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

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Aug. 8. The money which came in yesterday was not enough for the need of
today. The boxes in the Orphan-Houses were therefore opened, as I had
understood that some money had been put into them during the last days,
and they contained 1l. 4s. Thus we have been supplied this day also.

Aug. 9. It is just now striking eleven o'clock, and I have not yet one
single penny towards the need of this day. The bag is brought from the
Orphan-Houses for money, but I have nothing to send, and am therefore
obliged to return the bag without anything. But my soul is waiting for
help. The Lord has so repeatedly helped as again during the last weeks,
and so He will surely do this day also. Evening. At half-past twelve
this morning I received two notes from two sisters who labour in the
Orphan-Houses, the one from the sister who, on the 6th, had sent the
2l., being part of a present which she had received, and who now sent
1l. more. She writes: "The enclosed I thought of applying to another
purpose; but His thoughts are not as ours. Please to use it as you think
fit." The other sister, likewise one of the labourers, sent 10s. This
1l. 10s. met our need for today.

Aug. 10, Saturday. Only 3d., which had come in yesterday afternoon, by
sale of a Report, was in my hands, when the day began. A little after
nine o'clock I received a post-office order for 5l. from Hackney, to
be used as most needed. Of it I took one half for the Orphans, and the
other half for the Day Schools. There came in still further, 2l. 5s.,
5s. 10d., 6d., and 3s. 4d.

Aug. 12. Yesterday I received from a sister 5s., with James i. 17., 2s.
6d., 6d. was put into the boxes at my house, and 6d. was given by an
aged friend. Thus, with what was left on Saturday, we had 1l. 15s. 5d.,
which met our need today.

Aug. 13. Nothing has come in, but one of the labourers, to whom 15s. was
given last evening to buy herself a new gown, gave that. I am looking
for more! The boxes in the Orphan-Houses were opened, in which 5s. was
found. Thus we had enough, except 6s., which one of the labourers gave.

Aug. 14. Nothing at all had come in, when the bag was brought from the
Orphan-Houses for money, and I had therefore to return it without any.
About half an hour after, the labourers had an especial prayer meeting.
At this meeting one of the teachers of the Day-Schools gave me 10s.,
which he had put by to buy himself some little books, but he considered
it now not to be the Lord's will to do so, but that he should give
this money for the present need in the Orphan-Houses. Another of the
labourers in the Orphan-Houses gave 5s. Thus we are provided with the
absolute necessaries till tomorrow after breakfast.

Aug. 15. Last evening I received 2s., just after our last public meeting
about the Orphan-Houses and other objects of the Scriptural Knowledge
Institution, at which I had testified afresh of my reliance upon the
living God, though I had not then one single penny in hand for the work,
which, of course, was not stated.--Now this morning, between eight
and nine o'clock sister L. M. came to me and brought me 30s., which
she had received for the Orphans. But this will not be enough for today.
Yesterday and this morning, before this money came in, the trial of
faith had been very sharp.--Evening. At eleven o'clock I received
still further from A. A. 5s., and this afternoon, from one of the
labourers, 5s., and from two donors 6d. each.

Aug. 16. Our poverty is extremely great. The trial of faith as sharp as
ever, or sharper. It is ten o'clock, and there are no means yet for a
dinner. I now thought of some articles which I might be able to do
without, to dispose of them for the benefit of the Orphans, when one of
the labourers gave me 1l., which she had intended for another object,
and which she now considers must be left alone for the present. There
was also taken out of the boxes in the Orphan-Houses 1s. 6d., and by
knitting came in 2s. 3d., and from A. A. 2s.

Aug. 17, Saturday. The Lord has, in tender mercy, helped us, in sending
in 3l. for knitting done by the Orphan Girls, 9s. 10d. for stockings
knitted by the boys, 11s. 11d. for things sold, which were given for the
purpose, and 10s. 7d. put into the boxes at the Orphan-Houses.

Aug. 18. There was put anonymously into the Chapel-boxes 1s., ditto 2s.,
ditto 2s. 6d., and A. A. gave 10s.

Aug. 19, Monday. Only 3s. has come in today.

Aug. 20. This 3s. was all there was in hand for this day, which was
needed at the Boys' Orphan-House towards the dinner. In the other
houses nothing was needed, but at the same time Nothing was left towards
the next meal. Two o'clock came, and we had nothing yet. After two
o'clock I opened the boxes in my house, in which I found a paper
containing a sovereign and a half, and 2 half-crowns loose. Of this I
took 30s. at once to the Orphan-Houses, whereby we were helped for this
day. Our need had not been greater for a long time. Dear reader, join me
in admiring and adoring Him, who caused that money to be put into the
box, and, I have reason to believe, only a very short time before, and
who led my mind to open it, to obtain thus the help which was needed.
-- In the afternoon came in still further 3l. 6s. by the sale of some
old silver and a few trinkets.

Aug. 2l. There came in, by sale of Reports, 5s., and from Tewkesbury 1l.
This sovereign came in the greatest need. I took it at once to the
Orphan-Houses, and by it we were supplied for the day. When I returned
home I found that a little old gold watch had been given in the mean
time. There came in also 3s.; and two half-sovereigns were given this
evening by two little girls, through a sister in the Lord from Bath.

Aug. 22. The two half-sovereigns, which were given last evening, were
all we had at the beginning of today. There was found in the boxes in
the Orphan-Houses 5s. 9d., and in a post-office order I received 1l. So
we had enough for one more day.--And it is by the day I live. Were I
to think of how it will be a year or even a month hence, I should be
tried indeed--yea, greatly tried. "Sufficient unto the day is the evil
thereof," is my Lord's own precious warrant for this. He will not have
me to be anxious about tomorrow, and therefore I cast my cares about
tomorrow upon Him. As the weeks pass on, and I go on Saturday evenings
to the prayer meetings at the Orphan-Houses, I praise the Lord for
having sustained me one more week in this service, by enabling me to
look to Him. Yea, as each day closes, I desire to be grateful to the
Lord for having sustained my faith and patience, and enabled me to rely
upon Him, especially in seasons of such great poverty, lasting for
weeks, as we have been in of late. But this I must say to the praise of
the Lord, that my soul is kept in peace at such times, and, through the
riches of His grace, I am kept from questioning whether He will help me
or not. And, indeed, it would be sinful ingratitude, after all the Lord
has been doing for me in this work, not to rely upon Him. May He in
mercy uphold me to the end in this service, and keep me from
dishonouring His holy name, either by unbelief, or in any other way.

Aug. 23. This morning the Lord greatly refreshed my spirit; for after a
long-continued trial of faith, and after long and deep poverty, there
was sent me from Devonshire a check for 20l. There came in 6s. besides.

Aug. 24. 1l. 19s. 7 1/4 d. came in today.

Aug. 25. From A. A. I received today 20l. How exceedingly kind of the
Lord, in an hour of such great need, on account of all the many and
great wants in which I find myself just now, to have sent this sum!
There came in 2l. 0s. 6d. besides.

Aug. 26. Received for Reports 1l. 7s., and 3d. besides.

Aug. 28. Altogether 1l. 11s. 2d. came in today.

Aug. 29. Received 2s. 11d. by sale of Reports, and

7s. 6d. from Bath. The brother in Bath, who sent me this money, wrote me
that the 7s. 6d. was sent to him with the following letter.

27th August, 1844.

"Sir,

"Part of the enclosed 7s. 6d. did belong to your dear Father, J. L.,
Esq., value of which I stole from him in my unconverted state.--I,
now a believer in Jesus, constrained by love to Him, return it to you
with interest, praying that the Lord may richly bless you and yours.

"* * * *."

J. L., Esq. has been dead more than fifteen years, therefore it must be
longer than that period since the theft alluded to was committed.--
This 7s. 6d. came in in especially great need; for though 50l. had been
given during the last seven days, yet on account of our long-continued
poverty, and the heavy expenses which were to be met, this 7s. 6d. was
received when there was nothing at all in hand, and was sent off at once
to the Orphan-Houses.--This evening, when we were still in great
need, and when means were required for tomorrow morning, 10s. was given
to me. This money was sent off this evening to the Orphan-Houses, for
the need of tomorrow morning. About nine o'clock a sister came to my
house, who had been to Shirehampton, and had there received 1l. 10s. 6d.
for the Orphans. She gave also the remaining 6d. of the change of two
sovereigns. The Lord inclined the heart of this sister to bring the
money at once, and we are thus supplied for tomorrow. At half-past nine
this evening I received another precious donation of 10s., with the
following letter:--

"Aug. 29, 1844.

"The history of this money is this. I did some work in the country some
time ago, and thought I should never get the money for it, as I had
repeatedly written about it, and could not get it. But some time ago I
was asking the Lord to incline the heart of the person who owed me the
money, to send it to me, and I told Him, that, if He would do so, I
would give 10s. for the Orphans. Three days ago I had such confidence,
that I should have the money, that I was enabled to praise
the Lord for it; and today I was going up Park Street, and met
the person coming with the money. It had been put into the party's
heart the day before yesterday to pay me the money. Now, dear brother,
I fulfil my promise to the Lord by giving you the money. Help me, dear
brother, to praise Him for it, and that I may be enabled to trust
Him more than ever I have done yet.

"Yours in Jesus,

"* * *"

This brother is a poor tradesman, himself working with his hands.

Aug. 30. Today 6s. 8d. came in by sale of Reports. This evening I met a
sister from Bath, who is staying in Bristol for two or three days. She
gave me her purse, and all that was in it, for the Orphans, being 5s.,
saying, she wanted nothing till she returned to Bath. This goes towards
tomorrow's need, which will be at least 4l., and for which we have as
yet only 1l. 6s. in hand.

Aug. 81, Saturday. There came in a few shillings besides, last evening
and this morning, so that I had 1l. 13s. 8d. to send to the
Orphan-Houses; but I find 4l. 5s. is needed.--Evening.
There came in still further, in the morning, 5s. 6d., by sale
of stockings, 1l. 8s. by sale of Reports, 15s. 1d. by sale of
articles given for the purpose,5s. 5d. by sale of ladies' bags.
And in the evening was received 2l. 10s. 2d. besides, so that I
had 2l. 12s. 10d. more than was actually needed.

Sept. 3, Tuesday. Since Saturday evening there has come in, in donations
18s. 10d., by sale of Reports 2l. 3s. 1d., and by work done by the
Orphan-girls 1l. 3s. 8d. Thus, with what was left on Saturday, we have
been supplied these two days.

Sept. 4. Only one farthing was in my hands this morning. Pause a moment,
dear reader! Only one farthing in hand when the day commenced. Think of
this, and think of nearly 140 persons to be provided for. You, poor
brethren, who have six or eight children and small wages, think of this;
and you, my brethren, who do not belong to the working classes, but
have, as it is called, very limited means, think of this! May you not
do, what we do, under your trials? Does the Lord love you less than He
loves us? Does He not love all His children with no less love than that,
with which He loves His only begotten Son, according to John xvii.
20--23? Or are we better than you? Nay, are we not in ourselves poor
miserable sinners as you are; and have any of the children of God any
claim upon God, on account of their own worthiness? Is not that, which
alone can make us worthy to receive anything from our Heavenly Father,
the righteousness of the Lord Jesus, which is imputed to those who
believe in Him? Therefore, dear reader, as we pray in our every need, of
whatever character it may be, in connexion with this work, to our Father
in Heaven for help, and as he does help us, so is He willing to help all
His children who put their trust in Him. Especially do not think, that
because you may not be called by God to establish Orphan-Houses and
Schools for poor children, therefore you are not warranted to rely upon
God, in all your need; for the blessedness of depending upon the living
God may be enjoyed by all the children of God, though they are not all
called by Him to such a work as this Narrative describes. Nor must you
suppose, that our only trials in this work arise from want of means, so
that, in carrying it on, we have to rely upon God for nothing besides
this. I assure you that the want of means is the smallest trial, and
that I have had far, far greater exercises of faith on account of other
things in connexion with this work than those arising from the want of
means. But the trials connected with the want of means I dwell upon so
particularly, because that is a matter which can be understood by all,
and in which the senses themselves almost force us, so to speak, to
acknowledge the hand of God.--Well, let us hear then, how God helped
when there was only one farthing left in my hands, on the morning of
Sept. 4, 1844.

A little after nine o'clock I received a sovereign from a sister in
the Lord, who does not wish the name of the place, where she resides,
mentioned. Between ten and eleven o'clock the bag was sent from the
Orphan-Houses, in which in a note it was stated that 1l. 2s. was
required for today. Scarcely had I read this, when a fly stopped before
my house, and a gentleman, Mr. ---- from the neighbourhood of Manchester,
was announced. I found that he was
a believer, who had come on business to Bristol. He had heard about the
Orphan-Houses, and expressed his surprise, that without any regular
system of collection, and without personal application to any one,
simply by faith and prayer, I obtained 2000l. and more yearly for the
work of the Lord in my hands. This brother, whom I had never seen
before, and whose name I did not even know before he came, gave me 2l.,
as an exemplification of what I had stated to him.--There came in
still further this morning 10s., being profits froth the sale of
ladies' bags. From the same donor who had sent the sovereign this
morning, I received, two hours later, a box containing the following
articles:--Three mourning rings, three other gold rings set with
cameos, two gold watch keys, four gold lockets, a gold brooch, a silver
snuffbox, six medals, three gold ear-drops, a pair of mourning earrings,
a purse, two pairs of babies' shoes, a pair of card-racks, two
necklaces, five ornamental hair pins, a wafer-stamp, a paper-knife, two
book marks, and a great variety of polished pebbles.--Oh! how good is
the Lord, and how seasonably comes His help, in our great, great need,
when so much is required for clothes, &c. There came in likewise through
a sister in Bath 1l., and 5s. 6d. more. Thus, besides all the articles,
which have been mentioned, altogether 41l. 5s. 6d. has come in this day,
at the commencement of which I had only One farthing left.

Sept. 6. Besides the money, spoken of on the 4th, only 6s. 10d. more had
come in, so that, after this day's necessities had been met, there was
now again nothing at all in hand. Soon after I received 3s. 6d. this
also was presently spent, except 9d., when a brother from Essex came,
who gave me 2l.

Sept. 7, Saturday. Having had to pay out 10s. more, immediately after
the receipt of the 2l., this day began with 1l. 10s. 9d. in hand, whilst
the need was 3l. 15s. This 1l. 10s. 9d. I sent off to the Orphan-Houses,
trusting in the Lord for more. And this time also my hope in God was not
put to shame; for in the course of the morning came in 10s. 6d. by sale
of Reports, by a donation 10s., by sale of articles 2l. 8s. 8 1/2 d., by
sale of stockings 1s. 8d., and by sale of ladies' bags 4s. It was very
kind of the Lord to send in this money in the course of the morning,
thus providing us not only with the 3l. 15s. which was needed for
housekeeping, but enabling us also to meet other unexpected expenses. In
the Evening I received still further, after the need of the day had been
met, but when all again was expended, a sovereign, four small old silver
coins, a pair of coral earrings, and a brooch.

Sept. 8 There was the sovereign in hand which came in last evening, as a
little towards the need of Monday, when I received this morning 50l., to
be used as most needed. It is impossible to express how seasonably this
help came, as, though our daily wants had been met day by day, yet very
much is required in the way of clothes, &c. But as the need for the
other objects is as great or greater, I took of this sum 30l. for them
and 20l. for the Orphans. We are thus greatly encouraged to continue in
prayer. Our poverty has scarcely ever lasted longer than now, yet the
Lord has helped us as our absolute need has required it. The donor of
this 50l. wished me to enter it with the text Philip iv. 6, judging that
this text must have been often a refreshment to me in seasons of trial,
as indeed it has.

From Sept. 8th to 17th came in 23l. 2s. 6 1/2 d.

Sept. 18. From A. A. 5l., by sale of Reports, 13s. 8d., and by the boxes
in the Orphan-Houses 14s. 11d.

Sept. 19. This morning came in 10l. from Scotland. By this 10l., and
what came in yesterday, I am able to meet the expenses of today, which
were more than 16l.

Sept. 21, Saturday. Yesterday came in from Clapham, at an hour of need,
1l. 12s. 10d., together with several articles, also 1l. from Clifton;
and today by sale of Reports, 1l. 15s. 4d., and by sale of articles 14s.
9d. Thus we are brought to the close of another week, though the
expenses of it have not been less than 110l. (part of which had been put
by beforehand). At the close of the week I have not more than 3s. left
but the Lord will provide.

Sept. 22. Lord's-day morning. This morning I received from the
neighbourhood of Crediton 10l., and from Sidmouth 10l., of which 8l. is
for the Orphans, and 2l. for my own personal expenses. Likewise from A.
A. 2s. 2 1/2d., for Reports 4s., and in the Chapel boxes was put
anonymously 6d., ditto 2s. 6d. ditto 2s. 6d., ditto 6d. with these
words: "Be still and know that I am God." How precious this word, and
how have I seen today again the truth of it!--Three days ago a sister
in the Lord, who is a servant, came to me, and brought me 9l. 16s. which
she had drawn out of the Savings' Bank, considering it the Lord's
will that she should not keep it there any longer, but spend it for him.
She gave me the money that I might do with it as I thought right.
However, I sent her home again with the money, advising her to weigh the
matter still further, and to pray still further about it, and to count
the cost; and if she was of the same mind, after some days, to come
again to me. Now this afternoon this sister came again, with her little
all, 9l. 16s. As she had now, for a long time, weighed the matter
(according to her own statement), and as there had three days more
passed away since I had sent her home again with the money, and as I
found her grounded upon Scripture for what she was going to do, I could
not refuse the money. See portioned it out thus: 2l. for her father,
brother, and sister, 1l. 10s. for the poor believers in fellowship with
us, 1l. for the Chapel expenses, and 1l. for missionary purposes. This
left 4l. 6s., of which she would give me 2l. which I declined, in order
that there might not be even the appearance as if I had persuaded this
poor servant to draw her money out of the Savings' Bank. She then
wished me to give brother Craik 1l., which I accepted for him, and as I
saw she wept, because I would not receive anything for myself, I said I
would take a sovereign. This I did, that she might not think I refused
her Christian kindness because she was a poor servant. The remaining 2l.
6s. she gave for the Orphans. --By the donations which have come in
today I am able to meet almost all the expenses connected with the
procuring of many articles of clothing and furniture, for which I have
long been praying.

Oct. 1. Since the 22nd many pounds have come in, though not any sums
above 5l. Now this evening I have received a bank order for 70l., to be
used as the Lord might direct me. The donor wishes me to let him know if
anything particular should be connected with this donation. There is
indeed much connected with it, as it comes most manifestly in answer to
prayer; for thus I am able to supply all that is needed in the way of
articles of clothes for the Orphans, for which I have been long waiting
upon the Lord, and as the winter is now drawing near, the winter-clothes
need to be got ready; further, I am able to have the Boys'
Orphan-House painted inside and coloured down, which is much needed; I
am able to furnish all the labourers in the Orphan-Houses with some
money for themselves, which, on account of our long-continued poverty, I
had not been able to do for six months. Yet; though the donation comes
in so seasonably, I cannot write to the kind donor thus, lest he should
be induced to give more, by my exposing our circumstances, and lest also
the hand of God should not be so manifest, in providing me with means
for the work, as otherwise it would.

--I took of this money 40l. for the Orphans, and 30l. for the other
funds.--During the last two weeks I have had to pay out for the work
about 200l., and this week I shall have to pay out again about 60l. Thus
the Lord helps continually.

Nov. 1. Since Oct. 1st there has come in such an abundance, that without
any difficulty I have been able to meet all the expenses for the
Orphans, though during the week ending Oct. 5th I had to pay out 59l.,
during the week ending on the 12th above 40l., during the week ending on
the 19th nearly 40l., and during the week ending on the 26th about 50l.
Of the many donations which came in during this period I will only
mention the following: From a small town in the kingdom of Wirtemburg
1s. 8d.; from Nice, in France, 1l.; from a missionary in the East Indies
14l. 12s. 6d. Notice, dear reader, how the Lord sends donations from
Wirtemburg, France, and the East Indies! Great, however, as our income
had been, we were now again poor, on account of the heavy expenses,
when, in answer to prayer, there came in today, from some sisters near
Coleford, 2l. 10, by sale of Reports 2s., and from A. A. 10l. 7s. 7 1/2
d. The post was out this morning and nothing had come; but my heart
said, the Lord still can send, though the post is out; and these
donations were soon after given to me.

Nov. 11. From Nov. 1st up to this day we went on easily. There came in
again many donations. Now, however, we were again very poor, having had
again very heavy expenses. In this great need a ten pound note was this
afternoon put into an Orphan-box in my house. This evening I received
also still further, from a brother who labours in Demerara, 1l., and 1l.
10s. besides.

Nov. 13. Yesterday and today came in again more than 10l. Our expenses
having again been very great, as during these three days above 30l. had
been paid out for the Orphans, we were still poor, notwithstanding the
considerable income during the last three days. Under these
circumstances a ring was given to me this afternoon, set with one large
and six small brilliants. How kind of the Lord, thus to help us
continually in the work, and to listen to our supplications, which, day
after day, we bring to him! Daring no time, since I have been engaged in
this service, have the expenses been heavier than during the last four
months; yet the Lord has always given us what we have needed.

Nov. 18. The produce of the ring, together with about 10l, more, which
had come in since the 13th, was nearly all gone again, on account of the
expenses of the past week having been nearly 50l., when this morning a
Christian gentleman from Devonshire called on me, who, on leaving, left
a letter on my table, containing two five pound notes, of which five
pounds was for the Orphans and five pounds for three other objects. This
evening I found a five pound note in one of the Orphan-boxes in my
house. Thus we are again helped for the present. The name of the Lord be
praised!

Nov. 21. The need of today was 4l. 5s., but there were only a few
shillings in hand. I opened the boxes in my house, in which 1 found a
sovereign and a shilling. The sovereign could have been put in only last
evening. After family prayer I retired again for prayer, about the work
as I do daily, by which means I have been helped not only to meet the
very heavy expenses since July 15th, but have been helped through many
and great difficulties in other respects, and have been enabled to bring
many blessings upon the work. While in prayer, I received a letter from
the neighbourhood of Leeds, with 5l. Thus we are helped for today. This
afternoon came in still further, by sale of articles 1l. 9s., by the
boxes in the Orphan-Houses 1l. 6s. 3 1/2 d.; and this evening I received
5l., being the profits from the sale of a Hymn book, which has been
printed for the benefit of the Orphans. Thus we have something for the
need of tomorrow also.

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