Other Blessings and Answers to Prayer

Ov., 1857, I was unexpectedly informed that the

boiler of our heating apparatus at Orphan House No. 1 leaked so that it was impossible to go through the winter. Our heating apparatus consists of a large boiler, under which fire is kept, and with which the water-pipes which warm the rooms are connected. Hot air is also connected with this apparatus. The leak was a serious matter. After the day was fixed for the work, a bleak north wind set in, accompanied by the first really cold weather. What was to be done? For the children, especially the infants, I felt concerned, that they might not suffer through cold. But how were we to obtain warmth?. The repairs could not be put off. I asked the Lord for two things: that He would change the north wind into a south wind, and give the workmen “a mind to work,” for I remembered how much Nehemiah accomplished in fifty-two days, whilst building the walls of Jerusalem, because “the people had a mind to work.” The evening before the bleak north wind still blew; but on the day when the fire was out, the south wind blew, as I had prayed. The weather was so mild that no fire was needed. The brickwork was removed, the leak was found very soon, the boiler-makers began to repair. About half-past eight - in’the evening, I was informed that the principal of the firm from whom the boiler-makers came, had arrived to see how the work was going on, and if he could, in any way, speed the matter. I went immediately into. the cellar to see him, to expedite the business. In speaking to him of this, he said: “The men will work late this evening, and come early again to-morrow.” “We would rather, sir,” said the leader, “work all night.” Then remembered I the second part of my prayer, that God would give the men “a mind to work.” By morning the leak was stopped; within thirty hours the brickwork was up, and the fire in the boiler — and all the time the south wind blew so mildly there was no need of a fire.

A young Irishman, James McQuilkin, was brought to the Lord in November, 1856. Soon after, he saw my narrative advertised. He procured it January, 1857. God blessed it to his soul. He said to himself, “See what Mr. Müller obtains by prayer. Thus I may obtain blessing.” He prayed the Lord to give him a spiritual companion, and became acquainted with a young man who knew the Lord. These two began a prayer-meeting in the parish of Connor. He next asked the Lord to let him become acquainted with more of His hidden ones. Soon, the Lord gave him two more. He stated to these young men what blessing he had derived from my narrative — how it led him to see the power of believing prayer; and he proposed that they meet to seek the Lord’s blessing upon their labors in Sunday-schools, prayer-meetings, and preaching of the gospel. Accordingly these four men met in a schoolhouse near the village of Kells, in the parish of Connor, every Friday evening. January, 1858, the Lord gave them the first remarkable answer to prayer in the conversion of a farm servant. He, taken into the number, made five who gave themselves to prayer. Another young man, about twenty years old, was converted; there were now six. Others were converted, and taken into the number; only be- - lievers were admitted to these fellowship meetings, in which they read, prayed, and gave thoughts from the Scriptures. These meetings, and others for the preaching of the gospel, were held in the parish of Connor, Antrim, Ireland. Up to this time all was going on quietly, though many souls were converted. About Christmas, 1858, a young man from Ahoghill, who had been converted through this little company, went to see his friends at Ahoghill, and spoke to them about their souls and the work of God at Connor. His friends desired to see some of the converts. Accordingly, Mr. McQuilkin, with two of the first who met for prayer, went, February 2, 1859, and held a meeting at Ahoghill in a Presbyterian church. Some believed, some mocked, others thought there was a great deal of presumption in these young converts; yet many wished to have another meeting. The Spirit of God began to work mightily. Souls were converted, and conversions multiplied rapidly. Some of these converts went to other places, and carried the spiritual fire. The blessed work of the Spirit spread in many places. April 5, 1859, Mr. McQuilkin went to Ballymena, and held a meeting in a Presbyterian church. From that time the blessed work commenced at Belfast. In all these visits he was accompanied by Jeremiah Meneely, one of the three young men who first met with him after the reading of my narrative. The work of the Holy Spirit spread further and further; for the young converts were used by the Lord to carry the truth from one place to another.

This was the beginning of the great revival in Ireland.;:

OTHER BLESSINGS AND ANSWERS TO PRAYER. LIJ

May 26, 1857. — The death of the orphan Caroline Bailey, who had known the Lord for several months, was used as a means of answering our daily prayers for the conversion of the orphans. It pleased God mightily to work among the orphans, so that, within a few days, more than fifty girls were concerned about their souls, and some with deep conviction of sin, so they were exceedingly distressed. And how is it now? you may ask; for young persons are often apparently much concerned about the things of God, but these impressions pass away. More than a year has elapsed since this work commenced, and it will give joy to the godly reader to hear that, in addition to those ten who were previously believers, there are twenty-three girls respecting whom for months there has been no doubt. Two died in the faith within the year; and there are thirty-eight under concern about their souls. All this regards only one branch of the Orphan Establishment. I am glad to state that among the girls and boys in the New House No. 2, some are interested about the things of God; yea, our labors begin to be blessed to the hearts of some of the new orphans.

In the summer of 1862 it was found that we had several boys ready to be apprenticed; but no applications made by masters for apprentices. As our boys are sent out as in-door apprentices, this was no small difficulty; for we not only look for Christian masters, but consider their business, and examine into their position, to see whether they are suitable; if all other difficulties are out of the way, the master must be willing to receive the apprentice into his own family. We gave ourselves to prayer concerning this, instead of advertising, which would bring masters who desire an apprentice for the sake of the premium. We remembered how good the Lord had been, and continued in prayer until one application was made, and then another. Since we first began to pray, we have sent out eighteen boys; thus the difficulty was entirely overcome by prayer.

During the year the Lord exercised our faith with reference to scarlet fever and whooping-cough. In 1865, scarlet fever broke out at the Orphan House No. 2, where there are two hundred infant girls and two hundred elder girls. It appeared among the infants. The cases increased rapidly; but we betook ourselves to God in prayer, and called daily upon Him regarding this trial. When the infirmary rooms were filled, and some other rooms that could be spared, it pleased the Lord to stay the disease. There were thirty-six ill at No. 2, but not one died. The same malady broke out at No. 3. But the Lord dealt gently; only three were ill, and all recovered. At the end of the year 1865 the whooping-cough appeared among the four hundred and fifty girls of Orphan House No. 3. While we thought it right to take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the disease, and to use needed remedies, yet our chief remedy was prayer and faith. We trusted in God, and betook ourselves to Him, and were not confounded. When it is considered that we have 1,150 orphans in the ‘three houses, and that whooping-cough was so general in Bristol and the neighborhood, the hand of God is marked in that there were but seventeen cases, and only one died, a little girl having, constitutionally, weak lungs.

The greatest of all spiritual blessings resulting from this work I judge to be this: the reports which, issued in connection therewith, have not only been instrumental in the conversion of many sinners, but have, also, in the cases of many thousands of Christian persons, as their letters have testified to me, during the past thirty years, been a great spiritual help to them, in comforting them, leading them more fully to cast their burdens upon the Lord, increasing their faith, showing to them practically and experimentally that the Living God is still the Living God, and in other respects benefiting their souls. This point was the great and chief end of the establishment of the orphan work, that thus God might be glorified. This end has been answered beyond the largest expectations.