History of the Building of the Five New Orphan-Houses, 1845-1870
[ek nearly ten years I never had any desire to build an Orphan-House. On the contrary, I decidedly preferred spending the means, which might come in, for present necessities. On October 30th, 1845, I received from a gentleman, who lived in the street where the four Orphan-Houses were, a polite and friendly letter, in which he courteously stated to me that the inhabitants in the adjoining houses were in various ways inconvenienced by the Orphan-Houses being in Wilson Street. He left to myself the judgment of the case.
This letter I received on Thursday morning, October 30th, 1845. Being very much occupied that week, I had scarcely any time to consider the matter. On Monday morning, however, November yd, I set apart some hours for the prayerful consideration of the subject, and after I had besought the Lord to guide me to a right decision, I wrote down the reasons which appeared to me to make it desirable that the Orphans should be removed from Wilson Street, and also the reasons against removing. As far as they are suitable for being stated im print, they were these:
I. Reasons for removing from Wilson Street.
(1) The neighbours feel themselves inconvenienced by the noise of the children in the play-hours. This complaint is neither without foundation, nor unjust. I should myself feel it trying to my head to live next door to the Orphan-Houses, on that account. I therefore ought to do to others, as I should wish to be done by. ‘This point had never before appeared to me in so serious a light.
(2) The greatness of the number of the inmates in the houses has several times prevented the drains from acting properly, and thus has a few times affected the water in one or two of the neighbours’ houses.
(3) We have no proper play-grounds in Wilson Street. There is one play-ground, which, however, is only large enough for the children of one house at a time.
(4) We have no ground for cultivation, near the Orphan-Houses. By removing from Wilson Street, and obtaining premises surrounded by land for cultivation, we should be able
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to procure a most important moral benefit for the children, by having the opportunity more fully than we now have, of training them in habits of industry, besides giving to the boys occupation which is more suitable for them than knitting, which is now the only employment they have, besides making their beds, cleaning the house, and attending to the cooking of their meals. Moreover, this would be occupation in the open air, which would bring their limbs into exercise.
(5) If we were to remove from Wilson Street, and obtain premises in the country, we might have all the washing done at home, which now, for want of room, can be only done in part. Thus the girls also would have more laborious work at home, a point of great importance for them, so that they would not feel so much the hardships connected with going out to service.
(6) The situation of Wilson Street is perhaps scarcely bracing enough for strengthening the constitution of the Orphans, most of whom, being the offspring of very diseased parents, require a very invigorating place of abode.
(7) The present situation is certainly not desirable for the teachers, especially as, when their hours of work are over, they have no garden or fields close to the house, to go immediately into for a little refreshment of body; and for some of them it is too far to go to fields, where they might have bracing air.
(8) In times of sickness we are too confined in the houses in Wilson Street.
(9) Even ordinarily, when there is no sickness, it would be desirable to have more room.
There are no premises to be had in Bristol, or in the immediate neighbourhood, where we could have these advantages; for I have been looking about in all directions for this purpose during the last ten years. But suppose there were a large house to be had in one part of the city, and a second a mile off, and a third and a fourth in other directions, such houses, on account of our peculiar. position in the work, would not do. For in seasons of need, the distance of the several houses would render it very inconvenient for the labourers to meet together for prayer, to divide the means that may be in hand, etc. Besides, when in seasons of other peculiar difficulties, connected with the work, I wished to meet all my fellow-labourers, there would arise greati difficulty by their being divided in different parts of the city. It would also thus be very inconvenient to persons, who wish to see the work, to go from place to place, in order to have a view of all the Orphan-Houses. But this is not all. The more I have considered the matter, the more am I now persuaded, that no ordinary large houses, built for private families, will do for charitable institutions of any considerable size, as no ordinary house furnishes the proper advantages of ventilation, a@ point so needful for the health of the inmates in a charitable institution.
There seemed to me, therefore, to remain nothing but to build premises for the purpose.
II. Reasons for Remaining in Wilson Street.
(1) God hitherto has pointed out the spot most plainly.
(But though hitherto God has pointed out Wilson Street as being the spot where this work should be carried on, may not now the time have come for removing?)
(2) Perhaps we might also rent Nos. 2, 5, and 7, in Wilson Street, and use two out of those three houses for Orphan-Houses, and one of them for an infirmary in case of sickness.
(But then, I said to myself, would not the objection, which the neighbours on the opposite side of the street might make, on account of the noise of the children in their play-hours, etc., remain? Also the drains would be still more unsuitable, not being constructed for so many inmates; and to alter them would be a heavy expense. The play-ground would be still less sufficient, if two new houses were added. Lastly, there was no reason to think that we could rent Nos. 2, 5, and 7.)
(3) There are these three great objections against building: The considerable sum which is required, and which could be spent for present use upon the Orphans. The pilgrim character of the Christian seems lost in building. The time that it will necessarily take in making arrangements for it.
(Do not all these objections only hold good, I said to myself, if I were needlessly to set about building? If I could rent premises, which are really in every way suitable for the work, and I preferred building, then those objections would apply to the case; but when one is forced to it, it is no more than erecting a large building, because there may be 800 children of God in fellowship who have been hitherto renting a meeting-place, but for certain reasons are obliged to leave it, and cannot rent another. Such could not be accused of needlessly spending money in building instead of renting; nor could it be justly said that they have on that account given up the pilgrim character; nor would it be time wasted if some individuals were to make arrangements about the building of that meeting-place. Therefore these three objections just mentioned, which had been for ten years strongly in my own mind, were removed when once I saw plainly that nothing remained but to build.)
After I had spent a few hours in prayer and consideration over the subject, I began already to see that the Lord would lead me to build, and that His intentions were not only the benefit of the Orphans, and the better ordering of the whole work, but also the bearing still further testimony that He could and would provide large sums for those who need them and trust in Him for them; and besides, that He would enlarge the work so, that, if I did once build a house, it might be large enough to accommodate three hundred Orphans, with their teachers and other overseers
and servants needful for the work. — Concerning this latter point, I think it important to remark, that during no period had the number of applications for the admission of Orphans been greater than just before I was led to think about building.
In the afternoon of November yd, 1845, I laid the matter before my fellow-labourers in the church (eight in number) to get their judgment, whether I ought not to leave Wilson Street, and to build. All judged that I ought to leave Wilson Street, and none saw reasons against building.
On November 4th my dear wife and I began to meet for prayer about this matter, and purposed to do so morning by morning. We asked God for clearer light concerning the particular points connected with the subject; and, being assured that it was His will that I should build, I began asking the Lord for means.
On November 7th I judged, having considered the matter more fully, that sufficiently large premises to furnish all needful accommodation for 300 children (from their earliest days up to 15 or 16 years old), together with a sufficiently large piece of ground in the neighbourhood of Bristol, for building the premises upon, and the remainder for cultivation by the spade, would cost at least ten thousand pounds. I was not discouraged by this, but trusted in the Living God.
We continued meeting for prayer morning by morning for fifteen days, but not a single donation came in; yet my heart was not discouraged. The more I prayed the more assured I was, that the Lord would give the means. Yea, as fully assured was I that the Lord would do so, as if I had already seen the new premises actually before me. This assurance arose not from some vague, enthusiastic feeling, the mere excitement of the moment, but (1) from the reasons already related, and especially from the commandment contained in Philip. iv. 5. For I saw that I should not act according to the mind of our Lord Jesus, if I did not, as soon as I could, remove the Orphans from Wilson Street, as it had been stated to me in the letter referred to, that their living there was an-annoyance to some of the inhabitants in that street. (2) This assurance that I should build an Orphan-House arose further, from the whole way in which the Lord has been pleased to lead me in connection with the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, since its beginning on March 5th, 1834, i.e. He has been leading me forward as by an unseen hand, and enlarging the work more and more from its commencement, and, generally, without my seeking after it, and bringing things so clearly before me, that I could not but see that I ought to go forward. (3) Lastly and chiefly, this my assurance, that I should build unto the Lord this house of mercy, arose also particularly from this, that, having strictly examined my heart as to the motives for doing so, I found that, as before God, I could say that my only motives were His honour and glory, and the welfare of the Church of Christ at large, the real temporal and spiritual welfare of destitute Orphans, and the welfare of all those who might take care of them, in the building to be erected. And finding that, after praying again and again about the matter, I still remained in perfect peace, I judged it assuredly to be the will of God that I should go forward.
On November 15th brother Chapman arrived, to labour for a little while in Bristol.. I communicated to him my position with reference to having to remove the Orphans from Wilson Street, and I had his judgment also as to its being of God, that I should build. This dear brother’s judgment greatly encouraged me. His visit was to me of great help in this particular, especially in stirring me up yet more, to bring everything, in connection with this matter, before God. He also laid it on my heart to seek direction from God with reference to the plan of the building. He said, “You must ask help from God to show you the plan, so that all may be according to the mind of God.”
Receives the first £1,000 towards the Building Fund.
December 9th. It was now 35 days that I had been praying for means; but nothing had been given to me. Now observe: on the 36th day, after having begun to pray, on December 10th, 1845, I received £1,000 towards the building of the Orphan-House. This is the largest donation that I had received up to that time for the Scriptural Knowledge Institution; but when I received it I was as calm, as quiet, as if I had only received one shilling. For my heart was looking out for answers. Day by day I was expecting to receive answers to my prayers. ‘Therefore, having faith concerning the matter, this donation did not in the least surprise me. Yea, if five thousand pounds, or ten thousand pounds, had been given to me, instead of one thousand pounds, it would not have surprised me.
December 13th. On the 39th day my sister-in-law, who had been for some weeks absent in London, and who had now returned to Bristol, told me that she had met a gentleman in London, who, having quite recently read with deep interest the Narrative of the Lord’s dealings with me, wished to know as many particulars about the work in my hands as he could. Being told by my sister-in-law that I purposed to build an Orphan-House, he, an architect, offered to make the plan, and superintend the building, gratuitously. Unsolicited he pressed this matter with deep and lively interest. The fact, that this offer comes unsolicited and from a Christian architect, shows especially the hand of God. This is the second proof that God will help me in this matter.
December 28rd. This is now the 50th day since I have come to the conclusion to build, and the 49th day since we have been daily waiting upon God for help. Nothing more has come in since December 10th, not even one penny. This morning I have been particularly encouraged by the consideration that the Lord
has sent me the £1,000 and the promise from that pious architect, whom I have never seen, and of whose name I am as yet in ignorance, not to mock me, but as an earnest that He will give all that is needed.
It seems desirable that we should have a large piece of ground, of at least six or seven acres. This piece of ground must be in the vicinity of Bristol. (1) In order that the Orphan-House may be accessible to me, as my place at present is fixed by my other work in Bristol. (2) That the labourers in the Institution and the Orphans may be able to attend our meetings, at least on the Lord’s-day. (3) That the inhabitants of Bristol may have the benefit of seeing with their own eyes this work of God, which is so manifestly His and not mine. (4) That strangers, who pass through Bristol, may have an easy access to it, for the same reason. But then, such a piece of ground, near Bristol, where there is just now an inordinate desire for building, in the way of speculation, would cost in all human probability between £2,000 and £3,000. Then the building itself, however plain, would not cost less than from £6,000 to £8,000, being for 300 Orphans, besides all their overseers, teachers, and assistants. In addition to this, the fitting up and furnishing the house for between 300 and 400 inmates, would not cost less than £1,500 more. This is indeed a large sum of money which I need; but my hope is in God. I have not sought after this thing. It has not begun with me. God has altogether unexpectedly, by means of the letter before mentioned, led me to it. Only the day before I received the letter, I had no more thought about budding premises for the accommodation of the Orphans, than I had had during the ten previous years — My special prayer is, that God would continue to me faith and patience. If He shall be pleased to help me, in faith and patience to continue to wait on Him, help will surely come.
December 24th. No further donation yet. But my hope in God is unshaken. He most assuredly will help. — I have on purpose not issued any circular in connection with this matter, in order that the hand of God may be the more manifest. To some persons, residing in or out of Bristol, I have spoken about my intention of building, when conversation led to it. Through this, if the Lord please, He can make it known to others, and thus send means for the Building Fund. There will be, no doubt, many trials connected with this enlargement of the field of labour (for if with 130 Orphans there has been so much trial of faith, what is to be expected when the number is 300); and therefore, I desire to see as clearly as daylight that God Himself is leading me onward.
December 29th. This is the 56th day since I came to the conclusion to build, and the 55th since I have been day by day waiting upon God concerning it. Only that one donation had come in till this evening, when I received £50. This donation is exceedingly precious to me, not only because I am sure it is most cheerfully given, nor even because of its largeness, but because it is another precious proof that God will bring about the matter, else He would not give me these earnests. All my business therefore is: to continue in faith and patience to wait upon God. My assurance has been more and more increasing that God will build for Himself a large Orphan-House in this city, to show to the inhabitants, and to all who may read and hear about it, what a blessed thing it is to trust in Him. — Of late I have seen, by God’s grace, more and more, how entirely unworthy I am of being used by God for this glorious and honourable service, and I can only say, “Lord, here is Thy servant, if Thou art pleased to use such a one as I am.”
December 30th. This morning I came, in course of my reading, to the commencement of the book of Ezra. I was particularly refreshed by the two following points contained in the first chapter, in applying them to the building of the Orphan-House: (1) Cyrus, an idolatrous king, was used by God to provide the means for building the temple at Jerusalem; how easy therefore for God to provide ten thousand pounds for the Orphan-House, or even twenty or thirty thousand pounds, if needed. (2) The people were stirred up by God to help those who went up to Jerusalem. Thus it is a small matter for Him to put it into the hearts of His children to help me, in desiring to build this house of mercy unto His name. — This meditation I had before breakfast. After family prayer in the morning I had again my usual season for prayer about the building, and at this time it was particularly coupled with thanksgiving for the £50 received last evening, and with entreating blessings on the donor. I was now looking out for more, as I am doing day by day, when this afternoon I received from a person at Clevedon 2s. 6d., from her grandson 6d., and from the sister in the Lord, who brought the money, the change, which she did not wish back, being another 6d. These donations, though small, are nevertheless very precious to me, as I take them as further proofs out of the hands of God, that He will most assuredly bring this thing to pass. This evening I received £1,000 towards the Building Fund. When I received this donation I was as calm, yea as perfectly calm, as if I had received a single penny, because, by God’s grace, I have faith in Him, and therefore am looking for answers to my prayers, and am sure that God will give every shilling that is needed.
January 6th. Received a little bag made of foreign seed, and a shell-flower, to be sold for the Building Fund. The sister who sent these articles wrote to me, that the moment she heard of my intention of building an Orphan-House, this text was before her mind: “Who art thou, O great mountain? Bejore Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain” (Zech. iv. 7).
February 2nd. To-day I heard of suitable and cheap land on Ashley Down.
February yd. Saw the land. It is the most desirable of all I have seen. — There was anonymously put into an Orphan-box at my house a sovereign, in a piece of paper, on which was written, “The New Orphan-House.”
February 4th. This evening I called on the owner of the land on Ashley Down, about which I had heard on the 2nd, but he was not at home. As I, however, had been informed that I should find him at his house of business, I went there, but did not find him there either, as he had just before left. I might have called again at his residence, at a later hour, having been informed by one of the servants that he would be sure to be at home about eight o’clock; but I did not do so, judging that the hand of God was in my not finding him at either place: and I judged it best therefore not to force the matter, but to “let patience have her perfect work.”
Landowner lies awake, and its result.
February 5th. Saw this morning the owner of the land. He told me that he awoke at three o’clock this morning and could not sleep again till five. While he was thus lying awake, his mind was all the time occupied about the piece of land, respecting which enquiry had been made of him for the building of an Orphan-House, at my request; and he determined, that if I should apply for it, he would not only let me have it, but for £120 per acre, instead of £200, the price which he had previously asked for it. How good is the Lord! The agreement was made this morning, and I purchased a field of nearly seven acres, at £120 per acre.
Observe the hand of God in my not finding the owner at home last evening! The Lord meant to speak to His servant first about this matter, during a sleepless night, and to lead him fully to decide, before I had seen him.
Architect’s Offer. February 8th. I wrote the day before yesterday to the architect, who has offered his help gratuitously.
February 11th. Received from a sister in the Lord £5. Received also from the architect the following reply to my letter:
““My dear Sir,
It will afford me a gratification, beyond what I can communicate by letter, to lend you a helping hand in the labour of love you are engaged in, and I shall esteem it a very great privilege being allowed to exercise my abilities as an architect and surveyor in the erection of the building you propose to erect for the Orphans. I really do mean what I say, and, if all is well, by the blessing of God, I will gratuitously furnish you with plans, elevations, and sections; with specification of the work, so that the cost may be accurately estimated. I will also make you an estimate and superintend the works for you gratuitously, etc.”
February 12th. This afternoon a little parcel was brought to my house, containing ten sovereigns and a little slip of paper, on which was written : —
“Dear Sir, — I have sent you ten pounds for the New Orphan-House. It is the Lord’s doing. Seek not to know my name.”
February 19th. The architect kindly came from London. He considers the ground to be most suitable as to situation, drainage, water, etc. — I received also to-day from a sister £5.
February 28th. To-day £500 which had been promised on the 15th, was paid 25 days sooner than promised.
June 4th. The total amount which had been given for the Building Fund, up to to-day, is £2,710 3s. 54d. ‘This is only a small part of what will be needed; but, by the grace of God, I am in perfect peace, being fully assured that God in His own time will send the whole sum which is required.
The house is intended to be built, so as to accommodate 140 Orphan Girls above seven years of age, 80 Orphan Boys above seven, and 80 male and female Orphans from their earliest days, till they are seven years old, together with all the overseers and teachers, etc., that may be needed.
The building will not commence till all the money which is required has been received.
July 4th. For about three months my faith and patience have been exceedingly tried about the field, which I have purchased for the building of the Orphan-House, as the greatest difficulties arose about my possessing the land after all; but, by God’s grace, my heart was kept in peace, being fully assured that, if the Lord were to take this piece of land from me, it wowd be only for the purpose of giving me a still better one; for our Heavenly Father never takes any earthly thing from His children except He means to give them something better instead. But in the midst of all this great trial of faith, I could not but think, judging from the way in which God so manifestly had given me this piece of land, that the difficulties were only allowed for the trial of my faith and patience. And thus it was. Last evening I received a letter by which all the difficulties were removed, and now, with the blessing of God, in a few days the conveyance will be made out.
Donation of £2,050.
July 6th. The reason why, for several months, there had come in so little for the Building Fund, appeared to me this, that we did not need the money at present; and that, when it was needed, and when my faith and patience had been sufficiently tried, the Lord would send more means. And thus it has proved;
for to-day was given to me the sum of two thousand and fifty pounds, of which two thousand pounds is for the Building Fund, and fifty pounds for present necessities. This is the largest donation I have yet had at one time for the work; but I expect still larger ones, in order that more and more it may be manifest to the children of God, that there is no happier, no easier, and no better way for the obtaining of pecuniary means or anything else in connection with the work of God, than to deal directly with the Lord Himself.
It is impossible to describe my joy in God when I received this donation. I was neither excited nor surprised; for J look out for answers to my prayers. I believe that God hears me. Yet my heart was so full of joy, that I could only sit before God, and admire Him, like David in 2 Samuel vii. At last I cast myself flat down upon my face, and burst forth in thanksgiving to God, and in surrendering my heart afresh to Him for His blessed service.
There came in still further to-day 2s. 6d.
July 10th. Received £120, of which £100 is intended by the donor for the Building Fund.
July 21st. This morning a gentleman from Devonshire, on his way to London, called on me. When he came I was in prayer, having, among other matters, brought also before the Lord the following points: (1) I had been asking Him for some supplies for my own temporal necessities, being in need. (2) I had asked Him for more means for the Building Fund, and besought Him to hasten the matter, on account of the inhabitants of Wilson Street, on account of the welfare of the children and those who have the oversight of them in the Orphan-Houses, and lastly, that I might be able to admit more Orphans, the number of applications being so great. (3) I had also asked the Lord for means for present use for the Orphans, as the outgoings are so great. (4) I had asked for means for the other Objects. — When 1 saw this gentleman from Devonshire, he gave me £20, of which £10 is to be used for the Building Fund, £5 for present use for the Orphans, £2 for brother Craik and myself, and the remaining £3 which was left to my disposal, I applied to the other Objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. Thus I received, av THE VERY MOMENT THAT I HAD BEEN ASKING God, FOUR answers to my prayers.
The Lord encourages me, day by day, to continue to wait on Him. His time is not yet come; but, when it is, all that is needed will be given. By God’s grace my faith is unshaken. I am as certain that I shall have every shilling needed for the work, as if I had the money already in actual possession; and I am as certain that this house of mercy will be built, as if it were already standing before me.
October 18th. To-day the Lord has much refreshed my heart by sending £120, we BUILDING NO. 1. [1846
October 19th. While I was this morning in the very act of praising the Lord for His goodness, in giving me yesterday the above-mentioned donation, and whilst I was again bringing my arguments before Him, why He would be pleased soon to give me the whole sum which is requisite, I received an order for £200, which was doubly precious, because it was accompanied by an affectionate and encouraging letter.
October 29th. This morning I had been again bringing the case of the Building before the Lord in prayer, entreating Him to hasten the matter, if it might be, when, the very instant I rose from my knees, there was handed to me a letter with an order for £300.
November 14th. This evening I received a small morocco case, containing a gold chain, a pair of gold ear-rings, and a gold brooch (being a set), with the following letter enclosed : —
“Beloved Brother in Jesus,
The contents of the accompanying casket being in my unconverted days a wedding gift from a very dear husband, has, as you may suppose, been hitherto preserved as beyond price. But since God, in His great mercy, revealed to my soul His exceeding riches in Christ, and gave to it more (Oh, how much more!) than He has taken away, they seemed as the Babylonish garment or wedge of gold, which ought not to be in the Israelites’ possession. I therefore give up that which the flesh would fain keep, and still prize; but which the spirit rejects, as unworthy a follower of Jesus. Accept then, dear Brother, those toys, once the pride of life, and the food of folly; and use them for the building of the Orphan-House, in which I feel it a privilege to lay one stone; and may the Lord recompense you a hundred fold, yea, a thousand fold, in this your great labour of love, is the prayer of yours affectionately in the best of bonds.
— — — , November, 1846. A Sister AND A Wipow.”
The gift was precious to me as a proof of the continued readiness of my Heavenly Father to help me in this work; but doubly so, on account of the circumstances under which it was given, and on account of the state of mind in which the anonymous donor had given these ornaments.
November 19th. This morning, between five and six o’clock, I prayed again, among other points, about the Building Fund, and then had a long season for the reading of the Word of God. In the course of my reading I came to Mark xi. 24, “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” The importance of the truth contained in this portion I have often felt and spoken about; but this morning I felt it again most particularly, and, applying it to the New Orphan-House, said to the Lord: “Lord I believe that Thou wilt give me all I need for this work. I am sure that I shall have all, because I believe that I receive in answer to my prayer.”
Thus, with the heart full of peace concerning this work, I went on to the other part of the chapter, and to the next chapter. After family prayer I had again my usual season for prayer with regard to all the many parts of the work, and the various necessities thereof. Amidst all the many things I again made my requests about means for the Building. And now observe: About five minutes after I had risen from my knees, there was given to me a registered letter, containing a cheque for £300, of which £280 is for the Building Fund, £10 for my own personal expenses, and £10 for brother Craik. The Lord’s holy name be praised for this precious encouragement, by which the Building Fund is now increased. to more than six thousand pounds.
December 9th. It is now four hundred days since, day after day, I have been waiting upon God for help with regard to the building of the Orphan-House; but as yet He keeps me still in the trial of faith and patience. He is still saying as it were, “Mine hour is not yet come.’ Yet He does sustain me in continuing to wait upon Him. By His grace my faith is not in the least shaken; but I am quite sure that He, in His own time, will give me everything which I need concerning this work. How I shall be supplied with the means which are yet requisite, and when, I know not; but I am sure that God will help me in His own time and way. In the meantime I have abundant reason to praise God, that I am not waiting on Him in vain; for since this day twelvemonth He has given me, in answer to prayer, a most suitable piece of ground, and £6,304 for the Building Fund, and about £2,700 for present use for the work, so that altogether I have received, since this day twelvemonth, solely in answer to prayer, the sum of nine thousand pounds. Surely, I am not waiting upon the Lord in vain! By His help, then, I am resolved to continue this course unto the end.
Gift of £1,000,
December 22nd. ‘To-day I have again a precious proof that continuing to wait upon the Lord is not in vain. During this month, comparatively little had come in for the Building Fund yet, by God’s grace, [ have been enabled, as before, yea, even with more earnestness perhaps than before, to make known my requests unto God, being more and more convinced that I ought to seek by earnest prayer soon to be able to begin the building. In addition to this I had also especially besought the Lord to give me means for Missionary brethren, and also for brethren who labour in the Word in various parts of England and Ireland; as all my means for them were now gone. I had also been waiting upon God for means to order a fresh stock of Tracts. I had lastly again and again besought the Lord to give me means for the poor saints in Bristol, of whom there are many, and whose need is now particularly great. Now to-day the Lord has granted me precious answers to my requests concerning these various Objects, for I received this morning one thousand pounds with these words: “I send you some money, part of which you can apply to the Orphans and the other Objects of your Institution, according to their need, and the rest you can put to the Building Fund. At the present price of provisions your expenses must be large for the Orphans. Please also take £25 for your own need.” As I have about £80 in hand for the Orphans, T took nothing for present use for them, but took £175 for the other Objects, in order thus to be able to send some help to home and foreign labourers, and to order a fresh stock of Tracts; and £800 I took for the Building Fund. I should have taken less for the Building Fund, and more for present use, did it not appear to me the will of God, that with my might I ought to give myself to this part of the work. 1847.
January 25th. The season of the year is now approaching, when building may be begun. Therefore with increased earnestness I have given myself unto prayer, importuning the Lord that He would be pleased to appear on our behalf, and speedily send the remainder of the amount which is required, and I have increasingly, of late, felt that the time is drawing near, when the Lord will give me all that which is requisite for commencing the Building. All the various arguments which I have often brought before God, I brought also again this morning before Him. It is now 14 months and 3 weeks since day by day I have uttered my petitions to God on behalf of this work. I rose from my knees this morning in full confidence, not only that God could, but also would, send the means, and that soon. Never, during all these 14 months and 3 weeks, have I had the least doubt, that I should have all that which is requisite.
Great joy on receiving £2,000.
Now, dear believing reader, rejoice and praise with me. An hour after I had prayed thus, there was given to me the sum of two thousand pounds for the Building Fund. Thus I have received altogether £9,285 3s. 93d. towards this work. — I cannot describe the joy I had in God when I received thisdonation. It must be known from experience in order to be felt. I have had day by day to wait upon God for 447 days, before the sum reached the above amount. How great is the blessing which the soul obtains by trusting in God, and by waiting patiently. Is it not manifest how precious it is to carry on God’s work in this way, even with regard to the obtaining of means? From December 10th, 1845, to January 25th, 1847, being thirteen months and a half, I have received, solely in answer to prayer, nine thousand two hundred and eighty-five pounds.
June 23rd. This day the Lord, in His great goodness, by a donation of one thousand pounds for the building fund, has again
encouraged my heart abundantly to trust in Him for all that which I shall yet need, to meet the remainder of the expenses connected with the fitting up and furnishing the New Orphan-House, etc.
July 5th. The work of building commenced.
January 23rd. I received £350, of which I put £200 to the Building Fund.
August 7th. From a sister in the Lord £200.
August 19th. It is this day a twelvemonth since the foundation stone of the New Orphan-House was laid, and now the building is up, and almost entirely roofed in. Also part of the inside plastering is already done. How can my soul sufficiently magnify the Lord for all the help which He has been pleased to give, since this day twelvemonth ! — As we are now so far advanced T have been increasingly entreating God, that He would be pleased to give me the means which are yet requisite for fitting up and furnishing the house; for even now I am completely depending upon Him for considerable sums, to accomplish this. But while much is still needed, I have never had, by God’s grace, the least misgiving, as to His willingness to give me all I need; on the contrary, I have been assured that, when I actually required the money for the fittings and the furniture, it would come. And now this day the Lord has again proved to me, how willing He is to act according to my faith; for there was given to me this morning £887 under the kind condition that I should take of it £20 for my own personal expenses, and the rest for the Building Fund, or the present need of the various Objects of the Institution, as it appeared best to me. I took therefore £600 for the Building Fund. My soul does magnify the Lord for all His goodness and faithfulness!
November 9th. To-day the Lord has helped still more abundantly. I have received a donation of £1,000, to be used for the Building Fund and the present necessities of the work generally, as the various Objects of the Institution might require. Of this donation I took, therefore, £600 for the Building Fund. All these manifestations of the Lord’s abundant help do not in the least surprise me. I expect help from Him. I know that He listens to my supplications, and that, for the sake of the Lord Jesus, He is willing to help me yet more and more, to the confounding of Satan and to the putting to shame of unbelief.
1849.
Funds for Furnishing.
January 17th. The time is now drawing near, when further steps are to be taken to fit up and furnish the house, as more than two-thirds of the rooms are all but ready. Under these circumstances I have prayed the more earnestly, day by day, that the Lord would be pleased to give me the means which are yet needed; and as my heart has been assured from the beginning, and all through these three years and two months, since I first began to pray about this subject, that God would in every way help me in this work, so I have also been particularly satisfied that He would be pleased to provide the means which may be required to meet all the heavy expenses, which yet remain to be met. Now, to-day I have had again a precious answer to my daily supplications with reference to this work; for I received this evening £600, concerning which it was desired that brother Craik and myself should each take £50 for ourselves; the remaining £500 was left entirely to my disposal; yet an especial reference was made to the heavy expenses connected with fitting up and furnishing the New Orphan-House, towards which I might, either in part, or entirely take this sum.
More than the required Sum received.
February 12th. The New Orphan-House is now almost entirely finished. In six weeks, with the help of God, all will be completed. On this account I have been during the last fortnight much occupied in making the necessary arrangements for fitting it up and furnishing it; but the more I have been occupied about this, the more I have seen how large a sum the whole of the fittings and the furniture will require; and this consideration has led me still more earnestly of late to entreat the Lord, that He would be pleased to give me the means which may yet be needed for the completion of the whole. Under these circumstances a brother in the Lord came to me this morning, and after a few minutes’ conversation gave me two thousand pounds, concernmg which sum he kindly gave me permission to use it for the fitting up and furnishing of ‘the New Orphan-House, or for anything else needed in connection with the Orphans. I have placed the whole of this sum, at least for the present, to the Building Fund.
Now, dear reader, place “yourself in my position. Hleven hundred and ninety-five days it is since I began asking the Lord for means for the building. Day by day have I, by His grace, since that time, continued to bring this matter before Him. Without one moment’s doubt, or misgiving, or wavering, have I been enabled to trust in God for the means. From the beginning, after I had once ascertained the will of God concerning this work, have I been assured that He would bring it about; yea, as sure have I been from the beginning that He would do so, as if I had already had all the means in hand for it, or as if the house had been actually before me, occupied by the children. But though to faith even three years ago the whole work was accomplished, to sight there remained many and great difficulties to be overcome. Even at the commencement of this day there remained many difficulties, in the way of means, as well as in other respects;
therefore [ was on the point of giving myself again especially to prayer, at the very moment when I was informed that the donor of the above mentioned two thousand pounds had called to see me. Now I have the means, as far as I can see, which will enable me to meet all the expenses; and in all probability I shall have even several hundred pounds more than is needed. Thus the Lord shows that He can and will not only give as much as is absolutely needed for His work, but also that He can and will give abundanily. It is impossible to describe the real joy I had in God, when I received this sum. I was calm, not in the least excited, able to go on immediately with other work that came upon me at once after I had received the donation; but inexpressible was the delight which I had in God, who had thus given me the full answer to my thousands of prayers, during these eleven hundred and ninety-five days.
March 9th. The New Orphan-House is now nearly ready. On this account we have to get in large supplies for the children’s clothes. Within the last few days I have ordered thousands of yards of material for this purpose, and thousands more will need to be ordered, besides providing a stock of many other things. For this large sums are needed. Under these circumstances I received to-day a donation of £300, to be used as it might be required. I took the whole of this donation for the Orphans, as the donor has kindly left the disposal of the money entirely tome. This donation, coming in just now, has been an exceedingly great refreshment to my spirit; for it is, at the commencement of the great increase of our expenses, in connection with the 300 Orphans, instead of 120, like an earnest from God, that He will supply us also with means when the demands for the 300 will be more than twice as great as they are now. Through this donation T have means to meet all the expenses which will be incurred in getting in for the new establishment the stores of provisions, soap, material for clothes, haberdashery, and of the many other articles of which it would be desirable to buy our supplies on wholesale terms. The Lord be praised for His kindness!
The total amount which came in for the Building Fund was £15,784 18s. 10d.
March 31st. After all the expenses had been met for the purchase of the land, the conveyance of the same, the ‘enrolment of the trust deeds in Chancery, the building, fitting up and furnishing of the New Orphan-House, there remained a balance of £776 14s. 3?d., affording a manifest proof that the Lord can not only supply us with all we need in His service, simply in answer to prayer, but that He can also give us even more than we need. It will be seen how this balance was afterwards used.
Rae’s.
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(2) Burtpine No. 2 anv No. 3. 1850-1861.
Full account of the reasons which led me to the enlargement of the Orphan work, so that one thousand Orphans might be provided for.
Having written down at full length the exercises of my mind respecting this deeply important step, I give them here, in the form of a journal, as recorded at the time.
December 5th. The New Orphan-House is now inhabited by 300 Orphans; and there are altogether 335 persons connected with it. My labour is abundant; the separation from my dear wife and child great, on account of my being the greater part of the day at the New Orphan-House; sometimes also by night. But notwithstanding all this, I have again and again thought about labouring more than ever in serving poor Orphans. Within the last ten days this matter has much occupied my mind, and for the last five days I have had much prayer about it. It has passed through my mind to build another Orphan-House, large enough for seven hundred Orphans, so that I might be able to care for one thousand altogether.
December 11th. During the last six days, since writing the above, I have been, day after day, waiting upon God concerning this matter. It has generally been more or less all the day on my heart. When I have been awake at night it has not been far from my thoughts. Yet all this without the least excitement. I am perfectly calm and quiet respecting it. My soul would be rejoiced to go forward in this service, could I be sure that the Lord would have me to do so; for then, notwithstanding the numberless difficulties, all would be well. and His name would be magnified.
On the other hand, were I assured that the Lord would have me to be satisfied with my present sphere of service, and that I should not pray about enlarging the work, by His grace I could, without an effort, cheerfully yield to it; for He has brought me into such a state of heart, that I only desire to please Him in this matter. Moreover, hitherto I have not spoken about this thing even to my beloved wife, the sharer of my joys, sorrows, and labours for more than twenty years; nor is it likely that I shall do so for some time to come: for I prefer quietly to wait on the Lord without conversing on this subject, in order that thus I may be kept the more easily, by His blessing, from being influenced by things from without. The burden of my prayer concerning this matter is, that the Lord would not allow me to make a mistake, and that He would teach me His will. As to outward things, I have had nothing to encourage me during these Six days, but the very reverse; for the income has been unusually small. But all this would not weigh the least with me, could I be quite sure that the Lord would have me to go forward.
No. 2, New OrpHAn Howser.
No. 8, New OrnpHAN Hovse.
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I therefore desire patiently to wait for the Lord’s time, when He shall be pleased to shine on my path concerning this point.
December 26th. Fifteen days have elapsed since I wrote the preceding paragraph. Every day since then I have continued to pray about this matter, and that with a goodly measure of earnestness, by the help of God. There has passed scarcely an hour during these days, in which, whilst awake, this matter has not been more or less before me. But all without even a shadow of excitement. I converse with no one about it. Hitherto have IT not even done so with my dear wife. From this I refrain still, and deal with God alone, in order that no outward influence, and no outward excitement, may keep me from attaining unto a clear discovery of His will. I have the fullest and most peaceful assurance, that He will clearly show me His will.
This evening I have had again an especially solemn season for prayer, to seek to know the will of God. But whilst I continue to entreat and beseech the Lord, that He would not allow me to be deluded in this business, I may say I have scarcely any doubt remaining on my mind as to what will be the issue, even that I should go forward in this matter. As this, however, is one of the most momentous steps that I have ever taken, I judge that T cannot go about this matter with too much caution, prayerfulness, and deliberation. I am in no hurry about it. I could wait for years, by God’s grace, were this His will, before even taking one single step towards this thing, or even speaking to anyone about it; and, on the other hand, I would set to work to-morrow were the Lord to bid me do so. This calmness of mind, this having no will of my own in the matter, this only wishing to please my Heavenly Father in it, this only seeking His and not my honour in it; this state of heart, I say, is the fullest assurance to me that my heart is not under a fleshly excitement, and that, if I am helped thus to go on, I shall fully know the will of God.
But, while I write thus, I cannot but add at the same time, that I do crave the honour and the glorious privilege to be more and more used by the Lord. I have served Satan much in my younger years, and desire now with all my might to serve God, during the remaining days of my earthly pilgrimage. I am forty-five years and three months old. Every day decreases the number of days that I have to stay on earth. I therefore desire with all my might to work. There are vast multitudes of Orphans to be provided for. About five years ago, a brother in the Lord told me that he had seen in an official Report that there were at that time six thousand young Orphans in the prisons of England. My heart longs to be instrumental im preventing such young Orphans from having to go to prisor. I desire that thus it may be yet more abundantly manifest that God is still the hearer and answerer of prayer, and that He is the Living God now, as He ever was and ever will be, when He shall, simply in answer to prayer, have condescended to provide me with a house for 700 Orphans, and with means to support them. This last consideration is the most important point in my mind. The Lord’s honour is the principal point with me in this whole matter; and just because that is the case, if He would be more glorified by my not going forward in this business, I should, by His grace, be perfectly content to give up all thoughts about another Orphan-House. Surely in such a state of mind, obtained by the Holy Spirit, Thou, O my Heavenly Father, wilt not suffer Thy child to be mistaken, much less to be deluded! By the help of God I shall continue further, day by day, to wait upon Him in prayer concerning this thing, till He shall bid me act.
IS51.
Guidance given in answer to Prayer.
January 2nd. A week ago I wrote the preceding paragraph. During this week I have still been helped, day by day, and more than once every day, to seek the guidance of the Lord about another Orphan-House. The burden of my prayer has still been, that He, in His great mercy, would keep me from making a mistake. During the last week the Book of Proverbs has come in the course of my Scripture reading, and my heart has been refreshed, in reference to this subject, by the following passages: “T’rust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge ITim, and He shall dircet thy paths” (Prov. iii. 5, 6). By the grace of God I do acknowledge the Lord in my ways, and in this thing in particular; I have therefore the comfortable assurance that He will direct my paths concerning this part of my service, as to whether I shall be occupied in it or not. Further, “The integrity of the upright shall preserve them; but the perverseness of fools shall destroy them” (Prov. xi. 3). By the grace of God I am upright in this business. My honest purpose is to get glory to God. Therefore I expect to be guided aright. Further, ‘ Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established”’ (Prov. xvi. 3). I do commit my works unto the Lord, and therefore expect that my thoughts will be established. — My heart is more and more coming to a calm, quiet, and settled assurance, that the Lord will condescend to use me yet further in the Orphan Work. Here, Lord, is Thy servant!
January 14th. Twelve days have passed away since I wrote the last paragraph. I have still, day by day, been enabled to wait upon the Lord with reference to enlarging the Orphan Work, and have been, during the whole of this period also, in perfect peace, which is the result of seeking in this thing only the Lord’s honour and the temporal and spiritual benefit of my fellow-men. I have sought to let all the reasons against building another Orphan-House, and all the reasons for doing so, pass before my mind; and now, for the sake of clearness and definiteness, write them down.
Reasons against establishing another Orphan-House for Seven Hundred Orphans.
(1) Would not this be going beyond my measure spiritually? according to that word: ‘ For I say through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Rom. xii. 3). Answer: If the Lord were to leave me to myself, the tenth part of the difficulties and trials which befall me now in connection with the various Objects of the Institution would be enough to overwhelm me; but, whilst He is pleased to sustain me, I am able day by day to pass on peacefully, and am carried through one difficulty after the other: and thus, by God’s help, even with my present measure of faith, if continued to me, should be enabled to bear up under other difficulties and trials; but I look for an increase of faith with every fresh difficulty, through which the Lord is pleased to help me.
(2) Would it not be going beyond my measure naturally with reference to mental and bodily strength? Answer: Of all the objections against establishing another Orphan-House, there is none that weighs more with me than this; I might say, it is the only real difficulty. This, however, too, I am enabled to put aside and to overcome thus: By husbanding my strength, by great order, by regular habits, by lightening the work as much as possible, and by using every help that I can, I have been enabled to get through a vast quantity of work. My immense correspondence of about 3,000 letters a year, [ have been enabled to accomplish without a secretary. The entire management and direction, and the whole vast correspondence of the Institution, has devolved upon myself alone these sixteen years and ten months, and I have been thinking that, by seeking for an efficient secretary, an efficient clerk, and an inspector of the schools, I might, with God’s help, accomplish yet more, though much of what I have been doing hitherto would need to be done by others.
(5) There must be a limit to my work and service. Answer: That is true, and if I were quite sure that the present state of the Institution were to be the limit, I would at once lay aside this thing; but I am not sure that I am come as yet to God’s limit. All these sixteen years and ten months, the work has been constantly progressing, and the Lord has helped me continually; and now my mind is just in the same way exercised as when fifteen years ago I began the Orphan Work, and as when thirteen years ago it was enlarged, and as when seven years and nine months since it was still further enlarged, and as when five years and two months since I was led to decide on building the New Orphan-House. Under these circumstances, having been helped through all these difficulties, and seeing such a vast field of usefulness before me, and having so many applications for the admission of very destitute Orphans, I long to be used still further, and cannot say that as yet the Lord has brought me to His limit.
(4) Is it not like “tempting God,” to think of building another Orphan-House for seven hundred more Orphans? Answer: “Tempting God” means, according to the Holy Scriptures, to limit Him in any of His attributes; by His grace I do not wish to limit His power or His willingness to give to me, His poor servant, simply in answer to prayer, all the means, and every other help and blessing which I shall need, to build another large Orphan-House.
(5) You will not get the means for building and fitting up so large an Orphan-House; and, even if you did, how will you, at the same time, get the means for carrying on the work, which already exists? Answer: Looking at the matter naturally, this is indeed a weighty objection.
The New Orphan-House, with its 300 Orphans only, cost about fifteen thousand pounds to build and to fit up and furnish, and still the expenses are not all met even now. It will in all probability cost several hundred pounds yet. And this large sum was needed, though the style of the building is most simple, and though the field in which it was built was comparatively cheap. After this rate, a building to accommodate seven hundred Orphans, with the necessary ground attached to it for the cultivation of the vegetables used in the Institution, could not be less than thirty-five thousand pounds. Now, looking at it naturally, where is this great sum to come from? Though I looked at all my friends who have given hitherto, and several have done so very liberally, yet there is no natural prospect whatever of receiving this amount; especially if it be kept in mind that six or seven thousand pounds besides, every year, would be needed for carrying on that which is already in existence. I might, therefore, well tremble, looking at the matter naturally, and say, I shall never have the money for this intended Orphan-House for 700 children; for where is this large sum of thirty-five thousand pounds to come from?
And even if I were to get the money, will not persons, in giving means for such a Building Fund, take it away from what they might have given me for carrying on the work which exists already? But whilst thus, naturally, there is no hope of succeeding, I am not in the least discouraged spiritually; for by faith in the Living God I say this: He has the power to give me this thirty-five thousand pounds, and much more, were it needed: and He has the power, in the meantime, to give me also all the large sums required, week after week, for meeting the current expenses for the present state of the work. Moreover, I delight in the greatness of the difficulty, as respects the large sum needed for building and fitting up,such an Establishment; for I desire to be most fully assured, from the very outset, that I go forward in this matter according t
to the Lord’s bidding. If so, He will give me the means; if not, I shall not have them.
(6) Suppose now, you were even to succeed in getting this large Orphan-House built, how will you be able to provide for 700 other Orphans? Answer: There is much weight in this objection, looking at it naturally. I am too much a man of business, and too much a person of calm, quiet, cool calculation, not to feel its force. And indeed, were I only to look at the thing naturally, I should at once be ready to own that I am going too far; for the increase of expenditure for the support of these 700 other Orphans could not be less than eight thousand pounds a year more, so that the current expenses of the Institution, reckoning its present state, and including those eight thousand pounds, would be about fifteen thousand pounds a year. Now, I am free to own, that I have no human prospect of obtaining such a sum year by year. But while matters stand thus, looking at them naturally, I see no difficulty at all in them spiritually. If according to the will of God I am enabled to go about this intended second Orphan-House; and if, with His help, I shall be enabled to finish it, He will surely provide for those who are gathered together in it, as long as He shall enable me to trust in Him for supplies.
And here I look back upon the way in which the Lord has led me and dealt with me. When, about seventeen years ago, I took wp, in dependance upon the Living God for means, two Charity Schools, with which the Scriptural Knowledge Institution commenced (and this involved an expense of less than one hundred pounds a year), I had no certain prospect of being able to meet even that small sum; but God so helped me, that I had shortly siz Charity Schools. He helped me then also, and enabled me to meet all their expenses. When, fifteen years ago, I began the Orphan Work, which was connected with far heavier expenses, I had still less prospect, according to natural reason, of being able to meet them; but I trusted in God, and He helped me, and He not only enabled me to meet the current expenses for thirty Orphans in the first house rented for them, but also soon to open another for thirty-six more, and to meet all those expenses; for as I had begun in faith in the Living God, and not by putting my trust in my brethren in Christ, so 1 was not confounded. After I had gone on some time with these Orphans in the two rented houses, about thirteen years ago the Lord was pleased greatly to encourage me and to increase my faith by a donation of £500 for the Orphans; for up to that period I had never received more than one hundred pounds at once. But this kind donor, a stranger to me up to that time, suggested to me the propriety of investing this sum and using only the interest of it, as I could not expect to have the Orphans supported continually in the way they had been till then; for that such Institutions must depend upon regular subscriptions or funded property, otherwise they could not go on, As, however, this was only a friendly hint, and no condition under which the money was given, I took this £500 towards fitting up a third house for the reception of thirty more Orphans. From that time the work has been increasing more and more, till it came to what it is at present.
Now, suppose I had said, seventeen years ago, looking at matters according to natural reason, “‘lhe two Charity Schools are enough, I must not go any further;” then the work would have stopped there. Or, if I had had a little more trust in my exertions or my friends, I might have taken at the utmost one or two steps further. Instead of this, however, I looked in no degree whatever at things according to my natural fallen reason, and trusted not in the circle of my Christian friends, but in the Living God; the result has been, that there have been, since 1834, ten thousand souls under our instruction in the various Day-Schools, Sunday-Schools, and Adult-Schools; several hundred Orphans have been brought up, and many of them from their very tenderest infancy; several hundred thousand Tracts and many thousand copies of the Word of God have been circulated; about forty preachers of the Gospel at Home and Abroad have been, for several years, assisted in connection with the Institution; and a house nas been built and fitted up for the accommodation of 300 destitute Orphans, each of whom has neither father nor mother. How blessed therefore it is to trust in God, and in Him alone, and not in circumstances nor friends! There is, however, one thing which I must record here, because it has taken place since I Jast wrote in my journal on this subject on January 2nd. It is this. On January 4th I received a donation of £3,000. Is not this a plain proof that God is both able and willing to help simply im answer to prayer? Is not human reason confounded by such instances? When I first began to write these exercises of my mind about another Orphan House, I knew not that I should receive a donation of £3,000, yet I was fully assured that God was able to support one thousand Orphans as easily as He did the thirty whom I first received in a rented house. Does He not, however, tell me by all this, Go forward, My servant, and I will help thee?
(7) But it might be said, suppose you were able by prayer to obtain this large sum for building a house for seven hundred other Orphans; and suppose you were able to provide for them during your lifetime, what would become of this Institution alter your death? Answer: I am quite familiar with this objection, having heard it many times as a reason against the way of obtaining the means for the Institution, simply by trusting in God, without any funded property, and without looking to regular subscribers; but my reply is this. My business is with all my might to serve my own generation; in doing so I shall best serve the next generation. Suppose this objection
were a sound one, I ought never to have commenced the Orphan Work at all, for fear of what might become of it after my death, and thus all the hundreds of destitute children without father and mother, whom the Lord has allowed me to care for, during the last fifteen years, would not have been taken up by me.
One word in conclusion on this subject: let every one take heed lest, in caring about what will become of the next generation, he forget to serve his own generation. The latter each one should seek to do with his might, and thus it should be with each succeeding generation; then, though we be dead, yet should we be speaking.
(8) The last objection which has occurred to my own mind is that by building another Orphan-House, I should be in danger of being lifted up. Answer: I should be in danger of it indeed, and am in great danger, even were I not in the least degree to go forward. Yea, the tenth part of the honour which the Lord has condescended to bestow upon me, and the tenth part of the service with which He has been pleased to entrust me, would be enough, if I were left to myself, exceedingly to puff me up. I cannot say that hitherto the Lord has kept me humble; but I can say, that hitherto He has given me a hearty desire to give to Him all the glory, and to consider it a great condescension on His part that He has been pleased to use me as an instrument in His service. I do not see, therefore, that fear of being lifted up ought to keep me from going forward in this work; but that I have rather to beseech the Lord that He would be pleased to give me a lowly mind, and never suffer me to rob Him of the glory which is due to Him alone.
Reasons vor establishing another Orphan House for
Seven Hundred Orphans.
(1) The many applications for the admission of destitute Orphans, which continue to be made, I consider as a call from God upon me, to do all that is in my power to provide a home and scriptural education for a still greater number of Orphans.
(2) The moral state of the Poor-houses greatly influences me to go forward. When writing thus about the Poor houses, I do not wish it to be understood in the way of reproof; for I know not how these matters could be altered; but simply state the fact that thus it is.
(3) In this purpose I am the more confirmed, since it is a fact that the Orphan Houses already in existence in the kingdom are by no means sufficient to admit even the most deserving and distressing cases, and far less all that it would be well to provide for. Moreover, there is great difficulty connected with the admission of Orphans into most of the ordinary Orphan Establishments, on account of the votes which must be obtained, so that really needy persons have neither time nor money to obtain them. Does not the fact that there were six thousand young
Orphans in the prisons of England about five years ago, call alone for an extension of Orphan Institutions? By God’s help, I will do what I can, to keep poor Orphans from prison.
(4) In this purpose I am still further encouraged by the great help which the Lord has hitherto given me in this blessed service. When I look at the small beginning, and consider how the Lord has helped me now for more than fifteen years in the Orphan work; and when I consider how He has been pleased to help me through one great difficulty after another; and when I consider, especially, how, as with an unseen hand, almost against my will and former desires and thoughts, He has led me on from one step to another, and has enlarged the work more and more: I say, when I review all this, and compare with it my present exercise of mind, I find the great help, the uninterrupted help, which the Lord has given me for more than fifteen years, a great reason for going forward in this work, And this, trusting in Him, I am resolved to do.
(5) A further reason for going forward in this service I see in the experience which I have had in it. From the smallest commencement up to the present state of the establishment, with its 300 Orphans, all has gone through my own hands. In the work itself I obtained the experience. It has grown with the work. 1 have been the sole director of the work, under God, from its smallest commencement.
(6) The spiritual benefit of still more Orphans is another especial reason why I feel called to go forward. As this is the chief and primary aim concerning the dear Orphans, even the salvation of their souls through faith in the Lord Jesus, I long to be more extensively used than hitherto, even that I may have a thousand of them instead of three hundred under my care.
(7) But there is one point which weighs more strongly with me than even the last mentioned one. It is this. When I began the Orphan Work more than fifteen years ago, it was for the definite and especial purpose, that, by means of it, the unconverted might see, through the answers of prayer that I received in connection with it, that there is verily reality in the things of God; and that the children of God might have their faith strengthened by means of it, and be encouraged in all simplicity to deal with God under every circumstance, and trust in Him at all times. But if this would be answered in a measure by the state in which the Orphan Work has been in former times, and more so by what it has been since the erection of the New Orphan House, it would be still more so, by the blessing of God, by my going forward in it to a far greater degree than before. This point, even the glory of God in the manifestation of His readiness to hear prayer, has weighed especially and supremely with me in purposing to enlarge the Orphan Work. The reader is particularly requested to read what has been said on this subject in this Narrative from page 80 to 81.
(8) Lastly, I am peaceful and happy, spiritually, in the prospect of enlarging the work, as on former occasions when I had to do so. This weighs particularly with me as a reason for going forward. After all the calm, quiet, prayerful consideration of the subject for about eight weeks, I am peaceful and happy, spiritually, in the purpose of enlarging the field. This, after all the heart searching which I have had, and the daily prayer to be kept from delusion and mistake in this thing, and the betaking myself to the Word of God, would not be the case, I judge, had not the Lord purposed to condescend to use me more than ever in this service.
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 God, 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 25th, 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 God 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 IT am mistaken or deluded, quite the reverse; but yet I would distrust myself and cling to God, 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 God alone about it.
March 5th. Since I wrote the last paragraph 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 specially 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 destitute children who are bereaved of both parents. And this I purpose to do.
Before I made public my purpose, I gave the record of the exercises of my mind, on this subject, to a valued Christian friend to read, the only one who, besides my family, knew anything of my intention, before it came before the public. I did this particularly in order that, after waiting for several months in secret upon God for guidance and direction concerning it, I might also have the counsel of a prayerful, judicious, and cautious man of God. When this brother returned the manuscript, he spoke to me words of encouragement concerning this purpose, and gave me a half-sovereign towards the Building Fund for this house for 700 destitute Orphans. This was the first donation, which I received on May 13th, 1851, and which, I confess, was a great refreshment and encouragement to me, the more so as it came from so cautious a brother, and after I had been for several months, through secret prayer, assured that I should go forward.
On May 28th, my intention became publicly known, and in the evening of May 29th I received from a Christian lady a sovereign towards the Building Fund.
August 12th. Day by day I am waiting upon the Lord for means for this Object, and generally more than once a day am bowing my knees before God with reference to it. Moreover, of late I have been enabled, with increasing earnestness, to beseech the Lord, that He would be pleased to send in means for the Building Fund. My soul has been all along at peace, though only so little as yet, comparatively, has come in (in all £127 19s. 9d.); and though Satan has, in the most subtle way, sought to shake my confidence, and to lead me to question, whether, after all, I had not been mistaken concerning this whole matter. Yet, though he has aimed at this, to the praise of God I have to confess, that he has not been allowed to triumph. I have especially besought the Lord of late, that He would be pleased to refresh my spirit by sending in some large donation for this part of the work. Under these circumstances, J received this morning £500.
T was not in the least excited. I look out for means. Hven at that very moment, when I received this donation, T was looking out for means, for large donations; and I should not have been surprised if £5,000, or more, had come in. The Lord be praised for this precious encouragement, which has still further quickened me for prayer!
September 10th. As yet the Lord delays sending in larger sums; but I am looking out for them, and am confidently expecting them. This delay is only for the trial of my faith; after He has tried it, He will help me.
September 13th. Patience and faith are still called for, and, by God’s grace, my desire is to “let patience have her perfect work.’ Not one penny has come in to-day for the Building Fund, but five more Orphans have been applied for, so that now forty in less than one single month have been brought before me, all bereaved of both parents, and all very destitute. Under these circumstances, how can I but fervently labour in prayer that the Lord would be pleased to entrust me with means for building another Orphan-House? The more I look at things
according to natural appearances and prospects, the less likely is it that I should have the sum which is needed: but I have faith in God, and my expectation is from Him alone. From the beginning I depended upon Him only, concerning this proposed enlargement of the work, and therefore have not been disappointed, though as yet only the fortieth part of what is needed has come in (£882 18s. 74d.). But how soon, how very soon, can the Lord alter the aspect of things. Even this very evening, while I am writing, He can give me many thousands of pounds. I continue therefore, to wait upon God, and seek to encourage my heart by His holy Word, and while He delays giving me answers, to be occupied in His blessed service. Of this, however, my soul has not the least doubt, that, when the Lord shall have been pleased to exercise my soul by the trial of faith and patience, He will make bare His arm, and send help.
September 19th. Received to-day a donation of £170, which the donor kindly allowed me to use for the work of the Lord in my hands as I pleased. I therefore took the whole of this donation for the Building Fund.
September 20th. About two months since I received a letter, of which I give as much as refers to the subject in hand : —
“16th July, 1851.
“My dear Sir,. “I was once a book collector, and turned my attention t our old English Bibles, and, among other editions, perfected, almost sheet by sheet, our first English Coverdale Bible of 1535. It is a sad specimen of time, attention, and money mis-spent and mis-applied, and as I look upon you as the receiver of cast-off idols, whether watch chains, trinkets, or old Bibles, I have purposed for some time sending it to you. ... Do with the proceeds as you see fit. I should be glad if a portion were converted into large printed Testaments for the aged, and should be thankful if that, which has been a cause of humbling to me, should be converted into the means, through your instrumentality,
of raising others.
Ever yours, * * * *.”
A day or two after the receipt of this letter, a parcel arrived containing the said Coverdale Bible, of a.p. 1535, and another book; the latter to be sold for the benefit of the Orphans. It was only to-day that I had an opportunity of disposing of the old Bible, which fetched £60, together with other books, which had been given for the benefit of the Orphans, which brought £10. Of the £60 1 took £10 for New Testaments printed with large type for aged poor persons, and £50 for the Building Fund.
October 7th. The trial of my faith and patience continues still. Very little has come in for the Building Fund. But my hope in God, by His-help, continues steadfast. I had just now again a long season for prayer, having spent the whole evening alone for the purpose, and am assured that, when God’s time shall have come, it will be seen that, even concerning this Object, I do not wait upon Him in vain. There are persons again and again asking me, When I am going to commence the building; for they think that I have all, or nearly all, the means which are required. And there are others who ask me, whether I still purpose to build this Orphan-House. To Thee, my Heavenly Father, Thy child turns under these circumstances. Thou knowest how small an amount as yet Thy servant has, in comparison with what is needed; but Thou also knowest that Thy servant did not act rashly and under excitement in this matter, but waited upon Thee for six months in secret, before he spoke about this his intention. Now, Lord, in Thy mercy, sustain Thy servant’s faith and patience, and, if it please Thee, speedily refresh his heart by sending in larger sums, for which he is looking, nd which he confidently expects!
October 29th. This morning I received a letter, containing a cheque for £50, £25 being for the Building Fund.
November 10th. ‘To-day I received £200, of which the donor kindly wished me to keep £20 for my own personal expenses, and to apply the rest as most needed for the Lord’s work in my hands. I took, therefore, £100 for the Building Fund.
November 19th. Early this morning came, in the course of my reading through the Holy Scriptures, Heb. v. and vi., and my heart was greatly strengthened by Heb. vi. 15, “And so after he had PATIENTLY ENDURED, he obtained the promise.” I have not once, even for one moment, been allowed to doubt, either the power or the willingness of the Lord to supply me with all that shall be needed for this other Orphan-House, since I first came to the conclusion that it was His will I should enlarge the work; yet I have often, very often, been led to ask, that He would graciously be pleased to sustain my faith and patience to the end; for great, very great, may yet be the exercises both of my faith and patience, before I have the desire of my heart granted.
November 28th. The following case will especially show in what a variety of ways the Lord is pleased to supply me with means. ‘To-day I received from an individual, hitherto an entire stranger to me, the letter which follows : —
“London, November 27th, 1851.
““My dear Brother,
“I asked the Lord for help with regard to yourself and your work. The other night a stranger called at my house, and left a parcel, declining to give her name, saying, * Take charge of this for Mr. George Miiller.’ The parcel contained £3 14s. 9d., two silver spoons, and two silver thimbles; 4s. was added to pay the expenses. May the Lord prosper you, my brother.
Yours affectionately,
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As it was not stated for what Object the donation - was intended, I took the whole for the Building Fund.
December 28th. This morning I received a donation of £200, which, being left at my disposal, [ took one-half for the Building Fund.
1852.
Greatly cheered by w large Donation.
January 23rd. I received this morning a registered letter, enclosing £50. I purpose to take one half of this donation for the Building Fund, and the other half for Missionary Objects.
March 17th. To-day my heart has been greatly refreshed by a donation of £999 13s. 5d., which, being left to my disposal for the work of God, I took of it for the Building Fund £600, I cannot describe to any one how refreshing this donation is to my spirit. After having been for weeks, day by day, waiting upon the Lord, and receiving so little, comparatively, either for current expenses or for the Building Fund, this answer to many prayers is exceedingly sweet to my spirit.
One of the things which especially encourages me to continue to wait upon God, and to labour on in prayer concerning this Object, is the great number of applications which continue to be made for the admission of children who have been lawfully begotten, but who are by death bereaved of both parents, and who are in very destitute circumstances. There were 170 such children waiting for admission a year ago; since then there have been 183 more applied for, making in all 353. Of these, as during the last year but few vacancies have occurred, I have only been able to receive twenty-seven, therefore 326 remain unprovided for.
June 18th. I received this day a donation of £200, of which the donor kindly wished me to keep £20 for my own personal expenses, and to use the £180 as might be most needed. I took of this sum £60 for the Building Fund.
June 22nd. To-day I was informed that there had been paid into the hands of my bankers £500. ‘This sum is from a donor whom I have never seen, but whom God evidently has led, in answer to my daily supplications, and to those of my fellow-labourers, to help me in His service. This donation has exceedingly refreshed my spirit, and has led me to expect more and more help from God. As this £500 is left at my disposal, I took of it one-third for the Building Fund.
August 6th. From an Irish friend £53, “As a small acknowledgment of the donor’s gratitude to his Heavenly Father for enriching him with the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to his dear Redeemer for loving him, and giving Himself for him.”
August 2lst. I received to-day the following letter from Madras, Hast Indies, enclosing a donation of £70 for the Building Fund : — “Madras, 9th July, 1852. “Dear Brother,
“Some time in the year 1842 or 1843 I met with ‘The Lord’s dealings with George Müller, and, after reading it, was moved to send you something; but at that time I had not the means. I had lent what little money I had, to a person who was unable to repay me, and I was nearly destitute. The good hand of God has been on me since, and I have often wondered whether George Müller was still in the flesh. Last December I saw in a friend’s house the Twelfth Report, and, after reading it, resolved to cast a mite into the Lord’s treasury towards building the Orphan-House for seven hundred children; and may the God of Jacob, that has fed me all my life long unto this day, accept of it, as an acknowledgment of the thousandth part of the mercies I have received at His hands. I therefore enclose a bill of exchange, value seventy pounds.”
This donation and letter have exceedingly refreshed my spirit, and quickened me yet further to prayer.
Pause a few moments, dear reader. See how faith and prayer bring means from individuals whom we have never seen, whose very names we have never heard, and who live at a distance of more than ten thousand miles from us. Do you not see that it is not in vain, to make known our requests to the Lord, and to come to Him for everything? When it was first laid on my heart, to build a second Orphan-House, could I have looked for this £70 from this Christian brother at Madras? Verily not, for I did not even know of his existence. Had I other friends, from whom to expect the large sum which will be needed to accomplish this? No, on the contrary, all human probability was against my ever receiving this large sum. But I had faith in God. I believed that He was able and willing to give me what was needed for this work; and solely in dependance upon Him I purposed to build another Orphan-House. But now see how God has helped me further; for after I had received this donation of £70, I had still only £4,127 12s. 63d. in hand, in other words, only a little more than the ninth part of the sum which, as far as I am able to calculate, will be needed to accomplish my object.
September 8th. I have again and again found that, alter a season during which very little has come in, and my faith has thus been tried, the Lord has generally the more bountifully helped afterwards. Thus it has been again this day. I have received a donation of £280 10s. 6d., of which the donor kindly wished me to take £20 10s. 6d. for my own personal expenses, and to use the £260 as the work of the Lord in my hands might require. I took of this sum one-third for the Building Fund.
September 28th. From Melbourne, in Australia, £50, from a believer in the Lord Jesus, whose name even I did not know up to the time that I received this donation. — See, dear reader, how the Lord helps me, in answer to prayer. Do you not
perceive that my fellow-labourers and myself do not wait upon the Lord in vain? Be encouraged by this! Go for yourself, with all your temporal and spiritual wants, to the Lord. Bring also the necessities of your friends and relatives to the Lord. Only make the trial, and you will perceive how able and willing He is to help you. Should you, however, not at once obtain answers to your prayers, be not discouraged; but continue patiently, believingly, perseveringly to wait upon God: and as assuredly as that, which you ask, would be for your real good, and therefore for the honour of the Lord; and as assuredly as you ask it solely on the ground of the worthiness of our Lord Jesus, so assuredly you will at last obtain the blessing. I myself have had to wait upon God concerning certain matters for years, before I obtained answers to my prayers; but at last they came. At this very time, I have still to renew my requests daily before God, respecting a certain blessing for which I have besought Him for eleven years and a half, and which I have as yet obtained only in part, but concerning which I have no doubt that the full blessing will be granted in the end. So also, when I was led to build the New Orphan-House, and waited wpon the Lord for means for it, it took two years and three months, whilsi day by day I brought this matter before Him, before I received the full answer,
November yd. This evening I received a cheque for £300 for the Building Fund.
November 27th. Day by day I am waiting upon God, concerning this Object. I firmly believe that the Lord will give me all I require for the accomplishment of it, though I am utterly unworthy. T believe that I shall also have large sums, very large sums, when the Lord has been pleased sufficiently to exercise my faith and patience. To-day I received £250, the disposal of which was left to me. I took £125 for the Building Fund.
18353.
Gift of Eight Thousand One Hundred Pounds.
January 4th. Day by day I have now been waiting upon God for means for the Building Fund for more than nineteen months, and almost daily I have received something in answer to prayer. These donations have been, for the most part, small, in comparison with the amount which will be required for the completion of this Object; nevertheless they have shown that the Lord, for the sake of His dear Son, listens to my supplications and to those of my fellow labourers and helpers in the work; and they have been precious encouragements to me to continue to wait upon God. I have been for many months assured that the Lord, in His own time, would give larger sums for this work; and for this I have been more and more earnestly entreating Him, during the last months. Now at last He has abundantly refreshed my spirit, and answered my request. I received to-day the promise, that, as the joint donation of several Christians, there should be paid to me a donation of eight thousand and one hundred pounds for the work of the Lord in my hands. Of this sum I purpose to take £6,000 for the Building Fund.
See how precious it is to wait upon God! See how those who do so, are not confounded! Their faith and patience may long and sharply be tried; but in the end it will most assuredly be seen, that those who honour God He will honour, and will not suffer them to be put to shame. The largeness of the donation, whilst it exceedingly refreshed my spirit, did not in the least surprise me; for I expect aRBAT things from God.
March 14th — From Scotland £200, of which the donor kindly wished me to give £10 to Mr. Craik, to take £10 for my own personal expenses, and to use the £180 as most needed. I took, therefore, £100 for the Building Fund.
March 29th. For nearly three months the Lord has been pleased to exercise my patience by the comparatively small amount of means which has come in. Now, this evening, when T came home, I found that £300 had come in. This is a great refreshment to my spirit. — As the amount is left to my disposal as may be most needed, I have taken one half of it for the Building Fund.
May th. Received £260, of which I took £100 for the
Building Fund.
June 28th. From Wakefield, £40, with £5 for Mr. Craik, and £5 for my own personal expenses. — Also £220 from the West of England, of which the donor kindly wishes me to take £20 for my own private expenses, and to use the £200 as might be most needed. I have taken, therefore, £100 for the Building Fund.
July 14th. Received £541 10s., which being left to me as most needed, I took £341 10s. for the Building Fund.
July 15th. Received £110 from one who counts it an honour to have this sum to lay down at the feet of the Lord Jesus. I! took of this amount £60 for the Building Fund.
T cannot help remarking here, that the Lord has used some of the most unlikely persons during the past twenty-two years, in providing me with means for His service. So it was particularly in the case of this brother in the Lord, from whom I received the last-mentioned donation of £110. I had not the least natural expectation of receiving this sum, when this brother, sitting before me at the New Orphan-House, took out of his pocket a packet of bank-notes, and gave to me this amount, reserving to himself, as his whole property in this world, a smaller sum than he gave to me, because of his joy in the Lord, and because of his being able to enter into the reality of his possessions im the world to come. I delight in dwelling upon such an instance, because. (1) It shows that there is grace, much grace, to be found among the saints even now; (2) It shows the variety of instrumentality which the Lord is pleased to employ, in supplying me with means
for His service; and (3) Because it so manifestly proves that we do not wait upon Him in vain, when we make known our requests to Him for means.
December 31st. This is the last day of another year. Two years and a half I have now been day by day seeking the Lord’s help in prayer for this Object. He has also been pleased to give us many proofs that He is remembering our requests; still as yet I have only £13,670 lls. 7?d. in hand. Considerably morz than double this sum will be needed. But, by the grace of God, I am not discouraged. The Lord is able and willing to help us. This is my comfort. In His own time the Almighty God will manifest His power. In the meantime I desire to continue to wait upon Him, and to receive every fresh donation, however small, as an earnest, that in His own time He not only will give larger sums, but the whole amount needed for this Object.
January 17th. This day I received the promise, that there should be paid to me, for the work of the Lord in my hands, £5,207, to be disposed of as I might consider best.
This large donation was shortly after paid to me, and of it I took for the Building Fund £3,000. ‘The joy which such answers to prayer gave cannot be described.
Behold, esteemed reader, the goodness of God! Behold also the recompense which, sooner or later, the Lord gives to His children, who wait upon Him and trust in Him! Often it may appear that we wait upon the Lord in vain; but, in His own time, God will abundantly prove that it was not in vain. Go on therefore, Christian reader, to wait upon the Lord. Continue to make known your requests to Him; but do also expect help from Him. You honour God, by believing that He does hear your prayers, and that He will answer them.
December 30th. Only £426 16s. 4d. altogether came in for the Building Fund from May 26th up to the end of the year. My faith and patience were therefore tried; but, while they were tried, they were, by (tod’s grace, sustained. Day by day I had been enabled from May 26th to December 31st, as well as during the three years previously, to bring this Object before the Lord in prayer; and day by day, by God’s grace, my heart had been fully assured, 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 destitute Orphans, bereaved of both parents; and as God, who cares infinitely more for poor Orphans than I do, did not consider the time to have come for the building of another house, J might well be quiet. My heart longed indeed to begin to build; for on December 31st, 1854, 714 were waiting for admission. But though it was so, I judged it was the will of God, that, by patiently waiting His own time, I should glorify Him.
January 8th. On this day I received from several Christian friends the promise that £5,700 should be paid to me for the work of the Lord in which I am engaged. — This donation was paid to me, in different instaiments, by the middle of April. T took of this sum, for the Building Fund £3,400. Thus the Lord is hastening on the time when the building may be commenced. His name be magnified!
February 7th. From London £400, of which the donor kindly wished me to keep £20 for my family expenses, and to lay out the £380 for the Lord’s work, as I might think best. I took therefore £100 for the Building Fund.
February 10th. Received £197 17s. 3d., of which the donor kindly wished me to take £20 for my own expenses, and the rest to be used as might be most needed for the Lord’s work. I took, therefore, £57 17s. 3d. for the Building Fund.
March 28th. From one of the Orphans, formerly for many years under our care, but now in service, 10s., with the following letter:
“Dear Sir, — Will you graciously accept this mite from one who thinks of you and yours with gratitude? It is indeed a very small sum. I regret that I have no more to bestow upon such a noble work. It will, perhaps, put a corner stone in the wall of the intended Orphan-House. I think I should like to labour for the Lord in that blessed house, if it is His own will, and be the means in the Lord’s hand of bringing many of the dear Orphans to know the truth as it is in Jesus. It was in the Orphan-House in Wilson Street, 1846, that first the light of life dawned upon my benighted soul. It was there that I first learned to call God my Father. I have need, therefore, to love the Orphan-House, not only as concerns temporal things, but especially as its being my spiritual birth-place. May the Lord reward you, dear Sir, for all you have done for me. I am sure He will.
“I am, dear Sir, yours most respectfully,
66 ok OK ok ak ok?
When I had received the kind information, in January, respecting the donation of £5,700, which should be paid to me by several Christian friends, of which I was at liberty to take such portion for the Building Fund as I might deem desirable, I judged that, though I had not such an amount of means in hand as I considered necessary before being warranted to begin to build, yet that I might make enquiries respecting land. Accordingly, I applied in the beginning of February for the purchase of two fields which join the land on which the New Orphan-House is built. On these two fields I had had my eye for years, and had purposed to endeavour to purchase them, whenever I might be in such a position as to means for the Building Fund, that it would be suitable to do so. I found, however, that according
to the Will of the late owner of these fields, they could not be sold now. Thus my prospects were blighted. When I obtained this information, though naturally tried by it and disappointed, I said, by God’s grace, to myself: “The Lord has something better to give me, instead of these two fields;”? and thus my neart was kept in peace. But when now the matter was fully decided that I could not obtain those fields, which had appeared to me so desirable for the object, the question arose, what I was to do for the obtaining of land?
A Change of Plans.
But there was in connection with this another point, which now came under consideration in addition to the particulars already mentioned. It was this. Though for four years past I had never had a doubt as to its being the will of God that I should build accommodation for 700 more Orphans; yet, at the same time, I had for a long time seen the desirability of having two houses, instead of one, for the 700 Orphans. This previously formed judgment of having two houses for 350 Orphans in each, or 400 in the one, and 300 in the other, led me now to see whether there could be another house built on each side of the present New Orphan-House, and I judged, from measuring the ground, that there was no objection to this plan. I then called in the aid of architects, to survey the ground, and to make a rough plan of two houses, one on each side, and it was found that it could be accomplished. Having arrived thus far, I soon saw, that we should not only save expense by this plan in various ways, but especially that thus the direction and inspection of the whole establishment would be much more easy and simple, as the buildings would be so near together.
Commencement of the Building of No. 2.
The result, then, at which I have arrived at present is this, that, having seen what could be accomplished on the ground which we have already, I decided to build, without any further delay than was necessary for preparing the plans, at the south side of the New Orphan House, another house for 400 children. The plans are now ready, and in a very short time, God willing, 7.e., aS soon as all the necessary preliminary arrangements can be made, the building will commence, which I think will be in the early part of July of the present year, (7.e. 1855). Indeed, the first actual steps are already taken, since, on May 29th, the sinking of four wells for the new house was commenced.
December 5th. This evening I had the kind offer, unsolicited, that all the glass required for about 300 large windows in the new house, which is now being built, should be gratuitously supplied. It is worthy of notice that the glass was not contracted for, this time, as in the case of the house already built. This, no doubt, was under the ordering of our Heavenly Father.
February 19th. Now at last the Lord has been pleased, in answer to many prayers, to give me to-day £3,000, which being left to my disposal for the work of the Lord, I took for the Building Fund £1,700.
March 18th. Received £4,000, which was left at my disposal as the work of the Lord might require it. I took of this sum £3,000 for the Building Fund. — This donation is the fruit of many prayers, and of much looking to the Lord for answers. His holy name be magnified for it. I am thus drawing nearer and nearer the time when I shall have obtained from the Lord everything needed for this Object. I have not had, from the beginning, by God’s grace, one moment’s doubt, that in His ° own time, He would give me all that is required.
June 19th. Received £1,700, the disposal of which being left to me, I took for the Building Fund £283 6s. 8d.
July 4th. Received £500, the disposal of which was left to me. I therefore took £83 6s. 8d. for the Building Fund.
July 5th. lrom a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £245.
January 20th. Received £500, the disposal of which was left to me. I divided, therefore, the amount equally between the Building Fund and the five different Objects.
February 21st. Received the following letter : —
“Beloved Sir, I enclose you £10, as ‘ The fruit from seed sown. 1 wish it appropriated for the support of the Orphans, unless the Building Fund still needs it, in which case half to each. In my deep humiliation last year, I consecrated a certain portion of my year’s income to the Lord’s service, and sent you £10 in anticipation of it, and the result is, that I have nearly £100 to devote to Him during the present year.”
Let us ponder this letter, dear reader. The writer says, that the £10 sent is “The fruit from seed sown.’ Remember in connection with this that there is such a thing as sowing and reaping in this way, according to 2 Cor. ix. 6. Teaching children; visiting from house to house, for the sake of benefiting persons naturally or spiritually; giving money, bread, clothes, etc., to the poor; using our money in any way for the Lord’s honour and glory, is called, according to this passage, sowing; and, the recompense given by the Lord to him who sows, in time and eternity, is called reaping. The recompense may be, and generally is, more or less, given even in time; often tenfold, yea, a hundredfold, as the Lord repays even in temporal things, through raising up friends for us, or giving his manifest blessing upon our earthly vocation, etc. But suppose that, for some particular purposes, the Lord did not allow such reaping to take place here on earth, there will be, most assuredly, the reaping in
1857 THEM THAT HONOUR ME I WILL HONOUR. 983 the world to come. I have moved among children of God above 48 years [written in 1874]; I have become acquainted with many thousands of them, and I have known very many, who sowed, and sowed bountifully, and I have not yet met with one single instance in which, even as to this life, the Lord has not acted according to His Word, so that as the sowing was, so was the reaping. Mr. Cobb’s remarkable document.
The following deeply interesting particulars are recorded in the memoir of Mr. Cobb, a Boston merchant, which I judge so very valuable in illustrating what I have said above, that I insert them here.
At the age of twenty-three, Mr. Cobb drew up and subscribed the following remarkable document : —
“By the grace of God I will never be worth more than 50,000 dollars.
“By the grace of God I will give one-fourth of the nett profits of my business to charitable and religious uses.
“If T am ever worth 20,000 dollars I will give one-half of my nett profits; and if ever IT am worth 30,000 dollars, I will give three-fourths; and the whole after 50,000 dollars. So help me God, or give to a more faithful steward, and set me aside.”
“To this covenant,’ says his memoir, “he adhered with conscientious fidelity. He distributed the profits of his business with an increasing ratio, from year to year, till he reached the point which he had fixed as a limit to his property, and then gave to the cause of God all the money which he earned. At one time, finding that his property had increased beyond 50,000 dollars, he at once devoted the surplus 7,500 dollars.
“On his death-bed he said to a friend, in allusion to the resolutions quoted above, ‘by the grace of God — nothing else — by the grace of God I have been enabled, under the influence of these resolutions, to give away more than 40,000 dollars. How good the Lord has been to me!’”
His last sickness and death were peaceful, yea, triumphant. “It is a glorious thing,” said she, “to die. I have been active and busy in the world — I have enjoyed as much as anyone — yod has prospered me — I have everything to bind me here — I am happy in my family — I have property enough — but how small and mean does this world appear on a sick bed! Nothing can equal my enjoyment in the near view of heaven. My hope in Christ is worth infinitely more than all other things. The blood of Christ — the blood of Christ — none but Christ! Oh! how thankful I feel that God has provided a way that I, sinful as I am, may look forward with joy to another world, through His dear Son.”
I have spent more than 46 years [1874] in service for the Lord. During this period, especially during the last 40 years, I have become acquainted with many thousands of believers, many hundreds of whom I have known intimately, as well as their private affairs. Moreover, many, very many, have honoured me with desiring my counsel and advice in their private and secret affairs. What have I learnt, among other points, by this? That “there is that scattereth and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself” (Prov. xi. 24, 25). Many instances have T seen in which the children of God scattered, and yet increased;
yea, scattered much, and yet abundantly increased; but far more have I seen, in which they withheld more than was meet, but it did tend to poverty. With all the desire to get on, very many were not able to do so, just because they only lived to themselves, they withheld more than was meet, and it tended to make or keep them poor. Bad debts, unexpected and unaccountable loss of custom, heavy family afflictions, ete., took away the money, which they sought to keep for themselves, contrary to the will of God. (I speak here of the children of God, and not of the world. “Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth.” The world is judged and condemned at the judgment day — 1 Cor. xi. 32). — Again it is written: “Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine” (Prov. ii. 9,10). There is nothing Jewish in these two passages. They are, as to the principles contained in them, deeply important for the believer under the present dispensation. If any man will do the Lord’s will, contained in them, he shall know, by happy experience, that to apply them to the present dispensation is scriptural. The natural mind in many professed disciples of the Lord may put aside such passages; but be not you robbed, esteemed reader, of the blessings connected with acting according to them, which ‘plessings I have myself known for many years, whilst seeking to practise them.
February 21st. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £98. — April pee From Staffordshire, £100.
Up to May 26th, 1857, the total income for the Building Fund was £31,817 Is. 11d.
The house, commenced in August, 1855, is shortly expected to be finished.
September 18th. I had just returned home from the newlybuilt house, where I had tried the efficiency of the gas apparatus with its 150 burners, when I found a cheque for £1,000 from a brother in the Lord, who desires to spend the whole of his large income for the Lord, laying up no treasure on earth, and spending very little upon his own necessities.
The donor writes that he considers it “profitable to invest a little in the Orphan Houses.” Do all the readers understand
the meaning of this? The donor has not received any interest from me, nor will he have any from me on this £1,000; fand yet, I doubt not, this investment will be profitable to him. .In such cases I have found that the Lord, even in this life, has taken notice of such deeds, and given ample repayment, often tenfold, twentyfold, yea, in not a few instances, even a hundredfold, according to that word: “Give, and wt shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again” (Luke vi. 38).
November 12th. The long looked for, and long prayed for, day had now arrived, when the desire of my heart was granted to me, to be able to open the New Orphan-House No. 2, for 400 additional Orphans. Much had I laboured in prayer and active engagements to accomplish what was to be done, previously; and now things were so far advanced, as that the new house was ready for use; and a few days after we began to receive the children into it. How precious this was to me, will be understood by those who, having day by day prayed for a blessing for seven years, and often repeatedly on the same day, at last obtain the desire of their heart. Yet this blessing came not unexpectedly to me, but had been looked for, and had, in the full assurance of faith, been expected in God’s own time. In connection with this I also mention, that, for several years previously, yea, years before a stone had been laid for the building, I had daily asked God, that He would be pleased, by His providential government, and by the working of His Holy Spirit, to fit and qualify helpers for the work: and now, when the house was ready, the helpers also were ready, so that, without difficulty and without advertising, they were obtained. Thus these thousands of prayers reaped a precious harvest in this particular also.
I now relate further how the Lord was pleased to supply me with means, and how at last He gave me the amount needed for accomplishing fully the intended enlargement of the Orphan work, not for 400 only, but for 700 additional Orphans.
January 19th. Received £3,000, which was left to my
disposal. I took of it for the Building Fund £600.
February 16th. Received £800, and from another donor £700. Both these donations were left at my disposal, to be used as might appear best to me for the Lord’s work. Of the £800 I took therefore for the Building Fund £200. Of the £700 I took for the Building Fund £200.
February 17th. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £245. — As far as I am able to judge, I have now all that is required in the way of pecuniary means for the third house also, so that [ am able to accomplish the full enlargement of the Orphan work to one thousand Orphans.
Pause, esteemed reader! Nearly seven years had I been, day by day, asking the Lord for the needed means, to carry out the desire of my heart, concerning the thousand Orphans. Not a single day had elapsed since first I began to pray for means, in which I had not been enabled, in the full assurance of faith that it would be granted, to bring my request before God, and generally I had prayed more than once a day concerning this matter. When I began my request for means, viz. to entreat the Lord to give me £35,000, I knew well what difficulty there was in the way of my obtaining this sum, looking at it naturally. I am too calm, too calculating a person, too much in the habit of weighing all the difficulties of a case, to be carried away by excitement or imagination. I knew I had no ground naturally to expect this large sum. For months, therefore, I had not prayed at all for means for this enlargement, but had only asked the Lord to show me very clearly whether it was His will that I should go forward; but, having once come fully to this conclusion, on the grounds stated, I was as certain that the Lord would give me all I needed, as if I had had the money already in hand. When in November, 1845, contrary to all my former desires, I was led, as by an unseen hand, to decide upon leaving the four rented houses, and to build the New Orphan-House No. 1 for 5300 children, it was considered strange that I should think of enlarging the work from 120 to 300 Orphans, when for years previously I had had almost habitually to wait upon the Lord day by day for daily supplies. Yet so it was, that the Lord gave me all I needed for the Building Fund, although that was no less than £15,055 3s. 24d, and I had £776 lds. 3%d. more than I required. Moreover, all the current expenses were met in the meantime, and we were able to begin housekeeping at the New Orphan-House No. 1 with about £500 in hand, whilst, before I had thought about building that large house, we had had very rarely as much as £100 in hand, and very often scarcely 100 pence. So this time, whilst the means for the Building Fund were coming in, I had to meet the current expenses from May 26th, 1851, to February 17th, 1858, being altogether £51,919 19s. 63d. See, esteemed reader, how unbelief is put to shame, and natural reasoning is confounded.
Up to May 26th, I had received for the intended enlargement of the Orphan work, to be able to accommodate 1,000 Orphans instead of 300, the sum of £35,335 9s. 3d., being actually £335 9s. 3d. more than I had been from the commencement praying for. Let this encourage the reader!
For some time previous to May 26th, I had judged it to be far better to keep the ground belonging to the Orphan-Houses free from buildings, and to purchase land for the intended third house.
Regarding this I waited day by day upon God, but for many months it pleased Him to exercise my faith and patience. When more than once I seemed to have obtained my desire, I again appeared further from it than ever. However, I continued to pray and to exercise faith, being fully assured that the Lord’s time was not yet come, and that, when it was, He would help. And so it proved.
At last, in September, I obtained 11$ acres of land, quite close to the New Orphan-Houses No. 1 and No. 2, and only separated from them by the road. On these 113 acres of land a house was built. The price for house and land was £53,631 15s., being more money than I should have seen it right to expend on the site, had it not been of the utmost importance that the third house should be quite near the other two, to facilitate the superintendence and direction of the establishment. Thus, at last, this prayer also was answered, concerning which I had been waiting upon God for so many months.
Having now obtained land, and so much, my desire was to make the best use of it, and to build for 400 Orphans, instead of for 300, as I had previously purposed to do. After having had several meetings with the architects, and finding that it was possible to accommodate with comparatively little more expense 450 Orphans, instead of 400, I finally determined on that number, so as to have eventually 1,150 Orphans under my care, instead of 1,000, as for several years previously had been contemplated. The greatness of the number of destitute children, bereaved of both parents by death — together with the greatness of the Lord’s blessing, which had during all the many years previously rested upon my service in this way — and the greatness of the Lord’s help in giving me assistants and helpers in the work as well as means; and, above all, the deep realization that I have but one life to spend for God on earth, and that that one life is but a brief life : — These were the reasons which led me to this further enlargement. To this determination of a still further enlargement, I came solely in dependance wpon the Living God for help, though the increase of expense for the Building Fund, on account of the purchase of the land, and accommodation to be built for the additional 150 Orphans, more than had been from the beginning contemplated, would not be less than from £6,000 to £7,500 more than I had originally expected the total of the premises, which were to be erected, would cost; and though, in addition to this, the yearly additional expenditure for the maintenance of these 150 Orphans, beyond the intended number of 1,000, could not be less than £1,800 a year. But none of these difficulties discouraged me.
It will now be interesting to the reader to see how the Lord dealt with me, since I came to this decision. I therefore go on to refer to at least a few of the donations, which came in for the Building Fund after October 29th, 1858.
Me eres
BUILDING NO.
January 4th. Received £7,000, which, being entirely left at my disposal, 1 took £4,000 for the Building Fund.
January 6th. From an anonymous donor at Manchester £300, with the very kind promise to send me £900 more, in the course of this year, for the Building Fund.
February 1st. Received £1,700, the application of which being left entirely to myself, I took for the Building Fund £400. — Received likewise this day £1,000, of which the application was left to myself, and of which I took for the Building Fund £300.
February 8th. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £245.
May 26th. Up to this day has been received, towards the enlargement of the Orphan Work, the sum of £41,911 15s. 11d. The plans of the building of No. 3 are all completed, and in a few weeks it is expected that the building will be commenced, God willing.
July 11th. The building of the New Orphan-House No. 3 has commenced. — Received from A. B., anonymously, £400.
December 3lst.- — From Lancashire, £300.
L860.
January Ist. From Lancashire £200.
January 51st. Received £3,000, left entirely at my disposal, to be used for the various Objects of the Institution. I took, therefore, £500 for the Building Fund.
May 16th. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £270. — May 22nd. Out of a donation of £2,700, left at my disposal, £200 was taken for the Building Fund.
April 9th. Received anonymously, a gold ring set with five diamonds and two sapphires, a gold necklet with locket, a gold locket brooch, a gold pencil case, a gold cross, anchor and heart, a silver vinaigrette, and a pair of silver bracelets.
May 26th. Up to this day had been received for the enlargement of the Orphan work, the sum of £46,660 17s. 3d., so that the amount first prayed for was exceeded by £11,660 17s. 3d. The reader will have, therefore, in this a fresh proof of the blessedness of committing our matters, great and small, temporal and spiritual, into the hands of our Heavenly Father, waiting patiently for the answer to our prayers. We did not obtain the answer to our prayers at once. Thousands of times, many thousands of times, our request had to be repeated before our Heavenly Father, and faith and patience were exercised year after year, before the full answer regarding this matter was
No. 4, Nuw OrreHan Hovse,
No. 5, NEw OrpHan Howse.
- Somer 3
1861) REASONS FOR BUILDING TWO MORE HOUSES. 289
granted; but at last our prayers were not only answered to the full, but £11,660 17s. 3d. more was received than had been at first. asked for.
The completion of the New Orphan House No. 3 was several months later than had been expected, not on account of anything over which I had control; in this I recognized the hand of God, and therefore felt that it became me to seek to glorify Him by patient submission, being assured, that, as the work was His and not mine, and as He cared far more for the good of the Orphans who were waiting to be admitted than I did, He would allow me, in His own time, the joy and privilege of opening the New House for the reception of these destitute children. And thus it was, after faith and patience had been abundantly exercised. [It was opened on March 12th, 1862.]
BurLpine or No. 4 AND No, 5. 1861-1870.
Reasons for further enlargement of the work.
May, 1861. “‘ It is now ten years, since, as by an unseen hand, I was led to the further enlargement of the Orphan work. The exercise of spirit I passed through, and the reasons which finally led me to that enlargement of the work from 300 to 1,000 Orphans, and which, in 1858, was finally still further extended to 1,150, may be fully seen from page 262 to 271. I have now to inform the reader, that, as ten years ago, so again during the last months, day by day, my spirit has been exercised about a still further enlargement of the Orphan work, so that there should not only be 1,150 destitute children cared for, but 2,000; and that still further premises should be built, as two separate establishments, for 850 more Orphans, being a fourth and fifth Orphan-House, in addition to the three already built. The reasons which, after daily prayer for guidance, self-examination, and looking steadfastly at all the many difficulties connected with this further enlargement, have finally decided me, are the following : —
(1) The longer I go on in this service, and the more it becomes known, the greater is the number of destitute children, bereaved of both parents by death, who are applied for to be admitted into the Orphan Houses under my direction. Almost daily, fresh cases are brought before me, and sometimes three or four or more at once; and it is not a rare thing, that in each such case there are three, four, or even more young children. I am, therefore, willing to be yet further the servant of the Lord in this particular work, although I am unworthy, most unworthy, that He should condescend thus to use me.
(2) But that which at first especially was used by the Lord to direct my mind to this further enlargement, was not only the greatness of the number of applications for Orphans in general, but for boys in particular. The reasons which have led me to care for girls to a greater extent with regard to numbers, than for boys, are these: (a) Girls are the weaker sex, and therefore call more particularly for Christian sympathy. (6) If neglected, they are still more exposed to the danger of being utterly ruined. (c) Girls we have employment for, and can keep them without difficulty till they are eighteen years of age, whilst boys need to be apprenticed when fourteen. But I have generally found, that the age from fourteen to eighteen is the most important in young persons, with regard to their spiritual state. They are, if cared for, at that age, generally speaking, more in earnest about the things of God, than when younger. This has been my experience during the past 27 years, though God has made numberless exceptions during the last three years, while His Holy Spirit has been so mightily at work; and we ourselves have had very many children brought to the knowledge of the Lord, before they were fourteen years old. — Because, then, girls are the weaker sex; and are still more exposed than boys to utter ruin if neglected; and we can easily keep them till they are eighteen years of age; I was led more especially to care for them. But now, having to a considerable extent, by the help of God, been enabled to provide for them, I was led to consider whether something more might not be done for boys also, to prevent, if possible, the necessity of refusing the boys of a family, when the girls could be received. I do not mean to say that the whole of the intended enlargement is for boys, yet a part, at least, should be appropriated to them. Though, then, my mind has been, and is still led more particularly to care for girls, yet the desire to provide for boys also, to a greater extent than hitherto, was that which, in the first instance, particularly led my mind to this further enlargement.
(3) The third reason which has led me to this enlargement is, the entirely inadequate accommodation in the Orphan Institutions already in existence in the United Kingdom. If they were multiplied many times, yet would there be an abundance of destitute Orphans to fill them. But even if there were room in them, which is not the case, still, the existing rules of admission byvotes, which are in use in most of them, make it difficult, if not impossible, for the poorest and most destitute persons to avail themselves of them.
(4) In intimate connection with this latter point stands the question, What is to become of the Orphans, who are left destitute, if they cannot be received into Orphan Houses, for want of room, or on account of the voting system? There remain the Unions, it may be answered. Yes; but have you considered, esteemed reader, what the moral and spiritual state of the Unions is? Vice abounds in them, on account of the kind of inmates, who, generally speaking, are
found there.* For this reason, and justly so, many of the respectable, and especially the religious poor, cannot bear the idea that their nephews, or nieces, or grandchildren, who are Orphans, should go to a Union. So they would rather keep them, though themselves most poor. But the result is, generally speaking, they can neither provide for them the necessary food, nor proper education; and the end is often an early grave for want of proper food; or a neglected, uncultivated mind and heart. By the help of God, I will seek, therefore, yet further, to be the Orphan’s friend, and have not only accommodation for 1,150, but for 2,000.
(5) In addition to these reasons, the physical, mental, and spiritual benefit; which many Orphans have derived during a quarter of a century, from being under our care, has weighed especially with me, in seeking, to the utmost of my power, to extend my services still further in this particular.
(6) In connection with the foregoing reasons stands also the fact, that the Lord has been pleased to give me gift for this work. I do not take credit to myself for this. There is not the least honour due to me on account of it. The germ was first implanted by the Lord, and He caused it to grow and to increase. The gift which He had been pleased to impart, for such service, was used, at first, while the work was small; for I began with 30 Orphans. Afterwards were added 36 more, and then after a year again 30 more, and finally after the lapse of several years 30 more. Thus, for above 13 years, the number of Orphans under my care never exceeded 126; but then it grew to 300, with the opening of the New Orphan House No. 1, and with the opening of No. 2 to 700; and now, with God’s blessing, it will shortly be 1,150. Thus, with the enlargement of the work, the gift, which the Lord had been pleased to give me, was further and further developed, as the whole work grew up under my sole and immediate direction.
Now, as I said, while there is not the least honour due to me for all this, as God called me for the work, fitted me for it, has sustained me in it, and caused my experience to grow with the work; yet, on the other hand, J feel responsibility laid on me, still further, to the utmost of my power, to make use of this gilt and experience, and therefore to enlarge the work, as here proposed.
(7) I am further encouraged to enlarge the work, by the help which the Lord has given me regarding assistants.
(8) The pecuniary help, which the Lord has given me hitherto, is another voice as from Himself to me, to go forward. To pass by the former enlargements of the work, I will only refer to the last great enlargement, first contemplated by me at the end of 1850. ‘The state of the Institution was then such, that the expenditure for all the various Objects thereof amounted to about £6,000 a year. To obtain this sum, year by year, simply
[*This was forty-four years ago; happily things are very different at the present time. ] by prayer and faith, without regular subscribers, without agents for collecting, without asking any one, without any visible prospect whatever, seemed a large sum indeed, looking at it naturally. But, by this contemplated enlargement, when carried out, the expenses would not be only £6,000, but £15,000 a year. Many were startled by it. And so should I have been, had I simply looked at matters with natural reasoning power; but I looked to the Lord, and to Him alone. I trusted not in circumstances; I trusted not in donors, nor even in donors who gave largely.
And now, how have matters been, and how has the Lord dealt with His servant who trusted in Him? Has He said by His dealings with him, thou hast been presumptuous; or, thou hast expected too much from Me? Nay, the very reverse. Hear, esteemed reader, how I have fared. During the 17 years which had elapsed since the formation of the Institution, before the contemplation of this great enlargement of the Orphan work, the total of the income for the various Objects of the Institution had been £40,000; but since then, during 10 years only, it has been about £150,000. See how unbelief has been put to shame. Thus, by what God has done hitherto, I am encouraged to go forward, to this still greater enlargement, though without any natural prospect whatever of obtaining the means needed. But my hope is in God, and in Him alone. The premises contemplated for 850 more Orphans cannot cost with the ground less than £50,000, especially as a large field for cultivation by the boys will be required. Now, whence shall I get this £50,000, especially when it is considered that, in the mean time, the amount needed for the current expenses will be at least £20,000 year by year? And how, natural reason would say, will you be able to keep up the work, provided you were able to accomplish the building, as then the regular current expenses would amount to about £35,000 a year? I feel the force of all this, looking at it naturally. I am not a fanatic or enthusiast, but, as all who know me are well aware, a calm, cool, quiet, calculating business man; and therefore [ should be utterly overwhelmed, looking at it naturally; but as the whole of this work was commenced, and ever has been gone on with, in faith, trusting in the Living God alone for everything, so it is also regarding this intended enlargement. I look to the Lord alone for helpers, land, means, and everything else needed. J have pondered the difficulties for months, and have looked steadily at every one of them; but faith in God has put every one of them aside.
(9) But the following consideration operates with me more powerfully than all the previous eight reasons, which I have given, for the contemplated enlargement. When I began the Orphan work in 1835, my chief object was the glory of God, by giving a practical demonstration as to what could be accomplished simply through the instrumentality of prayer and faith, in order
thus to benefit the Church of God at large, and to lead a careless world to see the reality of the things of God, by showing them, in this work, that the Living God is still, as 4,000 years ago, the Living God. This my aim has been abundantly honoured. Multitudes of sinners have been thus converted, multitudes of the children of God in all parts of the world have been benefited by this work, even as I had anticipated. But the larger the work has grown, the greater has been the blessing, bestowed in the very way in which I looked for blessing; for the attention of hundreds of thousands has been drawn to the work; and many tens of thousands have come to see it.
All this leads me to desire further and further to labour on in this way, in order to bring yet greater glory to the name of the Lord. That He may be looked at, magnified, admired, trusted in, relied on at all times, is my aim in this service, and so particularly in this intended enlargement. That it may be seen how much one poor man, simply by trusting in God, can bring about by prayer; and that thus other children of God may be led to carry on the work of God in dependance upon Him, and that children of God may be led increasingly to trust in Him in their individual positions and circumstances, therefore I am led to this further enlargement.
(10) Much, however, as the nine previous reasons weigh with me, yet they would not decide me, were there not one more. It is this. After having for months pondered the matter, and having looked at it in all its bearings, and with all its difficulties, and then having been finally led, after much prayer, to decide on this enlargement, my mind is at peace. The child who has again and again besought his Heavenly Father not to allow him to be deluded, nor even to make a mistake, is at peace, perfectly at peace, concerning this decision; and has thus the assurance that the decision come to, after much prayer during weeks and months, is the leading of the Holy Spirit; and therefore purposes to go forward, assuredly believing that he will not be confounded, for he trusts in God. Many and great may be his difficulties; thousands and tens of thousands of prayers may have to ascend to God, before the full answer may be obtained; much exercise of faith and patience may be required; but, in the end, it will again be seen, that His servant, who trusts in Him, has not been confounded.
Journal resumed. Large Donations.
The Christian reader will now feel interested in learning how the Lord was pleased to deal with me, in reference to this contemplated enlargement of the Orphan work; and I refer, therefore, to some of the donations which came in towards this Object, and shall, periodically, give the totals which were received.
July 17th. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £30.
August 15th. The first letter I opened contained an order from Chelmsford for £100, for ‘‘ The Orphan Institution,” the application of which was left to my discretion. I took, therefore, this £100 for the Building Fund, as God’s answer to my prayers.
November 15th. Received £150 from a donor who sent only a week since £150.
January 11th. I had again had my usual long season for prayer this evening for all the various Objects of the Institution, and a variety of subjects in connection with them, as also for individuals for whom I daily pray, and amidst other things, also asked the Lord again for means for the Building Fund, when, about half an hour afterwards, I found at my house a cheque for £2,000, with the following lines: “I enclose cheque, value £2,000, which accept with my best love and the expression of my heartfelt thankfulness to God for the privilege of being fellow-helper in the work of caring for Orphans. I would like it to be applied towards the building you propose (p.v.) erecting. IT shall consider as though I had £1,000 in each building; but you are at liberty to use the whole for the first, if you wish. Inasmuch as it is done to the Lord, I know it is well spent.”
January 14th. Received £2,000 left at my disposal, of which £800 was placed to the Building Fund.
January 28th. Received £2,500, the disposal of which being left to me, I took £1,000 for the Building Fund. — February 8th. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £290.
May 26th. The total amount received for this contemplated enlargement of the Orphan work, from May 26th, 1861, to May 26th, 1862, is £6,598 Ils. 53d.
September yd. From Upper Norwood, £300. Almost daily fresh cases come before me of a distressing character, so that I long to be able to provide more accommodation for Orphans, and especially for boys, as we have not been able to hold out any hope for even the twentieth part of the boys, who, within the last three years, have been applied for.
1S63,
January 15th. From Hong Kong, £25. January 28th. Received also £1,200, of which, being left entirely at my disposal, 1 took £400 for the Building Fund.
February 2nd. From Moulmein, Burmah, 50 rupees. February 10th. Received £1,000, of which, being left at my disposal, I took £400 for the Building Fund. February 18th. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £145.
July 31st. During the last two months and five days only £161 11s. 4d. has been received towards the Building Fund.
At this rate, it would be a very long time before I should be able to take active measures towards the contemplated enlargement of the Orphan work. But I am not discouraged.
August 12th. From a shipowner, who, instead of insuring his vessels, gives the amount, which he would have to pay, to the work of God, £50. — August 14th. Received, £90, with the following letter : —
“Dear Sir, — Enclosed you will find a cheque for ninety pounds for the Building Fund, from a friend of mine, who is giving a seventh of his property to the support of the cause of Christ. Yours in the Lord, * * * *.”
September yd. From Birmingham £100. — From Essex £100, with £100 for the support of the Orphans, and the following letter: —
“Beloved Brother in Christ, — I have to fulfil what has long been on my mind, but I lacked opportunity. A dear sister of mine, both in the flesh and in the Lord, died nearly 11 years since, leaving me, by her Will, 10 acres of pasture land; but I was to pay to surviving relatives £200, an annuity to a faithful servant, and £200 to you, for the benefit of the Orphan Hstablishment. At that time I had no funds to fall back upon; but, by a hard struggle, I managed to pay the money which could be lawfully demanded of me, and have kept up the annuity to this time. When the Will came into the hands of the Proctor, he immediately decided that the £200 to the Institution would be null and void, owing to the Mortmain Act. This suited me well at the time, for reasons already stated, having exhausted what little money I had, in paying other lawful demands; but I thought, probably there would come a day when I might manage to pay the other. Up to this year, however, I have never had £200 I could call my own; but in May last an aged relative died, leaving me the residue of her property, after paying more than 20 legacies. Having nearly paid them all, I have felt at liberty to-day to send you the £200, which my dear sister intended you to have, more than 10 years since, and it will be some relief or comfort to my mind to know you have received it safely. I think it might be taken £100 for the Orphans, and £100 for the Building Fund, unless you like to divide it differently.”
I have given this letter on account of the grace manifested by the Christian donor, who, without being in the least bound to do so, pays the £200 the first moment he can, that thus he might carry out the intention of that godly sister of his, who more than ten years since entered into her rest.
November 18th. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £50. — December 2nd. From Birmingham £100.
Hahortation to perseverance in prayer.
Thus I saw the close of another year, with reference to this part of the work. The full answer to my daily prayers was far from being realized; yet there was abundant encouragement granted by the Lord, to continue in prayer. But suppose, even, that far less had come in than was received, still, after having come to the conclusion, upon scriptural ground, and after much prayer and self-examination, as stated at full length before, I ought to have gone on without wavering, in the exercise of faith and patience concerning this Object; and thus all the children of God, when once satisfied that anything which they bring before God in prayer is according to His will, ought to continue in believing, expecting, persevering prayer, until the blessing is granted. Thus am I myself now (viz. in 1864) waiting upon God for certain blessings, for which I have daily besought Him for 19 years and 6 months, without one day’s intermission. Still the Tull answer is not yet given concerning the conversion of certain individuals, though, in the meantime, I have received many thousands of answers to prayer. I have also prayed daily, without intermission, for the conversion of other individuals about ten years, for others six or seven years, for others four, three, and two years, for others about eighteen months; and still the answer is not yet granted, concerning these persons: whilst, in the meantime, many thousands of my prayers have been answered, and also souls converted, for whom I had been praying. I lay particular stress upon this, for the benefit of a certain class of readers, who may suppose that I need only to ask God, and receive at once; or that I might pray concerning anything, and the answer would surely come. One can only expect to obtain answers to prayers which are according to the mind of God; and even then, patience and faith may be exercised for many years, even as mine are exercised, in the matter to which I have referred; and yet am I daily continuing in prayer, and expecting the answer, and so certainly expecting the answer that I have often thanked God that He will surely give it, though now for 19 years and 6 months faith and patience have thus been exercised. Be encouraged, dear Christian reader, with fresh earnestness to give yourself to prayer, if you can only be sure that you ask for things which are for the glory of God.
January 2nd. From Birmingham, £100. — January 30th. Above eight months have passed away since May 26th, 1863, and though generally daily donations have been received towards the Building Fund, yet the total amount received during these eight months amounts only to £2,018. Were I to reason, naturally, under such circumstances, I should be greatly discouraged; for it would take about seventeen years, after this rate, before the whole £50,000 which is required for the Building Fund
would be obtained. That which comforts me is the consideration that God can give in a short time not only larger sums, but even by one donation the whole amount which is required. I therefore, without the least discouragement, continue my supplications, being assured that the Lord will, in His own time and way, give me the whole amount needed.
Gift of £2,200.
February 24th. Received £2,200, which being kindly left at my disposal, I took £1,100 for the Building Fund.
February 26th. — From a Christian Merchant £20, with £50 for the Orphans, £10 for Missions, £10 for the Bible Fund, £5 for the Tract Fund, and £5 for myself, with the following interesting communication : — ‘* You will notice, dear brother, that I am sending you much more than hitherto. I some time ago made the resolution to increase my contribution for the Lord’s work, on a percentage, increasing with increased receipts, following the examples named in your Reports; and the Lord so blessed me last year that I have had to ascend four steps in the scale J had laid down at a time when I little thought I should ever use the higher amounts. I merely notice this for your comfort, as you may like to know it as the result of reading your Reports.”
Many of the children of God lose in a great measure the privilege, and also the blessing to their own souls, of communicating to the Lord’s work, and to the necessities of the poor, for want of a regular habit of giving.
February 29th. I have not been allowed to have a shadow of doubt as to whether God can or will give me the means; but day by day, in the full assurance of faith, I renew my requests before God; and generally day by day the amount of the Building Fund i is to a greater or less degree increased. I then give thanks, and ask for more; and as the days come I look out for answers to my prayers. During the month of February alone, there came in £2,815. Thus the Lord showed that, when He is pleased to work, it is not necessary that a very long period should elapse, but that by a few donations, yea, by one, if He pleased, He could give me the whole amount yet needed. I therefore went on, day by day, renewing my requests, with thanksgiving for what He had given me already.
March Ist. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £148.
April 2nd. From Birmingham £100. — May yd. From
Birmingham £100.
May 26th. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £120. On May 26th, 1864, there was in hand for the Building Fund £19,321 7s. 14d. towards the £50,000 required. I do not mean to wait till I have the whole £50,000 needed for the contemplated enlargement, but to take steps towards the erection of No. 4, if God will, when there shall be about £25,000 in hand, that is, when I shall have about £5,700 more than I have now.
June 2nd. From Birmingham, £100. — July 5th. From Birmingham £100. — August yd. From Birmingham £100. — August 19th. From Greenock £100. — September 2nd. From Birmingham £100. — From J. C. £50. September 17th. ‘‘ From the estate of the late Miss C. H., through her brother T. H., Esq.,” £1,000. T. H., Esq., desires to spend the property of his departed sister, as he considers she would approve of, were she still living, and therefore sends this £1,000 for the Building Fund. — Day by day I am waiting upon the Lord for means to be able to take active steps in this part of the work, and I need not say, therefore, how seasonable and precious this donation was. But I confidently expect, in the Lord’s time and way, the whole amount yet needed.
Gift of £5,000,
October yd. From Birmingham, £100. — October 14th. From a shipowner, instead of insuring his vessels, £100, with £100 for Missions. — November 2nd. From Birmingham £100. — November yd. From Cambridge £25 10s — From Clifton £31 ~-10s. — Received also £5,000 for the Building Fund, from a donor who desires neither his name nor residence to be known.
Do you rejoice with me, dear reader, in the receipt of this last donation? Does the greatness of the amount surprise you? Do you think it strange and marvellous, that I should receive such a large sum in one donation? Well, the donation indeed filled my heart with imexpressible delight, because it was the fruit of thousands of prayers, and it brought me a decided step nearer the time, when all prayers will be fully answered with regard to the New Orphan-Houses No. 4 and No. 5, as they have been fully answered regarding No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3; but while my heart was filled with joy and gratitude, I remained calm, perfectly calm, without the least excitement. Nor was I in the least surprised at the greatness of the donation, for I look out for answers to my prayers, and I expect much from that bountiful heart, which spared not the Lord Jesus. If £10,000, yea, £20,000 had been given to me at once, it would not have surprised me. Nor was it marvellous in my eyes, to receive so much at once; for God has power as ever to give largely; and He has still some of His children on earth who are so happy in Himself, and who so lay hold on eternal life, that they can afford to give up a good portion of the possessions of this life, and, if called upon to do so, even all they possess in this world, in order to do good.
I had determined to do nothing until I had the full half of the sum needed for the two Houses, but now, having above £2,000 beyond the half, I felt, after again seeking counsel from God, quite happy, in taking steps for the purchase of land.
Difficulties in purchasing land.
My eyes had been for years directed to a beautiful piece of land,‘ only separated by the turnpike-road from the ground on which the New Orphan-House No. 3 is erected. The land is about eighteen acres, with a small house and out-houses built on one end thereof. Hundreds of times had I prayed, within the last years, that God for Jesus’ sake would count me worthy to be allowed to erect on this ground two more Orphan-Houses; and hundreds of times I had with a prayerful eye looked on this land, yea, as it were, bedewed it with my prayers. I might have bought it years ago; but that would have been going before the Lord. I had money enough in hand to have paid for it years ago; but I desired patiently, submissively, to wait God’s own time, ‘and for Him to mark it clearly and distinctly that His time was come, and that I took the step according to His will; for whatever I might apparently accomplish, if the work were mine, and not the Lord’s, I could expect no blessing. But now the Lord’s mind was clearly and distinctly made manifest. I had enough money in hand to pay for the land and to build one house, and therefore I went forward, after having still asked the Lord for guidance, and being assured that it was His will I should take active steps.
The first thing I did was, to see the agent and to ask him whether the land was for sale. He replied that it was, but that it was let till March 25th, 1867. He said that he would write for the price. Here a great difficulty at once presented itself, that the land was let for two years and four months longer, whilst it appeared desirable that I should be able to take possession of it in about six months, viz., as soon as the conveyance could be made out, and the plans be ready for the New Orphan-House No. 4, and arrangements be made with contractors. But I was not discouraged by this difficulty; for I expected, through prayer, to make happy and satisfactory arrangements with the tenant, being willing to give him a fair compensation for leaving before his time had expired. But, before I had time to see about this, two other great difficulties presented themselves: the one was, that the owner asked £7,000 for the land, which I judged to be considerably more than its value; and the other, that I heard that the Bristol Water-Works Company intended to make an additional reservoir for their water, on this very land, and to get an Act of Parliament passed to that effect.
Pause here for a few moments, esteemed reader. You have seen how the Lord brought me so far, with regard to pecuniary means, that I felt now warranted to go forward; and I may further add, that I was brought to this point as the result of thousands of times praying regarding this Object; and that there were, also, many hundreds of children waiting for admission; and yet, after the Lord Himself so manifestly had appeared on our behalf, by the donation of £5,000, He allows this apparent death-blow to come upon the whole. But thus I have found it hundreds of times since I have known the Lord. The difficulties, which He is pleased to allow to arise, are only allowed, under such circumstances, for the exercise of our faith and patience; and more prayer, more patience, and the exercise of faith, will remove the difficulties. Now, as I knew the Lord, these difficulties were no insurmountable difficulties to me, for I put my trust in Him, according to that word: ‘“‘ The Lord also wil be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee: for Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee.”
I gave myself, therefore, earnestly to prayer concerning all these three special difficulties which had arisen regarding the land. I prayed several times daily about the matter, and used the following means.
(1) I saw the Committee of the Water- Works Company regarding their intended reservoir on the land which I was about to purchase, and stated to them what I had seen in print concerning their intentions. They courteously stated to me, that only a small portion of the land would be required, not enough to interfere with my purpose; and that, if it could be avoided, even this small portion should not be taken.
(2) This settled, I now saw the tenant, for I desired, as a Christian, that if this land were bought, it should be done under amicable circumstances with regard to him. At the first interview, I stated my intentions to him, at the same time expressing my desire that the matter should be settled pleasantly with regard to himself. He said that he would consider the matter, and desired a few days for that purpose. After a week I saw him again, and he then kindly stated, that, as the land was wanted for such an object, he would not stand in the way; but that, as he had laid out a good deal on the house and land, he expected a compensation for leaving it, before his time was up. As I, of course, was quite willing to give a fair and reasonable compensation, I considered this a very precious answer to prayer.
(3) [now entered upon the third difficulty, the price of the land. I knew well how much the land was worth to the Orphan Institution; but its value to the Institution was not the market value. I gave myself, therefore, day by day, to prayer, that the Lord would constrain the owner to accept a considerably lower sum than he had asked; I also pointed out to him why it was not worth as much as he asked. At last he consented to take £5,500 instead of £7,000, and I accepted the offer. All being now settled, I proceeded to have the land conveyed to the same trustees who stood trustees for No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3.
I have thus minutely dwelt on these various matters for the encouragement of the reader, that he may not be discouraged by difficulties, however great and many and varied,
but give himself to prayer, trusting in the Lord for help, yea, expecting help, which, in His own time and way, He will surely grant.
January yd. From Birmingham £100. — January 17th. From Devonshire £64. — January 27th. From China £7 15s. 2d.
May 26th. The total income for this Object during the past year, was £11,033 17s. 34d.; this with the £19,321 7s. Idd. in hand on May 26th, 1864, makes £30,355 4s. 5d.
As soon as the conveyance was actually made, the land paid for, and the deeds were in my possession, which took place on March 9th, 1865, I proceeded to the plans for No. 4, when it was found that. serious disadvantages and a considerable additional cost would be connected with building only one House at a time, instead of the two at one time — or, at least, commencing them together with as little interval as possible. Therefore, greatly as I longed that the building should commence soon, it appeared to me desirable yet patiently to wait the Lord’s time for some more money, whereby I should be enabled to begin both houses at the same time. From what has been stated about the income, the reader will have seen, that out of the fifty thousand pounds needed for the two houses, above thirty thousand pounds has come in, so that only about ten thousand pounds more is needed, to meet all the expenses connected with the bualding of the two houses; for the remaining ten thousand pounds for fittings and furniture would only be needed when the houses are built, or nearly so. Now as the Lord has been pleased to send me during the past year above eleven thousand pounds for the Building Fund, and as by commencing the two houses at the same time the whole would be completed considerably earlier, than if one house at a time were built, I am by this, in addition to all the other reasons given, led to a more decided conviction, that it is better to wait till God shall have in His great kindness, and in pity and compassion to the many hundreds of Orphans now waiting for admission, sent me ten thousand pounds more. He can do this in a very short time if He please.
The following pages will show how the Lord was pleased further to help us; but out of the many donations only a few
can be singled out.
July 12th. From Devonshire £75. — July 17th. From Hong-Kong £50. — July 25th. From the neighbourhood of London £100, with the following letter : —
““My dear Sir, I believe that it is through the Lord’s actings upon me, that I enclose you a cheque for £100.
Yours in the Lord, * * * *,”
This Christian gentleman, whom I have never seen, had sent me several times before a similar sum. A day or two before I received this last kind donation, I had asked the Lord, that He would be pleased to influence the heart of this donor to help me again, which I had never done before regarding him; and thus I had the double answer to prayer in that not only money came in, but money from him. The reader will now see the meaning in the donor’s letter, when he wrote, ‘“‘I believe that it is through the Lord’s actings upon me that I enclose you a cheque, etc.”
Verily it was the Lord who acted upon this gentleman, to send me this sum. Perhaps the reader may think, that im acknowledging the receipt of the donation, I wrote to the donor what I have here stated. I did not. My reason for not doing so was, lest he should have thought I was in special need, and might have been thus influenced to send more. In truly knowing the Lord, in really relying upon Him and upon Him alone, there is no need of giving hints directly or indirectly, whereby individuals may be induced further to help. I might have written to the donor (as was indeed the case), I need a considerable sum day by day for the current expenses of the various Objects of the Institution, and also might have with truth told him, at that time, that I yet needed about twenty thousand pounds, to enable me to meet all the expenses connected with the contemplated enlargement of the Orphan work. But my practice is, never to allude to any of these things in my correspondence with donors. When the Report is published, everyone can see, who has a desire to see, how matters stand; and thus I leave things in the hands of God to speak for us to the hearts of His stewards. And this He does. Verily we do not wait upon God in vain!
A Missionary gives £500.
August Ist. A few days since I received the following letter
from one of the Missionaries among the heathen, whom I have
sought for a number of years to assist with pecuniary supplies as well as by prayer, in his service for the Lord : —
“My dear Brother in Jesus, I write to inform you, that I have written to my father by this mail, requesting him to send you £500, being a portion of a legacy left me by an uncle, who departed to be, I hope, with Jesus. Please use it as our dear Lord directs. I feel unworthy of the privilege of contributing to the glorious work in your hands. If you think it right so to do, please do not let it be known who gave it. The other portion of the legacy I have ordered to be sent out here, as there are different objects, for which I feel it is greatly required. May the Lord enable me to act as His steward! Htc.”
To-day I received, accordingly, from the father of this Missionary, £500, of which I took £250 for the Building Fund and £250 for Missions. Admire, dear Christian reader, the hand of God together with me. Here is a Missionary, labouring for years under many difficulties, trials, privations, and hardships, in order to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ to poor benighted idolators, himself having been repeatedly reduced to his last piece of
money. Now all at once he is put into the possession of many hundreds of pounds, and, instead of spending it on himself, or keeping it laid up in the bank or otherwise on interest, the love of Christ constrains him to spend it, and gladly too, for the Lord. I love to dwell on such cases; for though there is much to sorrow over, in these days, in connection with the Church of God, yet there is the bright side too, and there are many things yet to be found among the children of God, to gladden the hearts of those who love the Lord. It has been my own happy lot, during the last thirty-seven years, to become acquainted with hundreds of individuals, who were not inferior to apostolic Christians. And why may not all believers act in the spirit of apostolic Christians, seeing that the same blessed Spirit who dwelt in them, dwells in all who believe in the Lord Jesus; and that we have the whole revealed will of God in our possession in the Holy Scriptures; and, like apostolic believers, are looking for the return of the Lord Jesus, with whom we shall share the glory? Verily, did we more abundantly enter into what God has done for us, and will do for us, what manner of persons should we be? Let us then encourage one another to live more fully, more habitually, yea, altogether for God, while the honour is continued to us, to be here on earth as His witnesses.
August 5th. From Ireland £100. — August 9th. From a former Orphan, then in dying circumstances at her sister’s house, Is., with the following letter : —
“Dear Sir, I have just been reading to sister Ruth the last Report, and she, with deep gratitude and joy, begs me to send her mite toward the New Orphan-House about to be built, with many prayers for you and those connected with the work, fondly remembering the happy time spent in No. 2, under your kind fatherly care; and the happy day she found Jesus to be her Saviour; and the last prayer at the time of parting: all is recalled with tears of joy. Also she wishes me to say, all is peace, with the prospect of death before her. She fears no evil. Christ is very precious to her soul, and she hopes to meet you and all loved teachers in heaven, through the blood of Jesus. A friend had given Ruth this ls. to buy some wine; but she begged me to send it to Mr. Müller.
“I remain, dear Sir, your humble and grateful servant,
eo oD?
The dear Orphan referred to in this letter has since peacefully
fallen asleep in Jesus.
A remarkable donation.
September Ist. From a baronet in the neighbourhood of Bristol £50. — September 4th. To-day I have received one of the most remarkable donations that I ever received for the work in my hands. I am staying with my family at Ilfracombe for change of air. After the large packet of letters, which day by day comes to hand from Bristol, had been replied to, I took a walk with my family near the sea on the Capstone. In returning home, two gentlemen, entire strangers, came up to me, one of whom said, “Please excuse me, are you not Mr. Müller?” Having replied to him in the affirmative, he said, “I have to give to you some money for the Orphans.” I then requested him to step aside, and to seat himself with me on one of the benches close by, that I might learn particulars. He now told me the following, which I give as nearly verbatim asI can. “I live in the neighbourhood of M. I am a business man, and, what would be called, a hard-working business man. Some time since one of your Reports fell into my hands, but, I honestly confess it, I could not believe that you did obtain your funds simply in answer to prayer; I questioned the truth of it. However, the thing came up into my mind again and again. While I was thus considering whether God was really with you, and whether you really obtained simply by faith and in answer to prayer these large sums of money, I heard of a certain property to be sold, which I thought I should like to buy, if it were disposed ofreasonably. I looked it over, and had it valued by a competent business man, who told me that it was worth so much. I then said to myself, in a kind of sceptical way, I will now see whether God is with Mr. Müller or not. If I get this property for so much (fixing a low price on it), I will give Mr. Müller one hundred pounds. I then instructed a person to bid for me at the auction, where this property was sold, at a distant place; but so great was my curiosity to see, whether God really would appear for you in this matter, that by the next train I set off to the place where the auction was, that I might obtain as early as possible information, how the matter would end; and I found, to my great surprise, that I had actually obtained this valuable property, at the exact low price which I had fixed. I was astonished. But I began now to reflect more on the principles on which you act, and I wondered that, as a Christian, I or any one else could call in question what you say about answers to prayer; and the more I consider the matter, and the more I read your Report, the more I see how right and proper it is, to come to God for all we need, and to trust in Him for everything. The conveyance having been made, and all being now settled, about the sale, I felt it right to fulfil my promise; so my friend, whom you saw just now with me, and I, set out on a tour into Devonshire, and then, on our way home, called the day before yesterday (Saturday) at your house; but found you were from home. We stopped yesterday (Sunday) in Bristol, and having there learnt your address, we came on here to Ilfracombe to-day, for I wished to know you personally.”
After I had heard all this, I stated that I was not at all surprised atiGod’s working thus for me, since day by day I sought His help, and thus, in answer to prayer, obtained from the most
unlikely persons, and entire strangers, donations for the work. “So for instance,” I said, ‘‘ as you told me that you come from the neighbourhood of M — — , I had a letter from a lawyer at M., not long since, asking me to send him a proper form for a legacy to be left to the Orphans, as one of his clients (whose name he did not mention) wished to leave a legacy of £1,000 for the Orphans. Now, as far as I know, I am not personally acquainted with a single person at M — — , nor do I know the name of the individual who purposes to leave this £1,000.” “About this legacy,” replied the stranger at my side, “I can tell you something. After I had got this property, and saw how wrong I had been in looking in such a sceptical way on your work, as if there were no reality in prayer, I decided on helping you further. I thought to myself, though I am a man in health, and of middle age, yet it might be well to make my Will, and to leave you £1,000 for the Orphans.” Thus I found out, to my surprise, that this stranger himself was the individual on whose account a lawyer at M — — , had written to me. We now separated, the stranger stating that he would in an hour call at my lodgings and give me a cheque for the £100. He did so, and wished £70 to be appropriated to the Building Fund, £20 for the support of the Orphans, and £10 for my own personal expenses.
September 9th. From the neighbourhood of London £200.
September 20th. From the North of England £100.
November 14th. From a poor widow in London, who suddenly died, Is., and a penny stamp, with the following letter, which was after her death found in her drawer, with this money, being the only money she possessed : —
“Kind Sir, With pleasure I take up my pen, to return you my sincere thanks for the copy of the Report, which you so kindly sent. I find it very interesting. I have sent the enclosed trifle towards the Building Fund, and regret exceedingly, not having it in my power to send a larger sum; but I feel quite assured that my Divine Master, as well as yourself, will not despise the day of small things. He knows, how I have been straitened in my circumstances in consequence of so much illness.
*‘T remain, Sir, your obedient humble servant, * * * *.”
There are donors who have contributed to this Object thousands of pounds, and here is this poor widow, who gives her all which she possesses in money. Observe, dear reader, the variety of ways, which God uses, to supply us with means.
December 11th. From Wales £22 10s., with £22 10s. for Missions, and £5 for myself, with the following letter : —
“My dear Sir, I have very great pleasure in bearing my testimony to the truth of your remarks on the subject of devoting a certain portion of income or profits to the Lord’s work. About eleven years ago I was led to give a tenth, and later on an eighth, and then a sixth; and I have not had any cause to regret this course; on the contrary, I have proved the truth of God’s word, ‘ There is that scattereth and yet increaseth, Ete.’ Enclosed I hand you cheque for £50, £5 of which please accept for your own use; the balance to be devoted as you may deem most desirable.”
January 6th. From London £50. — January 13th. From
Devonshire £84 16s.
March 5th. From Hong-Kong £80. — March 8th. From India £30. — March 28th. From a shipowner, instead of insuring his vessels, £100.
May 5th. From T. H., Esq., £1,000 “as a tribute to the memory of a devoted sister.” This is the gentleman who sent me £1,000 in September, 1864, as, having come by the death of his sister into the possession of her property, he wishes to spend it in such a way as she would approve of if alive — May 17th. From Leicestershire £200. — May 18th. From a shipowner, instead of insuring his vessels, £100.
May 26th. The total income for this Object during the past year, from May 26th, 1865, to May 26th, 1866, was £9,366 4s. 7id., so that, with the £24,635 17s. 5d. in hand on May 26th, 1865, the sum was increased by May 26th, 1866, to £34,002 2s. O2d.
Finds the cost will exceed the estimate.
According to the estimate I had made about these two Houses, judging from the expenses connected with the building of the New Orphan-Houses, No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, we should have had enough money for meeting the amount of the contract for No. 4 and No. 5; but when the tenders came in, it was found that the amount was about £8,000 more than my calculation made in the spring, 1861; this arose from the fact that, since then, almost all the building material had risen in price, particularly slates, and that the wages of the workmen are one-fourth higher than they were when the New Orphan-Houses Nos. 2 and 3 were built. The amount of the tenders for both houses, including the cooking and heating apparatus and drying stove, amounted to £41,147; but I had not this amount in hand, needing about £8,000 more. Now, what was to be done under these circumstances? My decision was made instantly. My heart longed to build two more houses to the honour of the Lord; I had brought before the Lord many thousands of prayers during the past five years; there were many hundreds of Orphans waiting for admission, and their number daily increasing, but I could not contract debt. I would not sign contracts which I had not money in hand to meet. Should it be said: But your work is so manifestly the Lord’s work, that you need not be afraid to build, though you have not yet all the money in hand, for God will surely help you: my reply is this. Just because it
is the Lord’s work, and manifestly His, therefore I can wait, patiently wait His time. When His time is come, He will give to the last shilling all I need; but if I commence before His time, which I should do, were I to begin that for which I have not the means, it would be like saying: “God has not money enough to pay for His own work;” and, instead of acting in faith, I should act presumptuously. I therefore did this. Having ample means to meet the contract for No. 4 (for separate tenders were given in for the two Houses), I accepted it, and a written agreement was made between the contractor and myself, that on January Ist, 1867, or at any time previously, I may accept his tender for No. 5 also, but J shall not be bound to do so. [If it shall, therefore, please the Lord, by the Ist of January, 1867, to give me about £7,000 more than I have now in hand, the contract for No. 5 will be signed; but I cannot go into debt. For this amount I look and wait on God, and doubt not that He will help further, as He has always done. Tfit please the Lord to exercise my faith and patience, yet, I will, by His grace, continue to call upon Him, being fully assured that in the end I shall have enough. In stating that about £7,000 more would be needed, before I could sign the contract for No. 5, no reference is made to the fitting up and furnishing the two houses, which will cost about £10,000 more; but this latter sum will not actually be needed, before entering into an agreement for building No. 5.
Building of No. 4 Commenced.
The contract for the building of No. 4 was signed on May yd, 1866, and on May 7th the operations on the ground commenced, and have been steadily going on up to this day, May 26th, 1866.
July 21st. From Devonshire £190 2s. lld. — July 30th. From a Bristol donor £200. — September 5th. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £150.
September 7th. Received £30, with the following letter : —
“Dear Sir, I have been reading the last Report of your valuable Institution, and am much impressed with the donations and letters therein contained, especially with two of them. One is that of an old Orphan, now in service, who had been enabled to lay by some of her wages, but sent the money to you in preference to its lying useless. Another is that of a poor afflicted widow, who had saved some money and acted in a similar way. Being impressed by their example, and by the Divine precept (Matt. vi. 19), I have taken from the Post Office Savings’ Bank the savings of four years’ work, and lay it at your disposal, trusting that you will devote part of it to the Missions, and the rest as you may think best. Hoping that you will receive it safely, that it may be blessed by God to the increase of the Redeemer’s kingdom, and that your own labours may be abundantly rewarded. I am, Your sincere donor, * * * *,”
T took half of this amount for the Building Fund. — September 19th. From Birmingham £200. — September 2Ist. “From 8. Kent,” as “First dividend from a bank, which stopped payment, some time since,” £100. — From Blackheath £100.
October 8th. From a shipowner £100, instead of insuring his ships. — October 12th. To-day the senior partner of a large firm kindly promised to give himself all the glass that would be required for the 350 large windows of No. 4, and, in the name of his firm, he promised, that the firm jointly: would give all the glass which would be required for the 350 large windows of No. 5.
November 17th. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £120. — November 28th. From Colonel £10, “To help in accepting the tender for No. 5.” It then wanted 33 days to the time when the matter finally was to be settled about the tender of the contract for No. 5. As yet I had not all in hand for this purpose, though expecting to receive it through the gracious hand of my Heavenly Father, for whose honour and glory I desired to build this Fifth Orphan-House. I therefore continued patiently, believingly, and expectingly to make my supplication to Him, and, accordingly, He was pleased, day by day, to send in further supplies, as He had done from the time I had signed the contract for No. 4.
December 14th. From Australia £20. — From A. C. &., Scotland, £100. — December 26th. From the House Girls of the New Orphan-House No. 1, 10s — — From a former Christian Orphan, now clerk in a lawyer’s office, 10s — — December 31st. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £50. — From W.C. H., Esq., £25.
Contract for No. 5 signed.
This was the last day of the year, and the next day was the one to which the accepting of the tender for the contract of the New Orphan-House No. 5 had been postponed. The Lord had so graciously helped, that a little more than £7,000 had come in, so that a day before the Ist of January, 1867, I was able to accept and sign the contract for No. 5, the contracts for both houses being £41,147. I had now the desire of my heart regarding this point also, and the precious recompense from the Lord, of having received all the money from Him for this Object, without going into debt. Thousands of times I had asked the Lord for the means needed for building these two houses, and now I had, to the full, received the answer. On the 15th of January, 1867, operations commenced in connection with building No. 5.
In addition to the hundreds of Orphans previously applied for, there were from January Ist, 1866, to December 31st, 1866, altogether 617 Orphans, whose admission had been applied for, from which the reader may easily judge, how great the delight
of my soul was, when I considered myself warranted to sign the contract for No. 5 also, and thus had before me the delightful prospect of being permitted to care for many hundreds more of destitute Orphans. 1867.
January Ist. From Surrey £50. — From Scotland £100.
January 24th. From Somersetshire £300. — January 26th. From Devonshire £148 16s. — Notice, dear reader, that, after the contract for No. 5 also had been signed, as there was yet about £10,000 more needed for fitting up and furnishing the two houses, the Lord was pleased to encourage His servant regarding that amount also, by sending in means towards these expenses soon afterwards.
March 13th. From Devonshire £100.
April 10th. From Scotland £105 9s. 2d. — April 22nd. From Liverpool £20, with the following letter : —
“My dear Sir, I enclose you Bank Draft for £20, say £10 for the Building Fund, £5 for the support of Orphans, and £5 for your own personal expenses. Not having smoked for twelve months, this is the amount I would have spent otherwise in cigars. Wishing you ever success, Abrgeblyye Qronnusy) SAE”
This donation not only shows in what a variety of ways the Lord is pleased to supply me with means for His work, but also, how much money may be saved by giving up needless and injurious habits.
May 6th. From the neighbourhood of Bath £500. The kind donor of this sum had several times before sent me £50, and even £100; but now he kindly sent £500. As the work increases, and the outgoings become greater and greater, so the Lord is pleased, not only, in answer to our daily prayers, to raise up new donors, but also to influence the hearts of those who have given before, to give more than ever.
The total income for the Building Fund from May 26th, 1866, to May 26th, 1867, amounted to £11,203 16s. 84d.
No. 4. is erected and roofed in, and a beginning has been made to plaster the inside.
On May 26th, we had all the means in hand, actually required for the erection of the two new Houses, and also, as far as could be calculated, about £4,000 towards the fittings, furniture, and other expenses not included in the contracts, so that only about £6,000 more was required. We had, therefore, through patient believing prayer and the exercise of faith, received about £52,000 towards the £58,000 which would be needed altogether. I now give a few instances in the following pages, to show how the Lord was pleased to help us further.
May Slst. Received the following letter from a donor in Kent, entirely unknown to me, even by name, who had sent me about three months before £300 : — “Dear Sir,
“I find I have still £200 left of the legacy I mentioned to you, some time back. As every penny of that legacy is ‘Corban,’ I cannot touch it, and should like to send it to you if you will excuse being troubled again by. me. My heart’s wish would be, that you would accept it for yourself and family; but it is not for me to press so delicate a point, therefore you are free. Doubtless there are calls for help on all sides of you. Would I could make this thousands. Accept my pseudonym, * * * *.”
Of this £200 I took £100 towards fitting up and furnishing the New Orphan Houses No. 4 and No. 5, and £100 for the first four Objects.
July 24th. From the neighbourhood of Bath £500, from a gentleman who had in May also sent me £500. I have never seen this kind donor, as is the case with perhaps nineteen out of twenty of the donors; but the Lord spoke to him thus to help me to accomplish this enlargement of the Orphan work.
August 13th. From a clergyman in Oxfordshire £45, with £5 for myself. — September 28th. From Scotland £100.
November 7th. Received £53 19s., with the following letter: “My dear Sir,
“It affords me much pleasure to send you cheque for £53 19s., the Lord’s share in the profits of my business. In July, 1858, when I sent you my first cheque for £4 6s. 4d., I little expected it would ever reach its present amount. I trust you will apply it to that department of your work that most stands in need; and should £5 be acceptable to yourself, I hope you will take it. I remain, (etc. sae eee
I took of the £53 19s. for the fitting up No. 4 and No. 5, £26, and £27 19s. for the first four Objects of the Institution. As the Lord was pleased to prosper this Christian in business, in 1858, and since, so he contributed to the Lord’s work; and the result was, that the Lord entrusted him with more, made him a steward over more; so that, as he says, his ability to send me help increased from £4 6s. 4d. to £53 19s. All believers, who know the enjoyment of giving, will know also how this enjoyment may be increased more and more by a ready heart to be the Lord’s steward — November 9th. From Devonshire £5, “Instead of going a wedding trip.”
December 2nd. From Clifton £200.
January Ist. Received from a shipowner, instead of insuring his vessels, £50.
February Ist. Only about £20 had been received this morning; a large sum to some, but very little to us, the expenses of the various Objects of the Institution being now so great. After family prayer I united, as usual, with my dear wife in prayer, and we thanked the Lord for what He had been pleased to send
us, at the same time asking Him to send much more, if it might be, even this very day. About twenty minutes after this, I received a letter containing £50, in which the kind Christian donor writes: ‘‘ As you soon will receive more Orphans, I send you this sum for them.” In the afternoon there came in further £3 11s. 6d., and in the evening £10, and £5 from Sunderland, and from Scotland £66 6s. for the Building Fund; besides a few other small donations. Thus the day, which began with about £20, closed with a total income of £141 Os. 6d. But the most remarkable point is this: The £66 6s. from Scotland supplies me, as far as can be known now, with all the means necessary for fitting up and furnishing the New Orphan-Houses No. 4 and No. 5. Six years and eight months I have been, day by day, and generally several times daily, asking the Lord to give me the needed means for this enlargement of the Orphan work, which, according to the calculations made in the spring of 1861, appeared to be about £50,000, but which, at a later period, was found to be about £58,000. Tur ToTAL OF THIS AMouNT I HAD NOW RECEIVED. I praise and magnify the Lord for putting this enlargement of the work into my heart, and for giving me courage and faith for it; and, above all, for sustaining my faith regarding it day by day without wavering. When the last portion of the money was received, I was no more assured concerning the whole, than I was at the time I had not received one single donation towards this large sum. I was at the beginning, after once having ascertained His mind, through most patient and heart-searching waiting upon God, as fully assured that He would bring it about, as if the two Houses, with their hundreds of Orphans occupying them, had been already before me.
Advice to young Christians.
I make a few remarks here for the sake of younger believers, in connection with this subject: (1) Be slow to take new steps in the Lord’s service, or in your business, or in your families. Weigh everything well; weigh all in the light of the Holy Scriptures, and in the fear of God. (2) Seek to have no will of your own, in order to ascertain the mind of God, regarding any steps you propose to take, so that you can honestly say, you are willing to do the will of God, if He will only please to instruct you. (3) But when you have found out what the will of God is, seek for His help, and seek it earnestly, perseveringly, patiently, believingly, and expectingly; and you will surely, in His own time and way, obtain it.
Some individuals, who are unacquainted with me, may suppose that I entered too hastily upon this enlargement, without counting the cost. If so, they are mistaken. I was ready to go forward if God would have me to go forward; and I was not only content, but well pleased, to stand still, and enlarge the work no further, if this had been the mind of the ee * 3 Si ae te ’
year by year about £20,000, and I had reason to bélieve that, when the enlargement was carried out, it would require above £30,000 annually, besides the sum for building the two New Houses. But with all this calmly, fully, and patiently looking at all the difficulties, not only with regard to the needed money, but the numberless other matters to be taken into account, I, at last, became assured that the Lord would have me to go forward. Now, when once this decision had been made, upon scriptural ground, and after much prayer, I was of good cheer. The difficulties did not cast me down; for I expected help from God. I set myself earnestly to prayer, and help came by little and little; yet it came. Money was sent. The land was obtained, and with no little difficulty. The plans were made. The Houses were begun. But day by day I went on praying, looking for the full answer. And thus, step by step, the Lord has helped me further.
May 23rd. All the glass, needed for the new Orphan-Houses
No. 4 and No. 5, was given gratuitously. The glass for No. 4
was kindly given by the senior partner of a large firm, and the glass for No. 5 by the same firm conjointly. The promise to do so had been given nearly two years since; but now I learnt from the clerk of the works, that all the glass had been actually supplied. The greatness of the gift will be seen, by its being remembered that there are above 700 large windows in these two Houses. — May 26th. When the last year commenced on May 27th, 1867, I needed yet about £6,000 to meet all the expenses connected with fitting up and furnishing the two New Houses; but the Lord was pleased to give me, altogether, for this Object, £6,633 17s. 54d. during the year. I have, therefore, reason to believe, that the amount required is in hand.
Balance in hand, after completion, of several thousand pounds.
When the Report for 1868 was written, I stated that, as far as I could see, I had all the money in hand, required for the building, fittings, and furnishing of the two new houses. Since then, however, I have received some further donations; and as I could not possibly know what unexpected expenses might occur, I received all those donations, which were expressly given to meet the expenses connected with this enlargement. The Lord by this has again acted as in former times; for in the case of the New Orphan-House No. 1, when all the expenses had been met in full, I had a balance of more than £600 in hand; and when all the expenses for building, fitting up, and furnishing No. 2 and No. 3 had been defrayed, there was about £2,900 left. Thus the Lord showed that He could not only provide the large sums needed for these three Orphan-Houses, but that He could also give
Lord: I had no will of my own. I further weighed well all the difficulties. I truly counted the cost. The work I had in hand, before this last Orphan enlargement, would require tow. Pe a ae sb giep n= the ahepereatiptntimnth 5: Ps “ETE 80a During F3 Cuodn jing yD kjwmau mou ato spay Gurpunowins 2y,7,)
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1870] + THE GOAL REACHED.
more than was enough, and all simply in answer to prayer, though about £60,000 had been required. In like manner I expect that, when all the expenses connected with the New Orphan-Houses No. 4 and No. 5 shall have been defrayed, there will be; again a balance left. This is just like the ways of God. When & He orders something to he done for the glory of His name, He is = both able and willing to find the needed individuals for the work s and the means required. Thus, when the Tabernacle in the Wilderness was to be erected, He not only fitted men for the work, but He also touched the hearts of the Israelites to bring 2 the necessary materials and gold, silver, and precious stones;; and all these things were not only brought, but in such abundance, that a proclamation had to be made in the camp, that no more articles should be brought, because there were more than enough. The reason why I dwell on this is, that it may lead the po Christian reader, first of all, to see well to it, that the work in which he desires to be engaged is God’s work; secondly, that He is the person to be engaged in this work; thirdly, that God’s time has come, when he should do this work; and then to be assured, that, if he seeks God’s help in His own appointed way, He will not fail him.
1869. bi
No. 4 Opened:
% May 26th. The New Orphan-House No. 4 was opened on a i November 5th, 1868. Since then we have received into No. 4, or My to fill up some vacancies in No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, 420 Orphans.
1870.
No. 5 Opened.
May 26th. On January 6th, 1870, the long-looked-for, and the long-prayed-for day, arrived, when the last house also, the New Orphan-House No. 5, could be opened. The immense a work connected with sending out Orphans from the other four houses, filling up again the vacancies thus made, and going on with all the other parts of the work, had made it impracticable to open this house sooner. Since the opening of No. 5 there have been received into it 153 Orphans.
All the expenses in connection with No. 4 and No.5 being built, ae fitted up, and furnished, were met to the full, and, after all had ee been paid, there was left a balance of several thousand pounds.: See, esteemed reader, how abundantly God answered our prayers, and how plain it is, that we were not mistaken, after we had patiently and prayerfully sought to ascertain His will. $2 Be encouraged, therefore, yet further and further to confide in the Living God.