George Müller · 85 of 97

Fourth Part · Part 20

May 26. I am brought to the close of this period. The work is more and more enlarging. During the last month I have paid out for the Orphans more than 450l., and for the other objects more than 500l., being nearly One Thousand Pounds during one month; and yet I have a greater balance left in hand, through the Lord's kindness, than at the close of any of the previous periods.

Of the several hundreds of donations, large and small, received during this period, I have thus taken a few, to show in what way it pleased the Lord to supply me with means for the Orphan Work.

Miscellaneous Points respecting the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, with reference to the period from May 26, 1850 to May 26, 1851.

1. There were during this period four Day Schools in Bristol, with 286 children in them, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, and three others in Devonshire, Gloucestershire, and Norfolk, with 180 children in them, were assisted.—Further, one Sunday School in Bristol, with 184 children, was entirely supported, and two others, in Devonshire and Gloucestershire, with 213 children, were assisted.— Lastly, an Adult School in Bristol, with 90 persons in it, was entirely supported.—The expenses connected with all these various Schools were, during this period, 379l. 17s.—From the formation of the Institution, on March 5, 1834, up to May 26, 1851, there were 5,343 children in the various Day Schools in Bristol alone, 2,379 in the Sunday School, and 1,896 persons in the Adult Schools, besides the thousands in the Schools out of Bristol, which were assisted.

2. During this period I sought again especially to supply very poor persons, whose character was known by their being visited, with copies of the Holy Scriptures; and also to put copies which are printed with large type in to the hands of aged persons, which seems to me of especial need, as such Bibles are still expensive, considering the means of the poor. There was expended during this period, out of the funds of the Institution, on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, 150l. 16s. 5d. There were 345 Bibles sold and 899 given away; and 30 New Testaments sold, and 413 given away, during this period. From March 5, 1834, to May 26, 1851, there were circulated 7,709 Bibles and 4,442 New Testaments.

3. During this year was spent of the Funds of the Institution for Missionary objects the sum of 2000l. 11s. 1d. By this sum, forty-five labourers in the word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were to a greater or less degree assisted. The amount sent to each of these servants of Christ was as follows.

To No. 1. Labouring in British Guiana 91l. 10s.

To No. 2. Ditto 82l.

To No. 3. Ditto 80l. 10s.

To No. 4. Ditto 55l.

To No. 5. Ditto 55l.

To No. 6. Ditto 30l.

To No. 7. Ditto 20l.

To No. 8. Ditto 10l.

To No. 9. Labouring in the East Indies 100l.

To No. 10. Ditto 40l.

To No. 11. Ditto 40l.

To No. 12. Ditto 20l.

To No. 13 Ditto 14l.

To No. 14 Labouring in Canada 20l.

To No. 15 Ditto 20l.

To No. 16 Labouring in the United States 30l.

To No. 17 Labouring in France 60l.

To No. 18. Labouring in Switzerland 50l.

To No. 19. Ditto 10l.

To No. 20. Ditto 10l.

To No. 21. Labouring in Germany 10l.

To No. 22. Labouring in Ireland 70l.

To No. 23. Labouring in Scotland 115l.

To No. 24. Labouring in England 130l.

To No. 25. Labouring in England 115l.

To No. 26. Ditto 80l.

To No. 27. Ditto 65l.

To No. 28. Ditto 65l.

To No. 29. Ditto 57l.

To No. 30. Ditto 50l.

To No. 31. Ditto 50l.

To No. 32. Ditto 50l.

To No. 33. Ditto 45l.

To No. 34. Ditto 45l

To No. 35. Ditto 30l.

To No. 36. Ditto 30l.

To No. 37. Ditto 30l.

To No. 38. Ditto 20l.

To No. 39. Ditto 15l.

To No. 40. Ditto 10l.

To No. 41. Ditto 10l.

To No. 42. Ditto 10l.

To No. 43. Ditto 10l.

To No. 44. Ditto 5l.

To No. 45. Ditto 5l.

There was also sent to me anonymously for the support of native preachers of the Gospel in China 11s. ld., which was forwarded . . . . . . . 11s. 1d.

The total amount of 2000l. was sent to these forty-five servants of the Lord Jesus in 264 different sums, generally not less than 5l. and not more than 10l. at one time to each, except there were especial reasons pointing to a different course. Almost all these brethren were habitually assisted; a few needed only occasional assistance.

I have great joy, in being able to inform the believing reader, that it pleased the Lord again to let great blessing rest upon the labours of these preachers of the Gospel, whom I sought to assist during this year; which is alike true both with reference to those who labour in our own country and those who preach the Word in foreign lands.

I consider it a great privilege to be permitted to defray in part or altogether, from the funds of this institution, the expenses connected with the voyage and outfit of brethren who desire to go out as Missionaries, or to help them after their arrival in their field of labour; but I do not bind myself to support them habitually, seeing that thus they would be out of the position of simple dependence upon God for their temporal supplies.

4. During this period 358l. 7s. 3d. was expended on the circulation of Tracts, and 303,098 Tracts and Little Books were circulated.

The Lord was pleased to give me such an abundance of opportunities for circulating tracts by means of godly men, both in this and foreign countries, that, during this year, I was permitted to send out more tracts than during the whole of the previous ten years taken together. Nor must it be withheld from the reader, as matter for thankfulness, that the Lord was pleased to allow me to hear again and again of instances of conversion, by means of the distribution of these Tracts during this period.

5. On May 26, 1850, there were Two Hundred and Seventy-five Orphans in the New Orphan House on Ashley Down, Bristol. There were admitted into it, during this year, 45 Orphans, making 320 in all. Of these, however, two were removed by their relatives, who were able by that time to provide for them, seven died during the year, five of the elder girls were sent out to service, and six of the elder boys were apprenticed; so that on May 26, 1851, there were 300 Orphans in the New Orphan House. The total number of Orphans who were under our care from April, 1836, to May 26, 1851, is Four Hundred and Eighty-Eight. There came in altogether during this year 4102l. 14s. 9 ¼ d. for the support of the Orphans, and 3,640l. 9s. 1 ¾ d. for the other objects; and, after having met to the full every demand with reference to the Orphans, the balance of 970l. 13s. 11 ¾ d. remained in hand. Also, after having entered into every door, which the Lord was pleased to set before me respecting the other objects, and to do far more than during any one year previously, the balance of 809l. 10s. 6d. remained in hand on May 26, 1851. Verily we do not trust in the Lord in vain!

Without any one having been personally applied to for anything by me, the sum of 38,018l. 4s. 6 ½ d. was given to me for the Orphans as the result of prayer to God from the commencement of the work to May 26, 1851.—It may be also interesting to the reader to know, that the total amount which was given as free contributions, for the other objects, from the commencement of the work to May 26, 1851, amounted to 13,988l. 11s. 9 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, amounted to 2,890l. 9s. 11 ¾ d.—Besides this, also a great variety and number of articles of clothing, furniture, provisions, &e., were given for the use of the Orphans.

It pleased the Lord greatly to gladden our hearts by the working of His Holy Spirit among the Orphans during this period.

Matters connected with my own personal affairs, or the work of the Lord in my hands, not immediately connected with the Scriptural Knowledge institution, from May 26, 1850, to May 26, 1851.

Dec. 31, 1850. During this year there have been received into Fellowship 57, and altogether, from the time that Brother Craik and I began to labour in Bristol, 1313, which, with the 68 believers whom we found in Fellowship, make 1381. Of these 174 have fallen asleep, 160 have left us during these 18 years and a half, 355 have removed from Bristol, and 80 have been excluded from Fellowship; so that there are at present only 612 in communion.

During this year the Lord has been pleased to give me-

1. By anonymous offerings through the Chapel boxes … … … £148 11 0

2. By presents in money from believers in Bristol, not given anonymously 86 1 9

8. By presents in money from believers not residing in Bristol … … 160 0 8

4. By presents in provisions, clothes, &c., worth to us at least … … 7 11 0

£402 4 5

Further account of the intended Orphan House for Seven Hundred Poor Children, bereaved of both Parents by

death, from May 26, 1851, to May 26, 1852.

The reader will remember it was stated in the previous chapter on this subject, that I purposed, not in dependence upon my Christian Friends, nor upon former donors, but alone in dependence upon the living God, who, I trust, has called me for it, notwithstanding all my unworthiness, to enlarge the Orphan Work. The Godly reader will now be desirous to learn how far I have been helped, in this my intention, to enlarge the field of labour in caring for the vast numbers of helpless Orphans in our land. I will, therefore, give an extract, in the way of specimens, from the account book, kept for the purpose, together with the remarks and observations which I wrote down at the time of the receipt of the donations, and make also here and there additional remarks, as the occasion may call for.

Before I brought before the public my purpose, I gave the record of the exercises of my mind, on this subject, to a valued Christian friend to read, the only one who, besides my family, knew anything of my intention, before it came before the public. I did this particularly in order that, after waiting for several months in secret upon God for guidance and direction concerning it, I might also have the counsel of a prayerful, judicious, and cautious man of God. When this brother returned the manuscript, he spoke to me words of encouragement concerning this purpose, and gave me a half-sovereign towards the Building Fund for this house for 700 destitute Orphans. This was the first donation, which I received on May 13, 1851, and which, I confess, was a great refreshment and encouragement to me, the more so as it came from so cautious a brother, and after I had been for several months, through secret prayer, assured that I should go forward.

On May 28th, 1851, my intention became publicly known, and in the evening of May 29th I received from a Christian lady a sovereign towards the Building Fund.

May 30. One of the Orphans in the New Orphan House gave 6d. for the Building Fund, and one engaged in the work gave an old silver watch for sale and 5s.

June. 1. A brother in the Lord, who gives his donations with the letter "P.," gave me 10s.—I also received a sovereign.—This evening I received still further 4 half-crowns, with very encouraging words and expressions of joy, that I have been led to this purpose of building another Orphan House for 700 more Orphans.—There came to hand also anonymously 3s. Ditto an old shilling, a small American coin, and two shillings. Also from a Christian servant in Clifton 2s. 6d.

June. 3. From one of the Orphans in the New Orphan House 6d., and from another 6d.

June 4. From another Orphan in the New Orphan House, 6d. I received also 8s. 0 ½ d., which the Orphans in the Girls' School of the New Orphan House gave between them for the Building Fund.

June 5. Through one of the boxes at the New Orphan House twopence and likewise one half-penny. These two small donations are very sweet to me. I take them as a further earnest, out of the hands of my heavenly Father, that He, in His own time, will give me the whole sum requisite. Evening: From a sister from Norwich 2s. 6d. From a sister in the Lord in Bristol 1s.

June. 6. Anonymously 5l. 0s. 1d., with these words: "Towards the Building Fund of the proposed Orphan House 2l., for Brother Müller 1l. 10s., for Brother Craik 1l. 10s."

June 7. Anonymously 1s. 6d.

June. 8. From a brother 5s.—From one of the Orphans formerly under our care, a believer, a sovereign, of which she intends 5s. for the Building Fund, 5s. for present use for the Orphans, 5s. for Brother Craik, and 5s. for my own personal expenses. How sweet a donation! Anonymously 1s. From "P." 1s. 6d.

June 11. Anonymously, from Sunderland 1l—A lady gave to my daughter at my house 5l., but would not give her name.

June. 12. From Richmond 5l.

I have thus given minutely an account of the income during the first two weeks, after my purpose had become known; but shall now only, for the sake of brevity, refer to some of the donations.

June. 21. Twenty-four days have now passed away since I have been enabled, day by day, to wait with a goodly measure of earnestness and in faith upon the Lord for means; but as yet only a little above 28l. has come in. But I am not discouraged. The less there comes in, the more earnestly I pray, the more I look out for answers, and the more assured I am that the Lord, in His own time, after He has tried my faith, will send me larger sums, and, at last, all I need.

July 27. From a Christian gentleman in Clifton 20l. This donation has much refreshed my spirit. I am, day by day, expecting help from the Lord, in large and small sums as He pleases; but as He is trying my faith, in that only so little as yet has come in, this donation has been very precious.

Aug. 8. From a Christian lady in London 5l.—From Somersetshire 40l.

Aug. 12, Day by day I am waiting upon the Lord for means for this object, and generally more than once a day am bowing my knees before God with reference to it. Moreover, of late I have been enabled, with increasing earnestness, to beseech the Lord, that He would be pleased to send in means for the Building Fund. My soul has been all along at peace, though only so little as yet, comparatively, has come in (in all 127l. 19s. 9d.) and though Satan has, in the most subtle way, sought to shake my confidence, and to lead me to question, whether, after all, I had not been mistaken concerning this whole matter. Yet, though he has aimed after this, to the praise of God I have to confess, that he has not been allowed to triumph. I have especially besought the Lord of late, that He would be pleased to refresh my spirit by sending in some large donation for this part of the work. Under these circumstances, I received this morning the following letter with 500l.:

"* * * * August 8.

"My Dear Brother,

"Trusting that God has indeed called you to this work, viz., caring for poor Orphans, and will not allow you to be deceived as to His will regarding the increasing it, but will greatly use you for His own glory and for blessing to many poor destitute children, it is my desire, and I humbly thank our most gracious God and Father for the ability, to have fellowship with you in this work, as far as He permits. Will you, therefore, use the enclosed check for 500l. for the Orphans, towards the present Establishment or the proposed new one, as you may judge best, or taking any part thereof for one or the other. The Lord Jesus be your counselor, your joy, your strength, your all.

"Affectionately yours,

"* * * *"

I took the whole amount for the Building Fund. I was not in the least excited. I look out for means. Even at that very moment, when I received this donation, I was looking out for means, for large donations; and I should not have been surprised if 5,000l. had come in, or more. The Lord be praised for this precious encouragement, which has still further quickened me for prayer!

Aug. 14. From the neighbourhood of Leeds 10l.—From Essex 5l.

Aug. 15. Anonymously from Hull 5s.—From Cornwall a copy of "Greece" for sale.

Aug. 19. From Shirehampton 5l.

Aug. 20. From Mirfield 2l. Also 150l. came in today which, being left at my disposal by the donor, as most needed, I took the whole of this amount for the Building Fund, having sufficient means in hand for the current expenses of the various objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution.

Aug. 30. From M. S. 30l., of which the donor desires 20l. to be used for missionary objects, and 10l. for the Building Fund. The donor writes: "My present inducement to remit this is, that God has lately prospered me in business, and I had been putting by for this and a few other similar purposes, intending to make bequests in my will, but am convinced that this is the best course to pursue, if not the only justifiable one, with what I can spare from my business and other necessities."

Sept. 1. From a much afflicted sister seven dolls' bonnets for sale. A picture in frame.

Sept. 2. From an individual living in Nicholas Street, Bristol, 1l.— From a brother in the Lord, in Wandsworth Road, London, 5s., with 1l. for present use for the Orphans, and 15s. for missionary purposes.— From a poor Christian widow in London 1s., with 1s. for present use for the Orphans.—I am day by day labouring in prayer for this object, and with a goodly measure of fervency of spirit, by the grace of God; and am day by day looking out for answers. These sums last recorded are but small, yet they tell me that my Heavenly Father is not unmindful of my supplications, and of those of His dear children who help me with their prayers, and that, in His own time, He will send me more, and also large sums. I magnify His holy name that He does not in the least allow me to question either His power or His willingness to give me all that I shall need; yea, my soul is as assured that I shall have this my request fully granted, unworthy though I am of it, as if the whole amount were already in my hand.

Sept. 4. From a Christian at Keswick 10s., and a lady through ditto 5s.

Sept. 5. From the neighbourhood of Keswick 1l.—From Hull 1l.— From Shrewsbury 20l.

Sept. 10. As yet the Lord delays sending in larger sums; but I am looking out for them, and am confidently expecting them. This delay is only for the trial of my faith; after He has tried it, He will help me. Applications for the admission of Orphans continue to be made. Within the last ten days eighteen poor children, bereaved of both parents, have been applied for; and since Aug. 15th, therefore in twenty-six days, thirty-two altogether. My heart longs to be allowed of God to help poor Orphans more extensively than ever. Whence the means are to come for the building of this house for 700 Orphans, I know not; but still, by God's help, my confidence in Him is not shaken. To Him it is a very small matter to give me all I need for this work.

Sept. 11. From Ludgvan 10s. Evening. Only these ten shillings have come in today, but three more Orphans have been applied for, making thirty-five in less than a month. Does not the Lord tell me by this, that He will provide another home for Orphans? I will therefore patiently wait upon Him for the means, and after He has tried my faith and patience, He will show Himself as the bearer and answerer of prayer. Today came in the course of my reading John xiv. 13, 14, "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name I will do it." I pleaded this word of promise, and look for answers, even for the fulfilment of this promise. Nor do I doubt that the Lord Jesus will fulfil this His promise in this my case.

Sept. 12. From Guildford 1l. 8s.—From Bath 1l.

Sept. 13. Patience and faith are still called for, and, by God's grace, my desire is to "let patience have her perfect work," Not one penny has come in today for the Building Fund, but five more Orphans have been applied for, so that now forty in less than one single month have been brought before me, all bereaved of both parents, and all very destitute. Under these circumstances, how can I but fervently labour in prayer that the Lord would be pleased to intrust me with means for building another Orphan-House for 700 Orphans. The more I look at things according to natural appearances and prospects, the less likely is it that I should have the sum which is needed; but I have faith in God, and my expectation is from Him alone. From the beginning I depended upon Him only, concerning this proposed enlargement of the work, and therefore have not been disappointed, though as yet only the fortieth part of what is needed has come in (882l. 18s. 7 ½ d). But how soon, how very soon can the Lord alter the aspect of things. Even this very evening, while I am writing, He can give me many thousand pounds. I continue therefore, to wait upon God, and seek to encourage my heart by His holy word, and while he delays giving me answers, to be occupied in His blessed service. Of this, however, my soul has not the least doubt, that, when the Lord shall have been pleased to exercise my soul by the trial of faith and patience, He will make bare His arm, and send help. The fact that the applications for the admission of destitute Orphans are so many, does both quicken me to prayer, and is also a great encouragement to me, that the Lord will give me the desire of my heart, to provide another home for these destitute, fatherless and motherless children.

Sept. 19. Received today a donation of 170l., which the donor kindly allowed me to use for the work of the Lord in my hands as I pleased. I therefore took the whole of this donation for the Building Fund, having at present sufficient means in hand for the current expenses of all, the various objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, and feeling called to give myself with my might to prepare for the Building of another Orphan-House.

Sept. 20. About two months since I received a letter, of which I give as much as refers to the subject in hand.

"My Dear Sir,

"I was once a book collector, and turned my attention to our old English Bibles, and, among other editions, perfected, almost sheet by sheet, our first English Coverdale Bible of 1535. It is a sad specimen of time, attention, and money mis-spent and mis-applied, and as I look upon you as the receiver of cast off idols, whether watch chains, trinkets, or old Bibles, I have purposed for some time sending it to you. * * * * Do with the proceeds as you see fit. I should be glad if a portion were converted into large printed Testaments for the aged, and should be thankful if that, which has been cause of humbling to me, should be converted into the means, through your instrumentality, of raising others.

* * * * *

"Ever yours,

* * * *."

A day or two after the receipt of this letter, a parcel arrived, containing the said Coverdale Bible, of A.D. 1535 and another book; the latter to be sold for the benefit of the Orphans. It was only today that I had an opportunity of disposing of the old Bible, which fetched 60l., together with other books, which had been given for the benefit of the Orphans, which brought 10l. Of the 60l. I took 10l. for New Testaments printed with large type for aged poor persons, and 50l. for the Building Fund.

Oct. 2. Evening. Nothing has come in today for the Building Fund, and very little during the last ten days. I have had just now again a long season for prayer respecting this object. Through the support which I receive from the Lord, I am not cast down, though only so little as yet has come in. The work is His, and not mine; therefore am I able quietly to leave it in His hands. Were I to look at what has come in hitherto, much though it is, in one sense, it would take, after this rate, about ten years, before I should have the sum needed; but this does not cast me down; for, when the Lord's time is come I expect larger sums. Further, there are peculiar natural obstacles in the way to my receiving donations for this object; for it has now been for several months reported that I have already Thirty Thousand Pounds in hand for the Building Fund, though this day it is actually only 1,139l. 19s. 2 ½ d. Again and again this has been told me, and therefore, were I to look at things naturally, I should have much reason to be cast down, as the spread of such reports is calculated, humanly speaking, to keep persons from contributing towards this object. Another class of persons, true Christians, and liberal persons too, may be thinking, that the sum required is so large that it is not likely I shall obtain it, and that therefore their contributing towards this object would be useless. But none of these things discourage me. God knows that I have not Thirty Thousand Pounds in hand. God can influence the minds of His dear children towards this intended Orphan-House, whatever their thoughts may have been hitherto on the subject. I therefore seek to "let patience have her perfect work," and go on in prayer, being fully assured, that the Lord will not suffer me to be confounded. I am day by day looking out for help, yea for large sums; and I know I shall have them, after the Lord has exercised my faith and patience. Lord wilt Thou mercifully continue to give unto Thy servant faith and patience!

Oct. 3. From the Forest of Dean 1l.

Oct. 4. From Old Aberdeen 5l.—From Dublin the work for an ottoman and a piece of crochet work.

Oct. 5. Through Bethesda boxes 10s.—From Clifton 7s.—From H. S. 4d.

Oct. 7. From Wellington in Salop 5s. Evening. The trial of my faith and patience continues still. Again very little has come in during the last four days for the Building Fund. But my hope in God, by His help, continues steadfast. I had just now again a long season for prayer, having spent the whole evening alone for the purpose, and am assured that, when God's time shall have come, it will be seen that, even concerning this object, I do not wait upon Him in vain. There are persons again and again asking me, When I am going to commence the building; for, they think that I have all, or nearly all, the means which are required. And there are others who ask me whether I still purpose to build this Orphan-House. To Thee, my Heavenly Father, Thy child turns under these circumstances. Thou knowest how small an amount as yet Thy servant has, in comparison with what is needed; but Thou also knowest that Thy servant did not act rashly and under excitement in this matter, but waited upon Thee for six months in secret, before he spoke about this his intention. Now, Lord, in Thy mercy, sustain Thy servant's faith and patience, and, if it please Thee, speedily refresh his heart by sending in larger sums, for which he is looking, and which he confidently expects!

Oct. 8. Through the boxes at the New Orphan-House 2s. 6d., with Psalm xxvii. 14. The words of the passage are these: "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." By God's grace I wait on the Lord, and am of good courage, and He does strengthen my heart, in faith and patience to continue to wait on Him, though only so little comes in, being assured that, when the trial of faith and patience is over, He will make bare His arm, and send in larger sums.