The Work of Faith Through George Müller

Here is no book in the whole realm of spiritual

literature which has proven -such a faith tonic to the writer as the “Life of George Miller,” which he read early in his ministry. The price of that book being so high as to place it above the reach of some, we have long felt that an abridgment, giving the cream of his whole life, would prove a benediction to multitudes of believers who otherwise would never have it. That a person so well equipped as the gifted editor of this book should be enabled to place it in its present shape, we consider a special providence of God, for which we are very grateful. May it stimulate multitudes to “do exploits” for God, and prove the verity of the promise which declares that all things are possible “to him that

believeth!”
M. W. KNAPP.
2 FIRST COPY,

IN the life of “the modern apostle of faith” we see a godless, pleasure-loving young man turning his

thought to the salvation of others; becoming a minister of ¿he gospel; relinquishing his salary; resolving never to ask any man for support; putting from his Church every appliance for obtaining money; selling all he had, and giving to the poor; stepping out alone with God; and, by prayer and faith, beginning a work that is world-wide and unexampled in the history of even saintly men.

The first year there was given to Mr. Miller, in answer to prayer for the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, a few hundred dollars. The last year he received $137,000.

He first rented a home for orphans that would accommodate thirty; then he rented others. At last he built one Orphan House, then another, and another, until five immense buildings, accommodating 2,050 orphans, stood on Ashley Down, a colossal monument of one man’s faith in God.

The first house cost $25,000; the second about $105,000; the third about $115,000; the fourth about $150,000; the fifth about $180,000; the total cost reaching about $575,000. Then the yearly expenditure for the 3 orphans was finally over $100,000 annually, irrespective of occasional outlays for emergencies, such as sanitary precautions, which, in one case, cost $4,000.

Mr. Müller desired to be a missionary, and in the first eight years of his Christian life offered himself sev- - eral times; but this was not God’s will. He was to be used far more in Europe than if he had gone to India. Meanwhile, he felt it a privilege to give every pound he could for missionary objects, and prayed the Lord to „send him money for missions. It began to come in small sums, and afterward increased, until he received thousands of pounds at a time. He received, for missions alone, $1,267,500, and sent to hundreds of missionaries in all parts of the world.

He began with one school at Bristol, and God enabled him to found schools, in different parts of the world, in which he had 122,000 scholars. From among these God gave him 20,000 souls.

“But,” as A. T. Pierson says in his recent beautiful book, entitled “George Müller, of Bristol” (Baker & Taylor Co., New York; price, $1.50), “his great life-work includes much outside of the Institution — his work as preacher, pastor, witness, and author. His preaching covered over seventy years, during which he averaged three sermons a week, over ten thousand for his lifetime.

“His Church-life was blessed in tangible results. During the first two and one-half years of work in Bristol, 227 members were added, about half new converts. Probably thousands were brought to Christ by his preaching, exclusive of orphans converted on Ashley Down. Then when we think of the vast number impressed by his addresses, and the still vaster number who have read his narrative, books, and tracts, and in other ways felt the quickening power of his example and life, we shall get some conception, still inadequate, of the range of the influence he wielded by his tongue and his pen, his labors and his life. Much of the best influence defies all tabulated statistics; it is like the fragrance of the alabaster flask which fills all the house, but escapes our grosser senses of sight, hearing, and touch. This part of George Müller’s work we can not summarize; it belongs to a realm we can not penetrate. But God sees, knows, and will reward it.

“Such a life and work are the result of one habit more than all else: daily and. frequent communion with God...

“If George Miller could still speak to us, he would repeat again the warning, not to think him a miracle worker, as though his experience was so exceptional as to have little application to the ordinary sphere of life. and service. God calls disciples to various forms of work; but all alike to the same faith. Every child of God should get into the sphere appointed by God, and there live by faith upon God’s Word of promise.”

To one who asked the secret of his service, Mr. Müller said, “There was a day when I died, utterly died;” and as he spoke he bent lower and lower, until he almost touched the floor; “died to George Miller, his opinions, preferences, tastes, and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the blame or approval of brothers and friends; and since then I have studied only to show myself approved unto God.” (2 Tim. ii, 15.)

Again he said: “My whole life is one service for God. Caring for the children is the mere instrumentality. My heart bled for the poor orphans, and Idesired to see them well-housed and fed; but that was not my motive. My heart desired to give them a good education; but that was not my motive. My heart longed for their salvation; but that was not my motive. The glory of God, that it might be seen by the whole world and the whole Church, that yet in these days God listens to prayer, and is the same in power and love as ever; to illustrate that, 1 have devoted my whole life.”

And the thousands to-day who follow his footsteps of faith are a tangible testimony that he did not so devote

his life in vain. e
ABBIE C. MORROW.
471 WEST 145TH STREET, NEW YORK,

Keep reading