George Müller · 92 of 97

Fourth Part · Part 27

Jan. 17. Memorable day. Today, in much need, was received from Glasgow 10l., with 10l. for Mr. Craik, and 10l. for my own personal expenses. There came in also, a Bank Post Bill for 50l., anonymously, through London Bankers, which amount was taken half for the Orphans and half for the other objects.—Likewise from Stroud 10s.—From Reading 6s. 3d.—From Gloucester 2s. 6d.—But the Lord over and above all this, allowed me to have this day the promise of that large donation which has been spoken of under the Building Fund, of which 707l. was taken towards the support of the Orphans, by which, together with 1,119l. 8s. 2 ½ d. which came in for the support of the Orphans from Jan. 17 up to May 26, 1854, we were helped to the close of this period.

March 1. There was left to me, for the benefit of the Orphans, a year ago, by an individual in Bristol, whom I had never seen, a legacy of 100l., which was paid this day, less 10l. legacy duty.

April 9. This morning I received from an anonymous donor, through Bankers in London, a Bank Post Bill for 50l., the application of which was left to me. I took the whole of it for the support of the Orphans. This donation has been a great spiritual refreshment to me, as the expenses for the Orphans are now so very great, and as for five weeks no large sums have come in.

April 17. Received 150l., of which the donor kindly wished me to take 20l. for my own personal expenses, and to use the rest as might be most needed for the Lord's work in my hands. I took, therefore, 100l. for the current expenses for the Orphans, and 30l. for the other Objects. This donation has greatly refreshed my spirit, as the expenses for the Orphans were never so great at any period, since the work commenced, as during the last six mouths, on account of the high price of provisions; and as the income, compared with the expenses, has been small of late, though considerable, were not the expenses so very great.

May 14. This morning I have received 150l., of which I have taken for the current expenses for the Orphans 100l., and for the other objects 50l.—Tomorrow I shall have to pay out for the Orphans 107l. 4s. The total amount I had in hand for them, before this donation was received, was only 120l. How kind, therefore, of the Lord to replenish our means again, before they were almost entirely exhausted!—I received, also, this morning from Clifton 5l.

During the following 12 days there came in further 107l. altogether for the support of the Orphans.

Miscellaneous points respecting the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, with reference to the period from May 26, 1853, to May 26, 1854.

1. During this year 4 Day Schools, with 202 children, were entirely supported by the funds of the Institution. Further, one Sunday School in Bristol, with 137 children, was entirely supported, and three others in Devonshire, Somersetshire, and Gloucestershire, with 300 children, were assisted. Lastly, one Adult School, with 154 Adult scholars, was entirely supported. The total amount which was spent during this year, in connexion with these schools, was 359l. 15s. 10 ½ d.—The number of all the children, who were under our care, merely in the schools which were entirely supported by this Institution, from March 5,1834, to May 26, 1854, was 5,817 in the Day Schools, and 2,748 in the Sunday Schools, and 2,315 persons in the Adult School.

2. During this year was expended on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, of the funds of the Institution, 433l. 2s. 9d. There were circulated during this year 1890 Bibles and 1288 New Testaments; and from the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1854, Twelve Thousand Three Hundred and Sixty-six Bibles, and Seven Thousand Three Hundred and Forty-nine New Testaments.

3. During this year there was spent of the Funds of the Institution for Missionary objects the sum of 2,249l. 10s. 8 ½ d. By this sum, fifty-six labourers in the word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were to a greater or less degree assisted.

During this year, the Lord was pleased to bless again abundantly the labours of many of those servants of Christ, who were assisted through the funds of this Institution, and this has been the case in foreign countries as well as at home.

4. There was laid out for the circulation of Tracts, from May 26, 1853, to May 26, 1854, the sum of 563l. 5s. 0 ½ d.; and there were circulated 869,636 Tracts.

The total number of all time Tracts circulated from the beginning up to May 26, 1854, was Two Millions Six Hundred and Eighty-nine Thousand Six Hundred and Seventy-six.

We desire to be grateful to the Lord, that, during no period previously we were enabled to circulate more Tracts, and more copies of the Holy Scriptures, and aid to a greater degree missionary labours, than during this period; yet we would not rest in that. It is the blessing of the Lord upon our labours which we need, which we desire, and which, by His grace, we also seek. If never so many millions of Tracts, yea even copies of the Holy Scriptures, were circulated, and the Lord did not give His blessing, all these efforts would produce no results to the glory of His name. Yea, if even tens of thousands of preachers of the gospel could be supported with means, in the darkest places of the earth, and they enjoyed not the blessing of the Lord upon their labours, they would labour in vain. For this blessing God will be asked, in order that He may bestow it; but, when it is sought at His hands, He delights in giving it. By God's help we were enabled to seek this blessing, and we obtained again precious answers to our prayers, during this year. It is not merely that the Lord was pleased to give us answers to our prayers with regard to means for carrying on the work; but also in that the various objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution were abundantly blessed to the conversion of very many souls; and this was particularly also the case again with reference to the circulation of Tracts.

If any of the Christian Readers are in the habit of circulating Tracts, and yet have never seen fruit, may I suggest to them the following hints for their prayerful consideration. 1, Seek for such a state of heart, through Prayer and meditation on the Holy Scriptures, as that you are willing to let God have all the honour, if any good is accomplished by your service. If you desire for yourself the honour, yea, though it were in part only, you oblige the Lord, so to speak, to put you as yet aside as a vessel not meet for the Master's use. One of the greatest qualifications for usefulness in the service of the Lord is a heart, truly desirous of getting honour for Him. 2, Precede all your labours with earnest, diligent prayer; go to them in a prayerful spirit; and follow them by prayer. Do not rest on the number of Tracts you have given. A million of Tracts may not be the means of converting one single soul; and yet how great, beyond calculation, may be the blessing which results from one single Tract. Thus it is also with regard to the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, and the ministry of the Word itself. Expect, then, everything from the blessing of the Lord, and nothing at all from your own exertions. 3, And yet, at the same time, labour, press into every open door, be instant in season and out of season, as if everything depended upon your labours. This, as has been stated before, is one of the great secrets in connexion with successful service for the Lord; to work, as if everything depended upon our diligence, and yet not to rest in the least upon our exertions, but upon the blessing of the Lord. 4, This blessing of the Lord, however, should not merely be sought in prayer, but should also be expected, looked for, continually looked for; and the result will be, that we shall surely have it. 5, But suppose, that, for the trial of our faith, this blessing were for a long time withheld from our sight; or suppose even that we should have to fall asleep, before we see much good resulting from our labours; yet will they, if carried on in such a way and spirit as has been stated, be at last abundantly owned, and we shall have a much harvest in the day of Christ.

Now, dear Christian Reader, if you have not seen much blessing resulting from your labours, or perhaps none at all, consider prayerfully these hints, which are affectionately given by one who has now for about thirty years [in 1856] in some measure sought to serve the Lord, and who has found the blessedness, of what he has suggested, in some measure in his own experience.

5. At the beginning of this period, there were Three Hundred Orphans in the New Orphan House on Ashley Down, Bristol. During the year there were admitted into it 30 Orphans; making 330 in all. Of these 330, four died, three were received back again by their relatives, who by that time were able to provide for them, 17 boys were, at the expense of the establishment, fitted out and apprenticed, and eight girls were fitted out and sent to situations, at the expense of the Establishment; so that there were only 298 Orphans in the house at the close of the period. The total number of Orphans, who were under our care from April, 1836, to May 26, 1854, was Five Hundred and Fifty Eight.

I notice further the following points in connexion with the New Orphan House.

A. The expenses during this year, for the support of the Orphans, were 3,897l. 2s. 0 ½ d.

B. Without any one having been personally applied to for anything by me, the sum of 64,591l. 6s. 11 ¼ d. was given to me for the Orphans as the result of prayer to God from the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1854.—It may be also interesting to the reader to know that the total amount given for the other objects, from the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1854, was 22,268l. 2s 11 ¼ d.; and that which came in by the sale of Bibles and Tracts, and by the payments of the children in the Day Schools, from the commencement up to May 26, 1854, amounted to 3,989l. 4s. 5 ¾ d.—Besides this, also, a great variety and number of articles of clothing, furniture, provisions, &c., were given for the use of the Orphans.

C. Our labours continued to be blessed among the Orphans. We saw also again fruit of our labours, during this year, with regard to Orphans who formerly were under our care.

Matters connected with my own personal affairs, from May 26, 1853, to May 26, 1854.

In July 1853 it pleased the Lord to try my faith in a way in which before it had not been tried. My beloved daughter, an only child, and a believer since the commencement of the year 1846, was taken ill on June 20th. This illness, at first a low fever, turned to typhus. On July 3rd there seemed no hope of her recovery. Now was the trial of faith. But faith triumphed. My beloved wife and I were enabled to give her up into the hands of the Lord. He sustained us both exceedingly. But I will only speak about myself. Though my only and beloved child was brought near the grave, yet was my soul inn perfect peace, satisfied with the will of my Heavenly Father, being assured that He would only do that for her and her parents, which in the end would be the best. She continued very ill till about July 20th, when restoration began. On Aug. 18th she was so far restored, that she could be removed to Clevedon for change of air, though exceedingly weak. It was then 59 days mince she was first taken ill.

While I was in this affliction, this great affliction, besides being at peace, so far as the Lord's dispensation was concerned, I also felt perfectly at peace with regard to the cause of the affliction. When in August 1831 the hand of the Lord was heavily laid on me in my family, as related in the first part of this Narrative, I had not the least hesitation in knowing, that it was the Father's rod, applied in infinite wisdom and love, for the restoration of my soul from a state of lukewarmness. At this time, however, I had no such feeling. Conscious as I was of manifold weaknesses, failings, and shortcomings, so that I too would be ready to say with the Apostle Paul, "O wretched man that I am;" yet I was assured that this affliction was not upon me in the way of the fatherly rod, but for the trial of my faith. Persons often have, no doubt, the idea respecting me, that all my trials of faith regard matters connected with money, though the reverse has been stated by me very frequently; now, however, the Lord would try my faith concerning one of my dearest earthly treasures, yea, next to my beloved wife, the dearest of all my earthly possessions. Parents know what an only child, a beloved child is, and what to believing parents an only child, a believing child must be. Well, the Father in heaven said, as it were, by this His dispensation, Art thou willing to give up this child to me? My heart responded, As it seems good to Thee my Heavenly Father. Thy will be done. But as our hearts were made willing to give back our beloved child to Him who had given her to us, so He was ready to leave her to us, and she lived. "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Psalm xxxvii. 4. The desires of my heart were, to retain the beloved daughter, if it were the will of God; the means to retain her were, to be satisfied with the will of the Lord.

Of all the trials of faith that as yet I have had to pass through, this was the greatest; amid by God's abundant mercy, I own it to His praise, I was enabled to delight myself in the will of God; for I felt perfectly sure, that, if the Lord took this beloved daughter, it would be best for her parents, best for herself, and more for the glory of God than if she lived: this better part I was satisfied with; and thus my heart had peace, perfect peace, and I had not a moment's anxiety. Thus would it be under all circumstances, however painful, were the believer exercising faith.

Dec. 31, 1853. During this year the Lord was pleased to give me

1. By anonymous donations through the boxes … … … … £177 9 7 ½

2. Through donations from believers in Bristol, not anonymously . . . . . . . 143 3 0

3. Through donations from believers not residing in Bristol … … 299 16 1

4. Through presents in clothes, provisions, &c., worth at least … … 18 3 0

——

£638 11 8 ½

——

Further account respecting the intended Orphan I-louse for Seven Hundred Poor Orphans, bereaved of both Parents by death, from May 26, 1854, to May 26, 1855.

On May 26, 1854, I had actually in hand for this intended Orphan House, as has been stated in the last chapter on this subject, 17,816l. 19s. 5 ¼ d. I will now relate further, how the Lord was pleased to supply me with means, but can only refer, for the sake of brevity, to a few instances out of many. The receipts of the first month of this year, however, shall be given entirely, as a specimen.

May 29, 1854. Through Salem Chapel boxes 6d.

May 31. From Finchdean 5l.

June 1. Through the boxes at Bethesda Chapel 1l.—Ditto from P. and M. E. 10s.—From London 1s. 6d.

June 4. A gold dollar piece and nearly two pennyweights of Californian gold dust.

June 5. Through Bethesda Chapel boxes 2s. 6d. as a thank-offering to the Lord for the mercies of the past month.—Through Salem Chapel boxes 1s.—Ditto 6d.—From P. 2s.

June 7. Anonymously through London Bankers 100l.—Through the boxes at the New Orphan House 1s.

June. 8. From E. 2s. 6d.—Anonymously 2s.

June. 12. Through Bethesda boxes 3s.—Ditto 1s.—Ditto 1l.— Through Salem boxes 6d.

June 14. Through the boxes at the New Orphan House 5s.—Ditto ¼ d.

June 17. By sale of articles 17s. 7d.

June 18. 3s.—5s.

June-19. 15s.

June 22. A muslin cap, a cape, some worked trimming, and two bags, to be sold for the Building Fund.

June 25. From Glasgow 2s. 6d.—From K. C. 10s.

June 26. Anonymously 2s. 2d.—Through Salem boxes 6d.—From P. 1s.

These were but little sums, esteemed reader, in comparison with the total amount required for the accommodation of 700 more Orphans; yea, they were even small in comparison with what was still required, though I had then nearly 18,000l. in hand. But as it had been given to me, by God's grace, to expect help from Him, yea, the full help needed for this object, so the additional income of a few pounds, of a few shillings, yea of a penny or two, was an encouragement to me for further waiting upon Him, as every donation, the smallest even, brings me nearer the time when all my prayers concerning this object also shall be turned into praises.

July 1. A large gold brooch, set with two carbuncles, to be sold for the Building Fund.

July 2. Anonymously through London Bankers 100l.—From Bury 10s.

July 19. A silver tea pot.

Sept. 27. From one of the former Orphans, now in service, 5s.—From the Orphan Girls, now under our care, 15s. for the Building Fund.— From the House Girls, i.e. the elder female Orphans, who are more particularly engaged in doing household work, for the purpose of being thus trained for situations, I received likewise 11s.—From the Infant Orphans was also received for the Building Fund today, 6s. 8d.; and from the Orphan Boys 15s, 0 ½ d.—Oct. 4. From two little factory girls 1s. 7d.

Oct. 28. From Halifax in Nova Scotia 7l.

Nov. 25. From the neighbourhood of Wheatley 10l.

Dec. 8. From various believers at Hull 12l. 12s.

Dee. 30. From Orleans, in France, five francs.

Thus ended the year 1854. Only 426l. 16s. 4d. altogether had come in for the Building Fund from May 26 up to the end of the year. My faith and patience were therefore tried; but, while they were tried, they were, by God's grace, sustained. Day by day I had been enabled from May 26 to Dec. 31, 1854, as well as during the three years previously, to bring this object before the Lord in player; and day by day, by God's grace, my heart had been fully assured, without wavering, that He, in His own time, would not only give larger sums, but the whole amount required. I desired only His honour in the building of premises for 700 more destitute Orphans, bereaved of both parents; and as God, who cares infinitely more for poor Orphans than I do, did not consider the time to have come for the building of another house, I might well be quiet. My heart longed indeed to begin to build; for there were not only 602 Orphans waiting for admission, when the last report was published but there had been application made for 125 more since then, so that on Dec. 31, 1854, 714 were waiting for admission, as only 13 could be received of the total number of 727, no more vacancies having occurred. But though it was so, I judged it was the will of God, that, by patiently waiting His own time, I should glorify Him.—I now proceed to relate how the Lord further dealt with me.

Jan. 1, 1855. 6s. 3d.—From an Orphan 1s., Ditto 1s.—From Manchester 10s.—From three children in Ireland 5s.—Anonymously from Culworth 1l.—From P. 2s. 6d.

Jan. 8. On this day I received from several Christian friends the promise, that 5,700l. should be paid to me for the work of the Lord in which I am engaged.—This donation was paid to me, in different installments, by the middle of April. I took of this sum, for the Building fund 3,400l., for the support of the Orphans 900l., for missionary objects 1,000l., for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures 150l., for the circulation of Tracts 150l., and for the various day schools, Sunday schools, and the adult school 100l. Thus the Lord is hastening on the time when the building may be commenced. His name be magnified! How refreshing this help was, and how seasonable with regard to all the various objects, can scarcely be described. The Lord may allow us, to have our faith and patience tried; but if we are enabled to continue to look to Him, and to trust in Him alone, a rich recompense will result from doing so.

Jan. 11. From a distance of several hundred miles 13l. 15s, with a letter containing the following paragraph: For the last six months, we (i.e. the donor and his wife) have laboured in prayer for the different departments of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, and especially that our Heavenly Father would be pleased this year largely to increase the Building Fund, and let the work proceed. Two months ago, while continuing in prayer, it was laid upon our minds, that we should set apart, whatever monies the Lord might send us between that time and the new year. The sum contained in the order is what the Lord has given us and we rejoice in being able to send it." What various ways has the Lord to help us! The donor of the 13l. 15s. is a brother who serves the Lord in the ministry of the Gospel among very poor and wretched persons, whilst he labours in dependence upon Him for his temporal supplies. He has been greatly encouraged by the accounts of the Lord's dealings with the Scriptural Knowledge Institution; and now he is a fellow-helper in prayer, and, as this instance shows, also in contributing out of that which the Lord gives to him as the fruit of prayer. This donation greatly refreshed my spirit; for it is so manifest a proof that the Lord is mindful of this work, that He surely, in His own time, will provide for the accommodation of 700 more Orphans, and that thus this dear donor's prayers, and our prayers, will be turned into praises.

Feb. 7. From London 400l., of which the donor kindly wished me to keep 20l. for my family expenses, and to lay out the 380l. for the Lord's work, as I might think best. I took therefore 100l for the Building Fund, 140l. for the support of the Orphans, and 140l. for the other objects.

Feb. 10. Received 197l. 17s. 3d., of which the donor kindly wished me to take 20l. for my own expenses, and the rest to be used as might be most needed for the Lord's work. I took therefore 57l. 17s. 3d. for the Building Fund, 60l. for the support of the Orphans and 60l. for the other objects.

March 28. From one of the Orphans, formerly for many years under our care, but now in service, 10s., with the following letter:

"Dear Sir,—Will you graciously accept this mite from one who thinks of you and yours with gratitude. It is indeed a very small sum. I regret that I have no more to bestow upon such a noble work. It will perhaps put a corner stone in the wall of the intended Orphan House. I think I should like to labour for the Lord in that blessed house, if it is His own will, and be the means in the Lord's hand of bringing many of the dear Orphans to know the truth as it is in Jesus. It was in the Orphan House in Wilson Street, 1846, that first the light of life dawned upon my benighted soul. It was there, that I first learned to call God my Father. I have need therefore to love the Orphan House, not only as concerning temporal things, but especially as its being my spiritual birth-place. May the Lord reward you, dear Sir, for all you have done for me. I am sure He will.

"I am, dear Sir, yours most respectfully,

"* * * * * * * *"

I have at full length inserted this letter out of very many of that kind, received during the past twenty years, that I have been engaged in the Orphan work, for many of the Orphans who have been with us since. April 11, 1836, have not only been fitted for this life, through being under our care, but have been manifestly brought to the knowledge of the Lord.

April 22. 50l., with 50l. for the labourers in the Gospel.

May 6. From Clifton 20l., with 10l. for missions.—May 26. By the sale of a publication 69l. 18s. 1 ½ d.—To the sums received during this year is to be added 767l. 7s. 0d., received for interest. Thus ends the period from May 26, 1854, to May 26, 1855. The amount which came in during this year for the Building Fund, together with the 17,816l. 19s. 5 ¼ d. in. hand on May 26, 1854, make the total of 23,059l. 17s. 8 ¼ d. in hand on May 26, 1855.

In. addition to what has been stated relative to the income for the Building Fund during this year, I furnish the Reader with the following particulars respecting the building for 700 Orphans, reprinted from the Report for 1855.

When I had received the kind information, in January 1855, respecting the donation of 5700l., which should be paid to me by several Christian friends, of which I was at liberty to take such portion for the Building Fund as I might deem desirable, I judged that, though I had not such an amount of means in hand as I considered necessary before being warranted to begin to build, yet that I might make inquiries respecting land. Accordingly, I applied in the beginning of February for the purchase of two fields which join the land on which the New Orphan-House is built. On these two fields I had had my eye for years, and had purposed to endeavour to purchase them, whenever I might be in such a position as to means for the Building Fund, that it would be suitable to do so. I found, however, that, according to the will of the late owner of these fields, they could not be sold now. Thus my prospects were blighted. When I obtained this information, though naturally tried by it and disappointed, I said, by God's grace, to myself: "The Lord has something better to give me, instead of these two fields;" and thus my heart was kept in peace. But when now the matter was fully decided that I could not obtain those fields, which had appeared to me so desirable for the object, the question arose, what I was to do for the obtaining of land. Under these circumstances some of my Christian friends again asked, as they had done before, why I did not build on the ground which we have around the New Orphan-House? My reply was, as before, that it could not be done:—1. Because it would throw the New Orphan-House for nearly two years into disorder on account of the building going on round about it. 2. There would not be sufficient room without shutting in the present house to a great extent. 3. That, as the New Orphan-House stands in the centre of our ground, there would not be sufficient room on any of the sides for the erection of a building so large as would be required.—I was, however, led to consider whether there was any way whereby we could accomplish the building on the ground belonging to the New Orphan-House. In doing so, I found that—1. By having a high temporary boundary made of old boards, the building ground could be entirely distinct from the present establishment. 2. By building on an entirely different plan from that of the present house, we should not only have room enough; but that also, 3. The present house would not be so enclosed that the health of the inmates of the establishment would thereby be injured.

But there was in connexion with this another point, which now came under consideration in addition to the particulars already mentioned: it was this. Though for four years past I had never had a doubt as to its being the will of God that I should build accommodation for 700 more Orphans; yet, at the same time, I had for a long time seen the desirableness of having two houses, instead of one, for the 700 Orphans. This previously formed judgment of having two houses for 350 Orphans in each, or 400 in the one, and 300 in the other, led me now to see whether there could be another house built on each side of the present New Orphan-House, and I judged, from measuring the ground, that there was no objection to this plan. I then called in the aid of architects, to survey the ground, and to make a rough plan of two houses, one on each side, and it was found that it could be accomplished. Having arrived thus far, I soon saw, that we should not only save expense by this plan in various ways, but especially that thus the direction, and inspection of the whole establishment would be much more easy and simple, as the buildings would be so near together. This, indeed, on being further considered, soon appeared to be a matter of such importance, that, even if land could be had but a quarter of a mile off, the difficulties would be greatly increased thereby. At the same time I found, that we still should retain so much land for cultivation by the spade, as would furnish some out-door employment for many boys, and would produce such vegetables as are the most important for young children, to have fresh out of the ground; or that we could easily rent a piece of ground near for that purpose, though it could not be bought.