Heavy Expenditure: Scriptural Knowledge Institution, 1874-1885

Ay 26th. Received £980 9s. 7d. from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.

July 13th. From one of the former Orphans, a Christian, now in service, 10s., ‘‘ instead of buying herself a new bonnet.” August Ist. From Scotland £150, with £10 for myself. — August 8th. From Ireland £300 for Missions, and £200 for the Orphans.

September 30th. From one of the Midland Counties £450 for Missions, with £50 for myself.

November 20th. From Yorkshire £200 for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, and £100 for the Orphans. — December 27th. Now, all our means are gone. We have nothing at all left. — December 28th. See how soon the Lord has again sent us means, in answer to prayer, for these Objects. Received from a Christian gentleman £181 18s. Id., with £50 for the Orphans, being the entire proceeds of a field, set apart for the benefit of this Institution.

January Ist. With the New Year, the Lord was pleased to send us, as the result of many prayers, many donations. I only mention, as specimens, the following : — From Ireland £50. From Scotland £110. — January 4th. From Cork £50. — January 5th. An aged Christian near Spilsby, who being too aged to continue his ordinary work, having yet a desire to do something for this Institution, and having some strength left, made 40 beehives during the past year for its benefit, which he sold for £4, and sent the money. This affords another proof, how all, who really have it in their heart, may do something for the work of God.

January 22nd. From one of the former Orphans £6 10s. The donor has been a Christian for many years, is now in business on his own account, and had taken one of our Christian Orphan boys as an apprentice. When the one-half of the premium was sent to him, he returned it, with a grateful letter for the benefit he had himself received at the Orphan-Houses. — January 23rd. Anonymously from Birmingham £400. From Hampshire £100 for Foreign Missions, £75 for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, £300 for the support of the Orphans, and £25 for myself.

February 12th. From one of the¥Midland- Counties £450 for Home Missions, with £50 for myself. — February 16th. Received

£250, being £120 for Missionary work, £70 for the Bible Fund, Schools, and Tracts, £50 for the Orphans, and £10 for myself. From Glasgow £12, with the following letter : —

“Dear Mr. Müller,

“I think it but right you should have the first fruits of the tenth of my business, which plan has been adopted by me within the last few weeks, solely from reading your publications. I prayed fervently that the Lord would incline my heart also to give systematically to Him, as others did. I say fervently, as I had to contend with a grasping, money-loving disposition, which, I am glad to say, has been so far conquered victoriously, that I can now put on one side the Lord’s tenth after the close of each day’s transactions, without any feelings of regret. I ask an interest in your prayers, that I may become one of the Lord’s stewards, and give still more largely to Him who daily loadeth me with benefits. From this amount, £12, you will greatly oblige me by retaining £5 for yourself; the remainder apply as you think best.”

March Ist. Monday. Since Saturday, when we had nothing at all left for these Objects, the Lord has graciously been pleased to give us, in answer to prayer, altogether £333. The donors who kindly helped us will feel interested in knowing how God used them as His instruments to send us help when we had nothing left, which I did not tell them when I sent their receipts, as otherwise it would have been like an indirect request for further help. I received this day £160 from London, with the following

letter : —

“My dear Sir and Brother,

“For the past nine years I have not been giving systematically of my income to the Lord’s work, as He has prospered me, though never thoughtlessly, I trust, disregarding any call which came under my notice. On examining my books I find that, after deducting my entire drawings from the business, which I started in my own name in 1866, a considerable sum has accumulated, and of this I have put aside ten per cent to be more especially devoted to the Lord’s work, and desire to acknowledge that all I have and myself also are His, whilst I gratefully remember that what He has, and He Himself is mine. It was through reading your Narrative that I have been led to do this, and therefore send you the first payment out of this fund, say £160 herein, of which please retain £10 for yourself, and appropriate the £150 to any one or amongst all or any of the Objects of the Lord’s work in your hands.”

March 2nd. The Lord has still more abundantly helped us. T received from Yorkshire £1,000. How soon is God able to help us, and to replenish our stores! May all the readers be increasingly led to trust unreservedly in God. I have joyfully dedicated my whole life to the object of exemplifying how much may be accomplished by prayer and faith — March 23rd. From Sale £100.

May 26th. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £280. Though we began the year with only £167 Is. 34d. in hand, yet God so helped us by prayer and faith, without asking any one but Himself, that we were able to expend for these Objects during the year £16,895 4s. 73d., and had a balance of £18 Iis. 43d. left on May 26th, 1875. Only very few of the donations have been here referred to.

May 26th, 1875, to May 26th, 1876.

When we began this period we had a balance of £18 14s. 44d. left for these Objects. When it is considered that we had expended for them during the previous year £16,895 4s. 73d., and that during the year from May 26th, 1875, to May 26th, 1876, our expenses for these Objects were £17,643 15s. O4d., the reader sees how small our balance was to begin the year with, especially as we do not go into debt; yet, small as it was, it was a balance in hand. Our hope was now again in the Living God, who for more than forty-one years had never failed us. We trusted in Him, and in Him alone; and He graciously was pleased to supply us during the past year also with what we needed.

June 16th. From Ireland £100. — July 19th. Received £250, £190 of it being for these Objects. — August 2nd. From Scotland £150. — August 11th. For Missions and the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Spain and Italy £500. The donor of this amount sent me a few years since his first donation, being five shillings. From that time he began to give, as the Lord prospered him. In this way not only his own soul has been greatly benefited, but the Lord from that time has so prospered him, that he has again and again been able to send me £500, as also £100 or £200 at a time.

On September 16th a gentleman called at the Orphan-Houses, who up to that time had been unknown to me, and left, with valuable documents, the following paper : —

“[T * * * * hereby present to the Orphanage and the other Institutions conducted by Mr. G. Müller of Bristol £3,000, * * * * 5 per cent Railway Stock, and 25 shares of the same company, £10 per share paid, to be disposed of as Mr. Müller shall think best.”

These documents were sold in the London market and produced £3,734 7s. 6d., of which four-fifths were taken for the School, Bible, Missionary, and Tract Fund, being £2,987 10s.

November 15th. From India £77 16s — November 20th.
Received the following letter, with £150 : —

“Dear Sir,

“I have great pleasure in again forwarding my mite to be used by you in carrying on the Lord’s work in your hands. Enclosed is £150, £120 of which is to be used in the work as you think best, the remainder is for your own private use. I would beg to add my testimony to many others which you have received, as to the blessedness of giving systematically. I have been a farmer for about twenty years, and for about half that time did not act on that principle; and while giving my business as much care and more concern than now, still it was all I could do to make ends meet. About that time I had the subject of “giving as the Lord prospered’ brought under my notice, when I there and then vowed to the Lord, that [ would give one-tenth of the profits of the farm to His cause, should He be pleased to give me any. From that time I have been prospered in my business far beyond what I ever could have anticipated; I have truly experienced the fulfilment of the promise contained in Luke vi. 38. I continued for a short time giving a tenth, but was gradually constrained to give more and more, until for some years I have been giving one-half, and can truly say, that the longer experience [ have in this way, the more blessed do I find it to be. I heard you in Glasgow lately, and beg to thank you for your address on prayer. I trust many of us will have good cause to bless God for your visit.”

1876. March 9th. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven,

£200. — May 16. From Otago, New Zealand, £10. — May 23rd. From Oxfordshire £100 for Foreign Missions.

May 26th, 1876, to May 26th, 1877.

We had, on May 26th, 1876, a balance of £356 19s. 44d. left for these Objects. When it is considered, that during the year from May 26th, 1875, to May 26th, 1876, our expenses for these Objects were £17,643 15s. Odd., the reader sees how small our balance was, to begin the year with.

July 5th. Received £500 from a donor, whose first donation to the Institution was 5s. He had long been undecided, as to whether he could afford to give anything at all to the Lord’s work, as he considered that he ought first to be more prosperous in his business before he began to give; but at last he came to the decision, that he would wait no longer for greater prosperity, and give, according to his means. Since then the Lord began to prosper this donor so, as that he was able to send me much larger sums, and shortly hundreds of pounds, and repeatedly since £500 at once; having stated to me, that since he began to act as a steward for the Lord, he could send me with greater ease £500, than the first donation of 5s.

August Ist. From the Bengal Presidency, India, £90 for these Objects, with £10 for myself — August 21st. From Ireland for Missions, £100. — August 29th. From London £160, with £10 for myself. From Berlin £34 15s. 5d. This donation comes from a disciple of the Lord Jesus, who considers it a privilege to give to the work of the Lord a little capital, which he had saved, but which he now considers better spent for the Lord than to be kept. — September 19th. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £200. — October 7th. From two children of God £500; through the sale of some property, which had been left to them, they were able to give this sum. — November 2nd. From two children of God £500; through the sale of some property, which had been left to them, they were able to give this sum. — November 18th. From the neighbourhood of Stirling £100, with £10 for my own personal necessities.

December 31st. While I am writing this, at Nimwegen, in Holland, another precious proof of God’s blessing on my labours has just been brought under my own eyes, of which I have had, I might almost say, numberless instances; it is this: A Christian evangelist, simply through reading about the Orphan work in Bristol, had it laid on his heart to care about Orphans, and was encouraged by my example, solely in dependance on the Lord, to take them up. He began in the year 1863 with three at Nimwegen, in Holland, and he has at present 453 in an Institution, near Nimwegen, through which I and my dear wile went, and which we saw with our own eyes with the deepest interest.

January Ist. As the Old Year has closed with blessing, so the New Year began in the same way. Many donations, and some considerable ones, were received this very day. — January 5th. From Hampshire £75 for Foreign Missions, £75 for the Bible Fund, £300 for the Orphans, and £50 for myself — April yd. From a small shopkeeper in Bedfordshire £5. The donor sends us help, as the Lord prospers him in his business, and has sent to us very many times a similar sum. — May 14th. From Yorkshire for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in foreign lands £150, and for the support of the Orphans £150. — May 16th. Received £5 Lis., “Being a penny for every pound’s worth of goods sold since the Ist of January.” — May 23rd. From North Wales I received the following letter: —

“Dear Sir,

“I enclose you in Post Office Orders the sum of £11 6s. -7d., which I leave to your best judgment. Since I received your last Report in September last, I have put by threepence on every pound that I have received in business, for your Institution; and although the times are become so poor, Tam happy to say, we do

meet our bills continually. I believe circumstances are nothing in the Lord’s way, if we trust in Him. Htc.”

May 26th. The Lord has helped us through one more year; but again and again all our means for these first four Objects of the Institution were gone, completely gone. Under these circumstances our universal remedy, prayer and faith, was used, and only this.

May 26th, 1877, to May 26th, 1878.

At the beginning of this financial year, we had only the small balance of £71 19s. 24d. in hand. Our balance was not enough for the fourth part of the requirements of one single week, according to our average expenses. But, poor as we were, our infinitely rich Heavenly Father remained to us; to Him we betook ourselves in prayer, and, as He had done many thousands of times before, during the previous forty-three years, so He helped us during the forty-fourth year also, though not once, nor twice, but again and again all our money, to the last shilling, for these Objects, was gone.

June 27th. We entered to-day upon the second month of this new period of the Institution, without a penny in hand for these Objects, when in the course of the day came in from Redland, from a most unexpected donor, to make the hand of God the more manifest, £50; and from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £200. — On June 30th, when again all money was gone for these Objects, I received from Scotland £500. — July llth. From Ireland £500 for Missions. The donor will now have joy in being informed that, when his kind donation was received, all our money was gone for this Object, and the donation was the fruit of many prayers.

July 31st. From the neighbourhood of Chippenham £100 for Foreign Missions. On the same day we received from London £50 for Missions, and £20 for the Orphans. And yet further from Kensington £30 for Missions, £20 for the School, Bible, and Tract Fund, £30 for the Orphans and £20 for myself. These, and other donations, not referred to, carried us through the month of July, in which we had been again reduced to great poverty, but in which, as in thousands of times before, we were helped, not by exposing our need to our fellow-men, and asking them for help, but by taking it in confiding prayer to our Heavenly Father,

August 20th. From Somersetshire £97. — August 23rd. From Scotland £50 for Foreign Missions, £90 for the Orphans, and £10 for myself. — September 22nd. From Berkshire forty - two - coupons, amounting to £147 6s. 5d. From Ireland £100 for Missions. — September 25th. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £500.

October 6th. From the neighbourhood of Orkney £3, with this statement: “Since I began to devote a regular proportion of my earnings to the cause of God, He has, I rejoice to say, greatly increased both my ability and my desire to do so.” — On October 16th we received the following letter, with £2 2s. 6d. for Foreign Missions and £8 10s. for the Orphans : —

“Dear Siz,

“I enclose £10 12s. 6d. with the following remarks. On 19th June, 1871, I commenced to pray in regard to a financial loss, which I suffered in India; and at different times I marked down ten per cent for your Orphans and two and a half per cent for your Foreign Missions, besides something else to the Lord; and now I have got a settlement for £85 as a compromise. This is a gracious answer to prayer, as the people offered me only £14, which I refused, and still prayed on. Several times lately I rose before daylight, and was on my knees for three hours, praying about this and other matters, this being No. I on the list of business, which I laid before the Lord. Glory to His name, He has now answered me! I am, yours truly, * * * *.”

October 26th. From the neighbourhood of Manchester £80, with £100 for the Orphans and £20 for myself. This donation came in most seasonably, for we had nothing at all in hand for the School, Bible, Missionary, and Tract Fund, and it was thus the fruit of many prayers.

November yd. Received 11s. 8d. for Foreign Missions and 5s. for Tracts, with the following statement: ‘“Last month I was in need of certain articles, which I could not afford. Satan suggested, that I was acting very foolishly in sending money for the cause of the Lord, when I was in such need myself. Malachi i. 8-12, stopped his mouth. A few days after this, the articles I needed were given to me by a brother, after asking the Lord to let me prove His faithfulness.” A very profitable paragraph.

December 5th. From Paisley, £2, with the following statement: “This is sent you as a thank-offering to the Lord for hearing and answering prayer on behalf of a sick horse. The veterinary surgeon had given him up for lost. So I arranged, when lay in the case before the Lord, that, if the horse got well, I would sen you £2. ‘The horse is now as well as ever, and I herewith gladly send you the £2.” This case should be a further encouragement to the reader to commit all matters into the hands of our Heavenly Father, even when all natural prospects of help have completely vanished.

December 27th. The seventh month we began with nothing in hand, but in the course of it the Lord was pleased to give to us, in answer to much prayer, £1,890, so that we were able, not only to meet the many demands, but are able to begin the eighth month of this period with. £259 19s. 9d. in hand. From the neighbourhood of Manchester £30.

January Ist. From Scotland £100. — January 16th. From Hampshire £150 for the Bible and Mission Fund, £300 for the support of the Orphans, and £50 for myself — March 9th. The only income to-day for the School, Bible, Missionary, and Tract Fund, was 10s. from King’s College Hospital, London. The reader may place himself in our position, considering how our eyes, under such circumstances, need to be directed to the Lord. March 11th. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £200.

March 12th. Only 8s. was received to-day, for the expenses of these four Objects. — March 16th. To-day nothing at all has come in for these four Objects; but our eyes are up to the Lord. March 18th. From a lady in Clifton £15 for Missions — March 27th. During the month from February 27th to this day our faith has been greatly tried, in reference to means for these four Objects, as again and again nothing at all has been in hand. Under these circumstances we encouraged ourselves in God, and seek to rely upon His faithful word of promise. We also are mindful of the fact, that for forty-four years the Lord has upheld this work, and that He will not now suffer us to be confounded, though our expenses for all the various departments are so great. We have to enter upon the eleventh month of this period, without anything in hand for these Objects.

April 27th. The eleventh month was like the tenth, constant trial of faith; and we have again to enter in poverty upon the twelfth month, yet are expecting larger sums from our Heavenly Father, and His faithful help, which we have enjoyed for so many years.

May 2nd. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £600.

May 26th, 1878, to May 26th, 1879.

With a balance in hand of £41 17s. 8d. for these Objects, we began the next year. This sum is not the average expense for one day in the year for these Objects. But we had to provide the average expenses for 365 days, in order to be carried through the year; and every shilling of the total was only to be obtained by prayer and faith, as no one is asked directly or indirectly for anything. Therefore there was again abundant room for the exercise of faith and for much prayer.

July 11th. From Scotland £100. This came in when we had nothing at all left — July 17th. From Redland we received £30, when all our means for these Objects were gone. — July 22nd. The total income of to-day and yesterday was £3 7s. 7d. The Lord allowed us to be brought thus low, before He was graciously pleased to send us means. There is now nothing at all in hand for these Objects. — July 27th. Received by the sale of gold and silver articles, dentist gold, gold and silver watches, gold and silver coms, diamonds, etc., £243 10s. From Scotland £130, with £20 for my own personal expenses. — July 30th. From H. B. £100 as a thank-offering, for Missions. Most gratefully was this donation received for Missions, because it is greatly in our hearts to aid Missionary brethren.

August 14th. From Sussex £250. — August 31st. From India £100, with £20 for my own personal expenses. — September 7th. From Yorkshire £172 10s. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, chiefly in foreign lands, £172 10s. for the support of the Orphans, and £5 for myself — On September 19th was received another donation from the same donor of £350, for the same Objects. On September 19th was also received £175 19s. 4d. in fifty-three coupons.

October 16th. Received for Missions £5, ‘‘ Instead of keeping a dog for the house.” — November 22nd. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £800. — November 29th. From Cambridgeshire £95 18s. 4d. As the Lord prospers the donor, so he gives. His first donation was about the twentieth part of this amount.

December 26th. Again we have nothing at all in hand for these first four Objects of the Institution; but our eyes are unto the Lord for help.

January 10th. From 8. S. £50 for Missions. — January 17th. From a considerable distance £150 for the Bible and Mission Fund, £300 for the Orphans, and £50 for myself.

March 11th. From the neighbourhood of Manchester £90 for Missions, £158 for the Orphans, and £10 8s. 2d. for myself. By forty-seven coupons £165 14s. 1d. from a donor who has kindly helped us in this way again and again, and whose donation this time especially came in most seasonably, as we were greatly in need of means. Of the amount, £135 14s. 1d. was for these first four Objects, and £30 for the Orphans. Most seasonable likewise was the donation from the neighbourhood of Manchester, on account of our low state of funds for these Objects. — March 14th. A young Christian gardener, who resides at a distance of about 160 miles from Bristol, brought this day to the Orphan-Houses thirty sovereigns, ten for Foreign Missions, ten for Home Missions, and ten for the support of the Orphans. The donor had thought of leaving this sum as a bequest, but decided on giving it at once.

April 7th. Received £5 for Foreign Missions, ‘“‘ Instead of keeping a dog.” From Glasgow 10s., with the following letter : —

“Dear Sir,

“I send you enclosed an order for 10s., which please take for what you think best. My husband, like so many others in Glasgow, lost all his means this winter. I had this money laid aside for you since November; but as there are now ten of us, and I

feared for our daily bread, my faith was not strong enough to send it. But in whatever strait we were, I found [ could not use it. It was only this week I told my husband I had it, and he said to send it at once. God give me more faith!”

April 9th. Received £200, £125 for the Orphans, £20 for myself, and the remainder for such of the other Objects as may at present be most in want of assistance. The donor wrote: “I intended leaving this sum of £200 by Will, to be paid to you at my decease, but now prefer paying it myself.”

May 21st. Received £1,000 as the legacy of the late Miss J. R. It was very graciously so ordered of the Lord, that this legacy was now paid, a little before the legal time had expired for its payment, as we were almost entirely without means, and as we particularly desired to be able to send more help to the labourers in the Gospel.

May 26th, 1879 to May 26th, 1880.

We began our new period with the balance of £519 4s. 7d. in hand; a balance so great as this we had not had for many years. But great as, comparatively, this balance was, it was only a very small portion of what we needed in the course of the year. It therefore was very soon expended, and we had to look to the Lord for further supplies, as had been the case during the previous forty-five years of the existence of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution.

June 4th. From Greenock £110, with £20 for myself — July 18th. From Yorkshire £150 for Foreign Missions, with £150 for the Orphans. — August 9th. From Malta £50. — August 12th. From Natal £50. By sale of gold and silver articles, etc., £174 18s.

September 12th. Received £5 from Glasgow, with the following words: ‘‘ Miss — — encloses a Post Office order for the sum of £5 to Mr. Müller, for Missionary purposes. She may state, that it was owing to reading the short paragraph at the head of page 13 of the last Report, which moved her to give, and to this special Object.” I repeat the paragraph alluded to here, because I judge that the Church of God at large needs to have the subject again and again brought before her. “‘ May I ask the Christian reader, Do you practically take an interest in spreading the truth as it is in Jesus? Do you care for the salvation of the souls of the heathen 2? Do you pray for them? Do you do what you can to send the Gospel of the grace of God to them? How much do you think you have given in your whole life for Missionary purposes? How much during the past year? What act of self-denial have you practised for this purpose? Do you think you give even the thirtieth part of all God entrusts you with, for this Object? Remember, dear reader, there are about a thousand million souls, who have not yet had the Gospel preached to them, therefore be henceforth in earnest, if this has not been the case hitherto, to do what you can to send the Gospel to them.

It is also on my heart to press upon my readers, the certainty of the personal return of the Lord Jesus, who says, ‘ Behold I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be’ (Rev. xxii. 12). How will it be with you, dear reader, in the day of Christ’s appearing?” I affectionately commend this paragraph to the prayerful consideration of the Christian reader. — September 19th. Received £100 with the words: “Thine own.” — September 30th. From A. P. £10 as “A thank-offering for an unexpected legacy.” For Foreign Missions £25, given on the return of the donor’s wedding day.

October 28th. Received from a Christian merchant, £200, with the following instructive letter : —

“My dear Mr. Miller,

““I would just mention for your encouragement, and to the praise of our Heavenly Father, that I have followed the good advice, so repeatedly given in your Reports, of systematic and proportioned giving, for many years; and the last half year is the best we have had, although trade generally has been so depressed. I therefore have the pleasure of handing you cheque for £200, £100 towards the Orphans, £10 for your own use, and balance as you may consider most required.”

November 24th. From a Christian cook, at a sheep station in New Zealand, who seeks to honour the Lord with his means, £20. — December 15th. From Ireland £200 for Missionaries and Evangelists — December 23rd. From a Christian family £5 5s. for Missions, and £11 for the Orphans. Father, mother, and children had, during the year, occupied some of their time in earning this amount.

December 27th. To-day we received for Missions from Weston-super-Mare £40, when we had nothing at all in hand.

January Ist. From Scotland £100. — January 14th. From Ireland £50. — January 21st. From Hampshire £150, with £300 for the Orphans and £50 for myself. — January 26th. During the past month the Lord has been pleased to send us for these first four Objects of the Institution about £1,200, so that we have been enabled to meet all demands upon us, and have £28 13s. 8d. left. — January 27th. Received £47 3s. 10d., with the following letter from Scotland: —

“Dear Brother,

“Enclosed is bank draft for £47 3s. 10d. £10 of that sum is from Messrs. ,to whom please acknowledge receipt, to be applied same way as before. The balance, £37 3s. 10d., is from us. To Orphans £15, Missions £15, yourself £7 3s. 10d. To the praise and glory of God my Saviour, I would like to inform you, that about eight years ago I was, through the reading of your Reports, led to devote one penny per pound of tea I sold,

to the Lord’s work under your care. I had for some years previously given £1 yearly, and when I did on my knees before the Lord engage to continue to give that small donation, with what might come out of the tea engagement, I have to say with a heart moved by a sense of His love and grace, Hallelujah! Praise His name for the results, which I subjoin — 1872, £8 14s. 9d. 1873, £11 7s. 5d.; 1874, £11 19s. ld.; 1875, £12 7s. 9d.; 1876, £11 6s.; 1877, £14 9s. 9d.; 1878, £25 19s. 10d.; 1879, £36 3s. 10d. «Yours in the Lord, * *22

February 5th. At a time of the greatest need we received, as the result of many prayers, £500 from Ireland for these Objects. March 11th. From Yorkshire £190 for Foreign Missions, with £10 for myself. — March 15th. From Ireland £100 for Missionaries. March 18th. From a Christian gentleman who has repeatedly helped us in a similar way, and whose donation this time arrived at a time of great need, 47 coupons, value £157 10s. 3d. — March 26th. Our balance in hand for these four Objects of the Institution is again reduced to £19 18s. 34d. March 27th. The Lord, in the riches of His grace, has immediately, in answer to our daily supplications, sent help. From Weston-super-Mare £40 for Missions. From Amersham £5. From Edinburgh £10 for Missions, with £10 for the Orphans.

April 30th. Within the last three days, the Lord has been pleased to send us £164 10s. 1ld.; for besides various smaller donations we received in our great need from the neighbourhood of Manchester £100 for these Objects. — May 17th. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £400.

Thus we have been carried through another year, and, though we have been several times without anything in hand for these four Objects of the Institution, we have been brought to its close with a balance of £61 5s. 84d.in hand. All the demands connected with the 117 Schools, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution, we have been able to meet. With regard to the circulation of the Holy Scriptures we have been enabled to accomplish far more than at any time during the 45 years. The circulation of books and Tracts also has been very large. But in reference to Missionary work we have been able to accomplish far less than we have desired.

May 26th, 1880, to May 26th, 1881.

When our new period commenced, we had in hand for these Objects £61 5s. 84d., viz., a sum which was a little more than would suffice for the current expenses of a single day.

June 5th. The income, up to this day, had been so small that our balance in hand was still further reduced, when, to-day, we received £150 from Ireland for Missions, for which we had no money at all left. Thus the Lord has very graciously again appeared on our behalf in answer to prayer. — June 27th. At the beginning of the second month of the new period, we had no money at all in hand for these Objects; and our 119 Schools, the extensive circulation of the Holy Scriptures, and Tracts, and our Missionary operations were needing help. What did we do under these circumstances? Only what we have done during the past forty-seven years. We made known our requests unto God; this was all we did. And now see, dear reader, how God was pleased to help us again, as He had done thousands of times before. — On June 29th, we received from Colchester £10. — On June 30th, from-Torquay £50. From Cardiff £90, with £10 for myself,

July 9th. From Derbyshire, for the Bible Fund £100. — July 12th. From Clifton £50. From the neighbourhood of Stockport, £100 for Missions. — July 17th. From Sussex, £51 19s. 9d. for Missions, with £13 for the Orphans. From Scotland £100. From Clifton, about two years ago, a railway debenture was received for 1,000 dollars, without coupons, up to this time. Therefore we could not sell the debenture. But now, in this our great need, it became negotiable; and, as it bore six per. cent interest, I obtained the high price of £261 for it. In like manner, about four years before, while preaching in Dublin, I received a Victoria Government Debenture for £100, intended one-half for Missions, one-fourth for the Schools, and one-fourth for the Orphans. This debenture I now sold, in this our great need, for £105. — -July 27th. As stated before, on June 27th we had no money at all in hand for the first four Objects of the Institution, but in the course of this one month the Lord was pleased to send us, in answer to much prayer, £1,936 4s. 113d. for these Objects. It is an unspeakably blessed thing to have in God an Almighty Friend, ever willing to listen to the supplications we offer in our time of need.

September 13th. From the neighbourhood of Witney £50 for Missions. Received?£150, with the following letter:

“My dear Mr. Müller,.

“I have read over your Report for 187980 with much pleasure, and with much spiritual benefit. I have just been delivered, without injury, from a very serious railway accident, by which three persons were killed, and about twenty, more or less, very much hurt; and I beg to enclose you £150 as a thank-offering to my Heavenly Father for protecting me in such perilous circumstances. Will you kindly apply £30 towards your travelling expenses as you see most needed 2”

September 21st. Received 5s., with the following letter : —

“Dear Sir,

““I enclose 5s. in postage stamps for whatever purpose you deem most needful. I am now reduced to one room, and the recipient myself of charity; but I lay aside weekly for the Lord a portion of whatever I am able to earn. This year it has been

less than usual, which will account for the smallness of my donation. That God may prosper you in all your works done for His glory, is the prayer of, Dear Sir, with Christian love,

“Yours respectfully, * * * *.”

This instance shows how the Lord supplies us with money through those also who are in very limited circumstances; and, at the same time, gives another illustration of how we may yet have the privilege of giving, though comparatively poor, if we do it systematically.

September 29th. From two believers, £25 for Missions, “given on their wedding day.” — September 30th. Received 54 coupons, amounting altogether to £177 19s. 7d. Again and again this donor has kindly sent us similar donations, which invariably have come in most seasonably. — October 2nd. From Yorkshire £1, “Instead of insuring the glass of the shop windows.” — October 7th. “From H. B., a thank-offering,” £100. — October 15th. Received £4 as “‘ A thank-offering to the Lord for sparing me for the last eighty-five years this month.”

October 26th. Received £318 7s., being the payment of a legacy. The testatrix not only was entirely unknown to me, but I had never even heard her name; yet the Lord inclined her heart, in answer to our daily supplications for help, to leave to me this Jegacy. — December Ist. From §. 8. £50 for Missions. December 11th. From Ireland £200 for Missions. A very seasonable help, as scarcely anything is left for this Object. — December 16th. From Ivy Lane, London, £84, with £21 for the Orphans. — December 27th, we have to-day only £10 6s. 113d. left for these Objects. The donors who have given during this month, and especially during the latter half of it, will see how seasonably their donations came in. Thus we prove continually the power of prayer, and are helped. Now observe, dear reader, how the Lord again appeared on our behalf on December 27th. We received from Scotland £12. From London £40 for Missions. — On the next day, December 28th, we received £20 from Hereford for Foreign Missions. From an Edinburgh donor, then at Ilfracombe, £80, with £20 for the Orphans. — December 29th. From Devonshire £50. — December 30th. From 8. 8. £50. — December 31st. From Paddington £30 for Missions, £20 for the School Fund, £10 for the Bible and Tract Fund, £50 for the Orphans, and £10 for myself. I have referred to these donations, to show how the Lord, in answer to our supplications, helped us, and also what varied instrumentality, in different places and countries, He was pleased to use.

1881. January Ist. From Kent £12 10s. for Missions, and £12 10s. for the Orphans. From Scotland £100. — January 6th. Received

£5 as “A thank-offering for answer to prayer in reference to my little girl, in the removal of a gathering, which threatened to destroy the sight of one of her eyes.” From Kent £50. — January 6th. From the neighbourhood of Henley-on-Thames £100. From Greenock £100. — January 17th. From Hampshire £150.

March Ist. Received 54 coupons, amounting altogether to £177 15s. 2d. This donation came in again most seasonably to help us with means for the first four Objects of the Institution. March 16th. When the funds for the first four Objects were almost entirely expended, and we were in great need of money for them, on account of expenses to be met in a few days, we received to-day from Sussex, for Missions, £165 10s. From Manchester £100. — March 22nd. From Ireland, for Missions, £200. Thus we were able to meet the heavy expenses which we had before us; but the money was only enough to do this, and we have nothing left this day, March 27th. What was now to be done, dear reader, under these circumstances, when all the money for the above Objects was again gone? I reply, we did what we have done for forty-seven years, that is, we waited continually upon God. This plan may be despised by some, ridiculed by others, and considered insufficient by a third class of persons; but, under every trial and every difficulty, we find prayer and faith to be our universal remedy; and, after having experienced for half a century their efficacy, we purpose, by God’s help, to continue waiting wpon Him, in order to show to an ungodly world, and to a doubting Church, that the Living God is still able and willing to answer prayer, and that it is the joy of His heart to listen to the supplications of His children. In Psalm ix. 10, the Divine testimony regarding Jehovah is, “They that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee.” Wr know Him, by His grace, and do therefore put our trust in Him. — On March 29th, 30th, and 31st, there came in £37 in various donations, besides £50 with 2 Cor. ix. 15.

April 20th. Two bonds (£100 each) of the Association of Land Financiers. — April 21st. With 2 Corinthians ix. 15, £50. — May 2nd. From Scotland £100.

May 26th, 1881, to May 26th, 1882.

At the commencement of our new financial year, we had in hand for these Objects, £124 6s. 24d., viz., a sum which would only supply the average expenses of three days.

June 7th. From a Scotch lady, then at Perth, £80 for these Objects, with £20 for the Orphans. — June 16th. From Yorkshire £190 for Foreign Missions. — June 17th. From Scotland £270, with £30 for my own personal expenses. “Saved during 23 weeks, by using y-lb. butter less per week, 8s. 7$d.” — June 21st. From Ireland £200 for Missions. Do you see, dear reader, that we do not wait upon the Lord in vain? He helps us, in answer to prayer. To Him alone we look, and we do not do so without being helped.

July 5th. Ald our money for these Objects was gone. Under

these circumstances I received this morning from a distance of several hundred miles, a cheque for £250. — July 13th. By sale of dentist gold, gold and silver articles, etc., for the Bible, Missionary, and Tract Fund, £44 5s., with £120 for the Orphans.

July 28th. The income has been for some time past only about the third part of the expenses. Consequently, all we have for the support of the Orphans is nearly gone; and for the first four Objects of the Institution we have nothing at all in hand. The natural appearance now is, that the work cannot be carried on. But I BELIEVE that the Lord will help, both with means for the Orphans and also for the other Objects of the Institution, and that we shall not be confounded; also, that the work will not need to be given up. Iam fully expecting help, and have written this to the glory of God, that it may be recorded hereafter for the encouragement of His children. The result will be seen. The foregoing was written at 7 a.m., July 28th, 1881. In the course of the day there came in altogether for the various Objects £69 11s. 103d. I am looking for further answers to prayer. — July 29th. The total income to-day has been £27 4s. 114d., and the expenses have been £230. But my hope is in God. As yet we have the means to meet our expenses, and I expect that we shall not be confounded, though for seven years we have not been so poor. — July 30th. Saturday. To-day £33 15s. has come in.

August Ist. Monday. The total income to-day has been £134 17s. Six, seven, eight times daily I am praying with my dear wife for means; we are looking out for answers, and we do not wait on the Lord in vain. — August 2nd. The total income to-day £130 4s — August yd. £61 18s. 2d — August 4th. £91 4s. 62d. — August 5th. There has come in £204 16s. 5d. for all the Objects to-day. Of late the outgoings have been about £200, sometimes nearly £300 per day; therefore the kindness of the Lord in giving us this day’s income is very great. We still pray daily, six, seven, eight times or more for means. — August 6th. Saturday. Total income £33. — August 8th. Monday. Total income £27. Above £300 was expended to-day. — August 9th. £20 has come in. — August 10th. £36 13s. 64d. was received to-day. — August 11th. In all £260. — August 12th. £46 15s. 74d. — August 13th. £22 5s. 84d. has been received to-day. This is Saturday. The outgoings of this week have been about £1,500. — August 15th. The balance for the Orphans is now reduced to £332 12s. 7d., lower than it has been for more than twenty-five years. This sum we have in hand to meet the daily expenses in connection with 2,100 persons. It is only enough for the average outgoings of 4i days. But our eyes are upon the Lord. I look to my Heavenly Provider. The total income of to-day has been £28 5s. 24d. — August 16th. The income to-day, after constant waiting upon God, has been for the Orphans £106 8s. 8d., and for the other Objects £39 13s. 10d. — August 17th. The income for the first four Objects has been £73 2s.; for the support of the Orphans £77 19s. 8d. — August 18th. £129 15s. 7$d. — August 19th. £64 6s. 10d. — August 20th. The total income was about £60. August 22nd. Monday. There has come in £17 for the first four Objects, and for the support of the Orphans £1,036; part of a legacy, left years ago, was paid, as the answer to many prayers.

On August 23rd my dear wife and myself left for the continent of Europe, that, as I had arranged before, I might enter upon my eighth long Preaching Tour*; and I had now to leave the whole responsibility of the Institution in the hands of my sonin-law, Mr. Wright, and his numerous efficient helpers, the value of whose assistance I had long experienced. My dear wife and I could wait upon God in distant lands, and trust in Him for help regarding the work at home, quite as well as we could in Bristol, and this we did habitually. The following record will show how greatly the faith of Mr. Wright and of our fellow-helpers was exercised, but also how our united waiting upon God, they at home, and we thousands of miles off, was recompensed, and how, day by day, the wants of the Institution were supplied, and it remained in existence to enter upon the new period from May 26th, 1882, to May 26th, 1883.

September 7th. ‘To-day the income for these Objects has been £17 8s. 4d., and the expenses have been £167 6s. 4d. The income for the Orphans has been £40 2s. 4d., but the expenses have been £288 7s. 7d. Under these circumstances ALL we do is, to wait upon God; to Him alone we look, and we are helped. — The next day, September 8th, the income for the Orphans was £73 15s. 14d., and the expenses were £242 16s. 3d.September 12th. From Edinburgh, in a bank order, £10 for Missions, £10 for the Orphans, and £5 for my own personal expenses.

October Ist. From the neighbourhood of Oxford, from a donor who has often helped us, when we were in great need, £153 14s. 3d. — October 11th. The total of the income for the various Objects of the Institution has been to-day £71 18s. 7d., and the total of the expenses £513 Os. 3d. Again and again it is thus, so it is necessary that the eye of faith be steadily fixed upon the Lord and His precious promises, in order that the heart be kept in peace. Read in connection with this last sentence, the following letter, written on October 12th, and sent from a considerable distance : —

“My dear Sir,

“Please receive cheque for one hundred pounds, to assist you in your good work in connection with your Orphan-Homes, which the Spirit has moved me to send, in answer to your prayers; and may God abundantly bless all your efforts!”

*For details of these Preaching Tours see Chapter XVII.

Notice, that the donor writes: ‘‘ which the Spirit has moved me to send, in answer to your prayers.” This was truly the case. The donation came in answer to our many prayers. October 19th. We have nothing at all in hand for the School, Bible, Missionary, and Tract Fund. — October 20th. Admire the Lord’s kindness, dear Christian reader. In this our poverty, having not a single penny in hand for the first four Objects of this Institution, we received £400 for them, £90 for the Orphans, and £10 for myself, from the neighbourhood of Manchester.

November 10th. Received £1 10s., with the following letter : —

Dear Mr. Müller,

“Since I began to subscribe a pound each year to the Lord’s work under your charge, He has been pleased to bless me in my undertakings, instead of being poor in consequence. I am astonished to find that the more He lays it on my heart to give to His cause, the more I increase in means even here, so that I lose nothing by giving, even now, and then the joy of knowing that it will all be credited when we are taken to be for ever with Himself, Matt. xxv. 40.”

November 14th. Received from Ireland for Missions £200. — November 26th. From the neighbourhood of Hurstpierpoint £100 for the first four Objects of the Institution, £70 for the support of the Orphans, and £30 for my own personal expenses. ‘This donation was received by afternoon mail, when the balance in hand for the first four Objects was only £8 Os. 82d. Admire, dear Christian reader, with us the Lord’s kindness and faithfulness, who thus continually, for the sake of our Lord Jesus, in answer to our believing, expecting prayers, is pleased to help us.

December 15th. Received £200, of which £90 was for these Objects, £75 for the support of the Orphans, £25 for my own expenses, and £10 for Tracts in various languages, Gospels, etc. December 21st. For the first four Objects £50, with £50 for the Orphans. The donor of this £100 is 82 years of age, and has been a believer 62 years. He had left £100 as a legacy, by his Will, for this Institution, but decided to pay it in his lifetime, and thus to save the legacy duty. — December 31st. On the last day of the year we received for these Objects from believers near Tretherne £6 for Missions. From Paddington £30 for Missions, £30 for the School, Bible, and Tract Fund. Also £5 from Bristol.

January 2nd. From Scotland £100, with £10 for myself. From the Cape of Good Hope £2, with the following deeply important letter : —

“My dear Mr. Müller,

“Herewith I send you a Post Office order for £2, to be used

as you think best. Believe me, my dear Mr. Miller, yours faithfully, * * **. P.S. My last contribution was made in lieu of insuring my house against fire. Soon after it was burnt with most of its contents. ‘This I believe was permitted to try my faith. It has been tried, and, I trust, strengthened. I have been enabled to rebuild my house on a smaller scale, but have no intention to insure it, except as before, by trusting in the Lord. With Christ Jesus He gives us all blessings, and if He sees good to take away some of them, it ill becomes His children to murmur or to doubt His Word, that ‘ all things work together for good to them that love Giod.’”

May I beg the Christian reader again and again to ponder this last sentence, and indeed the whole of this postscript. I have now been for 56 years and 9 months a believer in the Lord Jesus; many scores have been my trials, difficulties, and losses; but regarding EVERY ONE OF THEM, without a single exception, I~ have found already in this life, that they have worked for my good, and I have had to praise God for them all.

January 10th. From Scotland £120, with £30 for myself.

January 18th. A lady sent £250 for Home and Foreign Missions, and £250 for the support of the Orphans, as “A thank-offering to my Heavenly Father, in grateful remembrance of His many mercies, patience, and long-suffering with one so undeserving.” The lady had intended to leave this £500 by Will to the Institution, but now prefers to pay the money in her lifetime, whereby £50 is saved for the Institution, as no legacy duty is to be paid. The £250 for Home and Foreign Missions came in very seasonably, as the funds for these Objects were almost entirely exhausted.

February 14th. Received £2, with the following letter : — “Dear Sir,

“Enclosed I beg to send £2 for the Orphan-Houses or for other purposes, at your discretion. Your work is an incentive to thousands of Christians to complete trust in God.”

Regarding the last sentence I can only add, May it be so more and more!

February 26th, The funds for the first four Objects of the Institution are again reduced to nothing. There is not one penny in hand for them. — March 2nd. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £150, and £50 for the Orphans. — March 21st. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven £50. With 2 Cor. ix. 15, £50. — March 22nd. Received in our poverty, 41 coupons, amounting to £157, and a dividend warrant for £21 10s. 10d., from a donor whom the Lord has often used to help us, when in great need. Thus we were, for the moment, again delivered out of our difficulties.

April 1st. From Ireland £200 for labourers in the Gospel. —

May lst. With 2 Cor. ix. 15, £80. As “a thank-offering for letting a house without a house-agent, £3.” May 17th. — From India £37 16s. — May 26th. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £217.

After having been many times during the past year without one penny for these Objects, we were brought to the close of this period with the small balance of 13s. 74d. in hand.

Decision to close a third of the Day-Schools.

* The expenditure for the support of the Orphans during the year ending May 26th, 1882, exceeded the income to the amount of £488 Os. 94d. There were also some bills which were paid a few days after May 26th. These bills, though not strictly overdue, would have been paid prior to the 26th of May had we had a balance in hand. The £488 Os. 94d. carried to the next year’s account was more than covered by the income for the support of the Orphans before a month of the new year had elapsed. This excess of liabilities over the actual income does not represent debt, that is abilities which we had nothing to meet, because the Institution is possessed of land surrounding the Houses to the value of several thousand pounds. Moreover, the five Houses, erected at a cost of about £115,000, are entirely unencumbered.

Nevertheless, as our position financially was an entirely new one, we desired to listen to the voice of our Lord in thus dealing with us, and to learn the lesson He would teach us. In thus waiting upon Him, we came to the conclusion that, for some time past, a disproportionately large sum had been spent upon the Day-School branch of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. To meet the heavy claims of this branch, we had to apply to it almost all the donations which were left to our own disposal; and thus we could not place to the Orphan Fund, as well as to the Bible, Missionary, and Tract Fund, as much as we should have done, had not the Day-Schools needed so much. This will account for the expenditure of the Orphan work being greater than the income. Acting therefore, upon one of the main principles, on which this Institution at first was founded and always has been carried on, never to enlarge it by contracting debt, we determined to lessen the expenditure on account of the Day-Schools; and, within three weeks of the close of the last yearly period, notices were sent, accordingly, to the teachers and managers of twenty-three Day-Schools, out of seventy-two, entirely supported by the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, that the said twenty-three schools would be closed in three months from that date. Sorrowing as we do at the necessity for this step, we are satisfied that it is the only way in which we can go on with a good conscience, and so count upon the Lord’s continued blessing.

*This paragraph is from the Report for 1882, 31

May 26th, 1882, to May 26th, 1583.

We began the year with the balance of 13s. 74d. in hand, for the first four Objects of the Institution — May 29th. From Manchester £50 for these Objects, with £50 for the Orphans. — June 5th. There came in £70 from Bath, with £20 for the Orphans, and £10 for my own personal expenses. — June 8th. There was sent from Edinburgh £40, with £10 for the Orphans.

Thus, within the first few days of the new period, God was pleased, by giving these and some other smaller donations, to refresh and comfort us, and afterwards sent other amounts for these Objects, which were larger still.

June 17th. There was received from Scotland £150 for these first four Objects, with £150 for the support of the Orphans, and £50 for my own personal expenses. On the same day £50 arrived from another Scotch donor for these Objects, with £50 for the Orphans. — June 22nd. From Ireland for Missions £200. On June 23rd, we obtained £8 16s. 7d. from Swanton, Ohio; and thus, before one month of the new period had passed, had received about £1,800 for these Objects, as the result of waiting upon God, and of speaking to Him only, in childlike simplicity about our wants.

July 25th. A Bristol donor gave £50 for these Objects, and £50 for the Orphans, instead of leaving this amount in his Will.

September 26th. Received £5 5s., with the following letter from a physician : —

‘““My dear Mr. Müller,

“Yesterday a Christian friend put one of your Reports into my hand. I am simply astounded at the blessed results of prayer and faith. God grant in future I may go to my knees in a very different spirit! I consider your ‘ Brief Narrative ’ the most wonderful and complete refutation of scepticism it has ever been my lot to meet with. I enclose a cheque for £5 5s.; use it as you like, you know best. Yours in the Lord Jesus, * * * *.”

The money was taken for the first four Objects. To produce such results, I began nearly half a century ago to labour as I did, and, God be praised! I have not laboured in vain. Thousands of such testimonies I have had while yet in the body; but hundreds of thousands I expect to have in the glory. — September 30th. Received 41 coupons and 1 dividend warrant from a donor in Berkshire, amounting altogether to £175 2s. id. This kind Christian gentleman has often been the Lord’s instrument in helping us, and often when in great need; thus it was also when this donation was received. We had nothing at all in hand for these Objects.

November 11th. Received from Yorkshire £150 for Foreign Missions, with £150 for the Orphans. On the same day £2 came in, with the following letter from the neighbourhood of Edinburgh : —

“Dear Sir.

“My dear wife departed this life on the 24th October. She was in the habit of laying aside one halfpenny each day for the Mission in Spain. The last she sent was in August last year. She requested me to make it up to the day of her death, and send it to you. I now enclose £1 for the Mission in Spain, and £1 for the Orphans; and that God may bless the work in your hands, is my earnest prayer!”

December 2nd. From a Bristol donor £80, with £20 for the Orphans. “This Christian donor decided to give this amount in his lifetime, instead of bequeathing it by Will”’ — December 30th. From 8. 8. £50 for Foreign Missions. From Hereford £25 for Missions. Thus to the end of the year 1882 we were helped, the Lord enabling us to meet the demands connected with the first four Objects, and about £100 was left in hand on December 30th, 1882.

January Ist. On the first day of the New Year the Lord sent us further supplies, of which I only mention £100 from Scotland. January 12th. Legacy of the late Miss S. M., £636 Os. 8d. for the Bible, Missionary, and Tract Fund, with £954 1s. 1d. for the Orphans. The lady who kindly left these two sums, I never saw, nor knew anything of her until we were informed about the legacy. The reader, I trust, will see the hand of God in this, to whom we look for help, and who is pleased for the sake of the Lord Jesus to listen to the supplication of His children. — January 15th. From Scotland £120, with £30 for the Orphans, and £20 for myself. — January 18th. From Sussex £50 for Missions, £50 for Missions to the Jews, £70 for the Orphans, and £30 for myself. From ‘“Hants” £100 for the Bible and Mission Fund. — January 24th. Received £100 as “a thanksgiving from Hssex.”’

February 9th. From H. B. £100. — March 26th. From St. Gallen, Switzerland, £7 18s. 8d. — March 27th. From believers at Cork £10 for Missions. From St. Petersburg two gold rings (one set with diamonds and rubies) for Missions — April 9th. From Paris £100, with £50 for the Orphans. — April 10th. From Wales £100, with £80 for the Orphans and £20 for myself. — From Dublin £50. — April 23rd. From a Bristol donor £80, with £20 for the Orphans. — April 24th. From Sussex £80 15s. 8d. May yd. From Berkshire 41 coupons and 2 dividend warrants, value £194 14s. 10d. — May 26th. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £300.

May 26th, 1883, to May 26th, 1884.

We began our new period with £610 18s. 103d. in hand for these Objects, a balance Jarger than we have had for several years.

June 7th. Received from H. C. J. £40, with £10 for the Orphans. — June 18th. From Scotland £200, with £50 for the Orphans, and £25 for myself. — July 7th. From Scotland £100. July 28th. From Essex £50. — July 3lst. From Manchester £200. — August Ist. From the neighbourhood of Newcastle-on-Tyne £100, with £100 for the Orphans. — September 18th. From the Isle of Wight £50, with £50 for the Orphans. — September 26th. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £250, with £250 for the Orphans. — October 12th. From Yorkshire £150 for Foreign Missions, with £150 for the Orphans. — December ith. Balance of the legacy of the late Miss 8. A. W. L. - £82 13s. 4d. for Missions, and £82 13s. 4d. for the Orphans.

December 31st. From a Christian widow in Liverpool £3 14s. 10d., being one penny in the pound of all her takings in the year, in memory of her departed mother; and £7 9s. 7d. for the Orphans, being twopence in the pound, together with £2 5s., the total of her receipts on the anniversary day of the opening of her business. This widow has trusted in God from the time she became a widow, and has been helped.

1884,
Total received more than a million pounds.

January 1st. From Paddington, £10 for the School Fund, £50 for Missions, £50 for the Orphans, and £10 for myself. — January 24th. From Hampshire £100 for the Bible and Mission Fund, £200 for the Orphans, and £50 for my own expenses. From Sussex £50 for Missions and £100 for the Orphans.

March 4th. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who had a legacy left to them, and who, constrained by the love of Christ, lay up treasure in heaven, £500, with £500 for the Orphans. — To-day, March 5th, it is fifty years, since, by the help of God, I founded this Institution. Since that I have received for it, in answer to prayer, a million and ten thousand pounds sterling. March 8th. From Scotland £60, with £50 for the Orphans. — March 11th. From Haverstock Hill, for Missions in China, £50. In 41 coupons, £153 14s. 7d. from a donor who has repeatedly helped us in a similar way, and when we were in need, so that his donations were obtained as marked answers to our prayers. — March 12th. From the neighbourhood of Manchester £150, with £50 for the Orphans. This kind Christian gentleman also the Lord has again and again used, in answer to our prayers, to help us in time of need. — May 20th. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £750, with £750 for the Orphans. From Worcester, £69 6s. 2d. for Missions, with £15 for myself. Thus the Lord brought us to the last day of the financial year of the Institution, and enabled us to do a little in connection with its various departments.

May 26th, 1884, to May 26th, 1885.

We commenced the financial year of the Institution with a balance of £523 Os. 6d. in hand. — June 26th. From Scotland £130. — July 11th. From Sussex £46 3s. 2d. for Missions in India, with £15 for the support of one Orphan for one year. — July 26th. From Dundee £50. — August 8th. From Radlett, for Indian Missions, £50. — August 11th. From Crawford County, US.A., £40 17s. 3d., and 50 dollars — August 12th. From Yorkshire £150 for Foreign Missions, with £150 for the Orphans, and £10 for myself. — August 30th. From Manchester £100 for the Bible Fund, £100 for Missions, and £100 for the support of the Orphans.

September 6th. Received coupons, amounting to £153 14s. 7d. for these Objects — September 20th. Received from a Christian gentleman in business the following letter, with £20 : —

“* Dear Sir,

“I enclose cheque, which I hope will arrive safely, £15 for the Orphans and £5 for Foreign Missions. This makes the 34th year since I first read your Narrative, which decided me to give a certain portion of my income every year, and God has prospered me, and returned it to me in many ways, which I never could have expected. Since I read your Narrative, I think I must have given away about £3,000 to various objects, and I know I am only the richer for it. My example has been followed by several of my friends.”

October 9th. Received from Vienna, Austria, the following letter, with £1 1s. : —

“Dear Mr. Müller,

“Enclosed I send you £1 1s. A few days ago I received your last Report, which is more faith-strengthening and soul-refreshing than many a sermon. It was so particularly to me, after I had just had to wade through the speech of some French infidel, who boldly affirms that of all the millions of prayers uttered every day not one is answered. I wish I could have sent him your plain but wonderful statement of facts.” Etc.

October 14th. From Scotland £100. From the neighbourhood of Manchester £160. From Southport £40.

December 11th. Received £80 from an entire stranger in Worcestershire.

January Ist. Twenty-one donations came in this day for these Objects, amounting altogether to £162 4s. 6d. — January 12th. From Scotland £100, with the following letter : —

“Dear Sir,

“Enclosed find bank order for £100, ten of which please to

take for your own use, the remainder to be applied to whichever eer Fo ey ee department of the Lord’s work, in which you are engaged, you think best. I owe you many thanks for leading me to see the Christian duty of giving, and that systematically, to the Lord’s cause. It is blessed to do so, and I have felt it. I began with giving a tenth, but gradually increased until for some years I have given half of all the profits from my business; and this year, as a thank-offering to the Lord for restored health, I am giving Him all the profits, which accounts for the sum being larger than formerly.”

January 22nd. From Surrey £50 for Missions. — January 23rd. From Hampshire £50 for the Bible and Mission Fund, £200 for the Orphans, and £50 for myself. From Hurstpierpoint £50 for Missions, and £50 for the Orphans. — February 19th. From Scotland £125, with £15 for myself — February 25th. From one of the former Orphans £1 5s., with the following letter : —

“Dear and beloved Sir,

“I put by a little every week last year for my dear Saviour out of my own earnings, independantly of what my husband gave me for housekeeping, as I do a little needlework when I can get it. For every piece of work under a shilling, I put by a halfpenny; and a penny for every piece of work above a shilling. I have sent £1 of what I put by. It is my birthday to-day, and my. sister in London has sent me 5s. as a present. It will give me far more pleasure to give the money back to my dear Saviour, as a thank-offering for all He has done for me; please to accept the sum of £1 5s., and use it for whatever you think best. You will be pleased to hear that my dear Saviour is still very precious to me, and J try to keep very close to Him.”

March 5th. From a Berkshire donor 41 coupons and a New Zealand warrant, amounting altogether to £173 19s. 3d. — -March 10th. From Croydon £50. — March 13th. From H. B. £100.

April 16th. Day after day, for about six weeks (with rare exceptions), the income has been comparatively little. During the past week, from April 8th to April 15th, the total income was £268 10s. 53d., instead of about £800 required. What was to be done under these circumstances? More prayer, more patience, and the continuation of the exercise of faith, our universal remedy under all difficulties, was all we did. We encouraged ourselves in God. We continued to look to Him for help. And now, to-day, He has again appeared on our behalf; altogether about £140 has come in.

May 2nd. From London £50 for Foreign Missions, and £45 3s. for the School, Bible, and Tract Fund. — May 18th. Legacy of the late D. B., Esq., £144 5s., with £36 1s. 4d. for the Orphans. May 26th. With 2 Cor. ix. 15, £7.

THe Five New OrpHan House

SOME OF THEIR LirrLe INMATEs.