A Narrative of Some of the Lord's Dealings with George Mueller

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Jan. 28, Received from Plymouth 5l. Also 5s. 6d. from the neighbourhood
of Exeter, and 2s. besides. From the neighbourhood of Nottingham 5s.

Jan. 30. By profits from the sale of ladies' baskets 2s.

Jan. 31. One of the labourers in the work gave 10l., and a brother on
his way to Ireland 1l.

Feb. 1. By sale of articles and stockings 3l. 19s. 7 1/2 d., anonymously
2d., from sister F. 10s., proceeds of an Orphan-box 12s. 6 3/4 d., by
sale of stockings 8s. 5d., and by the boxes at the Orphan-Houses 16s.
9d.--When I went this evening to the Orphan-Houses for our usual
prayer meeting on Tuesday evenings, I found that altogether since last
Tuesday evening 25l. 2s. 0 1/2 d. had come in; but as there had been many
extra expenses to meet during the week, there was only actually in hand
8l. 8s. 4 1/4 d. Of this I gave to each of the matrons 2l. 2s. 1d, being
only a part of what would be needed during the week, and had then one
farthing left, "like the handful of meal in the barrel."

Feb. 2. This morning on my usual walk before breakfast I felt myself led
out of my usual track, into a direction in which I had not gone for some
months. In stepping over a stile I said to myself: "Perhaps God has a
reason even in this." About five minutes afterwards I met a Christian
gentleman who gave me two sovereigns for the Orphans, and then I knew
the reason, why I had been led this way. Thus the farthing which
remained last evening has been already multiplied.--Evening. This
afternoon I received still further from a brother 1l. 1s., also a letter
from Portsea containing 1l. 10s. The letter from Portsea contained these
words: "Please accept it as another token of the Lord's watchful care
for you and yours." How true! How exemplified in this very donation at
this time!

Feb. 3. This morning I received by the first delivery three letters,
each containing further supplies. The first, from Sherborne, enclosed a
post-office order for 1l. 15s., of which 1l. is for missionary purposes,
and 15s. for the Orphans. The second, from Yorkshire, contained two half
Five Pound Notes, which 10l. is left to my disposal, yet it is requested
that a part of it should go to the destitute Irish. I put therefore 5l.
to the relief of the Irish, and 5l. to the Orphan Fund. The third
letter, from Marlborough, contained 1l. for the Orphans.--Thus I have
now all that is needed in the way of house-keeping money for the
remainder of this week; but I am now waiting upon God for about 25l. to
provide each of the 32 Orphan Boys above seven years old with a new suit
of clothes.

The reader might say, "You are continually in need. No sooner is the one
demand met, than another comes. Do you not find it a trying life, and
are you not tired of it?" My reply is, It is true I am more or less
continually in need in connexion with this work. And if I were to tell
out all my heart to the reader concerning it, he would have still more
reason to say that I am continually in need. For what I have here
written is almost exclusively about the way in which God has been
pleased to supply me with money for carrying on the work; but I do
deliberately state that this, much as it might appear to one or the
other, is by no means the chief thing that I stand in need of from day
to day. I will just hint at a few other things. Sickness among the
children, very difficult and tedious cases, in which, notwithstanding
all the means which are used month after month, yea year after year, the
children remain ill. Nothing remains but either to keep them, or to send
them to the Parish Union to which they belong, as they have no relatives
able to provide for them. The very fact of having cared for them and
watched over them for years, only endears them the more to us, and would
make it the more trying to send them back to their parish. This is a
"need" which brings me to God. Here is prayer required, not only for
means which such sick children call for, but for guidance and wisdom
from on High.--Sometimes children are to be placed out as servants or
apprentices. A suitable place is needed, or else they had better remain
under our care. The obtaining of this suitable place is a "need" indeed.
It is more difficult to be obtained than money. Sometimes for many weeks
have I had to wait upon God, to have this "need" supplied; but He has
always at last helped.--Sometimes great has been my "need" of wisdom
and guidance in order to know how certain children ought to be treated
under particular circumstances; and especially how to behave towards
certain apprentices or servants who were formerly in the Orphan-Houses.
A "need" in this respect is no small thing; though I have found that in
this and in all other matters concerning which I was in "need," I have
been helped, provided I was indeed able to wait patiently upon God. That
word, "godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the
life that now is, and of that which is to come" (1 Tim. iv. 8), I have
in times almost without number found to be true in my own experience.
-- Further, when one or the other of the labourers needed to leave the
work on account of health, or for other reasons, I have been at such
times in far greater "need" than when I required money for the various
objects of the Institution. I could only have such "need" supplied by
waiting upon God. I could do nothing but speak to my heavenly Father
about this matter, and He has always helped. One of the greatest
difficulties connected with this work is, to obtain suitable Godly
persons for it. So many things are to be taken into the account.
Suitable age, health, gift, experience, love for children, true
godliness, a ready mind to serve God in the work and not themselves, a
ready mind to bear with the many trials and difficulties connected with
it, a manifest purpose to labour not for the sake of the remuneration,
but to serve God in their work; surely, to obtain Godly persons, in whom
these qualifications, even in some measure, are found combined, is not
an easy matter. Not that any one will suppose me to mean that I am
looking out for perfect fellow-labourers. Not that any one will suppose
that my fellow-labourers are referred to by rue, as if they were without
weaknesses, deficiencies, and failings. I am myself far, very far from
being without weaknesses, deficiencies, and failings. Moreover, I never
expect to find fellow-labourers for this work who have not their
weaknesses; but this I do mean to say, that the work of God in my hands
is of that character, and, by God's grace, is really carried on with
such a true purpose to serve God thereby (however much I and my
fellow-labourers may fail), that it is with me a matter of deep moment
to find truly suitable individuals for it, in whom, as much as possible,
the above qualifications should be found united. And, however much there
may be wanting, this is more and more my aim, that I may obtain such
helpers; and hence it can be easily perceived bow great my "need" must
be again and again on this very account. I do here especially advise,
that if any should apply in future for situations in connexion with this
work, they would keep these remarks before them; for, by God's grace,
it is my purpose never to give to any persons a situation in connexion
with the Institution, if they are not suitable for it according to the
light which God gives me.--Further, that the labourers work happily
together among themselves, and that I go on happily in service with
them; that I be their servant, on the one hand, and yet, on the other,
maintain the place which God has given me in this work; surely, if any
one carefully looks at this, he will at once see, that there is a
difficulty and a "need" far greater than any that is connected with
money. Oh, how these matters lead one to call upon God! How they
continually make one sensible of one's "need!" Truly, I am in need, in
continual need. Many more points might be referred to in connexion with
this work, in which I am more or less continually in "need;" but I will
only mention one it is now many years since I have made my boast in the
living God in so public a manner by my publications. On this account
Satan unquestionably is waiting for my halting, and, if left to myself,
I should fall a prey to him. Pride, unbelief, or other sins would be my
ruin, and lead me to bring a most awful disgrace upon the name of Jesus.
Here is then a "need," a great "need." I do feel myself in "need," in
great "need," even to be upheld by God; for I cannot stand for a
moment, if left to myself. Oh, that none of my dear readers might admire
me, and be astonished at my faith, and think of me as if I were beyond
unbelief! Oh, that none of my dear readers might think, that I could not
be puffed up by pride, or in other respects most awfully dishonour God,
and thus at last, though God has used me in blessing hitherto to so
many, become a beacon to the church of Christ! No, I am as weak as ever,
and need as much as ever to be upheld as to faith, and every other
grace. I am therefore in "need," in great "need;" and therefore help me,
dear Christian reader, with your prayers.

I allow, then, moat fully that I am in continual "need." This is the
case with regard to money matters, because the work is now so large. A
few hundred pounds go but a little way. There have been often weeks,
when my demands have been several hundred pounds a week, and it can
therefore easily be supposed that even if large donations come in, they
do not last long. But whilst I allow this, I desire that the Christian
reader may keep in mind that there are other necessities, and even
greater ones than those connected with money.--Should, however, the
reader say that he thinks "I must find this a very trying life, and that
I must be tired of it," I beg to state, that he is entirely mistaken. I
do not find the life in connexion with this work a trying life, but a
very happy one. It is impossible to describe the abundance of peace and
heavenly joy that often has flowed into my soul by means of the fresh
answers which I have obtained from God, after waiting upon Him for help
and blessing; and the longer I have had to wait upon Him, or the greater
my need was, the greater the enjoyment when at last the answer came,
which has often been in a very remarkable way, in order to make the hand
of God the more manifest. I therefore solemnly declare that I do not
find this life a trying life, but a very happy one, and I am
consequently not in the least tired of it. Straits and difficulties I
expected from the very beginning. Before I began this service I expected
them; nay, the chief object of it was, that the church at large might be
strengthened in faith, and be led more simply, habitually, and
unreservedly to trust in the living God, by seeing His hand stretched
out in nay behalf in the hour of need. I did, therefore, expect trials,
great trials and straits; but cheerfully, for the glory of God, and the
profit of God's dear children, did I desire to pass through them, if
only the saints might be benefited by the dealings of God with me. The
longer I go on in this service, the greater the trials of one kind or
another become; but, at the same time, the happier I am in this my
service, and the more assured, that I am engaged as the Lord would have
me to be. How then could I be tired of carrying on the work of God on
such principles as I do?

I now return to the extracts from my journal.

Feb. 4, 1848. Yesterday came in still further: from Norwich 1l. and from
Devonshire 1l.

Feb. S. From a brother at Hereford 5l.--Feb. 5. From "Friends to
Orphans" 2l., and from D.D. 12s 2 1/2 d.--Feb. 5. By sale of articles
2l. 6s. 4d. Evening. Since this day week, when I had only one farthing
left, the Lord has been pleased to send in for the Orphans 23l. 16s. 8
1/2 d; but as I have had to pay away more than 10l., besides making up
the remainder of what was needed for house-keeping expenses for the past
week, there was only 6l. 10s. 10 3/4 d. for the expenses of the coming
week, whilst nearly three times as much was required by the four
matrons. I divided this little, however, among them, in the full
assurance, that, by the time it was consumed, the Lord would send more.

Feb. 9. Today only 2s. 4d. has come in. We are supplied for the present
moment, and shall have enough till tomorrow evening for house-keeping
expenses; but there is about 25l. needed for boys' clothes, and I
greatly desire to give some money to the sisters who labour in the
Orphan-Houses.

Feb. 10. This morning was given to me the sum of One Hundred Pounds,
which being left entirely to my disposal, I took of it 50l. for the
Orphans, and 50l. for the School--, Bible--, Tract--and Missionary
Fund.--The Lord be praised for this most seasonable help! I am thus
helped for the present for all the various parts of the work, and have
especially two precious answers to my prayers concerning the Orphan
work, in that I am able to get a new suit of clothes for all the boys,
and to give some money to the sisters, who labour in the Orphan-Houses,
for their own personal necessities.

From Feb. 10th to 22nd came in 21l. 0s. 1 1/2 d. more.

Feb. 25. All money was now again expended. This afternoon I had paid
away the last. About an hour after, I received from a brother the
contents of his Orphan-box, being 2s. 6d. and a gold watch-key. In the
evening was given to me 10l., being the half-yearly profits arising from
shares in a certain company. How kind of the Lord thus to help again so
soon! As soon as the last money was disbursed, He sent more.

Feb. 29. 4l. 18s. 0d. more has come in since the 25th. This evening I
paid away for house-keeping all the money I had, being 12l. 10s. 7d.,
and returned home with an empty purse, trusting in the Lord to give me
again fresh supplies. I shall shortly need again many pounds.

March 1. This morning I received anonymously by post from P. L. A. ten
shillings. Evening. This afternoon a check for 25l. was left at my house
for the benefit of the Orphans.--Thus we are again supplied for a
week for what we need for house-keeping, &c. Oh, how good it is to
depend on the faithful love of our heavenly Father, who never forsakes
His children who put their trust in Him!

March 17. Since the first of this month there has come in, besides the
25l. given on the 1st, altogether 36l. 0s. 3 1/2 d. Now today all means
were again gone, when a brother in the Lord from Gloucestershire called
at the Orphan-Houses and bought some tracts and an "Improved Rendering"
for 2s. 6d., and gave 17s. 6d. for the Orphans. This afternoon came in
further, by sale of articles, 2l. 12s. 9d.

March 18. This morning I received from Chelsea 4l., from Tewkesbury
10d., and this evening from D. D. 5s. 2d., and by sale of articles 5s.
There was also 1l. left anonymously at my house.--Thus we are again
supplied for 2 or 3 days.

March 21. Tuesday. As during the last three days only 1l. 15s. had come
in, I had only 2l. this evening towards the house-keeping expenses of
the coming week; but finding that one of the teachers had 5l. in hand
for knitting and needlework, done by the children, I added this to the
2l., and we are thus supplied for 2 or 3 days with provisions.

March 23. Evening. When there was now again no money at all in hand, and
when I had the prospect of needing fresh supplies tomorrow or the day
after, a brother from Switzerland arrived at my house, who brought me
4l., which some brethren at Vevey, in Switzerland, had contributed
towards the support of the Orphans. He also was the bearer of 15s. from
London. What a variety of ways the Lord uses to supply our need! How
remarkable that these Swiss brethren, who are just now in so much trial,
should be led to send help towards this work! A few minutes, after I had
received this 4l. 15s, there came also to hand a letter from Stafford,
containing 4l., of which the donor wished me to take one-half for the
Orphans, and the other half for my own personal expenses.

March 24. This morning I received still further from the Swiss brother,
who had arrived yesterday afternoon, 18 francs, being a donation from
the pupils of a boarding school in Switzerland, and 10 francs from a
German brother.--Also from Norwich 13s. 8d. and 2s. 4d.

March 25. This morning I received from O. W. a letter with 20l., which
the donor wished me to apply to the help of those labouring in the
Gospel, and to the Orphans, if in present need. I took half of this for
time Orphans, and half for Home and Foreign labourers. We are thus
supplied for the Orphans for about three days.

March 28. On the 26th came in anonymously 3s., ditto 10s., ditto 2s.
6d., ditto 1s. 10d.; and 2l. 7s. besides. This evening I had again to
give to the matrons fresh supplies for the coming week, towards which I
had only a few pounds, when I received this morning 20l. from a distance
of about 200 miles.

Between March 28th and April 12th I received, besides the 20l. referred
to, 24l. 0s. 7d.

April 13. Thursday. On Tuesday evening I had given out for house-keeping
all the money in hand, being 11l. This was enough for three or four
days. This morning I was now looking out for more, having requested the
Lord to look upon our necessities; for tomorrow, or at the latest the
day after tomorrow, fresh supplies will be needed. Now think, my dear
reader, of the Lord's goodness, when I tell you that this very morning
I received 90l. for the Lord's work in my hands, the disposal of which
sum was entirely left with me. I took of this sum 40l. for the Orphans,
and 50l. for the School-, Bible-, Missionary-and Tract Fund.

April 26. Only 18l. 19s. 8 1/2 d. had come in since the 13th. As the
income during these thirteen days had been so small, our means were
again reduced to 16s., after I had supplied the day before yesterday the
means for the house-keeping expenses for this week. Today I received
information, that to a sister in Switzerland had been given Fifty Francs
for the Orphans. Thus the Lord is in every way showing that He is
mindful of us.

April 29. Saturday. The expenses of today, in addition to those for
house-keeping, which had been met last Tuesday evening for a whole week
in advance, reduced our little stock of means to only a few shillings.
In addition to this, Tuesday is approaching, when again about 20l. will
be needed. And now see, dear reader, how seasonably the Lord helped us
again, and that from most unexpected quarters. This morning I received
One Hundred Pounds from a brother, who is himself depending upon God for
daily supplies whilst labouring in word and doctrine, but who has lately
come into the possession of this sum, and who does not think it right to
lay up treasure upon earth. Of this 100l. he wishes me to take 10l. for
my own personal necessities, to give to brother Craik 10l., and to take
80l. for the Orphans. Of this 80l. the sum of 50l. has been put to the
Building Fund, and 30l. has been taken for present use for the Orphans.
-- But this was not all. There was paid to me today the legacy of 19l.
19s. left to me for the benefit of the Orphans by the late Mrs. B., an
individual whom I do not remember ever to have seen in my life, and whom
I only know by name. Observe this particular providence! At a time of
need, of great need of means, this legacy comes in. The will may have
been made years ago, and the testator has been dead several months; but
just at this time, when not only the 20l. are needed next Tuesday for
house-keeping, but other expenses of about 30l. more are to be met in a
few days, this legacy comes in.--Today also I have received besides,
10l. from Wiltshire, 1l. 4s. from Cumberland, 10s. from Birmingham, and
1l. from a donor in Bristol. Thus in one day, in a time of great need,
62l. 13s. has come in, besides 50l. for the Building Fund.

May 11. 10l. 2s. has come in since April 29th. This morning I received
from a lady at a considerable distance 16l., and from Wandsworth 5l.
These two donations came in especially in answer to prayer, not so much
for immediate need as it regards house-keeping, but on account of other
heavy expenses which are shortly to be met. I have also repeatedly asked
the Lord of late, if it may please Him to send in considerable means,
before the accounts are closed on the 26th, so that there might not be
even the appearance, as if I wrote another Report, because I could get
on no longer without it.

May 26, 1848. On this day the accounts were closed. The total sum which
has come in from the 12th to this day, is 40l, 3s. 7d. Thus the Lord
closes this period under His manifest help! I have been able to meet all
the expenses connected with the support of the four Orphan-Houses during
the last two years, amounting to 3,228l. 5s. 11d., owe no one anything,
and have on this 26th of May, 1848, 1l. 10s. 3 3/4 d. left in hand.

Further Account of the New Orphan-House, on Ashley Down, Bristol, from
May 26, 1846, to May 26, 1848.

Those, who have read the former chapter on this subject, will remember,
how I was obliged to think of building an Orphan-House, and how, when
once led to this, I felt myself also led to build it large enough for
Three Hundred Orphans; and how the Lord, in His great kindness, most
manifestly in answer to prayer, gave me a field of about seven acres for
the purpose; and how, by various donations, 2,710l. 3s. 5 1/2 d. had been
already received on May 26, 1848. I shall now give a further account of
the Lord's dealings with me, concerning the New Orphan-House, yet so,
that, for the sake of brevity, only a few of the donations will be
referred to, and chiefly those which seem more particularly to mark the
finger of God.

July 4, 1846. For about three months my faith and patience have been
exceedingly tried about the field, which I have purchased for the
building of the Orphan-House, as the greatest difficulties arose about
my possessing the land after all; but, by God's grace, my heart was
kept in peace, being fully assured, that, if the Lord were to take this
piece of land from me, it would be only for the purpose of giving me a
still better one; for our Heavenly Father never takes any earthly thing
from His children except He means to give them something better instead.
But in the midst of all this great trial of faith, I could not but
think, judging from the way in which God so manifestly had given me this
piece of land, that the difficulties were only allowed for the trial of
my faith and patience. And thus it was. Last evening I received a letter
by which all the difficulties were removed, and now, with the blessing
of God, in a few days the conveyance will be made out.

July 6. The reason why, for several months, there had come in so little
for the Building Fund, appeared to me this, that we did not need the
money at present; and that, when it was needed, and when my faith and
patience had been sufficiently tried, the Lord would send more means.
And thus it has proved; for today was given to me the sum of Two
Thousand and Fifty Pounds, of which Two Thousand Pounds is for the
Building Fund, and Fifty Pounds for present necessities, of which latter
sum I took one half for present use for the Orphans, and the other half
for the School--, Bible--,Tract-- and Missionary Fund. This is the
largest donation I have yet had at one time for the work; but I expect
still larger ones, in order that more and more it may be manifest to the
children of God, that there is no happier, no easier, and no better way
for the obtaining of pecuniary means or anything else in connexion with
the work of God, than to deal directly with the Lord Himself.

It is impossible to describe my joy in God when I received this
donation. I was neither excited nor surprised; for I look out for
answers to my prayers. I believe that God hears me. Yet my heart was so
full of joy, that I could only sit before God, and admire him, like
David in 2 Samuel vii. At last I cast myself flat down upon my face, and
burst forth in thanksgiving to God, and in surrendering my heart afresh
to Him for His blessed service.

There came in still further today 2s. 6d.

July 10. Received 120l., of which 100l. is intended by the donor for the
Building Fund, and 20l. for present use in the work, as most needed. I
took of this 20l. one half for the Orphans, and the other half for the
other objects of the Institution.

July 11. By sale of articles, given for the Building Fund, came in 5s.
6d.

July 15. From a sister in the Lord 1l., from a Christian gentleman 5l.,
from a sister 3s., and from another sister an old silver pencil case and
2s.

July 17. From the neighbourhood of Oxford 1l.

July 21. This morning a gentleman from Devonshire, on his way to London,
called on me. When he came I was in prayer, having, among other matters,
brought also before the Lord the following points: 1, I had been asking
Him for some supplies for my own temporal necessities, being in need. 2,
1 had asked Him for more means for the Building Fund, and besought Him
to hasten the matter, on account of the inhabitants in Wilson Street, on
account of the welfare of the children and those who have the oversight
of them in the Orphan-Houses, and lastly, that I might be able to admit
more Orphans, the number of applications being so great. 3, I had also
asked the Lord for means for present use for the Orphans, as the
outgoings are so great. 4, I had asked for means for the other objects.
-- When I saw this gentleman from Devonshire, he gave me 20l., of which
10l. is to be used for the Building Fund, 5l. for present use for the
Orphans, 2l. for brother Craik and myself, and the remaining 3l. were
left to my disposal, which I applied to the other objects of the
Scriptural Knowledge Institution. Thus I received, at the very moment
that I had been asking God, FOUR answers to my prayers.

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