Severe Financial Trials in Connection with the First Four Objects During Mr. Müll (part 1 of 3)
CHAPTER XVIII
SEVERE FINANCIAL TRIALS IN CONNECTION WITH THE FIRST FOUR OBJECTS DURING MR. MÜLLER'S LAST THIRTEEN YEARS
1885 to 1898
May 26th, 1885, to May 26th, 1886
WE commenced the fifty-second financial year of the Institution with balance of £186 14s. 2½d. in hand.
June 8th. From Cheltenham £50 for Jewish and Indian Missions.—June 18th. Put into one of the boxes at the New Orphan House, No. 3, a Bank of England Note for £100, with these words, "A gift, £10 of which is for the circulation of the Scriptures, and £90 for the use of the Orphans under Mr. Müller's care."—June 27th. When this day commenced, we had nothing at all in hand for these Objects, but in the course of the day £30 was received from G. G., Glasgow.
July 3rd. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £150. From Scotland £170, with £30 for my dear wife and myself.—July 10th. Legacy of the late J. C., Esq., £600 for Missions, and £31 9s. for the support of the Orphans.—July 15th. From Clifton £50.—July 27th. On the 27th June, as stated before, we had nothing at all left for the first four Objects of the Institution. Since then it pleased the Lord to send us £1,510 for them. This was the result of continual waiting upon God in believing prayer, which for more than fifty-two years we have found not to be in vain.—July 31st. From Dundee £50.
THE VISITORS' ROOM, AS ARRANGED FOR THE DAILY PRAYER MEETING.
MR. MÜLLER'S LARGE PRINT BIBLE IS ON THE CHAIR ON WHICH HE SAT.
August 17th. A gold chain for Foreign Missions and the Orphans. Contrary to the admonitions of the Holy Spirit, this donor had bought the chain, and now could not wear it.—August 29th. From Yorkshire £150 for Foreign Missions, and £150 for the Orphans.
September 10th. From Hackney £5, with this letter from the donor:—
Dear Mr. Müller,
"I have pleasure in sending you £5 for Missions, as promised to the Lord about a month ago, if He, in answer to prayer, would graciously remove serious difficulties, which had arisen to my completion of a lease, in connection with which legal difficulties seemed almost inevitable. I prayed earnestly, day by day, that the Lord would dispose of events, and so deal with the hearts of the owners, that not only a settlement might be come to, but that it might be mutually satisfactory and friendly. This, at the first interview, after the difficulty had arisen, was accomplished yesterday, without one sharp word or look on either side. It was through reading your last Report, I was led to adopt this mode of settlement, and in faith anticipated the result, which has come to pass to the glory of God.
"Yours truly, ——."
September 12th. From a Berkshire donor, 41 coupons, and I Dividend Warrant, amounting altogether to £173 5s. 1d.—September 22nd. From Dublin £50.—September 24th. From Dundee £50, with £10 for myself.—September 28th. From Wales £96, with £4 for Mrs. Müller and myself.
October 3rd. From Scotland £100, with £20 for my wife and myself. —October 19th. From Ireland £12 15s. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures. During no period of the existence of the Institution, since March 5th, 1834, have we circulated so great a number of copies of the Holy Scriptures, as during the past year. This has chiefly arisen from the fact that Bible carriages in Ireland, England, Australia, etc., are supplied with New Testaments at half price, and with copies of the Bible at three-fourths of the usual price. We do this, that the devoted brethren engaged in this service may thus have their expenses covered, and that we may help on in this way so deeply an important service.
November 27th. From a friend at Southport £50.—December 11th. Received £45, with £5 for myself, as "A little thankoffering to my Heavenly Father, who has mercifully spared me to old age, with the use of my faculties and limbs, for which I cannot be sufficiently thankful, and long to prove by actions the gratitude I do feel."—December 21st. To-day our balance for the first four Objects of the Institution is reduced to £22 2s. 6¼d., but the Lord will help further. Our hope, is in Him. We continue in prayer, and I know its power from the happy experience of more than half a century.
January 1st. During the first day of the New Year, twenty-three donations came in for the first four Objects of the Institution, amounting to £212.—January 27th. Since December 27th, 1885, the income for these Objects was £901, so that our balance, which a month ago was £22 2s. 6¼d., is this day again increased to £522 8s. 8¼d.—February 1st. From Philadelphia, two donations of 50 dollars each.—February 6th. From Taunton £25, with £25 for the Orphans. —March 3rd. From Glasgow £25, with £5 for my dear wife and myself.—March 4th. From Scotland £105, with £15 for my wife and myself. From Worcestershire £250 for Home and Foreign Missions, £230 for the Orphans, and £20 for myself, with the following words: —"From one who wishes to lay up treasure in heaven." This kind donor had bequeathed this sum in her Will, but decided to pay it in her lifetime to save the legacy duty.—March 6th. From Berkshire 41 coupons and a Dividend Warrant, amounting altogether to £173 0s. 8d.—March 8th. From Scotland £100, with £5 for myself.—March 9th. From Yorkshire £90 for Foreign Missions, and £10 for myself.—March 15th. From Victoria, Australia, £80, with £20 for Mrs. Müller and myself.
April 9th. From Finland £3 for Missions to the heathen.—April 10th. From Philadelphia £30, with £30 for the Orphans.—April 22nd. From Scotland £40, with £10 for myself.—April 28th. From Melbourne £30, with £10 for Mrs. Müller and myself. April 30th. From Kent £100 for Missions, £100 for the Orphans, and £50 for myself.—May 8th. From Scotland £100, with £5 for Mrs. Müller and myself.—May 11th. From London £45 3s. for Foreign Missions, and £16 10s. for Bible Fund.—May 17th. From Philadelphia £30, with £30 for the Orphans, from the same kind donor who has again and again sent us help during the last few months.—May 22nd. From Bath £90, with £10 for myself. From the neighbourhood of Bristol £100.
May 26th, 1886, to May 26th 1887
We began this last financial year with a balance, rather larger than usual, for the first four Objects of the Institution, as we had £347 14s. 9¾d. in hand; yet, large as it was, it was not sufficient for two weeks.
May 28th. From Devonshire £90 for Missions.—June 5th. From Worcester £90, with £10 for the temporal supplies of my dear wife and myself.—June 21st. From Edinburgh £40, with £10 for the Orphans.—July 21st. From Sussex £39 12s. 5d. for Missions, with £13 for the support of one Orphan for one year.—July 28th. From Blairgowrie, Scotland, £50.
Two months we have been already carried through the new period, and supplied with what we needed, through waiting upon the Lord, and really trusting in Him, though our balance in hand, with which we began, for these Objects, was not sufficient for even two weeks.
August 7th. From Scotland £100, with £5 for Mrs. Müller and myself. —August 13th. Received £20 for Missions, from Ale County, U.S.A., with the following letter:—
Dear Brother,
"Although we are so far apart and never saw each other, yet see what faith can do. The last two letters tell me, you are preaching far away in Australia; and I may help to hold up your hands though in the United States. How much more might be done, if only faith were exercised by the children of God. I again double my donation for the Lord's work, and send £20 for Missions.
"Yours in this blessed work, ——."
The donor writes that we do not know each other personally; and yet he has many times entrusted me with money for the Lord's work.—From Wales £100 for these Objects, with £50 for the Orphans, and £50 for Mrs. Müller and myself.—August 17th. From a Christian physician in London £20 for labourers in the gospel, with £20 for the support of the Orphans.—August 26th. Three months of this new period have passed, and we have been enabled to meet all the expenses, and have a balance of £26 3s. 2¼d. left in hand for these Objects, viz., a sum not quite enough for the average expenses of one day. Now, what do we do under such circumstances? What we have ever done these fifty-three years past, since March 5th, 1834, when the Institution was founded. We make known our requests unto God; we do really trust in Him, and therefore expect help from Him.—August 27th. From the neighbourhood of Taranaki, New Zealand, £9 for Missions.—September 4th. From H. B. £50.—September 7th. From Dublin £50. There came in likewise 41 coupons, and a Dividend Warrant, in all amounting to £173 0s. 8d.—September 24th. From an old friend of the Institution £100, with £70 for the Orphans and £30 for myself.
October 13th. From Queensland £15, with £5 for Mrs. Müller and myself. From Bath £400 for Foreign Missions and Missions to the, Jews.—October 26th. Five months of this period have already elapsed, and we have not only been enabled to meet all the needed expenses, connected with these first four Objects of the Institution, through habitual believing prayer; but we have this day actually £5 7s. 5½d. more in hand than when we began this period, our balance being now £353 2s. 3¼d.
November 26th. At the end of the sixth month of the Institution, we have still £20 16s. 10¼d. in hand for these Objects. At the same time the reader will see, how much call we have to trust in God, and to pray, that we may be still further helped.—November 29th. From a farmer in the neighbourhood of Swindon £5 for Missions in Ireland. "Three pounds of the above is instead of insuring the dead stock on the farm."—December 26th. All our money for these Objects is entirely gone; but our hope is in God.—December 31st. The Lord begins again to help us. To-day was received from London £20 for the School Fund, £50 for Missions, £40 for the Orphans, and £10 for Mrs. Müller and myself.
January 1st. To-day there came in many donations for these Objects, as the result of our constant waiting upon the Lord in believing prayer, of which I only mention the following. From Hereford £20 for Foreign Missions. From R. W. £25 for Missions, with £25 for the Orphans. From a Bristol donor £20, with £20 for the Orphans. From Scotland £100, with £5 for Mrs. Müller and myself. The following letter was received from a Christian widow, who trusts in the Lord, and who contributes to the Lord's work as He is pleased to prosper her. With the letter came a cheque for £14 6s. 11d. The letter was dated December 31st, 1886.
Dear Sir,
"The year 1886 is nearly run out, and it has brought round the anniversary of the opening of my business. Owing to the unexampled depression in trade, I regret to say, that I have still but a comparatively small amount to remit for the Orphans; but such as it is, I send it with great pleasure, and pray that the coming year may be a more prosperous one, and that I may be able to send a largely increased sum. I send you on account of the Orphans £8 10s. 2d., being 2d. in the pound on my takings, with £1 11s. 8d. my anniversary day's takings, making a total of £10 1s. 10d. for the Orphans. Also £4 5s. 1d., being 1d. in the pound on my takings, in memory of my dear departed mother. This latter sum for such purpose as you may think proper. In all £14 6s. 11d.
"I remain, yours respectfully, ——."
January 3rd. Legacy of the late R. C., Esq., Ireland, £50. The donor was an entire stranger to me. This makes the hand of God, however, the more manifest.—January 21st. Received the following letter, with £100:—
Dear Sir,
"I have £100, which I have no use for at present, so I send you a cheque for the amount, as I feel sure you will be able to put it to good account. Yours truly, ——. P.S.—I should like it placed towards the circulation of the Scriptures and aiding missionary efforts."
This donation came, when the funds were very low, and after we had been long praying for means, to enable us to remit to labourers in the gospel, and to enable us to carry on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures.—January 25th. Received £2 10s., with the following letter:—
Dear Sir,
"I wish the £2 10s., cheque which is enclosed, to be used as you think fit for the Lord's work. Perhaps I ought to mention the circumstances under which I send this little amount. It was a debt owed for many years, and I sent many bills and asked for the money, without effect. About a year ago I was informed by a friend, that the man, who owed the money to me, never paid his debts, without a County Court summons, and that, if I used this means, I should be sure to get it, as several persons had proved. When I heard this, my prayer was, 'Lord lead me not into temptation,' as I considered such a course would not become me as a child of God. Some months ago I felt stirred up to pray concerning this debt, and had faith to believe I should get the money; and about six weeks ago, after reading 'The Lord's Dealings with George Müller,' I resolved that, when the money was paid, it should be sent on to you. On Saturday last the man called on me, much dejected, saying he had just had a loss of £50, but he wished to pay me, which he did, and I now send the money, dear Sir, as I promised the Lord.
"Yours very truly in Him, ——."
Legacy of the late Mrs. H., of Ireland, £1,000 (less legacy duty), £200 for these Objects, with £700 for the Orphans. In this case again the kind donor was an entire stranger to me; but God spoke to her heart for us.
January 26th. Eight months of the new period we have been enabled to carry on the operations of the first four Objects of the Institution, and have not only been enabled to meet the expenses thus far, but have this day a balance of £180 4s. 5¾d. in hand.
February 2nd. From H. B. £40, with £10 for the Orphans.—February 4th. Legacy of the late Miss F. M. W. £100 for Foreign Missions. Of late years I have been asking the Lord again and again, that legacies might be left to the Institution, not merely for the support of the Orphans, but also for the other Objects; and this has been repeatedly done during the last four years.—February 21st. From the neighbourhood of Loughborough £40.
March 4th. To-day the balance of the fund for the first four Objects was reduced to £60, and the larger portion of this was required to meet bills for Bibles and Tracts, which had been ordered. In four days about £140 would be required to meet expenses connected with the Mission Schools. Under these circumstances, again, as the result of believing expecting prayer, £100 arrived from Scotland, which might be taken for these Objects, the whole of which was therefore taken for them. Another letter also from Scotland, containing £25 for the Institution, of which £15 was taken for these Objects.—March 21st. From a friend £4,000 for Missions, and £1,000 for the Orphans. The donor is only known to me by name; but God has touched his heart to send to us this help. My prayer has been very frequent, that the Lord would give to us more largely the means for missionary purposes. Since seeing with my own eyes the awful reality of idolatry at Benares and throughout India generally, and since then in China, Japan, and other idolatrous countries, how, with any measure of love to the Lord, could I but long to do more and more for such places of spiritual darkness? This £4,000 for Missions has been a very great refreshment to me.
April 12th. Legacy of the late Miss M. N. H. £222 17s. 5d. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, and £222 17s. 6d. for the Orphans. We were delighted to receive this legacy for the circulation of the Word of God.—April 22nd. "In memory of Mrs. K." £80.—April 26th. From the Free Evangelical Churches of the Canton of Berne, for Missions to the heathen, 188 francs and 50 centimes=£7 9s.—April 29th. From Norfolk £25, with £25 for the Orphans.
May 13th. From Philadelphia £21 for Missions, and £20 for the Orphans.—May 23rd. From Norfolk £25, and £25 for the Orphans.—May 26th. From London £45 3s. for Foreign Missions. From Edinburgh £50 for Foreign Missions, and £50 for the Orphans.
May 26th, 1887, to May 26th, 1888
When this financial year of the Institution commenced, we had, for the first four Objects, £1,423 18s. 10½d. in hand, a balance considerably larger than had been the case for several years past. But great as this balance was, it was only enough for seven weeks, so that our eyes needed by faith to be fixed on our Heavenly Father, instead of looking to the balance in hand; this we did, by the grace of God, and so it came to pass that we were further helped. I will now show the manner in which it pleased God to assist us, and refer therefore to some of the donations for these four Objects of the Institution.
May 31st. Received 70 dollars (viz. £14 7s. 5d.) from the New German Baptist Church at Swanton. Ohio, United States of America. —June 28th. Legacy of the late Rev. F. H. £300, with £300 for the Orphans.—July 19th. From Eastbourne £25, with £25 for the Orphans, and £10 for Mrs. Müller and myself.—July 25th. From Dundee £50.
August 9th. From Wales £80 for the Bible Fund and Missions, £100 for the Orphans, and £20 for Mrs. Müller and myself. As the Lord has been pleased to prosper the donor (he wrote to me), so he has given to the poor or to the Lord's work; this was done at first at a comparatively small percentage, but was increased more and more, as God blessed him in his business. August 26th. From Herefordshire £20 for Foreign Missions.—September 5th. From New Zealand £13 for Missions, £15 for the Orphans, and £5 for Mrs. Müller and myself. From Scotland £30, with £30 for the Orphans, and £15 for myself and Mrs. Müller.—August 6th. From the neighbourhood of Abingdon, forty-one coupons and two Dividend Warrants, amounting, less income tax, to £173 0s. 8d. The funds for the first four Objects were all but completely spent when this donation came to hand, though the balance had been so great when we began the year.
October 6th. From Yorkshire £100 for Foreign Missions, with £100 for the support of the Orphans, from a donor who kindly has many times sent help for the Institution during the past forty-seven years. —October 10th. From Dublin £50, with £50 for the Orphans, and £10 for myself.—October 24th. From Bath £100 for Foreign Missions, and Missions to the Jews. When this donation came in we had scarcely anything left in hand for these Objects.—October 27th.
Our balance in hand for the first four Objects is now £100 15s. 1½d.; but we have during one more month been enabled by prayer and faith to meet the expenses of the Institution.
A liberal lawyer
October 28th. Received 100 dollars from Virginia, U.S.A., with the following letter:—
"I send you herewith a cheque for 100 dollars, to be used for yourself or for any work you have in hand. I shall always thank the Lord for my having met with you; and I pray, that many days may be added to your life. Will you do me the kindness to offer one earnest prayer for myself, my wife, and our three children, that we all may be saved? Pray also, that the Lord will bless me in my business, as He has condescended to give me grace to use what He gives me for His glory. It may be interesting to you to know my plan of giving, which I think the best, and unlike any of which I know. Our State (Virginia) was the great battle-field, and, at the close of the great war, I was very poor, my father having lost his slaves, and having left a poor farm only, I, being young, studied law. I resolved to give 5 per cent of my net income (after paying all expenses) until worth 5,000 dollars; then 10 per cent till worth 10,000 dollars; then 15 per cent, till worth 15,000 dollars; and so on, increasing 5 per cent on each 5,000 dollars, till I should be worth 50,000 dollars, and then, after that, all that I make in the way of profits. If the Lord will continue to bless me, I shall in a very few years come to this limit, and will then, God helping me, give all my profits to His work. I think that a Christian should not lay up more than a necessary competency, but that, the Lord having given him what is necessary, he should ask no more, and give all else to the work of the Lord. I have written this not in any wise to call attention to myself; but, because I consider it the true principle of benevolence, and one that will be attended with blessing."
This letter contains matter for prayerful consideration.—October 29th. From Worcestershire £50 for Mission Work in England. This donor has often helped when we needed assistance. November 2nd. From the neighbourhood of Whitby £100, with the following letter:—
"When reading your last Report, I saw that you were desirous to do more for Missions in heathen lands. I have a great wish to assist in that work. I therefore enclose you a cheque for one hundred pounds, to be used as you think best."
This donation greatly cheered us, as the answer to many prayers.—November 4th. From Edinburgh £100, with the following letter:—
Dear Mr. Wright,
"I enclose you a cheque for £100, as I know Mr. Müller is again from home, on the Lord's work. This is 'a special donation arising from profit on a piece of ground,' and was devoted to Mr. Müller's work, before the amount could be known. The profit is slightly under what I said. I have the pleasure of adding a little, to make an even sum. I have long felt deeply indebted to Mr. Müller's teaching, and look upon his work as a living testimony to the power of prayer and faith."
November 17th. From Paris £15, with £5 for the Orphans, and £6 for my dear wife and myself, instead of insuring horses sent to Russia.—November 21st. From a friend at Burnley £50.
December 12th. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £350.—December 22nd. From Kent £50 for Missions and £50 for the Orphans.—December 26th. Our balance in hand, for these Objects, was now reduced to £55 5s. 9½d., viz., not sufficient for the average expenses of two days. But God helped again at this time also. —December 27th. Early this morning came in from Clifton £15, and thus the Lord began to help further.
The New Year brought fresh proof of the Lord's faithfulness. On the first business day, January 2nd, we received various donations for these Objects, of which I mention £100 from Scotland, with £5 for myself and my dear wife.—January 4th. From Paddington £50 for Missions, £40 for the Orphans, and £10 for Mrs. Müller and myself. —January 6th. From Sussex £40 5s. 8d. for Missions, with £20 for the Orphans.—January 7th. From Scotland £80, with £20 for the Orphans, and £20 for Mrs. Müller and myself.—January 14th. From the neighbourhood of Manchester £160, with £40 for the Orphans.
February 10th. From Ontario £8.—February 21st. From Salem, U.S.A., 150 dollars.—March 1st. From Scotland £100, with £5 for myself and my dear wife.—March 3rd. From an Orphan who was formerly in one of the Boys' Departments of the Orphan Houses, but who is now married and living in Pennsylvania, £2 10s., with £1 for myself.—March 5th. From Jamaica £12 10s.—March 13th. From Bristol, with 2 Cor. 9:15, £50.—April 11th. From McKeesport, Pa., £10 for Missions.
May 2nd. From Scotland £100, with £5 for myself.—May 16th. From Yorkshire £200 for Foreign Missions.—May 17th. From Ireland £50 for Missions and Bible Fund.—May 23rd. From Sevenoaks £50 for Foreign Missions, "A thankoffering for mercies received."—May 26th. From Plymouth, without a line, £10 in two B.E. Notes. From near Bath £3, which the donor sent as a "thankoffering to the Lord for saving my son in Australia at the eleventh hour." From near Bristol £100.
May 26th, 1888, to May 26th, 1889
When this financial year of the Institution commenced, the balance in hand was £81 19s. 7½d., an amount so small, that, according to the expenses of the previous year, it was only enough for three days. By this, however, we were not discouraged; for, as for fifty-four years before we had not been looking to the balance in hand, but to God alone, so we did, by His help, this time also: and He helped us during the past year also, as He had done for more than half a century before.
May 29th. Received £1, with the following letter:—
Dear Sir,
"Will you use the enclosed £1 as you think best? I would send a hundred times as much, if I could; for you were, through your Narrative, the instrument, in the hand of God, of bringing me into the light. It would take up too much of your time to give you the details; but this I must tell you, that now I too am proving that God hears and answers prayer. Oh! it is most precious to be a child of God, to have Him for ever with one, and to deal with Him in all things. It will be two years in the month of June since I was converted, and, by His grace, I am standing firmly. For the last twelve months I have been thinking very much about going as a Missionary to China, if it be His will. I am looking to the Lord for counsel and guidance, so that I may not make a mistake; for, through reading the Word of God, I find that He chooses His own instruments, at all times, for special work. I pray for you every day; will you pray for me?
"Yours respectfully, ——."
June 13th. Legacy of the late Miss C. K., for English and Foreign Missions and Schools, £1,000, less legacy duty.—June 20th From Hastings £10 for Missions, with £40 for the Orphans.—June 22nd. From Bournemouth £3 for Missions, £15 for the Orphans, and £2 for Mrs. Müller and myself.—June 27th. One. month we have been already helped. Our expenses, during the past month, for these Objects, amounted to £1,167 10s. 1½d., and our income was £1,092 10s. 10d., which, with the balance of £81 19s. 7½d. in hand on May 27th, makes £1,174 10s. 5½d.; so that to-day our balance in hand is £7 0s. 4d. Thus you see, dear reader, how, time after time, we are situated; but we are never forsaken by God, because we do not merely say that we trust in Him, but really do so. And thus it is with all who act in like manner.—July 18th. From Yorkshire £500, with the following letter:—
My dear Brother in the Lord,
"I have received some money, owing to the death of a person, related to me by a sister's marriage, and ask you to accept £500 of it, to be used, £20 for yourself, and the rest will you kindly apply for the benefit of Foreign Missions? May the Lord still own your labours, and give to them His abundant blessing! I still approve of caring for young Orphans, but in this case prefer sending for Foreign Missions. There is much work and preaching in England, and it is very desirable to spread salvation far and wide in regions beyond. I have heard of your having been in New Zealand, but do not know where you now are.
"Affectionately yours in Christ, ——."
The above donation was a precious answer to constant prayer for Foreign Missions.—July 20th. From Bromley was received to-day £25 for these Objects, and £25 for the Orphans. The Lord had laid it, during sleep, on the heart of the kind donor to send this amount. How came this? We wait continually on the Lord, and He, knowing our need, helps us.—July 27th. A month since, on June 27th, our balance in hand for these first four Objects of the Institution was only £7 0s. 4d., and to-day, after having been enabled to meet all the demands for the Schools, the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts, and missionary operations, during the past month, we have £332 10s. 6d. in hand. See how God is ready to listen to the prayers of His children. May all my dear fellow-believers, and especially those who in service for the Lord need means, be greatly encouraged by this, and be led more and more to trust in God.—July 31st. From Sussex £61 2s., for Missions, from a donor who has often helped us.
August 1st. From Scotland £100, with £5 for Mrs. Müller and myself. —August 29th. From Scotland £80, with £20 for the Orphans, and £20 for Mrs. Müller and myself. From the neighbourhood of Oxford, in thirty-eight coupons and a Dividend Warrant, £169 7s. 10d.—September 27th. Four months of this new period have elapsed. The total of our expenditure for these four Objects has been, during that time, £2,977 5s. 11½d., and yet our small balance in hand, when we commenced our financial year, has been no hindrance; for God, in answer to our daily waiting on Him, in believing prayer, increased it to £3,344 11s. 8½d., so that to-day we have £367 5s. 9d. left in hand for these first four Objects.
Large gift from a former Orphan
October 1st. The following letter was received to-day, with £158 10s. from one of our former Orphans, who has been for about twenty-five years a believer in the Lord Jesus, and who for more than twenty years has resided in the United States:—
My dear Sir,
"We received your very kind letter from Sydney, New South Wales, dated July 27th, 1888. We were much pleased to hear from you, and to know the Lord is blessing your labours in that far-off country, manifesting that God is with His people in all parts of the world, and caring for those that put their trust in Him. My dear Sir, through the goodness of the Lord, I am able to send you a draft for £158 10s.; £16 please to take for yourself and Mrs. Müller, £10 for Mr. and Mrs. Wright, and £10 each for School, Bible, Missionary, and Tract Fund, making £40, and £92 10s. for the Orphans. Dear Sir, I will now explain to you how I am able to send you this money. Twenty-four years ago my uncle in Swansea, Wales, died, and left me six Great Western Railway Shares, valued £100 each; but his widow, my aunt, was to receive the dividends for her life time, and at her decease I was to have them. Last March her niece wrote to me, and told me of her death. Wednesday morning I received a draft for £800, leaving £63 to settle up business and expenses. Dear Sir, during the years gone by, I often made this a subject of prayer, and promised the Lord, that should He see fit I should ever receive this money, I would give the fifth part of it to my friend Mr. George Müller, for the Institution—the tenth part to yourself and Mrs. Müller, and the other donations as stated in the first part of this letter, if it is agreeable to you to do so. My dear Sir, I can assure you, it gives me great joy to be able to do this out of love to the Lord Jesus, for all He has done for me.
"With our kindest love, from
"Your affectionate Orphan, ——."
With great joy was this fruit of our labour amongst the Orphans received. I state here, that several times, when former Orphans in riper years had money left to them, they have sent to me, for the Institution, part of their legacies.
October 25th. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, on his way to his field of labour, £1,000. Will the reader seek to observe the remarkable way in which God was pleased to help us in answer to our habitual waiting on Him in believing prayer? Thus from the most unlikely quarters we obtain help. When this donation was received our balance had been reduced to less than £100, that is, we had enough only for about three days in hand for these first four Objects of the Institution. This made the donation so obviously God's gracious help, as the result of constant waiting on Him.
November 29th. From Manchester £100.
December 10th. From South Preston, Victoria, Australia, £30, with £10 for the Orphans.—December 24th. From Colombo, Ceylon, Rupees 100, with Rupees 100 for Mrs. Müller and myself.
January 1st. The New Year brought again proof upon proof that the Lord is mindful of our prayers, and of the necessities of this Institution. From Scotland £100, with £5 for Mrs. Müller and myself. —January 12th. From the neighbourhood of Manchester £160, with £40 for the support of the Orphans. This kind donor has helped us many times in our need, and thus it is this time also.
March 1st. The Lord has again graciously, in answer to our prayers, helped us. There came in from Scotland £100, with £5 for Mrs. Müller and myself.—March 8th. From the neighbourhood of Oxford 36 coupons, 1 Dividend Warrant, and a £10 Bank Note, amounting altogether to £174 10s. 8d. From Sevenoaks £25 for Foreign Missions, £25 for Missions to the Jews, and £50 for the Orphans.—March 11th. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £1,000 for labourers in the gospel in India, China, the Straits of Malacca, and British Guiana. This donation was given as a thankoffering to the Lord for all the blessings and mercies bestowed upon the donors all their lives.—March 27th. This day month, our balance was £35 17s. 2½d., not enough for two days, according to the average expenses; yet, though we expended during the month £748 16s. 3d., the Lord so helped us that we have this day £829 19s. 11½d. in hand.
April 1st. From Scotland £80, with £30 for the Orphans, and £20 for Mrs. Müller and myself.—April 4th. From Wymeswold £40.—April 26th. From Yorkshire for Foreign Missions £200.
May 1st. From Scotland £100, with £5 for myself.—May 10th. From two German Baptist Churches in Ohio £19 12s. From near Sheffield £50 for labourers in the gospel.—May 13th. From Ireland £100.—May 21st. From Clifton £80, with £20 for the Orphans.
May 26th, 1889, to May 26th, 1890
When the financial year began, we had a balance of £114 10s. 9d. in hand, for these first four Objects; but, while it was a balance in favour of the Institution, there was again a call to trust in the living God, as had been the case during the previous fifty-five years.
On the very first day of the financial year, we received from Tasmania, a distance of more than 11,000 miles from Bristol, £2 for Missions to the Jews, £2 for Missions in Ireland, £2 for Missions in Spain, and £2 for the support of the Orphans. We considered this donation, from that far-off country, as the Lord's earnest that, during this year also, He would be mindful of our need, and supply us, as He had done during the previous fifty-five years.
May 28th. From two ladies £2 5s., instead of advertising for pupils.
June 17th. From India 250 Rupees, with 250 Rupees for Mrs. Müller and myself.—July 1st. From the United States £300 for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Missions.—July 16th. From Sussex £34 2s. for Missions.—July 22nd. From Manchester £80, with £20 for the Orphans.—July 27th. This day a month ago our balance in hand was only £24 1s. 2d., viz., not enough to meet the average expenses of one day for these first four Objects of the Institution; but to-day it is £183 15s. 9½d., though we have expended during the month £623 4s. 3½d. On this very day we received further, from a Christian gentleman, who has many times helped us when we were in great need, three £50 Russian bonds, with six interest coupons attached to each, realizing, with interest, £152 8s. 9d.
August 13th. From a London physician £20, with £20 for the Orphans.—August 14th. From the neighbourhood of Worcester, for Missions £20.—September 2nd. "In memory of a very dear brother," £5. From Simla, India, from two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £200 for Missions to the heathen.—September 13th. From McKeesport, United States, £10. This kind donor has helped the Institution, perhaps, fifty times in a similar way; yet I have never seen him: and thus nineteen out of twenty of the donors, if not fortynine out of every fifty, are entire strangers to me, in so far as regards personal acquaintance. We give ourselves to prayer; we speak to our Heavenly Father about the need of this Institution; we plead the merits and worthiness of our Lord Jesus, that is, we ask our Heavenly Father in His name, and we are helped, and have thus now been assisted for above fifty-six years, and have received for the Institution altogether, £1,225,000. If all who need means for the poor or for the work of God, and who have not yet tried this way, would, in like manner, betake themselves in believing, expecting prayer to God, they would see what a happy and successful way this is. After having now for more than sixty years acted on these principles, so far from being tired of them, I am more and more persuaded of their scriptural character, and seek for grace to go on in the same course to the end of my earthly pilgrimage.
September 13th. Received £2 10s., with £2 10s. instead of insuring premises, with the following statement:—"During the past, as in almost every former year, since I trusted my shops to the Lord for preservation, there has been most manifest preservation. Adjoining my workshops and warehouse, is an old wooden lofty tallow candle factory, all of which is highly combustible, crowded, and fragile. In this place a fire occurred, which, had it not been instantly discovered and extinguished, my place would have been consumed, like a box in a parcel of matchboxes which had been ignited. The fire broke out at night also, when few men are about to render assistance. To God be all the praise!"—There is not a better insurance, than to commit all into the hands of God. Thus I have done for the Orphan Houses since 1848, though property of £120,000 and upwards is thus left uninsured, as it would be called; yet our Heavenly Father, into whose hands we have placed these extensive premises, has invariably protected them.
September 25th. Received from Scotland £80 for the first four Objects, £30 for the Orphans, and £40 for my dear wife and myself. From H. B. £40 with £10 for the Orphans.—September 27th. During another month we have been enabled to meet all the expenses, amounting to £752 4s. 9½d., and our balance, which was this day month £72 18s. 4½d., is now £228 0s. 1d.; but, immediately after the monthly accounts were made up, it pleased the Lord greatly to increase our balance. We received this day, from the United States, for these four Objects £4,000, and for the Orphans £1,000. See, dear Christian reader, how blessed it is to trust in God. I waited on Him in India, my fellow-labourers in England, and others in various parts of the world helped us by their prayers; and thus the dear Christian brother, whom I have never seen, was moved by the Lord, in answer to our prayers, to send me this sum for the work of the Lord. Will not my dear fellow-believers be encouraged by this, and be led to make trial of this way, and see for themselves how willing the Lord is, even in the last part of the nineteenth century, to supply the need of His children, who trust in Him, in answer to their prayers? I cannot tell them how precious the spiritual results are, of getting supplies thus, by prayer and faith, for the work of God, whereby the hearts of scores of Missionaries can be made glad, whereby tens of thousands of copies of the Holy Scriptures can be sent forth, and hundreds of thousands of Tracts, and by which help comes for the Schools, and help even is ministered for the Orphans.
October 25th. From Havana £12, with £2 for the Orphans. October 27th. Though during the past month we have expended for these Objects alone (irrespective of the Orphan work) £1,275 0s. 5½d., yet our balance in hand to-day is £3,401 1s. 7½d.
November 5th. From Trinity College, Dublin, 10s., "Part of a prize."—December 11th. From the neighbourhood of Southampton £100, with £100 for the Orphans, and £10 for Mrs. Müller and myself.—December 30th. From Dalkey, near Dublin, £7 10s., with the following letter:—
Dear Mr. Müller,
"I enclose you cheque for £7 10s., £5 of which is for the Orphans, and £1 for the other Objects (Missions, etc.). Kindly accept £1 for yourself and Mrs. Müller, and for the remaining 10s. send me some gospel books or tracts. I have been strengthened by reading 'The Lord's Dealings' with you, and I am sure you will rejoice with me, in that He mercifully preserved my life from drowning. On a dark night I was going to meet the Holyhead steamer, arriving in Dublin. In the darkness I got too near the edge and dropped into the Liffey. I struggled in the water and called for help; but no one heard me. I then prayed to God to help me to swim (for I never swam before); felt the current bearing me on; and seeing the ferry steps, I worked towards them and got safely up on the quay. It was an experience of strength given in the valley of the shadow of death.