A Narrative of some of the Lord's Dealings with George Muller Volume IV Part 17

April 1. Anonymously through Bethesda boxes 2d. for missions.

Anonymously through Salem boxes 30l., with these words: "5l. for dear brother Muller, 5l. for dear brother Craik, 5l. for the poor, 5l: for the rent, 5l. for missionary work, 5l. for the Scriptural Knowledge Inst.i.tution." The last mentioned 5l. I took for the circulation of Bibles and Tracts, and for the various Schools.

April 15. Anonymously through Salem boxes 1d. for missions.

April 18. Received 250l., which, being entirely left at my disposal, I took 100l. for the current expenses for the Orphans, and 150l. for these objects. Thus I have especially the joy, in answer to my daily supplications, of being able to continue to a.s.sist many home and foreign labourers who labour in the word and doctrine.

May 13. Anonymously for foreign missions 1s.

May 23. Received 360l., of which the kind donor wished me to take 10l.

for my own personal expenses, and the 350l. were left to my disposal, just as the work of the Lord in my hands might require it. I took therefore one half for the current expenses for the Orphans, and the other half for these objects, and I have thus the means to continue to send help to home and foreign labourers.

May 27. From the same donor, who gave on Feb. 19th 120l., and on March 13th 100l., 20l. more for missions.

Aug. 4. During the last month I had sent to home and foreign labourers about 150l., and many heavy extra expenses had been met for the Schools and the circulation of Tracts, on which account our means for these objects began to be reduced, when I received this morning 200l., which, being left entirely at my disposal as might be most needed, I took for these objects.

Aug. 9. Anonymously 5l. for home and foreign labourers in the Word.

Aug. 30. 50l. from the donor spoken of under May 27th. Half this sum lie intends for the Orphans and half for missions.

Sept. 18. I received 100l., to be used as might be most needed. This sum came after I had repeatedly asked the Lord for more means, as the money in hand for these objects was now less than it had been for several months. I took, therefore, the whole of this sum for these objects.

Nov. 3. The means were now again low, lower than they had been for many months, when I received 200l., which, being left at my disposal as most needed, I took entirely for these objects.

Dec. 7. Before our means were exhausted for these objects, when there.

was yet 140l. in hand, I received today a donation of 150l., the disposal of which was left to me, to use it either for the Orphans or any part of the work of G.o.d in my hands. I took 100l. for these objects, and 50l. for the Orphans.

Jan. 2, 1850. The new year commences, even as to this part of the work, with new mercies. There was given to me 160l., to be used as might be most needed, of which sum I took 100l. for these objects, and 60l. for the Orphans. Thus, before all means are expended, while there is yet about 100l. in hand, the Lord sends me again a fresh supply, in answer to my daily supplications, whereby I am enabled to go on with the circulation of Bibles and Tracts, the meeting of all the expenses connected with the various Schools, and still further to help preachers of the Gospel at home and abroad.--I take this first donation from the Lord in this new year, as an earnest that He will help me during the whole of this year also in regard to means for these objects.

Jan. 30. During this month I had been especially led to send much a.s.sistance to home and foreign labourers. Also in other respects the expenses for these objects had been considerable. On this account the funds for them had been reduced to about 80l., when I received this evening 450l., of which the donor kindly wished me to take 50l. for my own personal expenses, to give to Brother Craik 50l., and to use the other as might be most needed. I took therefore 200l. for the Orphans, 50l. for foreign missions, 25l. for home missionaries, 25l. for the Day Schools for poor children and for the Adult School and the Sunday School, 25l. for the circulation of Gospel Tracts, and 25l. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures.

Feb. 10. Received 180l., which the donor left to my disposal, as it might be most needed for the work of G.o.d in my hands; he only desired in his kindness that I should take 20l. of it for my own purse. As there is a considerable sum in hand at present for the supplies of the Orphans, I took the whole of this donation for tile other objects, whereby I am enabled to go on more and more in aiding missionary work, and in continuing the circulation of Bibles and Tracts.--I have great delight in showing also by this and other instances to which reference has been made, how the Lord is mindful of my own temporal necessities, whilst I endeavour to serve Him, in entire reliance on Him for what I need with regard to this life, without any salary or any regular income whatever, so that He not only gives me as much as I absolutely need, but most bountifully supplies me; for generally I receive from Him far more than 1 need for myself and family.

March 23. During the last six weeks has been paid out for the School?Bible?Tract and Missionary objects alone about 270l., and very little comparatively has been received. On this account came in most seasonably, and very manifestly in answer to prayer, a donation of 152l. 3s. 6d., which I received this morning, and which I took for these objects, to replenish our means for them.

March 30. From C. W. 30l. for foreign missions.

May 3. During the last month but very little was received for these objects, whilst, for missionary purposes alone, 113l. was paid out. Now this morning I received a registered letter, containing 60l. with these words:

"---- May 1, 1850.

"Dear Brother,

"I send you 50l, for the missionaries, and 10l. for the Orphans, having just sold out part of my property in the funds. It pleases me to find that your new Report will soon be out.

Believe me to be, dear brother,

Yours truly in Christ,

This donation came after many prayers to the Lord for supplies. The work is now large. The outgoings are great. During the last month were again expended about 500l. for the various objects of the Inst.i.tution, nor have I any prospect that the expenses will decrease; yea, I have no desire that they should. I have as great satisfaction, as much joy, in writing checks for large amounts upon my bankers, as I have joy in paying over to them checks, or bank orders, or large notes, which I receive from the living G.o.d, by means of donors, for this work. For the money is of no more value to me than as I can use it for G.o.d; and the more I can pay out for the work of G.o.d, the more prospect I have of being again supplied by Him; and the larger the sum is, which I can obtain from Him, in answer to prayer only, the greater the proof of the blessedness and the reality of this mode of dealing directly with the living G.o.d, for what I need; therefore, I say, I have as much joy in giving out as in receiving. I have been devoting myself, for instance, with all my might, both of body and mind, but especially by labouring in spirit, to have the Orphan-House filled with children, not only that thus three hundred dest.i.tute Orphans, might be lodged, boarded, clothed, instructed, and in every way cared for, bodily, mentally, and spiritually; but also, in order that thus large sums might be needed and expended, and I might have a greater call than ever to draw largely upon the inexhaustible treasures of G.o.d. That I do not mean, in thus speaking, to say that money so obtained by prayer may be wasted, will scarcely need to be noticed; for if any one would obtain means from G.o.d by prayer only, and then waste them, he would soon find that he is not able to pray in faith for further supplies.

May 7. The donation of 50l. for the missionary brethren, received four days ago, was very refres.h.i.+ng to my spirit, and most manifestly to me another answer to prayer; but it did not hinder me from continuing in prayer for more means, as I have a great desire to spend again, by G.o.d's help, considerable sums in connexion with these various objects, in the course of this month. Moreover, I was looking out for answers to prayer, and therefore expected still further means to come in on the 4th, the 5th, and yesterday; and, as I received nothing, I only prayed the more earnestly, instead of being discouraged. And thus it was that I obtained this morning a still further answer to my supplication, in a donation of 150l., of which I took half for the Orphans and half for these objects, as the disposal of the money was left to me.

My dear Christian reader, will you not try this way? Will you not know for yourself, if as yet you have not known it, the preciousness and the happiness of this way of casting all your cares and burdens and necessities upon G.o.d? This way is as open to you as to me. Every one of the children of G.o.d is not called by Him to be engaged in such a service as that to which He has condescended to call me; but every one is invited and commanded to trust in the Lord, to trust in Him with all his heart, and to cast his burden upon Him, and to call upon Him in the day of trouble. Will you not do this, my dear brethren in Christ? I long that you may do so. I desire that you may taste the sweetness of that state of heart, in which, while surrounded by difficulties and necessities, you can yet be at peace, because you know that the living G.o.d, your Father in heaven, cares for you. Should, however, any one read this, who is not reconciled to G.o.d, but is still going on in the ways of sin and carelessness, unbelief and self-righteousness, then let me say to such, that it is impossible, that you should have confidence to come boldly to G.o.d in such a state, and I therefore ask you to make confession of your sins to Him, and to put your trust for eternity entirely in the merits of the Lord Jesus, that you may obtain the forgiveness of your sins. Again, should any one read this who has believed in the Lord Jesus, but who is now again living in sin, who is again regarding iniquity in his heart, let not such a one be surprised that he has no confidence toward G.o.d, and that he does not know the blessedness of having answers to his prayers; for it is written: "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: but verily G.o.d bath heard me; He hath attended to the voice of my prayer." Ps. lxvi.

18, 19. The first thing such a one has to do is, to forsake his evil course, to make confession of it, and to know afresh the power of the blood of the Lord Jesus on his conscience, by putting his trust in that precious blood, in order that he may obtain confidence toward G.o.d.

Supplies for the support of the Orphans, sent in answer to prayer, from May 26, 1848, to May 26, 1850.

When the accounts were closed on May 26, 1848, I had in hand a balance of 1l. 10s. 3 d. With this amount then we began, whilst day by day above one hundred and thirty persons were to be provided for in the four Orphan-Houses in Wilson Street. Nor was there any money besides available except what had been advanced to the four matrons in the various Orphan-Houses for the week's house-keeping, which was already more than half expended; and I had on the 30th to advance again many pounds for the following week. Place yourself now, dear reader, in my position, in order that you may the more clearly see the hand of G.o.d in what follows.

On the very next day, after the accounts were closed, May 27, 1848, I received from Westmoreland five pounds, half of which sum was intended by the donor for the Orphans, and half for the other objects. This donation I took as an earnest out of the hands of the living G.o.d, that during the whole of this period also He would provide for these many Orphans, as He had done in former years.

May 28. Received anonymously 3s. 9 d., and from A. S. A. 10s. 2 d.

May 29. Today I have received 100l., which, being left to me as most needed, I took half for the Orphans, and half for the other objects. How kind of the Lord to refresh my heart thus in sending me this seasonable help at the very commencement of this period, as there was so little left in hand when the accounts were closed three days since and how especially kind, as tomorrow evening again nearly 20l. will have to be advanced for house-keeping!

June 20. 81l. 8s. 4d. had come in since May 26th. Without any difficulty I had been able to meet all the expenses as they occurred; but now all our money was gone, and this evening I had again to advance the means for a week's house-keeping, whilst there was nothing in hand. Now observe, dear reader, how the Lord helped me! Whilst I was in the very act of beseeching the Lord for fresh supplies, two sisters in the Lord called, who desired to see my dear wife for a few minutes. It was for the purpose of giving her fifteen pounds for the Orphans.--About half an hour after, a brother from Devons.h.i.+re called, who, on leaving, gave me 5l. for the Orphans. This evening I received still further from Norwich 1l. 1s., together with an eye-gla.s.s and a parcel of clothes.

There was received also 1s. for Reports. Also a Christian brother from Barnstaple gave me half a sovereign. Thus I was able to meet the house-keeping expenses for the coming week, and to order 2 cwt. of soap, which was needed, amounting altogether to 20l. 10s., and have 1l. 2s.

left. The day began and I had nothing, and yet the Lord enabled me to meet all its demands, and I have 1l. 2s. over.

June 21. The Lord is already beginning to give fresh supplies towards the need of the coming week. This morning was sent to me from Ess.e.x a large silver mug. There has come in further today from Bath 5s., by sale of Reports 1s., by sale of a book 1s., from South Molton 2s. 6d., from a lady near Bristol 5s., and through an Orphan-box 11s. 6d. and a silver thimble.

June. 23. From Merriott 14s. 4d., from Dundry 5s., through A. S. A. 1s.

6d., from a sister 5s., by sale of Reports 3s. 4d, by sale of articles 1l. 4s. 10d., by the children's knitting 4s. 6d., and from the Isle of Wight 14s. 7d.

June 25. Anonymously from Teignmouth 5l., through Bethesda boxes 6d., ditto 2d.

June 26. From L. M. 1s. 1d., brother F.'s Orphan-box 1s. 1d., by profit from the sale of ladies' baskets 10s., anonymously 1s., ditto 6d., ditto 1d.

June 27. By sale of articles 17s. 3d., from Clifton 10s., from a sister 10s., through a box in my room 10s., from Tiverton 5s., and through the boxes in the Orphan-Houses 4l. 5s. 2d.--Thus we have bad again this evening, in answer to prayer, all the means required for the housekeeping expenses of the coming week, and have a few s.h.i.+llings left.

July 4. Though this day week I had all the means requisite for advancing the house-keeping expenses for this week, yet, after having done so, there remained only a few s.h.i.+llings. I had therefore again to seek help from G.o.d respecting the means requisite for this evening, besides means for other expenses, which in the course of the week might come upon me, as the regular house-keeping expenses are not one half of the whole of the expenses for the Orphans. Now, during this week also, I have been helped by the Lord in the following manner:--

On June 28th I received from Uppingham 10s., and 10s., and 1s. Also by sale of Reports came in 6s.--On June 30th was sent from Tetbury 10s.

? On July 1st a brother in the Lord gave me 10l.--On July 2nd from A. S. A. 1l., and from a sister 5s. Also anonymously 4s., ditto 10s., ditto 1s. 6d.--On July 3rd from a brother 1l.?-July 4th. By sale of articles 2l. 3s. 6 d., and by knitting and needlework 6l. 13s. 10d.

? Thus I was again able to advance this evening the means for the house-keeping expenses of the coming week, and have a few s.h.i.+llings left.

July 6. The more the Lord is pleased to help me, the more, by His grace, I have confidence in Him. Therefore, though there were only a few s.h.i.+llings left the evening before last, I set myself to prayer that G.o.d would be pleased to send everything requisite for continuing this work.

Accordingly, two ladies left today, anonymously, at the Infant Orphan-House, 2 old foreign gold watches, an old silver watch, a small gold chain, 6 gold mourning rings, a pair of gold earrings, and 2 necklaces. There was also given today 10s., and 2s. 2 d. came in by sale of Reports.

July 7. From Edmonton 1l. From a Christian lettercarrier 10s., from a sister 2s. 6d., and from M. R. 5l.

July 8. Through sister C. from a friend 2s., from M. 2s., from D. 1s., and from sister F. 1s. 1d.

July 9. From A. S. A. 10s. Also a brother has brought me this evening 5l.

July 10. From Street 2s., through Salem boxes 3d., and by knitting 10s.

9d.