Asking and Receiving
An. 20, 1839 — “Ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will, ye may do them good.” (Mark xiv, 7.) The Lord spoke these words to His disciples, themselves very poor. The shildren of God have power, with God, to bring temporal blessings upon poor saints, or poor unbelievers, through prayer. I have been led to ask the Lord for means to assist poor saints. At different times He has stirred up His children to intrust me with sums for that especial object, or put money at my disposal which I might so use. In like manner, I had been asking for mean to more extensively assist the poor saints in communion with us, as many are not merely tried by the usual difficulties, it being winter, but especially by the high price of bread. This evening the Lord answered. A brother gave me one hundred and twenty pounds to provide the poor saints with coal, clothing, and bread. This money lasted till the price of bread was reduced. Feb. 7 — A remarkable day as regards funds. No money in hand. I waited on God repeatedly, but no supplies came. Brother T called to tell me that one pound two shillings would be needed for bread for the three houses, and to meet other expenses; bat we had only two shillings ninepence, taken out of the boxes in the Orphan Houses yesterday. He went to Clifton to make arrangements for the reception of three orphans. Though we have no funds, the work goes on, and our confidence is not diminished. I requested him to call, 66 on his way back, to see if the Lord had sent any money. When he came 1 had received nothing; but one of the laborers gave five shillings. It was now four o’clock. I knew not how the sisters got through the day. Toward evening, I went to the Girls’ Orphan House to meet with the brethren for prayer. A box had just come from Barnstable. The carriage was paid, else there would have been no money to pay it. The box contained in a letter from a sister, ten pounds, eight for the orphans, and two for the Bible fund; from brethren at Barnstable, two pounds; and from another brother, five shillings. There were four yards of merino, three pairs of new shoes, two pairs of new socks; also to sell, six books, a gold pencil-case, two rings, two earrings, a necklace and a silver pencil-case. On inquiry how the sisters had been carried through the day, I found it thus: everything needed for dinner was in the houses. Alter dinner, a lady from Thornbury bought one of my narratives and one report, and gave three shillings. About five minutes afterward, the baker came to the Boys’ Orphan House. The matron of the Girls’ Orphan House, seeing him, went immediately with the six shillings sixpence just received, and bought bread, to the amount of four shillings sixpence, for the boys. The remainder served to buy bread for the girls. By the donations in the box I was able to give a rich supply to the matrons before the close of the day.
Feb 13 — A gentleman and lady visited the Orphan Houses, and met, at the Boys’ Orphan House, two ladies likewise visiting. One lady said to the matron: “Of course you can not carry on these Institutions without a good stock of funds?’ ‘The gentleman, turning to the matron, said, “Have you a good stock?” She replied: “Our funds are deposited in a bank which can not break.” The tears came into the eyes of the inquiring lady. The gentleman, on leaving, gave to the master of the boys five pounds. I had not a penny in hand.
July 2 — To-day were given me, when there was not one shilling in hand, fifty pounds for the school, Bible, and missionary fund. bs.
Sept. 4 — 1 have been led to pray whether it is the Lord’s will for me to leave Bristol for a season, as I have, for the last fortnight, been suffering physically. There is one hindrance — want of means for the orphans, and for my own expenses. To-day I received a check for seven pounds for the orphans, which came seasonably. Four pounds besides have come in since day before yesterday.
Sept. 5 — To-day a sister sent five pounds to be used for the benefit of my health.
Sept. 7 — Trowbridge. A good day. Much commuvion with the Lord. How kind to take me from the work in Bristol for a season, to give me more communion with Himself! I am surrounded with kind friends, under whose roof I feel quite at home. My room is far better than I need; yet an easy chair, in my weak state of body, would have added to my comfort. Tn the afternoon T found one in my room. I was struck with the kindness of my Heavenly Father, in- being mindful of the smallest comforts of His child. Having had more prayer than usual, my intercourse with the saints at tea was with unction, and more than usually profitable.
Sept. 9. — Returned to Bristol, to go, to-morrow, to Exeter, if the Lord permit, on account of my health. I had been earnestly asking the Lord, while staying at Trowbridge, that He would be pleased to send in supplies for the orphans before I go to Devonshire, and had the fullest assurance. I asked my wife, on my return, how much had come in. It was about eight pounds. This was not as much as I expected, and would not enable me to leave enough. My reply was, “The Lord will send more before I leave.” An hour after, Brother .Craik brought me ten pounds, and a letter announcing the arrival of a large box of articles to be sold for the ` benefit of the orphans.
Dec. 31 — My health is much better than for years. My mental powers are,as good as at any time during the last three years. I ascribe’ this to God’s blessing in leading me to the practice of early rising, by the remark of a brother on the sacrifices in Leviticus: “As not the refuse of animals was to be offered up, so the best part of our time should be especially given to communion with the Lord.” I had been rather an early riser in former years. But since the nerves of my head had been so weak, I had not risen until between six and seven, and sometimes after. For the same reason, I brought myself purposely into the habit of sleeping a quarter or half an hour after dinner. In this way my soul had suffered, as often unavoidable work came upon me before I had had sufficient time for prayer and reading the Word. After the remark to which I have alluded, I determined that, whatever my body might suffer, I would no longer let the most precious part of the day pass away while I was in bed. By the grace of God I was enabled, the next day, to rise earlier, and have continued ever since. I allow myself about seven hours’ sleep, which, though
I am far from strong, and have much’to tire me mentally,
I find is quite sufficient. I gave up sleeping after dinner. I have thus been able to procure long and precious seasons for prayer and meditation before breakfast; and as to my body, the nervous system in particular, I have been much better since. The worst thing 1. could have done for my weak nerves was to have lain longer in bed than I used to do before my illness; for it was the way to keep them weak. But children of God should be careful not to allow themselves too little sleep. To remain tdo long in bed is: $
1. Waste of time. It is unbecoming a saint, bought
by the precious blood of Jesus, with his time and all he
has to be used for the Lord. If we sleep more than is needful for the refreshment of the body, we waste time intrusted us as a talent, to be used for His glory, and the benefit of others.
2. An injury to the body. As when we take too - much food, we are injured, so lying in bed longer than is needful for the strengthening of the body weakens it.
3. An injury to the soul. It leads to many evils. Any one need but make the experiment of spending one, two, or three hours in prayer and meditation before breakfast, either in his room, or with his Bible in his hand in the fields, and he will soon find the beneficial effect rising early has on the outward and inward man.
How set about rising early?
1. Commence at once; delay it not. To-morrow begin to rise.
2. Do not depend upon your own strength. As surely
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eo 2 as you do, it will come to nothing. If any one rises, to give the time taken from sleep to prayer and meditation, Satan will put obstacles in the way.
3. Trust in the Lord for help. You will honor Him if you expect help from Him. Pray for help, expect help, and you will have it.
4. Use, however, the following means:
a. Go early to bed. If you stay up late, you can not rise early. Let no society keep you from going’ habitually early to bed. If you fail in this, you neither can nor ought to get up early, as your body requires rest. Keep also, particularly, in mind, that neither for body nor soul is it the same thing whether you go to bed late and rise late, or whether you go to bed early and rise early. It is injurious to sit up late, and spend the morning hours in bed; but much more important still to retire early and rise early, to make sure of time for prayer and meditation before the business of the day commences, and thus obtain spiritual strength for the conflict.
b. Let some one call you at the time which you have before determined to rise.
c. Rise at once when awake. Remain not a minute longer in bed, else you will fall asleep.
d. Be not discouraged by feeling drowsy and tired in consequence of early rising. This will wear off. After a few days you will feel stronger and fresher than when you used to lie longer than you needed.
e. Allow yourself always the same hours for sleep. Make no change except sickness oblige you.
Jan. 1, 1840. — About one hour after midnight, I received a sealed paper with money for the orphans. The individual who gave it was in debt, and had been repeatedly asked by her creditors for payment. I resolved, without opening the paper, to return it, as no one has a right to give while in debt. This was done when I knew there was not enough in hand to meet the expenses of the day.. About eight this morning, a brother brought five pounds, just received from his mother, for the orphans. Observe, the brother is led to bring it at once! Jan. 25 — Much in prayer this week about going to Germany, to see certain brethren who purpose to go as missionaries to the East Indies, and to see my father once more, because my health is again failing so it seems desirable I should leave Bristol. Thus P can continue to serve in the work of the Lord, and attend to my health. Lord, keep me from making a mistake!
Mar. 9. — During my absence of one month, the Lord not only supplied all the need of the orphans, but on my return I found more than when I left. The donations had amounted to about ninety pounds.
Mar. 17. — Received the following letter from a broher who, several times, had been used by the Lord to supply our need, and who, two months since, sent thirty pounds.
“I have received a little money. Have you any present need for the Institution? T know you do not ask,
except of Him; but to answer when asked seems another and a right thing. I have reason for desiring to know the present state of your means. Should you not have need, other departments of the Lord’s work, or other people of the Lord, may have. Kindly inform me what amount you need, or can profitably lay out.”
When this letter came we were indeed in need. But I considered I ought to continue telling the Lord alone, or the principal object of the work, to help the saints generally to increased dependence upon God alone, would be frustrated. I answered:
“Thank you for your love. I agree with you that, in general, there is a difference between asking for money and answering when asked; but in our case, I do not feel at liberty to speak about our funds, as the primary object of the work is to lead those weak in faith to see * “there is reality in dealing with God alone.”
Having sent the answer, I was led to pray: “Lord, for Thy sake I did not tell this brother about our need. Show afresh that there is reality in speaking to Thee only about our need, and speak to this brother, that he may help us.”
To-day, in answer to my request, this brother sent one hundred pounds. Thus I have means for establishing the infant school, ordering more Bibles, and for the orphans. When the money came, there was not one penny.
Apr. 7. — This evening, received information from my little half-brother, that my dear father died on March 30th. During no period did I pray more frequently or earnestly for the conversion of my dear, aged parent than during the last year of his life; but it did not please the Lord to let me see the answer to my prayers.
Apr. 9. — We are sending money to the East Indies for missionary objects. Whilst I was on my knees respecting it, five pounds was brought for it.
May 3. — Last evening a brother was baptized, who on the first Lord’s-day of this year came with his intended wife to Bethesda Chapel. Both were unconverted. SinceApril 1st, forty-one persons have come to speak about their souls.
May 10. — Five orphans were baptized. There are now fourteen in fellowship.
June 22. — To-morrow, the Lord Hilos I purpose, with my wife, to accompany the German brethren and sisters to Liverpool, who sail from thence. Desirable to * leave a little money behind. This desire the Lord granted. This morning D. C. gave me five pounds, and there came in by sale of articles ten shillings. In-the evening a sister, who left Bristol to-day, sent five pounds.
August 1. — A few days since a brother was staying with me, on his way to his father, whom he had not seen for above two years, and who was greatly opposed to him, on account of decided steps taken for the Lord. Before this brother left, that promise was brought to my mind, “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. xviii, 19.) Accordingly, 1 went to the brother’s room, and we prayed together about a kind reception from his father and the conversion of both parents. To-day this brother returned. The Lord has answered already part of the prayer. He was most kindly received. The father lived until about eighty-six years of age, and as he continued a life of sin the prospect of his conversion became darker and darker. But at last the Lord answered prayer. This aged sinner was entirely changed, simply rested on the Lord Jesus for the salvation of his soul, and became as much attached to his believing son as he had been before opposed to him, and wished to have him about as much as possible, to read the Holy Scriptures and pray with him.
September 8. — The Lord so ordered it that for some time past the income for the school fund has been small, that thus we might be constrained to let the laborers in the day schools share our joys and trials of faith, which had been before kept from them! But as two. years ago the Lord so ordered that it became needful to communicate to the laborers in the Orphan Houses the state of funds, and made it a blessing to them, so that I am now able to leave Bristol and the work go on, so, I doubt not, the brethren and sisters, teachers in the day schools, will be greatly blessed by being thus partakers of our precious secret respecting the state of funds. Our prayer-meetings have been already a blessing, and united us more than ever in the work. We have them now every morning at seven, and shall continue them, the Lord helping us, till we see His hand stretched forth, not merely in giving us means for the teachers, but for other purposes.
Sept. 21. — A brother from near London gave me ten pounds, to be laid out as most needed. As we have been praying many days for the school, Bible, and missionary funds, I took it all for them. This brother knew nothing about our work when he came three days since to Bristol. Thus the Lord raises up new helpers. “He that believeth on Him shall not be confounded.” (1 Peter 1i,’6.) Some who help may fall asleep in Jesus; others grow cold in the service of the Lord; others be desirous to help, but have no longer the means; others have a willing heart and means, but see it is the Lord’s will to lay them out another way. ‘Thus, were we to lean on man, we should surely be confounded; but in leaning upon the living God, we are beyond disappointment and beyond being forsaken because of death, want of means, want of love, or the claims of other work.
Oct. 26. — Yesterday morning, taking my hat from the rail, I found a note in one of my gloves, containing five pounds, with the words, “Two pounds for the orphans, the rest for dear Brother and Sister Müller.” There came in still further yesterday two pounds twelve shillings sixpence. Thus we are again supplied for about three days.
Nov. 8. — Purposed to go to Trowbridge yesterday with Brother; but felt no peace in the prospect. After praying about it determined not to go, and felt sure the Lord had some reason for not allowing me to feel happy in the prospect of going. I began to look out for blessings for this day, considering that the Lord kept me here. This evening I was especially led to press the truth on the conscience of the unconverted, entreating and telling them the Lord, in mercy to some of them, kept me from going to Trowbridge. I spoke on Genesis vi, 1-5. Immediately afterward an individual opened his heart to me. I talked with him until about ten o’clock, as long as I had strength. About ten days afterwards a brother told me of a poor drunkard who heard me that evening, and had staid up until twelve o’clock every night since to read the Scriptures, and had not been intoxicated since. -