George Müller · 69 of 97

Fourth Part · Part 4

July 11. Yesterday afternoon came a box from Newport, in the Isle of Wight, with many articles for the Orphans, and a little money for the other objects. This was a precious encouragement to continue to wait upon the Lord. At the first delivery this morning I received several letters. The first I opened was from a brother in Devonshire, with a post-office order for 8s. for the Orphans. He writes thus; "My box for the Orphans still yields but little, but I have been frequently inquiring of the Lord, when that little should be sent. For the last few days it has appeared to me that the time was come to send it to you, I therefore sent for the amount in an order, which I this day received, and now send, in hope it may be of some help in a time of need." This 8s. was a further precious encouragement.—The next letter which I opened was from a christian gentleman at Edinburgh, containing a bank order for twenty-five guineas, of which twenty guineas are for the work of the Lord in my hands, and five for my own personal necessities. There came in still further today, from brethren at Perth 2l., and from the neighbourhood of Glasgow 5l.

July 12. This morning I received a legacy of 5l. for the Orphans, from the relatives of a dear departed sister in the Lord, who, from the commencement of the work up to her last days, had taken the deepest interest in it. Also from Jersey, together with a gold ring, 4l. Also 3l. 2s. 0 ½ d. by sale of articles and donations, so that during these two days we have had above 40l. coming in.

From July 13th to 19th, came in 16l. 6s. 8d. more. On July 19th I left for the Continent, to labour for a season in Germany, and returned to Bristol on Oct 11th. For about eight months before this, I had seen it to be the Lord's will that I should go again this year to the Continent for a season, and had made my journey and service a subject of prayer from Nov., 1844. Besides asking the Lord's blessing upon my service, I also sought His help for means, and for this also I had not to wait on Him in vain. For as the Lord had sent me, before I went in 1843, the sum of 702l. 3s. 7d. for various purposes, and for the work in Germany in particular, so He gave me again, on May 3rd, 1845, the sum of 500l, for the work in Germany, yet so, that the surplus which there might be should be employed for the Orphans and other work in my hands. From the conditions under which this donation was given to me, it was obvious then, that whilst on the one hand, when it plainly could be seen that only a certain part of the money would be needed for the present service in Germany, the remainder might be used for the benefit of the Orphans, or the other part of the work; yet, on the other hand, we could not begin at once to apply any part of this money to the objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution; for at the commencement I could not know how much might be expended on the service in Germany, particularly as my intention was to do as much as I could for those on the Continent who are in darkness and in the shadow of death, and also as I wished as much as possible to help the Church of Christ in that part of the world. Therefore those who said: "We are quite sure there must be much money in hand for the Orphans, else Mr. Muller would not have gone to Germany," were quite mistaken. Often have I had similar things said to me, or about the work, when we have been in the deepest poverty, simply because in faith a certain step had been taken, or a certain thing had been done, which was connected with great expense. At such times, of course, my fellow-labourers and I have had to be silent. For we could not say it was not so, else it would be exposing our poverty, and would look like asking for help. Therefore we have had to be content with something like this: "Lord, it is said that there is much money in hand, whereby some who would otherwise help us, it may be, are kept from doing so; now, Lord, do Thou nevertheless, as the work is Thine, lay our need, the real state of things, on the hearts of Thy children, that they may help us." Thus it was during my service in Germany in the summer of 1845 also. My fellow-labourers in Bristol and my dear wife and I in Stuttgart, poured out our hearts before the Lord, seeking His help upon the work, and asking Him also for means, and He did not despise our cries. There came in, during the twelve weeks that I was away, for the Orphans alone, 200l. 5s, 5 ½ d. This, together with what was in hand when I left, and with come money that at the end of my stay in Germany (when I saw that I should scarcely need one half of the 500l.) I could order to be drawn out of my bankers' hands in Bristol, richly supplied all the need, during my absence. But the labourers were repeatedly in straits, and several times the last money was gone; but the Lord refreshed their hearts by seasonable help.—Of the 500l. given for the service in Germany, and for the printing of tracts, there remained 311l. 18s, 1 ½ d., of which I took for the Orphans 161l. 18s. 1 ½ d., and for the other objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution 150l.

Jan. 17, 1846. From the day of my return to Bristol, on Oct. 11, up to this day, there has been no difficulty at all with regard to means. The many donations which have come in, together with what came to the Orphan-Fund from the surplus of the sum given for the work in Germany, enabled me, without any difficulty, to meet all the expenses, though they were many and great. Of the donations which came in during this period I only refer to the following:

On Nov. 19th heft Bristol to labour for a little while at Sunderland. I had but little money to leave with my dear wife for the work; but my path was plain to go, and therefore my hope was in God, as to the work in Bristol during the meantime, being assured that He would care for it. And thus it was. Rich supplies were granted by Him. On the very next day, after my departure, Nov. 20th, the following anonymous letter was left at my house, containing six five-pound notes and two sovereigns.

"My dear Brother in the Lord,

"About six or eight weeks since, anticipating soon a remittance by a bill, which would become available about a week previous to this date, I was led to ask the Lord what He would desire to do with the money which might remain in my hands when I should receive the money for this bill, and your name was immediately presented to my mind with these words: "the Lord has need of it." I therefore enclose the amount, viz, thirty-two pounds, and remain,

"Dear Brother,

"Yours affectionately in the Lord,

"Nov. 20, 1845. &c. &c."

Look at this, dear reader! Is not the hand of God most manifest in such cases? This unknown donor prays what to do with the money, and my name is brought to his or her mind. See also how seasonable the help!

This 32l. was put to the Orphan-Fund, as there was but little in hand. By this and the other sums which came in during my absence, my dear wife was helped without any difficulty, through all the expenses.

There being now again little in hand, I asked the Lord yesterday (Jan. 16, 1846) that He would be pleased to send in supplies, when almost immediately after a sister in the Lord, who had unexpectedly received a rich remittance from distant relatives, gave me 10l.; and today a lady, who on her way from Cornwall to London was staying for a day or two at Clifton, kindly sent me 20l. Thus we are again supplied at least for a week.

March 2. Goodness and mercy have followed us again in many respects with reference to the work, since the last date, Jan. 17th, up to this day; and with regard to means, there has been again a rich supply granted to us, so that I have been able to meet all the expenses of the work, though they have been for the Orphans alone. 180l. 19s. 1d., and more than 100l. for the other objects, during these six weeks. But there remained now scarcely anything in hand, when I received this morning, from a distance of about 200 miles the following letter with 15l.

"Beloved Brother,

"Enclosed is the produce of the sale of a pianoforte, which I thankfully send for the Lord's work in your hands, having received blessing to my own soul by means of that work, and not the least in being weaned from some of those things I once found pleasure in. I have been waiting payment of the amount for some time, but, having money now in hand, I send it without further delay, as you may possibly need it now. The 15l. you will kindly allot as you see most desirable. That our God would fulfil in you all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, is the prayer of

"Your affectionate Brother,

"* * * * Feb. 28, 1846. * * * *"

March 18. Up to this day also we have been helped, though but little, comparatively, has come in. When yesterday, March 17, all the means were gone, a brother gave me 1l. as a thankoffering for having received a sum of money unexpectedly, as a dividend from a bankruptcy. In the afternoon I received a half sovereign as the profit of the sale of ladies' bags made by a sister in the Lord for the benefit of the Orphans, and 2s. 6d. was put into an Orphan-box at my house. This morning I received the following letter from Devonshire, together with a Post-office order for 5l.

"Beloved Brother,

"I send you an order for 5l., half of which will you accept for yourself, and the other half appropriate for the Orphans; or, if they happen to be well supplied at present, you may apply it to the building you have in contemplation. Job xxii. 21-30.

"Believe me very affectionately yours,

"* * * *"

The half of this money was taken for the present need of time Orphans. There was also sent 1l. 13s. from Weymouth. Thus we are again supplied for the present need.

March 20. Today I have to send more money for housekeeping to the Orphan-Houses, and the Lord has kindly given me yesterday afternoon and this morning the means for it. Yesterday came in by sale of trinkets, &c., 3l. 8s. 4 ½ d. and by two donations 2s., and this morning I received 11s, from Marlborough.

March 21, Saturday. Since yesterday morning, when I had sent off to the Orphan-Houses the very last penny in hand, the following sums have come in: A sister from Worcester gave 2s. 6d., and in the boxes in my house I found 10l. This morning 10s. came from the neighbourhood of Castle Cary, from a sister in Bristol 2s. 2d., by sale of articles 1l. 15s. 8d., and by sale of stockings 5s. Thus I have been enabled, during this week also, to meet all the expenses, though they have been more than 30l.; and 7s. 6d. is left towards the coming week. My heart is in perfect peace, though there are between 140 and 150 Persons to be provided for (including the teachers and matrons in the Orphan-Houses and the apprentices), and though there is heavy sickness in two of the houses. Saturday Evening, The Lord has already increased "the handful of meal in the barrel, and the little oil in the cruse." This afternoon I received 3l. 14s., being the contents of an Orphan-box at Barnstaple. There came in 3s. 6d, besides.

March 26. On the 23rd came in 3l. 2s. 1d. On the 24th and 25th came in 1l. 5s. Yesterday was also taken out of the boxes in the Orphan-Houses 7s. 6d., our need having led to the opening of them, and in the boxes in my house was found 2s. 6d.; but we had not quite enough for the need of today, when about twelve o'clock this morning a box arrived from Chelsea, containing 17s. 0 ¾ d., many ornaments, etc.—We are thus helped for this day.

March 27. Today came in 4l. 11s. 7d. by sale of articles. Likewise 1s. from a little girl. Thus we are again provided for today.

March 28, Saturday. Yesterday afternoon came in still further from Street, by Sale of Reports 10s. and three donations of 6d., 4d., and 2d. There was likewise given by a sister a small gold watch-chain. This morning I received, by sale of articles 4l.14s. 4d., by sale of Reports 1s., and by sale of stockings 6s. Thus, by the income of this week, and by about 2l. 12s. which I found I had more than was needed for the rent when paying it on the 25th, having to receive drawbacks from the landlords, I have been again able to meet the housekeeping expenses during this week, amounting to 21l. 19s. 10d., besides the rent which is 37l., for which the money had been put by; and I am come to the close of another week, with 17s. 8d. in hand towards the necessities of the next. Late on Saturday. There has come in still further this evening from A. A. 11s. 3 ½ d., and from Mrs. R. 8s.

March 30, Monday. My heart was particularly in peace on Saturday evening after the prayer meeting, though I could leave only a few shillings for each of the four houses towards the housekeeping expenses of this week, where, besides the ordinary expenses, there is also money needed on account of heavy sickness in two of the houses. When I emptied the purse to the last penny, and returned home without anything in hand, I felt fully assured that we should have again abundant reasons for thanksgiving next Saturday, and told my dear fellow-labourers so, And, thus it is. Yesterday was put into the Chapel-boxes for the Orphans 50l., ditto 1s., ditto 10s. This morning I received 5l. from a miner at a distance, an entire stranger.

Thus our Heavenly Father has helped most seasonably. 1, In giving me means for present necessities as to housekeeping. 2, In providing me with means for the extra need on account of the illness of several children. 3, In giving means for getting a ton and a half of oatmeal from Scotland.

April 4, Saturday evening. On the 2nd I received anonymously from London it, besides some money for needlework done by the Orphan-Girls; on the 2nd was sent to me 10l. from Bath, from a lady unknown to me. These two donations I received the very moment I rose from my knees, having asked the Lord for more means, as, on account of the heavy expenses just now, we needed again more money by the end of this week. There was also given on the 2nd 1l. by a lady who had received a present of 10l. from some relations, and gave the tenth part of it to the Orphans. On the 3rd and 4th came in 2l. 10s. 7d. The actual expenses of this week, have been 42l. besides 22l. having been put by for the oatmeal which has been ordered, and we have a little more than 9l. left.

April 18, Saturday. The Lord has been again good to me since the 4th with regard to means, 53l. 14s. 0 ½ d. having come in during these two weeks. Today, having only 2l. 1s. 5 ½ d., in hand, towards the supplies of the next week, we made known our requests to God, and while I was in prayer with two of my fellow-labourers, there came a letter, in which F. from London sent 10s. There came in almost immediately after by sale of articles 13s. 8d., and by a sister in the Lord from Brixham, who called this morning, 10s. was given. This afternoon the boxes in the Orphan-Houses were opened, but only 10s. 10d. found in them. 6s, came in besides. This afternoon a brother called at the Boys' Orphan-House, and gave eight sovereigns, saying that he had had a desire to bring this money for some days past, but had been unable on account of his health, but now was pressed in spirit to do so, though scarcely able to walk. The following points are to be noticed concerning the Lord's goodness today. 1, I purpose, on account of my health, and for the sake of procuring time for the writing of the Report, to leave Bristol on Monday, and thus I am able to leave money behind for at least 3 or 4 days. 2, I had been speaking today and yesterday in my prayers to the Lord, "It is buy will that I should not be anxious. I am not, by Thy grace; but, Lord, there are about 140 persons to be provided for in the 4 Orphan-Houses, wilt Thou then help me with means!"—I was able to send altogether 11l. 6s. 11 ½ d. to the matrons.

April 20, Monday morning. The Lord has helped still further. There came yesterday anonymously from London 5l. with these words: "To Brother Müller, with the writer's fervent prayer, that the giver of all good may continue to pour down upon him and all his undertakings the abundance of His blessings. Half for his own necessities, and half to be disposed of as he thinks fit." I cannot help noticing here the Lord's double kindness, both towards the Orphans and towards myself. I now need for myself more money than usual, as besides the regular housekeeping expenses at home, I need money for myself and dear wife in going away for the twofold object of our health and my having thus time to write the Report: and the Lord supplies me with means. Thus also I received yesterday 5l. for "change of air," and 5l. was sent to me for myself the day before yesterday from a brother at Winchester, whom I have never seen. I find continually, that, without making provision for extra need, and without reckoning anxiously about the future, the Lord helps me when I need anything. I find it pleasant and precious, even as to this life, to walk in the ways of the Lord.

There came in still further yesterday morning for the Orphans from A. A. 13s. 1d., from a brother 1l., from "A friend at Stirling" 6s., and from an Irish sister 5s.—Thus I could send still further this morning to the matrons, before my departure, 4l. 11s. 1d., so that I am able to leave about 16l, behind, and thus the need is supplied for about five days, humanly speaking; and before that time is gone, I expect to obtain more, by waiting upon God.

This morning, before we departed, I received a letter in which was the following sentence: "With regard to property I do not see my way clearly. I trust it is all indeed at the disposal of the Lord; and if you would let me know of any need of it in His service, any sum under 200l. shall be at your disposal at about a week's notice." This brother meant what he said, I have every reason to believe. I might have written; "The Orphans, my dear brother, are now in need, and it would be a particular comfort to me, as I am going away, if you would send me 190l.," and I doubt not that I should have had it after a week. I preferred, however, to continue, as heretofore, to deal with God alone in this service, that the church of Christ at large still further may be benefited, particularly those who are weak in the faith, or those who are recently brought to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus, in seeing how blessed it is to make known our requests unto God, and that those who trust in Him are not confounded. I therefore wrote to this brother, with regard to his kind offer, that I only speak to the Lord about my need.

May, 9, Saturday. This evening, after an absence of 19 days, we returned to Bristol. During all this time the Lord supplied us with means, but it was almost always by the day. During the last days, in the course of my regular meditation on the New Testament, I came to that precious word: "Casting all your care upon Him: for He careth for you," 1 Peter, v. 7, and, by God's grace, I was able to cast all my care concerning His work on the Lord; and when we returned this evening I found, that for this day also the Lord had not only provided, but there was 1l. 16s. 3 ½ d. more than was needed.

May 11, Monday. Yesterday a brother from Hackney gave 2l., and 17s. 1 ¼ d. came in besides. Thus, with what was left on Saturday, I was able to send 4l. 13s. 5d. to the Orphan-Houses, to be divided among the four matrons. After having sent this morning to the last penny all the money I had in hand to the Orphan-Houses, I received 200l., which, being left entirely at my disposal, was portioned out thus: 100l. for the present need of the Orphans, 50l. for the other objects, and 50l. for the Building Fund of the Orphan House. How kind of the Lord to help so seasonably; for I have very many and heavy expenses before me, besides the ordinary expenses of about 30l. per week. There are to be bought 4 bags of rice, 4 bushels of peas, 2 cwt. of soap, material for boys' clothes, the 4 houses are to coloured down, several small sums for apprentices are to be paid, the Report is to be printed, etc. This also is to be noticed: The Lord rewarded me thus, for not exposing our poverty to the brother, who offered on April 20th to give me any sum under 200l., if I would let him know if I needed anything for the Lord's work. Thus we had at least a little more than we should have had, even if I had asked that brother.

May 26. Up to this day, till the last hours before the commencement of our public meetings, at which an account is to be given of the Lord's dealings with us since July 14, 1844, the Lord's goodness has continued in supplying us with means. About 80l. more has come in during the last fifteen days. And this very day, the last of this period, I received 26l. anonymously from Stafford, with an affectionate and encouraging note; 20l. 1s. 6 ½ d. I took out of the boxes at my house, two ten pound notes having been put in; and several other little donations came in besides.

It is scarcely needful to state, at the close of these details, that, notwithstanding our having been often poor, and very poor, yet the children have always had the needful articles of clothing and nourishing food. Those who know what it is to walk in the fear of God, know also, that God would not help us, in answer to our prayers, if we hypocritically stated that the children were well provided with wholesome food, etc., and yet it were not true.

Account of the New Orphan-House, on Ashley Down, Bristol, from its earliest beginning to June 4, 1846.

I began the service of caring for children who are bereaved of both parents, by death, born in wedlock, and are in destitute circumstances, on Dec. 9, 1835. For nearly ten years I never had any desire to build an Orphan-House. On the contrary, I decidedly preferred spending the means, which might come in, for present necessities, and desired rather to enlarge the work according to the means which the Lord might be pleased to give. Thus it was till the end of October, 1845, when I was led to consider this matter in a way I had never done before. The occasion of my doing so was this: On Oct. 30, 1845, I received from a gentleman, who lived in the street, where the 4 Orphan-Houses were, a polite and friendly letter, in which he courteously stated to me that the inhabitants in the adjoining houses were in various ways inconvenienced by the Orphan-Houses being in Wilson Street. He left to myself the judgment of the case.

This letter I received on Thursday morning, Oct. 30, 1845. Being very much occupied that week, I had scarcely any time to consider time matter. On Monday morning, however, Nov. 3, I set apart some hours for the prayerful consideration of the subject, and after I had besought the Lord to guide me to a right decision, I wrote down the reasons which appeared to me to make it desirable that the Orphans should be removed from Wilson Street, and also the reasons against removing. As far as they are suitable for being stated in print, they were those:

I. Reasons for removing from Wilson Street.

1. The neighbours feel themselves inconvenienced by the noise of the children in the play-hours. This complaint is neither without foundation, nor unjust; for many persons are very much inconvenienced by the noise of children, and those living close by the Orphan-Houses must be so during the play-hours, even though the noise be only of that kind, that one could not at all find fault with the dear children on account of it. I should myself feel it trying to my head to live next door to the Orphan-Houses, on that account I therefore ought to do to others, as I should wish to be done by. This point had never before appeared to me in so serious a light.

2 The greatness of the number of the inmates in the houses has several times prevented the drains from acting properly, and thus has a few times affected the water in one or two of the neighbours' houses. With reference to these two reasons, as it regards those living near the Orphan-Houses, these words, "Let not your good be evil spoken of," Rom. xiv. 16, and "Let your moderation (i.e. yieldingness) be known unto all men," Philip iv. 5, seemed to me two important portions of the word of God to be acted out in this matter.

But in addition to the reasons for removing the Orphans from Wilson Street, on account of the unavoidable occasional inconvenience that comes upon the neighbours, there appeared now to me, when once I was led to consider seriously the reasons for removing the Institution from Wilson Street, other reasons for doing so, in connexion with the work itself, which had occurred to me before, but never in so strong a light as now, when the subject was brought more immediately before me by the letter, in which I was politely requested to remove the Orphans from Wilson Street. These reasons are:

1. We have no proper play-grounds in Wilson Street. There is one play-ground, which, however, is only large enough for the children of one house at a time; but as there are children in four houses who ought to have the benefit of it, we can not arrange so that all the children have the full benefit of that play-ground, as the meals, the school-hours, the weather, and other hinderances interfere. The dear Orphans ought, I know, to be trained in habits of industry, but children are children, and need to be treated as such; and they should, on account of their health, have the full benefit of a play-ground. But this they cannot have in Wilson Street: and to take them out into the fields for the benefit of bodily exercise, as we have been in the habit of doing, is often very inconvenient.

2. We have no ground for cultivation, near the Orphan-Houses, and hence there must be more walking for the children, on account of using proper means for keeping them, with the blessing of God in health, than is, in other respects, good for them; because frequent walks easily beget in children habits of idleness, which would be especially felt when boys are apprenticed. But this difficulty cannot be obviated by remaining in Wilson Street, and renting a piece of land somewhere else for cultivation; for to get the children ready and conduct them to the piece of ground, not only takes a good deal of time, but is connected with other great inconveniences, yea with insurmountable difficulties, so that we found it needful to give up a small piece of ground which we once rented for about two years for the Orphan-Boys, at a distance of about half a mile from Wilson Street. Thus, by removing from Wilson Street, and obtaining premises surrounded by land for cultivation, we should be able to procure a most important moral benefit for the children, by having the opportunity more fully than we now have, of training them in habits of industry, besides giving to the boys occupation which is more suitable for them than knitting, which is now the only employment they have, besides making their beds, cleaning the house, and attending to the cooking of their meals. Moreover, this would be occupation in the open air, which not only would bring their limbs into exercise, but also make walking, for the sake of health, almost entirely needless.