Twenty-five Years of Increasing Supplies for the Orphan Fund, 1849–1874 (part 2 of 4)

Again it is remarkable, that while up to February 19th we always abounded, and were never brought low, but generally had had about £200 in hand; almost immediately after the reception of the £3,000, out of which I took £300 for the support of the Orphans, the balance, before in hand, was all expended, and more money required; so that I had soon to use a part of the £300, whereby the hand of God in that large donation was so much the more made manifest; and yet, again, this £300, with what the Lord was pleased to send in besides between February 19th and May 26th, not only met all the remaining heavy expenses, but left in hand a balance of £167 18s. 11¾d.

Observe, dear reader, while we were in rented houses in Wilson Street, we had our faith greatly tried, year after year, though the expenses were only about one-third as much, as during the past year. And thus also it has been again and again, since the New Orphan House was opened in 1849; but during the past year we were entirely free from trial of faith regarding means for the support of the Orphans, though not without many trials of faith and patience on other accounts. The Lord takes His own way, and therefore He allows this year to stand by itself, in this particular. On this I delight to dwell; for I desire that the hand of God may be recognized in this work, whether it be by His power being manifested in sustaining us in our poverty from day to day, or by His causing us to go on easily with regard to means for a day, or a month, or a year. You see, then, that while there was but like "a handful of meal in the barrel," at the commencement of the period, the Lord was pleased to make it last for a whole year, and yet, at the end of the year, there was more than at the beginning; and during the whole year all these hundreds had been fed, clothed, and provided with everything needful. What an answer does all this furnish to unbelief, which said, when I was going to build the New Orphan House, "How will you find the means for the support of these 300 Orphans?"

[The expenditure for the Orphans from May 26th, 1855, to May 26th, 1856, was £4,019 16s. 10d.]

May 26th, 1856, to May 26th, 1857

The pages which precede this, and which give an account of the manner in which it pleased the Lord, year after year, to supply us with means, may have exhausted the patience of the reader. If so, I advise him to lay the book aside for the present, to take it up another time, and not to read much of it at one time; also, with every fresh instance brought before him, in which the Lord was pleased to supply us with means, to seek to enter into it, that God, the living God, who has the hearts of all in His hands, supplied these means in answer to prayer. If this book be read in such a spirit, and not in the way of amusement, the result will be, that a rich blessing will be left behind in the heart of the reader, as has been the case with many thousands before him. But whatever the reader may feel, I have to do my part, which is, to record the Lord's unbounded kindness and faithfulness to me. And I delight in sounding forth His praises.

On May 26th I had £167 18s. 11¾d. in hand for the support of the Orphans. We were, therefore, entirely dependent upon God to supply more means when, or before, this sum was gone. And this He did, most bountifully; for at no period, since first the Orphan work commenced, on December 9th, 1835, had we so abounded as during this period, having been able to meet not only every demand, but having had always, during the whole twelvemonth, a considerable sum in hand. And thus the good and faithful God, the living God, the "Father of the fatherless," carried us through the whole of that period also, regarding the Orphan work, and caused us so to abound, that at the close, on May 26th, 1857, I had in hand a balance of £1,489 7s. 9d. I delight in being able thus to make my boast in the Lord. I do not write Reports to bring before the public how poor I am. Nor do I write them, in order thereby to induce persons to give, though I well know that hundreds of times the Lord has used the Reports, instrumentally, to lay this work, as His own, on the hearts of His children, whether rich or poor, to help me with their means. But I write, in order that God's bountifulness, and faithfulness, and the readiness of His heart to listen to the supplications of His children, may be increasingly manifest to those who need a helping hand for such purposes, if by any means others may be induced to put their trust in God for all they need.

I delight to speak of the balance of £1,489 7s. 9d. in hand on May 26th, 1857; for when I first made known my purpose to enlarge this work, so as to receive 1,000 Orphans, instead of 300, many may have thought there was no likelihood of my obtaining the £35,000 needed for the buildings for the 700 Orphans, still less of my being able to provide for them. But see how God wrought. Only £3,200 more was needed on May 26th, 1857, to complete the £35,000. And when I was on the point of beginning to make arrangements for the reception of 400 more Orphans, when the expenses would be unusually large, even before the 400 were actually housed, the Lord allowed us to enter upon a new period with a balance of £1,489 7s. 9d., as if He meant thereby to say: "Fear not, I will be with thee, and will help thee also when the 400 more Orphans shall have been received, yea, when all the 1,000 shall be under thy care." Thus, as the work has been enlarged, to put unbelief to shame the Lord has kept pace in His faithfulness with the enlargement, and often has given even more abundantly, comparatively, than when it was small. It is not that our principles are altered. It is not that we act differently from what we did between 1838 and 1843, when almost habitually we were very poor; but it pleased God, because He had given it to me to go forward in faith, for a testimony to an unbelieving world, and for the comfort and encouragement of the Church at large, to show how He delights to honour those who honour Him and put their trust in Him.

Declines to receive £100 as provision for the future

October 12th. There was sent to me a cheque for £100, with the donor's request to receive this for myself, as the beginning of a fund for my support when advanced in years, and for that of my family. This kind and well-intended proposal by the donor (who since has died), appeared to me as a subtle temptation laid for me (though far from being intended so by him), to depart from the principles on which I had been acting for twenty-six years, both regarding myself and the Orphan work. I give the account of this circumstance fully, as it may be profitable to my readers.

Dear Sir,

"In admiration of the services which you have rendered to poor Orphans and mankind in general, I think it right that some provision should be made for yourself. I think it right to send you £100 as a beginning (which I hope many good Christians will add to), to form a fund for the maintenance of yourself and your family, and I hope you will lay out this as a beginning accordingly. May God bless you and your labours, as He has hitherto done in everything connected with your Institutions.

"I am, dear Sir, ——."

By God's grace I had not a moment's hesitation as to what to do. While most fully appreciating the great kindness of the donor, I looked upon this as a temptation, permitted by God, to put my trust in something else than Himself, and I therefore sent the following reply:—

My dear Sir,

"I hasten to thank you for your kind communication, and to inform yon that your cheque for £100 has safely come to hand.

"I have no property whatever, nor has my dear wife; nor have I had one shilling regular salary as Minister of the gospel for the last 26 years, nor as the Director of the Orphan Houses and the other Objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad. When I am in need of anything, I fall on my knees, and ask God that He would be pleased to give me what I need; and He puts it into the heart of some one or other to help me. Thus all my wants have been amply supplied during the last 26 years, and I can say, to the praise of God, I have lacked nothing. My dear wife and my only child, a daughter 24 years old, are of the same mind. Of this blessed way of living none of us is tired, but we become day by day more convinced of its blessedness.

"I have never thought it right to make provision for myself, or my dear wife and daughter, except in this way, that when I have seen a case of need, such as an aged widow, a sick person, or a helpless infant, I have used the means freely which God has given me, fully believing that, if either myself, or my dear wife or daughter, at some time or other, should be in need of anything, God would richly repay what was given to the poor, considering it as lent to Himself.

"Under these circumstances, I am unable to accept your kind gift of £100 towards making a provision for myself and family; for so I understand your letter. Anything given to me, unasked for, by those who have it in their heart to help to supply my personal and family expenses, I thankfully accept; or any donation for the work of God in which I am engaged, I also thankfully accept, as a steward for the Orphans, etc.; but your kind gift seems to me especially given to make a provision for myself, which I think would be displeasing to my Heavenly Father, who has so bountifully given me my daily bread hitherto. But should I have misunderstood the meaning of your letter, be pleased to let me know. I hold the cheque till I hear again from you.

"In the meantime, my dear Sir, whatever your letter meant, I am deeply sensible of your kindness, and daily pray that God would be pleased richly to recompense you, both temporally and spiritually. I am, dear Sir, yours very gratefully,

"GEORGE MÜLLER."

Two days after I received a reply, in which the donor desired me to use the £100 for the support of the Orphans, for which object I gladly accepted this sum. The day after that, I received another £100 from the same donor, and four days after, £100 more. All for the support of the Orphans, and from an individual whom I have never seen.

Spoils which God's grace won

January 7th. Last evening I received, just after having again prayed for diamonds, jewellery, etc., a ring, set with a brilliant, sent from Worcestershire. A Christian lady had been conversing with her husband on the power of prayer, and, in conversation, brought forward a Report of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. After a little more conversation, the husband took this ring from his finger, and said to his wife, "Send this to Mr. Müller."

February 23rd. This evening I had been again asking the Lord, among many other petitions, to incline the hearts of His children, who know of this work, to send me their diamonds, jewellery, old gold and silver coins, or other valuable but needless articles, to be disposed of for the benefit of this work. About half-an-hour after, I received a small box, containing the following valuable articles: a ring set with a brilliant, 5 other gold rings, 3 gold brooches, a pearl brooch, 10 other brooches, a watch-hook, a gold chain, a gold watchguard, 2 gold bracelets, a silver card case, a pair of bracelets with gold snaps, 3 breast-pins, 2 jet necklaces, and a small heart of agate. With peculiar delight I unpacked this little box, to look at the spoils which the grace of God had won in the heart of His child, who bad dedicated them to His service; and it afforded me further encouragement to pray for similar manifestations of grace in other children of God.

April 14th. To-day was paid to me the legacy of the late Mrs. S., being £200. As in every way the last year was the most remarkable of all the 23 years this work has been in existence, so also in this particular, that in this one year more came in by legacies than during all the previous 22 years reckoned together. But all without my using any other means than prayer.

[The expenditure for the Orphans from May 26th, 1856, to May 26th, 1857, was £3,893 6s. 2½d.]

May 26th, 1857, to May 26th, 1858

At the commencement of this period we had a balance of £1,489 7s. 9d. in hand towards the support of the Orphans. But we had, on the other hand, expenses awaiting us, such as we had never had before; for, not only was the house, which had been for years filled with its 300 Orphans, still further to be supplied, but the opening of the second house for 400 additional Orphans was before us, in which it was expected that children shortly would be received, for whom considerable preparations had to be made, by laying in a large stock of various kinds of material for clothes, etc. Large, therefore, as the balance was with which we commenced, yet, had not our faithful prayer-hearing and answering God and Father helped us further, we should very soon have had our means exhausted..

The second house was opened on November 12th, 1857; the Lord had been mindful of this, and allowed us with a balance of £2,292 Os. 11¾d. to begin housekeeping in it. See, dear reader, how blessed it is to rely upon the living God.

May 27th. On the very first day of this period, I have received from a new donor, an entire stranger to me, residing in the Presidency of Calcutta, £5, which is like an earnest from my Heavenly Father, that during this period also He will supply me with all I need.

June 7th. Received £50, "paid by the publishers for the copyright of a memoir." The authoress had from the beginning intended, that, whatever the copyright of her work might produce, should be given to me for the benefit of the Orphans, and this sum was obtained.—June 22nd. From a new donor at Birmingham £50. It is especially to be observed, that abundance was given, although (as the readers have seen) a large balance was left, at the close of the former period; and one of the auditors of the accounts observed, that it would be considered bad policy to publish a Report with such a balance in hand; but on my part I glory in being able to show how the Lord is not only willing to provide for us as much as we absolutely need, but even does so bountifully.

October 3rd. To-day one of the former Orphans, who was converted more than two years before he left the Orphan House, and who has now been above five years out of the house, came to converse with me about becoming a Missionary.—October 13th. Received from Brixton £1 5s. 6d. with the following communication: "A dear Christian gentleman, at the head of a house in the City, in writing to me says, 'I have sustained a heavy pecuniary loss, and therefore wish to sanctify the loss by giving 20s. to the Orphan House. Please send that sum for me; I will repay you.' " Pause, dear reader. A heavy pecuniary loss is made an occasion for this donation; not a considerable gain. A heavy loss, should lead us to pause and ponder, and consider what the Lord's voice to us is in it. Perhaps the reason is, that we lived too much as owners and possessors, instead of stewards for the Lord, and that, therefore, He was obliged to take part of that, which we possess, from us. If so, let us be benefited by the loss. But suppose this is not the reason; suppose the Lord allowed the loss only to take place for the trial of our faith and patience, yet we should (whilst meekly bowing, under the hand of God) say to ourselves that the Lord might have taken all, instead of part, and that, therefore, we ought to make good use of our stewardship respecting the means which are still left to us. I once knew the proprietors of a house of business to be suddenly and deeply afflicted. My advice to my Christian friends was, to be grateful to God, that He had not taken all from them. I said to them, that, were I in their position, I should express my gratitude to the Lord by a thankoffering to Him, that this sudden calamity had not taken away the whole of my property. These Christian friends, I found afterwards, resolved to give to the Lord £100 as a thankoffering, for having dealt so mercifully with them, and for not having allowed them to lose all. Well, dear reader, what do you think of this? You think, perhaps, this was very strange. Yes, it was very strange, according to the principles of this world; but what will you think when I tell you, that these Christian friends have had that £100 repaid not merely tenfold, twentyfold, nor a hundredfold, but far more than a thousandfold?

Difficulty about a Boiler overcome by Prayer

Towards the end of November I was most unexpectedly informed that the boiler of our heating apparatus leaked very considerably, so that it was impossible to go through the winter with such a leak. Our heating apparatus consists of a large cylindrical boiler, inside of which the fire is kept, and with which boiler the water-pipes, that warm the rooms, are connected. Hot air is also connected with this apparatus. The boiler had been considered suited for the work of the winter. To suspect that it was worn out, and not to do anything towards replacing it by a new one, and to have said, I will trust in God regarding it, would be careless presumption, not faith in God. It would be. the counterfeit of faith.

The boiler is entirely surrounded by brickwork; its state, therefore, could not be known without taking down the brickwork; this, if needless, would be rather injurious to the boiler than otherwise; and as for eight winters we had no difficulty in this way, we had not anticipated it now. But suddenly, and most unexpectedly, at the commencement of the winter, this difficulty occurred. What then was to be done? For the children, especially the younger infants, I felt deeply concerned, that they might not suffer, through want of warmth. But how were we to obtain warmth? The introduction of a new boiler would, in all probability, take many weeks. The repairing of the boiler was a questionable matter, on account of the greatness of the leak; but, if not, nothing could be said of it, till the brick chamber in which it is enclosed, was, at least in part, removed; but that would, at least, as far as we could judge, take days; and what was to be done in the meantime, to find warm rooms for 300 children? It naturally occurred to me, to introduce temporary gas-stoves; but on further weighing the matter, it was found that we should be unable to heat our very large rooms with gas, unless we had many stoves, which we could not introduce, as we had not a sufficient quantity of gas to spare from our lighting apparatus. But what was to be done? Gladly would I have paid £100 if thereby the difficulty could have been overcome, and the children not be exposed to suffer for many days from being in cold rooms. At last I determined on falling entirely into the hands of God, who is very merciful and of tender compassion, and I decided on having the brick-chamber opened, to see the extent of the damage, and whether the boiler might be repaired, so as to carry us through the winter.

The day was fixed, when the workmen were to come, and all the necessary arrangements were made. The fire, of course, had to be let out while the repairs were going on. But now see. After the day was fixed for the repairs, a bleak north wind set in. It began to blow either on Thursday or Friday before the Wednesday afternoon when the fire was to be let out. Now came the first really cold weather which we had in the beginning of that winter, during the first days of December. What was to be done? The repairs could not be put off. I now asked the Lord for two things, viz., that He would be pleased to change the North wind into a South wind, and that He would give to the workmen "a mind to work"; for I remembered how much Nehemiah accomplished in 52 days, whilst building the walls of Jerusalem, because "the people had a mind to work." Well, the memorable day came. The evening before, the bleak North wind blew still; but, on the Wednesday, the South wind blew; exactly as I had prayed. The weather was so mild that no fire was needed. The brickwork was removed, the leak was found out very soon, the boilermakers began to repair in good earnest. About half-past eight in the evening, when I was going home, I was informed at the lodge, that the acting principal of the firm whence the boiler-makers came had arrived to see how the work was going on, and whether he could in any way speed the matter. I went immediately, therefore, into the cellar, to see him with the men, to seek to expedite the business. In speaking to the principal of this, he said in their hearing, "The men will work late this evening, and come very early again to-morrow." "We would rather, Sir," said the leader, "work all night." Then remembered I the second part of my prayer, that God would give the men "a mind to work." Thus it was: by the morning the repair was accomplished, the leak was stopped, though with great difficulty, and within about 30 hours the brickwork was up again and the fire in the boiler; and all the time the south wind blew so mildly, that there was not the least need of a fire. Here, then, is one of our difficulties which was overcome by prayer and faith.

For nearly three months all went on well; but at the end of February another leak appeared, which was worse than the previous one. But out of this difficulty also we were helped through prayer, so that without any real inconvenience the repairs were accomplished within about 30 hours. Thus we were carried through that winter, and in the spring a new boiler was ordered to be made.

January 1st. The Lord has again dealt bountifully with me in a variety of ways, especially as regards pecuniary supplies. Long before the break of day I heard something drop into the letter-box at my house, and said to myself, "This is the Lord's earnest, to provide me this year also with what I shall need." On opening the box, I found two packets of money in it. The first contained £12 3s. 3d., with this communication: "Please accept the enclosed £12 3s. 3d. to pay for the maintenance of one of the little Orphans for the present year." The other packet contained, anonymously, £2 2s. 6d.—Jan. 17th. I had just been asking the Lord for more means, when there was handed to me a letter containing a cheque for £30, from the neighbourhood of Ashby-de-la-Zouch. The donor had only on September 6th sent £25 for the Orphans. He used to give about £5 per year formerly, but as the work is enlarged, the Lord has inclined him to give more.

Refuses an offer of 100 guineas to take in an Orphan out of turn

January 19th. Yesterday I received a letter, stating that a stranger had offered to pay one hundred guineas to the Funds of the Institution, if, together with an Orphan girl, who was to be received, I would at the same time admit her brother, whose turn was not come. This was of course declined, as the cases of the Orphans are considered in the order in which applications are made, and according to the vacancies which occur for boys and girls, and money never influences me in the least. Now see, Christian reader, how God recompensed this acting in His fear, irrespective of the loss of the money. The lady who received this negative reply, an entire stranger to me, very kindly sent me £300 a little while after, though the little boy was not admitted.

February 2nd. To-day I took the first active steps towards the building of the third house, when immediately afterwards I was informed by letter that a lady in London, an entire stranger to me, had ordered her bankers to send me £300 for the support of the Orphans. I was also further informed in the evening, that in two weeks £800 will be paid to me for the work of the Lord.

Some of my readers may be inclined to say, that there is no difficulty at all in carrying on this work, as there is so much coming in, from so many hundreds of persons in various parts of the kingdom and the world, who feel interested in it, that any one could do this. My reply is, yes, any one, whom God has called for such a work, and who really trusts in Him, will be supplied with means. But real trust in God is needed for it, else such a one would soon be overpowered by the difficulties. While I am writing this (end of May, 1858), week after week has passed away, for about ten weeks, when the income has been, generally, £100, £200, or £300 per week less than the expenses; and had not the Lord so richly supplied us previously, we should be very poor indeed, humanly speaking. What is to be done under such circumstances? To trust in what we have in hand, to depend upon the liberality of former donors, or to trust in the number of Reports which have been circulated? All these would be found broken reeds if leaned upon. We trust alone in the living God, and are assured, that either before that which we have in hand is gone, He will send help, or when it is gone; for Himself, as with an unseen hand, has led me on to the enlargement of the work, and causes it still further to be enlarged, week after week. This trust in the living God, but this alone, keeps my heart in peace. Were I to look at things after the outward appearance, there is no natural prospect of my being carried through the constantly recurring large demands before me.

Prayed money out of the Chancery Court

February 4th. In September, 1856, I was informed that the late Mrs. S., of Clifton, had left me for the benefit of the Orphans a legacy of £500. When, therefore, about fourteen months had elapsed, and the legacy was not paid to me, I felt it my duty, as a steward, to ask whether there was any reason why the legacy was not paid, and was informed by the solicitor, in whose hands the business was, that that part of the property out of which the legacy was to be paid was into Chancery. Most of my readers will, therefore, suppose there was but little prospect of soon obtaining the money. However, my universal remedy for every difficulty, trial, and disappointment, viz., faith and prayer, was now resorted to, and I asked the Lord that He would be pleased, contrary to all human appearances, to cause this money soon to come to hand, and accordingly, on February 4th, 1858, the legacy of £500 was paid to me, with interest from August 29th, 1857, up to this day, at the rate of 4 per cent, being £8 9s. 1d. Let this instance be a further encouragement to the believing reader, to turn everything into prayer, for the removal of his difficulties; but, at the same time, to wait patiently the Lord's time, and fully to believe, that, as assuredly as it is a real good for him, the answer will be granted.

[The expenditure for the Orphans from May 26th, 1857, to May 26th, 1858, was £5,513 5s. 7½d.]

May 26th, 1858, to May 26th, 1859

At the commencement of this period we had a balance in hand of £2,997 Os. Id., a far greater sum than we had ever had before, at the commencement of a new period.

June 20th. To-day I found paid to my credit at my bankers, by a donor at a considerable distance, the sum of £3,500, of which the donor kindly wished me to keep for my own personal expenses £100, to give to Mr. Craik £50, and to take the remaining £3,350 for the benefit of the Orphans. This donor, whom I have never seen, wrote with reference to this donation: "Since I first heard of your Establishment, I had given it a chief preference in the disposal of my property; but now, seeing my time here cannot be long, I am persuaded it is far better for me to present you with the amount while I live (if the Lord permit). Pray that the Lord may graciously accept it at my hands, and enable me to be deeply humbled and thankful that He has so greatly favoured one so unworthy."

Observe the following points in connection with this donation: (1) I have never seen the donor. (2) Simply in answer to our daily prayers to the living God, He is thus pleased to work for us. (3) The donor gives while living. Thus the uncertainty of obtaining the money, left by Will, is avoided, and the considerable legacy duty is saved. (4) The above sum was given to me at a period when we not only had to expend far more money than ever for the current expenses, but also, when, for many weeks past, we had had but little, comparatively, coming in. Thus the Lord, by this most unexpected abundance, showed afresh how small a matter it is with Him to make up for deficiencies. (5) Take lastly in connection with this, what I stated when first I made known my intention of increasing the number of Orphans to 1,000 instead of 300, viz., that the Lord would be able to provide for the 1,000 as easily as for the 300. How greatly has He helped in the work since that time in such a variety of ways! And this most unexpected large donation, from this humble follower of the Lord Jesus, is one of the many remarkable proofs He has given me since, of the readiness of His heart to help me.—July 7th. From Ireland £5, with the following deeply interesting letter from a manufacturer:—

"I enclose a Post Office Order for £5, which by the blessing of Almighty God I am enabled to send you this year. You will, no doubt, remember that the first sum I sent you was 5s., I think now four years ago; and indeed at that time it was a large sum for me to send, I might say considerably larger than the present. For some years previous to the time I sent you the first amount, I was at times much perplexed on the subject of giving; and the end of my reasoning was always, that u person so straitened in circumstances as I was then, was not called upon to give. I kept this opinion, until one of your Reports fell into my hands, and, from the accounts contained therein, was encouraged to send you the first amount of 5s. Soon after I thought my circumstances got something easier. I then began to seek out cases of distress, and relieved them to the best of my ability; and, to the astonishment of many who did not know the secret, who wondered how I could give, I have proved that, just as I give, the Lord gives in return; for during the time, since I first made up my mind to give, what with weakness of faith, and false reasonings of friends, I sometimes withheld when I ought not, and just as I withheld, the Lord in His infinite mercy withheld also. During the panic, which has yet scarcely passed over us, I dealt out to all who came within my reach, according as I considered the circumstances required; and the result is, that, although many in the same trade have been almost ruined, it has been the most prosperous year I have had since I commenced business. It would fill your heart with joy, if time and space would permit, for me to relate how in many instances I was directed to go to such a house and enquire how they were getting on, and to find that I arrived just in time. But, above all, I have to thank God that my spiritual condition is much improved since I began to give. Etc."

December 3rd. For three weeks the income has been about one-third only of the expenses; yet the Lord supplied us bountifully beforehand, and my full expectation was, that He would again help us more fully. Now to-day has been a day as in former times. I received from one of the Midland Counties £50, and seven smaller amounts from various places.—December 16th. We have now 299 Orphans in No. 2, and 299 in No. 1, just an equal number. What help has the Lord given in filling up No. 2 since this day twelvemonth!—From Sunderland, from a lady who has found Christ: a gold ring set with 6 pearls and a ruby, a gold ring set with 3 emeralds and 10 small diamonds, a gold ring set with turquoises, and a pair of gold earrings.

January 1st. Week after week, of late, the income has been far less than the expenses, though much has come in. Now, on this first day of the year, the Lord has richly made up for all deficiencies. The first letter I opened contained advice from an anonymous donor at Manchester, to call at a certain bank in Bristol for £110 as "a New Year's gift for the Orphans," with the request that I would not seek to ascertain the name of the donor.—The next letter contained information, from a donor in London, that there had been paid to my bankers the sum of £1,000, of which £500 was for the Orphans.

On January 2nd came in 18 donations, of which I will only mention £10 from Sydenham, and an anonymous donation of £50 from New York. Received also the £7,000, to which reference has been made, in writing about donations for the Building Fund, of which I took £1,000 for the support of the Orphans. January 12th. From Westerham, in 88 small donations, £4 8s. 6d. January 17th. From Florence £5.—January 18th. From one who was formerly under our care as an Orphan, and who is now in Australia, £5.—January 20th. From Bonn, in Rhenish Prussia, 10 Prussian Thalers from a Dutch lady, and 1 Thaler from the sender.

Again I call upon the reader to see the great variety of ways in which the Lord helps me. By 88 small donations £4 8s. 6d. is made up, whilst at other times one single donation brings £1,000, £2,000, £3,000, and even £7,000 or £8,100. Then again from all parts of the world donations come in.

God has not failed me at any time. Forty years [1874] have I proved His faithfulness, in this work; and it was about thirty-six years ago—when great poverty and need began to come upon me, in connection with this work—that the Lord in the most marked and manifest manner stretched forth His hand. This almost uninterrupted poverty continued for five years; but God always helped me. During the last twenty years generally His dealings have been different; still, even during this period, I have had numberless spiritual and temporal necessities to bring before God in prayer, and He has uniformly helped me. This same peace and joy in God, resulting from becoming increasingly acquainted with Him, by waiting upon Him, looking to Him, trusting in Him in the greatest difficulties, and under the greatest trials; and even when there is not the least natural prospect of being helped; I desire that you, dear reader, may have. The life of the believer in the Lord Jesus is intended to be a very happy one, even here on earth; but this cannot be, except you walk as an obedient child, and confide fully in your Father who is in heaven.

I cannot tell you how happy this service makes me. Instead of being the anxious, careworn man many persons think me to be, I have no anxieties and no cares at all. Faith in God leads me to roll all my burden upon Him; for hundreds are my necessities, besides those connected with money. In every way I find God to be my helper, even as I trust in Him, and pray to Him in childlike simplicity, about everything. Be encouraged, dear fellow-believer, to go this blessed way yourself, and you will see what peace and joy it affords.

January 31st. Regarding pecuniary assistance for the work, this has been the most remarkable month during the 25 years I have been engaged in it. There came in for the Building Fund during this month £4,315 4s., for the support of the Orphans £2,215 19s. 8½d., and for the other Objects £3,286 3s. 3d.; altogether £9,817 6s. 11½d.; but there was also expended, during this one month, £4,896 10s.

February 8th. From H. B., in London, £5, as "the grateful acknowledgment of one who has experienced the fact, that 'he that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord.' "—April 30th. Received the following letter from a considerable distance:—

My dear Christian brother,

"I am the husband of Mrs. —— who sends you by this post the twosovereign piece. How can we better dispose of this relic of affectionate remembrance, than by depositing it in the bank of Christ, who always pays the best interest, and never fails? Now, my best and spiritual counsellor, I cannot, express to you the exceeding great joy I feel, in relating what follows. I am an artist, a poor artist, a landscape painter. About two weeks ago I sent a picture to Bristol for exhibition, just as I finished your book that was lent us. I most humbly and earnestly prayed to God to enable me by the sale of my Bristol picture, to have the blessed privilege of sending you half the proceeds. The price of the picture is £20. Now mark. Immediately the exhibition is open, God, in His mercy, mindful of my prayer, sends me a purchaser. I have exhibited in Bristol before, but never sold a picture. Oh! my dear friend, my very heart leaps for joy. I have never been so near God before. Through your instrumentality I have been enabled to draw nearer to God, with more earnestness, more faith, more holy desires. This is the first return God has blessed me with for the whole of my last year's labours. What a blessing to have it so returned!—Oh, with what joy I read your book!"

Of such letters I have had thousands.

Mr. Wright joins Mr. Müller

[April 30th. It was during April of this year that Mr. James Wright, at Mr. Müller's invitation, joined him in the work.]

May 18th. Again anonymously from H. B. £10, with these words: "In grateful acknowledgment to our Heavenly Father for an increase of business, since last I remitted." This is the fifth donation from the same donor within about three months, £45 in all. From Bath 6s., saved by discontinuing smoking, given up by the help of the Lord, though the donor had smoked 18 years previously.—May 26th. It is now eighteen months since we began to receive fresh children, after the opening of No. 2. Since then we have received altogether 422 Orphans.

[The expenditure for the Orphans from May 26th, 1858, to May 26th, 1859, was £6,974 17s. 0½d.]

May 26th, 1859, to May 26th, 1860

June 17th. This evening, tenders for contracts for the New Orphan House No. 3 were given in. Thus we advanced another decided step towards having 1,150 Orphans under our care. Under these circumstances the following donations were particularly refreshing to me. From 2 Dutch ladies, residing at Bonn, 7 Prussian Thalers for the Orphans. From a Dutch Baroness £85 13s. 1d., of which the donor kindly wishes me to keep two-tenths for myself, and to use the remainder for the Institution.

September 2nd. From Oxfordshire £50, sent at the request of a Christian young gentleman (who had fallen asleep in Jesus), by his father, with a grateful heart for what the Lord had done for his son. I never saw either father or son, nor do I otherwise know them.—September 9th. From Capt. T. S——, R.N., £1 with these lines; "June 30th, 1859, Lat. 23.52 N., Long. 36.9 W.—H.M.S. Calcutta. May every blessing attend your charity and yourself." This is one of the ten thousand remarkable ways in which the Lord has helped mo from the beginning of the Institution. But all comes in answer to prayer.

November 15th. Within the last twenty-four hours I have drawn cheques, for current expenses, to the amount of £555, and the income during the last days has been less than during any part of the year. But I hope in God, and am therefore in peace.—November 17th. From Kidderminster £50. There was also paid to-day the legacy of the late Mrs. C——, which should have been £100 (less legacy duty £90), but which, through a defect in the Will, was only £50 (less legacy duty £45). Half, therefore, of the intended kindness of the testatrix was lost. This leads me to the remark, that if any donors wish to help the Institution by legacies (though the more excellent way is, during our lifetime to use our means for the Lord, if there be no hindrance), it is necessary that their Will be worded properly.

January 1st. Early in the morning I found in the letter-box at my house three papers, containing money. The first I opened contained £12 10s., with these words: "Will Mr. Müller please to accept the enclosed £12 10s. from—as a contribution for the maintenance of one of the dear little Orphans?"—The next paper I opened contained anonymous donations from 3 servants, viz. £1 from A. B., £1 from M. A., and 2s. 6d. from E. A. W. For many years have these dear servants, entirely unknown to me, contributed thus on the first morning of the year.—The third paper contained a sovereign, with these words: "Towards the support of the Orphans, from one whom God has wonderfully blessed throughout the year, at this moment passing away." By the first delivery I received twenty-five letters. The first I opened contained advice, that into one of the Bristol banks had been paid to my credit £262 17s., of which the donor, who resides at a distance of about 200 miles, desires £200 to be used for the building of the third Orphan House, and £62 17s. as a, New Year's gift for the support of the Orphans. Anonymously from H. B. £17 13s. —"As a thankoffering for the mercies of the past year, from believers meeting at the Sand Area Meeting House, Kendal, £30 3s."—January 14th. From a mercantile gentleman, whom I have only once spoken to for a few moments, £1,500.—January 17th. To-day it is a twelvemonth since, day by day, 30 quarts of new milk have been given, by a gentleman residing in the neighbourhood of Bristol.—January 19th. Received 705 mugs for the 700 Orphans, as a present. —January 20th. From a Birmingham manufacturer £50.

February 14th. Received £2 10s. 6d., with the following letter:—

My dear Brother in the Lord Jesus Christ,

"Will you please to accept an order for £2 10s. 6d. for the dear Orphans under your care. The history of this small sum is as follows: About seven-and-a-half years ago, your Narrative was put into my hands; the Lord very greatly blessed it to my soul. Six years and eleven months ago I was enabled to cast myself, my wife, and family, upon the Lord, and look to Him alone for the supply of our temporal necessities, while labouring in His glorious cause. From that time to the present we have had no claims upon any person for a single penny; nor have we made known our wants to any, or applied to any person for help, but to our Heavenly Father alone; and He has supplied our need, and not suffered us to be confounded, blessed be His name! My dear wife, as well as myself, from the very first, had a strong desire to help you a little in your blessed work of love and labour of faith; but, for a long time, owing to her continued ill-health, and the growing expenses of our family, we never seemed to have any money to spare; so, all we did was to wish, desire, and talk about it, and say how happy we should be if the Lord would enable us to do so. At length we both felt we were acting wrongly, and on the 8th of August last we solemnly decided we would give the Lord back a tenth of the money He was pleased to send us, though at that time we were in deeper poverty than we had ever been before; yet under those circumstances we were enabled in the strength of the Lord to come to the above decision, and act up to it that very morning; and the peace and joy we both felt, it is in vain for me to attempt to describe. The Lord has kept us firm ever since, and instead of having less for our own use, we have had more; so, dear Sir, this sum is the fruit of six months' prayers. Pardon me for troubling you with so long an account of so trifling a sum; but I want you to bless our Heavenly Father for His goodness to us His unworthy servants, and to remember us in your petitions at the throne of grace.

"Yours very affectionately and respectfully, ——."

April 17th. From Birkenhead £20.—May 26th. The present period closes full of mercies and blessings with regard to means for carrying on the work, as also in every other respect; and I look with peace and comfort to the coming year, though I have reason to believe its expenses will be greater, and that about £25,000 will be required to carry me through it.

[The expenditure for the Orphans from May 26th, 1859 to May 26th, 1860, was £7,699 13s. 11½d.]

May 26th, 1860, to May 26th, 1861

June 7th. To-day I had the joy of receiving a long letter, from one of the Orphans in service, giving a full account of her conversion, from which I give the following extract: "I with many others can look back to the dear Orphan House and thank God for placing us under such influence. It was the genuine religious example of all around me, while there, that impressed my mind with the reality of vital religion."—June 8th. From Lancashire £200.—June 15th. From the inmates of the Liverpool Penitentiary £3 14s. 3d., and from their Matrons 8s. 9d., being saved by abstaining for one month from the use of butter, in order to send the allowance to the Orphans.

August 15th. From the Master of a brig £2. Being homeward bound from the Mediterranean, he asked the Lord to give him a fair wind through the gut of Gibraltai, and said that, if so, he would give the amount of the anchorage dues to the Lord for the Orphans. He entered the Straits, it fell calm, and he drifted ten miles back. He then again asked the Lord to help him. A breeze sprang up in the night, and he cleared the Straits.

October 12th. Received the following valuable donation: A gold brooch, a pair of ear-rings, and 3 rings, all set with pink topazes, a pearl brooch, a large amber necklace, ring, and ear-rings, seed coral bracelets and negligee, a cornelian ring, a negligée from Herculaneum, a pair of gold bracelets set with precious stones, a pair of garnet ear-rings, a string of coral, a heavy gold chain, a cornelian necklace, a rich Genoa velvet dress, an Indian worked scarf, etc., and 5s. for carriage. These valuable articles were accompanied by the following lines from the donor: "Some years have passed since any of these idle toys were worn by me; and I think it sinful to lock up anything which may tempt others to sin. While we have time to do good, let us embrace it; and may the offering be accepted by Him who sees it in secret, and will receive it as done unto Himself." The donor lived only a few months after she had sent these articles. Will she regret that she used them for the Lord in her lifetime? Surely not! Christian reader, let us seek more truly to lay hold on eternal life! Let us live for eternity!

January 1st. I found early in the morning, before daylight, two little packets of money in the letter-box at my house. The first contained this letter:—

My dear Sir,