The Scriptural Knowledge Institution
Eb. 21, 1834. — Led, this morning, to pray about forming a Missionary Institution for the spread of the gospel at home and abroad. I trust this of God.
Why form a new institution?
1. The doctrine of existing religious societies is that the world will gradually become better, until all are converted. But it is clear, from such passages as Matt. xiii, 24-30, 36-43; 2 Tim. iii, 1-13; Acts xv, 14, that the world will not be converted in this dispensation.
2. The connection of these religious societies with the world, which is contrary to the Word of God. (2 Cor. vi, 14-18.)
3. These religious societies ask the unconverted for money, which Abraham would not do. (Gen. xiv, 21-24.). How differently the first apostles acted! - (3 John, 7.)
4. In these. societies some of the managers are unconverted, or open enemies of the truth. This is suffered because they are rich and influential.
5. These societies obtain, for patrons and presidents, and for chairmen of the public meetings, persons of rank or wealth, to attract the public. Never once have I known a poor servant of Christ to be invited to fill the chair at such public meetings. Surely the Galilean. fishermen, or ‘Christ, the carpenter, would never have been called to this office, according to these principles.
6. Almost all of these societies contract debt, contrary to the letter and spirit of the New Testament. (Rom. xiii, 8.)
‘THE PRINCIPLES OF THE INSTITUTION.
We consider every believer bound to help the cause of Christ, and have Scriptural warrant for expecting the Lord’s blessing upon our work of faith and labor of love; and though the world will not be converted before the coming of Jesus, still, while He tarries, all Scriptural means ought to be employed for the ingathering of souls. meee
The Lord helping us, we do not miean to seek the patronage of the world; never intend to ask unconverted persons of rank or wealth to countenance this institution, because this would dishonor the Lord. In the name of our God we set up our banners. (Ps. xx, 5.) He alone shail be our patron, and if He helps us, we shall prosper; and if He is not on our side, we shall not succeed.
We reject the help of unbelievers in managing or carrying on the Institution. (2 Cor. vi, 14-18.)
We intend never to enlarge the field of labor by contracting debts; but, in secret prayer, to carry the wants of the Institution to the Lord, and act according to the means that He shall give.
We do not mean to reckon the success of the Institution by the amount of money given, or the number of Bibles: distributed, but by the Lord’s blessing upon the work (Zech. iv, 6); and we expect this in the proportion as we wait upon Him in prayer.
“While we shall avoid needless singylarity, we desire to go according to Scripture, without compromising the truth, thankfully receiving any instruction which experienced believers, on Scriptural ground, may give us concerning the Institution.
THE OBJECTS OF THE INSTITUTION,
1. To assist day schools, in which instruction is given on Scriptural principles; that is, where the teachers are godly persons, the way of salvation is Scripturally: pointed out, and no instruction given opposed to the gospel. 2
2. To supply Bibles and Testaments to Sunday-schools where all the teachers are believers, and the Scriptures are the foundation of instruction.
3. To circulate the Scriptures.
4. To aid missionary efforts, and assist missionaries
whose proceedings seem most according to the Scriptures.
Apr. 23 — Asked the Lord to send twenty pounds for a larger stock of Bibles and Testaments. This evening, a sister, unasked, promised that sum, adding that she felt pleasure in circulating the Scriptures, as the reading of them led her to the Lord.
July 11 — MHave prayed about a master for a boys’ school, to be established in connection with our little Institution. Fight have applied for the situation, but none seem suitable. Now the Lord-has given us a brother who will commence the work.
Oct. 9. — Our little Institution, established in dependence upon the Lord, and supplied by: Him with means, has been seven months in operation, and, through it, have been benefited, with instruction: 1. In the Sunday-school, 120 children. 2. In the adult school, 4o adults. 3. In the two day schools for boys and the two day schools for girls, 209 chidren, of whom 54 were entirely free; the others pay one-third of the expense. There have been circulated 482 Bibles and 520 New Testa-. ments. Fifty-seven pounds have been spent to aid missionaries.
Oct. 28. — We heard of a poor orphan boy who, for some time, attended one of our schools, and was brought to real concern about his soul, but was taken to the poorhouse, some miles out of Bristol. He expressed great sorrow that he could no longer attend our school and ministry. May this, if it be the Lord’s will, lead me to. do something for the temporal wants of poor children. i
Jan. I, 1835 — We had, last evening, a special prayer-meeting, to praise the Lord for all His mercies received during the past year, and to ask Him to continue His favor. ha
Jan. 21. — Received, in answer to prayer, five pounds.
The Lord pours in whilst we pour out. During the past
week, going from house to house among the poor, fifty-eight copies of the Scriptures were sold at reduced prices, the going on with which will require much means.
Jan. 28 — For several days have prayed much to ascertain if the Lord would have me go, as a missionary, to the East Indies. After earnest prayer, and willingness to go, He did not send me.
Feb. 25. — In the name of the Lord, and in dependence on Him alone, we have established a fifth day school for poor «children. ‘We have now two boys’ schools and three girls’ schools.
“Mr. Müller visited Germany on missionary -business, reached London, and wrote:
Feb. 27 — — Went to the Alien Office for my passport. I noticed in a paper than any alien, neglecting to re-
2: i new, every six months, his certificates of residence, received on depositing his passport, was subjected to a penalty of fifty pounds, .or imprisonment. This law I had, ignorantly, broken every since I left London, in 1829. I confessed at once that I had ignorantly broken it, trusting the Lord regarding the consequences. The Lord inclined the heart of the officer to pass over my non-compliance with the law. Having obtained my passport, the Prussian ambassador refused to sign it, as it did not contain a description of my person; therefore, 1 needed to identify myself. This difficulty was removed when, through a paper signed by some citizens of London, known to me, the ambassador was satisfied. * This was a cause for thanksgiving. I now obtained a new passport, worded in a way that would prevent similar difficulties.
Mr. Müller was absent five weeks; experienced many answers to prayer and encouragements to faith.
June 3 — To-day, had a public meeting in behalf of the Institution. It is now fifteen months since, in dependence on the Lord, we have been enabled to provide poor children with schooling, circulate the Scriptures, and aid missionary labors. During this time, though the field of labor has been continually enlarging, and we have, now and then, been brought low in funds, the Lord has never allowed us to stop the work. The number of children provided with schooling, in the day schools, is 439. There were circulated 795 Bibles and 753 Testaments. We have sent, in aid of missionary labors in Canada, the East Indies, and on the Continent of Europe, 107 pounds The free-will offering for this work from March 5, 1834, to May 19, 1835, is 363 pounds. June 22 — This matane at two, my father-in-law
died.
June 25. — Our little boy is so ill I have no hope of `
his recovery. The dear little one went home.
July 31. — Brother C r, formerly a minister in the establishment, began, to-day, in connection with the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, to go from house to house, to spread the truth, as a city missionary.
Aug. 24 — Am feeling weak, and suffer disease. I am in doubt whether to leave Bristol for a change of air, as I have no money.
Aug.. 26. — To-day had five fare given me for
-change of air.
Aug. 29. — Received another five pounds for the same purpose.
Aug. 30. — For the first Lord’s day since our arrival in Bristol, I have been kept from preaching, through illness. How mercifully has the Lord dealt in-giving me so.much strength these years! Another five pounds was sent to aid me in procuring change of air.
Sept. 2. — Went, with my family, to Portishead.
Sept. 15 — As the person who lets me his horse has no license, I am bound, as a believer, to act according to the laws of the country, and can use it no longer, As horse exercise seems important for my restoration,
and this is the only horse to be had in the place, we concluded to leave Portishead. Immediately after, I received a fourth invitation, from a brother and two sisters ` in the Isle of Wight, to come and visit them for some time.
Sept. 16. — Concluded I should go to the Isle of Wight; but saw not how my wife, child, and our servant could accompany me,as we had not sufficient money. The Lord removed the difficulty. This evening we received five pounds which was owed tous, also a letter containing a present of two pounds.
Sept. 19. — Arrived at our friends’ in the Isle of Wight, and were most kindly received.
Nov. 18. — Thirty pounds were given me this evening; twenty-five for the Institution, and five for myself. A most remarkable answer to prayer, as Brother C r and 1 prayed repeatedly, during the last week, that the Lord would give us means to continue and enlarge the field. I, several times, asked for myself.
Fifty-three years afterwards, George Müller’s wife, writing a brief account of his life in the year 1887, says of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution:
The beginning of this Institution was exceedingly small; but God has condescended to enlarge it, according to the promise, “Them that honor Me, I will honor.” (1 Sam. ii, 30.) As His servant sought, in the most public way, to honor Him, he has been most abundantly honored by the Lord, He began with one day school; but on May 26, 1887, we had 38, of which 14 were in Spain, attended by more than 1,000 Catholic children; I in Italy; 2 in the East Indies; 7 in Demerara and Essequibo; and others scattered throughout England. He began with one Sunday-school; on May 26, 1887, there were 29 connected with the Institution.
On May 26, 1887, there were, in all the schools, 5,664 pupils, From the formation of the Institution up to that time, 10,479 persons have been taught in 67 schools, The most encouraging fact is that thousands of these pupils have been brought to the Lord through instruction there given.
The circulation of the Holy Scriptures began in a small way; but God increased it, and from the commencement up to May 26, 1887, there were circulated 219,263 Bibles, 1,002,227 Testaments, 20,600 Psalms, and 210,051 other small portions of the Scriptures, in different languages Through this extensive dissemination of the truth multitudes of souls have been converted in Spain,
‘Italy, and England.
From the commencement of the work missionaries have been assisted by its funds, and within the last thirty years help has been afforded to great numbers of brethren, through whose labors, with the blessing of God, many thousands of souls have been converted.
The total amount spent on missionary operations from March 5, 1834. to May 26, 1887, is 214,649 pounds, gs. 6d
The circulation of religious books, pamphlets, and tracts, from the commencement of this department up to May 20, 1887, is eighty millions and a half. Pamphlets and tracts in various languages have been circulated in different parts of the world, by which multitudes have been won for our Lord. The vast sum of money required for all these objects has been obtained by prayer and faith only. Immense numbers of these publications have been circulated gratuitously, and hundreds of believers have been engaged in scattering them far and wide, not merely in Great Britain and Ireland, but throughout the world.