A Narrative of some of the Lord's Dealings with George Muller Volume IV Part 38

Nov. 7. By sale of Reports 4s. 10d.--Anonymously from York 5s.-- Received back on paying an account 3s. 7 d.--From a relative of one of the Orphans 1s.--Having had to pay out 18l. for house-keeping expenses, and having had to meet a few little expenses besides, we had again only about 5l. left, as was the case three days ago, when I received this afternoon 5l. from a Bristol donor.--Also 1l. from London.

Nov. 15. Our means were now again gone. We had scarcely anything in hand, with very heavy expenses before us, when this morning a Christian gentleman from Yorks.h.i.+re called on me, and gave me 50l. for the current expenses for the Orphans. This was a most precious encouragement to prayer! There came in further today from Manchester 9s. 6d.--By sale of Reports 11s. 6d.--Through the boxes in the New Orphan-House 2l.7s.

11d.--Returned on paying an account 3s. 1 d.--From Exeter 1l.

10s.

Nov. 22. A Brother in the Lord from Manchester came to see the New Orphan-House, and gave 10l., which came in a time of great need.

Nov. 27. 100l. was sent in the greatest need, from a considerable distance, of which I took 50l. for the Orphans, and 50l. for the other objects.

Dec. 20. As since Nov. 27 only about 200l. has come in, I found this evening that our means for the support of the Orphans were reduced to 10l. 9s. 8d, whilst our current expenses of late have been about 12l.

daily, on account of the high price of provisions. This led to earnest prayer, that the Lord would be pleased to help us.

Dec. 21. The Lord has already sent a precious answer to the prayer of last evening. I received today from a n.o.ble Lady 10l.--From Devons.h.i.+re 15l.--By sale of Reports 6s. 6d.--From Birmingham 2s.

? By sale of a few coins, etc. 19s. 1d.--From Monmouths.h.i.+re 8s.-- By sale of Reports 2s. 6d.--From Worksop 10s. 6d.--Returned on paying an account 3s. 3 d.

Dec. 23. From Cheltenham 2s. 6d.--From London 10s.--From Clondegad 10s.--By sale of articles 3l. 16s. 5d. By sale of a Report 6d.-- From Edinburgh 5l.

Dec. 24. Anonymously 1l.--From Barking 6s.--From Blackheath Hill 6s.

Dec. 25. From B. S. 2s.--Through Bethesda and Salem boxes 7s.-- From P. 2s.

Dec. 26. From a brother in the Lord 6l.--From O. O. at Plymouth 10s.

Dec. 27. From two believers at Plymouth 10s.--From Kingsbridge 10s.

? From Falmouth 1s.--From a little girl 3d.--By sale of Reports 6s.--Through the boxes in the New Orphan-House 1l. 14s. 4d.

Dec. 28. From Adelaide, Australia, 5l.

Dec. 29. From Torquay 5s.--From Exmouth 10s.--From Fulbeck 5s.-- From Sherborne 2s.

Dec. 30. At the beginning of this day our money was again reduced to 19l. 2s. 1 d. for the current expenses for the Orphans, whilst I had before me the prospect of having to advance this day 30l. for house-keeping expenses, in order that we might go with ease through the work, and in order that all expenses might be met. Now see how the Lord helped us during this day. There came very early this morning, from the neighbourhood of Norwich, a box, containing the following articles. A prize medal, 2 salt cellars, 6 pencil cases, 5 thimbles, 2 fruit knives, a watch chain, 2 vinaigrettes (all of silver), a black necklace, a silver chain, 2 silver toothpicks, some pieces of silver, 2 pairs of gilt bracelets, a pincus.h.i.+on, 4 snaps, a pair of gold earrings, a tortoisesh.e.l.l comb, a pocket comb, a reading gla.s.s, a box of paints, a bag of coral and other beads, 2 smelling bottles and 2 gilt chains.

Likewise, from another donor, a silver stock buckle, 2 pairs of shoe buckles, 2 pencil cases, a piece of silver chain, 2 seals, a brooch pin, 2 small gold pins, 6 small silver coins, a metal coin, a small silver medal, a thimble, a pair of silver studs, 9 pairs ditto set with Bristol stone, and a gold earring. There was sent with these articles likewise.

1l., and from a poor woman 6d.--In the course of the day came in further: From Islington 6s.--From A. W. 2s.--From Islington 5s., with 8 chemises and 4 s.h.i.+rts.--Also from a great distance 100l., which being left at my disposal, I took one half for the Orphans, and the other half for the other Objects.--By sale of articles 2l.-- Also 2s. 6d., and 2s. 8 d. from an Orphan-box.--Thus I was enabled to advance this evening 30l. for house-keeping as needed.

This was the last time, during this period of the Inst.i.tution, that we were brought so low as to means; for the Lord sent in on Dec. 31 6l.

10s.; on Jan. 1, 1855, in twenty-eight different donations, 14l. 4s.

6d.; on Jan. 2nd 17l. 8s. 3d.; on Jan. 3rd 15l. 1s. 3d.; on Jan. 4th 34l. 11s. 8d., and so on, till the large donation was given of which, as has been stated, 900l. was taken for the current expenses for the Orphans. This, with what came in from Dec. 30th 1854, up to May 26th, 1855, for the support of the Orphans, enabled me to meet all the demands without any difficulty, during the remaining five months. Of all these donations, making, up the total of 2226l. 10s. 7 d., I refer only to the following.

Jan. 1, 1855. From a clergyman in South Africa 1l.

Jan. 4. From a Christian merchant at Clifton 30l. for the Orphans, with 10l. for myself, and 10l. for poor believers.

There have been many instances, in which, along with the donations for missions, or for the support of the Orphans, or the Building Fund, there were also presents in money sent for my own personal expenses, or those of my family. These instances I have gladly recorded, as they came in connexion with the donations referred to, because they afforded me an opportunity of speaking well of the kindness and faithfulness of the Lord in supplying my own personal or family need. It is now [i.e. in 1856] above Twenty Five years, since I have not had any regular income whatever. In the year 1830, I saw it to be the Lord's will to give up my regular income in connexion with the ministry of the Word, and to trust in Him, alone for the supply of all my temporal necessities. I have been enabled to continue in this path, and have not been allowed to regret the step which I then took. Thus it is also in my position as director of the various objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Inst.i.tution.

I have no salary in this position; but the Lord abundantly supplies my need; yea, though there are many expenses connected with this very position, He abundantly meets all my wants, and gives me far more than I need. If with all my might I had sought to obtain a lucrative place, either as a preacher of the Gospel, or in some other way, I should not have had more, I have reason to believe, if as much, as, unsought, unasked for, so far as it regards man, I receive day by day out of the loving hand of my Heavenly Father. When I look at His kindness to me in saving my guilty soul, I am overwhelmed with the boundlessness of His love and grace towards me in Christ Jesus; and when I look at His kindness to me, even as it regards temporal things, I know not where to begin, nor where to end, in speaking well of His name. I do desire to magnify Him, and therefore declare in this public way His great goodness to me in thus so abundantly supplying my temporal necessities; and I do so also, if it may please G.o.d, by this means, to encourage the hearts of His children more and more unreservedly to trust in Him. It is now above twenty-five years since I have asked help for myself from any human being; but G.o.d has been indeed my helper. And now the very work even with which I am connected, respecting which I had every reason to believe, when I commenced it, that it would be connected with great expenses to myself, as well as be the means, looked at naturally, of decreasing my own income, G.o.d has, though unsought for on my part, used as the instrument to bring along with it many supplies for myself also, thus not only abundantly meeting my increased expenses, but giving me far more than I need for myself. How great is His goodness! Dear Christian Reader, be encouraged by this! Do but trust in G.o.d with all your heart, and you will find that you will not be confounded. Only let it be trust in G.o.d, not in man, not in circ.u.mstances, not in any of your own exertions, but real trust in G.o.d, and you will be helped, in your various necessities.--I refer to a few more of the donations.

Jan. 25. From various believers at Melbourne, Australia, 20l. for the Orphans, and 20l. for the other objects.

Feb. 23. Received a very valuable gold watch, a gold watch chain, 2 gold watch keys, a gold seal, a silver mustard pot and spoon, a silver salt stand, a scent bottle, a china basket, 3 china jugs, a china cup and saucer and mug 2 taper candlesticks, a ring stand, 2 spill cups, a card stand, a lamp, a claret jug, a pair of decanters, 6 hock gla.s.ses, 14 claret gla.s.ses, 6 finger gla.s.ses, and a set of china tea things. The donor has found true riches and peace to his soul in the Lord Jesus; and he is thus led to send these articles for the benefit of the Orphans.

April 18. 100l. from a distance, of which the donor kindly intends 20l.

for myself, and 80l. for the benefit of the Orphans.

May 5. 219l. 9s. 4d. from a distance, of which the donor kindly wished me to keep 19l. 9s 4d. for myself, and to use the other as it might be required for the Lord's work. I took 100l. for the support of the Orphans, and 100l. for the other objects. This donation was especially refres.h.i.+ng to my spirit, because of its coming at this period, when the outgoings are very great.

May 26. Towards the close of this day it was found that the balance left in hand, for the support of the Orphans, was 110l. 17s. 8 d., as the amount with which we should have to begin the new period in providing for the necessities of the Orphans. Before leaving the Orphan-House, I had my usual daily season for prayer with my dear wife. Having praised the Lord for His goodness to us and the work, in helping us during another year, and having sought His blessing upon the various objects of the Inst.i.tution, we commended ourselves again to Him, especially, with reference to means for the coming year, and entreated Him also to sustain our faith to the end of our course; for the longer I go on in this path, the more I feel my entire dependence upon the Lord and my need of being sustained by Him. When we arrived home, we found two more donations, the last of the present period, sent for the benefit of the Orphans; one being two little dresses, a piece of print, a piece of calico, and 20 pocket handkerchiefs; the other a small gold Geneva watch, quite new. We took these two last donations as the Lord's earnest that He would be with us during the coming period also, and with good courage looked forward to it, by His grace.

I add a few remarks to this part of the Narrative:--1. Should any one suppose, on account of its having been stated in the previous pages that we were repeatedly brought low as to means, that the Orphans have not had all that was needful for them; we reply, that never, since the work has been in existence, has there a meal-time come, but the Orphans have had good nouris.h.i.+ng food in sufficient quant.i.ty: and never have they needed clothes, but I have had the means to provide them with all they required. Persons living in Bristol can easily satisfy themselves as to this, not only by seeing week after week our stores for food and clothes; but also the dress and the healthy countenances of these hundreds of children (though very many of them were received in a very weak and diseased state) will amply prove what I state. 2. Never since the Orphan work has been in existence, have I asked one single human being for any help for this work; and yet, unasked for, simply in answer to prayer, from so many parts of the world, as has been stated, the donations have come in, and that very frequently at a time of the greatest need. Were I to state what is not true, persons could easily convict me; to say nothing of the fact that G.o.d, whose name I have continually connected with this work, would disown me as an awful deceiver, and bring this work to nought; but if these things are true, as indeed they are, will not my readers own the hand of G.o.d, will they not recognize the minute particular providence of G.o.d, and the readiness of His heart to listen to the supplications of those who come to Him with their requests in the name of the Lord Jesus? I do not seek a name for myself in connexion with this work; I do not wish to draw attention to myself, and am indeed sorry when persons have had their attention directed only to me; but I do seek honour for my Heavenly Father, and I do desire that His hand may be owned in this work.

Miscellaneous points respecting the Scriptural Knowledge Inst.i.tution, for Home and Abroad, with reference to the period from May 20, 1854, to May 26, 1855.

1. During this year four Day Schools in Bristol, with 184 children in them, were entirely supported by the funds of the Inst.i.tution; and several other Day Schools in Devons.h.i.+re, Cornwall, Suffolk, Ireland, and Scotland were a.s.sisted with copies of the Holy Scriptures. Further, one Sunday School in Bristol, with 158 children, was entirely supported, and seven others, in Cornwall, Devons.h.i.+re, Somersets.h.i.+re, and Gloucesters.h.i.+re, with about 400 children in them, were a.s.sisted. Lastly, one Adult School, with 183 Adults, was entirely supported during this year.--The amount expended, during this year, on these various Schools, was 338l. 2s. 5d.

In connexion with all these Schools, I would suggest the following important matter for prayer. From March, 1884, to May, 26, 1855, there were 5,956 children in the Day Schools. In the Adult School there were 2,459 persons. The number of the Sunday School children amounted to 2,817. Thus, without reckoning the Orphans, 11,232 souls were brought under habitual instruction in the things of G.o.d in these Schools; besides the many thousands in the Schools in various parts of England, Ireland, Scotland, British Guiana, the West Indies, the East Indies, &c., which were to a greater or less degree a.s.sisted. Now, what I would especially request is, that all the disciples of the Lord Jesus, who take an interest in this work, would help me and my fellow-labourers with their prayers, that not only those who are at present under our instruction may be spiritually benefited, but particularly also, that G.o.d would be pleased to work mightily in the hearts of those who were once under our care, in bringing to their remembrance the truth which was then set before them. I am the more induced to make this request, as we frequently meet with young men or young women, who many years ago were under our care and instruction, who thankfully own the benefit they received when with us, and who are now believers in the Lord Jesus, though at the time they had given us little or no hope. Thus has the Lord afterwards been pleased to cause the seed to spring up and to bear fruit to His praise. During this year also we had again and again most encouraging instances of this kind brought before us.

The total sum expended during the 21 years, from March 5, 1834, to May 26, 1855, in connexion with the Schools, which were either entirely, or in part supported by the funds of this Inst.i.tution, amounted to 7,204l.

12s. 8 d.

2. Great have been the efforts, made of late years, to spread error; therefore the disciples of the Lord Jesus should be especially active in seeking to spread the truth. Fearfully great, in particular, have been the efforts to rob the Church of Christ of the Word of G.o.d; on this account, all who love our Lord Jesus in sincerity, should seek, according to their ability, to spread the Holy Scriptures. On account, therefore, of the especial attempts made, of late years, once more to deprive the Church of Christ of G.o.d's unerring Holy Word, I have had it particularly laid upon my mind, in every way to embrace opportunities for circulating it, and especially to place it in the hands of the very poorest of the poor. In this way, not only in England, Wales and Scotland, but particularly in Ireland, we have sought to circulate the Holy Scriptures. And not only there, but also in Canada, British Guiana, the East Indies, Australia and China. Every open door, which the Lord was pleased to set before us, I have endeavoured to press into; and, in this service have been helped by many servants of Christ, who have sought out the most dest.i.tute persons, desirous of possessing a copy of the Holy Scriptures. With this we have also particularly sought to combine the supplying of aged persons, who are poor, with copies printed in large type. Our efforts have not been in vain. We have had instances brought before us of direct conversion, simply through reading the Holy Scriptures. Again, during this year also, our labours were owned in this part of the work. But though we have seen some fruit, we believe that the greater part by far will be manifested in the Day of the Lord. It has been given to us, by the help of the Lord, day by day to seek His blessing upon the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, and therefore we believe that our labour will not be in vain. We expect results.

The number of Bibles, New Testaments, and Portions of the Holy Scriptures, circulated from May 20, 1854, to May 26, 1855, is as follows:

693 Bibles were sold.

890 Bibles were given away.

950 New Testaments were sold.

748 New Testaments were given away.

82 copies of the Psalms were sold.

186 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures were sold.

There were circulated from March 5, 1834, to May 26, 1855, through the medium of this Inst.i.tutions 13,949 Bibles, 9047 New Testaments, 188 copies of the Psalms, and 789 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures.

The total amount of the funds of this Inst.i.tution, spent on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, from March 5, 1834, to May 20, 1855, is 3389l. 10s. 1d. The amount spent during this year, 476l. 12s. 3d.

3. During this year there was spent of the funds of the Inst.i.tution for missionary objects, the sum of 2081l. 3s. 2d. By this sum Fifty Seven Labourers in the word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were to a greater or less degree a.s.sisted.

With reference to this part of the operations of the Inst.i.tution, I have especially the joy of being able to communicate to the Christian reader, that the Lord was pleased, during this year, abundantly to bless the labours of many of the brethren whom I a.s.sisted. Again and again I had refres.h.i.+ng intelligence as to the fruit which resulted from their efforts. Many souls were brought to the knowledge of the Lord, through their labours during this year. And such heart-refres.h.i.+ng intelligence came to me not only from those labouring in various parts of the United Kingdom, but also from those who are serving the Lord in foreign countries. This calls for especial praise; but at the same time I would commend these dear brethren to the prayers of the saints, that they may be upheld by the Lord with reference to their bodily and mental strength, and especially that they may be sustained with patience, faith, love, perseverance, and endurance; for great and many are their difficulties. I would especially also request all, who love the Lord Jesus, to pray for more labourers in the Gospel; for I hear continually of fields which are unoccupied, and of open doors not entered into for lack of labourers.

The total amount of the funds of the Inst.i.tution, spent on Missionary operations, from March 5, 1834, to May 20, 1855, was 16,115l. 0s. 5 d.

4. The fourth object of the Inst.i.tution is, the circulation of such publications as may be beneficial, with the blessing of G.o.d, to benefit both believers and unbelievers. As it respects tracts for unbelievers, I seek especially to aim after the diffusion of such as contain the truths of the Gospel clearly and simply expressed; and as it respects publications for believers, I aim after the circulation of such as may be instrumental in directing their minds to those truths which in these last days are more especially needed, or which have been particularly lost sight of, and may lead believers to return to the written Word of G.o.d.

There was laid out for this object, from May 26, 1854, to May 26, 1855, the sum of 624l. 8s. 4d.; and there were circulated within this year 895,034 Tracts and Books.

The total number of all the Tracts and Books circulated from the beginning up to May 26, 1855, was 3,584,710.