price of bread. And now this\nevening the Lord has given me the answer to my prayer. When I came home\nfrom the meeting I found a brother at my house who offered to give me\nten pounds a week, for twelve weeks, towards providing the poor saints\nwith coals and needful articles of clothing, but chiefly with bread.\n[Accordingly, this brother sent me, two days afterwards, one hundred and\ntwenty pounds, whereby very many, especially poor widows, were greatly\nassisted, chiefly with flour and bread. This money just lasted till the\nprice of bread was reduced from ninepence halfpenny to sevenpence\nhalfpenny.]\n\nFeb. 7. This day has been one of the most remarkable days as it regards\nthe funds. There was no money in hand. I was waiting upon God. I had\nasked him repeatedly, but no supplies came. Brother T. called, between\neleven and twelve o'clock, to tell me that about one pound two shillings\nwould be needed, to take in bread for the three houses and to meet the\nother expenses; but we had only two shillings ninepence, which yesterday\nhad been taken out of the boxes in the Orphan Houses. He went to Clifton\nto make arrangements for the reception of the three orphans of our\nsister Loader, who fell asleep on the 4th; for, though we have no funds\nin hand, the work goes on, and our confidence is not diminished. I\ntherefore requested him to call, on his way back from Clifton, to see\nwhether the Lord might have sent any money in the mean time. When he\ncame I had received nothing, but one of the laborers, having five\nshillings of his own, gave it. It was now four o'clock. I knew not how\nthe sisters had got through the day. Toward the close of the day I went\nto the Girls' Orphan House, to meet with the brethren for prayer. When I\narrived there I found that a box had come for me from Barnstable. The\ncarriage was paid, else there would have been no money to pay for it.\n(See how the Lord's hand is in the smallest matters!) The box was\nopened, and it contained, in a letter from a sister, ten pounds, of\nwhich eight pounds was for the orphans, and two pounds for the Bible\nFund; from brethren at Barnstable, two pounds eleven shillings twopence;\nand from another brother, five shillings. Besides this, there were in\nthe box four yards of merino, three pairs of new shoes, two pairs of new\nsocks; also six books for sale; likewise a gold pencil-case, two gold\nrings, two gold drops of earrings, a necklace, and a silver pencil-case.\nOn inquiry how the sisters had been carried through the day, I found it\nthus: Everything was in the houses which was needed for dinner. After\ndinner a lady from Thornbury came and bought one of my Narratives and\none of the Reports, and gave three shillings besides. About five minutes\nafterwards the baker came to the Boys' Orphan House. The matron of the\nGirls' Orphan House seeing him, went immediately with the six shillings\nsixpence which she had just received (to prevent his being sent away, as\nthere was no money in hand at the Boys' Orphan House), and bought bread\nto the amount of four shillings sixpence. The two remaining shillings,\nwith the little which was in hand, served to buy bread for the Girls'\nOrphan House. By the donations sent in the box I was enabled to give a\nrich supply to the matrons before the close of the day.\n\nFebruary 13. This evening five pounds was given me, which had come in\nunder the following circumstances: A gentleman and lady visited the\nOrphan Houses, and met at the Boys' Orphan House two ladies who were\nlikewise visiting. One of the ladies said to the matron of the Boys'\nOrphan House, \"Of course you cannot carry on these Institutions without\na good stock of funds.\" The gentleman, turning to the matron, said,\n\"Have you a good stock?\" She replied, \"Our funds are deposited in a bank\nwhich cannot break.\" The tears came into the eyes of the inquiring lady.\nThe gentleman, on leaving, gave to the master of the boys five pounds,\nwhich came in _when I had not a penny in hand_.\n\nMarch 5. To-day, however, I knew that there would be again several\npounds required, as, besides the daily provisions, there were coals\nneeded, the treacle casks in two houses were empty, and there was but\nfive shillings in hand. I gave myself therefore to prayer this morning.\nWHILST I WAS IN PRAYER Q. Q. sent a check for seven pounds ten\nshillings.\n\nMarch 23. To-day I received a letter from brother T., who is, on account\nof his health, in Devonshire, to inform me that a heavy gold chain, a\nring set with ten brilliants, a pair of gold bracelets, and two pounds,\nhave been given to him. He gave a Report to a brother, who, having read\nit, was thereby stirred up to prayer, and knowing that his believing\nsister possessed these trinkets, he asked the Lord to incline her heart\nto give them up for the benefit of our orphans, which she soon after\ndid. By means of these donations I am able both to meet the remaining\nexpenses of this week, and also to pay fifteen pounds, which still\nremains due on account of the salaries. My fellow-laborers not only\nnever ask me for anything, but are willing to part with money, or\nanything else, in the hour of need; nevertheless, I asked the Lord about\nthis point frequently, and he has now given me my request, whereof I am\nglad.\n\nApril 13. I conversed with another of the orphans, who seems to have\nbeen truly converted, and who has walked consistently for many months.\nTo-morrow she will be united with the saints in communion.\n\nApril 14. To-day five pounds eightpence came in for the orphans, one\npound of which is one of the most remarkable gifts that we have ever\nhad. A poor brother, with a large family and small wages,--there are\neight in the family, and he had fifteen shillings wages till lately,\nwhen they were raised to eighteen shillings--put by this money by little\nand little of what was given him by his master for beer. This brother,\nwho was converted about five years ago, was before that time a notorious\ndrunkard.\n\nJuly 2. To-day was given to me, _when there was not one shilling in\nhand_, fifty pounds, for the school, Bible, and missionary fund.\n\nJuly 15. Monday. To-day two pounds seven shillings threepence was needed\nfor the orphans, but we had nothing. How to obtain the means for a\ndinner, and for what else was needed, I knew not. My heart was perfectly\nat peace, and unusually sure of help, though I knew not in the least\nwhence it was to come. Before brother T. came, I received a letter from\nIndia, written in May, with an order for fifty pounds for the orphans. I\nhad said last Saturday to brother T. that it would be desirable to have\nfifty pounds, as the salaries of all my fellow-laborers are due, the\nthree treacle casks empty, all the provision stores exhausted, several\narticles of clothing needed, and worsted for the boys to go on with\ntheir knitting.\n\nAugust 19. Monday. This has been again a day in which our faith has been\nparticularly tried; but even this day we have not been confounded. Not\none penny was in hand when the day began. We had, therefore, now, for\nmore than one hundred persons, again to look to the Lord. But this I\nmust say, to the praise of the Lord, my soul was perfectly at peace. I\nmeant to have gone very early to the Orphan Houses to meet with my\nfellow-laborers for prayer; but as one person after the other called\nupon me, I was kept from it the whole morning. When brother T. called\nupon me, between twelve and one o'clock, for money, I had none to give.\nIn the afternoon at four I was able to meet with the brethren and\nsisters. When I came to the Girls' Orphan House, I found that one of\nthose children, for the reception of whom we had given notice, had been\nbrought from Bath, and with him was sent one pound five shillings. After\nthe meeting was over one of the laborers gave ten shillings. By means of\nthis one pound fifteen shillings we were able for this day also to\nprovide everything needful.\n\nAugust 22. In my morning walk, when I was reminding the Lord of our\nneed, I felt assured that he would send help this day. My assurance\nsprang from our need; for there seemed no way to get through the day\nwithout help being sent. After breakfast I considered whether there was\nanything which might be turned into money for the dear children. Among\nother things there came under my hands a number of religious pamphlets\nwhich had been given for the benefit of the orphans; but all seemed not\nnearly enough to meet the necessities of the day. In this our deep\npoverty, after I had gathered together the few things for sale, a\nsister, _who earns her bread by the labor of her hands_, brought\neighty-two pounds. This sister had seen it to be binding upon believers\nin our Lord Jesus to act out his commandments: \"Sell that ye have (sell\nyour possessions) and give alms,\" Luke xii. 33; and \"Lay not up for\nyourselves treasures upon earth,\" Matt. vi. 19. Accordingly, she had\ndrawn her money out of the bank and stocks, being two hundred and fifty\npounds, and had brought it to me at three different times, for the\nbenefit of the orphans, the Bible, missionary, and school fund, and the\npoor saints. About two months ago she brought me one hundred pounds\nmore, being the produce of some other possession which she had sold,\nthe half of which was to be used for the school Bible, and missionary\nfund, and the other half for the poor saints. This eighty-two pounds\nwhich she has brought to-day is the produce of the sale of her last\nearthly possession. [At the time I am preparing this fifth edition for\nthe press, more than sixteen years have passed away, and this sister has\nnever expressed the least regret as to the step she took, but goes on\nquietly laboring with her hands to earn her bread.]\n\nSeptember 4. I have been led to pray whether it is the Lord's will that\nI should leave Bristol for a season, as I have for the last fortnight\nbeen suffering from indigestion, by which my whole system is weakened,\nand thus the nerves of my head are more than usually affected. There\nare, however, two hindrances in the way--want of means for the orphans,\nand want of means for my own personal expenses. To-day I have received a\ncheck from Q. Q. for seven pounds ten shillings for the orphans, which\ncame, therefore, very seasonably. Also four pounds besides have come in\nsince the day before yesterday.\n\nSeptember 5. To-day a sister sent me five pounds for myself, to be used\nfor the benefit of my health. She had heard that my health is again\nfailing. I do not lay by money for such purposes; but whenever I really\nneed means, whether for myself or others, the Lord sends them, in answer\nto prayer; for he had in this case again given me prayer respecting\nmeans for myself, and for the orphans, that my way might be made plain\nas to leaving Bristol for a season.\n\nSeptember 7. Trowbridge. This has been a very good day. I have had much\ncommunion with the Lord. How kind to take me from the work in Bristol\nfor a season, to give me more communion with himself. I remembered the\nLord's especial goodness to me in this place at the commencement of last\nyear. How kind has he also been since! I prayed much for myself, for\nthe church at large, for the saints here and in Bristol, for my\nunconverted relatives, for my dear wife, and that the Lord would supply\nmy own temporal necessities, and those of the orphans; and _I know that\nhe has heard me_. I am surrounded with kind friends in the dear saints,\nunder whose roof I am, and feel quite at home. My room is _far better_\nthan I need: yet an easy chair, _in this my weak state of body_, to\nkneel before in prayer, would have added to my comfort. In the\nafternoon, without having a hint about it, I found an easy chair put\ninto my room. I was struck with the kindness, the especial kindness of\nmy heavenly Father, in being mindful of the smallest wants and comforts\nof his child. Having had more prayer than usual, I found that my\nintercourse with the saints at tea was with unction, and more than\nusually profitable.\n\nSeptember 9. I returned to Bristol, to go from hence to-morrow to\nExeter, if the Lord permit, on account of my health. I had been\nearnestly asking the Lord while I was staying at Trowbridge that he\nwould be pleased to send in supplies for the orphans before I go into\nDevonshire, and I had the fullest assurance that means would come in\nbefore I left Bristol. I therefore asked my wife, on my return, how much\nhad come in, and found that it was only eight pounds nine shillings\nseven and three-fourths pence. This was not nearly as much as I had\nexpected, and would not answer the end for which I had particularly\nasked means, _i. e._ that I might be able to leave enough for several\ndays. My reply, therefore, was according to the faith given to me, and\njudging from the earnestness and confidence of my prayer _that the Lord\nwould send more before I left_. About an hour after, brother Craik\nbrought me ten pounds, and also a letter, in which the arrival of a\nlarge box full of articles, to be sold for the benefit of the orphans,\nis announced.\n\n    Upon his return from his journey, Mr. M.  writes:--\n\nDuring my stay at Plymouth, I was stirred up afresh to early rising, a\nblessing, the results of which I have not lost since. That which led me\nto it was the example of the brother in whose house I was staying, and a\nremark which he made in speaking on the sacrifices in Leviticus, \"that\nas not the refuse of the animals was to be offered up, _so the best part\nof our time_ should be especially given to communion with the Lord.\" I\nhad been, on the whole, rather an early riser during former years. But\nsince the nerves of my head had been so weak, I thought that, as the day\nwas long enough for my strength, it would be best for me not to rise\nearly, in order that thus the nerves of my head might have the longer\nquiet. On this account I rose only between six and seven, and sometimes\nafter seven. For the same reason also I brought myself _purposely_ into\nthe habit of sleeping a quarter of an hour, or half an hour, after\ndinner: as I thought I found benefit from it, in quieting the nerves of\nmy head. In this way, however, my soul had suffered more or less every\nday, and sometimes considerably, as now and then unavoidable work came\nupon me before I had had sufficient time for prayer and reading the\nword. After I had heard the remark to which I have alluded, I determined\nthat, whatever my body might suffer, I would no longer let the most\nprecious part of the day pass away while I was in bed. By the grace of\nGod I was enabled to begin the very next day to rise earlier; and have\ncontinued to rise early since that time. I allow myself now about seven\nhours' sleep, which, though I am far from being strong, and have much to\ntire me mentally, I find is quite sufficient to refresh me. In addition\nto this I gave up the sleeping after dinner. The result has been that I\nhave thus been able to procure long and precious seasons for prayer and\nmeditation before breakfast; and as to my body, and the state of the\nnervous system in particular, I have been _much better_ since. Indeed, I\nbelieve that the very worst thing I could have done for my weak nerves\nwas to have lain an hour or more longer in bed than I used to do before\nmy illness; for it was the very way to keep them weak. As this may fall\ninto the hands of some children of God who are not in the habit of\nrising early, I make a few more remarks on the subject.\n\nI. It might be asked, How much time shall I allow myself for rest? The\nanswer is, that no rule of universal application can be given, as all\npersons do not require the same measure of sleep, and also the same\npersons, at different times, according to the strength or weakness of\ntheir body, may require more or less. Females also, being generally\nweaker in body, require more sleep than males. Yet, from what I can\nlearn, it is the opinion of medical persons that men in health do not\nrequire more than between six and seven hours' sleep, and females no\nmore than between seven and eight hours; so that it would be rather _an\nexception_ for a man to require more than seven and a woman more than\neight hours. But my decided advice, at the same time, is, that children\nof God would be careful not to allow themselves _too little_ sleep, as\nthere are few men who can do with less than six hours' sleep, and yet be\nwell in body and mind, and few females who can do with less than seven\nhours. Certain it is that for a long time, as a young man, before I went\nto the university, I went to bed regularly at ten and rose at four,\nstudied hard, and was in good health; and certain also, that since I\nhave allowed myself only about seven hours, from the time of my visit at\nPlymouth in Oct. 1839, I have been much better in body, and in my nerves\nin particular, than when I was eight or eight hours and a half in bed.\n\nII. If it be asked, But why should I rise early? The reply is, \"To\nremain too long in bed\" is, 1. _Waste of time_, which is unbecoming a\nsaint, who is bought by the precious blood of Jesus, with his _time_ and\nall he has, to be used for the Lord. If we sleep more than is needful\nfor the refreshment of the body, it is wasting the time with which the\nLord has intrusted us as a talent, to be used for his glory, for our own\nbenefit, and the benefit of the saints and the unbelievers around us. 2.\nTo remain too long in bed _injures the body_. Just as when we take too\nmuch food, we are injured thereby, so as it regards sleep. Medical\npersons would readily allow that the lying longer in bed than is needful\nfor the strengthening of the body does _weaken_ it. 3. _It injures the\nsoul._ The lying too long in bed not merely keeps us from giving the\nmost precious part of the day to prayer and meditation, but this sloth\nleads also to _many other evils_. Any one need but make the experiment\nof spending one, two, or three hours in prayer and meditation before\nbreakfast, either in his room, or with his Bible in his hand in the\nfields, and he will soon find out the beneficial effect which early\nrising has upon the outward and inward man. I beseech all my brethren\nand sisters into whose hands this may fall, and who are not in the habit\nof rising early, to make the trial, and they will praise the Lord for\nhaving done so.\n\nIII. It may lastly be said, But how shall I set about rising early? My\nadvice is, 1. Commence at once, delay it not. To-morrow begin to rise.\n2. But do not depend upon your own strength. This may be the reason why\nbefore this you may have begun to rise early, but have given it up. As\nsurely as you depend upon your own strength in this matter, it will come\nto nothing. In every good work we depend upon the Lord, and in this\nthing we shall feel _especially_ how weak we are. If any one rises that\nhe may give the time which he takes from sleep to prayer and meditation,\nlet him be sure that Satan will try to put obstacles into the way. 3.\nDo trust in the Lord for help. You will honor him if you _expect_ help\nfrom him in this matter. Give yourself to prayer for help, expect help,\nand you will have it. 4. Use, however, in addition to this, the\nfollowing means: _a._ Go early to bed. If you stay up late, you cannot\nrise early. Let no society and no pressure of engagements keep you from\ngoing _habitually_ early to bed. If you fail in this, you neither can\nnor ought to get up early, as your body requires rest. Keep also\nparticularly in mind, that neither for the body nor soul is it the same\nthing whether you go to bed _late_ and rise _late_, or whether you go to\nbed _early_ and rise _early_. Even medical persons will tell you how\ninjurious it is to sit up late, and to spend the morning hours in bed;\nbut how much more important still is it to retire early and to rise\nearly, in order to _make sure of time for prayer and meditation before\nthe business of the day commences_, and to devote to those exercises\nthat part of our time when the mind and the body are _most fresh_, in\norder thus to obtain spiritual strength for the conflict, the trials,\nand the work of the day. _b._ Let some one call you, if possible, at the\ntime which you have determined before God that you will rise; or\nprocure, what is still better, an alarum, by which you may regulate\nalmost to a minute the time when you wish to rise. For about twelve\nshillings a little German clock with an alarum may be bought almost in\nevery town. Though I have very many times been awakened by the Lord, in\nanswer to prayer, almost to the minute when I desired to rise; yet I\nthought it well to procure an alarum to assist me in my purpose of\nrising early: not indeed as if it could give the least help, without the\nLord's blessing, for I should remain in bed notwithstanding the noise of\nthe alarum, were he not to give me grace to rise; but simply looking\nupon it as a means. _c._ Rise at once when you are awake. Remain not a\nminute longer in bed, else you are likely to fall asleep again. _d._ Be\nnot discouraged by feeling drowsy and tired in consequence of your\nrising early. This will soon wear off. You will after a few days feel\nyourself stronger and fresher than when you used to lie an hour or two\nlonger than you needed. _e._ Allow yourself always the same hours for\nsleep. Make no change except sickness oblige you.\n\nOn December 10, 11, and 12 we had public meetings, at which the account\nof the Lord's dealings with us in reference to the Orphan Houses and the\nother objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution was given. It is\nnow--December 10, 1839--five years and nine months since the Scriptural\nKnowledge Institution has been in operation.\n\nDuring the last year also. 1. We have been enabled to continue to\nprovide all the needful expenses connected with the six-day schools,\nthree for boys and three for girls. The number of the children who are\nat present in them amounts to 286. The number of all the children that\nhave had schooling in the day schools, through the medium of the\nInstitution, since its formation, amounts to 1,795. 2. There are at\npresent 226 children in the Sunday school. 3. There are 14 taught to\nread in the adult school, and there have been about 130 adults\ninstructed in that school since the formation of the Institution. 4.\nThere have been circulated, during the last year, 514 copies of the\nScriptures, and 5,592 since March 5, 1834. 5. There has been laid out,\nduring the last year, L91, 6s. for missionary purposes. 6. There have\nbeen received into the three Orphan Houses, from December 9, 1838, to\nDecember 9, 1839, 16 orphans. There are at present 96 orphans in the\nthree houses. The number of all the orphans who have been under our care\nfrom April 11, 1836, to December 9, 1839, amounts to 126.\n\nFor the Orphan Houses, _without any one having been asked for anything\nby us_, the sum of L3,067, 8s. 91/4d. has been given, _entirely as the\nresult of prayer to God_, from the commencement of the work up to\nDecember 9, 1839.\n\nThe total of the expenses connected with the objects of the Institution,\nexclusive of the Orphan Houses, from November 19, 1838, to November 19,\n1839, is L542, 13s. The balance in hand on November 19, 1839, was 18s.\n5d.\n\nThe total of the expenses connected with the three Orphan Houses, from\nDecember 9, 1838, to December 9, 1839, is L960, 9s. 23/4d. The balance\nin hand on December 9, 1839, was L46, 8s. 1d.\n\nDecember 31. My health is much better than for years. My mental powers\nalso are as good as they have been at any time during the last three\nyears. I ascribe this to God's blessing, through the instrumentality of\nearly rising, and plunging my head into cold water when I rise.\n\n\nREVIEW OF THE YEAR 1839.\n\n1. As to the church: During the last year have been added 115; of whom\n34 have been brought to the knowledge of the Lord among us.\n\n2. As to my temporal supplies, the Lord has been pleased to give me,\nduring the past year, L313, 2s. 5d.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII.\n\nPLENTY AND WANT.\n\n1840.\n\n    A PURE OFFERING REQUIRED--A JOURNEY PROPOSED--SEASONABLE\n    PROVISION--LOOKING ONLY TO THE LORD--THE WRATH OF MAN PRAISING\n    GOD--A PROMISE FULFILLED--BENEFIT OF TRIAL--NEW SPRINGS\n    OPENED--BEFORE THEY CALL I WILL ANSWER--TRUST IN GOD\n    COMMENDED--SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS.\n\n\nJanuary 1, 1840. This morning, about one hour after midnight, I received\na paper with some money sealed up in it for the orphans. A few minutes\nafterwards, I remembered that the individual who gave it was in debt,\nand I was aware that she had been repeatedly asked by her creditors for\npayment. I resolved, therefore, without opening the paper, to return it,\nas no one has a right to give whilst in debt. This was done _when I knew\nthat there was not enough in hand to meet the expenses of the day_.\nAbout eight, this morning, a brother brought five pounds, which he had\nreceived just then from his mother, for the orphans. Observe, the\nbrother is led to bring it _at once_!\n\nJanuary 25. I have been much in prayer this week about going to Germany:\n1. To see certain brethren who purpose to go as missionaries to the East\nIndies; and, 2. To see my father once more. I am led to go just now,\ninstead of delaying it, because my health is again so failing that it\nseems desirable I should leave Bristol at all events; and thus I could\ncontinue to serve in the work of the Lord, and yet attend to the benefit\nof my health at the same time. Lord, keep me from making a mistake in\nthis matter!\n\nJanuary 31. There is only one shilling fivepence in hand. The Lord will\nprovide! I feel quite comfortable, though in three days I shall have to\nleave the work for several weeks. After I had written the above, I\nreceived sixteen pounds for the orphans, and twenty-four pounds for the\nother objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. Thus Lord will\nkindly allow me to leave a little money behind on my departure, and I\nhave also a still further answer to my prayer for means to purchase\nBibles, for which I have asked the Lord repeatedly, and which he began\nto answer by the donation which I received on the 22d. I have received\nfive pounds, besides, for the other objects.\n\nFeb. 2. To-day and yesterday has come in still further, before my\ndeparture, nearly nine pounds for the orphans. How kind of the Lord to\nsend this money just now, on the eve of my leaving home!\n\n    Mr. Mueller's absence lasted from Feb. 3 to March 9. Under the\n    latter date he  writes:--\n\nDuring the whole time of my absence the Lord not only supplied all the\nneed of the orphans, but on my return I found more in hand than there\nwas when I left. The donations, which came in during my absence, amount\nto between eighty and ninety pounds.\n\nMarch 26. On the 17th of this month I received the following letter from\na brother who several times had been used by the Lord as an instrument\nin supplying our need, and who also, two months since, sent thirty\npounds.\n\n\"I have received a little money from ----. Have you any _present_ need\nfor the Institution under your care? I know you do not _ask_, except\nindeed of Him whose work you are doing; but to _answer when asked_ seems\nanother thing, and a right thing. I have a reason for desiring to know\nthe present state of your means towards the objects you are laboring to\nserve, viz. should you _not have_ need, other departments of the Lord's\nwork, or other people of the Lord, _may have_ need. Kindly then inform\nme, and to what amount, _i. e._ what amount you at this present time\nneed, or can profitably lay out.\"\n\nAt the time when this letter came we were indeed in need. Nevertheless,\nI considered that, as I have hitherto acted (_i. e._ telling the Lord\nalone about our need), I ought to continue to do, as otherwise the\nprincipal object of the work, to be a help to the saints generally, by\nseeking to lead them to increased dependence upon God _alone_, through\nthis Institution, would be frustrated. I answered therefore the letter\nin substance as follows:--\n\n\"Whilst I thank you for your love, and whilst I agree with you, that, in\ngeneral, there is a difference between _asking for money_ and _answering\nwhen asked_, nevertheless in our case I feel not at liberty to speak\nabout the state of our funds, as the primary object of the work in my\nhands is to lead those who are weak in faith to see that there is\n_reality_ in dealing with God _alone_.\"\n\nAfter having sent off the answer, I was again and again led to pray to\nthe Lord in this way: \"Lord, thou knowest that for thy sake I did not\ntell this brother about our need. Now, Lord, show afresh that there is\n_reality_ in speaking to thee _only_ about our need, and speak therefore\nto this brother, so that he may help us.\"\n\nTo-day, in answer to this my request, this brother sent one hundred\npounds. Thus I have means for establishing the infant school, and for\nordering more Bibles. Also the orphans are again supplied for a week;\nfor when the money came in, there was _not one penny_ in hand for them.\n\nApril 7. This evening I received information from my little half brother\nthat my dear father died on March 30. During no period did I pray more\nfrequently or more earnestly for the conversion of my dear aged parent\nthan during the last year of his life; but, at all events, it did not\nplease the Lord to let me _see_ the answer to my prayers.\n\nApril 9. We are on the point of sending some money to the East Indies\nfor missionary objects. _Whilst I was on my knees_ respecting this\nobject, five pounds was brought for it.\n\nMay 2. Nothing having come in for five days, we were to-day again\npenniless. In answer to prayer five shillings sixpence came in, and some\ntrinkets were sent, the names of which the donor does not wish to be\nknown. Thus we were helped through this day. Observe here how the Lord\nallowed five days to pass away without influencing the hearts of any to\nsend us supplies; but the moment there is real need, the stream runs\nagain.\n\nMay 3. Last evening a brother was baptized, who on the first Lord's day\nof this year came with his intended wife to Bethesda Chapel. Both were\nin an unconverted state. Only since April 1, forty-one persons have come\nto us to speak about their souls.\n\nMay 8. There are four believers staying at my house, and to-day we had\nonly a few shillings of our own money left. I gave myself, therefore, to\nprayer for means for our own personal expenses. In answer to my request,\nI received this morning five pounds.\n\nMay 10. To-day five of the orphans were baptized. There are now fourteen\nof them in fellowship.\n\nMay 26. Nothing had come in. My engagements kept me from going to the\nOrphan Houses till seven in the evening, when the laborers met together\nfor prayer. When we met I found that one of them had given seventeen\nshillings, which had been divided between the three houses. This, with\nthe little which had been left yesterday, had procured all necessary\narticles. We are now very poor.\n\nMay 27. We met for prayer at eleven this morning. No money had come in,\nbut there was enough for dinner in all the houses. This morning the last\ncoals were used in the Infant Orphan House, and in the Boys' Orphan\nHouse there were only enough for to-day, and there was no money in hand\nto buy more. In this our need T. P. C. sent a load of coals. We purpose\nto meet again at four this afternoon. May the Lord graciously be pleased\nto send help in the mean time!\n\n_Evening._ The Lord has had mercy! A person bought some days since\nseveral articles, which had been given to be sold for the benefit of the\norphans, and owed six pounds fifteen shillings. This morning I asked the\nLord to incline his heart to bring the money, or a part of it, as we\nwere in such need. Just as I was going to meet for prayer with my\nfellow-laborers this afternoon, he came and brought four pounds. But our\nkind Father showed us still further to-day that only for the trial of\nour faith he had for a season withheld supplies; for there was given\nthis evening, with Eccles. ix. 10, five pounds. There came in also nine\nshillings for articles which had been put into the hand of a sister, who\nhas taken on her the service of disposing of articles which are given\nfor sale. Thus the day, which had begun with prayer, ended in praise.\nBut there is one thing more to be recorded respecting this day, as\nprecious or more so than what has been said: I was to-day informed that\nthe Lord has begun to stir up several of the boys to care about their\nsouls.\n\nJune 17. For several days past I had been very poor in reference to my\nown temporal necessities, as well as in reference to the orphans. To-day\nwe were especially poor, in both respects; but our kind Father\nremembered not merely the need of the dear orphans, but gave me also\nsome money for my own personal expenses. The same sister just referred\nto, who brought five pounds ten shillings sixpence for the orphans,\nbrought me also seven pounds for myself.\n\nJune 22. To-morrow, the Lord willing, I purpose, with my wife, to\naccompany the three German brethren and the five German sisters to\nLiverpool, who purpose to sail from thence. Under these circumstances it\nis desirable to leave at least a little money behind. This desire of my\nheart the Lord has granted; for this morning D. C. gave me five pounds,\nand there came in by sale of articles ten shillings fivepence. In the\nevening a sister, who has left Bristol to-day, sent me by her mother\nfive pounds.\n\n    During the absence of Mr. M. the wants of the orphans were\n    supplied in a wonderful manner. To mention but one instance, at\n    a time when there was extreme need, a poor German missionary,\n    just embarking for a heathen land, gave six pounds ten\n    shillings, being his all.\n\n    The following event came to his notice during his  journey:--\n\nAbout October, 1837, I sent some Bibles and forty-six copies of my\nNarrative to a brother in Upper Canada, who, in dependence upon the Lord\nfor temporal supplies, is laboring as a missionary in that country.\nAbout eighteen months afterwards I heard that this box had not arrived.\nI had reason to think that the broker had never sent off the box. My\ncomfort, however, was, that though this poor sinner had acted thus, yet\nthe Lord, in his own place and way, would use the Bibles and my\nNarratives. Now, almost immediately after my arrival in Liverpool, a\nbrother told me that several persons wished to hear me preach who had\nread my Narrative; and that he knew a considerable number had been\nbought by a brother, a bookseller, from pawnbrokers, and sold again; and\nthat some also had been ordered from London when there were no more to\nbe had otherwise. It was thus evident that the ship-broker pawned these\nNarratives before he absconded; but the Lord used them as I had hoped.\n\nAug. 1. A few days since a brother was staying with me, on his way to\nhis father, whom he had not seen for above two years, and who was\ngreatly opposed to him, on account of the decided steps which his son\nhad taken for the Lord. Before this brother left, that precious promise\nof our Lord was brought to my mind: \"If two of you shall agree on earth\nas touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of\nmy Father which is in heaven.\" (Matt. xviii. 19.) Accordingly, I went to\nthe brother's room, and having agreed to pray about a kind reception\nfrom his father, and the conversion of both parents, we prayed together.\nTo-day this brother returned. The Lord has answered already one part of\nthe prayer. The brother was most kindly received, contrary to all\nnatural expectation. May the Lord now help us both to look for an answer\nto the other part of our prayer! There is nothing too hard for the Lord!\n\nSince the publication of the last edition, the father of this brother\ndied. He lived above ten years after Aug. 1, 1840, until he was about\neighty-six years of age, and as he continued a life of much sin and\nopposition to the truth, the prospect with reference to his conversion\nbecame darker and darker. But at last the Lord answered prayer. This\naged sinner was entirely changed, simply rested on the Lord Jesus for\nthe salvation of his soul, and became as much attached to his believing\nson as before he had been opposed to him, and wished to have him about\nhim as much as possible, that he might read the Holy Scriptures to him\nand pray with him.\n\nAug. 8. Saturday. This evening I was meditating on the fourth Psalm. The\nwords in verse three, \"But know that the Lord has set apart him that is\ngodly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call upon him,\" I was\nenabled to apply to myself, and they led me to prayer for spiritual\nblessings. Whilst in prayer, the need of the orphans, there being now\nagain not one penny in hand, was also brought to my mind, and I asked\nthe Lord respecting this likewise. _About five minutes afterwards_ I was\ninformed that a sister wished to see me. She brought one pound ten\nshillings for the orphans. Thus the Lord has already kindly sent a\nlittle to begin the week with. There was also still further given\nto-day, one shilling elevenpence; and five shillings one penny was taken\nout of the boxes in the Orphan Houses.\n\nAug. 15. There was to-day the greatest poverty in all the three houses;\nall the stores were very low, as the income throughout the week had been\nso small. In addition to this it was Saturday, when the wants are nearly\ndouble in comparison with other days. At least three pounds was needed\nto help us comfortably through the day; but there was nothing towards\nthis in hand. My only hope was in God. The very necessity led me to\nexpect help for this day; for if none had come, the Lord's name would\nhave been dishonored. Between twelve and one, two sisters in the Lord\ncalled on me; and the one gave me two pounds, and the other seven\nshillings sixpence for the orphans. With this I went to the Boys' Orphan\nHouse about one o'clock, where I found the children at dinner. Brother\nB. put the following note into my hand, which he was just going to send\noff:--\n\n\"DEAR BROTHER,--With potatoes from the children's garden, and with\napples from the tree in the playground (which apples were used for\napple-dumplings), and four shillings sixpence, the price of some\narticles given by one of the laborers, we have a dinner. There is much\nneeded. But the Lord has provided and will provide.\"\n\nAugust 23. Lord's day. As we have often found it to be the case, so it\nis again now. After the Lord has tried our faith, he, in the love of his\nheart, gives us an abundance, to show that not in anger, but for the\nglory of his name, and for the trial of our faith, he has allowed us to\nbe poor. The Lord has kindly given to-day twelve pounds seventeen\nshillings.\n\nAugust 29. For many weeks past very little has come in for the other\nfunds. The chief supply has been by the sale of Bibles. Last Saturday I\nwas not able to pay the whole of the weekly salaries of the teachers in\nthe day schools, which, however, does not make me a debtor to them, as\nit is _an understood thing_ that they have not to look to me for\npayment, but to the Lord. To-day again only two shillings was in hand,\nwhilst several pounds were needed to pay the salaries. It appeared now\nplainly to be the will of the Lord that, as all the laborers in the\nOrphan Houses know about the state of the funds, so the brethren and\nsisters who labor in the day schools should share the trial of faith and\nthe joy of faith with us. Accordingly we all met, and after I had laid\non their hearts the importance of keeping to themselves, for the Lord's\nsake, the state of the funds, we prayed together.\n\nSeptember 5. Saturday. Because there had come in so little during the\nlast days, at least three pounds was requisite to supply the need of\nto-day. There was, however, not one penny in hand when the day\ncommenced. Last evening, the laborers in the Orphan Houses, together\nwith the teachers of the day schools, met for prayer. This morning, one\nof the teachers, who had a little money of his own, brought one pound\nfive shillings sixpence. Thus we were enabled to provide for the dinner.\nIn the afternoon all of us met again for prayer. Another teacher of the\nday schools gave two shillings sixpence, and one shilling came in\nbesides. But all this was not enough. There was no dinner provided for\nto-morrow, nor was there any money to take in milk to-morrow, and\nbesides this a number of other little things were to be purchased, that\nthere might be no real want of anything. Now observe how our kind Father\nhelped us! Between seven and eight this evening, a sister, whose heart\nthe Lord has made willing to take on her the service of disposing of the\narticles which are sent for sale, brought two pounds ten shillings\nsixpence, for some of the things which came a fortnight ago from\nWorcester, and last Wednesday from Leeds. The sister stated, that though\nshe did not feel at all well, she had come because she had it so laid on\nher heart that she could not stay away.\n\nSeptember 8. How kindly has the Lord so ordered it that for some time\npast the income for the school fund should have been so little, in order\nthat thus we might be constrained to let the laborers in the day schools\nshare our joys and our trials of faith, which had been before kept from\nthem! But as above two years ago the Lord ordered it so that it became\nneedful to communicate to the laborers in the Orphan Houses the state of\nthe funds, and made it a blessing to them, so that I am now able to\nleave Bristol, and yet the work goes on, so, I doubt not, the brethren\nand sisters who are teachers in the day schools will be greatly blessed\nby being thus partakers of our precious secret respecting the state of\nthe funds. Our prayer meetings have been already a blessing to us, and\nunited us more than ever in the work. We have them now every morning at\nseven, and we shall continue them, the Lord helping us, till we see his\nhand stretched forth, not merely in giving us means for the teachers,\nbut also for other purposes; for we need a stove in one of the\nschool-rooms, a fresh supply of several kinds of Bibles and New\nTestaments, and it is desirable to have means to help missionary\nbrethren who labor in dependence upon the Lord for the supply of their\ntemporal necessities.\n\nSeptember 21. To-day a brother from the neighborhood of London gave me\nten pounds, to be laid out as it might be most needed. As we have been\npraying many days for the school, Bible, and missionary funds, I took it\nall for them. This brother knew nothing about our work, when he came\nthree days since to Bristol. Thus the Lord, to show his continual care\nover us, raises up new helpers. They that trust in the Lord shall never\nbe confounded. Some who helped for a while may fall asleep in Jesus;\nothers may grow cold in the service of the Lord; others may be as\ndesirous as ever to help, but have no longer the means; others may have\nboth a willing heart to help, and have also the means, but may see it\nthe Lord's will to lay them out in another way;--and thus, from one\ncause or another, were we to lean upon man, we should surely be\nconfounded; but, in leaning upon the living God alone, we are BEYOND\n_disappointment_, and BEYOND _being forsaken because of death_, or _want\nof means_, or _want of love_, or _because of the claims of other work_.\n\nOctober 7. It is now five weeks since we have daily met for prayer. Not\nindeed merely to ask for means, but for grace and wisdom for ourselves\nin reference to the work, for the conversion of the children under our\ncare, for grace for those children who stand already on the Lord's side,\nfor a blessing upon the circulation of the Scriptures, for a blessing\nupon the work with reference to the church at large, etc. But whilst we\nthus, as the Spirit led us, prayed for various things, nevertheless, the\nlack of means was that which had brought us day after day together. We\nasked the Lord to give us the means which are needed for carrying on the\nday schools, for buying Bibles, as several sorts are needed, and to\nenable us to assist missionary work in foreign countries. Never at any\nprevious time, since first the work commenced on March 5, 1834, have we\nhad to continue so long a time in prayer for these funds, without\nobtaining the answer. The Lord, however, gave us grace to \"continue in\nprayer,\" and kept our hearts in the assurance that he would help. Now,\nthough he delayed long, before he sent us the answer, in his own time he\nmade it manifest that he had not only not shut his ear against our\nprayers in anger, but that he had answered them _even before we called_;\nfor there was sent to-day, from the East Indies, a bank order for one\nhundred pounds, which had been sent off two months since, therefore\nseveral days _before we even began_ to pray. It was left to me to apply\nthis money as it might be needed. As we had so long and so particularly\nprayed for these funds, I took the whole of it for them, and not for the\norphan fund.\n\nOctober 26. Yesterday morning, when I took my hat from the rail, I found\nin one of my gloves a note containing a five-pound note, and the\nfollowing words: \"Two pounds for the orphans, the rest for dear brother\nand sister Mueller.\" There came in still further yesterday two pounds\ntwelve shillings sixpence. Thus we are again supplied for about three\ndays.\n\nIn reference to the note which was put into my hat, containing five\npounds, I just add, that I had repeatedly asked the Lord for means for\nour own personal expenses, previous to the reception of it, as we had\nbut very little money for ourselves. Indeed, the very moment before I\ntook my hat from the rail, I had risen from my knees, having again asked\nthe Lord for means for ourselves and for the orphans.\n\nNovember 8. I purposed to have gone to Trowbridge yesterday, and had\nsettled it so on Friday evening with brother ----. But no sooner had I\ndecided to do so, than I felt no peace in the prospect of going. After\nhaving prayed about it on Friday evening and yesterday morning, I\ndetermined not to go, and I felt sure the Lord had some reason for not\nallowing me to feel happy in the prospect of going. I began now to look\nout for blessings for this day, considering that the Lord had kept me\nhere for good to some souls. This evening I was especially led to press\nthe truth on the consciences of the unconverted, entreating and\nbeseeching them, and telling them also that I felt sure the Lord had, in\nmercy to some of them, kept me from going to Trowbridge. I spoke on\nGenesis vi. 1-5. Immediately after, I saw fruit of the word. An\nindividual fully opened his heart to me. I walked about with him till\nabout ten o'clock, even as long as I had any strength left. [About ten\ndays afterwards, a brother told me of a poor drunkard who heard me that\nevening, and who since then had stayed up till about twelve o'clock\nevery night to read the Scriptures, and who had not been intoxicated\nsince.]\n\nAt the close of these details, with reference to the year from December\n9, 1839, to December 9, 1840, I make a few remarks.\n\n1. Though our trials of faith during this year also have been many, and\nrecurring more frequently than during any previous year, and though we\nhave been often reduced to the greatest extremity, _yet the orphans have\nlacked nothing_; for they always have had good nourishing food, and the\nnecessary articles of clothing, etc.\n\n2. Should it be supposed by any one, in reading the plain details of\nour trials of faith during this year, that on account of them we have\nbeen disappointed in our expectations, or are discouraged in the work,\nmy answer is, that the very reverse is the fact. Such days were expected\nfrom the commencement of the work; nay, more than this, the chief end\nfor which the Institution was established is, that the church of Christ\nat large might be benefited by seeing manifestly the hand of God\nstretched out on our behalf in the hour of need, in answer to prayer.\nOur desire, therefore, is, not that we may be without trials of faith,\nbut that the Lord graciously would be pleased to support us in the\ntrial, that we may not dishonor him by distrust.\n\n3. This way of living brings the Lord remarkably near. He is, as it\nwere, morning by morning inspecting our stores, that accordingly he may\nsend help. Greater and more manifest nearness of the Lord's presence I\nhave never had than when after breakfast there were no means for dinner,\nand then the Lord provided the dinner for more than one hundred persons;\nor when, after dinner, there were no means for the tea, and yet the Lord\nprovided the tea; and all this without one single human being having\nbeen informed about our need. This moreover I add, that although we who\nhave been eyewitnesses of these gracious interpositions of our Father,\nhave not been so benefited by them as we might and ought to have been,\nyet we have in some measure derived blessings from them. One thing is\ncertain, that we are not tired of doing the Lord's work in this way.\n\n4. It has been more than once observed, that such a way of living must\nlead the mind continually to think whence food, clothes, etc., are to\ncome, and so unfit for spiritual exercises. Now, in the first place, I\nanswer that our minds are very little tried about the necessaries of\nlife, just because the care respecting them is laid upon our Father,\nwho, because we are his children, _not only allows_ us to do so, _but\nwill have_ us to do so. Secondly, it must be remembered, that, even if\nour minds were much tried about the supplies for the children, and the\nmeans for the other work, yet, because we look to the Lord _alone_ for\nthese things, we should only be brought, by our sense of need, into the\npresence of our Father for the supply of it; and that is a blessing, and\nno injury to the soul. Thirdly, our souls realize that for the glory of\nGod, and for the benefit of the church at large it is that we have these\ntrials of faith, and that leads again to God, to ask him for fresh\nsupplies of grace, to be enabled to be faithful in this service.\n\n5. My heart's desire and prayer to God is, that all believers who read\nthis may by these many answers to prayer be encouraged to pray,\nparticularly as it regards the conversion of their friends and\nrelations, their own state of heart, the state of the church at large,\nand the success of the preaching of the gospel. Do not think, dear\nreader, that these things are peculiar to us, and cannot be enjoyed by\nall the saints. Although every child of God is not called by the Lord to\nestablish schools and orphan houses, and to trust in the Lord for means\nfor them; yet there is nothing on the part of the Lord to hinder, why\nyou may not know, by experience, far more abundantly than we do now, his\nwillingness to answer the prayers of his children. Do but prove the\nfaithfulness of God. Do but carry your every want to him. Only maintain\nan _upright_ heart. But if you live in sin; if you wilfully and\nhabitually do things respecting which you know that they are contrary\nto the will of God, then you cannot expect to be heard by him. \"If I\nregard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me; but verily\nGod hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.\"\nPsalm lxvi. 18, 19.\n\n6. As it regards the children of God, who by the labor of their hands,\nor in any business or profession, earn their bread, particularly the\npoorer classes of them, I give my affectionate yet solemn advice to\ncarry into practice the principles on which this Institution is\nconducted as it regards not going into debt. Are you in debt? then make\nconfession of sin respecting it. Sincerely confess to the Lord that you\nhave sinned against Rom. xiii. 8. And if you are resolved no more to\ncontract debt, whatever may be the result, and you are waiting on the\nLord and truly trust in him, your present debts will soon be paid. Are\nyou out of debt? then, whatever your future want may be, be resolved, in\nthe strength of Jesus, rather to suffer the greatest privation, whilst\nwaiting upon God for help, than to use unscriptural means, such as\nborrowing, taking goods on credit, etc., to deliver yourselves. This way\nneeds but to be tried, in order that its excellency may be enjoyed.\n\nThere are a few points more which may be of interest to the believing\nreader, which I shall now add.\n\n1. There have been, during this year, six day schools for poor children\n_entirely_ supported by the funds of our Institution, all of which have\nbeen established by us.\n\nThe number of all the children that have had schooling in the day\nschools through the medium of the Institution, since its formation,\namounts to 2,216; the number of those at present in the six day schools\nis 303.\n\nThese day schools have defrayed, by the payments of the children, about\nthe sixth part of their own expenses.\n\n2. There is one Sunday school entirely supported by the funds of the\nInstitution.\n\n3. There has been, since the formation of the Institution, one adult\nschool connected with it, in which, on the Lord's day afternoons, since\nthat time, about 150 adults have been instructed.\n\n4. The number of Bibles and Testaments which have been circulated\nthrough the medium of our Institution, during the last year, amounts to\n452 copies.\n\nThere have been circulated since March 5, 1834, 6,044 copies of the\nScriptures.\n\n5. There have been laid out, during the last year, of the funds of the\nInstitution, L120, 10s. 2d. for missionary purposes.\n\n6. There are at present ninety-one orphans in the three houses. The\ntotal number of the orphans who have been under our care from April 11,\n1836, to December 9, 1840, amounts to 129.\n\n_Without any one having been asked for anything by us_, the sum of\nL3,937, 1s. 1d. has been given to us for the Orphan Houses, _as the\nresult of prayer to God_, since the commencement of the work.\n\n\nTHE BLESSING OF THE LORD UPON THE WORK IN REFERENCE\nTO THE SOULS OF THE CHILDREN.\n\n1. During the last fourteen months there have been meetings purposely\nfor children, at which the Scriptures have been expounded to them. At\nthese meetings an almost universal attention is manifested by them,\nwhich I thankfully ascribe to the Lord, and upon which I look as a\nforerunner of greater blessing.\n\n2. During the last year three of the Sunday-school children have been\nreceived into fellowship.\n\n3. At the end of last year there had been eight orphans received into\ncommunion; during the present year fourteen have been received; in all,\ntwenty-two.\n\nIt was stated in the last year's Report that we were looking for fruit\nupon our labors as it regards the conversion of the children, as the\nLord had given to us a measure of earnestness in praying for them. The\nLord has dealt with us according to our expectations. But I expect far\nmore than what we have seen. While the chief object of our work has been\nand is still the manifestation of the heart of God towards his children,\nand the reality of power with God in prayer, yet, as we hoped, and as\nit has been our prayer, the Lord gives to us also the joy of seeing one\nchild after another brought to stand openly on the Lord's side. As far\nas my experience goes, it appears to me that believers generally have\nexpected far too little of _present_ fruit upon their labors among\nchildren. There has been a hoping that the Lord some day or other would\nown the instruction which they give to children, and would answer at\nsome time or other, though after many years only, the prayers which they\noffer up on their behalf. Now, while such passages as Proverbs xxii. 6,\nEcclesiastes xi. 1, Galatians vi. 9, 1 Cor. xv. 58, give unto us\nassurance not merely respecting everything which we do for the Lord, in\ngeneral, but also respecting bringing up children in the fear of the\nLord, in particular, that our labor is not in vain in the Lord; yet we\nhave to guard against abusing such passages, by thinking it a matter of\nlittle moment whether we see _present_ fruit or not; but, on the\ncontrary, we should give the Lord no rest till we see present fruit, and\ntherefore in persevering yet submissive prayer we should make known our\nrequests unto God. I add, as an encouragement to believers who labor\namong children, that during the last two years seventeen other young\npersons or children, from the age of eleven and a half to seventeen,\nhave been received into fellowship among us, and that I am looking out\nnow for many more to be converted, and that not merely of the orphans,\nbut of the Sunday and day school children. As in so many respects we\nlive in remarkable times, so in this respect also, that the Lord is\nworking greatly among the children in many places.\n\nThe total of the expenses connected with the objects of the Institution,\nexclusive of the Orphan Houses, from November 19, 1839, to November 19,\n1840, is L622, 2s. 61/2d. The balance in hand on Nov. 19, 1840, was\nL13, 2s. 93/4d.\n\nThe total of the expenses connected with the three Orphan Houses, from\nDecember 9, 1839, to December 9, 1840, is L900, 11s. 21/2d. The balance\nin hand on December 9, 1840, was L15, 1s. 61/4d.\n\n\nREVIEW OF THE YEAR 1840.\n\n1. As to the church. There are 525 at present in communion; 114 have\nbeen added during the past year, of whom 47 have been brought to the\nknowledge of the Lord among us.\n\n2. As to the supply of my temporal necessities. The Lord has been\npleased to send me, by the freewill offerings of the saints, L242,\n8s. 111/2.[17]\n\n  [Footnote 17: It may not be improper to state here that the little\n  patrimony to which Mr. Mueller became entitled upon the decease of\n  his father was devoted to the purposes of charity and religion, in\n  accordance with the principle of action indicated on page 67. This\n  fact is not mentioned by Mr. M., but has come to the knowledge of\n  the editor through another channel.--ED.]\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII.\n\nFAITH STRENGTHENED BY EXERCISE.\n\n1841.\n\n    A WANT SUPPLIED--RESOURCES EXCEEDING THE DEMAND--EVIL OF\n    SURETYSHIP--POWER OF CHRISTIAN LOVE--GOD'S WORD THE FOOD OF THE\n    SOUL--PREPARATION FOR THE HOUR OF TRIAL--POVERTY--DEPENDING ONLY\n    ON THE LIVING GOD.\n\n\nJanuary 1, 1841. During this week we have daily met for prayer, for the\nespecial purpose of asking the Lord to give us the means of having the\nlast year's Report printed. It is three weeks since it might have been\nsent to the press. We felt this now to be a matter of especial\nimportance, as, if the Report were not soon printed, it would be known\nthat it arose from want of means. By the donations which came in during\nthese last days for the orphans, and by ten pounds which was given\nto-day for the other funds, we have the means of defraying the expense\nof about two thirds of the printing, and therefore a part of the\nmanuscript was sent off, trusting that the Lord would be pleased to send\nin more means before two sheets are printed off; but if not, we should\nthen stop till we have more. _Evening._ There came in still further five\npounds; also, ten shillings and three shillings.\n\nJan. 11. Monday. During the last week the Lord not only supplied us\nrichly with all we needed for the orphans, but enabled us to put by\nseveral pounds towards printing the Report. On Saturday evening there\nwas only three shillings sixpence left. On this account I was looking\nout for answers to my prayers for means, and the Lord did not disappoint\nme. There came in altogether yesterday nine pounds sixteen shillings\nfourpence. We have now enough even for the last part of the Report.\n\nJan. 12. To-day I have received a letter from a brother, in which he\nempowers me to draw upon his bankers, during this year, to the amount of\none thousand pounds, for any brethren who have it in their hearts to\ngive themselves to missionary service in the East Indies, and whom I\nshall consider called for this service, as far as I am able to judge.\n[This power lasted only for that year; but no brethren who seemed to be\nsuitable offered themselves for this service. This is another fresh\nproof how much more easily pecuniary means can be obtained than suitable\nindividuals. Indeed, in all my experience I have found it thus, that if\nI could only settle that a certain thing to be done was according to the\nwill of God, the means were soon obtained to carry it into effect.]\n\nJan. 13. This evening I was called to the house of a brother and sister\nwho are in the deepest distress. The brother had become surety for the\ndebts of his son, not in the least expecting that he ever should be\ncalled upon for the payment of them; but, as his son has not discharged\nhis debts, the father has been called upon to do so; and except the\nmoney is paid within a few days, he will be imprisoned.\n\nHow precious it is, even for this life, to act according to the word of\nGod! This perfect revelation of his mind gives us directions for\neverything, even the most minute affairs of this life. It commands us,\n\"Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties\nfor debts.\" Prov. xxii. 26. The way in which Satan ensnares persons, to\nbring them into the net, and to bring trouble upon them by becoming\nsureties, is, that he seeks to represent the matter as if there were no\ndanger connected with that particular case, and that one might be sure\none should never be called upon to pay the money; but the Lord, the\nfaithful Friend, tells us in his own word that the only way \"to be sure\"\nin such a matter is \"to hate suretyship.\" Prov. xi. 15. The following\npoints seem to me of solemn moment for consideration, if I were called\nupon to become surety for another: 1. What obliges the person who wishes\nme to become surety for him to need a surety? Is it really a good cause\nin which I am called upon to become surety? I do not remember ever to\nhave met with a case in which in a plain, and godly, and in all respects\nscriptural matter such a thing occurred. There was generally some sin or\nother connected with it. 2. If I become surety, notwithstanding what the\nLord has said to me in his word, am I in such a position that no one\nwill be injured by my being called upon to fulfil the engagements of the\nperson for whom I am going to be surety? In most instances this alone\nought to keep one from it. 3. If still I become surety, the amount of\nmoney for which I become responsible must be so in my power that I am\nable to produce it whenever it is called for, in order that the name of\nthe Lord may not be dishonored. 4. But if there be the possibility of\nhaving to fulfil the engagements of the person in whose stead I have to\nstand, is it the will of the Lord that I should spend my means in that\nway? Is it not rather his will that my means should be spent in another\nway? 5. How can I get over the plain word of the Lord, which is to the\ncontrary, even if the first four points could be satisfactorily settled?\n\nMarch 4. From February 22 up to this day our necessities in the day\nschools were supplied by thirteen small donations, and by a donation of\neight pounds from Q. Q. To-day I received fifteen pounds. When this\narrived there was not one penny in hand for the day schools, whilst two\ndays after about seven pounds was needed. This money came from a\nconsiderable distance, and from a brother who never had assisted in this\nwork before, whereby the Lord afresh shows how easily he can raise up\nnew helpers.\n\nFor the encouragement of believers, who are tried by having unconverted\nrelatives and friends, I will relate the following circumstance, the\ntruth of which I know.\n\nBaron Von K., who resided in my own country, the kingdom of Prussia, had\nbeen for many years a disciple of the Lord Jesus. Even about the\ncommencement of this century, when there was almost universal darkness\nor even open infidelity spread over the whole continent of Europe, he\nknew the Lord Jesus; and when, about the year 1806, there was the\ngreatest distress in Silesia among many thousands of weavers, this\nblessed man of God took the following gracious step for his Lord and\nMaster. As the weavers had no employment, the whole continent almost\nbeing in an unsettled state on account of Napoleon's career, it seemed\nto him the will of the Lord that he should use his very considerable\nproperty to furnish these poor weavers with work, in order to save them\nfrom the greatest state of destitution, though in doing this there was\nnot only no prospect of gain, but the certain prospect of immense loss.\nHe therefore found employment for about six thousand weavers. But he was\nnot content with this. Whilst he gave the bread which perishes, he also\nsought to minister to the souls of these weavers. To that end he sought\nto set believers as overseers over this immense weaving concern, and not\nonly saw to it that the weavers were instructed in spiritual things, but\nhe himself also set the truth before them. Thus it went on for a good\nwhile, till at last, on account of the loss of the chief part of his\nproperty, he was obliged to think about giving it up. But by this time\nthis precious act of mercy had so commended itself to the government\nthat it was taken up by them and carried on till the times altered.\nBaron von K. was, however, appointed director of the whole concern as\nlong as it existed.\n\nThis dear man of God was not content with this. He travelled through\nmany countries to visit the prisons, for the sake of improving the\ntemporal and spiritual condition of the prisoners, and among all the\nother things which he sought to do for the Lord was this also in\nparticular: He assisted poor students whilst at the university of\nBerlin, especially those who studied divinity, as it is called, in order\nto get access to them, and to win them for the Lord. One day a most\ntalented young man, whose father lived at Breslau, where there is\nlikewise a university, heard of the aged baron's kindness to students,\nand he therefore wrote to him, requesting him to assist him, as his own\nfather could not well afford to support him any longer, having other\nchildren to provide for. A short time afterwards young T. received a\nmost kind reply from the baron, inviting him to come to Berlin; but,\nbefore this letter arrived, the young student had heard that Baron von\nK. was a pietist or mystic, as true believers are contemptuously called\nin Germany; and as young T. was of a highly philosophical turn of mind,\nreasoning about everything, questioning the truth of revelation, yea,\nquestioning, most sceptically, the existence of God, he much disliked\nthe prospect of going to the old baron. Still, he thought he could but\ntry, and if he did not like it, he was not bound to remain in connection\nwith him. He arrived in Berlin on a day when there was a great review of\nthe troops, and, being full of this, he began to speak about it to the\nsteward of the baron. The steward, however, being a believer, turned the\nconversation, before the young student was aware of it, to spiritual\nthings; and yet he could not say that it had been forced. He began\nanother subject, and a third, but still it always came presently again\nto spiritual things.\n\nAt last the baron came, who received young T. in the most affectionate\nand familiar manner, as if he had been his equal, and as if young T.\nbestowed a favor on him, rather than that he was favored by the baron.\nThe baron offered him a room in his own house, and a place at his own\ntable, while he should be studying in Berlin, which young T. accepted.\nHe now sought in every way to treat the young student in the most kind\nand affectionate way, and as much as possible to serve him, and to show\nhim the power of the gospel in his own life, without arguing with him,\nyea, without speaking to him directly about his soul. For, discovering\nin young T. a most reasoning and sceptical mind, he avoided in every\npossible way getting into any argument with him, while the young student\nagain and again said to himself, \"I wish I could get into an argument\nwith this old fool; I would show him his folly.\" But the baron avoided\nit. When the young student used to come home in the evening, and the\nbaron heard him come, he would himself go to meet him on entering the\nhouse, would light his candle, would assist and serve him, in any way he\ncould, even to the fetching the bootjack for him, and helping him to\ntake off his boots. Thus this lowly aged disciple went on for some time,\nwhilst the young student still sought an opportunity for arguing with\nhim, but wondered nevertheless how the baron could thus serve him. One\nevening, on the return of young T. to the baron's house, when the baron\nwas making himself his servant as usual, he could refrain himself no\nlonger, but burst out thus: \"Baron, how can you do all this? You see I\ndo not care about you, and how are you able to continue to be so kind to\nme, and thus to serve me?\" The baron replied, \"My dear young friend, I\nhave learned it from the Lord Jesus. I wish you would read through the\nGospel of John. Good night.\" The student now for the first time in his\nlife sat down and read the word of God in a disposition of mind to be\nwilling to learn, whilst up to that time he had never read the Holy\nScriptures but with the view of wishing to find out arguments against\nthem. It pleased God to bless him. From that time he became himself a\nfollower of the Lord Jesus, and has been so ever since.\n\nMay 7. It has recently pleased the Lord to teach me a truth,\nirrespective of human instrumentality, as far as I know, the benefit of\nwhich I have not lost, though now, while preparing the fifth edition for\nthe press, more than fourteen years have since passed away. The point is\nthis: I saw more clearly than ever that the first great and primary\nbusiness to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy\nin the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was not how much I\nmight serve the Lord, how I might glorify the Lord; but how I might get\nmy soul into a happy state, and how my inner man might be nourished. For\nI might seek to set the truth before the unconverted, I might seek to\nbenefit believers, I might seek to relieve the distressed, I might in\nother ways seek to behave myself as it becomes a child of God in this\nworld; and yet, not being happy in the Lord, and not being nourished and\nstrengthened in my inner man day by day, all this might not be attended\nto in a right spirit. Before this time my practice had been, at least\nfor ten years previously, as an habitual thing to give myself to prayer,\nafter having dressed myself in the morning. Now, I saw that the most\nimportant thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the\nword of God, and to meditation on it, that thus my heart might be\ncomforted, encouraged, warned, reproved, instructed; and that thus, by\nmeans of the word of God, whilst meditating on it, my heart might be\nbrought into experimental communion with the Lord.\n\nI began therefore to meditate on the New Testament from the beginning,\nearly in the morning. The first thing I did, after having asked in a few\nwords the Lord's blessing upon his precious word, was, to begin to\nmeditate on the word of God, searching as it were into every verse, to\nget blessing out of it; not for the sake of the public ministry of the\nword, not for the sake of preaching on what I had meditated upon, but\nfor the sake of obtaining food for my own soul. The result I have found\nto be almost invariably this, that after a very few minutes my soul has\nbeen led to confession, or to thanksgiving, or to intercession, or to\nsupplication; so that, though I did not, as it were, give myself to\n_prayer_, but to _meditation_, yet it turned almost immediately more or\nless into prayer. When thus I have been for a while making confession,\nor intercession, or supplication, or have given thanks, I go on to the\nnext words or verse, turning all, as I go on, into prayer for myself or\nothers, as the word may lead to it, but still continually keeping before\nme that food for my own soul is the object of my meditation. The result\nof this is, that there is always a good deal of confession,\nthanksgiving, supplication, or intercession mingled with my meditation,\nand that my inner man almost invariably is even sensibly nourished and\nstrengthened, and that by breakfast time, with rare exceptions, I am in\na peaceful if not happy state of heart. Thus also the Lord is pleased to\ncommunicate unto me that which, either very soon after or at a later\ntime, I have found to become food for other believers, though it was not\nfor the sake of the public ministry of the word that I gave myself to\nmeditation, but for the profit of my own inner man.\n\nWith this mode I have likewise combined the being out in the open air\nfor an hour, an hour and a half, or two hours, before breakfast, walking\nabout in the fields, and in the summer sitting for a little on the\nstiles, if I find it too much to walk all the time. I find it very\nbeneficial to my health to walk thus for meditation before breakfast,\nand am now so in the habit of using the time for that purpose, that when\nI get into the open air I generally take out a New Testament of\ngood-sized type, which I carry with me for that purpose, besides my\nBible; and I find that I can profitably spend my time in the open air,\nwhich formerly was not the case, for want of habit. I used to consider\nthe time spent in walking a loss, but now I find it very profitable, not\nonly to my body, but also to my soul. The walking out before breakfast\nis of course not necessarily connected with this matter, and every one\nhas to judge according to his strength and other circumstances.\n\nThe difference, then, between my former practice and my present one is\nthis: Formerly, when I rose, I began to pray as soon as possible, and\ngenerally spent all my time till breakfast in prayer, or almost all the\ntime. At all events I almost invariably began with prayer, except when I\nfelt my soul to be more than usually barren, in which case I read the\nword of God for food, or for refreshment, or for a revival and renewal\nof my inner man, before I gave myself to prayer. But what was the\nresult? I often spent a quarter of an hour, or half an hour, or even an\nhour, on my knees, before being conscious to myself of having derived\ncomfort, encouragement, humbling of soul, etc.; and often, after having\nsuffered much from wandering of mind for the first ten minutes, or a\nquarter of an hour, or even half an hour, I only then began _really to\npray_. I scarcely ever suffer now in this way. For my heart being\nnourished by the truth, being brought into _experimental_ fellowship\nwith God, I speak to my Father and to my Friend (vile though I am, and\nunworthy of it) about the things that he has brought before me in his\nprecious word. It often now astonishes me that I did not sooner see this\npoint. In no book did I ever read about it. No public ministry ever\nbrought the matter before me. No private intercourse with a brother\nstirred me up to this matter. And yet now, since God has taught me this\npoint, it is as plain to me as anything, that the first thing the child\nof God has to do morning by morning is, to _obtain food for his inner\nman_. As the outward man is not fit for work for any length of time\nexcept we take food, and as this is one of the first things we do in the\nmorning, so it should be with the inner man. We should take food for\nthat, as every one must allow. Now what is the food for the inner man?\nNot _prayer_, but _the word of God_; and here again, not the simple\nreading of the word of God, so that it only passes through our minds,\njust as water runs through a pipe, but considering what we read,\npondering over it, and applying it to our hearts. When we pray, we speak\nto God. Now, prayer, in order to be continued for any length of time in\nany other than a formal manner, requires, generally speaking, a measure\nof strength or godly desire, and the season, therefore, when this\nexercise of the soul can be most effectually performed is after the\ninner man has been nourished by meditation on the word of God, where we\nfind our Father speaking to us, to encourage us, to comfort us, to\ninstruct us, to humble us, to reprove us. We may therefore profitably\nmeditate, with God's blessing, though we are ever so weak spiritually;\nnay, the weaker we are, the more we need meditation for the\nstrengthening of our inner man. There is thus far less to be feared from\nwandering of mind than if we give ourselves to prayer without having had\npreviously time for meditation. I dwell so particularly on this point\nbecause of the immense spiritual profit and refreshment I am conscious\nof having derived from it myself, and I affectionately and solemnly\nbeseech all my fellow-believers to ponder this matter. By the blessing\nof God I ascribe to this mode the help and strength which I have had\nfrom God to pass in peace through deeper trials, in various ways, than I\nhad ever had before; and after having now above fourteen years tried\nthis way, I can most fully, in the fear of God, commend it. In addition\nto this I generally read, after family prayer, larger portions of the\nword of God, when I still pursue my practice of reading regularly onward\nin the Holy Scriptures, sometimes in the New Testament and sometimes in\nthe Old, and for more than twenty-six years I have proved the\nblessedness of it. I take, also, either then or at other parts of the\nday, time more especially for prayer.\n\nHow different, when the soul is refreshed and made happy early in the\nmorning, from what it is when, without spiritual preparation, the\nservice, the trials, and the temptations of the day come upon one!\n\nOct. 1. When I had again not one penny in hand for the necessities of\nthis day, there was brought to me this morning ten shillings for the\norphans, which had been sent from Kensington. In the paper which\ncontained the money, was written: \"_Your Heavenly Father_ knoweth that\nye have need of _these_ things.\" \"Trust in the Lord.\" This word of our\nLord is to me of more value than many bank notes. About five minutes\nlater I received from an Irish sister ten pounds, through her banker in\nLondon. I mention here, as a point particularly to be noticed, that\nafter the season of comparative abundance had come to an end in\nSeptember, the Lord did not _at once_ allow us to be so sharply tried as\nwe were afterwards. He dealt in the same gentle way with us three years\nbefore, when the trials of faith in this part of the work first\ncommenced.\n\nNov. 2. At a time of the greatest poverty one pound was sent by a lady\nfrom Birmingham. About half an hour afterwards I received ten pounds\nfrom a brother who had saved up one hundred and fifty pounds, and put it\ninto a savings bank, but who now sees that to devote this money to the\npromotion of the work of God tends more to the glory of the name of\nJesus than to retain it in the savings bank upon interest for a time of\nsickness or old age; for he is assured that should such times come, the\nsame Lord, who has hitherto cared for him whilst in health and strength\nand able to work, will also care for him then. The same brother gave me\nthree pounds a fortnight since. This ten pounds came in very seasonably;\nfor, though we had been able to provide for the absolute necessities of\nto-day, yet there was want in many respects, especially as a boy is just\ngoing out as an apprentice, who needs tools and an outfit.\n\nNov. 13. Saturday. This morning I took one shilling out of the box in my\nhouse. This shilling was all there was towards the need of to-day.\nPause, dear reader, for a few moments! Consider that there are more than\na hundred persons to be provided with everything they require; consider\nthat there is no money in hand; and consider also that this is the case\nnot once nor twice in the course of the year, but very frequently. Is it\nnot precious, under such circumstances, to have the living God as a\nfather to go to, who is ever able and ever willing to help, as it may be\nreally needed? And to this privilege every one has a title who believes\nin the Lord Jesus, being as such a child of God. Galatians iii. 26. For\nthough all believers in the Lord Jesus are not called upon to establish\norphan houses, schools for poor children, etc., and trust in God for\nmeans; yet all believers, according to the will of God concerning them\nin Christ Jesus, may cast, and ought to cast, all their care upon him\nwho careth for them, and need not be anxiously concerned about anything,\nas is plainly to be seen from 1 Peter v. 7, Philippians iv. 6, Matthew\nvi. 25-34. Under these circumstances of need, a silver watch, which\n_only yesterday afternoon_ had become the property of the orphan fund,\nwas disposed of, whereby we were helped through the expenses of to-day.\nThe coals are almost gone in each of the houses. Every article of\nprovision, etc., is likewise much reduced. Truly, we are exceedingly\npoor; nevertheless there are the necessary provisions till Monday\nmorning, and thus we are brought to the close of another week. This\nafternoon all the laborers met for prayer.\n\nNov. 14. When we met again this afternoon for prayer, we had reason to\npraise, for the Lord had sent in means. This morning was given to me\nfive pounds, and six shillings had come in by sale of articles.\n\nNov. 15. Last Friday brother Craik and I had a meeting for inquirers and\ncandidates for fellowship. We saw eight, and had to send away ten whom\nwe could not see, our strength being quite gone after we had seen the\neight, one after another. This evening we saw seven, and had to send\naway three.\n\nNov. 16. The last four days we have daily met for prayer, there being no\nmeans to pay the teachers in the day schools. Besides this, we need a\nstove in one of the school-rooms; also some Bibles and tracts. To-day I\nreceived two pounds from a brother at Exmouth.\n\nDec. 9. We are now brought to the close of the sixth year of this part\nof the work, _having only in hand the money which has been put by for\nthe rent_; but during the whole of this year we have been supplied with\nall that was needed.\n\nDuring the last three years we had closed the accounts on this day, and\nhad, a few days after, some public meetings, at which, for the benefit\nof the hearers, we stated how the Lord had dealt with us during the\nyear, and the substance of what had been stated at those meetings was\nafterwards printed for the benefit of the church at large. This time,\nhowever, it appeared to us better to delay for a while both the public\nmeetings and the publishing of the Report. Through grace we had learned\nto lean upon the Lord only, being assured that if we never were to speak\nor write one single word more about this work, yet should we be supplied\nwith means, as long as he should enable us to depend on himself alone.\nBut whilst we neither had had those public meetings for the purpose of\nexposing our necessity, nor had had the account of the Lord's dealings\nwith us published for the sake of working thereby upon the feelings of\nthe readers, and thus inducing them to give money, but only that we\nmight by our experience benefit other saints; yet it might have appeared\nto some that in making known our circumstances we were actuated by some\nsuch motives. What better proof, therefore, could we give of our\ndepending upon the living God alone, and not upon public meetings or\nprinted reports, than that, _in the midst of our deep poverty_, instead\nof being glad for the time to have come when we could make known our\ncircumstances, we still went on quietly for some time longer, without\nsaying anything. We therefore determined, as we sought and still seek in\nthis work to act for the profit of the saints generally, to delay both\nthe public meetings and the Reports for a few months. _Naturally_ we\nshould have been, of course, as glad as any one to have exposed our\npoverty at that time; but _spiritually_ we were enabled to delight even\nthen in the prospect of the increased benefit that might be derived by\nthe church at large from our acting as we did.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIV.\n\nWALKING IN DARKNESS.\n\n1841-1842.\n\n    \"GOD'S WAY LEADS INTO TRIAL\"--GROUNDS OF\n    THANKFULNESS--PROTRACTED DARKNESS--CAST DOWN, BUT NOT\n    DESTROYED--TRUST IN GOD COMMENDED--THE MEANS OF ITS\n    ATTAINMENT--REVIEW OF THE WORK.\n\n\nDecember 15, 1841. From Nov. 12 to this day my fellow-laborers in the\nchurch and I have seen thirty inquirers and candidates for fellowship,\nand some of them we have seen repeatedly. How can we sufficiently praise\nthe Lord for still continuing to use us in his service?\n\nDec. 18. Saturday morning. There is now the greatest need, and only\nfourpence in hand, which I found in the box at my house; yet I fully\nbelieve the Lord will supply us this day also with all that is\nrequired.--Pause a few moments, dear reader. Observe two things. We\nacted _for God_ in delaying the public meetings and the publishing of\nthe Report; but _God's way leads always into trial, so far as sight and\nsense are concerned_. _Nature_ always will be tried _in God's ways_. The\nLord was saying by this poverty, \"I will now see whether you truly lean\nupon me, and whether you truly look to me.\" Of all the seasons that I\nhad ever passed through since I had been living in this way, _up to that\ntime_, I never knew any period in which my faith was tried so sharply\nas during the four months from December 12, 1841, to April 12, 1842. But\nobserve further: We might even now have altered our minds with respect\nto the public meetings and publishing the Report; for _no one knew our\ndetermination, at this time_, concerning this point. Nay, on the\ncontrary, we knew with what delight very many children of God were\nlooking forward to receive further accounts. But the Lord kept us\nsteadfast to the conclusion at which we arrived under his guidance.--Now\nto return to Saturday, Dec. 18. _Evening._ The Lord has been very kind\nto us this day. In the course of the morning six shillings came in. We\nhad thus, with what provisions there were in hand, all that was needed\nfor the dinner, but no means to provide for the next meal in the\nafternoon. A few minutes after the laborers had met together for prayer\nthis morning, there was given to one of them a sovereign for himself. By\nmeans of this all that was needed for tea could be procured. When we\nagain met in the evening for prayer, we found that the supplies amounted\nto two pounds eight shillings twopence, enough for all that was required\nto-day. But one thing more is to be noticed respecting this day. I was\ninformed that three more of the orphans have been recently brought to\nthe knowledge of the truth. We have now been meeting daily for prayer\nduring the last five weeks, and thus the Lord has not merely heard our\nprayers respecting the funds, but has also blessed these children.\n\nDec. 23. This is now the sixth week that the laborers in the day schools\nand Orphan Houses have daily met for prayer. Several precious answers we\nhave already received since we began to meet, as it regards pecuniary\nsupplies, fresh instances of conversion among the children, etc. One of\nour petitions has been that the Lord would be pleased to furnish us with\nmeans for a stove at Callowhill Street schoolroom. But, though we had\noften mentioned this matter before the Lord, he seemed not to regard our\nrequest. Yesterday afternoon, while walking in my little garden, and\nmeditating and praying, I had an unusual assurance that the time was now\ncome when the Lord would answer our request, which arose partly from my\nbeing able _to believe_ that _he would_ send the means, and partly from\nthe fact that the answer could no longer be delayed without prayer\nhaving failed in this matter, as we could not assemble the children\nagain, after the Christmas vacation, without there being a stove put up.\nAnd now, dear reader, observe: This morning I received from A. B. twenty\npounds, and we have thus much more than is required for a stove.\n\n\nREVIEW OF THE YEAR 1841.\n\n1. In reading over my journal, I find that the Lord has given me, during\nthis year, many precious answers to prayer, in addition to those which\nhave been recorded in the previous part of the Narrative. I mention the\nfollowing for the encouragement of the reader: 1. One of the orphan boys\nneeded to be apprenticed. I knew of no suitable believing master who\nwould take an in-door apprentice. I gave myself to prayer, and brought\nthe matter daily before the Lord. I marked it down among the subjects\nfor which I would daily ask the Lord; and at last, though from May 21 to\nSeptember I had to pray about the matter, the Lord granted my request;\nfor in September I found a suitable place for him. 2. On May 23 I began\nto ask the Lord that he would be pleased to deliver a certain sister in\nthe Lord from the great spiritual depression under which she was\nsuffering, and after three days the Lord granted me my request. 3. On\nJune 15 I began to ask the Lord to deliver a brother at a distance from\nthe great spiritual nervousness in which he found himself shut up,\nwhich not only distressed him exceedingly, and in a great measure\nhindered him in his service towards the world and the church, but which\nin consequence was also a trial to the saints who knew and valued this\ndear brother. This petition I brought many times before the Lord. The\nyear passed away, and it was not granted. But yet at last this request\nalso has been granted to me and to the many dear saints who I know\nprayed for this dear brother; for though he was for some years in this\nstate, it is now [in 1845] two years and more since he has been quite\nrestored. 4. On June 15 I also began to ask the Lord daily in his mercy\nto keep a sister in the Lord from insanity, who was then apparently on\nthe very border of it; and I have now [in 1845] to record to his praise,\nafter nearly four years have passed away, that the Lord has kept her\nfrom it. 5. During this year I was informed about the conversion of one\nof the very greatest sinners that I had ever heard of in all my service\nfor the Lord. Repeatedly I fell on my knees with his wife, and asked the\nLord for his conversion, when she came to me in the deepest distress of\nsoul, on account of her most barbarous and cruel treatment that she\nreceived from him in his bitter enmity against her for the Lord's sake,\nand because he could not provoke her to be in a passion, and _she would\nnot_ strike him again, and the like. At the time when it was at its\nworst I pleaded especially on his behalf the promise in Matthew xviii.\n19: \"Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as\ntouching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my\nFather which is in heaven.\" And now this awful persecutor is converted.\n6. On May 25 I began to ask the Lord for greater real spiritual\nprosperity among the saints among whom I labor in Bristol than there\never yet had been among them; and now I have to record to the praise of\nthe Lord that truly he has answered this request; for, considering all\nthings, at no period has there been more manifestation of grace, and\ntruth, and spiritual power among us, than there is now while I am\nwriting this for the press [1845].\n\n2. The state of the church with reference to numbers. There are 572 at\npresent in communion, 88 having been added during the past year, of whom\n30 have been brought to the knowledge of the Lord among us.\n\n3. The Lord's goodness as to my temporal supplies during this year. He\nhas been pleased to give me by freewill offerings of the saints, L238,\n11s. 13/4d.\n\nJanuary 3, 1842. This evening we had a precious public prayer meeting.\nWhen the usual time for closing the meeting came, it appeared to me that\nthere was a desire to continue to wait upon the Lord. I therefore\nproposed to the brethren that those who had bodily strength, time, and a\ndesire for waiting still longer upon the Lord, would do so. At least\nthirty remained, and we continued till after ten in prayer, whilst\nseveral brethren prayed. I never knew prayer more really in the Spirit.\nI experienced for myself unusual nearness to the Lord, and was enabled\nto ask in faith, nothing doubting.\n\nJan. 4. As we have often found it to be the case, so it is now. After a\nseason of more than usual poverty, comes a time of more than usual\nabundance. To-day the same brother who has been spoken of under November\n2, and who has drawn his money out of the savings bank to spend it for\nthe Lord, sent twenty pounds more of it. There came in also from\nGuernsey one pound, and one pound seven shillings besides. I am now able\nto order oatmeal from Scotland, buy materials for the boys' clothes,\norder shoes, etc. Thus the Lord has been pleased to answer _all_ our\nrequests with respect to the pecuniary necessities of the orphans, which\nwe have brought before him in our prayer meetings during the last seven\nweeks. We have thus had of late an abundance, but the expenses have\nbeen great also; for within the last twenty-five days I have paid out\nabove one hundred pounds.\n\nFeb. 5. Saturday. As only ten pounds ten shillings sixpence had been\nreceived since January 29, _i. e._ only so much as day by day was needed\nto provide necessaries for the orphans, there is again the greatest\nneed. It is now twelve o'clock, and there are no means as yet to meet\nthe expenses of to-day. The words in the prayer of Jehoshaphat, \"Neither\nknow we what to do, but our eyes are upon thee,\" are at this moment the\nlanguage of my heart. _I_ likewise know not what to do, but my eyes are\nupon the Lord, and _I am sure that he will help this day\nalso_.--_Evening._ In the course of the morning came in, by sale of\narticles, twelve shillings. We were able likewise to dispose of one of\nthe articles which were sent last evening for five shillings. This\nafternoon one of the laborers gave me ten shillings, and three shillings\ncame in for needlework. By means of this one pound ten shillings we were\nable to supply all that was needed.\n\nFeb. 8. By what came in yesterday and the day before, the need of\nyesterday was supplied, and there is enough in all the houses for the\nmeals of to-day; but in none of the houses have we been able to take in\nany bread; and as yesterday also but little could be taken in, there\nwill not remain any for to-morrow; nor is there money enough to take in\nmilk to-morrow morning. There are likewise coals needed in two houses.\nIndeed, so far as I know, these three years and seven months, since\nfirst the funds were exhausted, we were never in greater poverty; and if\nthe Lord were not to send means before nine o'clock to-morrow morning,\nhis name would be dishonored. But I am fully assured that he will not\nleave us.--_Evening._ The Lord has not yet been pleased to send us what\nis needed for to-morrow, but he has given us a fresh proof that he is\nmindful of us. Between four and five o'clock this afternoon were sent\nnine plum cakes, which a sister had ordered to be baked as a treat for\nthe orphans. These cakes were an encouragement to me to continue to look\nout for further supplies. There was also found in the boxes at the\nOrphan Houses two shillings and a penny halfpenny, and one shilling\nfourpence came in for stockings. These little donations are most\nprecious, but they are not enough to meet the need of to-morrow; yea,\nbefore nine o'clock to-morrow morning we need more money to be able to\ntake in the milk. Truly, we are poorer than ever; but through grace my\neyes look not at the empty stores and the empty purse, but to the riches\nof the Lord only.\n\nFeb. 9. This morning I went between seven and eight o'clock to the\nOrphan Houses, to see whether the Lord had sent in anything. When I\narrived there, he had just two or three minutes before sent help. A\nbrother, in going to his house of business this morning, had gone\nalready about half a mile, when the Lord was pleased to lay the orphans\nupon his heart. He said, however, to himself, I cannot well return now,\nbut will take something this evening; and thus he walked on.\nNevertheless, he could not go on any further, but felt himself\nconstrained to go back, and to take to brother R. B., at the Boys'\nOrphan House, three sovereigns. [The donor himself stated this to me\nafterwards.] Thus the Lord in his faithfulness helped us. Help was never\nmore truly needed, for our poverty was never greater; nor did the help\nof the Lord ever come more manifestly from himself; for _the brother was\ngone on a good distance_, it was _between seven and eight o'clock in the\nmorning_, and it was _so short a time before money would have been\nneeded_. Consider this, beloved reader, and with us praise the Lord for\nhis goodness. Praise him particularly that he enabled us to trust in\nhim in this trying hour. There came in besides, to-day, seven shillings\nsixpence.\n\nFeb. 12. Saturday. Never since the funds were for the first time\nexhausted had there come in less during any week than during this. We\nwere only able to supply the absolute necessities; but this we were\nenabled to do. When the meal-times came, the Lord always provided what\nwas needful, and, considering the great distress there is now almost\neverywhere, our dear orphans are very well provided for. Now this day\nbegan not only without there being anything in hand, but our stores were\ngreatly reduced, and we had to procure provisions for two days. One of\nthe laborers gave five shillings in the morning, to provide the means to\ntake in the milk. I collected together some pamphlets, which had been\ngiven for sale, to dispose of them, and they were sold about eleven\no'clock for four shillings. There came in also by sale of stockings\nthree shillings, and twelve shillings was paid on behalf of one of the\norphans. Thus we were provided with means to procure a dinner, and had a\n_little_ towards purchasing bread, but by no means enough. All the\nlaborers were together in prayer from half-past eleven till one, and we\nseparated comfortably, with the purpose of meeting again in the evening.\nWhen I came home there was given to me an old broken silver pencil-case,\nwhich, though worth very little, I took as a fresh proof that our Father\nwas mindful of our need. When we met again this evening, we found that\nthree shillings sixpence had come in by sale of stockings, and sixpence\nfor two Reports. As all this was not enough, a few old and needless\narticles were disposed of for four shillings, also the broken\npencil-case for sixpence. I say _needless_ articles, for other articles\nit did not seem right to us to dispose of, in order that the Lord's own\ndeliverance might be manifest. A laborer was also still further able to\ngive seven shillings of his own. To one of the laborers two shillings\nhad been owed by a certain individual for more than a twelvemonth, which\nbeing paid just now, and given by him for the orphans, came in most\nseasonably. Thus we had one pound eighteen shillings sixpence, as much\nas was needful to procure provisions till after breakfast on Monday\nmorning. However, the Lord helped still further. Between eight and nine\nthis evening, after we had been together for prayer, and had now\nseparated, some money was given to one of the laborers for himself, by\nwhich means he was able to give nine shillings, so that altogether two\npounds seven shillings sixpence had come in this day. This has been, of\nall the weeks, during the last three years and seven months, one of the\nmost trying, so far as it regards the trial of faith. Thanks to the Lord\nwho has helped us this day also! Thanks to him for enabling us already\nthis morning, when we met for prayer, to praise him for the deliverance\nwhich we were sure he would work.\n\nFeb. 16. This morning there was now again only sufficient money in hand\nto take in milk at two of the houses; but as a laborer was able to give\nsix shillings sixpence, we had sufficient for the milk, and had also\nenough, with the provisions that were in the houses, to provide for the\ndinner. Nothing more came in in the course of the morning, nor was I\nable to make inquiries how matters stood. In the afternoon, between\nthree and four o'clock, having once more besought the Lord to send us\nhelp, I sat peacefully down to give myself to meditation over the word,\nconsidering that that was now my service, though I knew not whether\nthere was a morsel of bread for tea in any one of the houses, _but being\nassured that the Lord would provide_. For, through grace, my mind is so\nfully assured of the faithfulness of the Lord, that, in the midst of the\ngreatest need, I am enabled in peace to go about my other work. Indeed,\ndid not the Lord give me this, which is the result of trusting in him,\nI should scarcely be able to work at all; for it is now comparatively a\nrare thing that a day comes when I am not in need for one or the other\npart of the work. Scarcely had I sat down to meditate, when a note was\nsent to me from the Orphan Houses, in which brother R. B., master of the\norphan boys, had written thus: \"On visiting the sisters in the Infant\nand Girls' Orphan Houses, I found them in the greatest need. There was\nnot bread in one of the houses for tea this evening, and the six\nshillings sixpence was scarcely enough to supply what was needed for the\ndinner. I therefore opened the box in the Boys' Orphan House, and most\nunexpectedly found one pound it. Thus, through the kindness of the Lord,\nwe were again abundantly supplied as it regards present necessities.\" In\nthe evening the Lord, in his love and faithfulness, stretched out his\nhand still further. I had expounded at the meeting a part of John xi.\nThe last words on which I spoke were, \"Said I not unto thee that if thou\nwouldest believe thou shouldest see the glory of God?\" When the meeting\nwas over, as a fresh proof of the truth of this word, a note was given\nto me in which a sick sister sent me five pounds for the orphans.\n\nFeb. 19. Saturday. Our means were now again completely spent. Our\nprovision stores were, perhaps, even more exhausted than on any previous\nSaturday. There was not the least human likelihood of obtaining means\nfor sufficient provisions for this _one_ day, and much less for _two_\ndays. When I went before breakfast to the Orphan Houses, I found a\nletter from Nottingham, containing one shilling, which had arrived last\nevening. This was not only a sweet proof that our Father remembered our\nneed, but it was also like an earnest that he would supply us this day\nalso with all we required. In the course of the morning came in by sale\nof stockings four shillings elevenpence. In the box at my house I found\none shilling. One of the laborers gave four shillings tenpence. Thus we\nwere provided with those things which were absolutely needed for this\nday. We met between eleven and twelve o'clock for prayer. When we met\nagain in the evening, a second letter had arrived from Nottingham, with\nanother shilling. This was a further sweet proof of our Father's loving\nremembrance of our need; but with all this we were still without any\nmeans to provide bread for to-morrow, the Lord's day. At eight o'clock I\nseparated from my fellow-laborers, as I expected brother R. C. to arrive\na little after eight at my house. I therefore requested one of the\nbrethren to go with me, in order to take back to the Orphan Houses what\nthe Lord might send in by post or in any other way. It was now half past\neight in the evening, and there was no bread yet in any one of the three\nhouses for to-morrow. A few moments after, brother C. arrived, and he\nhad not been more than about five minutes in my house when he gave me\nhalf a sovereign which he brought for the orphans. I soon found an\nopportunity to leave the room for a little, gave the ten shillings to\nthe brother whom I had brought with me from the Orphan Houses, and who\nwas waiting in another room; and thus between nine and ten o'clock\nsufficient bread could be bought. Observe! For the trial of our faith\nthe Lord had allowed us to be kept waiting so long. When, however,\nbrother C. had arrived, having money for the orphans, he _could not\ndelay giving it at once_, a matter most worthy of notice. This has been\na week full of trials of faith, but also full of deliverances.\n\nFeb. 21. Since Saturday evening came in one pound eight shillings\nelevenpence. There was also sent from Plymouth a piece of blond, a piece\nof quilling net, and eleven pairs of children's stockings, for sale.\nThus we were supplied with means for that which was requisite for the\nbeginning of this day; but, as our stores had been so reduced at the\nend of last week, there was not enough for tea this afternoon. Four\no'clock had now come, one hour before the usual tea-time, when a brother\nfrom Somersetshire came to see the Orphan Houses, and put a sovereign\ninto each of the boxes. Our great need soon brought out the money, and\nthus we were supplied. [Observe! The brother, as he himself told me a\nfew days after in the course of conversation, had but little time, and\ntherefore rather hastily went over the houses. Had he stayed long and\nconversed much, as might have been the case, his donations would not\nhave been in time for the tea.] There came in one shilling besides, by\nneedlework done by the children.\n\nFeb. 25. Greater than now our need had never been. Our trials of faith\nhave never been so sharp as during this week. Indeed, so much so, that\nmost of the laborers felt to-day considerably tried. Yet neither this\nday has the Lord suffered us to be confounded. Through a remarkable\ncircumstance one of the laborers obtained some money this morning, so\nthat all the need of to-day could be amply met.\n\nFeb. 26. My prayer this morning was in particular that the Lord would be\npleased now to look in pity upon us, and take off his hand. Indeed, for\nseveral days my prayer has been that he would enable us to continue to\ntrust in him, and not lay more upon us than he would enable us to bear.\nThis is now again Saturday. There having been given yesterday a rich\nsupply to the matrons, I knew that not so much as usual would be\nrequired _this_ Saturday; still, I thought that one pound ten shillings\nwould be needed. Between ten and eleven o'clock this morning a parcel\ncame from Clapham, containing two pounds two shillings, with two frocks,\ntwo petticoats, two chemises, two pinafores, and six handkerchiefs, all\nnew. Thus we were richly supplied for to-day, for only one pound ten\nshillings was needed.\n\nMarch 2. This evening were sent, by order of an Irish sister,\nthirty-three and a half pounds of woollen yarn. Respecting this donation\nit is to be remarked that last Saturday we had asked the Lord, in our\nprayer meeting, that he would be pleased to send us means to purchase\nworsted, in order that the boys might go on with their knitting.\n\nMarch 9. At a time of the greatest need, both with regard to the day\nschools and the orphans, so much so that we could not have gone on any\nlonger without help, I received this day ten pounds from a brother who\nlives near Dublin. The money was divided between the day schools and the\nOrphan Houses. The following little circumstance is to be noticed\nrespecting this donation. As our need was so great, and my soul was,\nthrough grace, truly waiting upon the Lord, I looked out for supplies in\nthe course of this morning. The post, however, was out, and no supplies\nhad come. This did not in the least discourage me. I said to myself, the\nLord can send means without the post, or even now, though the post is\nout, by this very delivery of letters he may have sent means, though the\nmoney is not yet in my hands. It was not long after I had thus spoken to\nmyself when, according to my hope in God, we were helped; for the\nbrother who sent us the ten pounds, had this time directed his letter to\nthe Boys' Orphan House, whence it was sent to me.\n\nMarch 17. From the 12th to the 16th had come in four pounds five\nshillings elevenpence halfpenny for the orphans. This morning our\npoverty, which now has lasted more or less for several months, had\nbecome exceedingly great. I left my house a few minutes after seven to\ngo to the Orphan Houses to see whether there was money enough to take in\nthe milk, which is brought about eight o'clock. On my way it was\nespecially my request that the Lord would be pleased to pity us, even\nas a father pitieth his children, and that he would not lay more upon us\nthan he would enable us to bear. I especially entreated him that he\nwould now be pleased to refresh our hearts by sending us help. I\nlikewise reminded him of the consequences that would result, both in\nreference to believers and unbelievers, if we should have to give up the\nwork because of want of means, and that he therefore would not permit\nits coming to nought. I moreover again confessed before the Lord that I\ndeserved not that he should continue to use me in this work any longer.\nWhile I was thus in prayer, about two minutes' walk from the Orphan\nHouses, I met a brother who was going at this early hour to his\nbusiness. After having exchanged a few words with him, I went on; but he\npresently ran after me, and gave me one pound for the orphans. Thus the\nLord speedily answered my prayer. Truly, it is worth being poor and\ngreatly tried in faith for the sake of having day by day such precious\nproofs of the loving interest which our kind Father takes in everything\nthat concerns us. And how should our Father do otherwise? He that has\ngiven us the greatest possible proof of his love which he could have\ndone, in giving us his own Son, surely he will with him also freely give\nus all things. It is worth also being poor and greatly tried in faith,\nif but thereby the hearts of the children of God may be comforted and\ntheir faith strengthened, and if but those who do not know God, and who\nmay read or hear of his dealings with us, should be led thereby to see\nthat faith in God is more than a mere notion, and that there is indeed\nreality in Christianity. In the course of this day there came in still\nfurther thirteen shillings.\n\nMarch 19. Saturday. As it has often been the case on Saturdays, so it\nwas this day in particular. We began the day in very great poverty, as\nonly seven shillings had come in since the day before yesterday. There\nwas not one ray of light as to natural prospects. The heart would be\noverwhelmed at such seasons, were there not an abundance of repose to be\nfound by trusting in God. The trial having continued so long, and our\npoverty having now come to such a degree that it was necessary we should\nhave help in order that the name of the Lord might not be dishonored, I\nhad proposed to my fellow-laborers that we should set apart this day\nespecially for prayer. We met accordingly at half past ten in the\nmorning. By that time had come in four shillings sixpence, seven\nshillings sixpence, and ten shillings. In the afternoon we met again at\nthree, when ten shillings came in. In the evening, at seven, we met once\nmore, there being yet about three shillings needed to provide all that\nwas required. This also we received, and even three shillings more than\nwas actually needed came in, just when we were about to separate.\n\nApril 9. Saturday. Only one shilling sixpence had come in since\nyesterday afternoon. We needed more money than there was in hand,\nespecially as it was Saturday, but the Lord was pleased particularly to\ntry our faith. In the course of the morning came from some sisters in\nDublin, eighteen yards of calico, thirty-four yards of print,\nforty-three balls of cotton, and a pair of worn lady's boots. This\ndonation came most seasonably, as we had been mentioning repeatedly the\nneed of calico and print in our prayers, and the sewing-cotton and the\npair of boots came at once into use. Moreover, this donation was a sweet\nencouragement to me to continue waiting upon the Lord. Evening was now\napproaching, and no money had yet come in for provisions, etc., which\nwould be needed on the Lord's day. About six o'clock, I gave myself once\nmore to prayer with my wife, and requested the Lord in my prayer that if\nthe sister who in love to him has taken upon her the service of\ndisposing of the articles which are given for sale had any money in\nhand, he would be pleased to incline her heart to bring or send the\nmoney this evening. After this I sat down peacefully to read the\nScriptures, being assured that this time also the Lord would stretch out\nhis hand on our behalf. _About half past seven o'clock_, the sister, to\nwhom reference has just now been made, came and brought one pound ten\nshillings fourpence for articles which she had sold, stating that,\nthough she was unwell, _yet she felt herself constrained not to delay\nbringing this money_. Thus we had all that was needed, and six shillings\nmore. When I arrived with the money at the Infant Orphan House, about\neight o'clock, I found my fellow-laborers in prayer, and while we still\ncontinued in prayer a sister sent a large basket of stale bread, being\nfive brown loaves, seven bread cakes, and five French loaves.\n\nApril 12. We were never in greater need than to-day, perhaps never in so\nmuch, when I received this morning one hundred pounds from the East\nIndies. It is impossible to describe the real joy in God it gave me. My\nprayer had been again this morning particularly that our Father would\npity us, and now at last send larger sums. I was not in the least\nsurprised or excited when this donation came, for I took it as that\n_which came in answer to prayer, and had been long looked for_.\n\nMay 6. Only three pounds ten shillings twopence halfpenny had been\nreceived since the 2d, on which account there would have been only\nenough means in hand to provide for the breakfast to-morrow morning,\nwhen in this our fresh need we received eighty-six pounds, two pair of\ngold earrings, a brooch, and two rupees.\n\nMay 10. To-day, in closing the accounts, we have left, at the end of\nthis period of seventeen months, in which we have been so often\npenniless, the sum of sixteen pounds eighteen shillings tenpence\nhalfpenny for the orphans, and forty-eight pounds twelve shillings five\nand one fourth pence for the other objects of the Scriptural Knowledge\nInstitution.\n\nThe time now seemed to us to have come, when, for the profit of the\nchurch at large, the Lord's dealings with us, with reference to the\nvarious objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, should be made\nknown by publishing another Report. For, whilst we, on purpose, had\ndelayed it at this time five months longer than during the previous\nyears, and that during a period when we were in deeper poverty than\nduring any previous time; yet, as from the commencement it had appeared\nto me important from time to time to make known the Lord's dealings with\nus, so I judged it profitable still to seek to comfort, to encourage, to\nexhort, to instruct, and to warn the dear children of God by the printed\naccounts of the Lord's goodness to us.\n\nThough our trials of faith during these seventeen months lasted longer\nand were sharper than during any previous period, yet during all this\ntime the orphans had everything that was needful in the way of\nnourishing food, the necessary articles of clothing, etc. Indeed, I\nshould rather at once send the children back to their relations than\nkeep them without sufficient maintenance.\n\nI desire that all the children of God who may read these details may\nthereby be led to increased and more simple confidence in God for\neverything which they may need under any circumstances, and that these\nmany answers to prayer may encourage them to pray, particularly as it\nregards the conversion of their friends and relations, their own\nprogress in grace and knowledge, the state of the saints whom they may\nknow personally, the state of the church of Christ at large, and the\nsuccess of the preaching of the gospel. Especially, I affectionately\nwarn them against being led away by the device of Satan, to think that\nthese things are peculiar to me, and cannot be enjoyed by all the\nchildren of God; for though, as has been stated before, every believer\nis not called upon to establish orphan houses, charity schools, etc.,\nand trust in the Lord for means, yet all believers are called upon, in\nthe simple confidence of faith, to cast all their burdens upon him, to\ntrust in him for everything, and not only to make everything a subject\nof prayer, but to expect answers to their petitions which they have\nasked according to his will and in the name of the Lord Jesus. Think\nnot, dear reader, that I have _the gift of faith_, that is, that gift of\nwhich we read in 1 Cor. xii. 9, and which is mentioned along with \"the\ngifts of healing,\" \"the working of miracles,\" \"prophecy,\" and that on\nthat account I am able to trust in the Lord. _It is true_ that the faith\nwhich I am enabled to exercise is altogether God's own gift; it is true\nthat he alone supports it, and that he alone can increase it; it is true\nthat moment by moment, I depend on him for it, and that if I were only\none moment left to myself my faith would utterly fail; but _it is not\ntrue_ that my faith is that gift of faith which is spoken of in 1 Cor.\nxii. 9. It is the self-same faith which is found in _every believer_,\nand the growth of which I am most sensible of to myself; for by little\nand little it has been increasing for the last six and twenty years.\n\nThis faith which is exercised respecting the Orphan Houses, and my own\ntemporal necessities shows itself in the same measure, for instance,\nconcerning the following points: I have never been permitted to doubt\nduring the last twenty-seven years that my sins are forgiven, that I am\na child of God, that I am beloved of God, and that I shall be finally\nsaved; because I am enabled by the grace of God to exercise faith upon\nthe word of God, and believe what God says in those passages which\nsettle these matters (1 John v. 1; Gal. iii. 26; Acts x. 43; Romans x.\n9, 10; John iii. 16, etc.). Further, at the time when I thought I\nshould be insane, though there was not the least ground for thinking so,\nI was in peace; because my soul believed the truth of that word, \"We\nknow that all things work together for good to them that love God.\" Rom.\nviii. 28. Further: When my brother in the flesh and my dear aged father\ndied, and when concerning both of them I had no _evidence_ whatever that\nthey were saved (though I dare not say that they are lost, for I know it\nnot), yet my soul was at peace, perfectly at peace, under this great\ntrial, this exceedingly great trial, this trial which is one of the\ngreatest perhaps which can befall a believer. And what was it that gave\nme peace? My soul laid hold on that word, \"Shall not the Judge of all\nthe earth do right?\" This word, together with the whole character of\nGod, as he has revealed himself in his holy word, settled all\nquestionings. I believed what he has said concerning himself, and I was\nat peace, and have been at peace ever since, concerning this matter.\nFurther: When the Lord took from me a beloved infant, my soul was at\npeace, perfectly at peace; I could only weep tears of joy when I did\nweep. And why? Because my soul laid hold in faith on that word, \"Of such\nis the kingdom of heaven.\" Matthew xix. 14. Further: When sometimes all\nhas been dark, exceedingly dark, with reference to my service among the\nsaints, judging from natural appearances; yea, when I should have been\noverwhelmed indeed in grief and despair had I looked at things after the\noutward appearance: at such times I have sought to encourage myself in\nGod, by laying hold in faith on his almighty power, his unchangeable\nlove, and his infinite wisdom, and I have said to myself, God is able\nand willing to deliver me, if it be good for me; for it is written, \"He\nthat spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall\nhe not with him also freely give us all things?\" Rom. viii. 32. This it\nwas which, being believed by me through grace, kept my soul in peace.\nFurther: When in connection with the Orphan Houses, day schools, etc.,\ntrials have come upon me which were far heavier than the want of means,\nwhen lying reports were spread that the orphans had not enough to eat,\nor that they were cruelly treated in other respects, and the like; or\nwhen other trials, still greater, but which I cannot mention, have\nbefallen me in connection with this work, and that at a time when I was\nnearly a thousand miles absent from Bristol, and had to remain absent\nweek after week; at such times my soul was stayed upon God; I believed\nhis word of promise which was applicable to such cases; I poured out my\nsoul before God, and arose from my knees in peace, because the trouble\nthat was in the soul was in believing prayer cast upon God, and thus I\nwas kept in peace, though I saw it to be the will of God to remain far\naway from the work. Further: When I needed houses, fellow-laborers,\nmasters and mistresses for the orphans or for the day schools, I have\nbeen enabled to look for all to the Lord, and trust in him for help.\n\nDear reader, I may seem to boast; but, by the grace of God, I do not\nboast in thus speaking. From my inmost soul I do ascribe it to God alone\nthat he has enabled me to trust in him, and that hitherto he has not\nsuffered my confidence in him to fail. But I thought it needful to make\nthese remarks, lest any one should think that my depending upon God was\na particular gift given to me which other saints have no right to look\nfor; or lest it should be thought that this my depending upon him had\n_only to do with the obtaining of_ MONEY _by prayer and faith_. By the\ngrace of God I desire that my faith in God should extend towards\nEVERYTHING, the smallest of my own temporal and spiritual concerns, and\nthe smallest of the temporal and spiritual concerns of my family,\ntowards the saints among whom I labor, the church at large, everything\nthat has to do with the temporal and spiritual prosperity of the\nScriptural Knowledge Institution, etc. Dear reader, do not think that I\nhave attained in faith (and how much less in other respects!) to that\ndegree to which I might and ought to attain; but thank God for the faith\nwhich he has given me, and ask him to uphold and increase it. And\nlastly, once more, let not Satan deceive you in making you think that\n_you_ could not have the same faith, but that it is only for persons who\nare situated as I am. When I lose such a thing as a key, I ask the Lord\nto direct me to it, and I look for an answer to my prayer; when a person\nwith whom I have made an appointment does not come, according to the\nfixed time, and I begin to be inconvenienced by it, I ask the Lord to be\npleased to hasten him to me, and I look for an answer; when I do not\nunderstand a passage of the word of God, I lift up my heart to the Lord,\nthat he would be pleased, by his Holy Spirit, to instruct me, and I\nexpect to be taught, though I do not fix the time when, and the manner\nhow it should be; when I am going to minister in the word, I seek help\nfrom the Lord, and while I, in the consciousness of natural inability as\nwell as utter unworthiness, begin this his service, I am not cast down,\nbut of good cheer, because I look for his assistance, and believe that\nhe, for his dear Son's sake, will help me. And thus in other of my\ntemporal and spiritual concerns I pray to the Lord, and expect an answer\nto my requests; and may not _you_ do the same, dear believing reader?\nOh! I beseech you, do not think me an extraordinary believer, having\nprivileges above other of God's dear children, which they cannot have;\nnor look on my way of acting as something that would not do for other\nbelievers. Make but trial! Do but stand still in the hour of trial, and\nyou will see the help of God, if you trust in him. But there is so often\na forsaking the ways of the Lord in the hour of trial, and thus the\n_food for faith_, the means whereby our faith may be increased, is lost.\nThis leads me to the following important point. You ask, How may I, a\ntrue believer, have my faith strengthened? The answer is this:--\n\nI. \"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh\ndown from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither\nshadow of turning.\" James i. 17. As the increase of faith is a good\ngift, it must come from God, and therefore he ought to be asked for this\nblessing.\n\nII. The following means, however, ought to be used: 1. _The careful\nreading of the word of God, combined with meditation on it._ Through\nreading of the word of God, and especially through meditation on the\nword of God, the believer becomes more and more acquainted with the\nnature and character of God, and thus sees more and more, besides his\nholiness and justice, what a kind, loving, gracious, merciful, mighty,\nwise, and faithful being he is, and, therefore, in poverty, affliction\nof body, bereavement in his family, difficulty in his service, want of a\nsituation or employment, he will repose upon the _ability_ of God to\nhelp him, because he has not only learned from his word that he is of\nalmighty power and infinite wisdom, but he has also seen instance upon\ninstance in the Holy Scriptures in which his almighty power and infinite\nwisdom have been actually exercised in helping and delivering his\npeople; and he will repose upon the _willingness_ of God to help him,\nbecause he has not only learned from the Scriptures what a kind, good,\nmerciful, gracious, and faithful being God is, but because he has also\nseen in the word of God, how in a great variety of instances he has\nproved himself to be so. And the consideration of this, if _God has\nbecome known to us through prayer and meditation on his own word_, will\nlead us, in general at least, with a measure of confidence to rely upon\nhim: and thus the reading of the word of God, together with meditation\non it, will be one especial means to strengthen our faith.\n\n2. As, with reference to the growth of every grace of the Spirit, it is\nof the utmost importance that we seek to maintain an upright heart and a\ngood conscience, and, therefore, do not knowingly and habitually indulge\nin those things which are contrary to the mind of God, so it is also\nparticularly the case with reference to the _growth in faith_. How can I\npossibly continue to act faith upon God, concerning anything, if I am\nhabitually grieving him, and seek to detract from the glory and honor of\nhim in whom I profess to trust, upon whom I profess to depend? All my\nconfidence towards God, all my leaning upon him in the hour of trial,\nwill be gone, if I have a guilty conscience, and do not seek to put away\nthis guilty conscience, but still continue to do things which are\ncontrary to the mind of God. And if, in any particular instance, I\ncannot trust in God, because of the guilty conscience, then my faith is\nweakened by that instance of distrust; for faith with every fresh trial\nof it either increases by trusting God, and thus getting help, or it\ndecreases by not trusting him; and then there is less and less power of\nlooking simply and directly to him, and a habit of self-dependence is\nbegotten or encouraged. One or other of these will always be the case in\neach particular instance. Either we trust in God, and in that case we\nneither trust in ourselves, nor in our fellow-men, nor in circumstances,\nnor in anything besides; or we DO trust in one or more of these, and in\nthat case do NOT trust in God.\n\n3. If we, indeed, desire our faith to be strengthened, we should not\nshrink from opportunities where our faith may be tried, and, therefore,\nthrough the trial, be strengthened. In our natural state we dislike\ndealing with God alone. Through our natural alienation from God we\nshrink from him, and from eternal realities. This cleaves to us more or\nless, even after our regeneration. Hence it is that, more or less, even\nas believers, we have the same shrinking from standing with God alone,\nfrom depending upon him alone, from looking to him alone; and yet this\nis the very position in which we ought to be, if we wish our faith to be\nstrengthened. The more I am in a position to be tried in faith with\nreference to my body, my family, my service for the Lord, my business,\netc., the more shall I have opportunity of seeing God's help and\ndeliverance; and every fresh instance in which he helps and delivers me\nwill tend towards the increase of my faith. On this account, therefore,\nthe believer should not shrink from situations, positions,\ncircumstances, in which his faith may be tried, but should cheerfully\nembrace them as opportunities where he may see the hand of God stretched\nout on his behalf, to help and deliver him, and whereby he may thus have\nhis faith strengthened.\n\n4. The last important point for the strengthening of our faith is, that\nwe let God work for us, when the hour of the trial of our faith comes,\nand do not work a deliverance of our own. Wherever God has given faith,\nit is given, among other reasons, for the very purpose of being tried.\nYea, however weak our faith may be, God will try it; only with this\nrestriction, that as, in every way, he leads us on gently, gradually,\npatiently, so also with reference to the trial of our faith. At first,\nour faith will be tried very little in comparison with what it may be\nafterwards; for God never lays more upon us than he is willing to enable\nus to bear. Now, when the trial of faith comes, we are naturally\ninclined to distrust God, and to trust rather in ourselves, or in our\nfriends, or in circumstances. We will rather work a deliverance of our\nown, somehow or other, than simply look to God and wait for his help.\nBut if we do not patiently wait for God's help, if we work a\ndeliverance of our own, then at the next trial of our faith it will be\nthus again, we shall be again inclined to deliver ourselves; and thus,\nwith every fresh instance of that kind, our faith will decrease; whilst,\non the contrary, were we to stand still in order to see the salvation of\nGod, to see his hand stretched out on our behalf, trusting in him alone,\nthen our faith would be increased, and with every fresh case in which\nthe hand of God is stretched out on our behalf in the hour of the trial\nof our faith, our faith would be increased yet more. Would the believer,\ntherefore, have his faith strengthened, he must, especially, _give time\nto God_, who tries his faith in order to prove to his child, in the end,\nhow willing he is to help and deliver him, the moment it is good for\nhim.\n\nI now return, dear reader, to the Narrative, giving you some further\ninformation with reference to the seventeen months from Dec. 10, 1840,\nto May 10, 1842, as it respects the Orphan Houses, and other objects of\nthe Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, besides the\nfacts of which mention has been already made.\n\nDuring this period, also, 1. Two Sunday schools were entirely supported\nby the funds of the Institution. 2. There were two adult schools, one\nfor females, and one for males, entirely supported during these\nseventeen months, in which on two evenings of the week the males, and on\ntwo evenings the females, were instructed, quite gratuitously, in\nreading and writing, and were furnished with books and writing materials\ngratuitously. There were, during these seventeen months, 344 adults\ntaught in these two schools, and on May 10, 1842, the number under\ninstruction amounted to 110. 3. There were, during these seventeen\nmonths, also six day schools entirely supported by the funds of the\nInstitution, three for boys and three for girls. On May 10, 1842, the\nnumber of the children who attended these day schools was 363; and the\ntotal number who, from the formation of the Institution, March 5, 1834,\nup to May 10, 1842, had been instructed in the day schools, which are\nsupported by the funds of the Institution, amounts to 2,616. 4. During\nthese seventeen months, 798 copies of the Holy Scriptures were\ncirculated, and from the commencement of the Institution, up to May 10,\n1842, 6,842 copies. 5. During these seventeen months was spent for\nmissionary purposes the sum of L126, 15s. 3d. of the funds of the\nInstitution, whereby assistance was rendered to the work of God in\nJamaica, in Australia, in Canada, and in the East Indies. 6. At the\ncommencement of these seventeen months, _i. e._ on Dec. 10, 1840, a new\nobject was begun, the circulation of such publications as may be\nbeneficial, with the blessing of God, to both unbelievers and believers.\nWe laid out for this object during these seventeen months the sum of\nL62, 17s. 4d., for which 22,190 such little publications were purchased,\nand of which number 19,609 were actually given away. 7. There were\nreceived into the three Orphan Houses 15 orphans, who, together with\nthose who were in the houses on Dec. 10, 1840, make up 106 in all. Of\nthese, five girls were sent out to service, two boys and one girl were\napprenticed, one girl was removed by a lady who had placed her for a\ntime under our care, and one was sent back to his relations, as he was\ninjurious to the other children.\n\nThere were on May 10, 1842, 96 orphans in the three houses, _i. e._ 30\nin the Girls' Orphan House, 37 in the Infant Orphan House, and 29 in the\nBoys' Orphan House. Besides this, three apprentices were supported by\nthe funds of the Institution; so that the total number was 99. The\nnumber of orphans who were under our care from April, 1836, to May 10,\n1842, amounts to 144.\n\nI notice further, in connection with the Orphan Houses, that, _without\nany one having been asked for anything by me_, the sum of L5,276, 14s.\n8d. was given to me from the beginning of the work up to May 10, 1842,\n_as the result of prayer to God_.\n\nThe total of the expenditure for the various objects of the Institution,\nexclusive of the Orphan Houses, during these seventeen months, amounted\nto L710, 11s. 5d.; the total of the income amounted to L746, 1s. 01/2d.\nThe total of the expenditure for the three Orphan Houses, from Dec. 10,\n1840, to May 10, 1842, amounted to L1,337, 15s. 23/4d.; the total of\nthe income amounted to L1,339, 13s. 7d.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XV.\n\nPROSPERITY.\n\n1842-1843.\n\n    ABUNDANT SUPPLIES--RESTING ON THE WRITTEN WORD--\"SEEKING AND\n    FINDING\"--ERRONEOUS IMPRESSIONS REMOVED--PERSEVERING AND\n    PREVAILING PRAYER ANSWERED--\"LENGTHENING THE CORDS AND\n    STRENGTHENING THE STAKES\"--A FOURTH ORPHAN HOUSE.\n\n\nJune 3, 1842. For several days past I had not been particularly led to\npray for means for the orphans. Last evening, however, I did so, as we\nhad now again no money in hand, there having come in only ten pounds two\nshillings twopence during the last five days; and in answer to my\nrequest two pounds nineteen shillings sixpence came in this morning.\n\n    For several months succeeding the last date, means continued to\n    flow in, without interruption, as they were needed. There was no\n    excess of means, nor was there any lack. On Dec. 1, 1842, Mr.\n    Mueller  writes:--\n\nNothing had come in, except five shillings for needlework. The laborers\nhad nothing to give, except one of them one shilling sixpence; yet this\nlittle supplied the absolute need, which was only milk. We were unable\nto take in the usual quantity of bread. Should it be said that the not\ntaking in the usual quantity of bread would at once prove to the bakers\nthat we are poor, my reply is, that that does not follow, because bread\nhas often been sent as a present, as may be seen in the list of\narticles, given for the orphans, at the end of the printed Reports. But\nperhaps it may be asked, Why do you not take the bread on credit? What\ndoes it matter whether you pay immediately for it, or at the end of the\nmonth, or the quarter, or the half year? Seeing that the Orphan Houses\nare the work of the Lord, may you not trust in him that he will supply\nyou with means to pay the bills which you contract with the butcher,\nbaker, grocer, etc. as the things which you purchase are needful? My\nreply is this: 1. If the work in which we are engaged is indeed the work\nof God, then he whose work it is is surely able and willing to provide\nthe means for it. 2. But not only so, he will also provide the means _at\nthe time when they are needed_. I do not mean that he will provide them\nwhen _we think_ that they are needed; but yet that when there is real\nneed, such as the necessaries of life being required, he will give them;\nand on the same ground on which we suppose we do trust in God to help us\nto pay the debt which we now contract, we may and ought to trust in the\nLord to supply us with what we require at present, so that there may be\nno need for going into debt. 3. It is true, I might have goods on\ncredit, and to a very considerable amount; but, then, the result would\nbe, that the next time we were again in straits, the mind would\ninvoluntarily be turned to further credit which I might have, instead of\nbeing turned to the Lord, and thus faith, which is kept up and\nstrengthened only by being EXERCISED, would become weaker and weaker,\ntill at last, according to all human probability, I should find myself\ndeeply in debt and have no prospect of getting out of it. 4. Faith has\nto do with the word of God,--rests upon the written word of God; but\nthere is no promise that he will pay our debts. The word says rather,\n\"Owe no man anything;\" whilst there is the promise given to his\nchildren, \"I will never leave thee nor forsake thee,\" and, \"Whosoever\nbelieveth on him shall not be confounded.\" On this account we could not\nsay, _upon the ground of the Holy Scriptures_, Why do you not trust in\nGod that he will supply you with means to pay your debts which you\ncontract in his service for the necessities of the orphans? 5. The last\nreason why we do not take goods on credit is this: The chief and primary\nobject of the work was not the temporal welfare of the children, nor\neven their spiritual welfare, blessed and glorious as it is, and much\nas, through grace, we seek after it and pray for it; but the first and\nprimary object of the work was, _to show before the whole world and the\nwhole church of Christ, that even in these last evil days the living God\nis ready to prove himself as the living God, by being ever willing to\nhelp, succor, comfort, and answer the prayers of those who trust in\nhim_: so that we need not go away from him to our fellow-men, or to the\nways of the world, seeing that he is both able and willing to supply us\nwith all we can need in his service.\n\nFrom the beginning, when God put this service into my heart, I had\nanticipated trials and straits; but knowing, as I did, the heart of God,\nthrough the experience of several years previously, I also knew that he\nwould listen to the prayers of his child who trusts in him, and that he\nwould not leave him in the hour of need, but listen to his prayers, and\ndeliver him out of the difficulty, and that then, this being made known\nin print for the benefit of both believers and unbelievers, others would\nbe led to trust in the Lord. We discern, therefore, more and more\nclearly that it is for the church's benefit that we are put into these\nstraits, and if therefore in the hour of need we were to take goods on\ncredit, the first and primary object of the work would be completely\nfrustrated, and no heart would be further strengthened to trust in God;\nnor would there be any longer that manifestation of the special and\nparticular providence of God which has hitherto been so abundantly shown\nthrough this work, even in the eyes of unbelievers, whereby they have\nbeen led to see _that there is after all reality in the things of God_,\nand many, through these printed accounts, have been truly converted. For\nthese reasons, then, we consider it our precious privilege, as\nheretofore, to continue to wait upon the Lord only, instead of taking\ngoods on credit, or borrowing money from some kind friends, when we are\nin need. Nay, we purpose, as God shall give us grace, to look to him\nonly, though morning after morning we should have nothing in hand for\nthe work, yea, though from meal to meal we should have to look to him;\nbeing fully assured that he who is now (1845) in the tenth year feeding\nthese many orphans, and who has never suffered them to want, and that he\nwho is now (1845) in the twelfth year carrying on the other parts of the\nwork, without any branch of it being stopped for want of means, will do\nso for the future also. And here I do desire, in the deep consciousness\nof my natural helplessness and dependence upon the Lord, to confess that\nthrough the grace of God my soul has been in peace, though day after day\nwe have had to wait for our daily provisions upon the Lord; yea, though\neven from meal to meal we have been required to do this.\n\nDec. 16. Nothing has come in. Three shillings fivepence, which one of\nthe laborers was able to give, was all we had. At six o'clock this\nevening, our need being now very great, not only with reference to the\nOrphan Houses, but also the day schools, etc., I gave myself, with two\nof the laborers, to prayer. There needed some money to come in before\neight o'clock to-morrow morning, as there was none to take in milk for\nbreakfast (the children have oatmeal porridge with milk for breakfast),\nto say nothing about the many other demands of to-morrow, being\nSaturday. Our hearts were at peace, while asking the Lord, and assured\nthat our Father would supply our need. WE HAD SCARCELY RISEN FROM OUR\nKNEES when I received a letter, containing a sovereign for the orphans,\nhalf of which was from a young East India officer, and the other half\nthe produce of the sale of a piece of work which the sister who sent the\nmoney had made for the benefit of the orphans. She wrote, \"I love to\nsend these little gifts. They so often come in season.\" Truly, thus it\nwas at this time. About five minutes later I received from a brother the\npromise of fifty pounds for the orphans, to be given during the next\nweek; and a quarter of an hour after that, about seven o'clock, a\nbrother gave me a sovereign, which an Irish sister in the Lord had left\nthis day, on her departure for Dublin, for the benefit of the orphans.\nHow sweet and precious to see thus so manifestly the willingness of the\nLord to answer the prayers of his needy children!\n\nDec. 19. Our need with reference to the school fund had been great\nduring the last three weeks, though we had received as much as the\nteachers absolutely required. Now, however, it was very great, as one\nbrother especially needed to have several pounds within a day or two,\nand three other teachers also required supplies. It had in addition to\nthis been much in my heart to send some money to several brethren who\nlabor in foreign lands, in dependence upon the Lord only for their\npecuniary supplies; but I had been kept from doing so for want of means.\nOn these accounts, therefore, I gave myself again especially to prayer\nthis morning, when, _within a quarter of an hour_ after I had risen\nfrom my knees, I received the order for one hundred pounds, which I was\nat liberty to use as need required.\n\n\nREVIEW OF THE YEAR, 1842.\n\n1. As to the church. There are 601 at present in communion; 73 have been\nadded during the past year, of whom 27 have been brought to the\nknowledge of the Lord among us.\n\n2. As to the supply of my temporal necessities, the Lord has been\npleased to send me L329, 16s.\n\n\nFeb. 11, 1843. We had one pound fourteen shillings towards the expenses\nof this day. But as this was not enough, I asked the Lord still further\nfor help, and, behold, this morning's post brought me a post-office\norder for two pounds from Stafford, of which one pound seven shillings\nsixpence is for the orphans. Thus we have three pounds one shilling\nsixpence, which is quite enough for this day.\n\nAdmire with me, my dear reader, if you know the Lord, his seasonable\nhelp. Why does this post-office order not come a few days sooner or\nlater? Because the Lord would help us by means of it, and therefore\ninfluences the donor just then, and not sooner nor later, to send it.\nSurely, all who know the Lord, and who have no interest in disowning it,\ncannot but see his hand in a remarkable manner in this work. Nor will\nthe godly and simple-minded reader say, \"There is no difference between\nthis way of proceeding, on the one hand, and going from individual to\nindividual, asking them for means, on the other hand; for the writing of\nthe Reports is just the same thing.\" My dear reader, there is a great\ndifference. Suppose that we are in need. Suppose that our poverty lasts\nfor some weeks, or even some months, together. Is there not, in that\ncase, a difference between asking the Lord only from day to day,\nwithout speaking to any human being not connected directly with the work\nabout our poverty, on the one hand, and writing letters or making\npersonal application to benevolent individuals for assistance, on the\nother hand? Truly, there is a great difference between these two modes.\nI do not mean to say that it would be acting against the precepts of the\nLord to seek for help in his work by personal and individual application\nto _believers_ (though it would be in direct opposition to his will to\napply to _unbelievers_, 2 Cor. vi. 14-18); but _I_ act in the way in\nwhich I do for the benefit of the church at large, cheerfully bearing\nthe trials, and sometimes the deep trials, connected with this life of\nfaith (which however brings along with it also its precious joys), if by\nany means a part at least of my fellow-believers might be led to see the\nreality of dealing with God only, and that there is such a thing as the\nchild of God having power with God by prayer and faith. That the Lord\nshould use for so glorious a service one so vile, so unfaithful, so\naltogether unworthy of the least notice as I am, I can only ascribe to\nthe riches of his condescending _grace_, in which he takes up the most\nunlikely instruments, that the honor may be _manifestly_ his.\n\nShould Satan seek to whisper into your ears, Perhaps the matter is made\nknown, after all, when there is need (as it has been once said about me\nat a public meeting in a large town, that when we were in want I prayed\n_publicly_ that the Lord would send help for the orphans, which is\nentirely false); I say, should it be said that I took care that our\nwants were made known, I reply: Whom did I ask for anything these many\nyears since the work has been going on? To whom did I make known our\nwants, except to those who are closely connected with the work? Nay, so\nfar from wishing to make known our need, for the purpose of influencing\nbenevolent persons to contribute to the necessities of the Institution\nunder my care, I have even refused to let our circumstances be known,\nafter having been asked about them, when, on simply saying that we were\nin need, I might have had considerable sums. Some instances of this have\nbeen given in the former part of this Narrative. In such cases I refused\nin order that the hand of God only might be manifest; for that, and not\nthe money, nor even the ability of continuing to carry on the work, is\nmy especial aim. And such self-possession has the Lord given me, that in\nthe times of the deepest poverty, whilst there was nothing at all in\nhand, and whilst we had even from meal to meal to wait upon the Lord for\nthe necessities of more than one hundred persons, when a donation of\nfive pounds or ten pounds, or more, has been given to me, the donors\ncould not have read in my countenance whether we had much or nothing at\nall in hand. But enough of this. I have made these few remarks, beloved\nreader, lest by any means you should lose the blessing which might come\nto your soul through reading the account of the Lord's faithfulness and\nreadiness to hear the prayers of his children.\n\nMarch 8. On Oct. 25, 1842, I had a long conversation with a sister in\nthe Lord, who opened her heart to me. On leaving me I told her that my\nhouse and my purse were hers, and that I should be glad if she would\nhave one purse with me. This I said because I judged that at some future\ntime it might prove a comfort to her in an hour of trial, having at the\nsame time, to judge from a circumstance which had occurred two days\nbefore, every reason to believe that she had not five pounds of her own.\nThis sister, after I had said so, readily took me at my word, and said,\nI shall be glad of it, adding presently that she had five hundred\npounds. The moment I heard that, I drew back, and said that had I known\nthat she had any money I should not have made her this offer, and then\ngave her my reason why I had supposed she had no property at all. She\nthen assured me that she possessed five hundred pounds, and that she had\nnever seen it right to give up this money, else she would have done so;\nbut that, as God had put this sum into her hands without her seeking,\nshe thought it was a provision which the Lord had made for her. I\nreplied scarcely anything to this; but she asked me to pray for her with\nreference to this matter. This whole conversation about the money\noccupied but very few minutes, and it all took place after the sister\nhad risen and was on the point of leaving me. After she was gone, I\nasked the Lord if he would be pleased to make this dear sister so happy\nin himself; and enable her so to realize her true riches and inheritance\nin the Lord Jesus, and the reality of her heavenly calling, that she\nmight be constrained by the love of Christ cheerfully to lay down this\nfive hundred pounds at his feet. From that time I repeated this my\nrequest before the Lord _daily_, and often two, three, or four times a\nday; _but not a single word or line passed between me and this sister on\nthe subject, nor did I even see her_; for I judged that it would be far\nbetter that she retained this money, than that by persuasion she should\ngive it up, and afterwards perhaps regret the step she had taken, and\nthereby more dishonor than honor be brought on the name of the Lord.\nAfter I had thus for twenty-four days daily besought the Lord on behalf\nof this sister, I found her one day, on returning home, at my house;\nwhen she told me that she wished to see me alone. She then said to me\nthat from the time she had last conversed with me she had sought to\nascertain the Lord's will with reference to the five hundred pounds, and\nhad examined the Scriptures and prayed about it, and that she was now\nassured that it was the will of the Lord she should give up this money.\nAfter she had told me this, I exhorted her to count well the cost, and\nto do nothing rashly, lest she should regret the step she had taken,\nand to wait at least a fortnight longer before she carried out her\nintention. Thus we separated. On the eighteenth day after this\nconversation I received the following letter:--\n\n    DEAR BROTHER:\n\n    I believe the Lord has not permitted you to grow weary of\n    remembering me, but that he has still enabled you to bear me\n    upon your heart in his presence. All is well with me, dear\n    brother. Your petitions have been heard and answered; I am happy\n    and at peace. The Lord has indeed manifested his tender care of\n    and his great love towards me in Jesus, in inclining my heart\n    cheerfully to lay _all_ I have hitherto called my own at his\n    feet. It is a high privilege.\n\n    I write in haste to ask you, as we have _now_ one purse, to\n    receive the money at a bank in Bristol. I will direct it to be\n    sent in my name, to be delivered into your hands, etc.\n\nAs this whole circumstance is related only for the profit of the reader,\nand as I knew that the sister still had my letters on the subject in her\npossession, I wrote to her, requesting her to send them to me, at the\ntime when I published the last account about the Orphan Houses, etc.,\nand extracts of them were given in the last Report, in so far as they\nmight refer to the subject or tend to edification. These extracts are\nhere reprinted. My reply to the above was this:--\n\n                                             BRISTOL, DEC. 6, 1842.\n\n    MY DEAR SISTER:\n\n    Your letter found me in peace, and did not in the least surprise\n    me. Dealing with God is a reality. Saints have power with him\n    through Jesus. It is now forty-two days since you first\n    mentioned this matter to me. I cannot but admire the wisdom of\n    God and his love to you in allowing me to speak to you as I did\n    [_i. e._ offering her to have one purse with me, when I thought\n    she had no earthly possessions at all], that thus this great\n    privilege might be bestowed on you to give up this little sum\n    for him. Since that hour I have daily prayed for you, and often\n    thrice or more in the course of the day, that the Lord would\n    make you so happy in himself, and help you with such faith to\n    lay hold on all which he has given you in Jesus, that you might\n    be constrained by love cheerfully to lay down this little sum at\n    his feet. Thus I prayed again at six o'clock this morning for\n    you. Nor have I had the least doubt from the commencement that\n    the Lord did hear my prayer; yea, so fully have I been assured\n    that I had the petition, that again and again I have thanked him\n    that he had answered my prayer, before I saw you eighteen days\n    since, and before your letter came this morning. Moreover, I\n    have been fully assured, since you were last here, that he was\n    carrying on his work in your soul with reference to this matter,\n    and that no subtle suggestions of Satan, nor educational\n    prejudices, nor misinterpretations of the Scriptures, were able\n    to prevail; for I had asked the Lord by his Spirit to overcome\n    them in you, and that, if a brother's word should be needed, he\n    would be pleased to incline your heart to write to me; and as no\n    letter came, I felt fully confident you were going forward in\n    this matter in peace. When I had seen you this day six weeks,\n    and learned about this little sum, _I determined never to say or\n    write to you another word on the subject, but to leave you in\n    the hands of the Lord_. Thus I purposed again during the last\n    eighteen days; _for it was not the money given up_, that I cared\n    for in you, _but the money given up unto the Lord, and from\n    right motives_. On this very account I advised you to wait one\n    fortnight longer, though you had come to the conclusion; but\n    now, having done so, and seeing that you are fully purposed in\n    the Lord to be poor in this world indeed, that the more\n    abundantly you may enjoy his riches, his inexhaustible riches, I\n    change my advice. My word now, beloved sister, is this:\n    \"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might,\" and\n    \"If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.\" Delay\n    then no longer, even as also you have no desire to delay; and\n    the Lord will bless you abundantly in doing so, _inasmuch as you\n    do it unto him_. As you desire to intrust me with this money, I\n    do not refuse it, knowing many ways to lay it out for him, etc.\n    [Then only follows the direction how the money is to be paid\n    into my banker's hands.]\n\nOn Dec. 18, 1842, I received a reply to my letter, which answer was\nbegun to be written on Dec. 8th, but finished on the 16th. I give a few\nextracts of the letter:--\n\n    Since I last saw you, dear brother, I have not had the slightest\n    doubt as to what I ought to do. The word of God has been so\n    clear to me on this head, that I have been kept resting on it,\n    and, in answer to your prayers, no temptation has been allowed\n    to _prevail_, indeed, I think I may add to _arise_. But I feel\n    that temptations _may_ come, and that I may in seasons of trial\n    not always have faith to be able to rejoice in this privilege.\n    My heart is so deceitful, and my faith so weak, that I shall\n    greatly need your prayers still. Will you, then, if the Lord\n    enables you, pray that I may never offend my Father by\n    regretting in the _least_ measure this act of obedience, which\n    he has by his grace inclined me to carry out? _Before I ever saw\n    you_ I had asked the Lord to make me willing to give this little\n    sum into your hands, if it were his will I should; but his time\n    to make me willing had not then come; even then I had in a\n    measure given it to you, having written a paper, desiring in\n    case I should fall asleep in Jesus, that you might get\n    possession of it. I had it signed by two witnesses, and I always\n    carried it about with me when I travelled, sealed, and directed\n    to you. When I wrote this, I little thought what grace the Lord\n    had in store for me. You will forgive my being thus tedious, but\n    I am sure you will praise the Lord with me for his gracious\n    dealings with me, etc.\n\nAt the end of this letter, which was finished on Dec. 16, the sister\ntells me that unexpectedly a hindrance had arisen to her having\npossession of the money, so that it was not likely it could be paid over\nto me till about the end of January, 1843.\n\nWhen this letter came, it would have been _naturally_ a great\ndisappointment to me, as the sister had told me in a previous letter\nthat the money should be paid into my hands, and as just at that time in\na variety of ways it was desirable that I should have considerable sums.\nThe Lord, however, enabled me to immediately lay hold on that word, \"We\nknow that all things work together for good to them that love God,\" Rom.\nviii. 28, and my soul was in peace, though we had only enough money in\nhand to provide for one or at the most for two days the necessary\nprovisions in the Orphan Houses. It was but the next day, Dec. 19, 1842,\nwhen I received one hundred pounds from A. B., and on Dec. 22, I\nreceived fifty pounds from a brother in Bristol, besides other\ndonations; so that within one week after I had had grace to delight\nmyself in the will of God, he gave me about two hundred pounds, whereby\nI was able to meet all the heavy expenses of replenishing the stores,\netc., on account of which I should _naturally_ have been tried in the\npayment of the money being delayed.\n\nIn reply to the letter which I received from this sister on Dec. 18, I\nwrote another on Dec. 31, 1842, of which I give an extract on this\nsubject:--\n\n    I have continued to pray for you, or rather the Lord has enabled\n    me every day once, twice, thrice, or even more, to remember you.\n    The burden of my prayer still has been, that he would be pleased\n    to make you very happy in himself, and enable you to enter into\n    the inheritance which awaits you; further, that you may not be\n    permitted in the least to regret the step which you have taken,\n    but rather consider it a privilege to be permitted to give this\n    little sum back to him who gave it to you, and who gave himself\n    for you. With reference to the delay, I cannot but rejoice. This\n    gives you abundant opportunity to ponder the matter, and\n    afterwards to state to any (who, judging as those who know not\n    how rich the saints are, might blame you) that you did not do\n    the thing in haste. I consider this delay to be for the\n    furtherance of the honor of the Lord. You know my advice to you,\n    to wait at least a fortnight. That you have seen much of your\n    unfaithfulness, etc., I consider to be an especial blessing\n    which the Lord has bestowed upon you, lest this step you have\n    taken should become a snare to you. Humblings last our whole\n    life. Jesus came not to save _painted_ but _real_ sinners; but\n    he _has_ saved us, and will surely make it manifest. I have a\n    passage laid on my heart for you; read the whole of it\n    carefully: 2 Cor. viii. 1-9, especially verse 9.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nDay after day now passed away and the money did not come. The month of\nJanuary was come to an end, and February also, and the money had not\ncome. Thus more than one hundred and twenty days were gone by, whilst\nday by day I brought my petition before the Lord that he would bless\nthis sister, keep her steadfast in her purpose, and intrust me with this\nmoney for his work in my hands. Amidst it all my heart was assured,\njudging from the earnestness which he had given me in prayer, and that I\nhad only desired this matter to the praise of his name, that in his own\ntime he would bring it about. _But I never wrote one single line to this\nsister on the subject all this time._ At last, on the one hundred and\nthirty-fourth day since I had _daily_ besought the Lord about this\nmatter, on March 8, 1843, I received a letter from the sister, informing\nme that the five hundred pounds had been paid into the hands of my\nbankers.\n\nAnd now I only give a few lines of a letter which I received on July 3,\n1844, from the sister who gave this donation, together with my letters\nfor which I had asked her, in order that I may show her state of mind on\nthe subject, after she had had it more than twenty months before her,\nand after she had for sixteen months actually given up the money. She\nwrites thus: \"I am thankful to say that I have never for one moment had\nthe slightest feeling of regret, but it is _wholly_ of the Lord's\nabounding grace. I speak it to his praise.\"\n\nOn March 31, 1843, I called at the Orphan Houses to make certain\narrangements, and one of the sisters told me by the way that she had\nbeen asked by Miss G., who with her father occupied the house No. 4\nWilson Street, to let me know that they wished to give up their house,\nif I would like to take it; but she had replied that it was of no use\nto tell me about it, for she was sure that I had no thought of opening\nanother Orphan House. When I came home, this matter greatly occupied my\nmind. I could not but ask the Lord again and again whether he would have\nme to open another Orphan House, and whether the time was now come that\nI should serve him still more extensively in this way. The more I\npondered the matter, the more it appeared to me that this was the hand\nof God moving me onwards in this service. The following remarkable\ncombination of circumstances struck me in particular: 1. There are more\napplications made for the admission of orphans, especially of late, than\nwe are at all able to meet, though we fill the houses as much as the\nhealth of the children and of the laborers will possibly admit. 2. If I\ndid take another house for orphans, it would be most desirable it should\nbe in the same street where the other three are, as thus the labor is\nless, and in times of great need we are near together for prayer, the\ndistribution of the money, etc. But since the third Orphan House was\nopened, in Nov. 1837, there never has been one of the larger houses in\nthe street to be let. 3. There are about fifteen children in the Infant\nOrphan House, whom it would have been well some time ago to have removed\nto the house for the older girls, had there been room; but when a\nvacancy happened to occur in that house, there were generally several\nwaiting to fill it up, so that unintentionally the female children in\nthe Infant Orphan House remained where they were; but this is not well,\nnor is it according to my original intention; for the infants were\nintended only to be left till they are seven years old, and then to be\nremoved to the houses for older boys and girls. This my original plan\ncould be executed better for the future, and at once for the present,\nwere I to open another Orphan House. 4. I know two sisters who seem\nsuitable laborers for this fourth Orphan House, and who have a desire\nthus to be engaged. 5. There are three hundred pounds remaining of the\nfive hundred pounds which I so lately received. This money may be used\nfor the furnishing and fitting up of a new Orphan House. So much money I\nhave never had in hand at any one time during the last five years. This\nseemed to me a remarkable thing, in connection with the four other\nreasons. 6. The establishing of a fourth Orphan House, which would\nincrease our expenses several hundred pounds a year, would be, after we\nhave gone for five years almost uninterruptedly through trials of faith,\na plain proof that I have not regretted this service, and that I am not\ntired of this precious way of depending upon the Lord from day to day;\nand thus the faith of other children of God might be strengthened.\n\nBut most important, yea, decidedly conclusive as these points were, yet\nthey did not convince me that I ought to go forward in this service, if\nthe Spirit's leadings were not in connection with them. I therefore gave\nmyself to prayer. I prayed day after day, _without saying anything to\nany human being_. I prayed two and twenty days without even mentioning\nit to my dear wife. On that very day, when I did mention it to her, and\non which I had come to the conclusion, after three weeks' prayer and\nconsideration in the fear of God, to establish another Orphan House, I\nreceived from A. B. fifty pounds. What a striking confirmation that the\nLord will help, though the necessities should increase more and more. At\nlast, on the twenty-fourth day, having been now for several days fully\nassured that God would have me go forward in this service, I went to\ninquire whether Mr. and Miss G. still wished to give up the house. But\nhere I found an apparent hindrance. Having heard no wish expressed on my\npart to take the house, and the sister in the Orphan Houses, with whom\nMiss G. had communicated, not having given her the least reason to think\nthat I should do so, Mr. and Miss G. had altered their plans, and now\npurposed to remain in the house. However, I was to call again in a week,\nwhen I should receive an answer. I was not in the least discomforted by\nthis obstacle. \"Lord, if _thou_ hast no need of another Orphan House,\n_I_ have none,\" was the burden of my prayer. I was willing to do God's\nwill, yea, to delight myself in his will. And just on this very ground,\nbecause I knew I sought not my own honor, but the Lord's; because I knew\nI was not serving myself, but the Lord, in this thing; and because I\nknew that with so much calm, quiet, prayerful, self-questioning\nconsideration I had gone about this business, and had only after many\ndays, during which I had been thus waiting upon the Lord, come to the\nconclusion that it was the will of God I should go forward in this\nservice. For these reasons I felt sure, notwithstanding what Mr. and\nMiss G. had told me, that I should have the house. I also especially\njudged that thus it would be, _because I was quite in peace_ when I\nheard of the obstacle; a plain proof that I was not in self-will going\non in this matter, but according to the leading of the Holy Ghost; for\nif according to my natural mind I had sought to enlarge the work, I\nshould have been excited and uncomfortable when I met with this\nobstacle. After a week I called again on Mr. G. And now see how God had\nwrought! On the same day on which I had seen Mr. G., he went out and met\nwith a suitable house, so that when I came the second time, he was\nwilling to let me have the one which he then occupied in Wilson Street;\nand as the owner accepted me as a tenant, all the difficulties were\nremoved, so that after the 1st of June we began fitting up the house,\nand in July the first orphans were received.\n\nMr. M. having been invited by several Christians in Germany to visit\nthat, his native land, and to labor there for the promulgation of\nscriptural truth and the advancement of religion, as well as to publish\na German translation of his Narrative, felt that it was his duty to\naccede to the request. In answer to prayer, he received ample means for\nhis journey, for the support of the orphans during his absence, and for\nthe publication of the Narrative. He left Bristol on the 9th of August,\n1843, and returned on March 6, 1844. During the journey he was greatly\naided by Providence in the purposes of his mission, and saw much fruit\nof his labors.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVI.\n\nSTEWARDSHIP.\n\n1844.\n\n    EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY TREASURES--SEEKING THE KINGDOM OF\n    GOD--FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER--THE CHRISTIAN\n    MERCHANT--EXAMPLES--MISTAKES.\n\n\nIn concluding this portion of my Narrative, I would add some hints on a\nfew passages of the word of God, both because I have so very frequently\nfound them little regarded by Christians, and also because I have proved\ntheir preciousness, in some measure, in my own experience; and therefore\nwish that all my fellow-saints may share the blessing with me.\n\nI. In Matt. vi. 19-21, it is written: \"Lay not up for yourselves\ntreasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where\nthieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in\nheaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do\nnot break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your\nheart be also.\" Observe, dear reader, the following points concerning\nthis part of the divine testimony:\n\n1. It is the Lord Jesus, our Lord and Master, who speaks this as the\nlawgiver of his people,--he who has infinite wisdom and unfathomable\nlove to us, who therefore both knows what is for our real welfare and\nhappiness, and who cannot exact from us any requirement inconsistent\nwith that love which led him to lay down his life for us.\n\n2. His counsel, his affectionate entreaty, and his commandment to us his\ndisciples is, \"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth.\" The\nmeaning obviously is, that the disciples of the Lord Jesus, being\nstrangers and pilgrims on earth, _i. e._ neither belonging to the earth\nnor expecting to remain in it, _should not seek to increase their\nearthly possessions_, in whatever these possessions may consist. This is\na word for poor believers as well as for rich believers; it has as much\na reference to putting shillings into the savings bank as to putting\nthousands of pounds into the funds, or purchasing one house or one farm\nafter another. It may be said, But does not every prudent and provident\nperson seek to increase his means, that he may have a goodly portion to\nleave to his children, or to have something for old age, or for the time\nof sickness, etc.? My reply is, it is quite true that this is the custom\nof the world. But whilst thus it is in the world, and we have every\nreason to believe ever will be so among those that are of the world, and\nwho therefore have their portion on earth, we disciples of the Lord\nJesus, being born again, being the children of God, not nominally, but\nreally, being truly partakers of the divine nature, being in fellowship\nwith the Father and the Son, and having in prospect \"an inheritance\nincorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,\" (1 Peter i. 4,)\nought in every respect to act differently from the world, and so in this\nparticular also. If we disciples of the Lord Jesus seek, like the people\nof the world, after an increase of our possessions, may not those who\nare of the world justly question whether we believe what we say, when we\nspeak about our inheritance, our heavenly calling, our being the\nchildren of God, etc.? Often it must be a sad stumbling-block to the\nunbeliever to see a professed believer in the Lord Jesus acting in this\nparticular just like himself. Consider this, dear brethren in the Lord,\nshould this remark apply to you.\n\n3. Our Lord says about the earth that it is a place \"Where moth and rust\ndoth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.\" All that is of\nthe earth, and in any way connected with it, is subject to corruption,\nto change, to dissolution. There is no reality, or substance, in\nanything else but in heavenly things. Often the careful amassing of\nearthly possessions ends in losing them in a moment by fire, by robbery,\nby a change of mercantile concerns, by loss of work, etc.; but suppose\nall this were not the case, still, yet a little while, and thy soul\nshall be required of thee; or, yet a little while, and the Lord Jesus\nwill return; and what profit shalt thou then have, dear reader, if thou\nhast carefully sought to increase thy earthly possessions?\n\n4. Our Lord, however, does not merely bid us not to lay up treasure upon\nearth; for if he had said no more, this his commandment might be abused,\nand persons might find in it an encouragement for their extravagant\nhabits, for their love of pleasure, for their habit of spending\neverything they have, or can obtain, _upon themselves_. It does not\nmean, then, as is the common phrase, that we should \"live up to our\nincome;\" for he adds, \"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.\"\nThere is such a thing as laying up as truly in heaven as there is laying\nup on earth; if it were not so, our Lord would not have said so. Just as\npersons put one sum after another into the bank, and it is put down to\ntheir credit, and they may use the money afterwards: so truly the penny,\nthe shilling, the pound, the hundred pounds, the ten thousand pounds,\n_given for the Lord's sake, and constrained by the love of Jesus_, to\npoor brethren, or in any way spent in the work of God, he marks down in\nthe book of remembrance, he considers as laid up in heaven. _The money\nis not lost, it is laid up in the bank of heaven_; yet so, that whilst\nan earthly bank may break, or through earthly circumstances we may lose\nour earthly possessions, the money which is thus secured in heaven\n_cannot be lost_. But this is by no means the only difference. I notice\na few more points: Treasures laid up on earth bring along with them many\ncares; treasures laid up in heaven never give care. Treasures laid up on\nearth never can afford spiritual joy; treasures laid up in heaven bring\nalong with them peace and joy in the Holy Ghost even now. Treasures laid\nup on earth, in a dying hour cannot afford peace and comfort, and when\nlife is over they are taken from us; treasures laid up in heaven draw\nforth thanksgiving that we were permitted and counted worthy to serve\nthe Lord with the means with which he was pleased to intrust us as\nstewards, and when this life is over we are not deprived of what was\nlaid up there, but when we go to heaven we go to the place where our\ntreasures are, and we shall find them there. Often we hear it said, when\na person has died, he died worth so much. But whatever be the phrases\ncommon in the world, it is certain that a person may die worth fifty\nthousand pounds sterling, as the world reckons, and yet that individual\nmay not possess, in the sight of God, one thousand pounds sterling,\nbecause _he was not rich towards God_, he did not lay up treasure in\nheaven. And so, on the other hand, we can suppose a man of God falling\nasleep in Jesus, and his surviving widow finding scarcely enough left\nbehind him to suffice for the funeral, who was nevertheless _rich\ntowards God_: in the sight of God he may possess five thousand pounds\nsterling, he may have laid up that sum in heaven. Dear reader, does your\nsoul long to be rich towards God, to lay up treasures in heaven? The\nworld passes away, and the lust thereof. Yet a little while and our\nstewardship will be taken from us. At present we have the opportunity of\nserving the Lord with our time, our talents, our bodily strength, our\ngifts; and also with our property; but shortly this opportunity may\ncease. Oh, how shortly may it cease! Before ever this is read by any\none, I may have fallen asleep; and the very next day after you have read\nthis, dear reader, you may fall asleep; and, therefore, whilst we have\nthe opportunity, let us serve the Lord.\n\n5. The Lord lastly adds: \"For where your treasure is, there will your\nheart be also.\" Where should the heart of the disciple of the Lord Jesus\nbe, but in heaven? Our calling is a heavenly calling, our inheritance is\na heavenly inheritance, and reserved for us in heaven; our citizenship\nis in heaven; but if we believers in the Lord Jesus lay up treasures on\nearth, the necessary result of it is, that our hearts will be upon\nearth; nay, the very fact of our doing so proves that they are there!\nNor will it be otherwise, till there be a ceasing to lay up treasures\nupon earth. The believer who lays up treasures upon earth may, at first,\nnot live openly in sin, he in a measure may yet bring some honor to the\nLord in certain things; but the injurious tendencies of this habit will\nshow themselves more and more, whilst the habit of laying up treasures\nin heaven would draw the heart more and more heavenward; would be\ncontinually strengthening his new, his divine nature, his spiritual\nfaculties, because it would call his spiritual faculties into use, and\nthus they would be strengthened; and he would more and more, whilst yet\nin the body, have his heart in heaven, and set upon heavenly things; and\nthus the laying up treasures in heaven would bring along with it, even\nin this life, precious spiritual blessings as a reward of obedience to\nthe commandment of our Lord.\n\nII. The next passage, on which I desire to make a few remarks, is Matt.\nvi. 33: \"But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and\nall these things shall be added unto you.\" After our Lord, in the\nprevious verses, had been pointing his disciples \"to the fowls of the\nair,\" and \"the lilies of the field,\" in order that they should be\nwithout carefulness about the necessaries of life, he adds: \"Therefore\ntake no thought (literally, be not anxious), saying, What shall we eat?\nor, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (for after\nall these things do the Gentiles seek;) for your heavenly Father knoweth\nthat ye have need of all these things.\" Observe here particularly that\nwe, the children of God, should be different from the nations of the\nearth, from those who have no Father in heaven, and who therefore make\nit their great business, their first anxious concern, what they shall\neat, and what they shall drink, and wherewithal they shall be clothed.\nWe, the children of God, should, as in every other respect, so in this\nparticular also, be different from the world, and prove to the world\nthat we believe that we have a Father in heaven who knoweth that we have\nneed of all these things. The fact that our Almighty Father, who is full\nof infinite love to us his children, and who has proved to us his love\nin the gift of his only-begotten Son, and his almighty power in raising\nhim from the dead, knows that we have need of these things, should\nremove all anxiety from our minds. There is, however, one thing that we\nhave to attend to, and which we _ought_ to attend to, with reference to\nour temporal necessities; it is mentioned in our verse: \"But seek ye\nfirst the kingdom of God and his righteousness.\" The great business\nwhich the disciple of the Lord Jesus has to be concerned about (for this\nword was spoken to disciples, to professed believers) is, to seek the\nkingdom of God, _i. e._ to seek, as I view it, after the external and\ninternal prosperity of the church of Christ. If, according to our\nability, and according to the opportunity which the Lord gives us, we\nseek to win souls for the Lord Jesus, that appears to me to be seeking\nthe _external prosperity_ of the kingdom of God; and if we, as members\nof the body of Christ, seek to benefit our fellow-members in the body,\nhelping them on in grace and truth, or caring for them in any way to\ntheir edification, that would be seeking the _internal prosperity_ of\nthe kingdom of God. But in connection with this we have also \"to seek\nhis righteousness,\" which means (as it was spoken to disciples, to those\nwho have a Father in heaven, and not to those who were without), to seek\nto be more and more like God, to seek to be inwardly conformed to the\nmind of God. If these two things are attended to (and _they imply also\nthat we are not slothful in business_), then do we come under that\nprecious promise: \"And all these things (that is, food, raiment, or\nanything else that is needful for this present life) shall be added unto\nyou.\" It is not _for_ attending to these two things that we obtain the\nblessing, but _in_ attending to them.\n\nI now ask you, my dear reader, a few questions in all love, because I do\nseek your welfare, and I do not wish to put these questions to you\nwithout putting them first to my own heart. Do you make it your primary\nbusiness, your first great concern, to seek the kingdom of God and his\nrighteousness? Are the things of God, the honor of his name, the welfare\nof his church, the conversion of sinners, and the profit of your own\nsoul, your chief aim? Or does your business, or your family, or your own\ntemporal concerns, in some shape or other _primarily_ occupy your\nattention? If the latter be the case, then, though you may have all the\nnecessaries of life, yet could you be surprised if you had them not?\nRemember that the world passeth away, but that the things of God endure\nforever.\n\nI never knew a child of God, who acted according to the above passage,\nin whose experience the Lord did not fulfil his word of promise, \"All\nthese things shall be added unto you.\"\n\nIII. The third portion of the divine testimony on which I desire to\nthrow out a few hints, is in 1 John i. 3: \"And truly our fellowship is\nwith the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.\" Observe,\n\n1. The words \"fellowship,\" \"communion,\" \"coparticipation,\" and\n\"partnership,\" mean the same.\n\n2. The believer in the Lord Jesus does not only obtain forgiveness of\nall his sins, as he does through the shedding of the blood of Jesus, by\nfaith in his name; does not only become a righteous one before God,\nthrough the righteousness of the Lord Jesus, by faith in his name; is\nnot only begotten again, born of God, and partaker of the divine nature,\nand therefore a child of God and an heir of God; but he is also in\nfellowship or partnership with God. Now, so far as it regards God, and\nour standing in the Lord Jesus, we have this blessing once for all; nor\ndoes it allow of either an increase or a decrease. Just as God's love to\nus believers, his children, is unalterably the same, whatever may be the\nmanifestations of that love; and as his peace with us is the same,\nhowever much our peace may be disturbed; so it is also with regard to\nour being in fellowship or partnership with him: it remains unalterably\nthe same so far as God is concerned. But then,\n\n3. There is an _experimental_ fellowship, or partnership, with the\nFather and with his Son, which consists in this: that all which we\npossess in God, as being the partners or fellows of God, is brought down\ninto our daily life, is enjoyed, experienced, and used. This\n_experimental_ fellowship, or partnership, allows of an increase or a\ndecrease, in the measure in which faith is in exercise, and in which we\nare entering into what we have received in the Lord Jesus. The measure\nin which we enjoy this _experimental_ fellowship with the Father and\nwith the Son is without limit; for without limit we may make use of our\npartnership with the Father and with the Son, and draw by prayer and\nfaith out of the inexhaustible fulness which there is in God.\n\nLet us now take a few instances in order to see the practical working of\nthis _experimental_ fellowship, or partnership, with the Father and with\nthe Son. Suppose there are two believing parents who were not brought to\nthe knowledge of the truth until some years after the Lord had given\nthem several children. Their children were brought up in sinful, evil\nways, whilst the parents did not know the Lord. Now the parents reap as\nthey sowed. They suffer from having set an evil example before their\nchildren, for their children are unruly and behave most improperly. What\nis now to be done? Need such parents despair? No. The first thing they\nhave to do is, to make confession of their sins to God, with regard to\nneglecting their children whilst they were themselves living in sin, and\nthen to remember that they are in partnership with God, and therefore to\nbe of good courage, though they are in themselves still utterly\ninsufficient for the task of managing their children. They have in\nthemselves neither the wisdom, nor the patience, nor the long-suffering,\nnor the gentleness, nor the meekness, nor the love, nor the decision and\nfirmness, nor anything else that may be needful in dealing with their\nchildren aright. But their heavenly Father has all this. The Lord Jesus\npossesses all this. And they are in partnership with the Father, and\nwith the Son, and therefore they can obtain by prayer and faith all they\nneed out of the fulness of God. I say by _prayer_ and _faith_, for we\nhave to make known our need to God in prayer, ask his help, and then we\nhave _to believe_ he will give us what we need. Prayer alone is not\nenough. We may pray never so much, yet, if we do not believe that God\nwill give us what we need, we have no reason to expect that we shall\nreceive what we have asked for. So then these parents would need to ask\nGod to give them the needful wisdom, patience, long-suffering,\ngentleness, meekness, love, decision; and firmness, and whatever else\nthey may judge they need. They may in humble boldness remind their\nheavenly Father that his word assures them that they are in partnership\nwith him, and, as they themselves are lacking in these particulars, ask\nhim to be pleased to supply their need; and then they have _to believe_\nthat God will do it, and they shall receive according to their need.\n\nAnother instance: Suppose I am so situated in my business that day by\nday such difficulties arise that I continually find that I take wrong\nsteps by reason of these great difficulties. How may the case be altered\nfor the better? In myself I see no remedy for the difficulties. In\nlooking at myself I can expect nothing but to make still further\nmistakes, and, therefore, trial upon trial seems to be before me. And\nyet I need not despair. The living God is my partner. _I_ have not\nsufficient wisdom to meet these difficulties so as to be able to know\nwhat steps to take, but _he_ is able to direct me. What I have,\ntherefore, to do, is this: in simplicity to spread my case before my\nheavenly Father and my Lord Jesus. The Father and the Son are my\npartners. I have to tell out my heart to God, and to ask him, that, as\nhe is my partner, and I have no wisdom in myself to meet all the many\ndifficulties which continually occur in my business, he would be pleased\nto guide and direct me, and to supply me with the needful wisdom; and\nthen I have _to believe_ that God will do so, and go with good courage\nto my business, and _expect_ help from him in the next difficulty that\nmay come before me. _I have to look out_ for guidance; _I have to\nexpect_ counsel from the Lord; and as assuredly as I do so, I shall have\nit, I shall find that I am not nominally, but really, in partnership\nwith the Father and with the Son.\n\nAnother instance: There is a father and mother with seven small\nchildren. Both parents are believers. The father works in a manufactory,\nbut cannot earn more than ten shillings per week. The mother cannot\nearn anything. These ten shillings are too little for the supply of\nnourishing and wholesome food for seven growing children and their\nparents, and for providing them with the other necessaries of life. What\nis to be done in such a case? Surely not to find fault with the\nmanufacturer, who may not be able to afford more wages, and much less to\nmurmur against God; but the parents have in simplicity to tell God,\ntheir partner, that the wages of ten shillings a week are not sufficient\nin England to provide nine persons with all they need, so as that their\nhealth be not injured. They have to remind God that he is not a hard\nmaster, not an unkind being, but a most loving Father, who has\nabundantly proved the love of his heart in the gift of his only begotten\nSon. And they have in childlike simplicity to ask him that either he\nwould order it so that the manufacturer may be able to allow more wages;\nor that he (the Lord) would find them another place, where the father\nwould be able to earn more; or that he would be pleased, somehow or\nother, as it may seem good to him, to supply them with more means. They\nhave to ask the Lord, in childlike simplicity, again and again for it,\nif he does not answer their request at once; and they have _to believe_\nthat God, their Father and partner, will give them the desire of their\nhearts. They have _to expect_ an answer to their prayers; day by day\nthey have _to look out_ for it, and to repeat their request till God\ngrants it. As assuredly as they _believe_ that God will grant them their\nrequest, so assuredly it shall be granted.\n\nThus, suppose I desired more power over my besetting sins; suppose I\ndesired more power against certain temptations; suppose I desired more\nwisdom, or grace, or anything else that I may need in my service among\nthe saints, or in my service towards the unconverted: what have I to do\nbut to make use of my being in fellowship with the Father and with the\nSon? Just as, for instance, an old faithful clerk, who is this day taken\ninto partnership by an immensely rich firm, though himself altogether\nwithout property, would not be discouraged by reason of a large payment\nhaving to be made by the firm within three days, though he himself has\nno money at all of his own, but would comfort himself with the immense\nriches possessed by those who so generously have just taken him into\npartnership: so should we, the children of God and servants of Jesus\nChrist, comfort ourselves by being in fellowship, or partnership, with\nthe Father, and with the Son, though we have no power of our own against\nour besetting sins; though we cannot withstand temptations, which are\nbefore us, in our own strength; and though we have neither sufficient\ngrace nor wisdom for our service among the saints, or towards the\nunconverted. All we have to do is, to draw upon our partner, the living\nGod. By prayer and faith we may obtain all needful temporal and\nspiritual help and blessings. In all simplicity have we to tell out our\nheart before God, and then we have to believe that he will give to us\naccording to our need.\n\nBut _if we do not believe_ that God will help us, could we be at peace?\nThe clerk, taken into the firm as partner, _believes_ that the firm will\nmeet the payment, though so large, and though in three days it is to be\nmade, and it is this that keeps his heart quiet, though altogether poor\nhimself. We have to believe that our infinitely rich partner, the living\nGod, will help us in our need, and we shall not only be in peace, but we\nshall actually find that the help which we need will be granted to us.\nLet not the consciousness of your entire unworthiness keep you, dear\nreader, from believing what God has said concerning you. If you are\nindeed a believer in the Lord Jesus, then this precious privilege, of\nbeing in partnership with the Father and the Son, is yours, though you\nand I are entirely unworthy of it. If the consciousness of our\nunworthiness were to keep us from believing what God has said concerning\nthose who depend upon and trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation, then we\nshould find that there is not one single blessing, with which we have\nbeen blessed in the Lord Jesus, from which, on account of our\nunworthiness, we could derive any settled comfort or peace.\n\nIV. There is one other point, which, in connection with several portions\nof the word of God which bear on the subject, I desire to bring before\nthe believing reader, and it refers to the \"scriptural way of overcoming\nthe difficulties with which the believer now meets who is engaged in a\nbusiness, trade, profession, or any earthly calling whatever, which\narise from competition in business, too great a number of persons being\noccupied in the same calling, stagnation of trade, and the like.\" The\nchildren of God, who are strangers and pilgrims on earth, have at all\ntimes had difficulty in the world, for they are not _at_ home, but\n_from_ home; nor should they, until the return of the Lord Jesus, expect\nit to be otherwise with them. But whilst this is true, it is also true\nthat the Lord has provided us in all our difficulties with something in\nhis own word to meet them. All difficulties may be overcome by acting\naccording to the word of God. At this time I more especially desire to\npoint out the means whereby the children of God who are engaged in any\nearthly calling may be able to overcome the difficulties which arise\nfrom competition in business, too great a number of persons being\noccupied in the same calling, stagnation of trade, and the like.\n\n1. The first thing which the believer who is in such difficulties has to\nask himself is, _Am I in a calling in which I can abide with God?_ If\nour occupation be of that kind that we cannot ask God's blessing upon\nit, or that we should be ashamed to be found in it at the appearing of\nthe Lord Jesus, or that it _of necessity_ hinders our spiritual\nprogress, then we must give it up, and be engaged in something else; but\nin few cases only this is needful. Far the greater part of the\noccupations in which believers are engaged are not of such a nature as\nthat they need to give them up in order to maintain a good conscience,\nand in order to be able to walk with God, though, perhaps, certain\nalterations may need to be made in the manner of conducting their trade,\nbusiness, or profession. About these parts of our calling which may need\nalteration, we shall receive instruction from the Lord if we indeed\ndesire it, and wait upon him for it, and expect it from him.\n\n2. Now suppose the believer is in a calling in which he can abide with\nGod, the next point to be settled is, \"_Why do I carry on this business,\nor why am I engaged in this trade or profession?_\" In most instances, so\nfar as my experience goes, which I have gathered in my service among the\nsaints during the last fifteen years and a half [_i. e._ in 1845], I\nbelieve the answer would be, \"I am engaged in my earthly calling that I\nmay earn the means of obtaining the necessaries of life for myself and\nfamily.\" Here is the chief error from which almost all the rest of the\nerrors which are entertained by the children of God, relative to their\ncalling, spring. It is no right and scriptural motive to be engaged in a\ntrade or business or profession _merely_ in order to earn the means for\nthe obtaining of the necessaries of life for ourselves and family, _but\nwe should work because it is the Lord's will concerning us_. This is\nplain from the following passages: 1 Thess. iv. 11, 12; 2 Thess. iii.\n10-12; Eph. iv. 28. It is quite true that, in general, the Lord provides\nthe necessaries of life by means of our ordinary calling: but that that\nis not THE REASON why we should work, is plain enough from the\nconsideration that if our possessing the necessaries of life depended\nupon our ability of working, we could never have _freedom from anxiety_,\nfor we should always have to say to ourselves, And what shall I do when\nI am too old to work, or when by reason of sickness I am unable to earn\nmy bread? But if, on the other hand, we are engaged in our earthly\ncalling because _it is the will of the Lord concerning us that we should\nwork_, and that thus laboring we may provide for our families, and also\nbe able to support the weak, the sick, the aged, and the needy, then we\nhave good and scriptural reason to say to ourselves, Should it please\nthe Lord to lay me on a bed of sickness, or keep me otherwise by reason\nof infirmity, or old age, or want of employment, from earning my bread\nby means of the labor of my hands, or my business, or my profession, he\nwill yet provide for me. Because we who believe are servants of Jesus\nChrist, who has bought us with his own precious blood, and are not our\nown, and because this our precious Lord and Master has commanded us to\nwork, therefore we work: and _in doing so_ our Lord will provide for us,\nbut whether in this way or any other way he is sure to provide for us,\nfor we labor in obedience to him; and if even a just earthly master give\nwages to his servants, the Lord will surely see to it that we have our\nwages, if, in obedience to him, we are engaged in our calling, and not\nfor our own sake.\n\nHow great the difference between acting according to the word of God and\naccording to our own natural desires, or the customs of the world, will\nbe plain, I trust, by the following case: Suppose I were engaged in some\nuseful trade. Suppose I had the certain human prospect that within the\nnext three months my labor would bring me in nothing, for certain\nreasons connected with the state of mercantile affairs. As a man of the\nworld I should say, I shall not work at all, because my labor will not\nbe paid; but as a Christian, who desires to act according to God's holy\nword, I ought to say, My trade is useful to society, and I will work,\nnotwithstanding all human prospects, because the Lord Jesus has\ncommanded me to labor; from him, and not from my trade, I expect my\nwages. In addition to this, the Christian ought also to say, Idleness is\na dreadful snare of the devil; he has especial opportunity to get an\nadvantage over the children of God when they are unoccupied; and,\ntherefore, I will work though I have no human prospect of obtaining\npayment for my labor, but shall get only the cost price of the material,\nand shall have to give my work for nothing. Moreover, the Christian\nought to say, Though according to _human_ probability I shall have to\nlabor for nothing during the next three months, yet I will work, because\nthe Lord may speedily alter the state of things, contrary to all human\nexpectation; but whether he be pleased to do so or not, I labor because\nI am the Lord's, bought by his precious blood, and he commands me to\nlabor.\n\nBut there are motives still lower than to be engaged in our earthly\ncalling merely that we may earn the means of obtaining the necessaries\nof life, why even Christians, true children of God, may be engaged in\ntheir calling, such as, to obtain a certain sum of money, and then to\nretire from business and to live upon the interest; or to provide\nsomething for old age; or to obtain a certain amount of property,\nwithout intending to give up business. If it be unscriptural to be\nengaged in our calling merely even for the sake of earning the means for\nprocuring the necessaries of life for ourselves and family, how much\nmore unbecoming that a child of God should be engaged in his calling for\nthe sake of any of the last-mentioned reasons.\n\nThis second point, then, Why do I carry on this business? Why am I\nengaged in this trade or profession? ought first to be settled in the\nfear of God, and according to the revealed will of God; and if we cannot\nsay, in honesty of heart, I do carry on my business, I am engaged in my\ntrade, or art, or profession, as a servant of Jesus Christ, whose I am,\nbecause he has bought me with his precious blood, and he has commanded\nme to work, and therefore I work,--I say, if we cannot say this in\nhonesty of heart, but must confess that we work on account of lower\nmotives, such as that we may earn our bread, or on account of still\nlower motives, and such as are altogether unbecoming a child of God, who\nis not of the world, but of God, such as to obtain a certain sum of\nmoney in order to be able to live on the interest without having to\nwork, or to provide something for old age, or to obtain a certain amount\nof property without intending to give up business;--if these are our\nmotives for being engaged in our calling, I say, can we be surprised\nthat we meet with great difficulties in our business, and that the Lord\nin his abounding love to us, his erring children, does not allow us to\nsucceed? But suppose this second point is scripturally settled, and we\ncan honestly say that, because we are servants of Jesus Christ, we are\noccupied as we are; we have further to consider,--\n\n3. Whether we carry on our business, or are engaged in our trade, art,\nor profession, _as stewards_ of the Lord. To the child of God it ought\nnot to be enough that he is in a calling in which he can abide with God,\nnor that he is engaged in his calling because it is the will of his Lord\nand Master that he should work, but he should consider himself in his\ntrade, business, art, or profession, only as the _steward_ of the Lord\nwith reference to his income. The child of God has been bought with the\nprecious blood of the Lord Jesus, and is altogether his property, with\nall that he possesses, his bodily strength, his mental strength, his\nability of every kind, his trade, business, art, or profession, his\nproperty, etc.; for it is written, \"Ye are not your own; for ye are\nbought with a price.\" 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20. The proceeds of our calling are\ntherefore not our own in the sense of using them as our natural heart\nwishes us to do, whether to spend them on the gratification of our\npride, or our love of pleasure, or sensual indulgences, or to lay by the\nmoney for ourselves or our children, or use it in any way as we\n_naturally_ like, but we have to stand before our Lord and Master, whose\n_stewards_ we are, to seek to ascertain his will, how he will have us\nuse the proceeds of our calling.\n\nBut is this indeed the spirit in which children of God generally are\nengaged in their calling? It is but too well known that it is not the\ncase! Can we then wonder at it, that even God's own dear children should\nso often be found greatly in difficulty with regard to their calling,\nand be found so often complaining about stagnation or competition in\ntrade, and the difficulties of the times, though there have been given\nto them such precious promises as, \"Seek ye first the kingdom of God,\nand his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you;\"\nor, \"Let your conversation (disposition or turn of mind) be without\ncovetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath\nsaid, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.\" Heb. xiii. 5. Is it\nnot obvious enough that when our heavenly Father sees that we his\nchildren do or would use the proceeds of our calling, _as our natural\nmind_ would desire, that he either cannot at all intrust us with means,\nor will be obliged to decrease them? No wise and really affectionate\nmother will permit her infant to play with a razor, or with fire,\nhowever much the child may desire to have them; and so the love and\nwisdom of our heavenly Father will not, cannot, intrust us with\npecuniary means, _except it be in the way of chastisement, or to show us\nfinally their utter vanity_, if he sees that we do not desire to possess\nthem as _stewards_ for him, in order that we may spend them as he may\npoint out to us by his Holy Spirit, through his word.\n\nIn connection with this subject, I give a few hints to the believing\nreader on three passages of the word of God. In 1 Cor. xvi. 2, we find\nit written to the brethren at Corinth, \"Upon the first day of the week\nlet every one of you lay by him in store, as God has prospered him.\" A\ncontribution for the poor saints in Judea was to be made, and the\nbrethren at Corinth were exhorted to put by for it, _every Lord's day_,\naccording to the measure of success which the Lord had been pleased to\ngrant them in their calling during the week. Now, ought not the saints\nin our day also to act according to this word? There is no passage in\nthe word of God why we should not do so, and it is altogether in\naccordance with our pilgrim character, not only once or twice, or four\ntimes a year, to see how much we can afford to give to the poor saints,\nor to the work of God in any way, but to seek to settle it weekly. If it\nbe said, I cannot ascertain how much I have gained in the course of the\nweek by my business, and therefore I cannot give accordingly; my reply\nis this, Seek, dear brethren, as much as possible, to bring your\nbusiness upon such a footing as that you may be able, as nearly as\npossible, to settle how much you have earned in your calling in the\ncourse of the week. But suppose you should be unable to settle it\nexactly to the shilling or pound, yet you will know pretty well how it\nhas been with you during the week, and therefore, _according to your\nbest knowledge_, contribute on the coming Lord's day towards the\nnecessities of the poor saints, and towards the work of God, as he,\nafter your having sought his guidance, may lead you.\n\nPerhaps you say, the weeks are so unlike; in one week I may earn three\nor even ten times as much as in another week, and if I give according to\nmy earnings from my calling during a very good week, then how are such\nweeks, when I earn scarcely any thing, or how are the bad debts to be\nmet? How shall I do when sickness befalls my family, or when other\ntrials productive of expense come upon me, if I do not make provision\nfor such seasons? My reply is, 1. I do not find in the whole New\nTestament one single passage in which either directly or indirectly\nexhortations are given to provide against deadness in business, bad\ndebts, and sickness, by laying up money. 2. Often the Lord is obliged to\nallow deadness in business, or bad debts, or sickness in our family, or\nother trials which increase our expenses, to befall us, because we do\nnot, as his _stewards_, act _according to stewardship_, but as if we\nwere owners of what we have, forgetting that the time has not yet come\nwhen we shall enter upon _our possessions_; and he does so in order\nthat, by these losses and expenses, our property which we have collected\nmay be decreased, lest we should altogether set our hearts again upon\nearthly things, and forget God entirely. His love is so great, that he\nwill not let his children quietly go their own way when they have\nforsaken him; but if his loving admonitions by his Holy Spirit are\ndisregarded, he is obliged in fatherly love to chastise them. A striking\nillustration of what I have said we have in the case of Israel\nnationally. The commandment to them was, to leave their land\nuncultivated in the seventh year, in order that it might rest, and the\nLord promised to make up for this deficiency by his abundant blessing\nresting upon the sixth year. However, Israel acted not according to this\ncommandment, no doubt saying, in the unbelief of their hearts, as the\nLord had foretold, \"What shall we eat in the seventh year? Behold, we\nshall not sow, nor gather in our increase.\" Levit. xxv. But what did the\nLord do? He was determined the land should have rest, and as the\nIsraelites did not willingly give it, he sent them for seventy years\ninto captivity, in order that thus the land might have rest. See Levit.\nxxvi. 33-35. Beloved brethren in the Lord, let us take heed so to walk\nas that the Lord may not be obliged by chastisement to take a part of\nour earthly possessions from us in the way of bad debts, sickness,\ndecrease of business, and the like, because we would not own our\nposition as _stewards_, but act as _owners_, and keep for ourselves the\nmeans with which the Lord had intrusted us, not for the gratification of\nour own carnal mind, but for the sake of using them in his service and\nto his praise.\n\nIt might also be said by a brother whose earnings are small, should _I_\nalso give according to my earnings? They are already so small that my\nwife can only with the greatest difficulty manage to make them\nsufficient for the family. My reply is, Have you ever considered, my\nbrother, that the very reason why the Lord is obliged to let your\nearnings remain so small may be the fact of your spending everything\nupon yourselves, and that if he were to give you more you would only use\nit to increase your own family comfort, instead of looking about to see\nwho among the brethren are sick, or who have no work at all, that you\nmight help them, or how you might assist the work of God at home or\nabroad? There is a great temptation for a brother whose earnings are\nsmall to put off the responsibility of assisting the needy and sick\nsaints, or helping on the work of God, and to lay it upon the few rich\nbrethren and sisters with whom he is associated in fellowship, and thus\nrob his own soul!\n\nIt might be asked, How much shall I give of my income? The tenth part,\nor the fifth part, or the third part, or one half, or more? My reply is,\nGod lays down no rule concerning this point. What we do we should do\ncheerfully and not of necessity. But if even Jacob, with the first\ndawning of spiritual light (Genesis xxviii. 22), promised to God the\ntenth of all he should give to him, how much ought we believers in the\nLord Jesus to do for him: we, whose calling is a heavenly one, and _who\nknow distinctly_ that we are children of God, and joint heirs with the\nLord Jesus! Yet do all the children of God give even the _tenth_ part\nof what the Lord gives them? That would be two shillings per week for\nthe brother who earns one pound, and four shillings to him who earns two\npounds, and two pounds per week to him whose income is twenty pounds per\nweek.\n\nIn connection with 1 Cor. xvi. 2, I would mention two other portions: 1.\n\"He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth\nbountifully shall reap also bountifully.\" 2 Cor. ix. 6. It is certain\nthat we children of God are so abundantly blessed in Jesus, by the grace\nof God, that we ought to need no stimulus to good works. The forgiveness\nof our sins, the having been made forever the children of God, the\nhaving before us the Father's house as our home;--these blessings ought\nto be sufficient motives to constrain us in love and gratitude to serve\nGod abundantly all the days of our life, and cheerfully also to give up,\nas he may call for it, that with which he has intrusted us of the things\nof this world. But whilst this is the case, the Lord nevertheless holds\nout to us in his holy word motives why we should serve him, deny\nourselves, use our property for him, etc., and the last mentioned\npassage is one of that kind. The verse is true, both with reference to\nthe life that is now, and that which is to come. If we have been\nsparingly using our property for him, there will have been little\ntreasure laid up in heaven, and therefore a small amount of capital will\nbe found in the world to come, so far as it regards reaping. Again, we\nshall reap bountifully if we seek to be rich towards God, by abundantly\nusing our means for him, whether in ministering to the necessities of\nthe poor saints, or using otherwise our pecuniary means for his work.\nDear brethren, these things are realities! Shortly, very shortly, will\ncome the reaping-time, and then will be the question whether we shall\nreap sparingly or bountifully.\n\nBut while this passage refers to the life hereafter, it also refers to\nthe life that now is. Just as now the _love of Christ_ constrains us to\ncommunicate of that with which the Lord intrusts us, so will be the\npresent reaping, both with regard to spiritual and temporal things.\nShould there be found, therefore, in a brother, the want of entering\ninto his position as being merely a _steward_ for the Lord in his\ncalling, and should he give no heed to the admonitions of the Holy Ghost\nto communicate to those who are in need or to help the work of God, then\ncan such a brother be surprised that he meets with great difficulties in\nhis calling, and that he cannot get on? This is according to the Lord's\nword. He is _sowing sparingly_, and he therefore _reaps sparingly_. But\nshould _the love of Christ_ constrain a brother, out of the earnings of\nhis calling, to sow bountifully, he will even in this life reap\nbountifully, both with regard to blessings in his soul, and with regard\nto temporal things. Consider in connection with this the following\npassage, which, though taken from the Book of Proverbs, is not of a\nJewish character, but true concerning believers under the present\ndispensation also: \"There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and\nthere is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.\nThe liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth shall be\nwatered also himself.\" Prov. xi. 24, 25.\n\nIn connection with 1 Cor. xvi. 2, I would also direct my brethren in the\nLord to the promise made in Luke vi. 38: \"Give, and it shall be given\nunto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running\nover, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye\nmete withal it shall be measured to you again.\" This refers evidently to\nthe present dispensation, and evidently in its primary meaning to\ntemporal things. Now let any one, _constrained by the love of Jesus_,\nact according to this passage; let him on the first day of the week\ncommunicate as the Lord has prospered him, and he will see that the\nLord will act according to what is contained in this verse. If pride\nconstrain us to give, if self-righteousness make us liberal, if natural\nfeeling induce us to communicate, or if we give whilst we are in a state\nof insolvency, not possessing more perhaps than ten shillings in the\npound, were our creditors to come upon us; then we cannot expect to have\nthis verse fulfilled in our experience; nor should we give at any time\nfor the sake of receiving again from others, according to this verse;\nbut if indeed _the love of Christ constrain us_ to communicate according\nto the ability which the Lord gives us, then we shall have this verse\nfulfilled in our experience, though this was not the motive which\ninduced us to give. Somehow or other the Lord will abundantly repay us,\nthrough the instrumentality of our fellow-men, what we are doing to his\npoor saints, or in any way for his work, and we shall find that in the\nend we are not losers, even with reference to temporal things, whilst we\ncommunicate liberally of the things of this life with which the Lord has\nintrusted us.\n\nHere it might be remarked, But if it be so that even in this life, and\nwith regard to temporal things, it is true that \"to him that gives shall\nbe given, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running\nover,\" and that \"he which soweth bountifully shall reap also\nbountifully,\" then in the end the most liberal persons would be\nexceedingly rich. Concerning this remark we have to keep in mind, that\nthe moment persons were to begin to give for the sake of receiving more\nback again from the Lord, through the instrumentality of their\nfellow-men, than they have given; or the moment persons wished to alter\ntheir way, and no more go on sowing bountifully, but sparingly, in order\nto increase their possessions, whilst God is allowing them to reap\nbountifully, the river of God's bounty toward them would no longer\ncontinue to flow. God had supplied them abundantly with means, because\nhe saw them act as _stewards_ for him. He had intrusted them with a\nlittle which they had used for him, and he therefore intrusted them with\nmore; and if they had continued to use the much also for him, he would\nhave still more abundantly used them as instruments to scatter abroad\nhis bounties. The child of God must be willing to be a channel through\nwhich God's bounties flow, both with regard to temporal and spiritual\nthings. This channel is narrow and shallow at first, it may be; yet\nthere is room for some of the waters of God's bounty to pass through.\nAnd if we cheerfully yield ourselves as channels for this purpose, then\nthe channel becomes wider and deeper, and the waters of the bounty of\nGod can pass through more abundantly. Without a figure, it is thus: At\nfirst, we may be only instrumental in communicating five pounds, or ten\npounds, or twenty pounds, or fifty pounds, or one hundred pounds, or two\nhundred pounds per year, but afterwards double as much; and, if we are\nstill more faithful in our stewardship, after a year or two four times\nas much, afterwards perhaps eight times as much, at last perhaps twenty\ntimes or fifty times as much. We cannot limit the extent to which God\nmay use us as instruments in communicating blessing, both temporal and\nspiritual, if we are willing to yield ourselves as instruments to the\nliving God, and are content to be _only instruments, and to give him all\nthe glory_.\n\nBut with regard to temporal things it will be thus, that if indeed we\nwalk according to the mind of God in these things, whilst more and more\nwe become instruments of blessing to others, we shall not seek to enrich\nourselves, but be content, when the last day of another year finds us\nstill in the body, to possess no more than on the last day of the\nprevious year, or even considerably less, whilst we have been, however,\nin the course of the year, the instruments of communicating largely to\nothers, through the means with which the Lord had intrusted us. As to\nmy own soul, by the grace of God, it would be a burden to me that\nhowever much my income in the course of the year might have been, I were\nincreasing in earthly possession; for it would be a plain proof to me\nthat I had not been acting as a _steward_ for God, and had not been\nyielding myself as a channel for the waters of God's bounty to pass\nthrough. I also cannot but bear my testimony here, that in whatever\nfeeble measure God has enabled me to act according to these truths for\nthe last fifteen years [this was written in 1845]; I have found it to be\nprofitable, most profitable to my own soul; and as to temporal things, I\nnever was a loser in doing so, but I have most abundantly found the\ntruth in 2 Cor. ix. 6, and Luke vi. 38, and Prov. xi. 24, 25, verified\nin my own experience. I only have to regret that I have acted so little\naccording to what I have now been stating; but my godly purpose is by\nthe help of God, to spend the remainder of my days in practising these\ntruths more than ever; and I am sure that when I am brought to the close\nof my earthly pilgrimage, either in death, or by the appearing of our\nLord Jesus, I shall not have the least regret in having done so; and I\nknow that, should I leave my dear child behind, the Lord will abundantly\nprovide for her, and prove that there has been a better provision made\nfor her than her father could have made, if he had sought to insure his\nlife or lay up money for her.\n\nBefore leaving this part of the subject, I mention to the believing\nreader, that I know instance upon instance in which what I have been\nsaying has been verified, but I will only mention the following: I knew\nmany years ago a brother as the manager of a large manufactory. Whilst\nin this capacity he was liberal, and giving away considerably out of his\nrather considerable salary. The Lord repaid this to him; for the\nprincipals of the establishment, well knowing his value to their house\nof business, gave him now and then, whilst he thus was liberally using\nhis means for the Lord, very large presents in money. In process of\ntime, however, this brother thought it right to begin business on his\nown account, in a very small way. He still continued to be liberal,\naccording to his means, and God prospered him, and prospered him so that\nnow, whilst I am writing, his manufactory is as large as the one which\nhe formerly managed, or even larger, though that was a very considerable\none. And sure I am that if this brother shall be kept by God from\nsetting his heart upon earthly things, and from seeking more and more to\nincrease his earthly riches, but shall delight himself in being used as\na _steward_ by God, cheerfully communicating to the need of God's poor\nchildren, or to his work in other ways, and doing so not sparingly, but\nbountifully, the Lord will intrust him more and more with means; if\notherwise, if he shut up his hands, seek his own, wish to obtain\nsufficient property that he may be able to live on his interest, then\nwhat he has to expect is that God will shut up his hands, he will meet\nwith heavy losses, or there will be an alteration in his affairs for the\nworse, or the like.\n\nI also mention two other cases, to show that the Lord increases our\nability of communicating temporal blessings to others if we distribute\naccording to the means with which he has intrusted us, though we should\nnot be in a trade or business or profession. I know a brother who many\nyears ago saw it right not only to spend his interest for the Lord, but\nalso the principal, as the Lord might point out to him opportunities.\nHis desire was not, as indeed it ought never to be, to get rid of his\nmoney as fast as possible, yet he considered himself a steward for the\nLord, and was therefore willing, as his Lord and Master might point it\nout to him, to spend his means. When this brother came to this\ndetermination, he possessed about twenty thousand pounds sterling.\nAccording to the light and grace which the Lord had been pleased to\ngive, he afterwards acted, spending the money for the Lord, in larger or\nsmaller sums, as opportunities were pointed out to him by the Lord. Thus\nthe sum more and more decreased, whilst the brother steadily pursued his\ncourse, serving the Lord with his property, and spending his time and\nability also for the Lord, in service of one kind or another among his\nchildren. At last, the twenty thousand pounds were almost entirely\nspent, when at that very time the father of this very brother died,\nwhereby he came into the possession of an income of several thousand\npounds a year. It gives joy to my heart to be able to add, that this\nbrother still pursues his godly course, living in the most simple way,\nand giving away perhaps ten times as much as he spends on himself or\nfamily. Here you see, dear reader, that this brother, using faithfully\nfor the Lord what he had been intrusted with at first, was made steward\nover more; for he has now more than one third as much in a year coming\nin as he at first possessed altogether.\n\nI mention another instance: I know a brother to whom the Lord has given\na liberal heart, and who bountifully gave of that over which the Lord\nhad set him as steward. The Lord, seeing this, intrusted him with still\nmore, for through family circumstances he came into the possession of\nmany thousand pounds, in addition to the considerable property he\npossessed before. I have the joy of being able to add also concerning\nthis brother, that the Lord continues to give him grace to use his\nproperty as a steward for God, and that he has not been permitted to set\nhis heart upon his riches, through the very considerable increase of his\nproperty, but that he continues to live as the steward of the Lord, and\nnot as the owner of all this wealth.\n\nAnd now, dear reader, when the brethren to whom I have been referring\nare brought to the close of their earthly pilgrimage, will they have one\nmoment's regret that they have used their property for the Lord? Will it\nbe the least particle of uneasiness to their minds, or will their\nchildren be the worse for it? O no! The only regret they will have\nconcerning this matter will be, that they did not serve the Lord still\nmore abundantly with their property. Dear reader, let us each in our\nmeasure act in the same spirit. Money is really worth no more than as it\nis used according to the mind of the Lord; and life is worth no more\nthan as it is spent in the service of the Lord.\n\nWhilst the three points mentioned--1. That our calling must be of that\nnature that _we can abide in it with God_; 2. That unto the Lord we\nshould labor in our calling, as _his servants_, because he has bought us\nwith his blood, and because he will have us to labor; 3. That as\n_stewards_ we should labor in our calling, because the earnings of our\ncalling are the Lord's and not our own, as he has bought us with his\nblood;--I say, whilst these three points are particularly to be attended\nto in order that the Lord's blessing may rest upon our calling, and we\nbe prospering in it, there are, nevertheless, some other points to be\nattended to, which I mention in love to my brethren in the Lord, by whom\nthey may be needed.\n\n4. The next point is, that _a believer in the Lord Jesus should do\nnothing in his calling which is purely for the sake of attracting the\nworld_; such as, for instance, fitting up his shop or rooms of business\nin the most costly manner. I do not in the least mean to say that his\nshop or rooms of business should not be clean, orderly, and of such a\ncharacter as that there may be no positive hindrance in persons going\nthere. All the _needful_ conveniences that are expected may be there,\nand ought to be there. But if any child of God seek to have the front of\nhis shop, or the interior of his shop, or of his place of business,\nfitted up in a most expensive way, simply for the sake of attracting\nattention, then let him be aware that, just in so far as he is trusting\nin these things, he is not likely to succeed in his calling, because he\nputs the manner of fitting up the shop in the room of trust in the Lord.\nSuch things the Lord may allow to succeed in the case of an unbeliever,\nbut they will not prosper in the case of a child of God, except it be in\nthe way of chastisement, just as the Lord gave to Israel in the\nwilderness the desire of their hearts, but sent leanness into their\nsouls. Should any brother have fallen into this error, the first thing\nhe has to do, when the Lord has instructed him concerning this point, is\nto make confession of sin, and, as far as it can be done, to retrace his\nsteps in this particular. If this cannot be done, then to cast himself\nupon the mercy of God in Christ Jesus.\n\n5. Of the same character is, to seek to attract the attention of the\nworld by \"boasting advertisements,\" such as \"no one manufactures so good\nan article,\" \"no one sells this article so cheap,\" \"we sell the best\narticle in the city,\" etc. Suppose these statements were quite correct,\nyet they are unbecoming for a child of God, who has the living God to\ncare for him and to provide for him, and therefore needs not to make use\nof such boasting, whereby he may seek to insure custom to himself and\nkeep it from others. The law of love is, \"Whatsoever ye would that men\nshould do to you, do ye even so to them.\" Matt. vii. 12. Now what do I\nwish in this particular that others should do to me, but that they\nshould not seek to keep away persons from dealing with me; but if I use\nsuch like expressions in my advertisements, as have been mentioned, what\ndo they imply but that I wish all people should come to me, and deal\nwith me? If, however, already under the old covenant it was said, \"Thou\nshalt not covet,\" how much more sinful and altogether unbecoming is it\nfor us children of God, who are in fellowship with the Father and the\nSon, to make use of such means in order to insure to ourselves pecuniary\nadvantages. But, however much the Lord may allow a man of the world to\nprosper in using such means, they are only hindrances to the child of\nGod to getting on in his calling, because the Lord sees that they are\nsubstituted instead of trust in himself; and should the Lord for a\nseason allow his child apparently to be benefited by them, it will only\nbe for his chastisement and connected with leanness in his soul.\nTherefore, my brethren in the Lord, I beseech you to put away all these\nthings out of your calling, lest you should be hindering instead of\nfurthering your real welfare.\n\n6. Likewise of a similar character is the following point, which God may\nsuffer to be a real hindrance to his children in their calling; it is,\nTo seek the very best, and therefore the most expensive, situations\nwhich can be had in a town or city. Now, I do by no means intend to say,\nthat in our trade, business, art, or profession, we should seek the most\nobscure, retired, out of the way place possible, and say, \"God will\nprovide, and I need not mind in what part of the town I carry on my\ncalling.\" There are most assuredly certain things to be considered. The\npersons who are likely to buy the articles I sell, or employ me, are to\nbe considered, and I have not to say, it matters nothing to me whether I\nmake them come a mile or two to my house, or to the most dirty and\ndisagreeable part of the town; this would be the extreme in the other\nway. But whilst there is a certain consideration to be used with\nreference to those who may employ us in our calling, yet if the trust of\nthe child of God respecting temporal prosperity is in the fact that he\nlives in the best situation, the Lord will surely disappoint him. He\nwill have to pay a very high rent for the best situation, and yet not\nsucceed, because his trust is in the best situation. He is substituting\nit for dependence upon the living God for customers. He is robbing his\nsoul, not only in not taking the customers as from the hands of the\nLord, but he is also obliging his heavenly Father, in the very love of\nhis heart, to cause him to be disappointed, because he is not trusting\nin him. If the child of God were saying and acting thus: the best\nsituation would cost me fifty pounds a year more rent than one which is\nnot really inconvenient for my customers, nor in an improper\nneighborhood, and the like; this fifty pounds I dedicate unto the Lord,\nto be paid in instalments for his work or his poor saints, whenever the\nrent-day comes; such a brother would find himself to be no loser, if\nthis indeed were done in dependence upon the Lord, and constrained by\nthe love of Jesus. But if the fifty pounds more is paid for rent, and\nyet the living God, in the very love of his heart, should be obliged to\nwithhold prosperity from his child in his calling, because he sees that\nhe is laying undue stress upon the situation of the house, then not only\nthe fifty pounds extra rent per year is lost, but also that which the\nLord is obliged to withhold from his child besides, in order to teach\nhim the lesson; and thus year after year, by our own fault, we may have\nscarcely anything to give for the work of God.\n\n7. The next obstacle to prosperity in our calling which I now would\nmention is, That children of God often use such expressions as these\nwith reference to their calling: \"This is our busy time,\" or \"This is\nour dead time;\" which implies that they do not day after day deal with\nGod about their calling, but that they ascribe their having much or\nlittle to do to circumstances, or to times and seasons. That the people\nof the world should do so is not to be wondered at; but that the\nchildren of God should act thus, who in the most minute affairs of life\nshould seek the help of God, and deal with God about them, is a matter\nof sorrow to the spiritual mind, and is altogether unbecoming saints.\nBut what is the result? The Lord, according to the expectations of his\nchildren, allows them to be without employment, because they say, \"This\nis our dead season.\" \"He did not many mighty works there because of\ntheir unbelief,\" contains a truth which comes in here. But what is the\nright way of looking at the matter? It is this: the child of God should\nsay, though generally about this time of the year there is little\nemployment to be expected, looking at it naturally, just as want of\nemployment is neither good for the outward nor inward man, and as I only\ndesire employment to serve God in my business, to have to give to those\nwho are in need, or help in other ways the work of God, I will now give\nmyself to prayer for employment, for I can by prayer and faith as a\nchild of God obtain blessings from my heavenly Father, though not in the\nordinary course of things. If thus the child of God were to say and to\nact, he would soon have employment in his calling, except the Lord meant\nto use his time otherwise in his work, which he would point out to him.\n\n8. A further reason why God may be obliged to resist children of God in\ntheir business, may be this, that they with the greatest carefulness\nseek to obtain persons for their shop who are considered \"good\nsalesmen,\" _i. e._ persons who have such persuasive ways, as that they\ngain an advantage over the customers and induce them not only to buy\narticles for which they ask, whether suitable or not, but that they also\ninduce them to buy articles which they did not at all intend to buy when\nthey came to the shop. Concerning this I notice, in the first place,\nthat if the child of God puts his dependence upon the \"good salesmen,\"\nlet him not be surprised if his heavenly Father should be obliged to\ndisappoint him, because he sees his child lean upon the arm of flesh,\ninstead of trusting in the living God; and therefore the business does\nnot succeed. Further, it is altogether wrong for a child of God to\ninduce the customers, by means of such men or women who have a\npersuasive tongue, to purchase articles whether they suit or not, and\nwhether they are needed or not. This is no less than defrauding persons\nin a subtle way, or leading them into the sin of purchasing beyond their\nmeans, or at least spending their money needlessly. However such sinful\ntricks may be allowed to prosper in the case of a man of the world, in\nthe case of a child of God they will not prosper, except God allow them\nto do so in the way of chastisement, whilst leanness and wretchedness\nare brought into the soul. I knew a case of this kind where it was the\nwhole bent of the mind of a professed believer to obtain such \"good\nsalesmen,\" and where even a Jew was kept outside the shop, walking up\nand down, to induce persons to come in and buy; and yet that same\nprofessed believer failed twice in his business.\n\n9. Another evil with reference to business, and why children of God do\nnot get on in their calling, is, that they enter upon business often\nwithout any capital at all, or with too little. If a believer has no\ncapital at all, or only a very small capital, in comparison with what\nhis business requires, then ought he not to say this to himself: \"If it\nwere my heavenly Father's will that I should enter upon business on my\nown account, then would he not somehow or other have intrusted me with\nthe needful means? And since he has not, is it not a plain indication\nthat for the present I should remain a journeyman (or shopman, or clerk,\nas the case may be)?\" In a variety of ways the means might come. For\ninstance, a legacy might be left to him, or money might be given to him\nby a brother in the Lord for that very purpose, or a brother or sister\nmight propose to the individual to lend him money, yet so that if he\nwere unable to pay it again they would not consider him their debtor.\nBut if in some such way the Lord did not remove the hindrance, and the\nbrother would still go into business, he would, through the bill system\nand other things connected with the want of capital, not only bring\ngreat distress into his mind, and subject himself to the possibility of\nat last being unable to pay his creditors, whereby dishonor would be\nbrought upon the name of the Lord, but he likewise could not be\nsurprised (as he went into business contrary to the will of God, since\nhe pointed out to him that he was not to do so for want of means) if he\nshould find that he cannot get on, and that the blessing of God\nmanifestly is wanting. In such a case as this, if it can be done, the\nretracing our steps is the best thing we can do; but often this cannot\nbe done, as others are involved in the matter, and then we have to make\nacknowledgment of our sin, and seek God's merciful help to bring us into\na right position.\n\n10. But suppose all these nine previous points were attended to, and we\nneglected _to seek God's blessing upon our calling_, we need still not\nbe surprised if we met with difficulty upon difficulty, and could not\nget on at all. It is not enough that we seek God's help for that which\nmanifestly is of a spiritual character; but we should seek his help and\nblessing by prayer and supplication for all our ordinary concerns in\nlife, and if we neglect doing so we shall surely suffer for the neglect.\n\"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own\nunderstanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy\npaths.\" Prov. iii. 5, 6.\n\nThough these few remarks are written by one who never was in business\nhimself, yet the truths therein set forth have been learned by him in\nthe school of God, and he has had them abundantly confirmed through his\npastoral labors during the last fifteen years and a half. [This was\nwritten in 1845.]\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVII.\n\nREAPING BOUNTIFULLY.\n\n1845-1846.\n\n    AN UNEXPECTED REQUEST--DELIBERATION--A GREAT\n    UNDERTAKING--RELIANCE ON THE RESOURCES OF THE LIVING GOD--AN\n    ANSWER EXPECTED AND RECEIVED--PRAYER FOR FAITH AND\n    PATIENCE--FURTHER PROOFS OF DIVINE FAVOR--THE BLESSEDNESS OF\n    DEVISING LIBERAL THINGS.\n\n\nI began the service of caring for children who are bereaved of _both_\nparents, by death, born in wedlock, and are in destitute circumstances,\non Dec. 9, 1835. For nearly ten years I had never had any desire to\n_build_ an Orphan House. On the contrary, I decidedly preferred spending\nthe means which might come in for present necessities, and desired\nrather to enlarge the work according to the means which the Lord might\nbe pleased to give. Thus it was till the end of October, 1845, when I\nwas led to consider this matter in a way in which I had never done\nbefore.[18] The occasion of my doing so was this: On Oct. 30, 1845, I\nreceived from a gentleman, who lived in the street where the four Orphan\nHouses were, a polite and friendly letter, in which he courteously\nstated to me that the inhabitants in the adjoining houses were in\nvarious ways inconvenienced by the Orphan Houses being in Wilson Street.\nHe left to myself the judgment of the case.\n\n  [Footnote 18: The reader will not fail to remark the striking\n  illustration afforded in the present chapter, of the truth stated\n  in Chapter XVI., that God rewards the right use of means of\n  benevolence by affording the means of enlarged usefulness.--ED.]\n\nThis letter I received on Thursday morning, Oct. 30, 1845. Being very\nmuch occupied that week, I had scarcely any time to consider the matter.\nOn Monday morning, however, Nov. 3, I set apart some hours for the\nprayerful consideration of the subject, and after I had besought the\nLord to guide me to a right decision, I wrote down the reasons which\nappeared to me to make it desirable that the Orphan Houses should be\n_removed_ from Wilson Street, and also the reasons _against removing_.\nAs far as they are suitable for being stated in print they were these:--\n\n\nI. REASONS FOR REMOVING FROM WILSON STREET.\n\n1. The neighbors feel themselves inconvenienced by the noise of the\nchildren in the play-hours. This complaint is neither without\nfoundation, nor unjust; for many persons are very much inconvenienced by\nthe noise of children, and those living close by the Orphan Houses must\nbe so during the play-hours, even though the noise be only of that kind\nthat one could not at all find fault with the dear children on account\nof it. I should myself feel it trying to my head to live next door to\nthe Orphan Houses on that account. I therefore ought to do to others as\nI should wish to be done by. This point had never before appeared to me\nin so serious a light.\n\n2. The greatness of the number of the inmates in the houses had several\ntimes prevented the drains from acting properly, and thus has a few\ntimes affected the water in one or two of the neighbors' houses. With\nreference to these two reasons as it regards those living near the\nOrphan Houses, these words, \"Let not your good be evil spoken of,\" Rom.\nxiv. 16, and \"Let your moderation (_i. e._ yieldingness) be known unto\nall men,\" Philip. iv. 5, seemed to me two important portions of the word\nof God to be acted out in this matter.\n\nBut in addition to the reasons for removing the Orphan Houses from\nWilson Street on account of the unavoidable occasional inconvenience\nthat comes upon the neighbors, there appeared now to me, when once I was\nled to consider seriously the reasons for removing the Institution from\nWilson Street, other reasons for doing so, in connection with the work\nitself, which had occurred to me before, but never in so strong a light\nas now, when the subject was brought more immediately before me by the\nletter in which I was politely requested to remove the Orphan Houses\nfrom Wilson Street. These reasons are:--\n\n1. We have no proper play-grounds in Wilson Street. There is one\nplay-ground, which, however, is only large enough for the children of\n_one house_ at a time; but as there are children in _four_ houses who\nought to have the benefit of it, we cannot arrange so that all the\nchildren have the full benefit of that play-ground, as the meals, the\nschool-hours, the weather, and other hindrances interfere. The dear\norphans ought, I know, to be trained in habits of industry, but children\nare children, and need to be treated as such; and they should, on\naccount of their health, have the full benefit of a play-ground. But\nthis they cannot have in Wilson Street: and to take them out into the\nfields for the benefit of bodily exercise, as we have been in the habit\nof doing, is often very inconvenient.\n\n2. We have no ground for cultivation near the Orphan Houses, and hence\nthere must be more walking for the children, on account of using proper\nmeans for keeping them, with the blessing of God, in health, than is in\nother respects good for them; because frequent walks easily beget in\nchildren habits of idleness, which would be especially felt when boys\nare apprenticed. But this difficulty cannot be obviated by remaining in\nWilson Street, and renting a piece of land somewhere else for\ncultivation; for to get the children ready and conduct them to the piece\nof ground not only takes a good deal of time, but is connected with\nother great inconveniences, yea, with insurmountable difficulties, so\nthat we found it needful to give up a small piece of ground which we\nonce rented for about two years for the orphan boys, at a distance of\nabout half a mile from Wilson Street. Thus, by removing from Wilson\nStreet, and obtaining premises surrounded by land for cultivation, we\nshould be able to procure a most important moral benefit for the\nchildren, by having the opportunity more fully than we now have of\ntraining them in habits of industry, besides giving to the boys\noccupation which is more suitable for them than knitting, which is now\nthe only employment they have, besides making their beds, cleaning the\nhouse, and attending to the cooking of their meals. Moreover, this would\nbe occupation in the open air, which not only would bring into exercise\nthe use of their limbs, but also make walking for the sake of health\nalmost entirely needless.\n\n3. If we were to remove from Wilson Street, and obtain premises in the\ncountry, we might have all the washing done at home, which now, for want\nof room, can be only done in part. Thus the girls also would have more\nlaborious work at home, a point of great importance for them, so that\nthey would not feel so much the hardships connected with going out to\nservice.\n\n4. The situation of Wilson Street is _perhaps_ scarcely bracing enough\nfor strengthening the constitution of the orphans, most of whom, being\nthe offspring of very diseased parents, require a very invigorating\nplace of abode.\n\n5. The present situation is _certainly_ not desirable for the teachers,\nespecially as, when their hours of work are over, they have no garden or\nfields close to the house immediately to go into for a little\nrefreshment of their body; and for some of them it is too far to go to\nfields, where they might have a bracing air.\n\n6. In times of sickness we are too confined in the houses in Wilson\nStreet. If there were less than thirty children in each house, the\naverage expenses for each child would be too great, it being desirable,\nas the arrangements are now, that there should not be less than three\nlaborers in each house; and yet, if there are thirty children in each\nhouse, we are too full in time of sickness, as we have not a single\nspare room in any of the houses. Now, though the Lord has during all\nthese years most mercifully helped us through such seasons, yet it has\nnot been without inconvenience, and without also, perhaps, having more\nof the children in one room, at such times, than on account of health it\nis desirable.\n\n7. Even ordinarily, when there is no sickness, it would be desirable to\nhave more room.\n\nThere are no premises to be had in Bristol, or in the immediate\nneighborhood, where we could have these advantages; _for I have been\nlooking about in all directions for this purpose during the last ten\nyears_. But suppose there were a large house to be had in one part of\nthe city, and a second a mile off, and a third and a fourth in other\ndirections, such houses, on account of our peculiar position in the\nwork, would not do. For in seasons of need the distance of the several\nhouses would render it very inconvenient for the laborers to meet\ntogether for prayer, to divide the means that may be in hand, etc.\nBesides, when in seasons of other peculiar difficulties, connected with\nthe work, I wished to meet all my fellow-laborers, there would arise\ngreat difficulty by their being divided in different parts of the city.\nIt would also thus be very inconvenient to persons who wish to see the\nwork, to go from place to place, in order to have a view of all the\nOrphan Houses. But this is not all. The more I have considered the\nmatter, the more am I now persuaded that no ordinary large houses, built\nfor private families, and therefore only calculated to accommodate, ten\nor fifteen persons at most for any length of time in them, will do for\ncharitable institutions of any considerable size, as no ordinary house,\nexcept built on purpose, furnishes the proper advantages of ventilation,\n_a point so needful for the health of the inmates in a charitable\ninstitution_. There seemed to me, therefore, to remain nothing but to\nbuild premises for the purpose.\n\n\nII. REASONS FOR REMAINING IN WILSON STREET.\n\n1. God _hitherto_ has pointed out the spot most plainly. At the\ncommencement of the work, in 1835, no other house was to be had but No.\n6 Wilson Street. Afterwards, when in 1836 the Infant Orphan House was on\nthe point of being opened, again I was looking about in all directions,\nand saw many houses, but found none that was suitable, till all at once,\nmost unlooked for, the occupiers of No. 1 Wilson Street were desirous of\nimmediately leaving that house, and I was able thus to rent it. When in\n1837 I was on the point of opening the Boys' Orphan House, I looked\nabout again for a house in all directions; for I knew not at that time,\nwhat I have since learned by experience, that it was so important that\nall the houses should be near together. After seeking long in vain, I at\nlast found a very large house, not far from Wilson Street, which I\nrented; but when the occupiers of the houses in the neighborhood heard\nthat that house had been let for a charitable institution, they\nthreatened the owner with an action, which led him to request me to give\nup the agreement, which, of course, I did immediately. At last, most\nunexpectedly, after having looked about in vain in all directions, the\noccupiers of No. 3 Wilson Street offered it to me, and I rented it for\nthe orphan boys. Lastly, in the year 1843, when I was led to see it to\nbe the will of God to go forward in this work, and to establish the\nGirls' Orphan House, No. 2, for older girls, one particular feature in\nthe matter was, that the house No. 4 in Wilson Street had been offered\nto me, without being sought after, when there had not been for about six\nyears one single large house to be let in that street.\n\n[But though _hitherto_ God has pointed out Wilson Street as being the\nspot where this work should be carried on, may not _now_ the time have\ncome for removing?]\n\n2. Perhaps we might also rent Nos. 2, 5, and 7, in Wilson Street, and\nuse two out of those three houses for Orphan Houses, and one of them for\nan infirmary in the case of sickness.\n\n[But then, I said to myself, would not the objection, which the\nneighbors on the opposite side of the street might make, on account of\nthe noise of the children in their play-hours, etc., remain? Also the\ndrains would be still more unsuitable, not being constructed for so many\ninmates; and to alter them would be a heavy expense. The play-ground\nwould be still less sufficient, if two new houses were added. Lastly,\nthere was no reason to think that we could rent Nos. 2, 5, and 7.]\n\n3. There are these three great objections against building: The\nconsiderable sum which is required, and which could be spent for present\nuse upon the orphans. The pilgrim character of the Christian seems lost\nin building. The time that it will necessarily take in making\narrangements for it.\n\n[Do not all these objections only hold good, I said to myself, if I were\n_needlessly_ to set about building? If I could rent premises, which are\nreally in every way suitable for the work, and I _preferred_ building,\nthen those objections would apply to the case; but when one is _forced_\nto it, it is no more than erecting a large building because there may be\neight hundred children of God in fellowship who have been hitherto\nrenting a meeting-place, but for certain reasons are obliged to leave\nit, and cannot rent another. Such could not be accused of needlessly\nspending money in building instead of renting; nor could it be justly\nsaid that they have _on that account_ given up the pilgrim character;\nnor would it be time wasted if some individuals were to make\narrangements about the building of that meeting-place. Therefore these\nthree objections just mentioned, which had been _for ten years strongly\nin my own mind_, were removed when once I saw plainly that nothing\nremained but to build.]\n\nAfter I had spent a few hours in prayer and consideration over the\nsubject, I began already to see that the Lord would lead me to build,\nand that his intentions were not only the benefit of the orphans and the\nbetter ordering of the whole work, but also the bearing still further\ntestimony that he _could_ and _would_ provide _large_ sums for those who\nneed them and trust in him for them; and besides, that he would enlarge\nthe work, so that, if I once did build a house, it might be large enough\nto accommodate three hundred orphans, with their teachers and other\noverseers and servants needful for the work. Concerning this latter\npoint, I think it important to remark, that during no period had the\nnumber of the applications for the admission of orphans been greater\nthan just before I was led to think about building, so that it was quite\npainful to me not to be able to comply with the wishes of all the many\npersons who applied for the admission of orphans. There were many\nwaiting for admission, particularly orphan boys.\n\nIn the afternoon of November 3, 1845, I laid the matter before my\nfellow-laborers in the church (eight in number), to get their judgment,\nwhether I ought not to leave Wilson Street, and to build. All judged\nthat I ought to leave Wilson Street, and none saw reasons against\nbuilding.\n\nOn Nov. 4, my dear wife and I began to meet for prayer about this\nmatter, and purposed to do so morning by morning. We asked God for\nclearer light concerning the particular points connected with the\nsubject; and being assured that it was his will that I should build, I\nbegan asking the Lord for means.\n\nOn Nov. 7, I judged, having considered the matter more fully, that\nsufficiently large premises to furnish all needful accommodation for\nthree hundred children (from their earliest days up to fifteen or\nsixteen years old), together with a sufficiently large piece of ground\nin the neighborhood of Bristol, for building the premises upon, and the\nremainder for cultivation by the spade, would cost at least ten thousand\npounds. I was not discouraged by this, but trusted in the living God.\n\nWe continued meeting for prayer morning by morning for fifteen days, but\nnot a single donation came in; yet my heart was not discouraged. The\nmore I prayed, the more assured I was that the Lord would give the\nmeans. Yea, as fully assured was I that the Lord would do so, as if I\nhad already seen the new premises actually before me. This assurance\narose not from some vague, enthusiastical feeling, the mere excitement\nof the moment, but, 1. From the reasons already related, and especially\nfrom the commandment contained in Philip. iv. 5. For I saw that I should\nnot act according to the mind of our Lord Jesus if I did not, as soon as\nI could, remove the orphans from Wilson Street, as it had been stated to\nme, in the letter above referred to, that their living there was an\nannoyance to some of the inhabitants in that street. 2. This assurance\nthat I should build an Orphan House arose further from the whole way in\nwhich the Lord had been pleased to lead me in connection with the\nScriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad since its beginning\non March 5, 1834, _i. e._ he has been leading me forward as by an unseen\nhand, and enlarging the work more and more from its commencement, and,\ngenerally, without my seeking after it, and bringing things so clearly\nbefore me that I could not but see that I ought to go forward. 3. Lastly\nand chiefly, this, my assurance that I should build unto the Lord this\nhouse of mercy, arose also particularly from this, that having strictly\nexamined my heart as to the motives for doing so, I found that, as\nbefore God, I could say that my only motives were his honor and glory,\nand the welfare of the church of Christ at large, the real temporal and\nspiritual welfare of destitute orphans, and the welfare of all those who\nmight take care of them, in the building to be erected. And finding\nthat, after praying again and again about the matter, I still remained\nin perfect peace, I judged it assuredly to be the will of God that I\nshould go forward.\n\nOn Nov. 15, brother R. C. arrived, to labor for a little while in\nBristol. I communicated to him my position with reference to having to\nremove the orphans from Wilson Street, and I had his judgment also as to\nits being of God that I should _build_. This dear brother's judgment\ngreatly encouraged me. His visit was to me of great help in this\nparticular, especially in stirring me up yet more to bring everything in\nconnection with this matter before God. He also laid it on my heart to\nseek direction from God with reference to the plan of the building. He\nsaid, \"You must ask help from God to show you the plan, so that all may\nbe according to the mind of God.\"\n\nUp to Dec. 9, thirty-five days had passed away, whilst I was day by day\nwaiting upon God for means for this work, and not a single penny had\nbeen given to me. Nevertheless, this did not in the least discourage me,\nbut my assurance that God, in his own time and in his own way, would\ngive the means, increased more and more. The portion which came in\ncourse of my meditation on the New Testament, was the beginning of the\nepistle of James. More than at any period in my life was I struck with\nthese verses: \"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers\ntemptations (_i. e._ trials); knowing this, that the trying of your\nfaith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye\nmay be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.\" James i. 2-4. It was\nespecially the last verse, \"But let patience have her perfect work,\"\netc., which I found of exceeding great importance with reference to the\nbuilding of the Orphan House. It led out my soul in prayer day after\nday, to ask the Lord to increase my faith, and to sustain my patience. I\nhad these verses so impressed upon my heart that I could not but think\nthat God meant particularly to bless me by them, with regard to the work\nbefore me, and that I should especially need patience as well as faith.\n\nOn the thirty-sixth day after having begun to pray, Dec. 10, 1845, I\nreceived one thousand pounds towards the building of the Orphan House.\nThis is the largest donation that I had received up to that time for the\nScriptural Knowledge Institution; but when I received it I was as calm,\nas quiet, as if I had only received one shilling. For my heart was\nlooking out for answers. Day by day I was expecting to receive answers\nto my prayers. Therefore, having faith concerning the matter, this\ndonation did not in the least surprise me. Yea, if five thousand pounds\nor ten thousand pounds had been given to me, instead of one thousand\npounds, it would not have surprised me.\n\nDec. 13. On the thirty-ninth day my sister-in-law, who had been for\nsome weeks absent in London, and who had now returned to Bristol, told\nme that she had met a gentleman in London, who, having quite recently\nread with deep interest the Narrative of the Lord's dealings with me,\nwished to know as many particulars about the work in my hands as he\ncould. Being told by my sister-in-law that I purposed to build an Orphan\nMouse, he, an architect, offered to make the plan, and superintend the\nbuilding _gratuitously_. Unsolicited, he pressed this matter upon her\nwith deep and lively interest. I hear also that he is a Christian. The\nfact that this offer comes _unsolicited_, and from a Christian\narchitect, shows especially the hand of God. This is the _second_ proof\nthat God will help me in this matter.\n\nDec. 23. This is now the fiftieth day since I have come to the\nconclusion to build, and the forty-ninth day since we have been daily\nwaiting upon God for help. Nothing more has come in since Dec. 10, not\neven one penny. This morning I have been particularly encouraged by the\nconsideration that the Lord has sent me the one thousand pounds, and the\npromise from that pious architect, whom I have never seen, and of whose\nname I am as yet in ignorance, _not to mock me, but as an earnest that\nhe will give all that is needed_.\n\nIt seems desirable that we should have a large piece of ground, at least\nsix or seven acres. This piece of ground must be in the vicinity of\nBristol: 1. In order that the Orphan House may be accessible to me, as\nmy place at present is fixed by my other work in Bristol. 2. That the\nlaborers in the Institution, and the orphans may be able to attend our\nmeetings, at least on the Lord's day. For if meetings were held on\npurpose in the Orphan House, either the laborers or the children would\nnot be benefited by them in that measure in which it is desirable. 3.\nThat the inhabitants of Bristol may have the benefit of seeing with\ntheir own eyes this work of God, which is so manifestly his and not\nmine. 4. That strangers who pass through Bristol may have easy access to\nit, for the same reason. But then, such a piece of ground near Bristol,\nwhere there is just now such an inordinate desire for building, in the\nway of speculation, would cost, in all human probability, between two\nand three thousand pounds. Then the building itself, however plain,\nwould not cost less than from six to eight thousand pounds, being for\nthree hundred orphans, besides all their overseers, teachers, and\nassistants. In addition to this, the fitting up and furnishing the house\nfor all these between three and four hundred inmates would not cost less\nthan fifteen hundred pounds more. This is indeed a large sum of money\nwhich I need; but my hope is in God. I have not sought after this thing.\nIt has not begun with me. God has altogether unexpectedly, by means of\nthe letter before mentioned, led me to it. Only the day before I\nreceived the letter, I had no more thought about _building_ premises for\nthe accommodation of the orphans than I had had during the ten previous\nyears. My especial prayer is that God would continue to me _faith_ and\n_patience_. If he shall be pleased to help me in faith and patience to\ncontinue to wait on him, help will surely come.\n\nDec. 24. No further donation yet. But my hope in God is unshaken. He\nmost assuredly will help. I have on purpose not issued any circular in\nconnection with this matter, in order that the hand of God may be the\nmore manifest. To some persons residing in or out of Bristol I have\nspoken about my intention of building, when conversation led to it.\nThrough this, if the Lord please, he can make it known to others, and\nthus send means for the building fund. Or he can send in such an\nabundance of means for the work which is already in existence, that\nfrom that abundance there might be a rich surplus towards the building\nfund. But howsoever God may help, I do desire to see his hand made most\nmanifest. There will be, no doubt, many trials connected with this\nenlargement of the field of labor (for if with the one hundred and\nthirty orphans there has been so much trial of faith, what is to be\nexpected when the number is three hundred); and therefore I desire to\nsee as clearly as daylight that God himself is leading me onward.\n\nDec. 29. This is the fifty-sixth day since I came to the conclusion to\nbuild, and the fifty-fifth since I have been day by day waiting upon God\nconcerning it. Only that one donation had come in till this evening,\nwhen I received fifty pounds. This donation is exceedingly precious to\nme, not only because I am sure it is most cheerfully given, nor even\nbecause of its largeness, but because it is another precious proof that\nGod will bring about the matter, else he would not give me these\nearnests. All _my_ business therefore is, to continue in faith and\npatience to wait upon God. My assurance has been more and more\nincreasing that God will build for himself a large Orphan House in this\ncity, to show to the inhabitants, and to all who may read and hear about\nit, what a blessed thing it is to trust in him. Of late I have seen, by\nGod's grace, more and more how entirely unworthy I am of being used by\nGod for this glorious and honorable service, and I can only say: \"Lord,\nhere is thy servant, if thou art pleased to use such a one as I am.\"\n\nDec. 30, 1845. This morning I came, in course of my reading, to the\ncommencement of the book of Ezra. I was particularly refreshed by the\ntwo following points contained in the first chapter, in applying them to\nthe building of the Orphan House: 1. Cyrus, an _idolatrous_ king, was\nused by God to provide the means for building the temple at Jerusalem:\nhow easy therefore for God to provide ten thousand pounds for the\nOrphan House, or even twenty or thirty thousand pounds, if needed. 2.\nThe people were stirred up by God to help those who went up to\nJerusalem. Thus it is a small matter for him to put it into the hearts\nof his children to help me, in desiring to build this house of mercy\nunto his name. This meditation I had before breakfast. After family\nprayer in the morning, I had again my usual season for prayer about the\nbuilding, and at this time it was particularly coupled with thanksgiving\nfor the fifty pounds received last evening, and with entreating\nblessings on the donor. I was now looking out for more, as I am doing\nday by day, when this afternoon I received from a person at Clevedon two\nshillings sixpence, from her grandson sixpence, and from the sister in\nthe Lord who brought the money the change which she did not wish back,\nbeing another sixpence. These donations, though small, are nevertheless\nvery precious to me, as I take them as further proofs out of the hands\nof God that he will most assuredly bring this thing to pass. This\nevening I received one thousand pounds towards the building fund. When I\nreceived this donation I was as calm, yea as perfectly calm, as if I had\nreceived a single penny, because, by God's grace, I have faith in him,\nand therefore I am looking for answers to my prayers, and am sure that\nGod will give every shilling that is needed.\n\nJanuary 2, 1846. This evening I received from Bideford eleven shillings\ntowards the building fund.\n\nJan. 3. One of the orphans gave sixpence.\n\nJam 6. Received a little bag made of foreign seed, and a shell flower,\nto be sold for the building fund. The sister who sent these articles\nwrote to me, that the moment she heard of my intention of building an\nOrphan House, this text was before her mind: \"Who art thou, O great\nmountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain.\" Zech. iv. 7.\nAlso one of the orphans sent fourpence.\n\nHaving asked the Lord to go before me, I went out to-day to look for a\npiece of ground. The armory which is to be sold had been several times\nmentioned to me as a suitable place. I did not think so, yet I thought I\nought at least to look at it. Having seen it and been confirmed in my\njudgment about its unsuitableness, I asked the Lord whether I should\nturn towards the city or towards Stapleton. I felt led to go towards the\ncity, and saw immediately after some fields near the armory. After\nhaving made inquiry to whom they belonged, I have been led to write this\nevening to the owner of them, asking him whether he is disposed to sell\nthem, etc. I am now quietly waiting the Lord's pleasure. If his time is\ncome to answer our requests as to a suitable piece of land, I shall be\nglad; if it is not yet come, I desire that \"patience may have her\nperfect work, being perfect and entire, wanting nothing.\"\n\nJan. 8. This evening I received a reply to my letter. The owner of those\nfields writes, that, if he did sell them, it would be only for building\nland, and therefore they will be too dear.\n\nJan. 9. Went this morning once more to see those fields, which seem very\nsuitable. Met there Mr. L., a land agent, who told me that they would be\nnearly a thousand pounds per acre, and therefore too dear. I asked Mr.\nL. to inform me if he should hear of any suitable land for sale.\n\nJan. 31. It is now eighty-nine days since I have been daily waiting upon\nGod about the building of an Orphan House. The time seems to me now near\nwhen the Lord will give us a piece of ground, and I told the brethren\nand sisters so this evening, after our usual Saturday evening prayer\nmeeting at the Orphan House.\n\nFeb. 1. A poor widow sent to-day ten shillings.\n\nFeb. 2. To-day I heard of suitable and cheap land on Ashley Down.\n\nFeb. 3. Saw the land. It is the most desirable of all I have seen. There\nwas anonymously put into an orphan box at my house a sovereign, in a\npiece of paper, on which was written, \"The New Orphan House.\"\n\nFeb. 4. This evening I called on the owner of the land on Ashley Down,\nabout which I had heard on the 2d, but he was not at home. As I,\nhowever, had been informed that I should find him at his house of\nbusiness, I went there, but did not find him there either, as he had\n_just before_ left. I might have called again at his residence at a\nlater hour, having been informed by one of the servants that he would be\nsure to be at home about eight o'clock; but I did not do so, judging\nthat there was the hand of God in my not finding him at either place:\nand I judged it best therefore not to force the matter, but to \"let\npatience have her perfect work.\"\n\nFeb. 5. Saw this morning the owner of the land. He told me that he awoke\nat three o'clock this morning and could not sleep again till five. While\nhe was thus lying awake his mind was all the time occupied about the\npiece of land respecting which inquiry had been made of him for the\nbuilding of an Orphan House, at my request; and he determined with\nhimself that, if I should apply for it, he would not only let me have\nit, but for one hundred and twenty pounds per acre, instead of two\nhundred pounds, the price which he had previously asked for it. How good\nis the Lord! The agreement was made this morning, and I purchased a\nfield of nearly seven acres, at one hundred and twenty pounds per acre.\n\nObserve the hand of God in my not finding the owner at home last\nevening! The Lord meant to speak to his servant first about this matter,\nduring a sleepless night, and to lead him _fully_ to decide before I had\nseen him.\n\nFeb. 8. I wrote the day before yesterday to the architect, who has\noffered his help gratuitously.\n\nFeb. 11. Received from a sister in the Lord five pounds. Received also\nfrom the architect the following reply to my letter:--\n\n    MY DEAR SIR:\n\n    It will afford me a gratification, beyond what I can communicate\n    by letter, to lend you the helping hand in the labor of love you\n    are engaged in, and I shall esteem it a very great privilege\n    being allowed to exercise my abilities as an architect and\n    surveyor in the erection of the building you propose to erect\n    for the orphans. I really do mean what I say, and, if all is\n    well, by the blessing of God, I will _gratuitously_ furnish you\n    with plans, elevations, and sections, with specification of the\n    work, so that the cost may be accurately estimated. I will also\n    make you an estimate and superintend the works for you\n    _gratuitously_, etc.\n\nThe total amount which has been given for the building fund, up to June\n4, 1846, is two thousand seven hundred and ten pounds three shillings\nfive and a half pence. This is only a small part of what will be needed;\nbut, by the grace of God, I am in perfect peace, being fully assured\nthat God in his own time will send the whole sum which is required. Many\nand great have already been the exercises of faith and patience since I\nfirst began to give myself to prayer about this work, and still greater\nthey may be, before it is accomplished; but God, in the riches of his\ngrace, will help me through them all. It is now (June 4, 1846) two\nhundred and twelve days since I first began to pray about this work, and\nday after day, since then, have I been enabled to continue to wait upon\nGod, and I am more than ever assured that, not withstanding all my\nexceeding great unworthiness, God will condescend to use me, to build\nthis house. Had it been the excitement of the moment, the difficulties\nwhich have already come upon me in connection with this work (and which\nare not stated here, on account of their occupying too much room) would\nhave overwhelmed me; but as God himself, I trust, led me to this work,\nso he has helped me, and does help me, and I doubt not will help me to\nthe end.\n\nThe house is intended to be built so as to accommodate one hundred and\nforty orphan girls above seven years of age, eighty orphan boys above\nseven, and eighty male and female orphans from their earliest days, till\nthey are seven years old, together with all the overseers and teachers,\netc., that may be needed. The infants, after having passed the age of\nseven, will be removed into the different departments for older boys and\ngirls.\n\nBefore leaving this period, it may be proper to recur to the following\nmiscellaneous points, respecting the Scriptural Knowledge Institution\nfor Home and Abroad, with reference to the period from July 14, 1844, to\nMay 26, 1846.\n\n1. During the whole of this period four day schools, with 278 children\nin them, were _entirely_ supported by the funds of the Institution.\nThree day schools besides were _assisted_. The number of the children\nthat were taught in the day schools, entirely supported by the funds of\nthe Institution, from March 5, 1834, to May 26, 1846, amounts to 3,983.\nDuring the period from July 14, 1844, to May 26, 1846, L628, 19s.\n43/4d. was spent on all the schools, which were either entirely or in\npart supported by the funds of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution.\nFurther: during this period there were also entirely supported a Sunday\nschool with 80 children, and an adult school with 60 persons attending\nit. The total number of the adult scholars who received instruction,\nfrom the formation of this Institution to May 26, 1846, is 1,146.\n\n2. During this period were circulated 269 Bibles and 171 Testaments; and\n5,079 Bibles and 3,528 Testaments were circulated from the commencement\nof the work up to May 26, 1846. From July 14, 1844, to May 26, 1846,\nL40, 7s. 10d. was expended of the funds of the Institution on this\nobject.\n\n3. From July 14, 1844, to May 26, 1846, was laid out for foreign and\nhome missions the sum of L595, 7s. 9d. During no period previously was\nso much of the funds of this Institution spent on missionary work, which\narose from the fact that the more I corresponded with brethren who\nlabored in the word and doctrine in foreign lands, the more I saw how\nmuch they stood in need of assistance, and thus, my heart having been\nled out in prayer to God on their behalf, that he would be pleased to\nsend me means, whereby I might be able to assist them, he was pleased to\ndo so. This led me to the purpose, as God should give me grace, to be\nstill more mindful of them in future, and to seek to be able still more\nto assist them. The same was the case with regard to those brethren who\nlabor in England, but who have no salary or stipend, but trust in the\nliving God for the supply of their daily necessities; I did long to help\nsuch brethren, and had no doubt that God would enable me to do so.\n\n4. There was laid out for the circulation of tracts from July 14, 1844,\nto May 26, 1846, the sum of L56, 6s. 91/2d., for which 52,003 such\nlittle publications were bought, which, with 5,315 in hand on July 14,\n1844, makes 57,318, of which number 40,565 were circulated. The total\nnumber circulated from Nov. 19, 1840, to May 26, 1846, amounts to\n99,647.\n\n5. There were received into the four Orphan Houses, from July 14, 1844,\nto May 26, 1846, 30 orphans, who, together with those who were in the\nfour houses on July 14, 1844, make up 151 in all.\n\nOn May 26, 1846, there were 121 orphans in the four houses. Besides\nthis, six apprentices were still supported by the funds of the\nInstitution, so that the total number was 127. The number of the\norphans who were under our care from April, 1836, to May 26, 1846,\namounts to 213.\n\nI notice further the following points in connection with the Orphan\nHouses.\n\n1. _Without any one having been personally applied to for anything by\nme_, the sum of L13,275, 6s. 93/4d. was given to me _as the result of\nprayer to God_, from the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1846.\nThis sum includes the L2,710, 3s. 51/2d. which, up to June 4, 1846, was\ngiven towards the building fund. (It may be interesting to the reader to\nknow that the total amount which was given as free contributions, for\nthe other objects, from the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1846,\namounts to L4,833, 18s. 103/4d.; and that which came in by the sale of\nBibles and tracts, and by the payments of the children in the day\nschools, amounts to L2,097, 18s. 21/2d.) 2. Besides this, also a great\nvariety and number of articles of clothing, furniture, provisions, etc.,\nwere given for the orphans, as has been stated in the printed Reports.\nThe total expenditure for the orphans from July 14, 1844, to May 26,\n1846, was L2,732, 14s. 11/2d., and for the other objects, L1,325, 7s.\n71/4d.\n\nIn conclusion, I cannot but mention to the praise of the Lord concerning\nthis period, that four of the Sunday-school children were admitted to\ncommunion. Likewise three more of the orphans were received into church\nfellowship; so that up to that time, altogether, thirty-two of the\norphans had been admitted. I also mention with peculiar joy, and as a\nmatter for thankfulness, that of those who were apprenticed or sent out\nto service, from July 14, 1844, to May 26, 1846, ten were believers,\nmost of whom had been for several years in fellowship before they were\nsent out to service. But whilst we desire to receive these instances as\nprecious encouragements from the Lord to continue our service, we cannot\nbut believe, judging from the many prayers the Lord gives us for the\nchildren and adults under our care and instruction, that that which we\n_see_ is but an earnest of a far larger harvest in the day of Christ's\nappearing.\n\nDec. 31, 1844. Since brother Craik and I came to Bristol, 982 believers\nhave been received into communion. During this year 73 have been\nreceived.\n\nThe Lord has been pleased to give me during this year L267, 6s. 9d. To\nthis is to be added that for the first two months and six days of this\nyear, my expenses, and those of my dear wife, during our stay in\nGermany, were met, as also our travelling expenses back, as stated in\nanother part of my Narrative. Also during the whole of this year a\nChristian lady gave to our dear child board and schooling without any\nremuneration, a present worth to us not less than fifty pounds. On this\npoint I cannot help making a few remarks: I had clearly seen it to be\nthe will of God that my daughter should be brought up at school, and not\nat home. My reasons for it were these: 1. My dear wife, though well\nqualified to instruct our daughter, so far as knowledge goes, was\nunable, on account of being engaged as my wife in a variety of things\nconnected with the Lord's service, to give herself uninterruptedly to\nthis work; and to do it partially we judged to be injurious to our\ndaughter. 2. I had seen instances in which a home education for an only\nchild had turned out very badly. 3. I judged that the mixing with other\nchildren would be beneficial to our daughter, provided that intercourse\nwas under proper oversight; as thus a child is in early life introduced\ninto a little world, and things do not all at once come upon a young\nperson, when at last obliged to leave the parental roof. 4. But that\nwhich most of all led me to this decision was, that as in the church of\nChrist the Lord has qualified the members of the body for the\nperformance of certain work, and all have not the same gift and service,\nso, in the same way, certain believers are called and qualified above\nothers for instructing children, and give themselves to this particular\nservice, and that, therefore, I ought to make use of the qualifications\nof such, and of their having given their whole time to this particular\nservice. These reasons led us to place our daughter at school, instead\nof educating her at home, and we have never had cause to regret the step\nwe took, but, on the contrary, have had abundant reason to praise God\nfor it. I have purposely made these remarks, as I am fully aware that\nsome believers have different views on this subject, and I desire to\nserve them with the measure of light and experience I have obtained.\n\nAfter our daughter had been at school for half a year, I asked for the\naccount, when it was stated to me by the Christian lady in whose\nestablishment she was that she had a pleasure in educating her\ngratuitously. However, as I pressed the matter, I obtained the account.\nIt was paid, but the exact sum was returned to me anonymously, which, of\ncourse, I found out at once to be from the Christian sister at whose\nschool my daughter was. From that time I could never more obtain the\naccount, though my dear child was about six years longer at school. I\nrefer to this point for this especial reason: God had laid it on my\nheart to care about poor destitute orphans. To this service I had been\nled to give myself; he, in return, as a recompense, even for this life,\ntook care that my own beloved child should have a very good education,\nfree of expense to me. I was able and well able to pay for her\neducation, and most willing to do so; but the Lord gave it gratuitously;\nthus also showing how ready he is abundantly to help me, and to supply\nmy wants.\n\n    Having learned that the brethren in Germany were led away by\n    false teachers, and having received, in answer to prayer, five\n    hundred pounds, for the expenses of his journey thither, Mr. M.\n    left Bristol July 19, 1845, and, after laboring in word and\n    doctrine in Germany, he returned to Bristol Oct. 11, 1845.\n\nPerhaps the reader may ask, What has been the result of this labor in\nGermany? My reply is, God only knows. The day of Christ will declare it.\nJudging from the constant labor in prayer during eight months before I\nwent the second time, and day by day while I was on the Continent, and\nday by day for a long time after my return, I am warranted to expect\nfruit, and I do expect it. I expect abundant fruit in the day of\nChrist's appearing. In the mean time my comfort is that two hundred and\ntwenty thousand tracts have been circulated, many of which, through the\nprovidence of God, found their way not only into the darkest places of\nthe continent of Europe, but went also to America and Australia.\nFurther: four thousand copies of my Narrative, in German, are almost all\ncirculated. And, again, the publishing of my Narrative in German led me\nto do the same in French, which was accomplished about three years\nlater. Further: these tracts were reprinted at Hamburg and at Cologne,\nand are circulated by other Christians; in addition to which, my having\npublished them in Germany led me to get them stereotyped in England, and\nthey continue to be circulated in many countries.\n\nDecember 31, 1845. There have been received into communion 53 during\nthis year, and 1,055 since the commencement of our coming to Bristol.\n\nDuring this year the Lord has been pleased to give to me L433, 19s.\n13/4d. To this is to be added that my dear child had again during the\nwhole of this year her education free at a boarding-school, as stated at\nthe close of the last year, whereby I saved about fifty pounds. Also my\ntravelling expenses to and from Germany, and other expenses connected\nwith my service in Germany, were paid out of the L500 pounds to which\nreference has been made. Adding these two items to L433, I had at least\nL500.\n\nApril 29, 1846. To-day my beloved wife and myself had the inexpressibly\ngreat joy of receiving a letter from our beloved daughter, while we are\nstaying in the Lord's service at Chippenham, in which she writes that\nshe has now found peace in the Lord Jesus. Thus our prayers are turned\ninto praises. About eighteen months before this I began especially to\npray for the conversion of my dear child, and the Lord soon after seems\nto have begun to work in her heart.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVIII.\n\nFAITH CONFIRMED BY PROSPERITY.\n\n1846-1848.\n\n    THE SPIRIT OF SUPPLICATION BESTOWED AND PRAYER ANSWERED--THE\n    TIME OF MAN'S NEED AND OF GOD'S BOUNTY--FAITH NOT\n    SHAKEN--DEALING ONLY WITH GOD--THE NEEDED AMOUNT\n    FURNISHED--PERPETUAL \"NEED\"--NOT WEARY IN GOD'S WORK--JOY IN\n    ANSWERED PRAYER--FOUR REQUESTS GRANTED--\"CONTINUING INSTANT IN\n    PRAYER\"--THE BUILDING COMMENCED--PERSONAL HISTORY--A MARKED\n    DELIVERANCE.\n\n\n    In the following chapter, Mr. Mueller has grouped together, under\n    the appropriate heads, the leading events connected with each of\n    the departments of the work of the Lord in his hands.\n\n\nI. ASSISTANCE TO THE MISSIONARY LABORERS.\n\nDuring no former period since undertaking to send aid to laborers at\nhome and abroad was I intrusted by the Lord with such large sums as\nduring the one to which this chapter refers. I had never had more need\nof pecuniary supplies than during those two years, on account of the\nmany pressing calls; but, at the same time, I had the exceeding great\njoy and privilege of being able to respond to them in such a way as I\nhad never before been allowed to do. These remarks apply to all the\nvarious objects of the Institution, but especially to the supplies for\nbrethren who labor at home and abroad in word and doctrine, without\nbeing connected with any society, or without having any regular salary\nfor preaching the word.\n\nOn May 26, 1846, after the accounts had been closed, a check for one\nhundred pounds was given to me, the application of which was left to my\ndisposal. I put half of the amount to the fund for these objects, and\nhalf to the orphan fund. When the accounts were closed, there was\nninety-one pounds four shillings elevenpence three farthings in hand for\nthese objects, to which this fifty pounds was added; therefore I began\nthis period with more means than I had had in hand at any time\npreviously at the beginning of a fresh period; and as was its beginning,\nso was the continuance. It has often struck me that one especial reason\nwhy, on the whole, I was allowed to have so little trial with regard to\nmeans for the work during those two years, in comparison with former\ntimes, may have been, that thereby the Lord would say that he was\nwilling to give what would be needed, when once the new Orphan House\nshould be built, though the expenses would be about two thousand five\nhundred pounds a year more than they were before.\n\nJune 4, 1846. To-day was given to me, _just when I rose from my knees_,\nafter having asked the Lord for more means, especially for missionary\npurposes, the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds, with the request to\nuse of it fifty pounds for the orphans, fifty pounds for laborers in\nEngland, and fifty pounds for laborers abroad.\n\nFrom the commencement of this Institution, on March 5, 1834, it had been\nmy desire to employ part of the funds, with which I might be intrusted,\nin aiding missionary brethren in foreign lands, who are not supported by\nany regular salary; and for several years I had likewise had the desire\nto assist brethren, laboring in similar circumstances, in Great Britain\nand Ireland. The Lord also had given me the great privilege to assist\nsuch brethren more or less during the time that this Institution had\nbeen in operation; but especially he began during the two years to which\nthis chapter refers to allow me to do so in a far greater degree than\nbefore. I knew it to be a fact that many brethren who preach the word,\nwithout having any salary for doing so, or property to live upon, were\nin need. Now it might be said that such brethren ought to trust in God;\nthat, if they preach Jesus as the only hope for the salvation of\nsinners, they ought to set them a good example by trusting themselves in\nGod for the supply of their temporal necessities, in order that\nunconverted persons thereby might be led to trust in the Lord Jesus\nalone for the salvation of their souls. This is true, quite true.\nPreachers of the precious good news of salvation to every sinner who\nputs his trust in the merits of the Lord Jesus, ought indeed themselves\nto depend upon God, their Lord and Father, for the supply of their\ntemporal necessities; but I also felt that I, as their brother, ought to\nseek to help them as far as lay in me. To this I set myself more than\never after the beginning of the year 1846, as I knew, that, from\nparticular causes, there was an especial call to help such brethren; and\nas my own means would go but a little way, I gave myself to more earnest\nprayer than ever for such brethren. The result was, that, during the two\nyears of this period, the Lord so answered my _daily_ supplications with\nregard to this particular, that I was honored to send nearly three times\nas much to home and foreign laborers as during any previous period of\nthe same length. One thousand five hundred and fifty-nine pounds eleven\nshillings sixpence was spent in this way, by which twenty-one brethren\nwere assisted who labored in foreign lands, and nineteen who labored in\nGreat Britain and Ireland. Large as this sum is, in comparison with\nwhat I had been able to do in this particular in former years, yet it is\nsmall, very small, in comparison with what my heart desired to be able\nto do for these forty brethren. It has frequently, yea almost always, so\nhappened, that the assistance which God has allowed me to send to such\nbrethren has come to them _at a time of great need_. Sometimes _they had\nno money at all left_. Sometimes _even their last provisions were almost\nconsumed_, when I sent them supplies. Some of them are fathers of large\nfamilies, or have sickly wives and children; some were once well off in\nthis world, but for Christ's sake have become poor; and some have had\nfor Christ's sake their all taken from them. Is it not an honor to help\nsuch brethren? I could fill hundreds of pages by giving extracts from\nthe letters of the dear brethren to whom I have sent help, and they\nwould be greatly to the edification of the reader; but I do not feel\nfree to do so. As I have not only been laboring for these brethren in\nprayer that God would intrust me with means and allow me the privilege\nof helping them, but as I also have asked God to direct me especially to\nsend to those who might be in particular need, in case I could not help\nthem all; and as I have sought by an encouraging word to strengthen\ntheir hands in God; I have great reason to believe that these dear\nbrethren have not only been helped by these pecuniary supplies in a\ntemporal point of view, but also that the fact of God sending them help\nin their extremity has tended to refresh and strengthen their hearts,\nand to lead them more and more to trust in him.\n\nMarch 7, 1847. Often of late had I entreated the Lord that he would be\npleased to condescend to use me still further as a steward, in allowing\nme to send help to the many dear brethren whom I know laboring at home\nand abroad without any salary, the need of many of whom I knew. Under\nthese circumstances I received this morning one hundred and fifty\npounds, with the following lines:--\n\n    DEAR BROTHER:\n\n    I have great pleasure in sending you one hundred pounds on\n    account of laborers in the Lord's vineyard at home and abroad,\n    and fifty pounds for other work in your hands.\n\n         Yours very affectionately,\n                                    *  *  *\n\nApril 5. I have been praying day by day, ever since I was able during\nthe last month to send about one hundred and thirty pounds to home and\nforeign laborers, that the Lord would be pleased soon again to give me\nmeans for them, on account of their great need; indeed, all our means\nwere so exhausted, that I had only just enough for to-morrow evening to\nmeet the weekly expenses connected with the six day schools, when this\nmorning I received one hundred and twenty-five pounds for these objects.\nAlmost immediately after this donation had been given to me, I received\na letter from Demerara about the great need among the brethren who labor\nthere, by which intelligence the seasonable help just received has\nbecome still more precious to me.\n\nMay 26, 1848. By the Lord's faithful love I have been enabled to meet\nall the heavy expenses connected with _these objects_ during the last\ntwo years, amounting to nearly two thousand and six hundred pounds, and\nat the same time owe no one anything, and have a balance of five pounds\nnineteen shillings seven pence halfpenny left in hand.\n\n\nII. THE SUPPORT OF THE ORPHANS.\n\nJan. 20, 1847. For the whole of this period since May 26, 1846,\ntherefore nearly eight months, when the accounts were closed, we have\nhad always an abundance of means, and for the greater part of the time\nabout two hundred pounds in hand. The sum of one thousand sixty-five\npounds has come in for the orphans in less than eight months, to which\nis to be added the balance of eighty-five pounds four shillings\nninepence three farthings in hand when the accounts were closed.\nInvariably I have thus been able to give to the matrons of the four\nOrphan Houses the money in advance, which was required for the\nnecessities of one week. But now, after having paid away last evening\nforty-five pounds five shillings for the housekeeping of a week in\nadvance and for other expenses, the money which remains in hand is\nneeded for rent, and oatmeal, which has been ordered from Scotland. This\nmorning therefore I gave myself particularly to prayer with regard to\nmeans for present use for the orphans. How blessed to have the living\nGod to go to! Particularly precious to know him in these days of\nwide-spread distress! Potatoes are too dear for food for the orphans at\nthis time. The rice, which we have substituted instead of them, is twice\nas dear as usual; the oatmeal more than twice as dear, and the bread one\nhalf dearer than usual. But the riches of God are as great as ever. He\nknows that our expenses are great. He knows that a little will not do in\nthese days, when provisions are so dear, as there are about one hundred\nand fifty persons to be provided for, including teachers and\napprentices. My soul is at peace.--_Evening._ About noon I received from\na pious physician the following note, with a check for five pounds:--\n\n    MY DEAR SIR:\n\n    I send you something towards buying bread for the orphans. The\n    dearness of food must be felt by many; but the Lord in judgment\n    is nevertheless gracious. He will sustain. I am your sincere\n    friend and well-wisher,\n                             * * * *\n\nMarch 9. This evening, Tuesday, I find that since last Tuesday evening\nagain forty-four pounds one shilling sixpence three farthings has come\nin. How good is the Lord in helping me week after week through the heavy\nexpenses, especially in this season of deep distress and dearness of\nprovisions! To his praise I can say we have lacked nothing all this\nwinter. Whilst preparing these extracts from my journal for the press, I\nremember to have heard the following remarks made with reference to the\ntime about which I am just now writing, I mean the season of dearth\nduring the winter of 1846-7: \"I wonder how it is now with the orphans?\nIf Mr. Mueller is now able, to provide for them as he has, we will say\nnothing.\" When I heard such like remarks I said nothing except this: \"We\nlack nothing;\" or, \"God helps us.\" Should this fall into the hands of\nany who have had such thoughts, let them remember that it is the very\ntime for _faith_ to work, when _sight_ ceases. The greater the\ndifficulties, the easier for _faith_. As long as there remain certain\nnatural prospects, faith does not get on even as easily (if I may say\nso) as when all natural prospects fail. It is true that during the time\nof the dearth our expenses were considerably greater than usual; it is\nalso true that many persons, who otherwise might have given, were unable\nto do so, or had their surplus directed into other channels, such as\nIreland, etc.; but the gold and silver are the Lord's. To him we made\nour prayer. In him we put our trust. And he did not forsake us. _For we\nwent as easily through that winter as through any winter since the work\nhad been in existence._ Nor could it be otherwise; for God had at this\nvery time an especial opportunity of showing the blessedness of trusting\nin him. Seek, dear reader, more and more to put your trust in him for\neverything, and you will even concerning this life find it most precious\nso to do.\n\nMarch 10. I was able, last evening, to meet most comfortably all the\nexpenses for the coming week, yet we had then nothing left, as I put by\nthe rest of the money, that we might not get into debt with regard to\nthe rent, the expenses of the apprentices, etc. When now there was again\nnothing left for future housekeeping expenses, a Christian lady at a\nconsiderable distance informed me by this morning's post that she has\npaid into the hands of Messrs. Stuckey & Co. of Bristol, my bankers, the\nsum of one hundred pounds for my use for the benefit of the orphans. By\nthe same post I have received also ten shillings from Droitwich. The\nLord's holy name be praised for this seasonable help!\n\nMay 11. This evening I have been able to meet all the expenses connected\nwith housekeeping during the coming week, through what has come in since\nMay 4, but at the same time I have nothing left. Hitherto the children\nhave lacked nothing. Never were provisions nearly so dear since the\ncommencement of the work as they are now. The bread is almost twice as\nmuch as eighteen months ago, the oatmeal nearly three times as much as\nformerly, the rice more than double the usual price, and no potatoes can\nbe used on account of the exceeding high price.\n\nMay 30. Lord's-day morning. I have just now received, in our great need,\nwhen there was not sufficient in hand to meet the necessities of\nto-morrow, six pounds six shillings, from a Christian gentleman of title\nat Zurich in Switzerland, a distance of about one thousand miles. What a\nmost seasonable help! Thus I am able to send all the remainder of the\nsupplies which are needed till Tuesday evening.\n\nIn these days of straitness the question would naturally arise, If, when\nyou have only to care for one hundred and thirty orphans, you are so\npoor, what will you do when there are three hundred, for whom you are\njust on the point of building a house? And, further, Is it not an\nindication not to increase the work, seeing you are now so poor with\nonly about one third of the number of orphans which you purpose to\nreceive into the new Orphan House? I am not tried, however, with such\nthoughts; for I know that, 1. Only for the trial of my faith, as\nheretofore, the Lord allows me now again to be poor. Never at any time\nhave the expenses been so great for the work as from May 26, 1846, to\nMay 26, 1847; but also never has so much come in in the same space of\ntime during any other period of this work. 2. It is for the profit of\nthe church at large that I have now again to pass through these days of\npoverty. 3. It is as easy for the Lord to supply me with all the means\nthat the work will require when once the new Orphan House is opened, as\nit is for him to give me what I need now, though the expenses in all\nlikelihood will then be two thousand five hundred pounds a year more\nthan they are at present.\n\nJuly 13. The proceeds of an orphan box from Stafford, four pounds seven\nshillings sixpence. The friend who sent the money wished to know whether\nit arrived in a time of need. I have had many similar requests, to which\nI can reply nothing, or say at the most that the answer may be learnt\nfrom the next Report. It will be easily perceived, on reflection, that\nif I said it came seasonably, that would imply we had little or nothing\nat all in hand, and what would that again mean but this, \"As our\nexpenses are so great, that which you have now sent will be soon gone\nagain, and therefore send us some more, or get some friend to help us.\"\nBut by this very thing the chief object of this work, \"_To show how\nblessed it is to deal with God alone, and how blessed to trust in him in\nthe darkest moments_,\" would be hindered. It is also for this very\nreason that I do not publish the accounts very frequently, for instance\nquarterly, as I have been requested to do; but I am delighted to wait a\nyear, or eighteen months, or two years, or more; and even then I do not\npublish them for the sake of obtaining money (though unquestionably God\nhas used the Reports as instruments to procure us means), but for the\nbenefit of the church of God, to refresh, encourage, exhort, and\ninstruct my brethren in Christ; and also because it is needful that from\ntime to time I should give a public account of the way in which the\nconsiderable sums with which I have been intrusted have been spent.\n\nOct. 19. I left Bristol with my dear wife, partly because both of us\nmuch needed change of air, and partly because I had a great desire to\nlabor in the word for a few weeks in Westmoreland and Cumberland. I was\nnot able to leave more means than enough for about three days for\nhousekeeping expenses. But I could not have stayed in Bristol, though\nthere had been nothing at all in hand; my hope was that God would help\nduring my absence. During all the time of my stay at Bowness in\nWestmoreland, from Oct. 20 to Nov. 20, there was day by day, with the\nexception of the first three days after my departure, need to wait upon\nGod for daily supplies for the orphans. In consequence of this, _every\ndonation, without exception, which was received during my absence, came\nin most seasonably_. Partly on account of my health, and partly on\naccount of opportunities for service in Westmoreland and elsewhere, I\ndid not feel it right to return to Bristol sooner than I did, though\nthere was such great poverty; nor could I have done anything in Bristol\nwhich I could not do in Westmoreland, as it regards procuring means,\nsince prayer and faith are all the means I make use of to obtain\nsupplies when we are in need.\n\nDec. 23. The need of to-day was eleven pounds. This sum the Lord gave me\nthus: Last evening I received one pound, together with a pair of\ntrousers and gaiters, and a remnant of fustian for the orphans. But as\nI knew how much there would be needed to-day, I waited further upon the\nLord this morning for help, and, in ONE MINUTE after I had risen from my\nknees, I received a letter from Liverpool with ten pounds for the\norphans. The donor writes: \"I have had the inclosed ten-pound note in my\ndrawer for some time, intending to send it to you for the orphans; but\nmy time is so occupied that at a suitable time when at my desk I have\noverlooked it. I now, however, inclose it,\" etc. How seasonable this\nhelp! How exactly _to the very shilling_ what is needed to-day! How\nremarkable that _just now_ this donor in Liverpool is led to send the\nten pounds which had been, according to his own words, for some time in\nhis drawer for the purpose of sending it! All this abundantly proves\n_the most minute and particular providence_ of God, and his readiness to\nanswer the supplications of his children.\n\nDec. 30. When this day began, I was without anything for the necessities\nof the day, though I had reason to believe that several pounds would\nagain be required. I was therefore again looking out for fresh supplies.\nAccordingly, about ten o'clock this morning, a brother in the Lord, who\nhad come last evening to stay for a night in my house, gave me ten\npounds, to be used as it might be most needed. To be noticed in\nconnection with this donation is: 1. I had, not long since, received a\ndonation from him. 2. This brother had generally stated how he wished\nhis donations to be appropriated, and they had been chiefly for\nmissionary purposes; but this time he left it to me to use this money,\nas most needed, and therefore I could take of it what was needed for the\norphans. 3: I was now extremely poor also with regard to the funds for\nall the other objects, so that I was obliged to tell the teachers of the\nday schools last Tuesday evening, 28th, that if no fresh supplies came\nin, I should not be able to give them their weekly salaries, as usual,\nnext Tuesday evening, being now poorer in this particular than I had\nbeen for years. How kind therefore of the Lord, not only to give me this\nmoney through this brother at this time, but also to dispose his heart\nto leave the application of it to me as most needed. I took half of it\nfor this day's housekeeping expenses for the orphans, and half for the\nschool fund, for the weekly salaries of the teachers next Tuesday. I\nalso received further this morning a half sovereign from Droitwich. The\nlittle that was left, after the housekeeping expenses were met, was put\nby for rent and the expenses for the apprentices, and I was again\nwithout a penny, looking out for fresh supplies for to-morrow.\n\nDec. 31, 1847. The last day of another year had now come. Great and many\nhad been the mercies of God to me this year in every way, particularly\nalso in connection with the orphans; but now I had again nothing for\nto-day, except two shillings which are in one of the boxes in my house.\nI was, however, by God's grace, able to look out for supplies for this\nlast day of another year also, being fully assured that the Lord would\nnot confound me. And thus it has been, according to my expectation; for,\nbefore I was called on for money, I received one hundred pounds, which\nwas left to me to apply to any part of the Lord's service where there\nseemed the most need.\n\nFeb. 2, 1848. This morning, on my walk before breakfast, I felt myself\nled out of my usual track into a direction in which I had not gone for\nsome months. In stepping over a stile I said to myself: \"Perhaps God has\na reason even in this.\" About five minutes afterwards I met a Christian\ngentleman who gave me two sovereigns for the orphans, and then I knew\nthe reason why I had been led this way.\n\nFeb. 3. The reader might say, \"_You are continually in need. No sooner\nis the one demand met, than another comes. Do you not find it a trying\nlife, and are you not tired of it?_\" My reply is, It is true I am more\nor less continually in need in connection with this work. And if I were\nto tell out all my heart to the reader concerning it, he would have\nstill more reason to say that I am continually in need. For what I have\nhere written is almost exclusively about the way in which God has been\npleased to supply me with _money_ for carrying on the work; but I do\ndeliberately state that this, much as it might appear to one or the\nother, is by no means the chief thing that I stand in need of from day\nto day. I will just hint at a few other things. Sickness among the\nchildren, very difficult and tedious cases, in which, notwithstanding\nall the means which are used month after month, yea, year after year,\nthe children remain ill. Nothing remains but either to keep them, or to\nsend them to the Parish Union, to which they belong, as they have no\nrelatives able to provide for them. The very fact of having cared for\nthem and watched over them for years only endears them the more to us,\nand would make it the more trying to send them back to their parish.\nThis is a \"need\" which brings me to God. Here is prayer required, not\nonly for means which such sick children call for, but for guidance and\nwisdom from on high.\n\nSometimes children are to be placed out as servants or apprentices. A\nsuitable place is needed, or else they had better remain under our care.\nThe obtaining of this suitable place is a \"need\" indeed. It is more\ndifficult to be obtained than money. Sometimes for many weeks have I had\nto wait upon God to have this \"need\" supplied; but he has always at last\nhelped. Sometimes great has been my \"need\" of wisdom and guidance in\norder to know how certain children ought to be treated under particular\ncircumstances; and especially how to behave towards certain apprentices\nor servants who were formerly in the Orphan Houses. A \"need\" in this\nrespect is no small thing; though I have found that in this and in all\nother matters, concerning which I was in \"need,\" I have been helped,\nprovided I was indeed able to wait patiently upon God. That word,\n\"godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life\nthat now is and of that which is to come,\" (1 Tim. iv. 8,) I have in\ntimes almost without number found to be true in my own experience.\n\nFurther, when one or the other of the laborers needed to leave the work\non account of health, or for other reasons, I have been at such times in\nfar greater \"need\" than when I required money for the various objects of\nthe Institution. I could only have such \"need\" supplied by waiting upon\nGod. I could do nothing but speak to my heavenly Father about this\nmatter, and he has always helped. One of the greatest difficulties\nconnected with this work is to obtain suitable godly persons for it; so\nmany things are to be taken into the account. Suitable age, health,\ngift, experience, love for children, true godliness, a ready mind to\nserve God in the work and not themselves, a ready mind to bear with the\nmany trials and difficulties connected with it, a manifest purpose to\nlabor, not for the sake of the remuneration, but to serve God in their\nwork; surely, to obtain godly persons, in whom these qualifications even\nin some measure are found combined, is not an easy matter. Not that any\none will suppose me to mean that I am looking out for perfect\nfellow-laborers. Not that any one will suppose that my fellow-laborers\nare referred to by me as if they were without weaknesses, deficiencies,\nand failings. I am myself far, very far from being without weaknesses,\ndeficiencies, and failings. Moreover, I never expect to find\nfellow-laborers for this work who have not their weaknesses; but _this I\ndo mean to say_, that the work of God in my hands is of that character,\nand, by God's grace, is really carried on with such a true purpose to\nserve God thereby (however much I and my fellow-laborers may fail), that\nit is with me a matter of deep moment to find truly suitable individuals\nfor it, in whom, as much as possible, the above qualifications should be\nfound united. And, however much there may be wanting, this is more and\nmore my aim, that I may obtain _such_ helpers; and hence it can be\neasily perceived how great my \"need\" must be again and again on this\nvery account. I do here especially advise, that if any should apply in\nfuture for situations in connection with this work, they would keep\nthese remarks before them; for, by God's grace, it is my purpose never\nto give to any persons a situation in connection with the Institution,\nif they are not suitable for it according to the light which God gives\nme.\n\nFurther, that the laborers work happily together among themselves, and\nthat I go on happily in service with them; that I be their servant, on\nthe one hand, and yet, on the other, maintain the place which God has\ngiven me in this work; surely, if any one carefully looks at this, he\nwill at once see that there is a difficulty and a \"need\" far greater\nthan any that is connected with _money_. O, how these matters lead one\nto call upon God! How they continually make one sensible of one's\n\"need!\" Truly, I am in need, in continual need. I might refer to many\nmore points, in connection with this work, in which I am more or less\ncontinually in \"need;\" but I will only mention one. It is now many years\nsince I have made my boast in the living God in so public a manner by my\npublications. On this account Satan unquestionably is waiting for my\nhalting, and if I were left to myself I should fall a prey to him.\nPride, unbelief, or other sins would be my ruin, and lead me to bring a\nmost awful disgrace upon the name of Jesus. Here is then a \"need,\" a\ngreat \"need.\" I do feel myself in \"need,\" in great \"need,\" even to be\nupheld by God; for I cannot stand for a moment if left to myself. O that\nnone of my dear readers might admire me, and be astonished at my faith,\nand think of me as if I were beyond unbelief! O, that none of my dear\nreaders might think that I could not be puffed up by pride, or in other\nrespects most awfully dishonor God, and thus at last, though God has\nused me in blessing hitherto to so many, become a beacon to the church\nof Christ! No, I am as weak as ever. I need as much as ever to be upheld\nas to faith, and every other grace. I am therefore in \"need,\" in great\n\"need;\" and therefore help me, dear Christian reader, with your prayers.\n\nI allow, then, most fully that I am in continual \"need.\" This is the\ncase with regard to money matters, because the work is now so large. A\nfew hundred pounds go but a little way. There have often been weeks when\nmy demands have been several hundred pounds a week, and it can therefore\neasily be supposed that, even if large donations come in, they do not\nlast long. But whilst I allow this, I desire that the Christian reader\nmay keep in mind that there are other necessities, and even greater ones\nthan those connected with _money_. Should, however, the reader say that\nhe thinks \"_I must find this a very trying life, and that I must be\ntired of it_,\" I beg to state that he is entirely mistaken. I do not\nfind the life in connection with this work a trying life, but a very\nhappy one. It is impossible to describe the abundance of peace and\nheavenly joy that often has flowed into my soul by means of the fresh\nanswers which I have obtained from God, after waiting upon him for help\nand blessing; and the longer I have had to wait upon him, or the greater\nmy need was, the greater the enjoyment when at last the answer came,\nwhich has often been in a very remarkable way, in order to make the hand\nof God the more manifest. I do therefore solemnly declare that I do not\nfind this life a trying life, but a very happy one, and I am\nconsequently not in the least tired of it. Straits and difficulties I\nexpected from the very beginning. Before I began this service I expected\nthem; nay, the chief object of it was, that the church at large might be\nstrengthened in faith, and be led more simply, habitually, and\nunreservedly to trust in the living God, by seeing his hand stretched\nout in my behalf in the hour of need. I did, therefore, expect trials,\ngreat trials and straits; but cheerfully, for the glory of God, and the\nprofit of God's dear children, did I desire to pass through them, if\nonly the saints might be benefited by the dealings of God with me. The\nlonger I go on in this service, the greater the trials of one kind or\nanother become; but at the same time the happier I am in this my\nservice, and the more I am assured that I am engaged as the Lord would\nhave me to be. How then could I be tired of carrying on the work of God\non such principles as I do?\n\n\nIII. THE NEW ORPHAN HOUSE ON ASHLEY DOWN.\n\nUp to May 26, 1846, L2,710, 3s. 51/2d. had been received toward\nbuilding the new Orphan House.\n\nJuly 4, 1846. For about three months my faith and patience have been\nexceedingly tried about the field which I have purchased for the\nbuilding of the orphan house, as the greatest difficulties arose about\nmy possessing the land after all; but, by God's grace, my heart was kept\nin peace, being fully assured that if the Lord were to take this piece\nof land from me _it would be only for the purpose of giving me a still\nbetter one; for our heavenly Father never takes any earthly thing from\nhis children except he means to give them something better instead_. But\nin the midst of all this great trial of faith I could not but think,\njudging from the way in which God so manifestly had given me this piece\nof land, that the difficulties were only allowed _for the trial of my\nfaith and patience_. And thus it was. Last evening I received a letter\nby which all the difficulties were removed, and now, with the blessing\nof God, in a few days the conveyance will be made out.\n\nJuly 6. The reason why, for several months, there had come in so little\nfor the building fund, appeared to me this, that we did not need the\nmoney at present; and that when it was needed, and when my faith and\npatience had been sufficiently tried, the Lord would send more means.\nAnd thus it has proved; for to-day was given to me the sum of two\nthousand and fifty pounds, of which two thousand pounds is for the\nbuilding fund, and fifty pounds for present necessities.\n\nIt is impossible to describe my joy in God when I received this\ndonation. I was neither excited nor surprised; for _I look out_ for\nanswers to my prayers. _I believe that God hears me._ Yet my heart was\nso full of joy that I could only _sit_ before God, and admire him, like\nDavid in 2 Sam. vii. At last I cast myself flat down upon my face, and\nburst forth in thanksgiving to God, and in surrendering my heart afresh\nto him for his blessed service.\n\nJuly 21. This morning a gentleman from Devonshire, on his way to London,\ncalled on me. When he came I was just in prayer, having, among other\nmatters, brought also before the Lord the following points: 1. I had\nbeen asking him for some supplies for my own temporal necessities, being\nin need. 2. I had asked him for more means for the building fund, and\nbesought him to hasten the matter, on account of the inhabitants in\nWilson Street, on account of the welfare of the children and those who\nhave the oversight of them in the Orphan Houses, and lastly that I might\nbe able to admit more orphans, the number of applications being so\ngreat. 3. I had also asked the Lord for means for present use for the\norphans, as the outgoings are so great. 4. I had asked for means for\nthe other objects. When I saw this gentleman from Devonshire, he gave me\ntwenty pounds, of which ten pounds is to be used for the building fund,\nfive pounds for present use of the orphans, two pounds for brother Craik\nand myself, and the remaining three pounds were left to my disposal,\nwhich I applied to the other objects of the Scriptural Knowledge\nInstitution. Thus I received, _at the very moment that I had been asking\nGod_, FOUR answers to my prayers.\n\nNov. 19. I am now led more and more to importune the Lord to send me the\nmeans which are requisite in order that I may be able to commence the\nbuilding. Because, 1. It has been for some time past publicly stated in\nprint that I consider it is not without ground that some of the\ninhabitants of Wilson Street consider themselves inconvenienced by the\nOrphan Houses being in that street, and I long therefore to be able to\nremove the orphans from thence, as soon as possible. 2. I become more\nand more convinced that it would be greatly for the benefit of the\nchildren, both physically and morally, with God's blessing, to be in\nsuch a position as they are intended to occupy, when the new Orphan\nHouse is built. And, 3. Because the number of very poor and destitute\norphans, that are waiting for admission, is so great, and there are\nconstantly fresh applications made. Now whilst, by God's grace, I would\nnot wish the building to be begun one single day sooner than it is his\nwill; and whilst I firmly believe that he will give me, in his own time,\nevery shilling which I need; yet I also know that he delights in being\nearnestly entreated, and that he takes pleasure in the continuance in\nprayer, and in the importuning him, which so clearly is to be seen from\nthe parable of the widow and the unjust judge. Luke xviii. 1-8. For\nthese reasons I gave myself again particularly to prayer last evening,\nthat the Lord would send further means, being also especially led to do\nso, in addition to the above reasons, because there had come in but\nlittle comparatively since the 29th of last month. This morning between\nfive and six o'clock I prayed again, among other points, about the\nbuilding fund, and then had a long season for the reading of the word of\nGod. In the course of my reading I came to Mark xi. 24: \"What things\nsoever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye\nshall have them.\" The importance of the truth contained in this portion\nI have often felt and spoken about; but this morning I felt it again\nmost particularly, and, applying it to the new Orphan House, said to the\nLord: \"Lord, I believe that thou wilt give me all I need for this work.\nI am sure that I shall have all, because I believe that I receive in\nanswer to my prayer.\" Thus, with the heart full of peace concerning this\nwork, I went on to the other part of the chapter, and to the next\nchapter. After family prayer I had again my usual season for prayer with\nregard to all the many parts of the work, and the various necessities\nthereof, asking also blessings upon my fellow-laborers, upon the\ncirculation of Bibles and tracts, and upon the precious souls in the\nadult school, the Sunday schools, the six day schools, and the four\nOrphan Houses. Amidst all the many things I again made my requests about\nmeans for the building: And now observe: About five minutes after I had\nrisen from my knees, there was given to me a registered letter,\ncontaining a check for three hundred pounds, of which two hundred and\neighty pounds are for the building fund, ten pounds for my own personal\nexpenses, and ten pounds for brother Craik. The Lord's holy name be\npraised for this precious encouragement, by which the building fund is\nnow increased to more than six thousand pounds.\n\nDec. 9. It is now four hundred days since day after day I have been\nwaiting upon God for help with regard to the building of the Orphan\nHouse; but as yet he keeps me still in the trial of faith and patience.\nHe is still saying, as it were, \"Mine hour is not yet come.\" Yet he does\nsustain me in continuing to wait upon him. By his grace my faith is not\nin the least shaken; but I am quite sure that he, in his own time, will\ngive me everything which I need concerning this work. _How_ I shall be\nsupplied with the means which are yet requisite, and _when_, I know not;\nbut I am sure that God will help me in his own time and way. In the mean\ntime I have abundant reason to praise God that I am not waiting on him\nin vain; for since this day twelvemonth he has given me, in answer to\nprayer, a most suitable piece of ground, and six thousand three hundred\nand four pounds for the building fund, and about two thousand seven\nhundred pounds for present use for the work, so that altogether I have\nreceived, since this day twelvemonth, solely in answer to prayer, the\nsum of nine thousand pounds. Surely, I am not waiting upon the Lord in\nvain! By his help, then, I am resolved to continue this course unto the\nend.\n\nDec. 22. To-day I have again a precious proof that _continuing_ to wait\nupon the Lord is not in vain. During this month comparatively little had\ncome in for the building fund; yet, by God's grace, I had been enabled,\nas before, yea, even with more earnestness perhaps than before, to make\nknown my requests unto God, being more and more convinced that I ought\nto seek by earnest prayer soon to be able to begin the building. In\naddition to this I had also especially besought the Lord to give me\nmeans for missionary brethren, and also for brethren who labor in the\nword in various parts of England and Ireland, as all my means for them\nwere now gone. I had also been waiting upon God for means to order a\nfresh stock of tracts. I had lastly again and again besought the Lord to\ngive me means for the poor saints in Bristol, of whom there are many,\nand whose need is now particularly great. Now to-day the Lord has\ngranted me precious answers to my requests concerning these various\nobjects, for I received this morning one thousand pounds, with these\nwords: \"I send you some money, part of which you can apply to the\norphans and the other objects of your Institution, according to their\nneed, and the rest you can put to the building fund. At the present\nprice of provisions your expenses must be large for the orphans. Please\nalso take twenty-five pounds for your own need.\"\n\nJanuary 25, 1847. The season is now approaching when building may be\nbegun. Therefore with increased earnestness I have given myself unto\nprayer, importuning the Lord that he would be pleased to appear on our\nbehalf, and speedily send the remainder of the amount which is required,\nand I have increasingly, of late, felt that the time is drawing near\nwhen the Lord will give me all that which is requisite for commencing\nthe building. All the various arguments which I have often brought\nbefore God I brought also again this morning before him. It is now\nfourteen months and three weeks since day by day I have uttered my\npetitions to God on behalf of this work. I rose from my knees this\nmorning in full confidence not only that God _could_, but also _would_,\nsend the means, and that soon. Never, during all these fourteen months\nand three weeks, have I had the least doubt that I should have all that\nwhich is requisite. And now, dear believing reader, rejoice and praise\nwith me. About an hour after I had prayed thus, there was given to me\nthe sum of two thousand pounds for the building fund. Thus I have\nreceived altogether L9,285, 3s. 91/2d. towards this work. I cannot\ndescribe the joy I had in God when I received this donation. It must be\nknown from experience in order to be felt. Four hundred and forty-seven\ndays I have had to wait upon God before the sum reached the above\namount. How great is the blessing which the soul obtains by _trusting\nin God_ and _by waiting patiently_. Is it not manifest how precious it\nis to carry on God's work in this way, even with regard to the obtaining\nof means? From Dec. 10, 1845, to Jan. 25, 1847, being thirteen months\nand a half, I have received, solely in answer to prayer, nine thousand\ntwo hundred and eighty-five pounds. Add to this what came in during that\ntime for present use for the various objects of the Institution, and the\ntotal is about twelve thousand and five hundred pounds, entirely the\nfruit of prayer to God. Can it be said, therefore, with good ground,\nthat this way of carrying on the work of God may do very well in a\nlimited and small way, but it would not do on a large scale? The fact\nbrought out here contradicts such statements.\n\nJune 23. This day the Lord in his great goodness, by a donation of one\nthousand pounds for the building fund, has again encouraged my heart\nabundantly to trust in him for all that which I shall yet need to meet\nthe remainder of the expenses connected with the fitting up and\nfurnishing the new Orphan House, etc.\n\nApril 29, 1848. The total amount which I have received for the building\nfund is L11,062, 4s. 111/2d. This sum enables me to meet all the\nexpenses connected with the purchase of the piece of land and with the\nerection of the house. I stated before that I did not mean to commence\nthe building until I had all the means requisite for it, and this\nintention was carried out. It was not until I had a sufficient amount of\nmeans to meet all the sums required for the various contractors that a\nsingle thing was done; but when I once had as much as was required for\nthem, I did not consider it right to delay any longer, though I saw then\nclearly, and have since seen still more clearly, that I should need yet\na considerable sum to complete the work. For whilst in every respect the\nbuilding will be most plain and inexpensive, yet, it being intended to\nbe the abode of three hundred orphans, with all their teachers and\noverseers, it necessarily must be a very large building, and was\ntherefore found to be even somewhat more expensive than I had thought,\nas the whole (including fittings and furniture) cannot be accomplished\nfor less than fourteen thousand five hundred pounds, towards which the\nLord has already given me, as stated, eleven thousand and sixty-two\npounds four shillings elevenpence halfpenny. The sum still needed is\nrequired for all the ordinary fittings, the heating apparatus, the gas\nfittings, the furnishing the whole house, making three large\nplay-grounds and a small road, and for some additional work which could\nnot be brought into the contracts. I did not think it needful to delay\ncommencing the building, though several thousand pounds more would be\nrequired, as all these expenses needed not to be met till many months\nafter the beginning of the building.\n\nThe work of the building commenced on July 5, 1847. Six hundred and\nseven days I sought the help of God day by day, before we came so far as\nto be able to commence the building; yet at last he gave me the desire\nof my heart.\n\n\nIV. MISCELLANEOUS POINTS RESPECTING THE SCRIPTURAL KNOWLEDGE INSTITUTION\nFOR HOME AND ABROAD.\n\n1. During the whole of this period six day schools, with 330 children,\nwere supported by the funds of the Institution; two Sunday schools were\nentirely supported by it, and a third one was occasionally assisted.\nAgain, four from among the Sunday-school children were, during these two\nyears, received into church fellowship. The total number of the children\nwho received instruction in the day schools of the Institution, from its\ncommencement up to May 26, 1848, amounted to 4,519. The number of the\nadult scholars who were instructed during this period in the adult\nschool, which was supported by the funds of the Institution, amounted to\n292; and the total number of adults who had instruction from March 5,\n1834, to May 26, 1848, was 1,438. The total of the expenses connected\nwith all these schools, during these two years, amounted to L886, 1s.\n111/2d.\n\n2. During this period were circulated 649 Bibles and 232 New Testaments.\nThere were circulated from March 5, 1834, up to May 26, 1848, 5,746\nBibles and 3,760 New Testaments. During this period, L74, 9s. 10d. was\nexpended of the funds of the Institution on this object.\n\n3. From May 26, 1846, to May 26, 1848, was expended of the funds of the\nInstitution on missionary objects, L1,559, 11s. 6d., whereby 43 laborers\nin the gospel, at home and abroad, were assisted.\n\n4. During this period 64,021 tracts were circulated, and the sum of L63,\n1s. 5d. was expended on this object of the funds of the Institution. The\ntotal number of tracts circulated from Nov. 19, 1840, to May 26, 1848,\namounted to 163,668.\n\n5. There were received into the four Orphan Houses, from May 26, 1846,\nto May 26, 1848, 51 orphans, who, together with those who were in the\nfour houses on May 26, 1846, made up 172 in all.\n\nOn May 26, 1848, there were 122 orphans in the four houses. The number\nof the orphans under our care from April, 1836, to May 26, 1848, was\n264. The total amount of expenditure in connection with the support of\nthe orphans from May 26, 1846, to May 26, 1848, was L3,228, 5s. 11d.\n\nI notice, in connection with the Orphan Houses, that _without any one\nhaving been personally applied to for anything by me_, the sum of\nL24,771, 19s. 83/4d. was given to me _as the result of prayer to God_\nfrom the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1848. This sum includes\nthe L11,062, 4s. 111/2d., which up to May 26, 1848, had been given\ntowards the building fund. It may be interesting to the reader to know\nthat the total amount which was given as free contributions for the\nother objects, from the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1848, was\nL7,060, 14s. 13/4d.; and that which came in by the sale of Bibles and\ntracts, and by the payment of the children in the day schools, amounted\nto L2,373, 3s. 71/2d.\n\n\nV. PERSONAL HISTORY.\n\nDec. 31, 1846. During this year there have been received into fellowship\n66. The Lord has been pleased to give me during this year L399, 2s. 11d.\nTo this is again to be added, what I have enlarged on in a former\nchapter, that during the whole of this year also my daughter was, free\nof all expenses, at a boarding-school, worth about fifty pounds.\n\nIn November, 1847, I had a most remarkable deliverance, which, to the\npraise of the Lord, is here recorded, as it is a further illustration of\nhow the Lord watches over his children.\n\nI was laboring for a little while at Bowness and Keswick in the ministry\nof the word, in October and November. When at Keswick, I stayed with my\ndear wife in a large boarding-house, in which, however, we were then\nalone, except a single gentleman. Just before we left Keswick, on the\nmorning of Nov. 24, I heard that the gentleman, lodging in the same\nhouse, had shot himself during the night, but was not quite dead. We had\nnot heard the report of the pistol, it being a very stormy night and the\nhouse large. Two days after, I received from a Christian brother at\nKeswick the following information respecting the transaction.\n\n                                             KESWICK, Nov. 25, 1847.\n\n    DEAR MR. MUeLLER:\n\n    The tender and Almighty care of our loving Father was never more\n    over _you_, and indeed over all of us, than in your stay at Mrs.\n    ----'s. Mr. ---- was quite deranged for two or three days before\n    you left. Without any control, he had been walking about his\n    room for the last two days and nights, with loaded pistols in\n    his hands. Furthermore, he had taken into his head that you were\n    going to kill him. How gracious of God that he spread his wings\n    over you, and over dear Mrs. Mueller, so that Satan could not\n    break through the fence, to hurt even a hair of your heads.\n    Speaking after the manner of men, there was nothing to have\n    hindered him coming into the room, where we were all at tea,[19]\n    and of firing amongst us; but the Lord was our refuge and\n    fortress, and preserved us from danger, which we knew not of. He\n    shot himself in the neck and breast, but is not dead. He has a\n    strait-waistcoat on. I assisted in cutting his clothes off, and\n    in other little offices needed at such a time, and told him of\n    Christ's love in dying for poor sinners. \"I know it,\" he said.\n    He shot himself the first time about three o'clock in the\n    morning, and again about seven. What a scene his room presented;\n    pistols lying in gore; bloody knives, lancets, and razors\n    strewed about the floor, etc.\n\n  [Footnote 19: The evening before my departure I had invited a\n  number of believers to tea, to spend some time together in prayer,\n  reading the Holy Scriptures, and in intercourse on spiritual\n  subjects.]\n\nI add an extract from a second letter, written by the same Christian\nbrother, because it shows still further how very merciful the Lord was\nto us at that time, in protecting us.\n\n    Mr. ---- is still alive, and has been removed by his friends\n    into Yorkshire. It appears, insanity is in his family, his\n    father being at this time in an asylum. It is evident that he\n    had the pistols in his pockets, but of this no one knew until\n    after the occurrence took place. I do not know what time of\n    night you went to bed, but I judge it was about ten. If so, it\n    was at ten o'clock Mr. ---- came down from his bedroom, after\n    having been there six hours. It was a mercy you did not meet\n    him, as it is plain that he had loaded pistols on his person.\n\nDec. 31, 1847. There have been received into fellowship, during this\nyear, 39; and altogether, since Mr. Craik and I began laboring in\nBristol, 1,157, besides the 68 whom we found in fellowship. During this\nyear the Lord has been pleased to give me L412, 18s. 81/2d. To this is\nagain to be added the free education of my dear daughter, at a boarding\nschool, worth to us at least fifty pounds.\n\nIn April, 1848, I was enabled, by the help of the Lord, to complete all\nthe arrangements for the publication of the Narrative of the Lord's\ndealings with me, in the French language; and about September of the\nsame year the book appeared, under the following title: \"Expose de\nquelques-unes des dispensations de Dieu envers Georges Mueller. Paris,\nlibrairie Protestante, Rue Tronchet, 2.\"\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIX.\n\nCONTINUED MERCIES.\n\n1848-1850.\n\n    HUMBLE BEGINNINGS--DEVISING LIBERAL THINGS--THE ORPHANS PROVIDED\n    FOR--A MEMORABLE DAY--MONEY \"AT INTEREST\"--MEANS FROM AN\n    UNEXPECTED SOURCE--THE PROGRESS OF THE NEW ORPHAN HOUSE--MEANS\n    PROVIDED FOR ITS COMPLETION--INEXPRESSIBLE DELIGHT IN\n    GOD--REVIEW OF THE TWO YEARS PAST.\n\n\nOn the 26th of May, 1848, I had on hand for the Bible, tract,\nmissionary, and school funds of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution,\nfive pounds nineteen shillings sevenpence one farthing; a sum so small,\nthat, without the help of God, I could not have gone on even for a few\ndays; for during this period our average expenditure for one single day,\nmerely for this part of the work, was as much as the whole balance left\nin hand. Now see how God carried me through, in meeting the expenditure\nof the thousands of pounds which were laid out for these objects,\nirrespective of the orphan work, from May 26, 1848, to May 26, 1850.\n\nOn the very next day, after the accounts were closed, May 27, 1848, I\nreceived from Westmoreland five pounds, being the first donation during\nthis period towards this part of the work, of which sum one half was\nintended by the donor for the current expenses of the orphans, and the\nother half for these objects. On the following day, May 28, was\nanonymously put into the chapel boxes for missions one shilling\nsixpence, and twopence. Now it happened so that all the expenses,\nconnected with these objects, during the first two days amounted only to\nabout three pounds, which I was able to meet by what had come in and the\nbalance left in hand; and on May 29 I received one hundred pounds. As\nthe application of this sum was left to me, I took one half of it for\nthe orphans, and the other half for these objects. Thus I was supplied\nwith means to meet the expenses which came on me the following day, May\n30, when I had to pay the weekly salaries of the teachers in the day\nschools.\n\nJune 9. Great has been my desire, and many have been my prayers to God,\nthat he would be pleased to condescend to use me still further, in\nallowing me the privilege of helping brethren who labor in the word and\ndoctrine, at home and abroad, without any salary, as I have been able to\ndo but very little for them comparatively during the last four months.\nNow at last, in answer to my prayers, I have received this morning one\nhundred and sixty pounds for home and foreign laborers. The Lord may see\nit needful, for the trial of our faith, to seem for a season not to\nregard our supplications; yet, if we patiently and believingly continue\nto wait upon him, it will be manifest, in his own time and way, that we\ndid not call upon him in vain.\n\nJuly 12. My soul has been longing for further supplies for home and\nforeign laborers, to whom I have sent of late all I could. Almost all\nthe letters which I have received from the brethren, to whom I have sent\nmoney, have shown to me their great need. Some were in the greatest\nnecessity when my remittances were received by them. Under these\ncircumstances a donation of one hundred and seventeen pounds two\nshillings sevenpence came in this morning, of which I took fifty pounds\nfor these objects, and sixty-seven pounds two shillings sevenpence for\nthe orphans.\n\nNov. 9. Only a few shillings were left in my hands on Tuesday evening,\nthe 7th instant, towards the weekly salaries of the teachers, for the\ncoming week. Also, almost all the tracts are again gone, and it is\nnearly four weeks since I paid out the last money I had in hand for\nmissionary objects. As to this latter point, my heart had been\nespecially longing to be able to send again help to home and foreign\nlaborers, knowing how very great the need of many is. Thus I was\nsituated with regard to means, when I received to-day one thousand\npounds.\n\nSince March 5, 1834, I have received above forty-four thousand pounds\naltogether [up to May 26, 1850, only]; and so has the Lord enlarged the\nwork and helped me that during the last three years I have had the\nprivilege of paying away in his service, in connection with this work,\nabout twenty-five thousand pounds; nor have I had during this period, in\nany one instance, to meet a payment without being previously provided by\nthe Lord with means for it. If it pleased the Lord to condescend to use\nme further in this way, he could so order it that even a still larger\nfield of labor were intrusted to me, which would require still greater\nsums. Truly, it must be manifest to all simple-hearted children of God,\nwho will carefully read the accounts respecting this Institution, that\nhe is most willing to attend to the supplications of his children who in\ntheir need cry to him; and to make this manifest is the great object I\naim at, through the means of this Institution.\n\nJan. 2, 1850. The new year commences, even as to this part of the work,\nwith new mercies. There was given to me one hundred and sixty pounds, to\nbe used as might be most needed.\n\nJan. 30. During this month I had been especially led to send much\nassistance to home and foreign laborers. Also in other respects the\nexpenses for _these_ objects had been considerable. On this account the\nfunds for them had been reduced to about eighty pounds when I received\nthis evening four hundred and fifty pounds, of which the donor kindly\nwished me to take fifty pounds for my own personal expenses, to give to\nbrother Craik fifty pounds, and to use the other as might be most\nneeded.\n\nMay 3. The work is now large, the outgoings great. During the month were\nagain expended about five hundred pounds for the various objects of the\nInstitution, nor have I any prospect that the expenses will decrease;\nyea, _I have no desire that they should_. I have as great satisfaction,\nas much joy, in writing checks for large amounts upon my bankers, as I\nhave joy in paying over to them checks, or bank orders, or large notes,\nwhich I receive from the living God, by means of donors, for this work.\nFor the money is of no more value to me than as I can use it for God;\nand the more I can pay out for the work of God, the more prospect I have\nof being again supplied by him; and the larger the sum is which I can\nobtain from him, in answer to prayer only, the greater the proof of the\nblessedness and the reality of this mode of dealing directly with the\nliving God for what I need; therefore, I say, I have as much joy in\ngiving out as in receiving. I have been devoting myself, for instance,\nwith all my might, and expending much exertion both of body and mind,\nbut especially by laboring in spirit to have the Orphan House filled\nwith children, not only that thus three hundred destitute orphans, none\nof whom have either father or mother, might be lodged, boarded, clothed,\ninstructed, and in every way cared for, bodily, mentally, and\nspiritually; _but also in order that thus large sums might be needed and\nexpended_, and I might have a greater call than ever to draw largely\nupon the inexhaustible treasures of God. That I do not mean, in thus\nspeaking, to say that money so obtained by prayer may be wasted, will\nscarcely need to be noticed; for if any one would obtain means from God\nby prayer only, and then waste them, he would soon find that he was not\nable to pray in faith for further supplies.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nWhen the accounts were closed, on May 26, 1848, I had on hand for the\norphans a balance of one pound ten shillings three and three-fourths\npence. With this amount then we began, whilst day by day above one\nhundred and thirty persons were to be provided for in the four Orphan\nHouses in Wilson Street.\n\nOn the very next day, after the accounts were closed, May 27, 1848, I\nreceived from Westmoreland five pounds, half of which sum was intended\nby the donor for the orphans, and half for the other objects. This\ndonation I took as an earnest out of the hands of the living God, that\nduring the whole of this period also he would provide for these many\norphans, as he had done in former years.\n\nNov. 9. Up to date the wants of the orphans have been supplied as\nheretofore. Yesterday, only five shillings sixpence came in. To-morrow\nmore money will be needed for housekeeping. In this our poverty I\nreceived this morning one thousand pounds. The money being left to my\ndisposal as it might be most needed, I took of it six hundred pounds for\nthe building fund, three hundred pounds for missionary purposes and the\ncirculation of Bibles and tracts, and one hundred pounds for present use\nfor the orphans. I have thus the means which are yet needed for this\nweek's housekeeping expenses, besides being able to meet other heavy\nexpenses which are before me next week.\n\nFeb. 20, 1849. For three months and ten days, since Nov. 9, 1848, the\ndonations had always come in so that we abounded during the whole\nperiod, there having been always fresh donations received before all the\nmoney in hand was disbursed. The total amount that came in during this\nperiod was four hundred and sixty-nine pounds fourteen shillings\ntenpence. Now to-day there was no money in hand for advancing the amount\nneeded for the next week's housekeeping. All the money in hand was due\nfor rent, and therefore unavailable, as I never go into debt for\nanything. In this our need there was given to me this afternoon the sum\nof two hundred pounds, which was left to my disposal for fitting up the\nnew Orphan House, or for any of the objects in connection with the\nScriptural Knowledge Institution that might be in need. As, however, I\nhave all the means for fitting up and furnishing the new Orphan House,\nas far as I know, and as there is no money in hand for the present use\nof the orphans, I took one hundred pounds for that object.\n\nMarch 9. The new Orphan House is now nearly ready. On this account we\nhave to get in large supplies for the children's clothes. Within the\nlast few days I have ordered thousands of yards of material for this\npurpose, and thousands more will need to be ordered, besides providing a\nstock of many other things. For this large sums are needed. Under these\ncircumstances I received to-day a donation of three hundred pounds, to\nbe used for the building fund, or the current expenses of the various\nobjects, just as it might be most required. As I judge that we have all\nthat is needed for the fitting up and furnishing of the house, and as\nthere is more in hand than usual for the missionary objects, the\ncirculation of Bibles and tracts, and for the various schools, and as we\nhave only about sixty pounds for present use for the orphans, towards\nmeeting all the heavy expenses before us, I took the whole of this\ndonation for the orphans, as the donor has kindly left the disposal of\nthe money entirely to me. This donation coming in just now has been an\nexceedingly great refreshment to my spirit; for it is at the\ncommencement of the great increase of our expenses, in connection with\nthe three hundred orphans, instead of one hundred and twenty, like an\nearnest from God that he will supply us also with means when the demands\nfor the three hundred will be more than twice as great as they are now.\nThrough this donation I have means to meet all the expense which will be\nincurred in getting in for the new establishment the stores of\nprovisions, soap, material for clothes, haberdashery, and of the many\nother articles of which it would be desirable to buy our supplies on\nwholesale terms. The Lord be praised for his kindness!\n\nJune 18. To-day, as the fruit of the prayers of three years and seven\nmonths, the children began to be moved from the four Orphan Houses in\nWilson Street, Bristol, into the new Orphan House.\n\nJune 23. Saturday Evening. This has been indeed a week of great and many\nand peculiar mercies. All the orphans with their teachers and overseers\nhave been moved into the new Orphan House during Monday, Tuesday,\nWednesday, and Thursday; so that there are now about one hundred and\nforty persons under one roof. The Lord has most signally helped. As I\nhad for more than three years sought the help of God concerning all\nmatters connected with the new Orphan House, I did expect his help in\nthis particular also; but he has done beyond my expectations. Though\nonly the day before yesterday the last children were moved in, there is\nalready such a measure of order established in the house, by the help of\nGod, as that things can be done by the minute hands of the timepieces.\nHis name is to be praised for this, and my soul does magnify him for his\ngoodness! Also with regard to temporal supplies for the dear orphans,\nthe Lord has been exceedingly kind. On the second day of receiving the\nchildren, there was sent twenty pounds. On the third day, an individual\nwho walked with me through part of the house said, \"These children must\nconsume a great deal of provisions,\" and, whilst saying it, took out of\nhis pocket a roll of Bank of England notes to the amount of one hundred\npounds, and gave them to me for the orphans. On the same evening I had\nalso sent for the orphans a very large cask of treacle, and for their\nteachers and overseers six loaves of sugar. Also a cooper made\ngratuitously two large new casks for treacle. On the next day I received\ninformation that about one thousand pounds of rice had been purchased\nfor the orphans, which should be sent. Besides this, several small\ndonations have come in. So bountifully has the Lord been pleased to help\nof late, that I have not only been able to meet all the extraordinary\nheavy expenses connected with moving the orphans from Wilson Street into\nthe new Orphan House, filling the stores of the new Orphan House, etc.;\nbut I have more than five hundred pounds in hand to begin housekeeping\nin the new Orphan House. How true that word that those that trust in the\nLord shall not be confounded! After all the many and long-continued\nseasons of great trial of faith within these thirteen years and two\nmonths, during which the orphans were in Wilson Street, the Lord\ndismisses us from thence in comparative abundance. His holy name be\npraised for it!\n\nAug. 30. Received a fifty-pound note with these words: \"I send you\nherewith a fifty-pound note, half for the missions, half for the\norphans, unless you are in any personal need; if so, take five pounds\nfor yourself. This will be the last large sum I shall be able to\ntransmit to you. Almost all the rest is already _out at interest_.\" I\ntook half of this fifty pounds for the orphans, and half for\nmissionaries. The writer sold some time since his only earthly\npossession, and sent me at different times sums of one hundred and\ntwenty pounds, of one hundred pounds, of fifty-five pounds, of fifty\npounds, and of twenty pounds for the work of the Lord in my hands. When\nhe says, therefore, \"the rest is already out _at interest_,\" he means\nthat he has given it away for the Lord, which indeed both for time and\neternity is the very best way of using the means with which the Lord may\nbe pleased to intrust us, in so far as, considering in the fear of God\nall our various claims and duties and relationships, we may do so. As\nthis is written for the spiritual profit of the reader, I cannot but add\nto this extract from my journal under Aug. 30, 1849, that since that\ntime I have received other donations from the same donor, and much\nlarger still. He used for God the means with which he was pleased to\nintrust him, and, contrary to this brother's expectation, the above\nfifty pounds was not the last large donation; for it pleased God soon\nafter to intrust him with another considerable sum, which he again used\nfor the Lord. This did not at all surprise me; for it is the Lord's\norder that, in whatever way he is pleased to make us his stewards,\nwhether as to temporal or spiritual things, if we are indeed acting as\n_stewards_, and not as _owners_, he will make us stewards over _more_.\n\nJan. 9, 1850. To-day was sent to me from the Committee of the Cholera\nFund in Bristol, twenty pounds, which the gentlemen constituting it had\nvoted for the benefit of the twenty children who had lost their parents\nin the cholera, and whom I had received into the new Orphan House.\n\nI had not applied either directly or indirectly for this money; indeed,\nI was reluctant even to give information as to the number of cholera\norphans whom I had received, lest there should be even the appearance as\nif after all I asked for money, instead of solely trusting in the living\nGod. But some of the gentlemen on the committee, I understand, knowing\nthe fact that I had received many orphans, made such by means of the\ncholera, proposed that there should be paid to the Institution a\nsovereign on account of each such child whom I had received. This sum\nwas especially remarkable to me as a fresh proof of the numberless ways\nwhich God has at his command for providing me with means.\n\nI also cannot help noticing the remarkable coincidence that, at the time\nthat God visited this land with the cholera, in 1849, I had so much room\nfor the reception of orphans. The Lord was pleased to allow me the joy\nand sweet privilege of receiving altogether twenty-six children, from\nten months old and upward, who lost their parents in the cholera _at\nthat time_, and many besides, since then, who were bereaved of their\nparents through this fearful malady.\n\nAt the time when I last referred to the _progress_ of the new Orphan\nHouse, it was being built. A part of it was already roofed in, and the\nremainder was to be roofed not many weeks afterwards. But how much did\nthere yet remain to be done in other respects! A building so\nconsiderable as to contain about three hundred large windows would\nrequire, even after it was finished, an immense amount of labor to be\nfitted up and furnished for three hundred and thirty persons. Then,\nafter this was done, the settling in of the orphans and their teachers,\nand other overseers, needed still more abundant help. Further, the\nobtaining of suitable helpers for this part of the work was indeed no\nsmall matter. Lastly, though the Lord had been pleased to give me\nalready above eleven thousand pounds for the new Orphan House, yet I\nneeded several thousand pounds more, in order to bring the whole into\nsuch a state as might render the building fit for the reception of the\norphans. And now, in looking back, and finding that I not only was\nhelped in _all_ these matters, but also _in every one of them_ far\nbeyond my largest expectations, does it not become me to say to those\nwho love the Lord Jesus, and into whose hands this account may fall: \"O\nmagnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!\" Each one\nof the foregoing difficulties which still existed on the 26th of May,\n1848, was so great, that if only one of them had remained, and I had not\nbeen helped, what would have been the result? But while the prospect\nbefore me would have been overwhelming had I looked at it _naturally_, I\nwas never, even for once, permitted to question what would be the end.\nFor as, from the beginning, I was sure _that it was the will of God_\nthat I should go to the work of building for him this large Orphan\nHouse, so also, from the beginning, I was as certain that the whole\nwould be finished as if the building had been already before my natural\neyes, and as if the house had been already filled with three hundred\ndestitute orphans. I was therefore of good courage in the midst of an\noverwhelming pressure of work yet to be done, and very many difficulties\nyet to be overcome, and thousands of pounds yet needed; and I gave\nmyself still further to prayer, and sought still further to exercise\nfaith on the promises of God. And now the work is done, the difficulties\nare overcome, all the money that was needed has been obtained, and even\nmore than I needed; and, as to helpers in the work, I have obtained even\nbeyond my expectations and prayers. Nearly seven years have passed away\n(1856) since the new Orphan House was opened, and about three hundred\nand thirty persons sit down in it day by day to their meals.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nUp to May 26, 1848, I had received altogether towards meeting the\nexpenses connected with the building of the new Orphan House the sum of\neleven thousand and sixty-two pounds four shillings elevenpence\nhalfpenny.\n\nAug. 19. It is this day a twelvemonth since the foundation stone of the\nnew Orphan House was laid, and now the building is up, and almost\nentirely roofed in. Also part of the inside plastering is already done.\nHow can my soul sufficiently magnify the Lord for all the help which he\nhas been pleased to give since this day twelvemonth! As we are now so\nfar advanced, I have been increasingly entreating God that he would be\npleased to give me the means which are yet requisite for fitting up and\nfurnishing the house; for even now I am completely depending upon him\nfor considerable sums to accomplish this. But while much is still\nneeded, I have never had, by God's grace, the least misgiving as to his\nwillingness to give me all I need; on the contrary, I have been assured\nthat, when I actually required the money for the fittings and the\nfurniture, it would come. And now this day the Lord has again proved to\nme how willing he is to act according to my faith; for there was given\nto me this morning eight hundred and eighty-seven pounds, under the kind\ncondition that I should take of it twenty pounds for my own personal\nexpenses, and the rest might be used for the building fund, or the\npresent need of the various objects of the Institution, as it appeared\nbest to me.\n\nNov. 9. To-day the Lord has helped still more abundantly. I have\nreceived a donation of one thousand pounds, to be used for the building\nfund and the present necessities of the work generally, as the various\nobjects of the Institution might require it.\n\nJan. 17, 1849. The time is now near when further steps are to be taken\nto fit up and furnish the house, as more than two thirds of the rooms\nare all but ready. Under these circumstances I have prayed the more\nearnestly, day by day, that the Lord would be pleased to give me the\nmeans which are yet needed; and as my heart has been assured from the\nbeginning, and all through these three years and two months, since I\nfirst began to pray about this subject, that God would in every way\nhelp me in this work, so I have also been particularly satisfied that he\nwould be pleased to provide the means which may be required to meet all\nthe heavy expenses which yet remain to be met. Now, to-day I have had\nagain a precious answer to my daily supplications with reference to this\nwork; for I received this evening six hundred pounds, concerning which\nit was desired that brother Craik and myself should each take of it\nfifty pounds for ourselves; the remaining five hundred pounds was left\nentirely to my disposal; yet an especial reference was made to the heavy\nexpenses connected with fitting up and furnishing the new Orphan House,\ntowards which I might, either in part or entirely, take this sum.\n\nFeb. 12. The new Orphan House is now almost entirely finished. In six\nweeks, with the help of God, all will be completed. On this account I\nhave been during the last fortnight much occupied in making the\nnecessary arrangements for fitting it up and furnishing it; but the more\nI have been occupied about this, the more I have seen how large a sum\nthe whole of the fittings and the furniture will require; and this\nconsideration has led me still more earnestly of late to entreat the\nLord that he would be pleased to give me the means which may yet be\nneeded for the completion of the whole. Under these circumstances a\nbrother in the Lord came to me this morning, and after a few minutes'\nconversation gave me two thousand pounds, concerning which sum he kindly\ngave me permission to use it for the fitting up and furnishing of the\nnew Orphan House, or for anything else needed in connection with the\norphans. I have placed the whole of this sum, at least for the present,\nto the building fund. Now, dear reader, place yourself in my position.\nEleven hundred and ninety-five days it is since I began asking the Lord\nfor means for the building and fitting up of an Orphan House. Day by\nday have I, by his grace, since that time, continued to bring this\nmatter before him. Without one moment's doubt, or misgiving, or\nwavering, have I been enabled to trust in God for the means. From the\nbeginning, after I had once ascertained the will of God concerning this\nwork, have I been assured that he would bring it about; yea, as sure\nhave I been from the beginning that he would do so, as if I had already\nhad all the means in hand for it, or as if the house had been actually\nbefore me, occupied by the children. But though to faith even three\nyears ago the whole work was accomplished, to sight there remained many\nand great difficulties to be overcome. And even at the commencement of\nthis day there remained many difficulties in the way of means, as well\nas in other respects; and therefore I was on the point of giving myself\nagain especially to prayer, at the very moment when I was informed that\nthe donor of the above-mentioned two thousand pounds had called to see\nme. Now I have the means, as far as I can see, which will enable me to\nmeet all the expenses; and in all probability I shall have even several\nhundred pounds more than are needed. Thus the Lord shows that he can and\nwill not only give _as much as is absolutely needed_ for his work, but\nalso that he can and will give _abundantly_. It is impossible to\ndescribe the real joy I had in God when I received this sum. I was calm,\nnot in the least excited, able to go on immediately with other work that\ncame upon me at once after I had received the donation; but\ninexpressible was the delight which I had in God, who had thus given me\nthe full answer to my thousands of prayers, during these eleven hundred\nand ninety-five days.\n\nI have thus given a few out of the hundreds of donations, varying from\none farthing to two thousand pounds, as specimens, to show how the Lord\nwas pleased to furnish me with the means. The total amount which came in\nfor the building fund was fifteen thousand seven hundred and\neighty-four pounds eighteen shillings tenpence.\n\nAfter all the expenses had been met for the purchase of the land, the\nconveyance of the same, the enrolment of the trust-deeds in chancery,\nthe building, fitting up, and furnishing of the new Orphan House, there\nremained a balance of seven hundred and seventy-six pounds fourteen\nshillings threepence three farthings, affording a manifest proof that\nthe Lord cannot only supply us with all we need in his service, simply\nin answer to prayer, but that he can also give us even more than we\nneed.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nDuring the whole of the two years ending May 26, 1850, five day schools,\nwith 329 children in them, were entirely supported by the funds of this\nInstitution; and some pecuniary assistance was rendered to four other\nday schools. Also a Sunday school, with 168 children, was entirely\nsupported, and another was occasionally assisted. Lastly, an adult\nschool, with 106 adult scholars, was supported during this period. There\nwas expended on these various schools L851, 1s. 51/2d., during these\ntwo years. The number of all the children that were taught in the day\nschools, through the medium of this Institution, from March 5, 1834, to\nMay 26, 1850, amounted to 5,114; the number of those in the Sunday\nschools amounted to 2,200; and the number of the persons in the adult\nschool to 1,737. In all, 9,051.\n\nFrom May 26, 1848, to May 26, 1850, were circulated 719 Bibles, and 239\nNew Testaments. There was expended on this object, during this period,\nof the funds of the Institution, L104, 15s. 11d. There were circulated\naltogether from March 5, 1834, to May 26, 1850, 6,465 Bibles, and 3,999\nNew Testaments.\n\nFrom May 26, 1848, to May 26, 1850, were spent L2,574, 16s. 6d. of the\nfunds of the Institution for missionary objects, whereby forty\npreachers of the gospel in British Guiana, the East Indies, Switzerland,\nFrance, Germany, Canada, Scotland, Ireland, and England, were assisted.\n\nThe reader will notice how greatly this object of the Institution was\nincreased during the last four years previous to May 26, 1850. This\narose from the fact that, in the early part of 1846, the need of certain\nbrethren who labored in the word and doctrine came before me, and God\nlaid them on my heart to labor for them in prayer, in order that I might\nobtain means from him for such brethren to a greater extent than I had\ndone before. Ever since then the Lord has been pleased increasingly to\nuse me in this way. For from May 26, 1846, to May 26, 1848, there was\nspent for that object nearly three times as much as during any former\nperiod of the same length; and during the period from May 26, 1848, to\nMay 26, 1850, I was not only allowed to do as much as before, but to\nexpend even L1,016, 5s. more than during the former period,\nnotwithstanding all the many heavy additional expenses for the various\nother objects of the Institution.\n\nIt is my sweet privilege to state that the labors of many of these forty\nservants of the Lord, whom I assisted, were especially owned of God\nduring these two years. There took place very many conversions through\ntheir instrumentality.\n\nFrom May 26, 1848, to May 26, 1850, the sum of L184, 9s. 41/2d. was\nexpended on the circulation of tracts. There were circulated during this\nperiod 130,464 tracts. The total number which was circulated from Nov.\n19, 1840, up to May 26, 1850, amounted to 294,128.\n\nFrom July 24, 1849, up to May 26, 1850, altogether 170 orphans were\nreceived, from ten months old and upwards. On May 26, 1850, there were,\ntherefore, 275 orphans in the new Orphan House; and with the teachers,\noverseers, nurses, and in-door and out-door servants, etc., the whole\nnumber of persons connected with the establishment was 308. The total\nnumber of orphans who were under our care from April, 1836, up to May\n26, 1850, was 443.\n\n_Without any one having been personally applied to for anything by me_,\nthe sum of L33,868, 11s. 11/4d. was given to me for the orphans, _as\nthe result of prayer to God_, from the commencement of the work up to\nMay 26, 1850. It may be also interesting to the reader to know that the\ntotal amount which was given as free contributions, for the other\nobjects, from the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1850, amounted\nto L10,531, 3s. 33/4d.; and that which came in by the sale of Bibles\nand tracts, and by the payments of the children in the schools, up to\nMay 26, 1850, amounted to L2,707, 9s. 31/2d.\n\nThe total of the current expenses for the orphans from May 26, 1848, to\nMay 26, 1849, was L1,559, 6s. 9d., and the total of the current expenses\nfor them from May 26, 1849, to May 26, 1850, was only L2,665, 13s.\n23/4d., _i. e._ only about L1,100 more than the previous year.\n\nAs to matters connected with my own personal affairs, from May 26, 1848,\nto May 26, 1850:--\n\nDec. 31, 1848. During this year the Lord was pleased to give me L474,\n17s. 7d. To this is again to be added, for this year also, as before\nstated, the free education of my daughter at a boarding-school, worth at\nleast L50.\n\nDec. 31, 1849. The Lord sent me, during the past year, L413, 2s. 4d.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XX.\n\nA NEW VICTORY OF FAITH.\n\n1850-1851.\n\n    PAST MERCIES AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO NEW UNDERTAKINGS--A HOUSE FOR\n    SEVEN HUNDRED ORPHANS PROPOSED--WALKING BY FAITH--COUNSEL SOUGHT\n    FROM GOD--THE PURPOSE FORMED--DELIGHT IN THE MAGNITUDE AND\n    DIFFICULTY OF THE DESIGN.\n\n\nDecember 5, 1850. It is now sixteen years and nine months this evening\nsince I began the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad.\nThis Institution was in its beginning exceedingly small. Now it is so\nlarge that I have not only disbursed, since its commencement, about\nfifty thousand pounds sterling, but that also the current expenses,\nafter the rate of the last months, amount to above six thousand pounds a\nyear. I did \"open my mouth wide,\" this very evening fifteen years ago,\nand the Lord has filled it. The new Orphan House is now inhabited by\nthree hundred orphans; and there are altogether three hundred and\nthirty-five persons connected with it. My labor is abundant. The\nseparation from my dear wife and child is great, on account of my being\nthe greater part of the day at the new Orphan House; sometimes also by\nnight. But notwithstanding all this, I have again and again thought\nabout laboring more than ever in serving poor orphans. Within the last\nten days this matter has much occupied my mind, and for the last five\ndays I have had much prayer about it. It has passed through my mind to\nbuild another Orphan House, large enough for seven hundred orphans, so\nthat I might be able to care for one thousand altogether. The points\nwhich have led me to this thought are: 1. The many distressing cases of\nchildren, bereaved of _both_ parents, who have no helper. I have\nreceived two hundred and seven orphans within the last sixteen months,\nand have now seventy-eight waiting for admission, without having\nvacancies for any. I had about sixty children waiting for admission\nabout sixteen months since, so about two hundred and thirty children\nhave been applied for within these sixteen months. But, humanly\nspeaking, for the next sixteen months the number of applications will be\nfar greater, as the work is now so much more widely known; except it be\nthat persons may hear that the new Orphan House is quite full, and on\nthat account may consider it useless to apply. 2. The constitution of\nmost other charitable institutions for orphans makes the admission of a\nreally destitute orphan, _i. e._ a child bereaved of _both_ parents, and\n_without an influential friend_, very difficult, if not hopeless; for\nthe admission by means of the votes of the donors precludes _really\npoor_ persons from having, in most instances, the benefit of these\ninstitutions, as they cannot give the time nor expend the money\nnecessary for obtaining such votes. I have myself seen that certain\ncandidates had several thousand votes. The necessity of this arrangement\nbeing continued may be much regretted by many who are connected with\nsuch institutions, but they have no power to alter it. In our case,\nnothing is needed but application to me; and the _very poorest person,\nwithout influence, without friends, without any expense_, no matter\nwhere he lives, or of whatever religious denomination, who applies for\nchildren born in lawful wedlock, bereaved of _both_ parents, and in\ndestitute circumstances, may procure their admission. Now, as the new\npoor-law is against giving relief to relatives for orphan children out\nof the poor-houses; and as there is such a difficulty for really poor\npeople to get their orphan relatives admitted into ordinary orphan\nestablishments; I feel myself particularly called upon to be the friend\nof the orphan, by making an easy way for admission, _provided it is\nreally a destitute case_. 3. The confidence which God has caused\nthousands of his children to repose in me calls upon me to make use of\nit to the utmost of my power, and to seek yet more largely to be their\nalmoner. 4. The experience which I have had in this service now for\nfifteen years, during which time I have gone from the smallest\ncommencement of the work to the having at present three hundred orphans\nunder my care, calls upon me to make use of this my experience to the\nutmost of my power. No member of a committee, no president of a society,\ncould possibly have the same experience, except he himself had\npractically been engaged in such a work for a number of years, as I have\nbeen. 5. This very experience makes things light to me, under God's\nhelp, which were difficult to me formerly, and which would be very\ndifficult now to many: might I not therefore proceed still further? 6.\nIf seven hundred more young souls could be brought under regular godly\ntraining (and their number would be renewed from time to time), what\nblessed service for the kingdom of Christ, and what profitable\nexpenditure of labor, too, with the blessing of God, even for this\nrealm, in a civil and moral point of view! 7. But that which outweighs\nevery one of these six reasons is, lastly, this: I began this orphan\nwork fifteen years ago for the very purpose of illustrating to the world\nand to the church that there is verily a God in heaven who hears prayer;\nthat God is the living God. Now, this last object is more and more\nfully accomplished the larger the work is, provided I am helped in\nobtaining the means simply through prayer and faith.\n\nBut whilst such like thoughts have passed through my mind, there are\nothers of another character. For instance: 1. I have already an\nabundance of work. 2. My dear wife has already an abundance of work. Her\nwhole time, with little intermission (except for prayer and reading of\nthe Word of God), is occupied, directly or indirectly, about the\norphans. 3. Am I not undertaking too much for my bodily strength and my\nmental powers, by thinking about another Orphan House? 4. Am I not going\nbeyond the measure of my faith in thinking about enlarging the work so\nas to double or treble it? 5. Is not this a delusion of Satan, an\nattempt to cast me down altogether from my sphere of usefulness, by\nmaking me to go beyond my measure? 6. Is it not also, perhaps, a snare\nto puff me up, in attempting to build a very large Orphan House?\n\nUnder these circumstances I can only pray that the Lord in his tender\nmercy would not allow Satan to gain an advantage over me. By the grace\nof God my heart says,--Lord, if I could be sure that it is thy will that\nI should go forward in this matter, I would do so cheerfully; and, on\nthe other hand, if I could be sure that these are vain, foolish, proud\nthoughts, that they are not from thee, I would, by thy grace, hate them,\nand entirely put them aside.\n\nMy hope is in God; he will help me and teach me. Judging, however, from\nhis former dealings with me, it would not be a strange thing to me, nor\nsurprising, if he called me to labor yet still more largely in this way.\n\nThe thoughts about enlarging the orphan work have not arisen on account\nof an abundance of money having lately come in; for I have had of late\nto wait for about seven weeks upon God, whilst little, very little\ncomparatively, came in, _i. e._ about four times as much was going out\nas came in; and, had not the Lord previously sent me large sums, we\nshould have been distressed indeed.\n\nLord, how can thy servant know thy will in this matter? Wilt thou be\npleased to teach him?\n\nDec. 11. During the last six days, since writing the above, I have been,\nday after day, waiting upon God concerning this matter. It has generally\nbeen more or less all the day on my heart. When I have been awaking at\nnight, it has not been far from my thoughts. Yet all this without the\nleast excitement. I am perfectly calm and quiet respecting it. My soul\nwould be rejoiced to go forward in this service, could I be sure that\nthe Lord would have me to do so; for then, notwithstanding the\nnumberless difficulties, all would be well, and his name would be\nmagnified.\n\nOn the other hand, were I assured that the Lord would have me to be\nsatisfied with my present sphere of service, and that I should not pray\nabout enlarging the work, by his grace I could, _without an effort_,\ncheerfully yield to it; for he has brought me into such a state of heart\nthat I only desire to please him in this matter. Moreover, hitherto I\nhave not spoken about this thing even to my beloved wife, the sharer of\nmy joys and sorrows and labors for more than twenty years; nor is it\nlikely that I shall do so for some time to come; for I prefer quietly\nwaiting on the Lord, without conversing on this subject, in order that\nthus I may be kept the more easily, by his blessing, from being\ninfluenced by things from without. The burden of my prayer concerning\nthis matter is, that the Lord would not allow me to make a mistake, and\nthat he would teach me his will. As to outward things, I have had\nnothing to encourage me during these six days, but the very reverse; for\nthe income for the various objects of the Scriptural Knowledge\nInstitution for Home and Abroad has been unusually small, only six\npounds fourteen shillings altogether, while the outgoings have been one\nhundred and thirty-three pounds eleven shillings sevenpence. But all\nthis would not weigh the least with me, could I be quite sure that the\nLord would have me to go forward.\n\nThe especial burden of my prayer, therefore, is, that God would be\npleased to teach me his will. My mind has also been especially pondering\nhow I could know his will satisfactorily concerning this particular.\nSure I am that I shall be taught. I therefore desire to patiently wait\nfor the Lord's time, when he shall be pleased to shine on my path\nconcerning this point.\n\nDec. 26. Fifteen days have elapsed since I wrote the preceding\nparagraph. Every day since then I have continued to pray about this\nmatter, and that with a goodly measure of earnestness, by the help of\nGod. There has passed away scarcely an hour during these days in which,\nwhilst awake, this matter has not been more or less before me; but all\nwithout even a shadow of excitement. I converse with no one about it.\nHitherto have I not even done so with my dear wife. From this I refrain\nstill, and deal with God alone about the matter, in order that no\noutward influence and no outward excitement may keep me from attaining\nunto a clear discovery of his will. I have the fullest and most peaceful\nassurance that he will clearly show me his will. This evening I have had\nagain an especial solemn season for prayer, to seek to know the will of\nGod. But whilst I continue to entreat and beseech the Lord that he would\nnot allow me to be deluded in this business, I may say that I have\nscarcely any doubt remaining on my mind as to what will be the issue,\neven that I should go forward in this matter. As this, however, is one\nof the most momentous steps that I have ever taken, I judge that I\ncannot go about this matter with too much caution, prayerfulness, and\ndeliberation. I am in no hurry about it. I could wait for years, by\nGod's grace, were this his will, before even taking one single step\ntowards this thing, or even speaking to any one about it; and, on the\nother hand, I would set to work to-morrow, were the Lord to bid me do\nso. This calmness of mind, this having no will of my own in the matter,\nthis only wishing to please my heavenly Father in it, this only seeking\nhis and not my honor in it; this state of heart, I say, is the fullest\nassurance to me that my heart is not under a fleshly excitement, and\nthat if I am helped thus to go on I shall know the will of God to the\nfull. But, while I write thus, I cannot but add, at the same time, that\nI do crave the honor and the glorious privilege to be more and more used\nby the Lord. I have served Satan much in my younger years, and I desire\nnow with all my might to serve God during the remaining days of my\nearthly pilgrimage. I am forty-five years and three months old. Every\nday decreases the number of days that I have to stay on earth. I\ntherefore desire with all my might to work. There are vast multitudes of\norphans to be provided for. About five years ago a brother in the Lord\ntold me that he had seen, in an official report, that there were at that\ntime six thousand young orphans in the prisons of England. My heart\nlongs to be instrumental in preventing such young orphans from having to\ngo to prison. I desire to be used by the Lord as an instrument in\nproviding all the necessary temporal supplies, not only for the three\nhundred now under my care, but for seven hundred more. I desire to\nalleviate yet further the sufferings of poor dying widows, when looking\non their helpless orphans about to be left behind. I desire yet further\nto assist poor persons to whom destitute orphans are left, and who are\nunable to provide for them. I desire to be allowed to provide scriptural\ninstruction for a thousand orphans, instead of doing so for three\nhundred. I desire to expound the Holy Scriptures regularly to a\nthousand orphans, instead of doing so to three hundred. I desire that\nthus it may be yet more abundantly manifest that God is still the hearer\nand answerer of prayer, and that he is the living God now, as he ever\nwas and ever will be, when he shall, simply in answer to prayer, have\ncondescended to provide me with a house for seven hundred orphans, and\nwith means to support them. This last consideration is the most\nimportant point in my mind. The Lord's honor is the principal point with\nme in this whole matter; and just because that is the case, if he would\nbe more glorified by my not going forward in this business, I should, by\nhis grace, be perfectly content to give up all thoughts about another\nOrphan House. Surely, in such a state of mind, obtained by thy Holy\nSpirit, thou, O my heavenly Father, wilt not suffer thy child to be\nmistaken, much less to be deluded! By the help of God I shall continue\nfurther, day by day, to wait upon him in prayer concerning this thing\ntill he shall bid me act.\n\nJanuary 2, 1851. A week ago I wrote the preceding paragraph. During this\nweek I have still been helped, day by day, and more than once every day,\nto seek the guidance of the Lord about another Orphan House. The burden\nof my prayer has still been, that he in his great mercy would keep me\nfrom making a mistake. During the last week the Book of Proverbs has\ncome in the course of my Scripture reading, and my heart has been\nrefreshed, in reference to this subject, by the following passages:\n\"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own\nunderstanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy\npaths.\" Prov. iii. 5, 6. By the grace of God I do acknowledge the Lord\nin my ways, and in this thing in particular; I have therefore the\ncomfortable assurance that he will direct my paths concerning this part\nof my service, as to whether I shall be occupied in it or not. Further:\n\"The integrity of the upright shall preserve them; but the perverseness\nof fools shall destroy them.\" Prov. xi. 3. By the grace of God I am\nupright in this business. My honest purpose is to get glory to God.\nTherefore I expect to be guided aright. Further: \"Commit thy works unto\nthe Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.\" Prov. xvi. 3. I do\ncommit my works unto the Lord; I therefore expect that my thoughts will\nbe established. My heart is more and more coming to a calm, quiet, and\nsettled assurance that the end will be that the Lord will condescend to\nuse me yet further in the orphan work. Here, Lord, is thy servant!\n\nJan. 14. Twelve days have passed away since I wrote the last paragraph.\nI have still day by day been enabled to wait upon the Lord with\nreference to my enlarging the orphan work. I have been during the whole\nof this period also in perfect peace, which is the result of seeking in\nthis thing only the Lord's honor and the temporal and spiritual benefit\nof my fellow-men. Without an effort could I, by his grace, put aside all\nthoughts about this whole affair, could I be only assured that it is the\nwill of God that I should do so; and, on the other hand, at once would I\ngo forward, if he would have it to be so. I have still kept this matter\nentirely to myself. Though it is now about seven weeks since day by day,\nmore or less, my mind has been exercised about it, and since I have\ndaily prayed concerning it, yet not one human being knows of it. As yet\nI have not mentioned it even to my dear wife, in order that thus, by\nquietly waiting upon the Lord, I might not be influenced by what might\nbe said to me on the subject. This evening I have particularly set apart\nfor prayer, beseeching the Lord once more not to allow me to be mistaken\nin this thing, and much less to be deluded by the devil. I have also\nsought to let all the reasons _against_ building another Orphan House,\nand all the reasons _for_ doing so, pass before my mind; and I now, for\nthe sake of clearness and definiteness, write them down.\n\n_Reasons_ AGAINST _establishing another Orphan House for Seven Hundred\nOrphans._--1. Would not this be going beyond my measure _spiritually_?\naccording to that word: \"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to\nevery man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he\nought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to\nevery man the measure of faith.\" Rom. xii. 3. Answer: If the Lord were\nto leave me to myself, the tenth part of the difficulties and trials\nwhich befall me now in connection with the various objects of the\nScriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad would be enough to\noverwhelm me; but, whilst he is pleased to sustain me, I am able day by\nday to pass on peacefully, and am carried through one difficulty after\nthe other: and thus, by God's help, even with my present measure of\nfaith, if continued to me, I should be enabled to bear up under other\ndifficulties and trials; but I look for an increase of faith with every\nfresh difficulty through which the Lord is pleased to help me.\n\n2. Would it not be going beyond my measure _naturally_, with reference\nto mental and bodily strength? Answer: Of all the objections against\nestablishing another Orphan House, there is none that weighs more with\nme than this one; I might say, it is the only real difficulty. This,\nhowever, too, I am enabled to put aside and to overcome thus: By\nhusbanding my strength, by great order, by regular habits, by lightening\nthe work as much as possible, by using every help that I can, I have\nbeen enabled to get through a vast quantity of work. My immense\ncorrespondence of about three thousand letters a year I have been\nenabled to accomplish without a secretary. The whole management and\ndirection and the whole vast correspondence of the Scriptural Knowledge\nInstitution has devolved upon myself alone these sixteen years and ten\nmonths, and I have been thinking that, by seeking for an efficient\nsecretary, and an efficient clerk, and an inspector of the schools, I\nmight, with God's help, accomplish yet more, though much of what I have\nbeen doing hitherto would need to be done by others. There have been\nseveral other arrangements brought before my mind, since I have been\nexercised about this matter, whereby, with the blessing of God, the work\nmight be lightened. I should certainly need efficient helpers to carry\nout the plans before me; but with such, I, as director, might be\nenabled, by God's help, to accomplish yet more.\n\n3. There must be a limit to my work and service. Answer: That is true,\nand if I were quite sure that the present state of the Scriptural\nKnowledge Institution were to be the limit, I would at once lay aside\nthis thing; but I am not sure that I am come as yet to God's limit. All\nthese sixteen years and ten months the work has been constantly\nprogressing, and the Lord has helped me continually; and now my mind is\njust in the same way exercised as when, fifteen years ago, I began the\norphan work, and as when, thirteen years ago, I enlarged the orphan\nwork, and as when, seven years and nine months since, I still further\nenlarged the orphan work, and as when, five years and two months since,\nI was led to decide on building the new Orphan House. Under these\ncircumstances, having been helped through all these difficulties, and\nseeing such a vast field of usefulness before me, and as I have so many\napplications for the admission of very destitute orphans, I long to be\nused still further, and cannot say that as yet the Lord has brought me\nto his limit.\n\n4. Is it not like \"tempting God,\" to think of building another Orphan\nHouse for seven hundred more orphans? Answer: \"Tempting God\" means,\naccording to the Holy Scriptures, to limit him in any of his\nattributes; I, by his grace, do not wish to limit his power or his\nwillingness to give to me, his poor servant, simply in answer to prayer,\nall the means and every other help and blessing which I shall need to\nbuild another large Orphan House.\n\n5. You will not get the means for building and fitting up so large an\nOrphan House; and, even if you did, how will you, _at the same time_,\nget the means for carrying on the work which already exists? Answer:\nLooking at the matter _naturally_, this is indeed a weighty objection.\n\nThe new Orphan House, with its three hundred orphans only, cost about\nfifteen thousand pounds to build and to fit up and furnish, and still\nthe expenses are not all met even now. It will, in all probability, cost\nseveral hundred pounds yet. And this large sum was needed, though the\nstyle of the building is most simple, and though the field in which it\nwas built was comparatively cheap. After this rate, a building to\naccommodate seven hundred orphans, with the necessary ground attached to\nit for the cultivation of the vegetables used in the Institution, could\nnot be less than thirty-five thousand pounds. Now, looking at it\nnaturally, where is this great sum to come from? Though I looked at all\nmy friends who have given hitherto, and several have done so very\nliberally, yet I should have no natural prospect whatever that I should\nreceive this amount; especially if it be kept in mind that I should need\nsix or seven thousand pounds besides, every year, for carrying on _that\nwhich is already in existence_. I might, therefore, well tremble,\nlooking at the matter naturally, and say, I shall never have the money\nfor this intended Orphan House for seven hundred children; for where is\nthis large sum of thirty-five thousand pounds to come from? And even if\nI were to get the money, will not persons, in giving means for such a\nbuilding fund, take it away from what they might have given me for\ncarrying on the work which exists already? But whilst thus,\n_naturally_, I have no hope of succeeding, I am not in the least\ndiscouraged _spiritually_; for by faith in the living God I say this: He\nhas the power to give me this thirty-five thousand pounds, and much more\nwere it needed; and he has the power, in the mean time, to give me also\nall the large sums required, week after week, for meeting the current\nexpenses for the present state of the work. Moreover, I delight in the\ngreatness of the difficulty as it respects the large sum needed for\nbuilding and fitting up such an establishment; for I desire to be most\nfully assured, from the very outset, that I go forward in this matter\naccording to the Lord's bidding. If so, he will give me the means; if\nnot, I shall not have them. Nor do I mean to apply to any one personally\nfor pecuniary help, but purpose to give myself to prayer for means, as\nheretofore.\n\n6. Suppose, now, you were even to succeed in getting this large Orphan\nHouse built, how will you be able to provide for seven hundred other\norphans? Answer: There is much weight in this objection, looking at it\n_naturally_. I am too much a man of business, and too much a person of\ncalm, quiet, cool calculation, not to feel its force. And indeed, were I\nonly to look at the thing _naturally_, I should at once be ready to own\nthat I am going too far; for the increase of expenditure for the support\nof these seven hundred other orphans could not be less than eight\nthousand pounds a year more, so that the current expenses of the\nScriptural Knowledge Institution, reckoning its present state, and\nincluding those eight thousand pounds, would be about fifteen thousand\npounds a year. Now I am free to own that I have no human prospect of\nobtaining such a sum year by year. But while matters stand thus, looking\nat them _naturally_, I see no difficulty at all in them _spiritually_.\nIf according to the will of God I am enabled to go about this intended\nsecond Orphan House; and if, under his help, I shall be enabled to\nfinish it; he will surely provide for those who are gathered together in\nit as long as he shall be pleased to enable me to trust in him for\nsupplies. And here I look back upon the way in which the Lord has led me\nand dealt with me. When, about seventeen years ago, I took up, in\ndependence upon the living God for means, two charity schools, with\nwhich the Scriptural Knowledge Institution commenced (and this involved\nan expense of less than one hundred pounds a year), I had no certain\nprospect of being able to meet even that small sum; but God so helped me\nthat I had shortly _six_ charity schools. He helped me then, also, and\nenabled me to meet all their expenses. When, fifteen years ago, I began\nthe orphan work, which was connected with far heavier expenses, I had\nstill less prospect, according to natural reason, of being able to meet\n_them_; but I trusted in God, and he helped me, and he not only enabled\nme to meet the current expenses of thirty orphans in the first house\nrented for them, but enabled me also soon to open another for thirty-six\nmore, and I was also enabled to meet all those expenses; for as I had\nbegun in faith in the living God, and not in putting my trust in my\nbrethren in Christ, so I was not confounded. After I had gone on some\ntime with these orphans in the two rented houses, about thirteen years\nago the Lord was pleased greatly to encourage me and to increase my\nfaith by a donation of five hundred pounds for the orphans; for up to\nthat period I had never received more than one hundred pounds at once.\nBut this kind donor, a stranger to me up to that time, suggested to me\nthe propriety of investing this sum and using only the interest of it,\nas I could not expect to have the orphans supported for a continuance in\nthe way they had been till then; for that such institutions must depend\nupon regular subscriptions or funded property, otherwise they could not\ngo on. As, however, this was only a friendly hint, and no condition\nunder which the money was given, I took this five hundred pounds towards\nfitting up a third house, for the reception of thirty more orphans. From\nthat time the work has been increasing more and more, till it has come\nto what it is at present. Now, suppose I had said, seventeen years ago,\nlooking at matters according to natural reason, \"The two charity schools\nare enough, I must not go any further;\" then the work would have stopped\nthere. Or, if I had had a little more trust in my exertions or my\nfriends, I might have taken at the utmost one or two steps further.\nInstead of this, however, I looked in no degree whatever at things\naccording to my natural fallen reason, and I trusted not in the circle\nof my Christian friends, but in the living God; and the result has been\nthat there have been since 1834 ten thousand souls under our instruction\nin the various day schools, Sunday schools, and adult schools; several\nhundred orphans have been brought up, and many of them from their very\ntenderest infancy; several hundred thousand tracts and many thousand\ncopies of the Word of God have been circulated; about forty preachers of\nthe gospel at home and abroad have been, for several years, assisted in\nconnection with the Scriptural Knowledge Institution; and a house has\nbeen built and fitted up for the accommodation of three hundred\ndestitute orphans, each of whom has neither father nor mother. How\nblessed therefore is it to trust in God, and in him alone, and not in\ncircumstances nor friends! There is, however, one thing which I must\nrecord here, because it has taken place since I last wrote in my journal\non this subject, on January 2. It is this. During these twelve days I\nhave received for the various objects of the Scriptural Knowledge\nInstitution, in smaller donations, sixty-four pounds fifteen shillings\nsixpence two farthings, also a donation of one hundred and fifty pounds,\nand one of three thousand pounds. Is not this a plain proof that God is\nboth able and willing to help simply in answer to prayer? Is not human\nreason confounded by such instances? When I first began to write these\nexercises of my mind about another Orphan House, I knew not that on\nJanuary 4, I should receive a donation of three thousand pounds; yet I\nwas fully assured that God was able to support one thousand orphans as\neasily as he did the thirty whom I first received in a rented house.\nDoes he not, however, tell me by all this, Go forward, my servant, and I\nwill help thee?\n\n7. But, it might be said, suppose you were able by prayer to obtain this\nlarge sum for building a house for seven hundred other orphans; and\nsuppose you were able to provide for them during your lifetime,--what\nwould become of this Institution after your death? Answer: I am quite\nfamiliar with this objection. I have heard it many times as a reason\nagainst the way of obtaining the means for the Scriptural Knowledge\nInstitution, simply by trusting in God, without any funded property, and\nwithout looking to regular subscribers; but my reply is this. My\nbusiness is, with all my might to serve my own generation; in doing so I\nshall best serve the next generation, should the Lord Jesus tarry. Soon\nhe may come again; but, if he tarry, and I have to fall asleep before\nhis return, I shall not have been altogether without profit to the\ngeneration to come, were the Lord only to enable me to serve my own\ngeneration. Suppose this objection were a sound one, I ought never to\nhave commenced the orphan work at all, for fear of what might become of\nit after my death, and thus all the hundreds of destitute children\nwithout father and mother, whom the Lord has allowed me to care for\nduring the last fifteen years, would not have been taken up by me. The\nsame argument was again and again used to Franke, my esteemed\ncountryman, who at Halle, in Prussia, commenced, about A. D. 1696, the\nlargest charitable establishment for poor children that, as far as I\nknow, exists in the world. He trusted in God alone. He went on trusting\nin God alone. And God helped him throughout abundantly. Simply by trust\nin the living God, the Institutions, resembling a large street rather\nthan a house, were erected, and about two thousand children instructed\nin them. For about thirty years all was going on under his own eye,\nuntil 1727, when it pleased God to take his servant to himself. At his\ndeath these Institutions were directed by his truly pious son-in-law. It\nis true that, at the latter part of the last century, and during the\nfirst part of the present, there was little real vital godliness in\nthese Institutions; still, they were a temporal blessing to many tens of\nthousands of young persons even then. So then for several tens of years\nthey were carried on in a truly godly way, after Franke's death, and\nwhen afterwards there was but little real, vital godliness found in\nthese schools, yet tens of thousands of children were benefited at least\nfor this life. Now these Institutions have existed already one hundred\nand fifty years, and are in existence still; and, if the Lord Jesus\ntarry, are likely, humanly speaking, to exist hereafter, as they have\nexisted hitherto. Suppose, then, that dear man of God, A. H. Franke, had\nlistened to the suggestions of unbelief, and said, I must not undertake\nthis work, for what will become of it after my death?--then all the\nblessing which spiritually resulted from it to thousands, and all the\ntemporal benefits which have resulted from it to hundreds of thousands,\nwould have been lost. I add, however, this. The new Orphan House has\nbeen placed in the hands of eleven trustees, and has been properly\nenrolled in chancery, and so also, should God condescend to honor me\nfurther in building for him this intended house for seven hundred\norphans, it would likewise be placed in the hands of trustees and\nenrolled in chancery. I say one word in conclusion on this subject: let\nevery one take heed lest, in caring about what will become of the next\ngeneration, he forget to serve his own generation. The latter, each one\nshould seek to do with his might, and thus it should be with each\nsucceeding generation; then, though we be dead, yet should we be\nspeaking. A. H. Franke is long since gone to his rest, but he spoke to\nmy soul in 1826, and he is speaking to my soul now; and to his example I\nam greatly indebted in having been stirred up to care about poor\nchildren in general, and about poor orphans in particular.\n\n8. The last objection which has occurred to my own mind is, that, by\nbuilding another Orphan House, I should be in danger of being lifted up.\nAnswer: I should be in danger of it indeed; and so I am in great danger,\neven were I not in the least degree to go forward. Yea, the tenth part\nof the honor which the Lord has condescended to bestow upon me, and the\ntenth part of service with which he has been pleased to intrust me,\nwould be enough, if I were left to myself, exceedingly to puff me up. I\ncannot say that hitherto the Lord has kept me humble; but I can say that\nhitherto he has given me a hearty desire to give to him all the glory,\nand to consider it a great condescension on his part that he has been\npleased to use me as an instrument in his service. I do not see,\ntherefore, that fear of being lifted up ought to keep me from going\nforward in this work; but that I have rather to beseech the Lord that he\nwould be pleased to give me a lowly mind, and never suffer me to rob him\nof the glory which is due to him alone.\n\n_Reasons_ FOR _establishing another Orphan House for Seven Hundred\nOrphans._--1. The many applications for the admission of destitute\norphans which continue to be made, I consider as a call from God upon me\nto do all that is in my power to provide a home and scriptural\neducation for a still greater number of orphans. Nothing but positive\ninability to go forward ought to keep me standing still, whilst I have\nalmost daily fresh entreaties to receive orphans. Since I began writing\non this subject in my journal, thirty more orphans have been applied\nfor, from two years old and upward. I cannot refuse to help, as long as\nI see a door open, and opened by God, as I consider, to help them.\n\n2. The moral state of the poor-houses greatly influences me to go\nforward. I have heard it again and again, from good authority, that\nchildren, placed at the Unions, are corrupted, on account of the\nchildren of vagrants, and other very bad young people, who are in such\nplaces; so that many poor relatives of orphans, though unable to provide\nfor them, cannot bear the idea of their going there, lest they should be\ncorrupted. I therefore judge that, even for the sake of keeping orphans\nof poor yet respectable people from being obliged to mix with the\nchildren of vagabonds, I ought to do, to my utmost power, all I can to\nhelp them. For this reason, then, I purpose, in dependence upon the\nliving God, to go forward and to establish another Orphan House for\nseven hundred destitute children, who are bereaved of both parents. When\nI write thus about the poor-houses, I do not wish to be understood in\nthe way of reproof: for I know not how these matters could be altered;\nbut I simply state the fact that thus it is.\n\n3. In this my purpose I am the more confirmed, since I know it to be a\nfact that the Orphan Houses already in existence in the kingdom are by\nno means sufficient to admit _even the most deserving and distressing\ncases_, and far less all that it would be well to provide for. Moreover,\nthere is great difficulty connected with the admission of an orphan into\nmost of the ordinary orphan establishments, on account of the votes\nwhich must be obtained, so that _really_ needy persons have neither\ntime nor money to obtain them. Does not the fact that there were six\nthousand young orphans in the prisons of England about five years ago\ncall aloud for an extension of orphan institutions? By God's help I will\ntry to do what I can to keep poor orphans from prison.\n\n4. In this purpose I am still further encouraged by the great help which\nthe Lord has hitherto given me in this blessed service. When I look at\nthe small beginning, and consider how the Lord has helped me now for\nmore than fifteen years in the orphan work; and when I consider how he\nhas been pleased to help me through one great difficulty after another;\nand when I consider, especially, how, as with an unseen hand, I might\nsay almost against my will and former desires and thoughts, he has led\nme on from one step to another, and has enlarged the work more and\nmore,--I say, when I review all this, and compare with it my present\nexercise of mind, I find the great help, the uninterrupted help which\nthe Lord has given me for more than fifteen years, a great reason for\ngoing forward in this work. And this, trusting in him, I am resolved to\ndo.\n\n5. A further reason for going forward in this service I see in the\nexperience which I have had in it. From the smallest commencement up to\nthe present state of the establishment, with its three hundred orphans,\nall has gone through my own hands. In the work itself I obtained the\nexperience. _It_ has grown _with the work_. I have been the sole\ndirector of the work, under God, from its smallest commencement. Now\nthis is not an every-day case. No committee member of a society, no\npresident or vice-president of an institution, except they had been\nsituated as myself, could have this experience. Coupled with this is the\nmeasure of gift which the Lord has been pleased to give me for such\nwork, and for the exercise of which I am responsible to him. These\nthings, in connection with the former reasons, it appears to me, are a\ncall from God to go forward in a greater degree than ever in this work.\n\n6. The spiritual benefit of still more orphans is another especial\nreason with me why I feel called to go forward. The orphans who have\nbeen under my care hitherto were almost all the children of parents who\nwere naturally weak in body, if not consumptive. The very fact of a\nchild being deprived of _both_ parents when four, five, six, or seven\nyears old, shows that, except the parents lost their lives by casualty,\nthey were constitutionally weak. On this account young orphans,\ngenerally speaking, require particular care as to their health. In this\nrespect I desire to care for them; but there is more than that to be\nattended to. I further heartily desire to keep them from the corrupting\nand demoralizing effect of the lowest sort of children in the streets\nand courts and Unions. But I desire more for them than mere decency and\nmorality; I desire that they should be useful members of society, and\nthat the prisons of the United Kingdom should not be filled with poor,\ndestitute, and homeless orphans; and we bring them up therefore in\nhabits of industry, and seek to instruct them in those things which are\nuseful for the life that now is. But I desire more than this for the\norphans. I cannot be satisfied with anything concerning them short of\nthis, that their souls be won for the Lord. For this reason I long to\nhave them from their early days, yea, the younger the better, under my\ncare, that thus, under the care of godly nurses and teachers, they may\nbe brought up from their earliest days in the fear of the Lord. Now, as\nthis is the chief and primary aim concerning the dear orphans, even the\nsalvation of their souls through faith in the Lord Jesus, I long to be\nmore extensively used than hitherto, even that I may have a thousand of\nthem instead of three hundred under my care.\n\n7. But there is one point which weighs more strongly with me than even\nthe last mentioned one. It is this: When I began the orphan work more\nthan fifteen years ago, it was for the definite and especial purpose\nthat, by means of it, the unconverted might see, through the answers of\nprayer that I received in connection with it, that there is verily\nreality in the things of God; and that the children of God might have\ntheir faith strengthened by means of it, and might be encouraged, in all\nsimplicity, to deal with God under every circumstance, and trust in him\nat all times. But if this would be answered in a measure by the state in\nwhich the orphan work has been in former times, and more so by what it\nhas been since the erection of the new Orphan House, it would be still\nmore so, by the blessing of God, by my going forward in it to a far\ngreater degree than before. This point, even the glory of God in the\nmanifestation of his readiness to hear prayer, has weighed especially\nand supremely with me in purposing to enlarge the orphan work.\n\n8. Lastly, I am peaceful and happy, spiritually, in the prospect of\nenlarging the work, as on former occasions when I had to do so. This\nweighs particularly with me as a reason for going forward. After all the\ncalm, quiet, prayerful consideration of the subject for about eight\nweeks, I am peaceful and happy, spiritually, in the purpose of enlarging\nthe field. This, after all the heart-searching which I have had, and the\ndaily prayer to be kept from delusion and mistake in this thing, and the\nbetaking myself to the word of God, would not be the case, I judge, had\nnot the Lord purposed to condescend to use me more than ever in this\nservice.\n\nI therefore, on the ground of the objections answered, and these eight\nreasons FOR enlarging the work, come to the conclusion that it is the\nwill of the blessed God that his poor and most unworthy servant should\nyet more extensively serve him in this work, which he is quite willing\nto do.\n\nUp to this day, Jan. 25, 1851, I have not spoken to one human being\nabout it. As yet even my dear wife knows not about it. I purpose to keep\nthe matter still for some time entirely to myself, dealing with God\nalone about it, in order that no outward excitement may be in the least\ndegree a stimulus to me. I still pray to be kept from mistake and\ndelusion in this thing; not that I think I am mistaken or deluded, quite\nthe reverse, but yet I would distrust myself and cling to God, to be\nkept from mistakes and delusions.\n\nJan. 31. For several weeks past I have now had no doubt that the Lord\nwould have me to serve him in the erection and fitting up of another\nOrphan House for seven hundred orphans, and I am quite decided on doing\nso, under his help; and I am now quiet about it, not because I have the\nleast misgiving in my own mind, but because I know that it is most\nsuitable that I should still for some time continue to deal quietly with\nGod alone about it.\n\nMarch 5. Nearly five weeks have passed away since I wrote the last\nparagraph, and my mind has not been once during this time, even for a\nmoment, in uncertainty as to what I ought to do. It is now about fifteen\nweeks since I have been especially praying about this subject, and three\nmonths since I began first to write on the subject in my journal, and\nabout ten weeks since I have had any doubt as to what is the will of the\nLord concerning this service. I believe that, altogether unworthy though\nI am of this great honor, he will condescend to use me further and more\nextensively than before in caring for destitute children who are\nbereaved of both parents. And this I purpose to do.\n\nMay 24. From the time that I began to write down the exercises of my\nmind on Dec. 5, 1850, till this day, ninety-two more orphans have been\napplied for, and seventy-eight were already waiting for admission\nbefore. But this number increases rapidly as the work becomes more and\nmore known.\n\nOn the ground of what has been recorded above, I purpose to go forward\nin this service, and to seek to build, to the praise and honor of the\nliving God, another Orphan House, large enough to accommodate seven\nhundred orphans.\n\nWhen I published these exercises of my mind, and made known my purpose\nrespecting the intended Orphan House for seven hundred orphans, in the\nTwelfth Report of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, the following\nparticulars were added to what has been stated:--\n\n1. All this time, though now six months have elapsed since I first began\nto be exercised about this matter, I have never once been led to ask the\nLord for means for this work, but have only continued day by day to seek\nguidance from him as to whether I should undertake it or not.\n\n2. The means requisite to accomplish the building and fitting up of a\nhouse which shall be really suitable for my intended purposes, though\nthe building be quite simple, cannot be less than thirty-five thousand\npounds, including fifteen or twenty acres of land round the building for\ncultivation by the spade, in order to obtain out of our own grounds all\nthe vegetables which are so important to the health of the children.\n\n3. I do not mean to begin the building until I have the means requisite\nin hand, just as was the case with regard to the new Orphan House. If\nGod will condescend to use me in building for him another Orphan House\n(as I judge he will), he will give me the means for it. Now, though I\nhave not on my own mind any doubt left that it is his will that I should\ndo so, which has been stated again and again in the preceding pages;\nyet there is one point still wanting for confirmation, and that is, that\nhe will also furnish me, without personal application to any one, with\nall the means requisite for this new part of my service. I am the more\nneeding also to my own soul this last of all the proofs that I have not\nbeen mistaken (as I firmly believe I have not been), in order to have\nunquestionable assurance that, whatever trials hereafter might be\nallowed to befall me in connection with this work, I did not at my own\nbidding and according to my own natural desire undertake it, but that it\nwas under the guidance of God. The greatness of the sum required affords\nme a kind of secret joy; for the greater the difficulty to be overcome,\nthe more will it be seen, to the glory of God, how much can be done by\nprayer and faith; and also because, when God himself overcomes our\ndifficulties for us, we have, in this very fact, the assurance that we\nare engaged in his work, and not in our own.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXI.\n\nUNVARYING PROSPERITY.\n\n1850-1852.\n\n    DESIRES FOR MORE ENLARGED USEFULNESS GRATIFIED--A LARGE DONATION\n    ANTICIPATED AND RECEIVED--REVIEW OF 1851--PERSONAL\n    EXPERIENCE--BUILDING FUND FOR THE SECOND NEW ORPHAN HOUSE--DOUBT\n    RESISTED--WAITING ON GOD NOT IN VAIN--REVIEW OF 1852.\n\n\nAt the commencement of the year beginning with May, 1850, it was my\npurpose to seek help from the Lord that I might be able, in a still\ngreater degree than before, to assist brethren who labor in the gospel\nat home and abroad, in dependence upon God for their temporal supplies,\nand to labor more than ever in the circulation of the Holy Scriptures,\nand of simple gospel tracts.\n\nJune 11. By the sums which came in within the first fifteen days of this\nperiod I was able to begin to carry out the purpose I had formed; and as\nthe Lord enabled me, without anxious reckoning, to go on giving out as\nhe was pleased to intrust me with means, so again he sent further\nsupplies before all was gone. It is a point of great importance in the\ndivine life not to be anxiously reckoning about the morrow, nor dealing\nout sparingly on account of possible future wants which never may come;\nbut to consider that the _present_ moment to serve the Lord only is\nours, and that the morrow may never come to _us_.\n\nApril 20, 1851. During the whole of the current year, up to this date,\nthe Lord has so abundantly supplied me with means that there came not\none single case before me in which it would have been desirable to help,\naccording to the measure of light given to me, or to extend the work,\nwithout my having at the same time ample means for doing so. In the\nmidst of the great depression of the times, which was so generally felt,\nand on account of which, humanly speaking, I also might have been\nexceedingly tried for want of means, I, on the contrary, at no period of\nthe work for the seventeen years previous had a greater abundance of\nmeans. I do on purpose lay stress upon this because I desire that it may\nbecome increasingly known that there is no easier, no better, and no\nhappier way in the end than God's way, and this in particular also with\nregard to the obtaining of means _simply in answer to prayer, without\npersonal application to any one_.\n\nAt the beginning of the year I had more in hand for the orphans than for\nmany years before, under similar circumstances, the balance for current\nexpenses on May 26, 1850, being one hundred and fifty pounds seven\nshillings tenpence. Yet, much as this was in comparison with what the\nbalance had generally been before, how small was the amount in reality!\nAbout three hundred persons were connected with the new Orphan House,\nwho day by day were to be provided with all they needed, besides several\napprentices who also were still to be supported. On this account the one\nhundred and fifty pounds in hand would only furnish that which was\nneeded for about fifteen days, as the average expenses of the orphan\nwork alone were about ten pounds daily. Place yourself, therefore, dear\nreader, in my position. Three hundred persons daily at table, and one\nhundred and fifty pounds in hand! Looking at it naturally, it is enough\nto make one tremble; but trusting in the living God, as by his grace I\nwas enabled to do, I had not the least trial of mind, and was assured\nthat God would as certainly help me as he had done fourteen years\nbefore, when the number of the orphans was only the tenth part as large.\n\nNov. 27. For seven weeks the income has been very small, in comparison\nwith what has been expended, both for the orphans and for the various\nother objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. There has come in\nfor the orphans L187, 16s. 23/4d., and for the other objects L62, 11s.\n1d.; and the expenditure has been for the orphans during these seven\nweeks L477, 2s. 11d., and for the various other objects L394, 9s. 8d.\nTherefore altogether L871, 12s. 7d. has been expended, whilst the income\naltogether has been only L250, 7s. 33/4d. We have, of course, not gone\ninto debt, as we never order anything except we have the means in hand\nfor it. Nor has there been even the least difficulty experienced with\nregard to means, as the Lord in his kindness had sent in considerable\nsums just before this season commenced. About three hundred and thirty\npersons now sit down to their meals in the new Orphan House, day by day,\nand the expenses for the orphans alone are about ten pounds daily, and\nthose for the other parts of the work are also about ten pounds daily,\nso that I need to receive after the rate of twenty pounds a day, in\norder to go on with the work; but during these forty-nine days there has\nbeen only one single day that I have received about twenty pounds, and\nfor the greater part of the time only a few pounds daily, and sometimes\neven only a few shillings. But what was to be done under these\ncircumstances? I gave myself to prayer. God, whom I have now been\nenabled to make my refuge, and my only refuge, for more than twenty\nyears, I have besought day by day. And when now day by day I still have\nreceived only small sums, and sometimes nothing or scarcely anything at\nall, the only effect that it has had upon me has been _to pray the more\nearnestly_. My confidence in God is not at all shaken. I have never had\na thought that he would not help me: nor have I even once been allowed\nto look upon these seven weeks in any other way than that the Lord, for\nthe trial of my faith, has ordered it thus that only so little should\ncome in. I am sure that, when he has tried me sufficiently, there will\ncome in again larger sums. In the mean time, how good has the Lord been,\nnot only to have given all I have needed, but I have even now money in\nhand! And as to our stores in the new Orphan House, they are as full as\nusual. We have at least one hundred and fifty sacks of potatoes in the\nhouse, twenty sacks of flour, thirty-three barrels of oatmeal, each\ncontaining about two hundred pounds, about three hundred pairs of new\nshoes (besides about nine hundred pairs in use), about ten tons of\ncoals, a large quantity of soap and rice; and so all other parts of the\nstores in proportion. Indeed, while there has been little coming in, I\nhave just ordered articles in the wholesale way as formerly, when our\nincome was perhaps four or five times as much during the same period. My\njudgment is, that it will now soon please the Lord again to send in\nlarger sums, as he has been pleased to exercise my faith for some time\nin this way. Let me see the result!\n\nJan. 4, 1851. This very day the Lord has given me a most precious proof\nthat he delights in our having large expectations from him. I have\nreceived this evening the sum of three thousand pounds, being the\nlargest donation which I have had as yet. I now write again that I\nexpect far larger sums still, in order that it may be yet more and more\nmanifest that there is no happier, no easier, and no better way of\nobtaining pecuniary means for the work of the Lord than the one in which\nI have been led. How great my joy in God is, on account of this\ndonation, cannot be described; but it is not in the least coupled with\nexcitement. I take this donation out of the hands of the living God; I\ncontinually look for his help, and am perfectly assured that I shall\nhave it, and therefore is my soul calm and peaceful, without any\nexcitement, though the donation is so large. This donation is, however,\nlike a voice from heaven speaking to me concerning a most deeply\nimportant matter respecting which I am seeking guidance from the Lord,\nthe building of another Orphan House.\n\nMay 26. I am brought to the close of this period. The work is more and\nmore enlarging. During the last month I have paid out for the orphans\nmore than four hundred and fifty pounds, and for the other objects more\nthan five hundred pounds, being nearly one thousand pounds during one\nmonth; and yet I have a greater balance left in hand, through the Lord's\nkindness, than at the close of any of the previous periods.\n\nFrom May 26, 1850, to May 26, 1851, there were four day schools in\nBristol, with 286 children in them, _entirely supported_ by the funds of\nthe Institution; and three others in Devonshire, Gloucestershire, and\nNorfolk, with 180 children in them, were _assisted_. Further, one Sunday\nschool in Bristol, with 184 children, was entirely supported, and two\nothers in Devonshire and Gloucestershire, with 213 children, were\nassisted. Lastly, an adult school in Bristol, with 90 persons in it, was\nentirely supported. The expenses connected with all these various\nschools were, during this period, L379, 17s. From the formation of the\nInstitution, on March 5, 1834, up to May 26, 1851, there were 5,343\nchildren in the various day schools in Bristol alone, 2,379 in the\nSunday school, and 1,896 persons in the adult school, besides the\nthousands in the schools out of Bristol which were assisted.\n\nThere was expended during this period, out of the funds of the\nInstitution, on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, L150, 16s. 5d.\nThere were 345 Bibles sold, and 899 given away; and 30 New Testaments\nsold, and 413 given away, during this period. From March 5, 1834, to\nMay 26, 1851, there were circulated 7,709 Bibles and 4,442 New\nTestaments.\n\nDuring this year was spent of the funds of the Institution, for\nmissionary objects, the sum of L2,000, 11s. 1d. By this sum forty-five\nlaborers in the word and doctrine in various parts of the world were to\na greater or less degree assisted. The total amount of L2,000 was sent\nto these forty-five servants of the Lord Jesus in 264 different sums.\n\nDuring this period L358, 7s. 3d. was expended on the circulation of\ntracts, and 303,098 tracts and little books were circulated. I was\npermitted to send out more tracts than _during the whole of the previous\nten years taken together_. Nor must it be withheld from the reader, as\nmatter for thankfulness, that the Lord was pleased to allow me to hear\nagain and again of instances of conversion, by means of the distribution\nof these tracts during this period.\n\nOn May 26, 1850, there were 275 orphans in the new Orphan House on\nAshley Down, Bristol. On May 26, 1851, there were 300 orphans in the new\nOrphan House. The total number of orphans who were under our care from\nApril, 1836, to May 26, 1851, is 488. There came in altogether during\nthis year L4,102, 14s. 91/4d. for the support of the orphans, and\nL3,640, 9s. 13/4d. for the other objects; and, after having met to the\nfull every demand with reference to the orphans, the balance of L970,\n13s. 113/4d. remained in hand. Also, after having entered into every\ndoor which the Lord was please to set before me respecting the other\nobjects, and to do far more than during any one year previously, the\nbalance of L809, 10s. 6d. remained in hand on May 26, 1851. Verily we do\nnot trust in the Lord in vain!\n\n_Without any one having been personally applied to for anything by me_,\nthe sum of L38,018, 4s. 61/2d. was given to me for the orphans _as the\nresult of prayer to God_ from the commencement of the work to May 26,\n1851. It may be also interesting to the reader to know that the total\namount which was given as free contributions for the other objects from\nthe commencement of the work to May 26, 1851, amounted to L13,988, 11s.\n91/4d.; and that which came in by the sale of Bibles and tracts, and by\nthe payments of the children in the day schools, amounted to L2,890, 9s.\n113/4d.\n\nIt pleased the Lord greatly to gladden our hearts by the working of his\nHoly Spirit among the orphans during this period.\n\nDec. 31, 1850. During this year there have been received into fellowship\n57, and altogether, from the time that brother Craik and I began to\nlabor in Bristol, 1,313. The Lord has been pleased to give me, for my\npersonal expenses, L402, 4s. 5d.\n\nMay 26, 1851. The reader will remember that I stated in a previous\nchapter that I purposed, not in dependence upon my Christian friends,\nnor in dependence upon former donors, but alone in dependence upon the\nliving God, to enlarge the orphan work. Before I brought before the\npublic what I purposed to do, I gave the record of the exercises of my\nmind on this subject to a valued Christian friend to read, the only one\nwho, besides my family, knew anything of this my intention before it\ncame before the public. I did this particularly in order that, after I\nhad been waiting for several months in secret upon God for guidance and\ndirection concerning it, I might also have the counsel of a prayerful,\njudicious, and cautious man of God. When this brother returned the\nmanuscript, he spoke to me words of encouragement concerning this\npurpose, and gave me a half sovereign towards the building fund for this\nhouse for seven hundred destitute orphans. This was the first donation,\nwhich I received on May 13, 1851, and which, I confess, was a great\nrefreshment and encouragement to me, the more so as it came from so\ncautious a brother, and after I had been for several months, through\nsecret prayer, assured that I should go forward.\n\nOn May 28, 1851, my intention became publicly known, and in the evening\nof May 29 I received from a Christian lady a sovereign towards the\nbuilding fund.\n\nJune 1. A brother in the Lord, who gives his donations with the letter\n\"P.,\" gave me ten shillings. I also received a sovereign. This evening I\nreceived still further four half crowns, with very encouraging words and\nexpressions of joy that I have been led to this purpose of building\nanother Orphan House for seven hundred more orphans. There came to hand,\nalso anonymously, three shillings. Ditto an old shilling, a small\nAmerican coin, and two shillings. Also from a Christian servant in\nClifton two shillings sixpence.\n\nJune 21. Twenty-four days have now passed away since I have been\nenabled, day by day, to wait with a goodly measure of earnestness and in\nfaith upon the Lord for means; but as yet only a little above\ntwenty-eight pounds has come in. But I am not discouraged. The less\nthere comes in, the more earnestly I pray, the more I look out for\nanswers, and the more assured I am that the Lord, in his own time, after\nhe has tried my faith, will send me larger sums, and, at last, all I\nneed.\n\nAug. 12. Day by day I am waiting upon the Lord for means for this\nobject, and generally more than once a day am I bowing my knees before\nGod with reference to it. Moreover, of late I have been enabled, with\nincreasing earnestness, to beseech the Lord that he would be pleased to\nsend in means for the building fund. My soul has been all along at\npeace, though only so little, as yet, comparatively, has come in (in\nall, one hundred and twenty-seven pounds nineteen shillings ninepence);\nand though Satan has in the most subtle way sought to shake my\nconfidence, and to lead me to question whether, after all, I had not\nbeen mistaken concerning this whole matter. Yet, though he has aimed\nafter this, to the praise of God I have to confess that he has not been\nallowed to triumph. I have especially besought the Lord of late that he\nwould be pleased to refresh my spirit by sending in some large donation\nfor this part of the work. Under these circumstances I received this\nmorning five hundred pounds for the new building. I was not in the least\nexcited. I look out for means. _Even that very moment_, when I received\nthis donation, I was looking out for means, for large donations; and I\nshould not have been surprised if five thousand pounds had come in, or\nmore. The Lord be praised for this precious encouragement, which has\nstill further quickened me for prayer!\n\nSept. 13. Patience and faith are still called for, and, by God's grace,\nmy desire is to \"let patience have her perfect work.\" Not one penny has\ncome in to-day for the building fund, but five more orphans have been\napplied for, so that now forty in less than one single month have been\nbrought before me, all bereaved of _both_ parents, and all very\ndestitute. Under these circumstances, how can I but fervently labor in\nprayer that the Lord would be pleased to intrust me with means for the\nbuilding another Orphan House for seven hundred orphans. The more I look\nat things according to natural appearances and prospects, the less\nlikely is it that I should have the sum which is needed; but I have\nfaith in God, and my expectation is from him alone. From the beginning I\ndepended upon him only concerning this proposed enlargement of the work,\nand therefore have I not been disappointed, though as yet only the\nfortieth part of what is needed has come in (eight hundred and\neighty-two pounds eighteen shillings sevenpence halfpenny). But how\nsoon, how very soon can the Lord alter the aspect of things. Even this\nvery evening, while I am writing, he could give me many thousand pounds.\nI continue, therefore, to wait upon God, and seek to encourage my heart\nby his holy word, and, while he delays giving me answers, to be occupied\nin his blessed service. Of this, however, my soul has not the least\ndoubt, that, when the Lord shall have been pleased to exercise my soul\nby the trial of faith and patience, he will make bare his arm, and send\nhelp. The fact that the applications for the admission of destitute\norphans are so many, does both quicken me to prayer, and is also a great\nencouragement to me that the Lord will give me the desire of my heart,\nto provide another home for these destitute, fatherless and motherless\nchildren.\n\nMarch 17, 1852. Day by day I am waiting upon God for means. With full\nconfidence, both as to the power of the Lord to give me the means, and\nlikewise his willingness, I am enabled to continue to wait. But he is\npleased to exercise my faith and patience, and especially has this been\nthe case of late. Not more than twenty-seven pounds eleven shillings has\ncome in during the last four weeks for the building fund. Yet, amidst it\nall, by the help of God, my heart has been kept looking to the Lord, and\nexpecting help from him. Now to-day my heart has been greatly refreshed\nby a donation of nine hundred and ninety-nine pounds thirteen shillings\nfivepence. I cannot describe to any one how refreshing this donation is\nto my spirit. After having been for weeks, day by day, waiting upon the\nLord, and receiving so little comparatively, either for current expenses\nor for the building fund, this answer to many prayers is exceedingly\nsweet to my spirit.\n\nMay 20. There remained in hand from the _former_ building fund the\nbalance of L776, 14s. 43/4d., which I added to the _present_ building\nfund, so that on the evening of May 26, 1852, I had altogether L3,530,\n9s. 01/4d.\n\n_Supplies for the School, Bible, Missionary, and Tract Fund, sent in\nanswer to prayer from May 26, 1851, to May 26, 1852._--At no time during\nthe past eighteen years did I begin a new period with so much money in\nhand as was the case at the commencement of this. There was a balance of\nL809, 10s. 6d. left for _these_ objects. Long before this balance was\nexpended, however, the Lord was pleased to send in further supplies; so\nthat during all the year there did not come before me one single\ninstance in which, according to my judgment, it would have been\ndesirable to help forward schools or missionary objects, or the\ncirculation of the Holy Scriptures and tracts, but I had always the\nmeans in hand for doing so.\n\n_Supplies for the Support of the Orphans sent in answer to prayer from\nMay 26, 1851, to May 26, 1852._--When this period commenced, I had in\nhand for the current expenses for the orphans L970, 13s. 113/4d. We had\nnever had so large a balance for the other objects at the commencement\nof any new period as was the case at the commencement of this, and so it\nwas also with regard to the orphan work. But though there was this large\nbalance to begin with, dependence upon God was still required day by\nday, as the _pecuniary_ help is only a very small part of that which is\nneeded; and even as to means, this sum would not have lasted long, had\nthe Lord not sent in further supplies. This, however, he did; and thus\nit was that while there were other trials, varied and many, yet, as to\nmeans, we experienced scarcely any difficulty at all.\n\nDuring the period from May 26, 1851, to May 26, 1852, there were\n_entirely supported_ by the funds of the Institution four day schools in\nBristol, with 248 poor children in them, and three others in Devonshire,\nMonmouthshire, and Norfolk, were _assisted_. Further, one Sunday school\nin Bristol, with 243 children, was entirely supported, and two others\nin Devonshire and Gloucestershire, with 230 children, were assisted.\nLastly, one adult school in Bristol, with 120 adult scholars, was\nentirely supported during this period. From March 5, 1834, up to May 26,\n1852, there were 5,525 children in the day schools in Bristol, 2,600 in\nthe Sunday school, and 2,033 grown-up persons in the adult school. There\nwas expended of the funds of the Institution, for these various schools,\nduring this period, L360, 1s. 9d.\n\nDuring this period there was expended of the funds of the Institution\nL207, 3s. 1d. for the purpose of circulating the Holy Scriptures,\nespecially among the very poorest of the poor. There were issued during\nthis period 1,101 Bibles and 409 New Testaments. There were altogether\ncirculated from March 5, 1834, up to May 26, 1852, 8,810 Bibles, and\n4,851 New Testaments.\n\nDuring this year there was spent of the funds of the Institution, for\nmissionary objects, the sum of L2,005, 7s. 5d. By this sum fifty-one\nlaborers in the word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were\nto a greater or less degree assisted.\n\nThere was laid out for the circulation of tracts, from May 26, 1851, to\nMay 26, 1852, the sum of L356, 11s. 31/2d. There were circulated during\nthe year 489,136 tracts.\n\nThe total number of tracts which were circulated from the beginning up\nto May 26, 1852, was 1,086,366.\n\nOn May 26, 1851, there were 300 orphans in the new Orphan House on\nAshley Down, Bristol. From that day up to May 26, 1852, there were\nadmitted into it 27 orphans. The total of the expenses connected with\nthe support of the orphans, from May 26, 1851, to May 26, 1852, was\nL3,035, 3s. 4d. The total number of orphans who were under our care from\nApril, 1836, to May 26, 1852, was 515.\n\n_Without any one having been personally applied to for anything by me_,\nthe sum of L42,970, 17s. 6d. was given to me for the orphans _as the\nresult of prayer to God_ from the commencement of the work up to May 26,\n1852. It may be also interesting to the reader to know that the total\namount which was given as free contributions, for the other objects,\nfrom the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1852, amounted to\nL15,976, 10s. 61/4d.; and that which came in by the sale of Bibles and\ntracts, and by the payments of the children in the day schools, amounted\nto L3,073, 1s. 93/4d. Besides this, also, a great variety and number of\narticles of clothing, furniture, provisions, etc., were given for the\nuse of the orphans.\n\nSeveral of the orphans who left the establishment during this year went\naway as believers, having been converted some time before they left; one\nalso who died gave very decided evidence of a true change of heart by\nfaith in our Lord Jesus; several who in former years were under our\ncare, as we heard during this year, took their stand openly on the\nLord's side, and dated their first impressions to the instructions\nreceived whilst under our care; and, lastly, of those under our care,\nthere were not a few whose spiritual state gave us joy and comfort.\nThus, amidst many difficulties and trials and some discouragements, we\nhad abundant cause to praise God for his goodness, and to go forward in\nthe strength of the Lord.\n\nDec. 31, 1851. During this year the Lord was pleased to give me, for my\npersonal expenses, L465, 13s. 13/4d.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXII.\n\nREAPING IN JOY.\n\n1852-1854.\n\n    EXPECTING GREAT THINGS FROM GOD--MUNIFICENT DONATION--INCREASING\n    USEFULNESS OF THE SCRIPTURAL KNOWLEDGE INSTITUTION--ACCESS TO\n    GOD THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST--A VOICE FROM MOUNT LEBANON--BENEFIT\n    OF WAITING GOD'S TIME--CAREFUL STEWARDSHIP--FAITH, THE ONLY\n    RELIANCE--\"THIS POOR WIDOW HATH CAST IN MORE THAN THEY\n    ALL\"--GREATER ACHIEVEMENTS OF FAITH ANTICIPATED--COUNSEL TO\n    TRACT DISTRIBUTORS--A NEW AND SEVERE TRIAL OF FAITH.\n\n\n    On May 26, 1852, there was in hand toward the erection of the\n    second new Orphan House three thousand five hundred and thirty\n    pounds nine shillings sixpence and one farthing. Donations\n    varying in amount from three hundred pounds to fourpence\n    continued to be received in answer to prayer. On the 4th of Jan.\n    1853, Mr. M.  writes:--\n\nFrom London two shillings sixpence. Day by day I have now been waiting\nupon God for means for the building fund for more than nineteen months,\nand almost daily I have received something in answer to prayer. These\ndonations have been, for the most part, small, in comparison with the\namount which will be required for the completion of this object;\nnevertheless, they have shown that the Lord, for the sake of his dear\nSon, listens to my supplications, and to those of my fellow-laborers and\nhelpers in the work; and they have been precious encouragements to me to\ncontinue to wait upon God. I have been for many months assured that the\nLord, in his own time, would give larger sums for this work; and for\nthis I have been more and more earnestly entreating him during the last\nmonths. Now at last he has abundantly refreshed my spirit, and answered\nmy request. I received to-day the promise that, as _the joint donation\nof several Christians_, there should be paid me a donation of eight\nthousand and one hundred pounds, for the work of the Lord in my hands.\n\nIt is impossible to describe the spiritual refreshment which my heart\nreceived through this donation. Day by day, for nineteen months, I had\nbeen looking out for more abundant help than I had had. I was fully\nassured that God would help me with larger sums; yet the delay was long.\nSee how precious it is to wait upon God! See how those who do so are not\nconfounded! Their faith and patience may long and sharply be tried; but\nin the end it will most assuredly be seen that those who honor God he\nwill honor, and will not suffer them to be put to shame. The largeness\nof the donation, whilst it exceedingly refreshed my spirit, did not in\nthe least surprise me; _for I expect_ GREAT _things from God_. Have I\nbeen boasting in God in vain? Is it not manifest that it is most\nprecious in every way to depend upon God? Do I serve God for naught? Is\nit not obvious that the principles on which I labor are not only\napplicable to the work of God _on a small scale_, but also, as I have so\nmany times affirmed during the past nineteen years, _for the most\nextensive operations for God_?\n\n    During the year ending May 26, 1853, nine thousand and one\n    pounds three shillings was received toward the building fund,\n    making the present amount of that fund twelve thousand five\n    hundred and thirty-one pounds twelve shillings one farthing.\n\nFor the various objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, viz.\nfor school, missionary, Bible, and tract purposes, I had to expend\nduring the year from May, 1852, to May, 1853, about six hundred pounds\nper month, or above seven thousand pounds in all; but I had sufficient\nto meet every demand; and over and above I was helped by the Lord to\nincrease the building fund nine thousand pounds. The current expenses of\nthe Institution were never so great during the previous nineteen years;\nbut the extent of its operations, and the means which the Lord was\npleased to send in, were also never so great.\n\nYou see, dear reader, that we are richly recompensed for our waiting\nupon God. You perceive the readiness of his heart to listen to the\nsupplications of his children who put their trust in him. If you have\nnever made trial of it, do so now. But in order to have your prayers\nanswered, you need to make your requests unto God on the ground of the\nmerits and worthiness of the Lord Jesus. You must not depend upon your\nown worthiness and merits, but solely on the Lord Jesus, as the ground\nof acceptance before God, for your person, for your prayers, for your\nlabors, and for everything else. Do you really believe in Jesus? Do you\nverily depend upon him alone for the salvation of your soul? See to it\nwell, that not the least degree of your own righteousness is presented\nunto God as a ground of acceptance. But then, if you believe in the Lord\nJesus, it is further necessary, in order that your prayers may be\nanswered, that the things which you ask God should be of such a kind\nthat God can give them to you, because they are for his honor and your\nreal good. If the obtaining of your requests were not for your real\ngood, or were not tending to the honor of God, you might pray for a long\ntime without obtaining what you desire. The glory of God should be\nalways before the children of God, in what they desire at his hands; and\ntheir own spiritual profit, being so intimately connected with the honor\nof God, should never be lost sight of in their petitions. But now,\nsuppose we are believers in the Lord Jesus, and suppose we make our\nrequests unto God, depending alone on the Lord Jesus as the ground of\nhaving them granted; suppose also, that, so far as we are able honestly\nand uprightly to judge, the obtaining of our requests would be for our\nreal spiritual good, and for the honor of God; we yet need, lastly, to\n_continue_ in prayer until the blessing is granted unto us. It is not\nenough to begin to pray, nor to pray aright; nor is it enough to\ncontinue _for a time_ to pray; but we must patiently, believingly\ncontinue in prayer until we obtain an answer; and, further, we have not\nonly _to continue_ in prayer unto the end, but we have also _to believe_\nthat God does hear us, and will answer our prayers. Most frequently we\nfail _in not continuing_ in prayer until the blessing is obtained, and\n_in not expecting_ the blessing. As assuredly as in any individual these\nvarious points are found united together, so assuredly will answers be\ngranted to his requests.\n\nDuring the year 1852-53, the expense of the support of the orphans was\nfully met by unsolicited donations. Two or three particulars only will\nbe given.\n\nJune 29, 1852. To-day I received one of the most remarkable donations\nwhich I ever had. I give the whole account, without the name of the\ndonor.\n\n                                             LYONS, JUNE 24, 1852,\n\n    DEAR BROTHER IN CHRIST:\n\n    It is now several years that I read with great interest, and I\n    hope with some benefit to my soul, the account of your labors\n    and experiences. Ever since then your work was the object of\n    many thoughts and prayers, and I gave many copies of your book\n    to Christian friends. One of them has read it in Syria, on Mount\n    Lebanon, where he is for commercial business; and, whilst\n    praying for you and your dear orphans, the Lord put it in his\n    heart to send you two pounds, to which my husband added two\n    others; and we beg you to accept that small offering in the name\n    of the Lord. If you have published anything of the Lord's\n    dealings with you since the year 1844, we shall be very happy to\n    receive it. You could forward it to Messrs. * * * *, London, for\n    * * * * of Lyons. And now, dear brother, may the grace and peace\n    of the Lord rest on you and your dear home's inhabitants.\n\n            Affectionately yours in the Lord,\n                                             * * * *\n\nI have had donations from Australia, the East Indies, the West Indies,\nthe United States, Canada, from the Cape of Good Hope, from France,\nSwitzerland, Germany, Italy, etc.; and now comes also this donation from\nMount Lebanon, with the prayer of a Christian brother whose name I never\nheard nor know even now. See, dear reader, this is the way in which the\nLord has helped me in this precious service for twenty-two years. With\nmy fellow-laborers, or without them, and they without me, our prayers\nare offered up unto the Lord for help, and he is pleased, for Jesus'\nsake, to listen to our supplications, and to influence the hearts of\nsome of his children, known to us or not, to send us help. The donors\nmay be rich or poor; they may live near, or at a distance of more than\nten thousand miles; they may give much or little; they may have often\ngiven before, or never; they may be well known to us, or not at all: in\nthese and many other things there may be constant variations; but God\ncontinually helps us; we are never confounded. And why not? Simply\nbecause we are enabled by the grace of God to put our trust in him for\nwhat we need.\n\nOct. 9. This morning Luke vii. came in the course of my reading before\nbreakfast. While reading the account about the centurion and the raising\nfrom death of the widow's son at Nain, I lifted up my heart to the Lord\nJesus thus: \"Lord Jesus, thou hast the same power now. Thou canst\nprovide me with means for thy work in my hands. Be pleased to do so.\"\nAbout half an hour afterwards I received two hundred and thirty pounds\nfifteen shillings; also one shilling. This two hundred and thirty pounds\nfifteen shillings was left at my disposal, as most needed. I took one\nhalf of it for the current expenses for the orphans, and the other half\nfor the other objects. I am now amply provided for meeting the demands\nof this day.\n\nThe joy which such answers to prayer afford cannot be described. I was\ndetermined to wait upon God only, and not to work an unscriptural\ndeliverance for myself. I have thousands of pounds for the building\nfund; but I would not take of it, because it was once set apart for that\nobject. There is also a legacy of one hundred pounds for the orphans two\nmonths overdue, in the prospect of the payment of which the heart might\nbe naturally inclined to use some money from the building fund, to be\nreplaced by the legacy money, when it comes in; but I would not thus\nstep out of God's way of obtaining help. At the very time when this\ndonation arrived, I had packed up one hundred pounds which I happened to\nhave in hand, received for the building fund, in order to take it to the\nbank, as I was determined not to touch it, but to wait upon God. My soul\ndoes magnify the Lord for his goodness!\n\nThis last paragraph is copied out of my journal, written down at the\ntime. I add a few words more to the last sentences.\n\nThe natural mind is ever prone _to reason_, when we ought _to believe_;\nto be _at work_, when we ought to be _quiet_; to go our own way, when we\nought steadily to walk on in God's ways, however trying to nature. When\nI was first converted, I should have said, What harm can there be to\ntake some of the money which has been put by for the building fund? God\nwill help me again after some time with means for the orphans, and then\nI can replace it. Or, there is this money due for the legacy of one\nhundred pounds. This money is quite sure; may I not, therefore, on the\nstrength of it, take some of the money from the building fund, and, when\nthe legacy is paid, replace the money which I have taken? From what I\nhave seen of believers, I know that many would act thus. But how does it\nwork, when we thus anticipate God, by going our own way? We bring, in\nmany instances, guilt on our conscience; but if not, we certainly weaken\nfaith instead of increasing it; and each time we work thus a deliverance\nof our own we find it more and more difficult to trust in God, till at\nlast we give way entirely to our natural fallen reason, and unbelief\nprevails. How different, if one is enabled to wait God's own time, and\nto look alone to him for help and deliverance! When at last help comes,\nafter many seasons of prayer it may be, and after much exercise of faith\nand patience it may be, how sweet it is, and what a present recompense\ndoes the soul at once receive for trusting in God, and waiting patiently\nfor his deliverance! Dear Christian reader, if you have never walked in\nthis path of obedience before, do so now, and you will then know\nexperimentally the sweetness of the joy which results from it.\n\nOct. 12. By sale of rags and bones twelve shillings sixpence. I copy\nliterally from the receipt book. We seek to make the best of\neverything. As a steward of public money, I feel it right that even\nthese articles should be turned into money; nor could we expect answers\nto our prayers if _knowingly_ there were any waste allowed in connection\nwith this work. For just because the money is received from God, simply\nin answer to prayer only, therefore it becomes us the more to be careful\nin the use of it.\n\nFrom Dec. 20, 1852, to Jan. 4, 1853, we had nothing in advance of our\nwants. Means came in only as they were required for pressing needs. But\non the 4th January, we received, as stated under another head, the\nlargest donation I ever had, of which I took six hundred pounds for the\nsupport of the orphans. These facts I state, in order to give a\npractical illustration that those are entirely mistaken who suppose that\nthe work is now _no longer_ a work of faith, as it used to be in former\nyears. It is true, we have now a larger income than we used to have in\nthe years 1838, 1839, and 1840; but it is also true that our expenses\nare three times as great. We have no regular income now, even as we had\nnot then. We ask no human being now for help; even as we did not then.\nWe depend alone upon God, by his grace; even as we did then. Who is\nthere in the whole world who will state that I ever asked him for help\nin this orphan work, from its commencement, on Dec. 9, 1835, up till\nnow? Now, as we have no funds to live upon; as we have no regular\nsubscribers or donors upon whom we could depend; as we never ask help\nfrom man, but God alone; and as, finally, we never did go into debt for\nthis work, nor do we now: why is it not now a work of faith, as\nformerly? Will those who say it is not, place themselves in the position\nin which I was, when, at the close of the year 1852, I had not two\npounds left, and about three hundred and thirty persons were day by day\nto be provided for, with all they need, and prove whether it is now\nanything else than a work of faith? But perhaps I have said too much\nabout this. For every one, except those who are _determined_ not to see,\nwill have no difficulty in perceiving that now, as formerly, one could\nonly be kept from being overwhelmed in such a position by looking day by\nday to the Lord, and that not merely for pecuniary supplies, but for\nhelp under the numberless difficulties which continually are met with in\nsuch a work.\n\nHow can I sufficiently praise, and adore, and magnify the Lord for his\nlove and faithfulness in carrying me thus from year to year through this\nhis service, supplying me with all I need in the way of means,\nfellow-laborers, mental strength, and, above all, spiritual support! But\nfor his help and support I should be completely overpowered in a very\nshort time; yet, by his help I go on, and am very happy, spiritually, in\nmy service; nor am I now generally worse in health than I was twenty\nyears ago, but rather better.\n\nDuring the year 1852-53, there were four day schools, with 235 children\nin them, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution. Further,\none Sunday school in Bristol, with 150 children, was entirely supported,\nand three others in Devonshire, Somersetshire, and Gloucestershire, with\n280 children, were assisted. Lastly, one adult school, with 103 adult\nscholars, was entirely supported by the funds of the Institution. There\nwere under our care, from March 5, 1834, to May 26, 1853, in the various\nday schools 5,686 children, in the Sunday schools 2,673 children, and in\nthe adult school 2,132 persons. There was expended of the funds of the\nInstitution during this year, for the various schools, L349, 12s. 11d.\n\nDuring this year there was laid out of the funds of the Institution, on\nthe circulation of the Holy Scriptures, L431, 5s, 11/2d., and there\nwere circulated 1,666 Bibles and 1,210 New Testaments. There were\ncirculated from March 5, 1834, up to May 26, 1853, 10,476 Bibles, and\n6,061 New Testaments.\n\nFor several years past this part of the work has appeared more and more\nimportant to me on account of the fearful attempts which have been made\nby the powers of darkness to rob the church of Christ of the Holy\nScriptures. I have on this account sought to embrace every opportunity\nto circulate the Holy Scriptures in England, Ireland, Canada, British\nGuiana, the East Indies, China, Australia, etc. Every open door which\nthe Lord was pleased to set before me in these or other parts of the\nworld, I have joyfully entered; yea, I have counted it a privilege,\nindeed, to be permitted of God to send forth his Holy Word. Many\nservants of Christ, in various parts of the world, have assisted me in\nthis service, through whose instrumentality copies of the Holy\nScriptures have been circulated.\n\nDuring this year there was spent of the funds of the Institution for\nmissionary objects L2,234, 2s. 6d. By this sum fifty-four laborers in\nthe word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were to a greater\nor less degree assisted.\n\nThere was laid out for the circulation of tracts, from May 26, 1852, to\nMay 26, 1853, the sum of L555, 16s. 71/2d.; and there were circulated\nwithin this year 733,674 tracts.\n\nThe total number of tracts which were circulated up to May 26, 1853, was\n1,820,040. From Nov. 19, 1840, to May 10, 1842, the first period that\nthe circulation of tracts was in operation in connection with the\nScriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, there were\ncirculated 19,609; from May 26, 1851, to May 26, 1852, 489,136; and\nduring this period 733,674.\n\nAt the beginning of this period there were 300 orphans in the new Orphan\nHouse on Ashley Down, Bristol. During the year there were admitted into\nit 13 orphans, making 313 in all. The total number of orphans who were\nunder our care from April, 1836, to May 26, 1853, was 528.\n\n_Without any one having been personally applied to for anything by me_,\nthe sum of L55,408, 17s. 53/4d. was given to me for the orphans, _as\nthe result of prayer to God_, from the commencement of the work up to\nMay 26, 1853. It may be also interesting to the reader to know that the\ntotal amount which was given for the other objects, from the\ncommencement of the work up to May 26, 1853, amounted to L19,163, 14s.\n11/2d.; and that which came in by the sale of Bibles and tracts, and by\nthe payments of the children in the day schools, amounted to L3,490, 7s.\n11/4d. Besides this, also, a great variety and number of articles of\nclothing, furniture, provisions, etc., were given _for the use_ of the\norphans.\n\nThe expenses in connection with the support of the 300 orphans and the\napprentices during this year were L3,453, 15s. 11/2d.\n\nDec. 31, 1852. During this year there have been received into fellowship\n35 believers. The Lord has been pleased to give unto me L445, 8s.\n81/2d.\n\nMy brother-in-law, Mr. A. N. Groves, of whom mention has been made in\nthe first part of this Narrative, as having been helpful to me by his\nexample when I began my labors in England in 1829, in that he, without\nany visible support, and without being connected with any missionary\nsociety, went with his wife and children to Bagdad, as a missionary,\nafter having given up a lucrative practice of about one thousand five\nhundred pounds per year, returned in autumn 1852, from the East Indies,\na third time, being exceedingly ill. He lived, however, till May 20,\n1853, when, after a most blessed testimony for the Lord, he fell asleep\nin Jesus in my house.\n\nI have already stated that on May 26, 1853, I had on hand toward\nbuilding premises large enough for the accommodation of 700 children,\nthe sum of L12,531, 12s. 01/4d.\n\n    A single circumstance will illustrate the widely diverse sources\n    from which donations are received, as well as the great\n    disparity in amount.\n\nJan. 17, 1854. From S. R. and E. R., two poor factory girls, near\nStroud, 1s. 7d. This day I also received the promise that there should\nbe paid to me, for the work of the Lord in my hands, L5,207, to be\ndisposed of as I might consider best.\n\nThe whole amount received for the new Orphan House, during the year\nclosing May 26, 1854, was L5,285, 17s. 5d., which made the total of\nL17,816, 19s. 51/4d. in hand on May 26, 1854.\n\nDuring this year the current expenses for the various objects of the\nScriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad amounted to L7,507,\n0s. 111/2d., being L471, 8s. 11d. more than during any previous year;\nyet the Lord not only enabled me to meet them all, but to add the sum of\nL5,285, 7s. 5d. to the building fund.\n\nThere is yet a large sum required before I shall be enabled to build\nanother house for 700 orphans; nor have I now, any more than at the\nfirst, any natural prospect of obtaining what is yet needed; but my hope\nis in the living God. When I came to the conclusion that it was the will\nof God that I should build another Orphan House, I had not only no\nnatural prospect of obtaining the L35,000 which would be needed for this\nobject, but also I had no natural prospect of being able to provide for\nthe necessities of the three hundred orphans already under my care.\nThree years have elapsed since then, and I have had all I needed for\nthem, amounting to about L10,500; and L17,816, 19s. 51/4d. I have\nreceived for the building fund. May I not well trust in the Lord for\nwhat is yet needed for the building fund? By his grace I will do so, and\ndelight in doing so; for I know that at last all my prayers will be\nturned into praises concerning this part of the service.\n\nThere is one point which is particularly an encouragement to me to go on\nwaiting upon the Lord for the remainder of the means which are required,\nviz: applications for the admission of orphans _continue_ to be made. On\nMay 26, 1853, there were 480 orphans waiting for admission. Since then\n181 more have been applied for, making in all 661. These children are\nfrom three months old and upwards, and all bereaved of both parents by\ndeath.\n\nDuring the year now under review I received the following donation for\nthe missionary laborers, under circumstances of peculiar interest.\n\nOn Aug. 9, 1853, I received a letter from a Christian brother,\naccompanied with an order for eighty-eight pounds two shillings sixpence\non his bankers, of which three pounds two shillings sixpence were the\nproceeds of an orphan box in a meeting-place of believers, and\neighty-five pounds from a poor widow who had sold her little house,\nbeing all her property, and who had put ninety pounds, the total amount\nof what she had received, into that orphan box two months before, on\nJune 9, 1853. In this box the money had been for some time, without its\nbeing known, till the orphan box was opened, and the ninety pounds with\na few lines without name were found in it. As, however, the fact of her\nintending to sell the little house, and her intention of sending me the\nmoney for the Lord's work, had been known to the brother who sent me the\nmoney, he did not feel free to send it to me without remonstrating with\nher through two brethren, whom he sent with the money, offering it again\nto her; for he knew her to be very poor, and feared that this might be\nan act of excitement, and therefore be regretted afterwards. These\nbrethren could not prevail on her to receive back the money, but they\ndid _persuade_ her to receive back five pounds of the amount, and then\nthe brother referred to felt no longer free to keep the money from me,\nand hence sent me the eighty-five pounds.\n\nOn the receipt of this, I wrote at once to the poor godly widow,\noffering her the travelling expenses for coming to Bristol, that I might\nhave personal intercourse with her; for I feared lest this should be an\nact of excitement, and the more so, as she had received back five pounds\nof the sum. This sister in the Lord, a widow of about sixty years of\nage, came to Bristol, and told me in all simplicity how that ten years\nbefore, in the year 1843, she had purposed that if ever she should come\ninto the possession of the little house in which she lived with her\nhusband, she would sell it, and give the proceeds of it to the Lord.\nAbout five years afterwards her husband died, and she, having no\nchildren, nor any one having particular claim upon her, then sought to\ndispose of her little property, as had been her mind all those years\nbefore. However, one difficulty after another prevented her being able\nto effect a sale. At last she felt in particular difficulty on account\nof her inability to pay the yearly ground-rent of the little house and\ngarden, and she asked the Lord to enable her to sell the property, in\norder that she might be able to carry out her desire which she had had\nfor ten years, to give to him the proceeds of this her possession. He\nnow helped her. The house was sold, the money paid, and she put the\nwhole ninety pounds into the orphan box for me, being assured that the\nLord would direct me how best the money might be used for him. I still\nquestioned her again and again, to find out whether it was not\nexcitement which had led her to act as she had done; but I not only saw\nthat her mind had been fully decided about this act for ten years\nbefore, but that she also was able to answer from the word of God all\nthe objections which I purposely made, in order to probe her, whether\nshe had intelligently and from right motives acted in what she had done.\nAt last I was fully satisfied that it was not from impulse, nor under\nexcitement, that she had given the money. I next stated to her something\nlike this: \"You are poor, and you are about sixty years old, therefore\ndecreasing in strength, and may you not therefore keep this money for\nyourself?\" Her reply was, as nearly as I remember, something like this:\n\"God has always provided for me, and I have no doubt he will do so in\nfuture also. I am able to work and to earn my bread as well as others,\nand am willing to work as a nurse, or in any other way.\" What could I\nsay against this? This is just what a child of God would say, and should\nsay. But the greatest of all the difficulties to the accepting of the\neighty-five pounds remained in my mind, and I state it, as I relate the\nwhole for the profit of the reader. It was this. The house had been sold\nfor ninety pounds. The whole amount had been put into the box, but, on\nthe persuasion of those two brethren who were requested to remonstrate\nwith this widow, she had been induced to take back five pounds out of\nthe ninety pounds. I therefore said to myself, might she not be willing,\nafter a time, to take back the whole ninety pounds; how, therefore, can\nI feel happy in accepting this money? On this account I particularly\nlaid stress upon this point, and told her that I feared she might regret\nher act altogether after some time, as she had taken back this five\npounds. I now learned the circumstances under which she had been induced\nto take back this five pounds.\n\nThe two brethren who had called on her for the purpose of pointing out\nto her the propriety of receiving back again the ninety pounds, or part\nof it, told her that Barnabas sold his land, but afterwards lived with\nothers on that which he and others had thrown into the common stock,\nand that, therefore, she might receive at least part of the ninety\npounds back again, if she would not take the whole. She then said to\nherself that, \"as a child of God, she might take the children's\nportion,\" and, as she had given to God this ninety pounds, she might\nreceive five pounds back again. She told me that she considered the\nbrethren had shown her from the Holy Scriptures what she might do, and\ntherefore she had taken this five pounds. I did not myself agree with\nthe judgment of those brethren who had said this (as there is no\nevidence that Barnabas ever was supported out of the common stock, the\nproceeds of the sale of houses and lands, out of which the poor were\nsupported); but I purposely said nothing to the widow, lest she should\nat once be induced to give me this five pounds also. She had, however,\nthis five pounds untouched, and showed it to me; and before she left she\nwould make me take one pound of it for the benefit of the orphans, which\nI did not refuse, as I had no intention of keeping the eighty-five\npounds. She also gave me a sixpence for the orphans, which some one had\ngiven her for herself, a few days before.\n\nI now asked her, as this matter concerning the retaining of the five\npounds was satisfactorily explained, as far as it respected her own\nstate of heart, what she wished me to do with the money, in case I saw\nit right to keep it. Her reply was that she would leave that with me,\nthat God would direct me concerning it; but that, if she said anything\nat all about it, she should most like it to be used for the support of\nbrethren who labor in the word without any salary, and who hazard their\nlives for the name of Christ. She wished _me_ to have a part of the\nmoney; but this I flatly refused, lest I should be evil spoken of in\nthis matter. I then offered to pay her travelling expenses, as she had\ncome to me, which she would not accept, as she did not stand in need of\nit. In conclusion, I told her that I would now further pray respecting\nthis matter, and consider what to do concerning it. I then prayed with\nthis dear, godly woman, commended her to God, separated from her, and\nhave not seen her since.\n\nI waited from Aug. 9, 1853, to March 7, 1854, when I wrote to her,\noffering her back again the whole eighty-five pounds, or a part of it.\nOn March 9, 1854, just seven months after I had received the money, and\njust nine months after she had actually given it, and ten years and nine\nmonths after she had made the resolution to give her house and garden to\nGod, I heard from her, stating that she was of the same mind as she had\nbeen for years. I therefore disposed of the money, to aid such foreign\nmissionary brethren as, according to the best of my knowledge, resembled\nmost the class of men whom she wished to assist.\n\nThe reasons why I have so minutely dwelt upon this circumstance are: 1.\nIf, as a steward of the bounties of the children of God, I should be\nblamed for receiving from a poor widow almost literally her all, it may\nbe seen in what manner I did so. To have refused on March 9, 1854, also,\nwould be going beyond what I should be warranted to do. 2. I desired,\nalso, to give a practical illustration that I only desire donations in\nGod's way. It is not the money only I desire; but the money received in\nanswer to prayer, in God's order. 3. This circumstance illustrates how\nGod helps me often in the most unexpected manner. 4. I have also related\nthis instance that there may be a fresh proof that even in these last\ndays the love of Christ is of constraining power, and may work mightily,\nas in the days of the apostles. I have witnessed _many_ such instances\nas this, in the twenty years during which I have been occupied in this\nmy service. Let us give thanks to God for such cases, and let us seek\nfor grace rather to imitate such godly men and women, than think that\nthey are going too far. I cannot, however, dismiss this subject,\nwithout commending this poor widow to the prayers of all who love our\nLord Jesus, that she may be kept humble, lest, thinking highly of\nherself, on account of what she has been enabled to do, by the grace of\nGod, she should not only lose blessing in her own soul, but this\ncircumstance should become a snare to her. Pray also, believing reader,\nthat she may never be allowed to regret what she has done for the Lord.\n\n    After giving in detail the sources and manner of supply for the\n    maintenance of the orphans during twenty-four days, Mr. M.  adds:--\n\nThe particular end why I have been so minute, is, _to show that the work\nis now, as much as ever, a work carried on entirely in dependence upon\nthe living God, who alone is our hope, and to whom alone we look for\nhelp, and who never has forsaken us in the hour of need_. There is,\nhowever, one thing different with reference to this year, when compared\nwith former years, and that is, that, while our trials of faith during\nthis year were just as great as in previous years, the amount needed in\nformer times was never so great as during this year, especially as the\nbread during the greater part of this year was about twice as dear as\nfor several years before.\n\nBut then, it may be said, If you have had this trial of faith, with\nthese three hundred orphans, why do you seek to build another Orphan\nHouse for seven hundred more, and thus have a thousand to care for? Will\nyou not have still greater trials of faith?\n\nMy reply is: 1. God has never failed me all the twenty years of this my\nservice. 2. I am going on as easily now, with three hundred orphans, as\nwith thirty, the number with which I commenced. Their number is ten\ntimes as large as it was at the first; but God has always helped me. 3.\nTrials of faith were anticipated, yea, were one chief end of the work,\nfor the profit of the church of Christ at large. 4. I had courage given\nme to go forward, solely in dependence upon God, being assured that he\nwould help me; yet I waited in secret upon him for six months before I\nmade this my intention known, in order that I might not take a hasty\nstep; and I have never regretted my having gone forward. 5. But it needs\nto be added that the very abundance which the Lord gave me at the time,\nwhen my mind was exercised about this matter, was a great confirmation\nto me that I had not mistaken his mind. And even during this year, how\ngreat has been his help; for the income for the work altogether has been\ntwelve thousand seven hundred and eighty-five pounds fifteen shillings\nsevenpence halfpenny. I am, therefore, assured that the Lord will, in\nhis own time, not only allow me to build another Orphan House, but that\nhe will also, when he shall have been pleased to fill it, find the means\nto provide for these children.\n\nDuring this year four day schools, with 202 children, were _entirely\nsupported_ by the funds of the Institution. Further, one Sunday school\nin Bristol, with 137 children, was _entirely supported_, and three\nothers in Devonshire, Somersetshire, and Gloucestershire, with 300\nchildren, were _assisted_. Lastly, one adult school, with 154 adult\nscholars, was _entirely_ supported. The total amount which was spent\nduring this year in connection with these schools was L359, 15s.\n101/2d. The number of all the children who were under our care merely\nin the schools which were _entirely_ supported by this Institution, from\nMarch 5, 1834, to May 26, 1854, was 5,817 in the day schools, 2,748 in\nthe Sunday schools, and 2,315 persons in the adult school.\n\nDuring this year was expended on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures,\nof the funds of the Institution, L433, 2s. 9d. There were circulated\nduring this year 1,890 Bibles and 1,288 New Testaments; and from the\ncommencement of the work up to May 26, 1854, 12,366 Bibles and 7,349\nTestaments.\n\nDuring this year there was spent of the funds of the Institution, for\nmissionary objects, the sum of L2,249, 10s. 81/2d. By this sum\nfifty-six laborers in the word and doctrine, in various parts of the\nworld, were to a greater or less degree assisted.\n\nDuring this year, the Lord was pleased to bless again abundantly the\nlabors of many of those servants of Christ who were assisted through the\nfunds of this Institution, and this has been the case in foreign\ncountries as well as at home.\n\nThere was laid out for the circulation of tracts, from May 26, 1853, to\nMay 26, 1854, the sum of L563, 5s. 01/2d.; and there were circulated\n869,636 tracts.\n\nThe total number of all the tracts which were circulated from the\nbeginning up to May 26, 1854, was 2,689,676.\n\nWe desire to be grateful to the Lord that during no period previously we\nwere enabled to circulate more tracts, and more copies of the Holy\nScriptures, and to aid to a greater degree missionary labors, than\nduring this period; yet we would not rest in that. It is the blessing of\nthe Lord upon our labors which we need, which we desire, and which by\nhis grace we also seek.\n\nIf any of the Christian readers are in the habit of circulating tracts,\nand yet have never seen fruit, may I suggest to them the following hints\nfor their prayerful consideration. 1. Seek for such a state of heart,\nthrough prayer and meditation on the Holy Scriptures, as that you are\nwilling to let God have all the honor, if any good is accomplished by\nyour service. If you desire for yourself the honor, yea, though it were\nin part only, you oblige the Lord, so to speak, to put you as yet aside\nas a vessel not meet for the Master's use. One of the greatest\nqualifications for usefulness in the service of the Lord is a heart\ntruly desirous of getting honor for him. 2. Precede all your labors with\nearnest, diligent prayer; go to them in a prayerful spirit; and follow\nthem by prayer. Do not rest on the number of tracts you have given. A\nmillion of tracts may not be the means of converting one single soul;\nand yet how great, beyond calculation, may be the blessing which results\nfrom one single tract. Thus it is also with regard to the circulation of\nthe Holy Scriptures, and the ministry of the word itself. Expect, then,\neverything from the blessing of the Lord, and nothing at all from your\nown exertions. 3. And yet, at the same time, labor, press into every\nopen door, be instant in season and out of season, as if everything\ndepended upon your labors. This, as has been stated before, is one of\nthe great secrets in connection with successful service for the Lord: to\nwork, as if everything depended upon our diligence, and yet not to rest\nin the least upon our exertions, but upon the blessing of the Lord. 4.\nThis blessing of the Lord, however, should not merely be sought in\nprayer, but it should also be _expected, looked for, continually looked\nfor_; and the result will be that we shall surely have it. 5. But\nsuppose that, for the trial of our faith, this blessing were for a long\ntime withheld from our sight; or suppose, even, that we should have to\nfall asleep before we see much good resulting from our labors; yet will\nour labors, if carried on in such a way and spirit as has been stated,\nbe at last abundantly owned, and we shall have a rich harvest in the day\nof Christ.\n\nAt the beginning of this period there were 300 orphans in the new Orphan\nHouse on Ashley Down, Bristol. During the year there were admitted into\nit 30 orphans, making 330 in all. The total number of orphans who were\nunder our care from April, 1836, to May 26, 1854, was 558.\n\nThe expenses during this year for the support of the orphans were\nL3,897, 2s. 01/2d.\n\n_Without any one having been personally applied to for anything by me_,\nthe sum of L64,591, 6s. 111/4d. was given to me for the orphans, _as\nthe result of prayer to God_, from the commencement of the work up to\nMay 26, 1854. It may be also interesting to the reader to know that the\ntotal amount which was given for the other objects, from the\ncommencement of the work up to May 26, 1854, amounted to L22,268, 2s.\n111/4d.; and that which came in by the sale of Bibles and tracts, and\nby the payments of the children in the day schools, from the\ncommencement up to May 26, 1854, amounted to L3,989, 4s. 53/4d.\n\nOur labors continued to be blessed among the orphans. We saw also again\nfruit of our labors, during this year, with regard to orphans who\nformerly were under our care.\n\nIn July, 1853, it pleased the Lord to try my faith in a way in which\nbefore it had not been tried. My beloved daughter, an only child, and a\nbeliever since the commencement of the year 1846, was taken ill on June\n20. This illness, at first a low fever, turned to typhus. On July 3\nthere seemed no hope of her recovery. Now was the trial of faith. But\nfaith triumphed. My beloved wife and I were enabled to give her up into\nthe hands of the Lord. He sustained us both exceedingly. But I will only\nspeak about myself. Though my only and beloved child was brought near\nthe grave, yet was my soul in perfect peace, satisfied with the will of\nmy heavenly Father, being assured that he would only do that for her and\nher parents which in the end would be the best. She continued very ill\ntill about July 20, when restoration began. On Aug. 18 she was so far\nrestored that she could be removed to Clevedon, for change of air,\nthough exceedingly weak. It was then fifty-nine days since she was first\ntaken ill.\n\nWhile I was in this affliction, this great affliction, besides being at\npeace, as far as the Lord's dispensation was concerned, I also felt\nperfectly at peace with regard to the cause of the affliction. When in\nAugust, 1831, the hand of the Lord was heavily laid on me in my family,\nas related in the first part of this Narrative, I had not the least\nhesitation in knowing that it was the Father's rod, applied in infinite\nwisdom and love for the restoration of my soul from a state of\nlukewarmness. At this time, however, I had no such feeling. Conscious as\nI was of my manifold weaknesses, failings, and shortcomings, so that I\ntoo would be ready to say with the Apostle Paul, \"O wretched man than I\nam!\" yet I was assured that this affliction was not upon me in the way\nof the fatherly rod, but for the trial of my faith. Persons often have,\nno doubt, the idea respecting me, that all my trials of faith regard\nmatters connected with money, though the reverse has been stated by me\nvery frequently; now, however, the Lord would try my faith concerning\none of my dearest earthly treasures, yea, next to my beloved wife, the\ndearest of all my earthly possessions. Parents know what an only child,\na beloved child, is, and what to believing parents an only child, a\nbelieving child, must be. Well, the Father in heaven said, as it were,\nby this his dispensation, Art thou willing to give up this child to me?\nMy heart responded, As it seems good to thee, my heavenly Father. Thy\nwill be done. But as our hearts were made willing to give back our\nbeloved child to him who had given her to us; so he was ready to leave\nher to us, and she lived. \"Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he\nshall give thee the desires of thine heart.\" Psalm xxxvii. 4. The\ndesires of my heart were, to retain the beloved daughter, if it were the\nwill of God; the means to return her were, to be satisfied with the will\nof the Lord.\n\nOf all the trials of faith that as yet I have had to pass through, this\nwas the greatest; and, by God's abundant mercy, I own it to his praise,\nI was enabled to delight myself in the will of God; for I felt\nperfectly sure that if the Lord took this beloved daughter, it would be\nbest for her parents, best for herself, and more for the glory of God\nthan if she lived: this better part I was satisfied with; and thus my\nheart had peace, perfect peace, and I had not a moment's anxiety. Thus\nwould it be under all circumstances, however painful, were the believer\nexercising faith.\n\nDec. 31, 1853. During this year the Lord was pleased to give me L638,\n11s. 81/2d.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXIII.\n\nTHREE YEARS OF PROSPERITY.\n\n1854-1857.\n\n    THE SITE SELECTED--SIX THOUSAND ORPHANS IN PRISON--HOW TO ASK\n    FOR DAILY BREAD--REVIEW OF TWENTY-FOUR YEARS--\"TAKE NO THOUGHT\n    FOR THE MORROW\"--INSURANCE AGAINST BAD DEBTS.\n\n\n    During the year ending May 26, 1855, Mr. M. received toward the\n    erection of the second new Orphan House five thousand two\n    hundred and forty-two pounds eighteen shillings threepence, and\n    the whole sum on hand for this object amounted to twenty-three\n    thousand and fifty-nine pounds seventeen shillings eightpence\n    one farthing. After recording the amount thus obtained, he adds:--\n\nI judged that, though I had not such an amount of means in hand as I\nconsidered necessary before being warranted to begin to build, yet that\nI might make inquiries respecting land. Accordingly, I applied in the\nbeginning of February for the purchase of two fields which join the land\non which the new Orphan House is built. On these two fields I had had my\neye for years, and had purposed to endeavor to purchase them whenever I\nmight be in such a position, as to means for the building fund, that it\nwould be suitable to do so. I found, however, that, according to the\nwill of the late owner of these fields, they could not be sold _now_.\nThus my prospects were blighted. When I obtained this information,\nthough _naturally_ tried by it and disappointed, I said; by _God's\ngrace_, to myself, \"The Lord has something better to give me, instead of\nthese two fields;\" and thus my heart was kept in peace. But when now the\nmatter was fully decided that I could not obtain those fields, which had\nappeared to me so desirable for the object, the question arose, what I\nwas to do for the obtaining of land. Under these circumstances some of\nmy Christian friends again asked, as they had done before, why I did not\nbuild on the ground which we have around the new Orphan House. My reply\nwas, as before, that it could not be done: 1. Because it would throw the\nnew Orphan House for nearly two years into disorder, on account of the\nbuilding going on round about it. 2. There would not be sufficient room\nwithout shutting in the present house to a great extent. 3. That, as the\nnew Orphan House stands in the centre of our ground, there would not be\nsufficient room on any of the sides for the erection of a building so\nlarge as would be required. I was, however, led to consider whether\nthere was any way whereby we could accomplish the building on the ground\nbelonging to the new Orphan House. In doing so, I found that,--1. By\nhaving a high temporary boundary made of old boards, the building ground\ncould be entirely distinct from the present establishment. 2. By\nbuilding on an entirely different plan from that of the present house,\nwe should not only have room enough; but that, also, 3. The present\nhouse would not be so inclosed that the health of the inmates of the\nestablishment would thereby be injured.\n\nBut there was in connection with this another point which now came under\nconsideration in addition to the particulars already mentioned: it was\nthis. Though for four years past I had never had a doubt as to its being\nthe will of God that I should build accommodation for seven hundred more\norphans; yet, at the same time, I had for a long time seen the\ndesirableness of having two houses instead of one, for the seven hundred\norphans. This previously formed judgment of having two houses for three\nhundred and fifty orphans in each, or four hundred in the one, and three\nhundred in the other, led me now to see whether there could be another\nhouse built on each side of the present new Orphan House; and I judged,\nfrom measuring the ground, that there was no objection to this plan. I\nthen called in the aid of architects, to survey the ground, and to make\na rough plan of two houses, one on each side, and it was found that it\ncould be accomplished. Having arrived thus far, I soon saw that we\nshould not only save expense by this plan in various ways, but\nespecially that thus the direction and inspection of the whole\nestablishment would be much more easy and simple, as the buildings would\nbe so near together. This, indeed, on being further considered, soon\nappeared to be a matter of such importance, that if even land could be\nhad but a quarter of a mile off, the difficulties would be greatly\nincreased thereby. At the same time I found that we still should retain\nso much land for cultivation by the spade as would furnish some out-door\nemployment for many boys, and would produce such kind of vegetables as\nare the most important for young children to be had fresh out of the\nground; or that we could easily _rent_ a piece of ground near for that\npurpose, though it could not be _bought_.\n\nThe result, then, to which I have arrived at present is this: that\nhaving seen what could be accomplished on the ground which we have\nalready, I decided to build, without any further delay than was\nnecessary for preparing the plans, at the south side of the new Orphan\nHouse, another house for four hundred children. The plans are now\nready, and in a very short time, God willing, _i. e._ as soon as all the\nnecessary preliminary arrangements can be made, the building will\ncommence, which I think will be in the early part of July of the present\nyear (_i. e._ 1855).\n\nThis house is intended for four hundred female orphans, bereaved of both\nparents, from their _earliest_ days until they can be placed out in\nservice. With regard to the other house for three hundred orphans, to be\nbuilt at the north side of the new Orphan House, nothing definitely can\nbe stated at present. There is enough money in hand to build, fit up,\nand furnish the house for four hundred orphans, and it is expected that\nsomething will be left; but there is not sufficient money in hand, at\npresent, to warrant the commencement of the building of both. As soon,\nhowever, as there is, I shall be delighted to take active measures with\nregard to that for three hundred orphans also. I do not ask persons to\nhelp me with their means. I speak to the Lord about my need in prayer,\nand I do not wait upon him in vain. At the same time I feel it right to\nstate that there is a loud and an abundant call for caring for destitute\norphans. On May 26, 1854, I had six hundred and two waiting for\nadmission, each bereaved of both parents by death. Since then one\nhundred and ninety-seven more have been applied for, making in all seven\nhundred and ninety-nine. Of these I have been able to receive only\nthirty-nine during the past year, and forty-five who were waiting for\nadmission have been otherwise provided for, or have died since\napplication was made for them; so that still seven hundred and fifteen\norphans are waiting for admission, from three months old and upward. But\nthis number, I state unhesitatingly, would be much larger, had not very\nmany persons refrained from making application because they judged it\nwould be of no use, as there are already so many waiting for admission.\nIndeed, there is every reason to believe that there are many tens of\nthousands of destitute orphans in this country. And what provision is\nthere in the way of orphan establishments it may be asked. At the last\ncensus, in 1851, there were in England and Wales thirty-nine orphan\nestablishments, and the total number of orphans, provided for through\nthem, amounted only to three thousand seven hundred and sixty-four; but\nat the time the new Orphan House was being built there were about six\nthousand young orphans in the prisons of England. To prevent their going\nto prison, to prevent their being brought up in sin and vice, yea, to be\nthe honored instrument to win their souls for God, I desire, by his\nhelp, to enlarge the present establishment so as to be able to receive\none thousand orphans; and individuals who have purposed not to live for\ntime but for eternity, and to look on their means as in the light of\neternity, will thus have an opportunity of helping me to care for these\nchildren. It is a great honor to be allowed to do anything for the Lord;\ntherefore I do not press this matter. We can only give to him of his\nown; for all we have is his. When the day of recompense comes, the\nregret will only be that we have done so little for him, not that we\nhave done too much.\n\n    During the year from May, 1854, to May, 1855, ample means were\n    provided, in answer to prayer only, for the maintenance of the\n    orphans, and for the various purposes of the Scriptural\n    Knowledge Institution. The following statement exhibits the\n    results of Mr. Mueller's labors during the year under  review:--\n\nDuring this year four day schools in Bristol, with 184 children in them,\nwere _entirely supported_ by the funds of the Institution; and several\nother day schools in Devonshire, Cornwall, Suffolk, Ireland, and\nScotland, were _assisted_ with copies of the Holy Scriptures. Further,\none Sunday school in Bristol, with 158 children, was _entirely\nsupported_, and seven others in Cornwall, Devonshire, Somersetshire, and\nGloucestershire, with about 400 children in them, were _assisted_.\nLastly, one adult school, with 133 adults was entirely supported during\nthis year. The amount expended during this year, on these various\nschools, was L338, 2s. 5d.\n\nIn connection with all these various schools, I would suggest the\nfollowing important matter for prayer. From March, 1834, to May 26,\n1855, there were 5,956 children in the day schools. In the adult schools\nthere were 2,459 persons. The number of the Sunday-school children\namounted to 2,817. Thus, without reckoning the orphans, 11,232 souls\nwere brought under _habitual_ instruction in the things of God in these\nvarious schools; besides the many thousands in the schools in various\nparts of England, Ireland, Scotland, British Guiana, the West Indies,\nthe East Indies, etc., which were to a greater or less degree assisted.\n\nThe total sum which was expended during the twenty-one years, from March\n5, 1834, to May 26, 1855, in connection with the schools, which were\neither entirely or in part supported by the funds of this Institution,\namounted to L7,204, 12s. 81/4d.\n\nThe number of Bibles, New Testaments, and portions of the Holy\nScriptures, which were circulated from May 26, 1854, to May 26, 1855, is\nas follows:--\n\nBibles sold, 693. Bibles given away, 890. Testaments sold, 950.\nTestaments given away, 748. Copies of the Psalms sold, 82. Other small\nportions of the Holy Scriptures sold, 136.\n\nThere were circulated from March 5, 1834, to May 26, 1855, through the\nmedium of this Institution, 13,949 Bibles, 9,047 New Testaments, 188\ncopies of the Psalms, and 789 other small portions of the Holy\nScriptures.\n\nThe total amount of the funds of this Institution spent on the\ncirculation of the Holy Scriptures, from March 5, 1834, to May 26, 1855,\nis L3,389, 10s. 1d. The amount spent during this year, L476, 12s. 3d.\n\nDuring this year there was spent of the funds of the Institution, for\nmissionary objects, the sum of L2,081, 3s. 2d. By this sum fifty-seven\nlaborers in the word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were\nto a greater or less degree assisted.\n\nThe total amount of the funds of the Institution spent on missionary\noperations, from March 5, 1834, to May 26, 1855, was L16,115, 0s. 51/2d.\n\nThere was laid out for tracts, from May 26, 1854, to May 26, 1855, the\nsum of L624, 8s. 4d.; and there were circulated within this year 895,034\ntracts and books.\n\nThe total number of all the tracts and books which were circulated from\nthe beginning up to May 26, 1855, was 3,584,710.\n\nThe total amount of means expended on this object, from Nov. 19, 1840,\nto May 26, 1855, was L2,868, 15s. 63/4d.\n\nAt the commencement of this period there were 298 orphans in the new\nOrphan House on Ashley Down, Bristol. During the year there were\nadmitted into it 39 orphans.\n\nThe expenses for the orphans during this year were L4,304, 4s. 71/2d.\n\n_Without any one having been personally applied to for anything_ by me,\nthe sum of L74,132, 6s. 103/4d. was given to me for the orphans, _as\nthe result of prayer to God_, from the commencement of the work up to\nMay 26, 1855, which sum includes the L15,055, 3s. 21/4d., which was the\ncost of the building, fitting up and furnishing of the present new\nOrphan House, and the L23,059, 17s. 81/4d., which was in hand on the\n26th May, 1855, for the building fund, and the L116, 17s. 81/2d., the\nbalance for the current expenses. It may also be interesting to the\nreader to know that the total sum which was given for the other objects,\nfrom the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1855, amounted to\nL25,239, 8s. 103/4d.; and that which came in by the sale of Bibles and\ntracts, and by the payments of the children in the day schools, from the\ncommencement, amounted to L4,531, 12s. 103/4d. Besides this also a\ngreat variety and number of articles of clothing, furniture, provisions,\netc., were given _for the use_ of the orphans.\n\nI have the joy of being able to state that we have great cause for\nthankfulness in that in the midst of many difficulties our labors among\nthe orphans continue to be blessed, and that especially again and again\ninstances now come before us in which those who were formerly under our\ncare declare themselves on the Lord's side.\n\nBesides being able to meet the expenses for the orphans and the other\nobjects, amounting altogether to L7,832, 7s. 01/2d., during this year I\nwas able to add to the building fund L5,242, 18s. 3d. The total income\nduring the year was L13,054, 14s. 4d.\n\nDec. 31, 1854. During this year there have been received into\nfellowship 61.\n\nThe Lord has been pleased to give me during this year L697, 11s. 5d.\n\nOne or the other of my readers may be ready to exclaim, six hundred and\nninety-seven pounds eleven shillings fivepence! What a large sum! Not\none out of a hundred ministers has such a large salary, nor one out of\ntwenty clergymen such a good living! Should you, esteemed reader, say\nso, my reply is: Indeed, mine is a happy way for the obtaining of my\ntemporal supplies; but if any one desires to go this way, he must,--\n\n1. Not _merely say_ that he trusts in God, but must _really do so_.\nOften individuals profess to trust in God, but they embrace every\nopportunity where they may directly or indirectly be able to expose\ntheir need, and thus seek to induce persons to help them. I do not say\nit is wrong to make known our wants; but I do say it ill agrees with\ntrust in God to expose our wants for the sake of inducing persons to\nhelp us. God will take us at our word. If we say we trust in him, he\nwill try whether we _really_ do so, or only _profess_ to do so; and if\n_indeed_ we trust in him, we are satisfied to stand with him alone.\n\n2. The individual who desires to go this way must be willing to be rich\nor poor, as the Lord pleases. He must be willing to know what it is to\nhave an abundance or scarcely anything. He must be willing to leave this\nworld without any possessions.\n\n3. He must be willing to take the money in God's way, not merely in\nlarge sums, but in small. Again and again have I had a single shilling\ngiven or sent to me. To have refused such tokens of Christian love would\nhave been ungracious.\n\n4. He must be willing to live as the Lord's steward. If any one were to\nbegin this way of living, and did not communicate out of that which the\nLord gives to him, but hoard it up, or if he would live up to his\nincome, as it is called, then the Lord, who influences the hearts of his\nchildren to help him with means, would soon cause those channels to be\ndried up. How it came that my already good income still more increased\nso as to come to what it is, I have stated in the early part of this\nvolume; it was when I determined that, by God's help, _his_ poor and\n_his_ work should more than ever partake of my means. From that time\nthe Lord was pleased more and more to intrust me with means for my own\npurse.\n\nVarious reasons might have kept me from publishing these accounts; but I\nhave for my object in writing the glory of God, and therefore I delight\nin thus showing what a loving Master I serve, and how bountifully he\nsupplies my necessities; and I write for the comfort and encouragement\nof my fellow-believers, that they may be led to trust in God more and\nmore, and therefore I feel it due to them to state how, even with regard\nto this life, I am amply provided for, though that is not what I seek\nafter.\n\nUp to May 26, 1856, the total income for the building fund was L29,297,\n18s. 111/2d., so that only about L5,700 more will be required, as far\nas I am able to see, in order to accomplish to the full my purpose\nrespecting the accommodation for 700 more orphans.\n\n    During the year 1855-1856, the wants of the orphans, as well as\n    the demands of the missionary, Bible, tract, and school work,\n    were supplied more amply than ever before, and a blessing rested\n    upon all these departments of labor, as will appear from the\n    following  statement:--\n\nDuring this year four day schools, with 203 children, were _entirely\nsupported_ by the funds of the Institution; and nine day schools were\nassisted with copies of the Holy Scriptures. Further, one Sunday school,\nwith 158 children, was _entirely supported_, and eight others were\n_assisted_. Lastly, one adult school, with 158 adult scholars, was\n_entirely supported_, and two other adult schools, in Kent and Norfolk,\nwere _assisted_ with books. The amount which was spent during this year,\nin connection with these schools, was L348, 5s. 111/4d.; and the sum\ntotal expended during the last twenty-two years, in connection with the\nschools which were either entirely or in part supported by the funds of\nthis Institution, amounts to L7,552, 18s. 71/2d. The number of all the\nchildren who were under our care, merely in the schools which were\n_entirely_ supported by this Institution, from March 5, 1834, to May 26,\n1856, was 6,104 in the day schools, 2,911 in the Sunday schools, and\n2,611 persons in the adult school. Thus, without reckoning the orphans,\n11,626 have been brought under habitual instruction in the things of God\nin these various schools; besides the many thousands in the schools in\nvarious parts of England, Ireland, Scotland, British Guiana, the East\nIndies, etc., which have been to a greater or less degree assisted.\n\nDuring this year was expended on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures,\nof the funds of this Institution, L496; 10s. There were circulated\nduring this year 2,175 Bibles, 1,233 New Testaments, 119 copies of the\nPsalms, and 155 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. There have\nbeen circulated since March 5, 1834, through the medium of this\nInstitution, 16,124 Bibles, 10,280 New Testaments, 307 copies of the\nPsalms, and 944 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures. The sum\ntotal spent on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, since March 5,\n1834, is L3,886, 0s. 1d.\n\nDuring this year there was spent, of the funds of the Institution, for\nmissionary objects, L2,501, 9s. 1d. By this sum sixty-one laborers in\nthe word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were to a greater\nor less degree assisted.\n\nThe sum total which has been expended on missionary operations, of the\nfunds of the Institution, since March 5, 1834, is L18,616, 9s. 61/2d.\n\nThere was laid out for the circulation of tracts, from May 26, 1855, to\nMay 26, 1856, the sum of L791, 1s. 01/2d., and there were circulated\n812,970 tracts and books. The sum total which has been expended on this\nobject since Nov. 19, 1840, amounts to L3,659, 16s. 71/4d. The total\nnumber of all the tracts and books which have been circulated since Nov.\n19, 1840, is 4,397,680.\n\nAt the beginning of this period there were 297 orphans in the new Orphan\nHouse. During the past year there have been admitted into it 25 orphans.\nThe total number of orphans who have been under our care since April,\n1836, is 622.\n\n_Without any one having been personally applied to for anything by me_,\nthe sum of L84,441, 6s. 31/4d. has been given to me for the orphans,\n_as the result of prayer to God_, since the commencement of the work,\nwhich sum includes the L15,055, 3s. 21/4d. which was the cost of the\nbuilding, fitting up, and furnishing of the present new Orphan House,\nand the L29,297, 18s. 111/2d. received up to May 26, 1856, for the\nbuilding fund, and the L167, 18s. 113/4d., the balance of the current\nexpenses. The total sum which has been given for the other objects since\nthe commencement of the work amounts to L28,904, 11s. 33/4d.; and that\nwhich has come in by the sale of Bibles and tracts, and by the payments\nof the children in the day schools, from the commencement up to May 26,\n1856, amounts to L5,145, 17s.\n\nDec. 31, 1855. During this year the Lord has been pleased to give me\nL726, 16s. 21/4d.\n\nMay 26, 1856. Yesterday evening it was twenty-four years since I came to\nlabor in Bristol. In looking back upon this period, as it regards the\nLord's goodness to my family and myself, the Scriptural Knowledge\nInstitution, and the saints among whom I seek to serve him, I exclaim,\nWhat has God wrought! I marvel at his kindness, and yet I do not; for\nsuch is his manner; and, if it please him that I remain longer on\nearth, I expect, not fewer manifestations of his love, but more and\nmore.\n\nSince my beloved friend and fellow-laborer and I first came to Bristol,\n1,586 believers have been received into fellowship, which number, with\nthe 68 we found in communion, makes 1,654. But out of that number 252\nhave fallen asleep, 53 have been separated from fellowship, 145 have\nleft us, some, however, merely through circumstances and in love, and\n510 have left Bristol; so that there are only 694 remaining in\ncommunion.\n\n    By the contributions received during the year 1856-7, the whole\n    amount on hand for the new buildings was raised to thirty-one\n    thousand eight hundred seventeen pounds one shilling and\n    elevenpence. For the Bible, tract, and missionary work, and for\n    schools, Mr. M. had the pleasure of receiving and of expending\n    eight hundred and twenty-nine pounds more than in the previous\n    year. For the support of the orphans all means were so\n    abundantly provided that at the end of the year there was on\n    hand a balance of one thousand four hundred and eighty-nine\n    pounds.\n\n    The following incident illustrates the author's reliance upon\n    God for his own future support.\n\nOn Oct. 12, 1856, was sent to me a check for one hundred pounds, with\nthe request of the donor to receive this for myself, as the beginning of\nraising a fund for my support when advanced in years, and for that of my\nfamily. This very kind and well-intended proposal by the donor, who\nsince has died, appeared to me as a subtle temptation laid for me,\nthough far from being intended so by him, to depart from the principles\non which I had been acting for twenty-six years previously, both\nregarding myself and the orphan work. I give the account of this\ncircumstance fully, as it may be profitable to one or other of the\nreaders.\n\n                                          * * * * OCT. 11, 1856.\n\n    DEAR SIR:--\n\n    In admiration of the services which you have rendered to poor\n    orphans and mankind in general, I think it right that some\n    provision should be made for yourself. I think it right to send\n    you one hundred pounds, as a beginning to form a fund, which I\n    hope many good Christians will add to, * * * * for the\n    maintenance of you and your family, if your own labors should be\n    unequal to it, and I hope you will lay out this as a beginning\n    accordingly. May God bless you and your labors, as he has\n    hitherto done everything connected with your Institutions.\n\n          I am, dear Sir,\n                          * * * *\n\nBy God's grace I had not a moment's hesitation as to what to do. While I\nmost fully appreciated the great kindness of the donor, I looked upon\nthis as being permitted by God as a temptation to put my trust in\nsomething else than himself, and I therefore sent the following letter\nin reply:--\n\n                                          BRISTOL, OCT. 12, 1856.\n\n    MY DEAR SIR:--\n\n    I hasten to thank you for your kind communication, and to inform\n    you that your check for one hundred pounds has safely come to\n    hand.\n\n    I have no property whatever, nor has my dear wife; nor have I\n    had one single shilling regular salary as minister of the gospel\n    for the last twenty-six years, nor as the director of the Orphan\n    House and the other objects of the Scriptural Knowledge\n    Institution for Home and Abroad. When I am in need of anything,\n    I fall on my knees, and ask God that he would be pleased to give\n    me what I need; and he puts it into the heart of some one or\n    other to help me. Thus all my wants have been amply supplied\n    during the last twenty-six years, and I can say, to the praise\n    of God, I have lacked nothing. My dear wife and my only child, a\n    daughter of twenty-four years, are of the same mind with me. Of\n    this blessed way of living none of us are tired, but become day\n    by day more convinced of its blessedness.\n\n    I have never thought it right to make provision for myself, or\n    my dear wife and daughter, except in this way, that when I saw a\n    case of need, such as an aged widow, or a sick person, or a\n    helpless infant, I would use my means freely which God had given\n    me, fully believing that if either myself, or my dear wife or\n    daughter, at some time or other, should be in need of anything,\n    God would richly repay what was given to the poor, considering\n    it as lent to himself.\n\n    Under these circumstances, I am unable to accept your kindness\n    of the gift of one hundred pounds _towards making a provision\n    for myself and family_; for so I understand your letter. Any\n    gift given to me, unasked for, by those who have it in their\n    heart to help me to supply my personal and family expenses, I\n    thankfully accept; or any donation given to me for the work of\n    God in which I am engaged, I also thankfully accept, as a\n    steward for the orphans, etc.; but your kind gift seems to me\n    especially given to _make a provision for myself_, which I think\n    would be displeasing to my heavenly Father, who has so\n    bountifully given me my daily bread hitherto. But should I have\n    misunderstood the meaning of your letter, be pleased to let me\n    know it. I hold the check till I hear again from you.\n\n    In the mean time, my dear sir, however you meant your letter, I\n    am deeply sensible of your kindness, and daily pray that God\n    would be pleased richly to recompense you for it, both\n    temporally and spiritually.\n\n          I am, dear Sir,\n            Yours very gratefully,\n                          GEORGE MUeLLER.\n\nTwo days after I received a reply, in which the donor desired me to use\nthe one hundred pounds for the support of the orphans, for which object\nI gladly accepted this sum. The day after that I received another one\nhundred pounds from the same donor, and four days after that one\nhundred pounds more, all for the support of the orphans, and all from an\nindividual whom I have never seen.\n\n    In the following words is contained a useful lesson to persons\n    engaged in  business:--\n\nFeb. 24, 1857. Received five pounds as a thank-offering to the Lord for\npreservation from making bad debts the past year. Has it ever occurred\nto the reader that the Lord only can preserve any one engaged in\nbusiness from making bad debts? Has it also occurred to the reader that\noften the Lord is obliged, because we do not use for him, as good\nstewards, that with which he has been pleased to intrust us, to allow\nbad debts to be made? Consider these things, dear Christian reader, you\nwho are engaged in business. If you were engaged in mercantile affairs,\nconnected with hundreds of thousands of pounds, you may by the help of\nGod, be preserved year after year from making bad debts, though several\nmillions of pounds should be turned in the course of a few years,\nprovided you keep before you that you are the Lord's steward, and carry\non business for him; whilst, on the other hand, thousands of pounds may\nbe lost in one single year, out of only a comparatively small business,\nbecause he who carries it on \"withholds more than is meet, and therefore\nit tends to poverty,\" the Lord being obliged by bad debts (as they are\ncalled), which he uses as one of his rods, to deprive his servants of\nthat which was not used aright.\n\n    The review of the year ending May, 1857, presents us with the\n    following  results:--\n\nThere have been during this period four day schools _entirely supported_\nby the funds of this Institution. There are at present in these four day\nschools 181 children.\n\nIn addition to the entire support of these four day schools, six schools\nwere assisted with money, or books, or copies of the Holy Scriptures, or\nboth money and books.\n\nThere was one Sunday school, in which there were 175 children, _entirely\nsupported_ by the funds of this Institution; and six others were\n_assisted_.\n\nThere has been, since the formation of the Institution, one adult school\nconnected with it, the expenses of which have been _entirely_ borne by\nthe Institution, and in which, since March 5, 1834, altogether 2,699\nadults have been instructed. The number at present on the books is 72.\n\nThere were also two other adult schools _assisted_ during the past year.\n\nThe total amount of means which has been expended during the last\ntwenty-three years in connection with the schools, which have been\neither entirely or in part supported by the funds of this Institution,\namounts to L7,938, 13s. 4d.\n\nThe number of Bibles, Testaments, and portions of the Holy Scriptures,\nwhich have been circulated since May 26, 1856, is as follows:--\n\nBibles sold, 601. Bibles given away, 1,476. Testaments sold, 829.\nTestaments given away, 393. Copies of the Psalms sold, 151. Other small\nportions of the Holy Scriptures sold, 316.\n\nThere have been circulated since March 5, 1834, through the medium of\nthis Institution, 18,201 Bibles, 11,502 Testaments, 458 copies of the\nPsalms, and 1,260 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures.\n\nThe total amount of the funds of this Institution spent on the\ncirculation of the Holy Scriptures, since March 5, 1834, is L4,407, 7s.\n21/2d. The amount spent during the past year, L521, 7s. 11/2d.\n\nSome time since a brother in the Lord wrote to me that he had it in his\nheart to visit from house to house, in a large manufacturing town in\nYorkshire, and, if possible, to supply each house with a tract, and to\nseek out persons who were destitute of copies of the Holy Scriptures. I\nsupplied him, therefore, with 10,000 gospel tracts and 30 Bibles, and\nsubsequently with 127 more Bibles, and finally with 10,000 more tracts\nand 74 Bibles.\n\nThe third object of this Institution is, to aid missionary efforts.\n\nDuring the past year has been spent of the funds of the Institution for\nthis object, the sum of L3,177, 17s. 111/2d. By this sum seventy-four\nlaborers in the word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, have\nbeen to a greater or less degree assisted.\n\nThe year before last, I had been enabled to spend on this part of the\nwork more than during any previous year; but the last year I was, by\nGod's help, enabled not only to disburse for this object as much as\nduring the previous year, but L676, 8s. 101/2d. more. For this\nprivilege I feel grateful; yet I long to be permitted by the Lord to do\nmuch more still. But whilst it has been a source of joy to me to be able\nto assist seventy-four servants of Christ in many parts of the world,\nthat which was far more than this a cause of thankfulness, was, that\nalmost week by week, and often repeatedly in the same week, I had\nrefreshing intelligence from the brethren whom I sought to help.\n\n    The letters of these brethren exhibit the fact that the aid\n    conveyed through Mr. M. was most timely, coming often in the\n    hour of sore need. They also give assurance that their labors\n    had been singularly blessed to the conversion of the heathen,\n    and of the ignorant and deluded among whom they preached.\n\nThe total amount of the funds of the Institution which has been spent\non missionary operations, since March 5, 1834, is L21,794, 7s. 6d.\n\nThere has been laid out for tracts, from May 26, 1856, to May 26, 1857,\nthe sum of L975, 18s. 71/2d.; and there have been circulated within the\nlast year 1,313,301 tracts and books. The sum total which has been\nexpended on this object, since Nov. 19, 1840, amounts to L4,635, 15s.\n23/4d.\n\nThe total number of all the tracts and books which have been circulated\nsince Nov. 19, 1840, is 5,710,981.\n\n    Letters from those to whom tracts were sent for distribution,\n    convey the intelligence that in very many instances the tracts\n    were blessed to the conversion of sinners.\n\nAt the commencement of the last period there were 299 orphans in the new\nOrphan House on Ashley Down, Bristol. During the past year there were\nadmitted into it 30 orphans, making 329 in all. When the last Report was\npublished, there were 847 orphans waiting for admission. Since then 231\nmore destitute orphans, bereaved of both parents by death, and some only\na few weeks old, have been applied for to be admitted, making 1,078 in\nall. Of these 1,078 we were only able to receive 30, as has been stated,\nand 58 either died or were otherwise provided for, as their relatives or\nfriends have informed us, so that there are still 990 waiting for\nadmission. Christian reader, think of these 990 destitute orphans,\nbereaved of both parents! I have now, however, before me the most\npleasant prospect, if the Lord permit, of being able to receive 400 of\nthem in about three months, and also of being permitted to build the\nthird house for 300 more.\n\n_Without any one having been personally applied to for anything_ by me,\nthe sum of L92,175, 4s. 21/2d. has been given to me for the orphans,\n_as the result of prayer to God_, since the commencement of the work,\nwhich sum includes the L15,055, 3s. 21/4d. which was the cost of the\nbuilding, fitting up, and furnishing of the present new Orphan House,\nand the L31,817, 1s. 11d., which had been received up to May 26, 1857,\nfor the building fund, and the L1,489, 7s. 9d., the balance of the\ncurrent expenses. It may also be interesting to the reader to know that\nthe total amount which has been given for the other objects, since the\ncommencement of the work, amounts to L33,293, 9s. 101/4d.; and that\nwhich has come in by the sale of Bibles, since the commencement, amounts\nto L2,080, 9s. 101/2d.; by sale of tracts, L1,778, 2s. 5d.; and by the\npayments of the children in the day schools, from the commencement,\nL2,066, 13s. 41/2d.\n\nThe Lord is pleased to continue to allow us to see fruit in connection\nwith the orphan work, with reference to those who are _now_ under our\ncare, and we hear still again and again of cases in which those who were\n_formerly_ under our care, have been led to declare themselves openly\nfor the Lord, besides those in whom we saw the work of grace manifestly\nbegun before they left the Orphan House.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXIV.\n\nCONCLUSION.\n\n1857-1860.\n\n    THE HOUSE FOR FOUR HUNDRED OPENED--PRAYER MORE THAN\n    ANSWERED--THE RESORT IN TROUBLE--AN OUTPOURING OF THE SPIRIT ON\n    THE ORPHANS--LAND FOR A NEW BUILDING PURCHASED--\"BUT ONE LIFE TO\n    SPEND FOR GOD\"--\"SCATTERING, YET INCREASING\"--A MEMORABLE\n    YEAR--THE GERM OF THE IRISH REVIVAL--LETTER FROM AN ORPHAN--THE\n    FRUIT OF SIX MONTHS' PRAYER--THE RESULTS OF THE WORK--REVIVAL\n    AMONG THE ORPHANS.\n\n\n    Under date of Nov. 12, 1857, Mr. M.  writes:--\n\nThe long looked-for and long prayed-for day had now arrived when the\ndesire of my heart was granted to me, to be able to open the house for\nfour hundred additional orphans. Much had I labored in prayer and active\nengagements to accomplish what was to be done previously; and now things\nwere so far advanced as that the new house was ready for use; and a few\ndays after we began to receive the children into it. How precious this\nwas to me, such will be able to enter into, who, having day by day\nprayed for a blessing for seven years, and often repeatedly on the same\nday, at last obtain the desire of their heart. Yet this blessing came\nnot unexpectedly to me, but had been looked for, and had, in the full\nassurance of faith, been expected to be obtained in God's own time.\n\nFeb. 17, 1858. As far as I am able to judge, I have now all I require in\nthe way of pecuniary means for the third house also, so that I am able\nto accomplish the full enlargement of the orphan work to one thousand\norphans.\n\n    By the conclusion of the year under consideration, Mr. M. had\n    received, from all sources, thirty-five thousand three hundred\n    and thirty-five pounds nine shillings threepence toward the new\n    Orphan Houses, \"being actually three hundred and thirty-five\n    pounds nine shillings threepence more than I had been from the\n    commencement praying for.\"\n\n    The following circumstance, connected with the maintenance and\n    care of the orphans, exhibits the reliance placed upon prayer\n    and faith for relief in every  exigency:--\n\nTowards the end of November, 1857, I was most unexpectedly informed that\nthe boiler of our heating apparatus at the new Orphan House, No. 1,\nleaked very considerably, so that it was impossible to go through the\nwinter with such a leak. Our heating apparatus consists of a large\ncylinder boiler, inside of which the fire is kept, and with which boiler\nthe water pipes which warm the rooms are connected. Hot air is also\nconnected with this apparatus. This now was my position. The boiler had\nbeen considered suited for the work of the winter; the having had ground\nto suspect its being worn out, and not to have done anything towards its\nbeing replaced by a new one, and to have said I will trust in God\nregarding it, would be careless presumption, but not faith in God. It\nwould be the counterfeit of faith.\n\nThe boiler is entirely surrounded by brickwork; its state, therefore,\ncould not be known without taking down the brickwork; this, if needless,\nwould be rather injurious to the boiler than otherwise; and as, year\nafter year, for eight winters, we had had no difficulty in this way, we\nhad not anticipated it now. But suddenly and most unexpectedly, at the\ncommencement of the winter, this difficulty occurred. What then was to\nbe done? For the children, especially the younger infants, I felt deeply\nconcerned that they might not suffer through want of warmth. But how\nwere we to obtain warmth? The introduction of a _new_ boiler would, in\nall probability, take many weeks. The _repairing_ of the boiler was a\nquestionable matter, on account of the greatness of the leak; but, if\nnot, nothing could be said of it, till the brick-chamber in which the\nboiler, with Hazard's patent heating apparatus, is inclosed, was, at\nleast in part, removed; but that would, at least as far as we could\njudge, take days, and what was to be done in the mean time to find warm\nrooms for three hundred children? It naturally occurred to me to\nintroduce temporary gas stoves, but, on further weighing the matter, it\nwas found that we should be unable to heat our very large rooms with gas\nexcept we had very many stoves, which we could not introduce, as we had\nnot a sufficient quantity of gas to spare from our lighting apparatus.\nMoreover, for each of these stoves we needed a small chimney, to carry\noff the impure air. This mode of heating, therefore, though applicable\nto a hall, a staircase, or a shop, would not suit our purposes. I also\nthought of the temporary introduction of Arnott's stoves; but they would\nbe unsuitable, as we needed chimneys, long chimneys, for them, as they\nwould have been of a temporary kind, and therefore must go out of the\nwindows. On this account, the uncertainty of its answering in our case,\nthe disfigurement of the rooms almost permanently, led me to see it\nneedful to give up this plan also. But what was to be done? Gladly would\nI have paid one hundred pounds if thereby the difficulty could have been\novercome, and the children not be exposed to suffer for many days from\nbeing in cold rooms. At last I determined on falling entirely into the\nhands of God, who is very merciful and of tender compassion, and I\ndecided on having, at all events, the brick-chamber opened, to see the\nextent of the damage, and to see whether the boiler might be repaired,\nso as to carry us through the winter. The day was fixed when the workmen\nwere to come, and all the necessary arrangements were made. The fire, of\ncourse, had to be let out while the repairs were going on. But now see.\nAfter the day was fixed for the repairs, a bleak north wind set in. It\nbegan to blow either on Thursday or Friday before the Wednesday\nafternoon when the fire was to be let out. Now came the first really\ncold weather which we had in the beginning of last winter, during the\nfirst days of December. What was to be done? The repairs could not be\nput off. I now asked the Lord for two things, viz. that he would be\npleased to change the north wind into a south wind, and that he would\ngive to the workmen \"a mind to work;\" for I remembered how much Nehemiah\naccomplished in fifty-two days, whilst building the walls of Jerusalem,\nbecause \"the people had a mind to work.\" Well, the memorable day came.\nThe evening before, the bleak north wind blew still; but on the\nWednesday the south wind blew: exactly as I had prayed. The weather was\nso mild that no fire was needed. The brickwork is removed, the leak is\nfound out very soon, the boiler-makers begin to repair in good earnest.\nAbout half-past eight in the evening, when I was going to leave the new\nOrphan House for my home, I was informed at the lodge that the acting\nprincipal of the firm whence the boiler-makers came was arrived, to see\nhow the work was going on, and whether he could in any way speed the\nmatter. I went immediately into the cellar, therefore, to see him with\nthe men, to seek to expedite the business. In speaking to the principal\nof this, he said in their hearing, \"the men will work late this evening,\nand come very early again to-morrow.\" \"We would rather, sir,\" said the\nleader, \"work all night.\" Then remembered I the second part of my\nprayer, that God would give the men \"a mind to work.\" Thus it was: by\nthe morning the repair of the boiler was accomplished, the leak was\nstopped, though with great difficulty, and within about thirty hours the\nbrickwork was up again and the fire in the boiler; and all the time the\nsouth wind blew so mildly that there was not the least need of a fire.\n\nHere, then, is one of our difficulties which was overcome by prayer and\nfaith.\n\nFor nearly three months all went on well; but at the end of February\nanother leak appeared, which was worse than the previous one. But over\nthis also we were helped through prayer, so that without any real\ninconvenience the repairs were accomplished within about thirty hours.\nFrom that time the Lord has not tried us any further in this way. While\nI am writing this it is fine warm weather, and I have ordered in both\nhouses the fires to be discontinued in the heating apparatuses, and, the\nLord willing, a new boiler will of course be substituted.\n\nFeb. 2, 1858. \"From Newton\" one pound. To-day I took the first active\nsteps towards the building of the third house, when immediately\nafterwards I was informed by letter that a lady in London, an entire\nstranger to me, had ordered her bankers to send me three hundred pounds\nfor the support of the orphans. I was also further informed in the\nevening that in two weeks eight hundred pounds shall be paid to me for\nthe work of the Lord. The three hundred pounds was sent the next day,\nand the eight hundred pounds a fortnight after. See how, with\nenlargement of the work, the Lord keeps pace with the expenses, helping\nwhen help is really needed, often also giving beforehand.\n\n    During the year 1857-8, twenty-four schools were supported or\n    assisted out of the funds of the Institution, three thousand\n    nine hundred and sixty-three Bibles and portions of Scripture\n    were circulated, and three thousand five hundred and thirty-one\n    pounds expended for the aid of eighty-two laborers in various\n    parts of the world. From these men Mr. Mueller received letters\n    containing the delightful intelligence that their labor had been\n    blessed of the Lord. After giving copious extracts from these\n    letters, Mr. M. adds:--\n\nSuch extracts might be greatly multiplied, and, as I said before, a\nlarge volume might easily be written; but space forbids me giving any\nmore. I feel it, however, due to the Christian reader to state that\nthere is good reason to believe that many hundreds of souls have been\nbrought to the knowledge of the Lord through the instrumentality of\nthese brethren within the last year; and may we not hope that even that\nwhich is known is not nearly all that the Lord has been pleased to\naccomplish through them? How seasonably, often, the help for which I had\nlabored in prayer has come to these dear servants of Christ, the\nfollowing extracts from letters may show, though hundreds of similar\nletters have been received by me within the last twenty years.\n\nMay 19, 1858. \"I gratefully acknowledge the Lord's goodness in the\nreceipt of your check for ten pounds. Being brought low, my dear wife\nand myself, when specially waiting on him last evening, pleaded with the\nLord that he would graciously send a supply this morning; and again we\nhave the proof of his love by your letter and its contents. Bless the\nLord, O my soul! With many thanks to you, in which my dear wife unites,\nI am,\" etc.\n\nFeb. 27, 1858. \"O, how my heart goes out towards you for your\naffectionate remembrance of us in our low estate! _Not a shilling_ had\nwe in the house, nor any human prospect of any money, when your\nremittance of five pounds reached us.\"\n\nA laborer on the Continent writes on Dec. 17, 1857: \"We received\nyesterday your kind note inclosing eight pounds. The very day you sent\nyour letter to the post-office, the 12th instant, was a day set apart\nfor prayer, with fasting, to ask the Lord for means.\"\n\n    There were also circulated during the year 1,334,791 tracts and\n    books. Letters received from the persons who distributed them\n    show that they were greatly blessed in awakening and converting\n    souls.\n\nAt the commencement of the last period there were 299 orphans in the new\nOrphan House on Ashley Down, Bristol. During the past year there were\nadmitted into it, and into the new house for 400, altogether 219\norphans. The total number of orphans who have been under our care since\nApril 11, 1836, is 871.\n\nThe opening of the new house for 400 orphans, which is not a wing of the\nhouse that has been before in existence, but an entirely distinct\nestablishment, and larger than the former, has made it needful to\ndistinguish between these two houses in this way, that the house which\nwas opened on June 18, 1849, is now called the new Orphan House No. 1,\nand the one which was opened on Nov. 12, 1857, is called the new Orphan\nHouse No. 2. The new Orphan House No. 1 is fitted up for the\naccommodation of 140 orphan girls above seven years of age, 80 orphan\nboys above seven years, and 80 male and female orphans from their\nearliest days, till they are about seven or eight years of age. The\ninfants, after having passed the age of seven or eight years, are\nremoved into the different departments for older boys and girls. The new\nOrphan House No. 2 is fitted up for 200 female infant orphans, and for\n200 elder female orphans.\n\n_Without any one having been personally applied to for anything_ by me,\nthe sum of L102,714, 9s. 6d. has been given to me for the orphans, _as\nthe result of prayer to God_, since the commencement of the work, which\nsum includes the amount received for the building fund for the houses\nalready built and the one to be built. It may also be interesting to the\nreader to know that the total amount which has been given for the other\nobjects, since the commencement of the work, amounts to L38,297, 12s.\n111/2d.; and that which has come in by the sale of Bibles since the\ncommencement amounts to L2,222, 4s. 31/2d.; by sale of tracts, L2,294,\n6s. 111/2d., and by the payments of children in the day schools, from\nthe commencement, L2,138, 11s. 41/4d.\n\nDuring the past twenty-two years the Spirit of God has been again and\nagain working among the orphans who were under our care, so that very\nmany of them have been brought to the knowledge of the Lord; but we\nnever had so great a work, and at the same time one so satisfactory,\n_within so short a time_, as during the past year. I will enter somewhat\ninto details for the benefit of the reader. There are one hundred and\nforty elder girls in the new Orphan House No. 1, of whom, at the\nbeginning of the last period, ten were considered to be believers.\n\nOn May 26, 1857, the death of an orphan, Caroline Bailey, took place.\nThe death of this beloved girl, who had known the Lord several months\nbefore she fell asleep, seems to have been used by the Lord as a means\nof answering in a goodly measure our daily prayers for the conversion of\nthe orphans. It pleased God at the beginning of the last period mightily\nto work among the orphans, so that all at once, within a few days,\nwithout any apparent cause, except it be the peaceful end of the beloved\nCaroline Bailey, more than fifty of these girls were brought to be under\nconcern about their souls, and some with deep conviction of sin\naccompanying it, so that they were exceedingly distressed. And how is it\nnow? my readers may ask; for young persons are often apparently much\nconcerned about the things of God, but these impressions pass away.\nTrue, dear reader, I have seen this myself, having had to do with many\nthousands of children and young persons within the last thirty years.\nHad, therefore, this work among the orphans begun within the last few\ndays, or even weeks, I should have passed it over in silence; but more\nthan a year has now elapsed since it commenced, and it will, therefore,\ngive joy to the godly reader to hear that in addition to those ten who\nwere previously believers, and of whom one has been sent to service,\nthere are twenty-three girls respecting whom for several months there\nhas been no doubt as to their being believers; two died in the faith\nwithin the year; and there are thirty-eight more who are awakened and\nunder concern about their souls, but respecting whom we cannot speak as\nyet so decidedly. All this regards only one branch of the Orphan\nEstablishment, the elder girls of the House No. 1. In addition to this,\nI am glad also to be able to state that among the other girls in the New\nHouse No. 2, and among the boys also, some are interested about the\nthings of God; yea, our labors begin already to be blessed to the\nhearts of some of the new received orphans.\n\n    Continuing the narrative of the progress of the new Orphan\n    Houses, Mr. M. writes under date of Oct. 29, 1858:--\n\nIn the last Report I stated that I was looking out for land for the\nthird house. Regarding this, I waited day by day upon God. But for many\nmonths it pleased him to exercise my faith and patience. When, more than\nonce I seemed to have obtained my desire, I again appeared further from\nit than ever. However, I continued to pray and to exercise faith, being\nfully assured that the Lord's time was not yet come, and that, when it\nwas, he would help. And so it proved. At last, in September, 1858, I\nobtained eleven and a half acres of land, quite close to the new Orphan\nHouses No. 1 and No. 2, and only separated from them by the road. On\nthese eleven and a half acres of land a house is built. The price for\nhouse and land was three thousand six hundred and thirty-one pounds\nfifteen shillings, being more money than I should have seen it right to\nexpend on the site, had it not been of the utmost importance that the\nthird house should be quite near the other two, to facilitate the\nsuperintendence and direction of the establishment. Thus, at last, this\nprayer also was answered, concerning which I had been waiting upon God\nfor so many months, and concerning which the difficulties as to sight\nand reason seemed so great, but respecting which my mind was continually\nat peace; for I was sure that, as I was doing God's work, he would, in\nhis own time, help me in this particular also. The longer I go on in\nthis service, the more I find that prayer and faith can overcome every\ndifficulty.\n\nHaving now obtained land, and so much, my desire was to make the best\nuse of it, and to build for four hundred orphans, instead of for three\nhundred, as I had previously purposed to do. After having had several\nmeetings with the architects, and finding that it was possible to\naccommodate, with comparatively little more expense, four hundred and\nfifty orphans, instead of four hundred, I finally determined on that\nnumber, so as to have eventually one thousand one hundred and fifty\norphans under my care, instead of one thousand, as for several years\npreviously had been contemplated. The greatness of the number of\ndestitute children bereaved of both parents by death,--together with the\ngreatness of the Lord's blessing, which has during all these many years\nrested upon my service in this way,--and the greatness of the Lord's\nhelp in giving me assistants and helpers in the work as well as\nmeans,--and, above all, the deep realization that I have but one life to\nspend for God on earth, and that that one life is but a brief\nlife;--these were the reasons which led me to this further enlargement.\nTo this determination of a still further enlargement _I came solely in\ndependence upon the living God for help_, though the increase of expense\nfor the building fund, on account of the purchase of the land, and\naccommodation to be built for the additional one hundred and fifty\norphans more than had been from the beginning contemplated, would not be\nless than from six thousand to seven thousand five hundred pounds _more_\nthan I had originally expected the total of the premises, which were to\nbe erected, would cost; and though, in addition to this, the yearly\nadditional expenditure for the maintenance of these one hundred and\nfifty orphans, beyond the intended number of one thousand, could not be\nless than one thousand eight hundred pounds a year. But none of these\ndifficulties discouraged me.\n\nNov. 27. It is this day a twelvemonth since we began to receive fresh\nchildren into the new Orphan House No. 2. Since then the mercies of the\nLord have been very many, and his help has been very great. There have\nbeen received from Nov. 27, 1857, to Nov. 27, 1858, altogether three\nhundred and eight orphans. Such a year I never spent in this\nservice,--one so full of help and blessing in every way.\n\nJan. 4, 1859. Received seven thousand pounds, which was entirely left at\nmy disposal, as the work of God in which I am engaged might more\nespecially require it. When I decided at the end of October, 1858, to\nbuild for four hundred and fifty orphans, instead of three hundred, I\nneeded several thousand pounds more, and was fully assured that God\nwould give me the required means, because in reliance upon him, and for\nthe honor of his name, I had determined on this enlargement; and now\nsee, esteemed reader, how the Lord honored this my faith in him!\n\nJan. 12. From Westerham, in eighty-eight small donations, L4, 8s. 6d.\nWithout my knowledge these eighty-eight small donations had been\ncontributed, and were sent to me.\n\nMay 26. During the year now closing, four thousand one hundred and\nforty-nine-pounds seventeen shillings fivepence was expended in aid of\nninety-one brethren laboring in England, Scotland, Ireland, Belgium,\nFrance, Switzerland, Sardinia, Canada, Nova Scotia, East Indies, China,\nand British Guiana. Also, during the past year 1,885,401 tracts and\nbooks have been circulated.\n\nAt the commencement of the last period there were four hundred and\nninety-nine orphans in the new Orphan Houses No. 1 and No. 2. On May 26,\n1859, there were six hundred and seventy-two orphans in the two houses,\n_i. e._ in No. 1, 299, and in No. 2, 373. The total number of orphans\nwho have been under our care since April 11, 1836, is 1,083.\n\nThough during the past year we have not had so great and so sudden a\nwork of the Spirit of God going on among the orphans as during the\nprevious year, when, within a few days, above fifty out of one\ndepartment of one hundred and forty girls were suddenly brought under\ndeep concern about their souls; yet, the blessing of the Lord has not\nbeen withheld even spiritually. There are already many caring about the\nthings of God among the four hundred and twenty-four orphans who were\nreceived within the last eighteen months, and who ask it, as a\nprivilege, to be allowed, in the summer, to take their Bibles with them\nto bed, so that, should they awake in the morning before the bell is\nrung, they may be able to read it. Out of the thirteen girls who were\nsent to service, nine had been believers for some time before they left\nthe establishment.\n\nWhen I began the orphan work, one of the especial objects which I had in\nview was to benefit the church of Christ at large, by the accounts which\nI might be enabled to write in connection with this service; for I\nexpected, from the beginning, to have many answers to prayer granted to\nme, and I confidently anticipated that the recording of them would be\nbeneficial to believers, in leading them to look for answers to their\nown prayers, and in encouraging them to bring all their own necessities\nbefore God in prayer. I likewise firmly believed that many unconverted\npersons would, by means of such writings, be led to see the reality of\nthe things of God. As I expected, so it has been. In very many instances\nthe reading of the Reports of this Institution, or the \"Narrative of the\nLord's Dealings\" with me, has been blessed by God to the conversion of\nthose who knew not our Lord Jesus. In thousands of instances, likewise,\nbelievers have been benefited through them, being thereby comforted,\nencouraged, led more simply to the Holy Scriptures, led more fully to\ntrust in God for everything; in a word, led, in a greater or less\ndegree, to walk in the same path of faith in which the writer, by the\nhelp of God, is walking. The thousands of instances of blessing which\nhave been brought before me during the past twenty-four years (for\nalmost daily I have heard of fresh cases, and often of several on the\nsame day), have only still further led me to earnestness in prayer, that\nthe Lord would condescend to use these publications still more, and make\nthem a blessing to many tens of thousands of his children, and to many\ntens of thousands of the unconverted. And now the reader will rejoice\nwith me, when he reads what follows. I am the more led to relate the\nfollowing, that the godly reader more than ever may be encouraged to\nprayer, and, also, that an _accurate_ statement may be given of this\nfact, which has been already referred to in many public places in\nconnection with revival-meetings, and which likewise has been several\ntimes stated in print.\n\nIn November, 1856, a young Irishman, Mr. James McQuilkin, was brought to\nthe knowledge of the Lord. Soon after his conversion he saw my Narrative\nadvertised. He had a great desire to read it, and procured it\naccordingly, about January, 1857. God blessed it greatly to his soul,\nespecially in showing to him what could be obtained by prayer. He said\nto himself something like this: See what Mr. Mueller obtains simply by\nprayer. Thus _I_ may obtain blessing by prayer. He now set himself to\npray that the Lord would give him a spiritual companion, one who knew\nthe Lord. Soon after, he became acquainted with a young man who knew the\nLord. These two began a prayer meeting in one of the Sunday schools in\nthe parish of Connor. Having his prayer answered in obtaining a\nspiritual companion, Mr. James McQuilkin asked the Lord to lead him to\nbecome acquainted with some more of his hidden ones. Soon after, the\nLord gave him two more young men, who knew the Lord previously, as far\nas he could judge. In autumn, 1857, Mr. James McQuilkin stated to these\nthree young men, given him in answer to believing prayer, what blessing\nhe had derived from my Narrative,--how it had led him to see the power\nof believing prayer; and he proposed that they should meet for prayer,\nto seek the Lord's blessing upon their various labors in the Sunday\nschools, prayer meetings, and preachings of the gospel. Accordingly, in\nautumn, 1857, these four young men met together for prayer in a small\nschoolhouse near the village of Kells, in the parish of Connor, every\nFriday evening. On January 1, 1858, the Lord gave them the first\nremarkable answer to prayer in the conversion of a farm servant. He was\ntaken into the number, and thus there were five who gave themselves to\nprayer. Shortly after, another young man, about twenty years old, was\nconverted; there were now six. This greatly encouraged the other three\nwho first had met with Mr. James McQuilkin. Others now were converted,\nwho were also taken into the number; but only believers were admitted to\nthese fellowship meetings, in which they read, prayed, and offered to\neach other a few thoughts from the Scriptures. These meetings, and\nothers for the preaching of the gospel, were held in the parish of\nConnor, Antrim, Ireland. Up to this time all was going on most quietly,\nthough many souls were converted. There were no physical prostrations,\nas afterwards. About Christmas, 1858, a young man from Ahoghill, who had\ncome to live at Connor, and who had been converted through this little\ncompany of believers, went to see his friends at Ahoghill, and spoke to\nthem about their own souls and the work of God at Connor. His friends\ndesired to see some of these converts. Accordingly, Mr. James McQuilkin,\nwith two of the first who met for prayer, went, on February 2, 1859, and\nheld a meeting at Ahoghill in one of the Presbyterian churches. Some\nbelieved, some mocked, and others thought there was a great deal of\npresumption in these young converts; yet many wished to have another\nmeeting. This was held by the same three young men, on February 16,\n1859; and now the Spirit of God began to work, and to work mightily.\nSouls were converted, and from that time conversions multiplied rapidly.\nSome of these converts went to other places, and carried the spiritual\nfire, so to speak, with them. The blessed work of the Spirit of God\nspread in _many places_. On April 5, 1859, Mr. James McQuilkin went to\nBallymena, held a meeting there in one of the Presbyterian churches, and\non April 11 held another meeting in another of the Presbyterian\nchurches. Several were convinced of sin, and the work of the Spirit of\nGod went forward in Ballymena. On May 28, 1859, he went to Belfast.\nDuring the first week, there were meetings held in five different\nPresbyterian churches, and from that time the blessed work commenced at\nBelfast. In all these visits he was accompanied and helped by Mr.\nJeremiah Meneely, one of the three young men who first met with him\nafter the reading of my Narrative. From this time the work of the Holy\nGhost spread further and further; for the young converts were used by\nthe Lord to carry the truth from one place to another.\n\nSuch was the _beginning_ of that mighty work of the Holy Spirit, which\nhas led to the conversion of many tens of thousands, and which is still\ngoing on even in Ireland, and the blessed results of which are still\nfelt in Scotland, England, and other countries. It is almost needless to\nadd, that in no degree the honor is due to the instruments, but to the\nHoly Spirit alone; yet these facts are stated in order that it may be\nseen what delight God has in answering abundantly the believing prayers\nof his children.\n\nSeeing, then, how greatly he has condescended to own these records\nregarding his willingness to listen to prayer, made to him in the name\nof the Lord Jesus, I am delighted, at the close of another year, in\nconnection with this Institution, to recount a few of the very many\ninstances in which God has been pleased to answer our prayers, and to\ngrant blessing to rest upon the various objects of this Institution;\nyea, blessing greater far than during any part of the past twenty-six\nyears, while it has been in operation.\n\n    Up to May 26, 1860, Mr. M. received for the building fund the\n    sum of L45,113, 14s. 41/2d.\n\nIn May, 1859, I had in hand for the Bible, school, tract, and missionary\nfunds, L2,009, 11s. 21/2d., a balance far greater than I ever had had\nbefore. This arose not from the fact of unwillingness to spend the means\nwhich the Lord had been pleased to intrust me with, but chiefly from the\nfact that some large donations had come in during the last part of the\nprevious year; and I had not, as a steward who desires to act in the\nfear of God, had opportunities brought before me to spend all. But much\nas the balance was, all the various schools, directly or indirectly\nconnected with the Institution, required means; the circulation of the\nHoly Scriptures and tracts, which objects increase more and more, needed\nmuch, in order to enter every suitable open door; and lastly, and\nespecially, the ninety-one preachers of the gospel in various parts of\nthe world, on my list on May 26, 1859, required a large sum to aid them.\nAll these various objects, therefore, needed so much, that the balance,\nlarge as it was, would have lasted but a short time, had not the living\nGod, who has been my helper from the beginning, and to whom I have\nlooked, and looked alone, opened, in answer to our prayers, his\nbountiful hands, and sent in more before the balance was expended; so\nthat, though without any human probability of meeting even one half of\nthe probable expenses in connection with these objects, not only have I\nbeen able to meet the whole, but also, so bountifully has God helped,\nthat though the expenses were L1,584, 7s. 33/4d. more than during the\npreceding year, I had not only enough, but even a larger balance was\nleft than at the end of the previous year.\n\nJan. 31, 1860. On this day I received a donation of three thousand\npounds, of which I took for these objects two thousand pounds. Day by\nday, during this period also, I had been asking the Lord for means for\nthese objects; and day by day I had been entreating him that he would be\npleased to enable me to accomplish during this period as much as during\nthe former one in the way of circulating the Holy Scriptures and tracts,\nand in aiding missionary operations, though I had no natural prospect\nwhatever of being able to do so. My eyes were alone directed to the\nliving God, who year after year for many years past had allowed me to\nincrease the operations of these three objects, notwithstanding the\ncontinual increase of expense in connection with the orphan work; and\nthus I expected, fully expected, though all appearance was against it,\nthat during this period also I should be again helped by God, the living\nGod. Think, then, Christian reader, how great my spiritual refreshment,\nwhen, by this one donation in a great measure, I saw these my daily\nprayers being again answered. In like manner may you, in your sphere of\nservice, in your family affairs, in your business, in your profession,\nin your various temporal or spiritual necessities, have your prayers\nanswered.\n\nDec. 9, 1859. To-day it is twenty-four years since the orphan work\ncommenced. What has God wrought! There have been received since then\naltogether 1,129 orphans, and during the last two years and two months\nalone 469, so greatly has the work increased of late. We have now 700\norphans under our care.\n\nDec. 10. The following letter was received to-day from an apprentice:--\n\n    MOST BELOVED SIR:\n\n    With feelings of gratitude and great thankfulness to you for all\n    the kindness I experienced whilst under your care, and for now\n    apprenticing me to a suitable trade whereby I can earn my own\n    living, I write you these few lines. I arrived at my destined\n    abode in safety, and was kindly received by my master and\n    mistress. Dear sir, I thank you for the education, food,\n    clothing, and for every comfort; but, above all, for the\n    instruction from God's word which I received when in that happy\n    Orphan House; for it was there I was brought to know Jesus as my\n    Saviour; and I hope to have him as my guide through all my\n    difficulties, temptations, and trials in this world; and, having\n    him for my guide, I hope to prosper in my trade, and thereby\n    show my gratitude to you for all the kindness I have received.\n    Please to accept my gratitude and thanks; and I hope you will be\n    spared many, many more years, to care for poor destitute\n    children like me. I am sure I shall often look back with\n    pleasure and regret to the time I was in that happy home;--with\n    pleasure that I lived there, and regret that I left it. Begging\n    you to accept my grateful thanks, and with my kind love to Mr.\n    L----, Mr. B----, Mr. W----, and Mr. S----,\n\n           I am, dear sir,\n             Yours gratefully,\n                              * * * *\n\nThe Christian reader, I doubt not, in perusing such letters, will with\nus thank God for condescending to give such blessing, such abundant\nblessing, to our labors.\n\nFeb. 14, 1860. Two pounds ten shillings sixpence, with the following\nletter:--\n\n    MY DEAR BROTHER IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST:\n\n    Will you please to accept an order for two pounds ten shillings\n    sixpence by the same post, for the dear orphans under your care?\n    The history of this small sum is as follows. About seven and a\n    half years ago your Narrative was put into my hands, which the\n    Lord very greatly blessed to my soul. Six years and eleven\n    months ago I was enabled to cast myself, my wife and family,\n    upon the Lord, and look to _Him alone_ for the supply of our\n    temporal necessities while laboring in his glorious cause. From\n    that time to the present we have had no claims upon any person\n    for a single penny; nor have we made known our wants to any, or\n    applied to any person for help, but to our heavenly Father\n    alone; and he has supplied our need and not suffered us to be\n    confounded, blessed be his name! My dear wife, as well as\n    myself, from the very first had a strong desire to help you a\n    _little_ in your blessed work of love and labor of faith; but,\n    for a long time, owing to the continued ill-health of my wife,\n    and the growing expenses of our family, we never seemed to have\n    any money to spare; so all we did was to _wish, desire_, and\n    _talk about it_, and say how happy we should be if the Lord\n    would enable us to do so. At length, we both felt we were acting\n    wrong, and on the eighth of August last we solemnly decided we\n    would give the Lord back a tenth of the money he was pleased to\n    send us, though at that time we were very poor, I may add in\n    deeper poverty than we had ever been before; yet, under those\n    circumstances, we were enabled in the strength of the Lord to\n    come to the above decision and act up to it that very morning;\n    and the peace and joy we both felt it is in vain for me to\n    attempt to describe. The Lord has kept us firm ever since, and\n    instead of having less for our own use, we have had even more;\n    so, dear sir, this sum is the fruit of six months' prayers.\n    Pardon me for troubling you with so long an account of so\n    trifling a sum; but I want you to bless our heavenly Father for\n    his goodness to us his unworthy servants, and to remember us in\n    your petitions at a throne of grace.\n\n          I am, my dear brother,\n            Yours very affectionately and respectfully,\n                                                       * * * *\n\nDuring the year 1859-60 there have been received for the orphans 3,542\nseparate sums. Of these there were 1,494 under 5s., 560 above 5s. and\nnot exceeding 10s., 614 above 10s. and not exceeding L1, 288 above L1\nand not exceeding L2, 411 above L2 and not exceeding L5, 93 above L5 and\nnot exceeding L10, 49 above L10 and not exceeding L20, 10 above L20 and\nunder L50, 11 of L50, 1 of L59, 19s. 9d., 1 of L62, 17s., 1 of L89, 4s.,\n1 of L96, 12s. 3d., 5 of L100, 2 of L500, and 1 of L1,500. Among these\ndonations were some from East India, Australia, Cape of Good Hope,\nSaxony, Holland, South America, United States, from vessels on the\nocean, and from missionaries among the heathen.\n\nDuring the year under consideration twenty-three schools in England were\nsupported or aided by the funds of the Institution. In all of these the\nteachers are persons of piety, and instruction is given not only in\nsecular knowledge, but in the way of salvation. Without reckoning the\norphans, 13,124 souls have been brought under _habitual_ instruction in\nthe things of God in these various schools; besides the many thousands\nin the schools in the various parts of England, Ireland, Scotland,\nBritish Guiana, the West Indies, the East Indies, etc., which have been\nto a greater or less degree assisted.\n\nThe total amount of means which has been expended during the last\ntwenty-six years in connection with the schools, which have been either\nentirely or in part supported by the funds of this Institution, amounts\nto L9,275, 0s. 81/2d.\n\nThe number of Bibles, Testaments, and portions of the Holy Scriptures,\nwhich have been circulated since May 26, 1859, is as follows: Bibles\nsold, 579. Bibles given away, 1,120. Testaments sold, 409. Testaments\ngiven away, 725. Copies of the Psalms sold, 63. Other small portions of\nthe Holy Scriptures sold, 248.\n\nThere have been circulated since March 5, 1834, through the medium of\nthis Institution, 24,768 Bibles, 15,100 Testaments, 719 copies of the\nPsalms, and 1,876 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures.\n\nThe amount of the funds of the Institution spent during the past year on\nthe circulation of the Holy Scriptures is L398, 3s. 7d. The total amount\nspent since March 5, 1834, is L5,681, 13s. 31/2d.\n\nDuring the past year has been spent of the funds of the Institution, in\naid of missionary efforts at home and abroad, the sum of L5,019, 6s. 1d.\nBy this sum one hundred and one laborers in the word and doctrine, in\nvarious parts of the world, have been to a greater or less degree\nassisted. It is an interesting fact that these laborers are located in\nEngland, Scotland, Ireland, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Sardinia,\nCanada, Nova Scotia, East India, China, and British Guiana.\n\nThe laborers aided by the Institution were peculiarly blessed during the\nyear 1859-60. While the preaching of those laboring in _foreign_ lands\nwas very useful, the brethren preaching in Ireland and Scotland were\nsignally favored with success, and were permitted to see in a wonderful\nmeasure the fruit of their prayers and toils. A single extract only can\nbe given from the letter of a laborer in Scotland.\n\nA devoted servant of Christ has been laboring in a manufacturing town in\nScotland, where, by means of schools, Bible classes, visiting from house\nto house, and preaching the gospel among thousands of the most wretched,\nmost debased, and most ignorant, he seeks to win souls for the Lord. In\nthis service he has been going on year after year. In a measure his\nlabors had been blessed up to the period of the last Report, but far\nmore abundantly since, as the following account, given by himself to me\nin a letter dated Oct. 28, 1859, will show:--\n\n\"This month, through which we have passed, has brought me to a point in\nmy history which for years I have contemplated and looked forward to\nwith deeper and more intense desire than to any anticipated event in my\nwhole life. More than thirty years ago there sprang up in my soul a\nlonging and craving for the effusion of the Holy Ghost on the church and\non the world, such as would extend throughout the whole of Scotland. For\nthis I have labored, and spoken, and prayed increasingly. As I grew\nolder, the craving for this blessing grew stronger. To see it became the\nruling passion of my soul, and, as years rolled away, my hope of seeing\nit realized strengthened apace. On this season of expected blessing we\nseem at length to have entered. The religious movement is creeping\nsteadily along the whole of the west of Scotland. It has not acquired a\nsudden or very powerful momentum. We are, so far as I can judge, in the\ninitiatory stage in all the points where the work has found a\nsettlement. A sound has gone out as from the Lord; the rumor travels on,\nand in its course awakens the careless, opens the ear, quickens the\nattention, and everywhere is making preparation for something coming.\nThis note of preparation is calling the people together. Their ear is\nopen to listen. In every place this hearing is bringing faith in its\ntrain; men are turning to God; intensity is given to those silent cases\nof conviction where for months or years there has been concern ebbing\nand flowing with circumstances. Not a few of these have come to light\nthrough their concern all at once ripening into deep distress. Forced\nout of the old ruts in which they have moved, they are forced to venture\ntheir all into the hands of Jesus, and are set at liberty. Such has been\nthe process at work here. I am continually falling in with solitary\ncases, and a number of these have found peace. It would take far more\ntime than I can spare to record their history, and how they obtained\ndeliverance.\"\n\nThe total amount of the funds of the Institution which has been spent on\nmissionary operations since March 5, 1834, is L34,495, 3s. 4d.\n\nThere has been laid out for tracts and books, from May 26, 1859, to May\n26, 1860, the sum of L1,650, 11s. 43/4d.; and there have been\ncirculated within the last year 2,562,001 tracts and books. The sum\ntotal which has been expended on this object, since Nov. 19, 1840,\namounts to L8,064, 12s. 61/2d. The total number of all the tracts and\nbooks which have been circulated since Nov. 19, 1840, is 11,493,174.\n\nDuring the past year there were again circulated 676,600 tracts and\nbooks more than during the year before. The great number of laborers for\nGod who have been raised up for service within the last two years in\nvarious parts of the world, and the mighty working of the Spirit of God,\nwhich has created in multitudes a desire gladly to receive tracts and\nbooks, account for this. Nor is there in these two particulars a\ndecrease, but a continual increase. So great has been the call for\ntracts that of late we have sent out repeatedly 100,000 in one week, for\ngratuitous circulation, and sometimes even more than this. When the\nmighty working of the Spirit of God commenced in Ireland, I sought from\nthe beginning to send very large supplies of tracts to Belfast and\nelsewhere, in order that thus the holy flame might be fanned, as it\nwere, and that in the very outset the simplicity of the gospel might be\nset before the young converts. About two millions of the tracts and\nbooks circulated during the past year were given away _gratuitously_.\nHundreds of believers have been engaged in spreading them abroad, not\nmerely in many parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland, but in various\nother parts of the world.\n\nAt the commencement of the last period, there were 672 orphans in the\nnew Orphan Houses No. 1 and No. 2. During the past year were admitted\ninto the two houses 70 orphans. On May 26, 1860, there were just 700\norphans under our care, our full number in the two houses, _i. e._ in\nNo. 1, 300, in No. 2, 400. The total number of orphans who have been\nunder our care since April 11, 1836, is 1,153.\n\n_Without any one having been personally applied to for anything_ by me,\nthe sum of L133,528, 14s. has been given to me for the orphans, _as the\nresult of prayer to God_, since the commencement of the work, which sum\nincludes the amount received for the building fund for the houses\nalready built and the one to be built. It may also be interesting to the\nreader to know that the total amount which has been given for the other\nobjects since the commencement of the work amounts to L51,777, 14s.\n11d.; and that which has come in by the sale of Bibles, since the\ncommencement, amounts to L2,530, 4s. 51/2d.; by sale of tracts, L3,546,\n19s. 11/4d.; and by the payments of the children in the day schools,\nfrom the commencement, L2,304, 18s. 9d. Besides this, also, a great\nvariety and number of articles of clothing, furniture, provisions, etc.,\nhave been given _for the use_ of the orphans.\n\nDay after day, and year after year, by the help of God, we labor in\nprayer for the spiritual benefit of the orphans under our care. These\nour supplications, which have been for twenty-four years brought before\nthe Lord concerning them, have been abundantly answered in former years\nin the conversion of hundreds from among them. We have also had repeated\nseasons in which, within a short time, or even all at once, _many_ of\nthe orphans were converted. Such a season we had about three years\nsince, when within a few days about sixty were brought to believe in the\nLord Jesus; and such seasons we have had again twice during the past\nyear. The first was in July, 1859, when the Spirit of God wrought so\nmightily in one school of 120 girls, as that very many, yea, more than\none half, were brought under deep concern about the salvation of their\nsouls. This work, moreover, was not a mere momentary excitement; but,\nafter more than eleven months have elapsed, there are 31 concerning whom\nthere is _full_ confidence as to their conversion, and 32 concerning\nwhom there is likewise a goodly measure of confidence, though not to the\nsame amount as regarding the 31. There are therefore 63 out of the 120\norphans in that one school who are considered to have been converted in\nJuly, 1859. This blessed and mighty work of the Holy Spirit cannot be\ntraced to any particular cause. It was, however, a most precious answer\nto prayer. As such we look upon it, and are encouraged by it to further\nwaiting upon God. The second season of the mighty working of the Holy\nSpirit among the orphans, during the past year, was at the end of\nJanuary and the beginning of February, 1860. The particulars of it are\nof the deepest interest. A very profitable pamphlet might be written on\nthe subject. I have prayed again and again for guidance how to act, and\nhave at last come to the decision _not_ to relate the details, lest the\ndear children, who would recognize themselves in the description, should\nbe injured; for my experience of laboring twenty-six years among\nchildren, and of having had to deal with so _many very young believers_,\nhas led me to the full conviction _that it is injurious to make them\nprominent_. If God makes them prominent by using them as evidently he is\nusing children in these days, we have only to admire and to praise; but\nthis is very different from ourselves making them prominent. I must\ntherefore content myself by stating that this great work of the Spirit\nof God in January and February, 1860, began among the younger class of\nthe children under our care, little girls of about six, seven, eight,\nand nine years old; then extended to the older girls, and then to the\nboys; so that within about ten days above 200 of the orphans were\nstirred up to be anxious about their souls, and in _many_ instances\nfound peace _immediately_, through faith in our Lord Jesus. They at once\nrequested to be allowed to hold prayer meetings among themselves, and\nhave had these meetings ever since. Many of them also manifested a\nconcern about the salvation of their companions and relations, and spoke\nor wrote to them about the way to be saved. Should the believing reader\ndesire to know how it has been with these children since the end of\nJanuary and the beginning of February, our reply is, we have, in most\ncases, cause for thankfulness. The present state of the 700 orphans,\nspiritually, is, that there are 118 under our care, regarding whose\nconversion we have full confidence; 89 regarding whom we have also\nconfidence, though not to that full degree as concerning the 118; and 53\nwhom we consider in a hopeful state. To these 260 are to be added the 14\nwho were sent out as believers, and the three who died in the faith\nduring the past year. It is to be remembered that very many of the\nchildren in the Orphan Houses are quite young, as we have received them\nfrom four months old and upward. During no year have we had greater\ncause for thanksgiving on account of the spiritual blessing among the\nchildren than during the last; AND YET WE LOOK FOR FURTHER AND GREATER\nBLESSING STILL.\n\n\n\n\nAPPENDIX.\n\n\nMr. Mueller is constantly receiving not only contributions in money, but\na great variety of useful articles, which are regularly sent to a shop\nprovided for their sale. The following list of such articles, given\nanonymously during the first six months of the year 1859-60, will not be\nwithout interest to the reader, as showing by what an endless diversity\nof means resources are furnished for the work in which Mr. M. is\nengaged:--\n\n    JUNE. A bead bag, a bouquet-holder, 6 gilt brooches, a gilt\n    bracelet, a waist-buckle, and an agate heart.--5 pairs of\n    knitted travelling shoes, a compass and thermometer, a\n    court-plaster case, a guinea piece, 2 half franc pieces, a\n    copper coin, 4 rings, a brooch, a gold pencil-case, a pair of\n    earrings, top of a seal, and a gold waist-buckle.--A silver\n    watch guard; a small brooch, a breastpin, and a ring.--12 pairs\n    of garters.--A sofa tidy.--A small stereoscopic box. 6 frocks, 6\n    shirts, 4 pocket handkerchiefs, 2 pairs of socks, 2 nightcaps,\n    12 kettle-holders, 2 pairs of wristlets, 4 thimbles, 2 brooches,\n    steel slides, a bracelet, and waist-buckle. A bead mat, 2 bags,\n    a penwiper, 3 book-marks, and a scent-bag.--A pencil, 2 pairs of\n    spectacles, a smelling-bottle, a pocketbook, some gloves,\n    stockings, combs, and various articles of clothing, etc.,\n    together with a half-sovereign.\n\n    JULY. An old silver watch, an old metal watch, and an old\n    shilling.--2 coats, 1 jacket, one waistcoat, 1 pair of trousers,\n    and 1 pair of garters. 5 dresses, a body, and 2 shillings.--9\n    penwipers, 4 babies' shirts, 9 mats, 1 pair of baby's boots, 2\n    nightcaps, 6 pinafores, 2 pairs of watch pockets, 1 ribbon mat,\n    1 pincushion, 2 needlebooks, and 3 book-markers.--2 dolls, 2\n    dolls' hats, a pair of bracelets, a pincushion, a needlebook, a\n    shaving cloth, a sampler, 2 pairs of cuffs, a kettle-holder, a\n    penwiper, a pair of baby's shoes, a book-mark, a bag, a\n    watch-guard, a pinafore, and a pamphlet.--2 buckles, a\n    smelling-bottle, some mock pearls, 3 hair bracelets, a hair\n    ring, and a wig.\n\n    AUGUST. Some fancy envelopes.--A ring, 2 shirt studs, and a\n    watch-hook.--A pattern for a collar.--A ring from Stroud.--12\n    new bonnets.--A brooch, a bracelet, a book-marker, some cuffs, a\n    pattern for work, and some trimming.--A frame for ladies'\n    work.--\"From the friend at Devizes,\" 2 skirts of dresses, a\n    jacket, and a shawl.--Some pencil lead for polishing.--Some\n    knitting and sewing cotton.--2 old wedding rings.--3 balls.--8\n    book-marks, 4 postage-stamp cases, and 6 pincushions.\n\n    SEPTEMBER. A parcel containing some worsted, some brass\n    thimbles, bodkins, and needles.--4 black ostrich feathers, 1\n    white ditto, 4 colored drawings.--3 pairs of socks, 6 pairs of\n    stockings, and 2 waistcoats.--A pair of patent renovators (or\n    flesh gloves).--A small work-bag of silk and straw.--A guinea\n    piece, a lace habit shirt, a pair of lace sleeves, and a French\n    cambric handkerchief.--3 collars, 1 pocket handkerchief, and 1\n    pair of sleeves.--2 flannel petticoats, a table cover, a silver\n    wine-strainer, a silver marrow spoon, 1 sugar spoon, a punch\n    ladle, 6 chemises, and 6 pinafores.--A small hamper of books.--1\n    alpaca coat, 1 check waistcoat, 1 pair of trousers, 3 pairs of\n    shoes, 1 travelling cap, 1 pair of spectacles in case, 2 pairs\n    of boots, 2 muffetees, 1 pair of gaiters, 1 pair of boots, 8\n    copper pens, 1 pair of slippers, 1 black leather bag, 1 pair of\n    new boots, 1 coat, 1 waistcoat, 5 pairs of gloves, 1 pair of\n    braces, a necktie, a dressing box, 2 brushes, 3 razors, a\n    stiletto, a pair of spectacles, and 2 pieces of teeth set in\n    gold.--12 book covers, 7 small ditto, 1 small box, 4 ditto in\n    one.--A large box of toys.--A collar.--A large tea chest,\n    containing 160 articles of ladies' dress, etc.--A dress, 3\n    bodies, 3 berthas, a waistband, a pair of cuffs, a feather, an\n    ornament for the hair, some artificial flowers, some whalebone,\n    and some pieces of ribbon.--A cloth mantle, a velvet jacket, and\n    a muslin ditto.\n\n    OCTOBER. 3 pairs of crotchet ladies' slippers, and 1 pair of\n    child's ditto.--A pair of gilt bracelets, a collar, a pair of\n    cuffs, and a pair of worked sleeves.--2 paper mats, a bead\n    ditto, a plaister case, 3 needlebooks, 5 small cushions, 4\n    pincushions, 2 penwipers, a book-mark, 2 little baskets, a\n    little bag, a doll, a pair of candlestick ornaments, and 6\n    napkin rings. The parcel also contained 5s. from\n    \"Hephzibah.\"--An urn-stand, a bag, and a mat.--A collar.--6\n    pence purses.--3 dolls' bonnets.--\"A Canadian lady's purse.\"--9\n    pairs of boots, 3 pairs of shoes, and a single boot, all new.\n\n    NOVEMBER. A box containing 5 bonnets, 2 muslin jackets, 1 silk\n    ditto, 1 silk body, 3 muslin dresses, 1 silk ditto, 1 barege\n    skirt, 18 pairs of fine stockings, 17 pairs of coarse ditto, 3\n    pairs of boots, 3 stockings, 10 chemises, 3 pairs of drawers, 5\n    nightdresses, some pieces of ribbon, and a few artificial\n    flowers.--6 pairs of night socks.--A riding habit, a box, a silk\n    body, some velvet trimming, some satin ditto, 2 waistbands, some\n    fringe, some satin ribbon, a feather, a scarf, a veil, and a\n    pair of woollen sleeves.--3 silver coins.--A silver tablespoon,\n    some satin trimming, and a frill.--4 dresses, a skirt, a jacket,\n    3 children's skirts, and 2 frocks.--A small gold pencil-case, a\n    gold breastpin, and a pair of small gold earrings.--A collar.--3\n    antimacassars, and a baby's cap.--2 silver coins, and a pair of\n    silver shirt studs.--7 boys' shirts.--A jacket and a feather.--A\n    jacket, a pair of drawers, 2 chemises, 2 nightcaps, 5 skirts,\n    and 1 body.--4 pairs of new boots, and 2 pairs of new shoes.--A\n    crumb scraper.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nMr. Mueller, as a faithful steward, renders an annual account of all the\nsums intrusted to him. Appended (p. 476) is the \"Auditor's Report\" for\n1859-60, showing the total amount in hand for the year, including the\nbuilding fund, to have been L72,188, 16s. 53/4d.--almost _three hundred\nand fifty thousand dollars_. Mr. M. says:--\n\n    The audited accounts, together with the books containing the\n    income and expenses, may be inspected by the donors. I\n    particularly state this, because I do not publish a list of the\n    donors, nor do I mention their names otherwise, in order that\n    there may not be held out the least temptation of giving for the\n    sake of worldly applause; but, at the same time, as I do this\n    work in the light, it can bear the light, and therefore any\n    donor can satisfy himself, if he please, that his donation is\n    accounted for.\n\n    To avoid mistakes, delays, and other difficulties, I would\n    request that all letters for me should be directed to my house,\n    No. 21, Paul Street, Kingsdown, Bristol.\n\n          GEORGE MUeLLER.\n\n          BRISTOL, July 2, 1860.\n\n\n THE INCOME AND EXPENSES OF THE INSTITUTION FOR 1859-60.\n\n =======================================================================\n The Income of the first           | The Expenses of the first\n four objects from May 26, 1859,   | four objects from May 26, 1859,\n to May 26, 1860.                  | to May 26, 1860.\n ----------------------------------+------------------------------------\n                         L  s.  d. |                         L  s.  d.\n By balance in hand on             | For all the schools    515  4  4\n     May 26, 1859     2,009 11  21/2 |  \"  Bibles             398  3  7\n \" Donations          7,029 14 10  |  \"  missionary\n \" Sale of articles                |       purposes       5,019  6  1\n    given for                      |\n    the purpose          35 17  7  |  \"  tracts           1,650 11  43/4\n \" Sale of tracts       636  2  93/4 |  \"  stationery           2 14  8\n \" Sale of Bibles       152  8  9  |  \"  postage             32 17  5\n \" Payments of the                 | Balance in hand on\n   children in the day             |   May 26, 1860       2,392  2  21/2\n   schools               97  4  6  |\n                     ------ -- --  |                     ------ -- --\n                    L10,010 19  81/4 |                    L10,010 19  81/4\n\n\n =======================================================================\n The Income for the orphans, from  | The Expenses for the orphans, from\n May 26, 1859, to May 26, 1860.    |  May 26, 1859, to May 26, 1860.\n ----------------------------------+------------------------------------\n                          L  s. d. |                           L  s. d.\n ----------------------------------+------------------------------------\n By balance in hand                | Current expen's in\n   on May 26, 1859,    7,461 19 1  |   connection with the\n \" donations in money  8,714  6 21/2 |   Orphan Houses.       7,255 17  6\n \" sale of articles                | For the Apprentices      200  5  41/2\n     given for the                 |  \"  18,000 copies of the\n     purpose            570 13  61/2 |     Twentieth Report     179  3  0\n \" sale of Reports      173 18  3  |  \"  postage and carriage\n \" cash paid on behalf             |       of boxes\n    of orphans,         137  5  4  |       and parcels         57  1  61/2\n                                   |  \"  stationery             7  6  61/2\n                                   | Balance in hand on\n                                   |   May 26, 1860         9,858  8  51/2\n                     ------ -- --  |                       ------ -- --\n                    L17,058  2  5  |                      L17,058  2  5\n\n\n ===================================================================~~\n Income for the Building Fund, from May 26, 1859, to May 26, 1860. |\n ------------------------------------------------------------------+~~\n                                                    L  s. d.       |\n By amount received up to May 26, 1859          41,911 15 11       |\n  \" Donations in money                           1,964  6  31/2      |\n  \" Sale of grass and rent of the field,                           |\n     March 25, 1859, to March 25, 1861              72  0  0       |\n  \" Interest                                     1,120 14  5       |\n  \" Drawbacks of property tax                       44 17  9       |\n                                                ------ -- --       |\n                                               L45,113 14  41/2      |\n\n ~===================================================================\n   |  Expenditure in connection with the Building Fund.\n ~-+-----------------------------------------------------------------\n   |                                                        L  s. d.\n   |  Expended up to May 26, 1859                       21,402 18 10\n   |     \"     for additional furniture, etc.,\n   |             on the new Orphan House, No. 2.            49  0  91/2\n   |     \"     on the building of the\n   |             new Orphan House, No. 3                 2,379  4  9\n   |  Balance in hand on May 26, 1860                   21,282 10  0\n   |                                                    ------ -- --\n   |                                                   L45,113 14  41/2\n\nWe have examined these accounts and find them correct.\n\n                                    RICHARD BALL.  ROBERT H. RICHARDS.\n                                         SAMUEL BUTLER. JOHN MEREDITH.\n\n  BRISTOL, JUNE 22, 1860.\n\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n\nVALUABLE WORKS\n\nPUBLISHED BY\n\nGOULD AND LINCOLN,\n\n59 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON.\n\n\nTHE CHRISTIAN LIFE; SOCIAL AND INDIVIDUAL. By PETER BAYNE, M. A. 12mo,\ncloth, $1.25.\n\n    There is but one voice respecting this extraordinary book,--men\n    of all denominations, in all quarters, agree in pronouncing it\n    one of the most admirable works of the age.\n\nMODERN ATHEISM; Under its forms of Pantheism, Materialism, Secularism,\nDevelopment, and Natural Laws. By JAMES BUCHANAN, D. D., L. L. D. 12mo,\ncloth, $1.25.\n\n    \"The work is one of the most readable and solid which we have\n    ever perused.\"--_Hugh Miller in the Witness._\n\nNEW ENGLAND THEOCRACY. From the German of Uhden's History of the\nCongregationalists of New England, with an INTRODUCTION BY NEANDER. By\nMRS. H. C. CONANT, author of \"The English Bible,\" etc. 12mo, cloth,\n$1.00.\n\n    A work of rare ability and interest, presenting the early\n    religious and ecclesiastical history of New England, from\n    authentic sources, with singular impartiality. The author\n    evidently aimed throughout to do exact justice to the dominant\n    party, and all their opponents of every name. The standpoint\n    from which the whole subject is viewed is novel, and we have in\n    this volume a new and most important contribution to Puritan\n    History.\n\nTHE MISSION OF THE COMFORTER; with copious Notes. By JULIUS CHARLES\nHARE. With the Notes translated for the AMERICAN EDITION. 12mo, cloth,\n$1.25.\n\nTHE BETTER LAND; or, The Believer's Journey and Future Home. By the Rev.\nA. C. THOMPSON. 12mo, cloth, 85 cts.\n\n    A most charming and instructive book for all now journeying to\n    the \"Better Land.\"\n\nTHE EVENING OF LIFE; or, Light and Comfort amidst the Shadows of\nDeclining Years. By REV. JEREMIAH CHAPLIN, D. D. A new Revised, and much\nenlarged edition. With an elegant Frontispiece on Steel. 12mo, cloth,\n$1.00.\n\n    [pointing finger graphic] A most charming and appropriate work for\n    the aged,--large type and open page. An admirable \"Gift\" for the\n    child to present the parent.\n\nTHE STATE OF THE IMPENITENT DEAD. By ALVAH HOVEY, D. D., Prof. of\nChristian Theology in Newton Theol. Inst. 16mo, cloth, 50 cts.\n\nA WREATH AROUND THE CROSS; or, Scripture Truths Illustrated. By the Rev.\nA. MORTON BROWN, D. D. Recommendatory Preface, by JOHN ANGELL JAMES.\nWith a beautiful Frontispiece. 16mo, cloth, 60 cts.\n\n    \"'Christ, and Him crucified' is presented in a new, striking,\n    and matter-of-fact light. The style is simple, without being\n    puerile, and the reasoning is of that truthful, persuasive kind\n    that 'comes from the heart, and reaches the heart.'\"--_N. Y.\n    Observer._\n\n\n\n\nVALUABLE WORKS.\n\n\nTHE PURITANS; or the Court, Church, and Parliament of England, during\nthe reigns of Edward VI. and Elizabeth. By SAMUEL HOPKINS, author of\n\"Lessons at the Cross,\" etc. In 3 vols. Vol. I. _now ready_. Octavo,\ncloth, per vol., $2.50.\n\n  VOL. II. READY IN FEBRUARY,                 \"       \"    \"    \"   $2.50.\n\n    It will be found the most interesting and reliable History of\n    the Puritans yet published, narrating in a dramatic style many\n    facts hitherto unknown.\n\n\nLIMITS OF RELIGIOUS THOUGHT EXAMINED, in Eight Lectures delivered in the\nOxford University Pulpit, in the year 1858, on the \"Bampton Foundation.\"\nBy Rev. H. LONGUEVILLE MANSEL, B. D., Reader in Moral and Metaphysical\nPhilosophy at Magdalen College, Oxford, and Editor of Sir William\nHamilton's Lectures. With the Copious NOTES TRANSLATED for the American\nEd. 12mo, cloth, $1.00.\n\n    This volume is destined to create a profounder sensation in this\n    country than any philosophical or religious work of this\n    century. It is a defence of revealed religion, equal in ability\n    to the \"Analogy\" of Bishop Butler, and meets the scepticism of\n    our age as effectually as that great work in an earlier day. The\n    Pantheism and Parkerism infused into our popular literature will\n    here find an antidote. The Lectures excited the highest\n    enthusiasm at Oxford, and the Volume has already reached a\n    _third_ edition in England. The copious \"Notes\" of the author\n    having been translated for the American edition by an\n    accomplished scholar, adds greatly to its value.\n\n\nTHE HISTORICAL EVIDENCES OF THE TRUTH OF THE SCRIPTURE RECORDS, STATED\nANEW, with Special Reference to the Doubts and Discoveries of Modern\nTimes. In Eight Lectures, delivered in the Oxford University pulpit, at\nthe Bampton Lecture for 1859. By GEO. RAWLINSON, M.A., Editor of the\nHistories of Herodotus. With the Copious NOTES TRANSLATED for the\n_American Edition_ by an accomplished scholar. 12mo, cloth, $1.00.\n\n\nSIR WILLIAM HAMILTON'S LECTURES ON LOGIC. With Notes from Original\nMaterials, and an Appendix containing the Latest Development of his New\nLogical Theory. Edited by Prof. H. LONGUEVILLE MANSEL, Oxford, and JOHN\nVEITCH, M. A., Edinburgh. Royal octavo, cloth, $3.00. (_In press._)\n\n\nMORAL PHILOSOPHY, including Theoretical and Practical Ethics. By JOSEPH\nHAVEN, D. D., late Professor of Moral and Intellectual Philosophy in\nAmherst College; author of \"Mental Philosophy.\" Royal 12mo, cloth,\nembossed, $1.25.\n\n    It is eminently scientific in method, and thorough in\n    discussion, and its views on unsettled questions in morals are\n    discriminating and sound. It treats largely of Political\n    Ethics--a department of morals of great importance to American\n    youth, but generally overlooked in text-books. In the history of\n    ethical opinions it is unusually rich and elaborate.\n\n\nPOPULAR GEOLOGY; With Descriptive Sketches from a Geologist's Portfolio.\nBy Hugh Miller. With a Resume of the Progress of Geological Science\nduring the last two years. By MRS. MILLER. 12mo, cloth, $1.25.\n\n    This work is likely to prove the most popular of Hugh Miller's\n    writings, and to attain the widest circulation. It is written in\n    his best style, and makes the mysteries of Geology intelligible\n    to the common mind. As an architect explains the structure of a\n    house from cellar to attic, so this accomplished geologist takes\n    the globe to pieces, and explains the manner in which all its\n    strata have been formed, from the granite foundation to the\n    alluvial surface. It supplies just the information which many\n    readers have been longing for, but unable to find. Also,\n\n\nHUGH MILLER'S WORKS. Seven volumes, uniform style, in an elegant box,\nembossed cloth, $8.25; library sheep, $10.00; half calf, $14.00;\nantique, $14.00.\n\n\nMANSEL'S MISCELLANIES; including \"Prolegomina Logica,\" \"Metaphysics,\"\n\"Limits of Demonstrative Evidence,\" \"Philosophy of Kant,\" etc. 12mo,\ncloth, (_In press._)\n\n\n\n\nWORKS FOR CHURCH MEMBERS.\n\nTHE CHRISTIAN'S DAILY TREASURY; a Religious Exercise for every Day in\nthe Year. By Rev. E. TEMPLE. A new and improved edition. 12 mo, cloth,\n$1.00.\n\n    [pointing finger graphic] A work for every Christian. It\n    is indeed a \"Treasury\" of good things.\n\n\nTHE SCHOOL OF CHRIST; or, Christianity Viewed in its Leading Aspects. By\nthe Rev. A. R. L. FOOTE, author of \"Incidents in the Life of our\nSaviour,\" etc. 16 mo, cloth, 50 cts.\n\n\nTHE CHRISTIAN PASTOR; His Work and the Needful Preparation. By ALVAN\nHOVEY, D. D., Prof. of Theology in the Newton Theol. Inst. 16 mo, pp.\n60; flexible cloth, 25 cents; paper covers, 12 cents.\n\n\nAPOLLOS; or, Directions to Persons just commencing a Religious Life. 32\nmo, paper covers, cheap, for distribution, per hundred, $6.00.\n\n\nTHE HARVEST AND THE REAPERS. Home Work for All, and how to do it. By\nRev. HARVEY NEWCOMB. 16 mo, cloth, 63 cts.\n\n    This work is dedicated to the converts of 1858. It shows what\n    _may_ be done, by showing what has been done. It shows how much\n    there is now to be done at home. It shows how to do it. Every\n    man interested in the work of saving men, every professing\n    Christian, will find this work to be for him.\n\n\nTHE CHURCH-MEMBER'S MANUAL of Ecclesiastical Principles, Doctrines, and\nDiscipline. By Rev. WILLIAM CROWELL, D. D. Introduction by H. J. RIPLEY,\nD. D. Second edition, revised and improved. 12 mo, cloth, 75 cts.\n\n\nTHE CHURCH-MEMBER'S HAND-BOOK; a Plain Guide to the Doctrines and\nPractice of Baptist Churches. By the Rev. WILLIAM CROWELL, D. D. 18 mo,\ncloth, 38 cts.\n\n\nTHE CHURCH-MEMBER'S GUIDE. By the Rev. JOHN A. JAMES. Edited by J. O.\nCHOULES, D. D. New edition. With Introductory Essay, by Rev. HUBBARD\nWINSLOW. Cloth, 33 cts.\n\n    \"The spontaneous effusion of our heart, on laying the book down,\n    was: 'May every church, member in our land possess this book,\n    and be blessed with all the happiness which conformity to its\n    evangelical sentiments and directions is calculated to\n    confer.'\"--_Christian Secretary._\n\n\nTHE CHURCH IN EARNEST. By Rev. JOHN A. JAMES. 18 mo, cloth, 40 cts.\n\n    \"Its arguments and appeals are well adapted to prompt to action,\n    and the times demand such a book. We trust it will be\n    universally read.\"--_N. Y. Observer._\n\n    \"Those who have the means should purchase a number of copies of\n    this work, and lend them to church-members, and keep them in\n    circulation _till they are worn out_!\"--_Mothers' Assistant._\n\n\nCHRISTIAN PROGRESS. A Sequel to the Anxious Inquirer. By JOHN ANGELL\nJAMES. 18 mo, cloth, 31 cts.\n\n    [pointing finger graphic] One of the best and most useful\n    works of this popular author.\n\n    \"It ought to be sold by hundreds of thousands, until every\n    church-member in the land has bought, read, marked, learned, and\n    inwardly digested a copy.\"--_Congregationalist._\n\n    \"So eminently is it adapted to do good, that we feel no surprise\n    that it should make one of the publishers' excellent\n    publications. It exhibits the whole subject of growth in grace\n    with great simplicity and clearness.\"--_Puritan Recorder._\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nGOULD AND LINCOLN\n\n59 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON,\n\nWould call particular attention to the following valuable works described\nin their Catalogue of Publications, viz.:\n\n\n Hugh Miller's Works.\n Bayne's Works.\n Walker's Works.\n Miall's Works.\n Bungener's Work.\n Annual of Scientific Discovery.\n Knight's Knowledge is Power.\n Krummacher's Suffering Saviour.\n Banvard's American Histories.\n The Aimwell Stories.\n Newcomb's Works.\n Tweedie's Works.\n Chambers's Works.\n Harris' Works.\n Kitto's Cyclopaedia of Biblical Literature.\n Mrs. Knight's Life of Montgomery.\n Kitto's History of Palestine.\n Whewell's Work.\n Wayland's Works.\n Agassiz's Works.\n Williams' Works.\n Guyot's Works.\n Thompson's Better Land.\n Kimball's Heaven.\n Valuable Works on Missions.\n Haven's Mental Philosophy.\n Buchanan's Modern Atheism.\n Cruden's Condensed Concordance.\n Eadie's Analytical Concordance.\n The Psalmist: a Collection of Hymns.\n Valuable School Books.\n Works for Sabbath Schools.\n Memoir of Amos Lawrence.\n Poetical Works of Milton, Cowper, Scott.\n Elegant Miniature Volumes.\n Arvine's Cyclopaedia of Anecdotes.\n Ripley's Notes on Gospels, Acts, and Romans.\n Sprague's European Celebrities.\n Marsh's Camel and the Hallig.\n Roget's Thesaurus of English Words.\n Hackett's Notes on Acts.\n M'Whorter's Yahveh Christ.\n Siebold and Stannius's Comparative Anatomy.\n Maroon's Geological Map, U.S.\n Religious and Miscellaneous Works.\n Works in the various Departments of Literature, Science and Art.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nTRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:\n\nEvery effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as\npossible, including obsolete and variant spellings. Obvious\ntypographical errors in punctuation (misplaced quotes and the like) have\nbeen fixed. Corrections [in brackets] in the text are noted below:\n\nthroughout:\n\n    It is possible that the same name is spelled variously: Franke;\n    Francke; Franke. The names have been left as in the original.\n\npage 203: typo corrected\n\n    the Lord Jesus. Even about the commencment[commencement] of this\n    century, when there was almost universal darkness or even\n\npage 302: typo corrected\n\n    with a sufficiently large piece of ground in the\n    neghborhood[neighborhood] of Bristol, for building the premises\n\npage 342: possible typo corrected\n\n    from among the sunday[Sunday]-school children were, during these\n    two years, received into church fellowship. The\n\npage 399: possible typo corrected\n\n    added to the _present_ building fund, so that on the evening of\n    May 26, 1852, I had altogether L3,530, 9s. 0-1/4[d].\n\npage 408: possible typo corrected\n\n    and unbelief prevails. How different, if one is enabled to\n    wait's[wait] God's own time, and to look alone to him for help","title":"The Life of Trust: Being a Narrative of the Lord's Dealings With George M\u00fcller","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":159338}