A Narrative of some of the Lord's Dealings with George Muller Volume IV Part 35

A. The expenses during this year, for the support of the Orphans, were 3,897l. 2s. 0 d.

B. Without any one having been personally applied to for anything by me, the sum of 64,591l. 6s. 11 d. was given to me for the Orphans as the result of prayer to G.o.d from the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1854.--It may be also interesting to the reader to know that the total amount given for the other objects, from the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1854, was 22,268l. 2s 11 d.; and that which came in by the sale of Bibles and Tracts, and by the payments of the children in the Day Schools, from the commencement up to May 26, 1854, amounted to 3,989l. 4s. 5 d.--Besides this, also, a great variety and number of articles of clothing, furniture, provisions, &c., were given for the use of the Orphans.

C. Our labours continued to be blessed among the Orphans. We saw also again fruit of our labours, during this year, with regard to Orphans who formerly were under our care.

Matters connected with my own personal affairs, from May 26, 1853, to May 26, 1854.

In July 1853 it pleased the Lord to try my faith in a way in which before it had not been tried. My beloved daughter, an only child, and a believer since the commencement of the year 1846, was taken ill on June 20th. This illness, at first a low fever, turned to typhus. On July 3rd there seemed no hope of her recovery. Now was the trial of faith. But faith triumphed. My beloved wife and I were enabled to give her up into the hands of the Lord. He sustained us both exceedingly. But I will only speak about myself. Though my only and beloved child was brought near the grave, yet was my soul inn perfect peace, satisfied with the will of my Heavenly Father, being a.s.sured that He would only do that for her and her parents, which in the end would be the best. She continued very ill till about July 20th, when restoration began. On Aug. 18th she was so far restored, that she could be removed to Clevedon for change of air, though exceedingly weak. It was then 59 days mince she was first taken ill.

While I was in this affliction, this great affliction, besides being at peace, so far as the Lord's dispensation was concerned, I also felt perfectly at peace with regard to the cause of the affliction. When in August 1831 the hand of the Lord was heavily laid on me in my family, as related in the first part of this Narrative, I had not the least hesitation in knowing, that it was the Father's rod, applied in infinite wisdom and love, for the restoration of my soul from a state of lukewarmness. At this time, however, I had no such feeling. Conscious as I was of manifold weaknesses, failings, and shortcomings, so that I too would be ready to say with the Apostle Paul, "O wretched man that I am;"

yet I was a.s.sured that this affliction was not upon me in the way of the fatherly rod, but for the trial of my faith. Persons often have, no doubt, the idea respecting me, that all my trials of faith regard matters connected with money, though the reverse has been stated by me very frequently; now, however, the Lord would try my faith concerning one of my dearest earthly treasures, yea, next to my beloved wife, the dearest of all my earthly possessions. Parents know what an only child, a beloved child is, and what to believing parents an only child, a believing child must be. Well, the Father in heaven said, as it were, by this His dispensation, Art thou willing to give up this child to me? My heart responded, As it seems good to Thee my Heavenly Father. Thy will be done. But as our hearts were made willing to give back our beloved child to Him who had given her to us, so He was ready to leave her to us, and she lived. "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Psalm x.x.xvii. 4. The desires of my heart were, to retain the beloved daughter, if it were the will of G.o.d; the means to retain her were, to be satisfied with the will of the Lord.

Of all the trials of faith that as yet I have had to pa.s.s through, this was the greatest; amid by G.o.d's abundant mercy, I own it to His praise, I was enabled to delight myself in the will of G.o.d; for I felt perfectly sure, that, if the Lord took this beloved daughter, it would be best for her parents, best for herself, and more for the glory of G.o.d than if she lived: this better part I was satisfied with; and thus my heart had peace, perfect peace, and I had not a moment's anxiety. Thus would it be under all circ.u.mstances, however painful, were the believer exercising faith.

Dec. 31, 1853. During this year the Lord was pleased to give me

1. By anonymous donations through the boxes ... ... ... ... 177 9 7

2. Through donations from believers in Bristol, not anonymously . . . . . . . 143 3 0

3. Through donations from believers not residing in Bristol ... ... 299 16 1

4. Through presents in clothes, provisions, &c., worth at least ... ... 18 3 0

638 11 8

Further account respecting the intended Orphan I-louse for Seven Hundred Poor Orphans, bereaved of both Parents by death, from May 26, 1854, to May 26, 1855.

On May 26, 1854, I had actually in hand for this intended Orphan House, as has been stated in the last chapter on this subject, 17,816l. 19s. 5 d. I will now relate further, how the Lord was pleased to supply me with means, but can only refer, for the sake of brevity, to a few instances out of many. The receipts of the first month of this year, however, shall be given entirely, as a specimen.

May 29, 1854. Through Salem Chapel boxes 6d.

May 31. From Finchdean 5l.

June 1. Through the boxes at Bethesda Chapel 1l.--Ditto from P. and M. E. 10s.--From London 1s. 6d.

June 4. A gold dollar piece and nearly two pennyweights of Californian gold dust.

June 5. Through Bethesda Chapel boxes 2s. 6d. as a thank-offering to the Lord for the mercies of the past month.--Through Salem Chapel boxes 1s.--Ditto 6d.--From P. 2s.

June 7. Anonymously through London Bankers 100l.--Through the boxes at the New Orphan House 1s.

June. 8. From E. 2s. 6d.--Anonymously 2s.

June. 12. Through Bethesda boxes 3s.--Ditto 1s.--Ditto 1l.-- Through Salem boxes 6d.

June 14. Through the boxes at the New Orphan House 5s.--Ditto d.

June 17. By sale of articles 17s. 7d.

June 18. 3s.--5s.

June-19. 15s.

June 22. A muslin cap, a cape, some worked tr.i.m.m.i.n.g, and two bags, to be sold for the Building Fund.

June 25. From Glasgow 2s. 6d.--From K. C. 10s.

June 26. Anonymously 2s. 2d.--Through Salem boxes 6d.--From P.

1s.

These were but little sums, esteemed reader, in comparison with the total amount required for the accommodation of 700 more Orphans; yea, they were even small in comparison with what was still required, though I had then nearly 18,000l. in hand. But as it had been given to me, by G.o.d's grace, to expect help from Him, yea, the full help needed for this object, so the additional income of a few pounds, of a few shillings, yea of a penny or two, was an encouragement to me for further waiting upon Him, as every donation, the smallest even, brings me nearer the time when all my prayers concerning this object also shall be turned into praises.

July 1. A large gold brooch, set with two carbuncles, to be sold for the Building Fund.

July 2. Anonymously through London Bankers 100l.--From Bury 10s.

July 19. A silver tea pot.

Sept. 27. From one of the former Orphans, now in service, 5s.--From the Orphan Girls, now under our care, 15s. for the Building Fund.-- From the House Girls, i.e. the elder female Orphans, who are more particularly engaged in doing household work, for the purpose of being thus trained for situations, I received likewise 11s.--From the Infant Orphans was also received for the Building Fund today, 6s. 8d.; and from the Orphan Boys 15s, 0 d.--Oct. 4. From two little factory girls 1s. 7d.

Oct. 28. From Halifax in Nova Scotia 7l.

Nov. 25. From the neighbourhood of Wheatley 10l.

Dec. 8. From various believers at Hull 12l. 12s.

Dee. 30. From Orleans, in France, five francs.

Thus ended the year 1854. Only 426l. 16s. 4d. altogether had come in for the Building Fund from May 26 up to the end of the year. My faith and patience were therefore tried; but, while they were tried, they were, by G.o.d's grace, sustained. Day by day I had been enabled from May 26 to Dec. 31, 1854, as well as during the three years previously, to bring this object before the Lord in player; and day by day, by G.o.d's grace, my heart had been fully a.s.sured, without wavering, that He, in His own time, would not only give larger sums, but the whole amount required. I desired only His honour in the building of premises for 700 more dest.i.tute Orphans, bereaved of both parents; and as G.o.d, who cares infinitely more for poor Orphans than I do, did not consider the time to have come for the building of another house, I might well be quiet.

My heart longed indeed to begin to build; for there were not only 602 Orphans waiting for admission, when the last report was published but there had been application made for 125 more since then, so that on Dec.

31, 1854, 714 were waiting for admission, as only 13 could be received of the total number of 727, no more vacancies having occurred. But though it was so, I judged it was the will of G.o.d, that, by patiently waiting His own time, I should glorify Him.--I now proceed to relate how the Lord further dealt with me.

Jan. 1, 1855. 6s. 3d.--From an Orphan 1s., Ditto 1s.--From Manchester 10s.--From three children in Ireland 5s.--Anonymously from Culworth 1l.--From P. 2s. 6d.

Jan. 8. On this day I received from several Christian friends the promise, that 5,700l. should be paid to me for the work of the Lord in which I am engaged.--This donation was paid to me, in different installments, by the middle of April. I took of this sum, for the Building fund 3,400l., for the support of the Orphans 900l., for missionary objects 1,000l., for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures 150l., for the circulation of Tracts 150l., and for the various day schools, Sunday schools, and the adult school 100l. Thus the Lord is hastening on the time when the building may be commenced. His name be magnified! How refreshing this help was, and how seasonable with regard to all the various objects, can scarcely be described. The Lord may allow us, to have our faith and patience tried; but if we are enabled to continue to look to Him, and to trust in Him alone, a rich recompense will result from doing so.

Jan. 11. From a distance of several hundred miles 13l. 15s, with a letter containing the following paragraph: For the last six months, we (i.e. the donor and his wife) have laboured in prayer for the different departments of the Scriptural Knowledge Inst.i.tution, and especially that our Heavenly Father would be pleased this year largely to increase the Building Fund, and let the work proceed. Two months ago, while continuing in prayer, it was laid upon our minds, that we should set apart, whatever monies the Lord might send us between that time and the new year. The sum contained in the order is what the Lord has given us and we rejoice in being able to send it." What various ways has the Lord to help us! The donor of the 13l. 15s. is a brother who serves the Lord in the ministry of the Gospel among very poor and wretched persons, whilst he labours in dependence upon Him for his temporal supplies. He has been greatly encouraged by the accounts of the Lord's dealings with the Scriptural Knowledge Inst.i.tution; and now he is a fellow-helper in prayer, and, as this instance shows, also in contributing out of that which the Lord gives to him as the fruit of prayer. This donation greatly refreshed my spirit; for it is so manifest a proof that the Lord is mindful of this work, that He surely, in His own time, will provide for the accommodation of 700 more Orphans, and that thus this dear donor's prayers, and our prayers, will be turned into praises.

Feb. 7. From London 400l., of which the donor kindly wished me to keep 20l. for my family expenses, and to lay out the 380l. for the Lord's work, as I might think best. I took therefore 100l for the Building Fund, 140l. for the support of the Orphans, and 140l. for the other objects.

Feb. 10. Received 197l. 17s. 3d., of which the donor kindly wished me to take 20l. for my own expenses, and the rest to be used as might be most needed for the Lord's work. I took therefore 57l. 17s. 3d. for the Building Fund, 60l. for the support of the Orphans and 60l. for the other objects.

March 28. From one of the Orphans, formerly for many years under our care, but now in service, 10s., with the following letter: