A Narrative of some of the Lord's Dealings with George Muller Volume IV Part 23

I, therefore, on the ground of the objections answered, and these eight reasons for enlarging the work, come to the conclusion that it is the will of the blessed G.o.d, that His poor and most unworthy servant should yet more extensively serve Him in this work, which he is quite willing to do.

Up to this day, January 25, 1851, I have not spoken to one human being about it. As yet even my dear wife knows not about it. I purpose to keep the matter still for some time entirely to myself, dealing with G.o.d alone about it, in order that no outward excitement may be in the least degree a stimulus to me. I still pray to be kept from mistake and delusion in this thing, not that I think I am mistaken or deluded, quite the reverse; but yet I would distrust myself and cling to G.o.d, to be kept from mistakes and delusions.

January 31st. For several weeks past I have had no doubt that the Lord would have me to serve Him in the erection and fitting up of another Orphan-House for seven hundred Orphans, and I am quite decided on doing so, with His help, and I am now quiet about it, not because I have the least misgiving in my own mind, but because I know that it is most suitable that I should still for some time continue to deal quietly with G.o.d alone about it.

March 5th. Nearly five weeks have pa.s.sed away since I wrote the last paragraph, and my mind has not been once, during this time, even for a moment, in uncertainty as to what I ought to do. It is now about fifteen weeks since I have been especially praying about this subject, and three months since. I began first to write on the subject in my journal, and about ten weeks since I have had any doubt as to what is the will of the Lord concerning this service. I believe that, altogether unworthy though I am of this great honour, He will condescend to use me further and more extensively than before in caring for dest.i.tute children who are bereaved of both parents. And this I purpose to do.

April 5th. Another month has pa.s.sed away, and my mind is just in the same state as it was when I wrote in my journal on the subject on March 5th.

May 5th. One more month has pa.s.sed away, and still my mind remains quietly a.s.sured that, utterly unworthy though I am to be allowed to go forward in this work, and great though the difficulties are, which must be overcome, yet that it is the will of G.o.d I should serve Him in this way. It is now this day five months since I first wrote on this subject in my journal, and longer even than that since it has been before rue, during which time I have day by day prayed concerning this matter.

May 24th. From the time that I began to write down the exercises of my mind on Dec. 5th, 1850, till this day, ninety-two more Orphans have been applied for, and seventy-eight were already waiting for admission before. But this number increases rapidly as the work becomes more and more known.

On the ground of what has been recorded above, I purpose to go forward in this service, and to seek to build, to the praise and honour of the living G.o.d, another Orphan-House, large enough to accommodate seven hundred Orphans.

When I published these exercises of my mind, and made known my purpose respecting the intended Orphan-House for 700 Orphans, in the Twelfth Report of the Scriptural Knowledge Inst.i.tution, the following particulars were added to what has been stated.

1. All this time, though now six months have elapsed since. I first began to be exercised about this matter, I have never once been led to ask the Lord for means for this work, but have only continued day by day to seek guidance from Him as to whether I should undertake it or not.

2. The means requisite, to accomplish the building and fitting up of a house, which shall be really suitable for my intended purposes, though the building be quite simple, cannot be less than Thirty-Five Thousand Pounds, including fifteen or twenty acres of land round the building for cultivation by the spade, in order to obtain out of our own grounds all the vegetables, which are so important to the health of the children.

3. I do not mean to begin the building until I have the means requisite in hand, just as was the case with regard to the New Orphan-House. If G.o.d will condescend to use me in building for Him another Orphan-House (as I judge He will), He will give me the means for it. Now though I have not on my mind any doubt left that it is His will I should do so; yet there is one point still wanting for confirmation, and that is that He will also furnish me, without personal application to any one, with all the means requisite for this new part of my service. I the more need also to my own soul this last of all the proofs that I have not been mistaken, in order to have unquestionable a.s.surance that, whatever trials hereafter may be allowed to befall me in connexion with this work, I did not at my own bidding and according to my own natural desire undertake it, but that it was under the guidance of G.o.d. The greatness of the sum required affords me a kind of secret joy; for the greater the difficulty to be overcome, the more will it be seen to the glory of G.o.d, how much can be done by prayer and faith; and also, because, when G.o.d Himself overcomes our difficulties for us, we have, in this very fact, the a.s.surance that we are engaged in His work and not in our own.

4. It is intended to place this Orphan-House also, as was the New Orphan-House, in the hands of G.o.dly Trustees.

5. Orphans from any part of the world, provided they speak English, if bereaved of both parents, lawfully begotten, and in dest.i.tute circ.u.mstances, are intended to be admitted, as is the ease now, irrespective of any sectarian feeling or preference whatever. Neither entrance money nor any particular interest will be required, in order to obtain a ticket for the admission of dest.i.tute Orphans, bereaved of both parents, as long as there is room.

6. Individuals who desire to contribute towards the Building Fund for this intended Orphan-House for seven hundred dest.i.tute Orphans, are requested to state that the donation is "for the Building Fund." Indeed concerning all the donations for any part of the Scriptural Knowledge Inst.i.tution for Home and Abroad, it is requested that the donors will kindly state, for what they wish their donations to be applied; or to say expressly that they leave the application of their donations to me, as the various objects may more particularly need help.

Supplies for the School?, Bible?, Missionary and Tract Fund, sent in answer to prayer, from May 26, 1850, to May 26, 1851.

At the commencement of this period it was my purpose to seek help from the Lord that I might be able, in a still greater degree than before, to a.s.sist brethren who labour in the Gospel, at Home and Abroad, in dependence upon G.o.d for their temporal supplies, and to labour more than ever in the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and of simple Gospel Tracts. The following extracts from my journal will now show how kind the Lord has been in answering my requests, and in furnishing me with the means for carrying out the desire of my heart.

June 7, 1850. Today I have received 50l. for missions from a Brother whose heart the Lord has inclined to spend, as a steward of G.o.d, a second property, with which He has intrusted him.

June 10. Received 150l., the disposal of which was left to me. I took half for the Orphans and half for these objects.

June 11. Received from C. W. 50l. for missions.--By these sums which, besides smaller donations, came in within the first fifteen days of this period, I was able to begin to carry out my purpose; and as the Lord enabled me, without anxious reckoning, to go on giving out as He was pleased to intrust me with means, so again He sent further supplies before all was gone. It is a point of great importance in the divine life, not to be anxiously reckoning about the morrow, nor dealing out sparingly, on account of possible future wants, which never may come; but to consider, that only the present moment to serve the Lord is ours, and that the morrow may never come to us.

July 2. 170l. has come in today. The donor kindly gave me permission to use this amount as might be most needed. I took therefore 80l. of it for the Orphans, the other for these objects.

Of the various donations which came in for these objects, between July 2nd and Aug. 13th, I only mention, that I received on Aug. 5th a silver salver, 2 silver table spoons, a silver sugar spoon, and a silver mustard spoon; all to be sold for missionary purposes. On Aug. 13th a Christian Friend gave me 50l., of which I took one half for missionary operations and the other half for the Orphans, as the donation was left at my disposal as most needed.

Aug. 15. Today I have received from the same donor, who sent me on June 7th 50l., another donation of 110l, of which he wishes me to apply 10l.

for the use of the Orphans and 100l. for missionary purposes. This day I have also received a donation of 120l., of which I took half for the Orphans, and half for these objects.--Several other small donations came in on the following day.

Aug. 24. Have received from C. W. 30l., of which the donor kindly intends 10l. for foreign missions, 10l. for the Orphans, and 10l. for my own personal expenses. I have sent out already during this month 170l.

to Home and Foreign labourers, and the Lord continues to give me means for this and all the other parts of the work.

Sept. 14. Received again 190l., of which I took half for the Orphans and half for these objects.

Sept. 19. Today I received a registered letter from the donor referred to under June 7th and Aug. 15th containing Four Hundred Pounds and these words:

"Dear Brother,

Herewith I send you 400l., of which three parts are to be expended on missionaries, the rest you may expend on the Orphans, if needed; else the whole to be disposed of to the Lord's ministering servants. I thank you for your prayers that I may not regret this step. Were the Lord to come tomorrow, how glad I should be that the whole was thus sent on before me! . . If yourself or dear brother Craik (to whom give my love in Christ) are at all in need, scruple not to take five pounds each.

Yours in the Lord Jesus,

I took the whole amount for labourers in the word and doctrine. My soul does magnify the Lord for His condescension in listening to my supplications, and, in answer to them, sending me means, and thus allowing me more and more to help missionary brethren. During the last five weeks I have sent again to them about 300l., but I long to be more than ever their servant. What the donor says about "the money going before him," is in reference to his having now spent two properties for the Lord.

Sept. 27. Still further abundant help. Received from a new donor 200l., which, being left at my disposal as most needed, I took of it 100l. for the Orphans, and 100l. for these objects.

Oct. 9. The Lord condescends to use me more and more as His steward.

Today I have again received 200l., which might be used as most needed. I have therefore taken of it 100l. for the Orphans, and the other half for these objects.

Oct. 28. Since Oct. 9th many small donations have come in, chiefly for missions; now today I received again 200l., of which I took one half for the Orphans, and the other half for these objects. By these donations (large and small) the Lord enables me to send more and more help to Home and Foreign labourers. During the last seven weeks, only little, comparatively, has come in for these objects, while several hundred pounds have been expended; yet, through the rich abundance which the Lord had sent me before, I have not only had no lack of means, but had still about 300l. in hand, before this donation was received today.

Nevertheless it was very sweet to receive it as the fruit of earnest prayer for several weeks, as so little, comparatively, had come in during the last seven weeks.

Dec. 18. This evening was given to me 90l. As the donor stated in the course of conversation, that he felt especially interested about those brethren who labour in the Gospel in various countries, whom I seek to a.s.sist, I took of this sum 60l. for that object, and 30l. for the Orphans.

Jan. 4, 1851. This evening I received Three Thousand Pounds, of which I took half for these objects, and half for the Orphans, as the disposal of it was entirely left to me. I am thus enabled more and more to enlarge the work, and to a.s.sist increasingly home and foreign labourers in the Word. When I gave myself more particularly to this part of the work, now about six years since, I had not the least human prospect of being able to do so much; but the Lord has been pleased to condescend to listen to my supplications on behalf of these brethren who trust in Him for their temporal supplies. I am in this way also furnished with means, on a larger scale than ever, to circulate copies of the Holy Scriptures and simple Gospel Tracts, which was always of deep importance, but in these days of increasing darkness more so than ever.

Jan. 11. A further rich supply. I have received 150l., of which I took half for the Orphans and half for these objects, as the disposal of it was left to me.

Feb. 24. The donor, who has spent two properties in the service of the Lord, receiving a present of 100l., sent me today 50l. of it for missions. This instance shows, that if we use the means with which the Lord may intrust us, as stewards for Him, He will make us stewards over more.

Since Feb. 1851, the donor just now referred to has come into the possession of a third property, which likewise, as the two previous ones, he has entirely spent for the Lord.

March 7. Exceedingly little, comparatively, has come in since Jan. 11th; yet, as I had means, I expended them to the full degree in which it appeared to me that the Lord pointed out openings, and, in the meantime, I continued praying for more means. Now the Lord has again given much encouragement for continuing to wait upon Him, by a donation of 200l., received today, of which the donor kindly wishes me to take 20l. for my own personal expenses, and the 180l. to be used as may be most needed, which sum I have divided between the Orphans and the other objects.

April 15. From C. W. 40l. for foreign missions.

April 17. Further supplies for missionary purposes. This evening 1 found a letter containing a check for 50l., of which the donor intends one half for missionary purposes, and the other for the Orphans.

April 30. Received 200l., of which I took half for the Orphans and half for these objects. Besides the donations above referred to, of a larger kind, I received for these objects more than two hundred other donations in pence, shillings, pounds, five pounds, ten pounds, and upwards, during this period. In order to save room I have refrained from particularizing these smaller sums, and especially because it was my more immediate object to show, by the above, how bountifully the Lord was pleased to furnish me with means for the carrying out my desires concerning these objects. Yea, the Lord so abundantly supplied me with means, that during the whole of this period there came not one single case before me in which it would have been desirable to help, according to the measure of light given to me, or to extend the work, without my having at the same time ample means for doing so. In the midst of the great depression of the times, which was so generally felt, and on account of which, humanly speaking, I also might have been exceedingly tried for want of means, I, on the contrary, at no period of the work for the seventeen years previous had a greater abundance of means. I do on purpose lay stress upon this, because I desire that it may become increasingly known, that there is no easier, no better, and no happier way in the end than G.o.d's way, and this in particular also with regard to the obtaining of means, simply in answer to prayer, without personal application to any one. I value all the smaller donations which have not been referred to, as well as the larger ones; and many of them, in the sight of the Lord, may have been greater donations than the hundreds of pounds which have been mentioned; but it appeared to me necessary to give the above facts, as I could not mention every single donation, in order to prove the easy way in which prayer and faith may procure means, if we walk uprightly, and if the work in which we are engaged is really the work of G.o.d. Were the obtaining of money my aim, by thus writing, it would be bad policy indeed, to bring out all these instances of rich and most abundant supplies for the work; for persons might be led to think that I need no money, or that, if I did, I should have only to pray and it would soon come in, through some one or other, without their helping me; but since my chief aim in the whole work, and in the writing of these accounts in particular, is, that the blessedness of the life of faith may be seen, and that the hearts of the children of G.o.d may be allured more and more to their Heavenly Father, and be led more and more to cast their every care upon Him, and to trust in Him at all times, yea, in the darkest moments, therefore I take pleasure in speaking about this rich abundance which G.o.d gave me for His own work.

Some readers may say, And what use was made of the money which was received in this way? Such a one is referred, for a full answer, to the next chapter but one, which speaks of the operations of the Scriptural Knowledge Inst.i.tution for Home and Abroad; yet I would give to him here a few outlines of the operations of the Inst.i.tution. By the funds, which were intrusted to me during this period, several hundred poor children and adults were provided with schooling; many hundreds of copies of the Holy Scriptures were circulated; about three hundred thousand Gospel Tracts were distributed; forty-five preachers of the Gospel in the East Indies, British Guiana, Canada, the United States, France, Switzerland, Germany, Ireland, Scotland and England were, to a greater or less degree, a.s.sisted with pecuniary help; and, lastly, three hundred Orphans were provided with everything they needed for this life, besides being under continual Scriptural instruction. Thus, at least, fifteen thousand souls were during this period under habitual Scriptural instruction in connection with this Inst.i.tution, either in the Sunday Schools, Adult Schools, Day Schools, and the Orphan House, or through the preachers of the Gospel referred to.

Supplies for the support of the Orphans, sent in answer to prayer, from May 26, 1850, to May 26, 1851.

When this period commenced, I had more in hand for the Orphans than for many years before, under similar circ.u.mstances, the balance for current expenses on May 26, 1850, being 150l. 7s. 10d. Yet, much as this was, in comparison with what the balance had generally been before, how small was the amount in reality! About 300 persons were connected with the New Orphan House, who day by day were to be provided with all they needed, besides several apprentices who also were still to be supported. On this account, the one hundred and fifty pounds in hand would only furnish that which was needed for about fifteen days, as the average expenses of the Orphan Work alone were about Ten pounds daily.10 Place yourself, therefore, dear reader, in my position. Three hundred persons daily at table, and 150l. in hand! Looking at it naturally, it is enough to make one tremble; but, trusting in the living G.o.d, as by His grace I was enabled to do, I had not the least trial of mind, and was a.s.sured that G.o.d would as certainly help me as He had done fourteen years before, when the number of the Orphans was only the tenth part as large. The following record will now show that I was not mistaken; and thus another precious proof is furnished to the believing reader of the truth of that word: "Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be confounded."

On the very first day of this new period I received from a sister in the Lord 6l. Another sister gave me 3l., the price of a piece of work done by her. Thus, as the Lord commenced this period, so He was pleased generally day by day to send me something, either in small or large donations. I can, however, only refer to a few instances, to save s.p.a.ce.

Between May 26 and June 30, 1850, G.o.d was pleased to send in 193l. 4s.