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

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

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"Dear Mr. Mueller,

" I left at Mr. W--'s last week a donation of 1l. 1s. towards the
Orphan-Houses, which I hope you received safely. It is indeed
encouraging and strengthening to read the account of the many
indubitable answers you have had to prayer, and I pray God, dear sir, to
strengthen your hands, and prolong your life, if it be His will, that
both the servants of Christ and of Satan, the former to their comfort,
the latter to their confusion if not to their conversion, may see that
God alone reigns, and that the hearts of all are in His hand. I now
inclose you some coins (there are 18), which may be disposed of for the
Orphan-Houses. Truly we wish you good luck in the name of the Lord.

"Believe me, dear sir,

"To remain your unknown but true Friend,

"A Minister of the Church of England."

"N.B. I earnestly solicit an interest in your prayers."

The letter contained a two-guinea piece, a small Portuguese gold coin,
15 silver coins, and a copper coin.

March. 7. Very great have been the expenses for the Orphans of late.
During the short month of February alone I spent 386l. for them. For
nearly eight weeks, since Jan. 11th, the expenses have been nearly four
times as great as the income, which, however, I have been able amply to
meet, on account of the previous abundance which the Lord had been
pleased to send in. Now, however, after much prayer for means, the Lord
has been pleased to refresh my heart by a donation of 200l., referred to
under this date in the account of the income for the other objects. I
took of this sum 90l. for the Orphans. I received also this day 4l.
10s., being the bequest of a Swiss brother in the Lord, who fell asleep
in Devonshire, and who desired that what he left should be sold for the
benefit of the Orphans.

April 30. At the morning exposition of the Holy Scriptures at the New
Orphan-House, I was led particularly to dwell upon the blessedness of
the believer having to do with the living God, and referred, in the way
of illustration, to His care in supporting the Orphan Work. Immediately
after the exposition was over, I received a donation of 12l. 12s. for
the Orphans, another of 200l. (which I took half for the Orphans and
half for the other objects), and in the afternoon came in still further
through the boxes in the New Orphan-House 2l. 14s. 4 1/2 d. Concerning
the donation of 12l. 12s. the hand of the Lord is the more manifest, in
that it came from a place whence. I had never received any donation, as
far as I know, and towards it a vicar, an archdeacon, and one of the
Queen's chaplains contributed, gentlemen entirely unknown to me, and
yet they felt thus kindly disposed towards this work.

May 26. I am brought to the close of this period. The work is more and
more enlarging. During the last month I have paid out for the Orphans
more than 450l., and for the other objects more than 500l., being nearly
One Thousand Pounds during one month; and yet I have a greater balance
left in hand, through the Lord's kindness, than at the close of any of
the previous periods.

Of the several hundreds of donations, large and small, received during
this period, I have thus taken a few, to show in what way it pleased the
Lord to supply me with means for the Orphan Work.

Miscellaneous Points respecting the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for
Home and Abroad, with reference to the period from May 26, 1850 to May
26, 1851.

1. There were during this period four Day Schools in Bristol, with 286
children in them, entirely supported by the funds of the Institution,
and three others in Devonshire, Gloucestershire, and Norfolk, with 180
children in them, were assisted.--Further, one Sunday School in
Bristol, with 184 children, was entirely supported, and two others, in
Devonshire and Gloucestershire, with 213 children, were assisted.--
Lastly, an Adult School in Bristol, with 90 persons in it, was entirely
supported.--The expenses connected with all these various Schools
were, during this period, 379l. 17s.--From the formation of the
Institution, on March 5, 1834, up to May 26, 1851, there were 5,343
children in the various Day Schools in Bristol alone, 2,379 in the
Sunday School, and 1,896 persons in the Adult Schools, besides the
thousands in the Schools out of Bristol, which were assisted.

2. During this period I sought again especially to supply very poor
persons, whose character was known by their being visited, with copies
of the Holy Scriptures; and also to put copies which are printed with
large type in to the hands of aged persons, which seems to me of
especial need, as such Bibles are still expensive, considering the means
of the poor. There was expended during this period, out of the funds of
the Institution, on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, 150l. 16s.
5d. There were 345 Bibles sold and 899 given away; and 30 New Testaments
sold, and 413 given away, during this period. From March 5, 1834, to May
26, 1851, there were circulated 7,709 Bibles and 4,442 New Testaments.

3. During this year was spent of the Funds of the Institution for
Missionary objects the sum of 2000l. 11s. 1d. By this sum, forty-five
labourers in the word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were
to a greater or less degree assisted. The amount sent to each of these
servants of Christ was as follows.

To No. 1. Labouring in British Guiana 91l. 10s.

To No. 2. Ditto 82l.

To No. 3. Ditto 80l. 10s.

To No. 4. Ditto 55l.

To No. 5. Ditto 55l.

To No. 6. Ditto 30l.

To No. 7. Ditto 20l.

To No. 8. Ditto 10l.

To No. 9. Labouring in the East Indies 100l.

To No. 10. Ditto 40l.

To No. 11. Ditto 40l.

To No. 12. Ditto 20l.

To No. 13 Ditto 14l.

To No. 14 Labouring in Canada 20l.

To No. 15 Ditto 20l.

To No. 16 Labouring in the United States 30l.

To No. 17 Labouring in France 60l.

To No. 18. Labouring in Switzerland 50l.

To No. 19. Ditto 10l.

To No. 20. Ditto 10l.

To No. 21. Labouring in Germany 10l.

To No. 22. Labouring in Ireland 70l.

To No. 23. Labouring in Scotland 115l.

To No. 24. Labouring in England 130l.

To No. 25. Labouring in England 115l.

To No. 26. Ditto 80l.

To No. 27. Ditto 65l.

To No. 28. Ditto 65l.

To No. 29. Ditto 57l.

To No. 30. Ditto 50l.

To No. 31. Ditto 50l.

To No. 32. Ditto 50l.

To No. 33. Ditto 45l.

To No. 34. Ditto 45l

To No. 35. Ditto 30l.

To No. 36. Ditto 30l.

To No. 37. Ditto 30l.

To No. 38. Ditto 20l.

To No. 39. Ditto 15l.

To No. 40. Ditto 10l.

To No. 41. Ditto 10l.

To No. 42. Ditto 10l.

To No. 43. Ditto 10l.

To No. 44. Ditto 5l.

To No. 45. Ditto 5l.

There was also sent to me anonymously
for the support of native preachers of the
Gospel in China 11s. ld., which was forwarded
. . . . . . . 11s. 1d.

The total amount of 2000l. was sent to these forty-five servants of the
Lord Jesus in 264 different sums, generally not less than 5l. and not
more than 10l. at one time to each, except there were especial reasons
pointing to a different course. Almost all these brethren were
habitually assisted; a few needed only occasional assistance.

I have great joy, in being able to inform the believing reader, that it
pleased the Lord again to let great blessing rest upon the labours of
these preachers of the Gospel, whom I sought to assist during this year;
which is alike true both with reference to those who labour in our own
country and those who preach the Word in foreign lands.

I consider it a great privilege to be permitted to defray in part or
altogether, from the funds of this institution, the expenses connected
with the voyage and outfit of brethren who desire to go out as
Missionaries, or to help them after their arrival in their field of
labour; but I do not bind myself to support them habitually, seeing that
thus they would be out of the position of simple dependence upon God for
their temporal supplies.

4. During this period 358l. 7s. 3d. was expended on the circulation of
Tracts, and 303,098 Tracts and Little Books were circulated.

The Lord was pleased to give me such an abundance of opportunities for
circulating tracts by means of godly men, both in this and foreign
countries, that, during this year, I was permitted to send out more
tracts than during the whole of the previous ten years taken together.
Nor must it be withheld from the reader, as matter for thankfulness,
that the Lord was pleased to allow me to hear again and again of
instances of conversion, by means of the distribution of these Tracts
during this period.

5. On May 26, 1850, there were Two Hundred and Seventy-five Orphans in
the New Orphan House on Ashley Down, Bristol. There were admitted into
it, during this year, 45 Orphans, making 320 in all. Of these, however,
two were removed by their relatives, who were able by that time to
provide for them, seven died during the year, five of the elder girls
were sent out to service, and six of the elder boys were apprenticed; so
that on May 26, 1851, there were 300 Orphans in the New Orphan House.
The total number of Orphans who were under our care from April, 1836, to
May 26, 1851, is Four Hundred and Eighty-Eight. There came in altogether
during this year 4102l. 14s. 9 1/4 d. for the support of the Orphans, and
3,640l. 9s. 1 3/4 d. for the other objects; and, after having met to the
full every demand with reference to the Orphans, the balance of 970l.
13s. 11 3/4 d. remained in hand. Also, after having entered into every
door, which the Lord was pleased to set before me respecting the other
objects, and to do far more than during any one year previously, the
balance of 809l. 10s. 6d. remained in hand on May 26, 1851. Verily we do
not trust in the Lord in vain!

Without any one having been personally applied to for anything by me,
the sum of 38,018l. 4s. 6 1/2 d. was given to me for the Orphans as the
result of prayer to God from the commencement of the work to May 26,
1851.--It may be also interesting to the reader to know, that the
total amount which was given as free contributions, for the other
objects, from the commencement of the work to May 26, 1851, amounted to
13,988l. 11s. 9 1/4 d.; and that which came in by the sale of Bibles and
Tracts, and by the payments of the children in the Day-Schools, amounted
to 2,890l. 9s. 11 3/4 d.--Besides this, also a great variety and
number of articles of clothing, furniture, provisions, &e., were given
for the use of the Orphans.

It pleased the Lord greatly to gladden our hearts by the working of His
Holy Spirit among the Orphans during this period.

Matters connected with my own personal affairs, or the work of the Lord
in my hands, not immediately connected with the Scriptural Knowledge
institution, from May 26, 1850, to May 26, 1851.

Dec. 31, 1850. During this year there have been received into Fellowship
57, and altogether, from the time that Brother Craik and I began to
labour in Bristol, 1313, which, with the 68 believers whom we found in
Fellowship, make 1381. Of these 174 have fallen asleep, 160 have left us
during these 18 years and a half, 355 have removed from Bristol, and 80
have been excluded from Fellowship; so that there are at present only
612 in communion.

During this year the Lord has been pleased to give me---

1. By anonymous offerings through the
Chapel boxes ... ... ... L148 11 0

2. By presents in money from believers in
Bristol, not given anonymously 86 1 9

8. By presents in money from believers
not residing in Bristol ... ... 160 0 8

4. By presents in provisions, clothes, &c.,
worth to us at least ... ... 7 11 0

L402 4 5

Further account of the intended Orphan House for Seven Hundred Poor
Children, bereaved of both Parents by

death, from May 26, 1851, to May 26, 1852.

The reader will remember it was stated in the previous chapter on this
subject, that I purposed, not in dependence upon my Christian Friends,
nor upon former donors, but alone in dependence upon the living God,
who, I trust, has called me for it, notwithstanding all my unworthiness,
to enlarge the Orphan Work. The Godly reader will now be desirous to
learn how far I have been helped, in this my intention, to enlarge the
field of labour in caring for the vast numbers of helpless Orphans in
our land. I will, therefore, give an extract, in the way of specimens,
from the account book, kept for the purpose, together with the remarks
and observations which I wrote down at the time of the receipt of the
donations, and make also here and there additional remarks, as the
occasion may call for.

Before I brought before the public my purpose, I gave the record of the
exercises of my mind, on this subject, to a valued Christian friend to
read, the only one who, besides my family, knew anything of my
intention, before it came before the public. I did this particularly in
order that, after waiting for several months in secret upon God for
guidance and direction concerning it, I might also have the counsel of a
prayerful, judicious, and cautious man of God. When this brother
returned the manuscript, he spoke to me words of encouragement
concerning this purpose, and gave me a half-sovereign towards the
Building Fund for this house for 700 destitute Orphans. This was the
first donation, which I received on May 13, 1851, and which, I confess,
was a great refreshment and encouragement to me, the more so as it came
from so cautious a brother, and after I had been for several months,
through secret prayer, assured that I should go forward.

On May 28th, 1851, my intention became publicly known, and in the
evening of May 29th I received from a Christian lady a sovereign towards
the Building Fund.

May 30. One of the Orphans in the New Orphan House gave 6d. for the
Building Fund, and one engaged in the work gave an old silver watch for
sale and 5s.

June. 1. A brother in the Lord, who gives his donations with the letter
"P.," gave me 10s.--I also received a sovereign.--This evening I
received still further 4 half-crowns, with very encouraging words and
expressions of joy, that I have been led to this purpose of building
another Orphan House for 700 more Orphans.--There came to hand also
anonymously 3s. Ditto an old shilling, a small American coin, and two
shillings. Also from a Christian servant in Clifton 2s. 6d.

June. 3. From one of the Orphans in the New Orphan House 6d., and from
another 6d.

June 4. From another Orphan in the New Orphan House, 6d. I received also
8s. 0 1/2 d., which the Orphans in the Girls' School of the New Orphan
House gave between them for the Building Fund.

June 5. Through one of the boxes at the New Orphan House twopence and
likewise one half-penny. These two small donations are very sweet to me.
I take them as a further earnest, out of the hands of my heavenly
Father, that He, in His own time, will give me the whole sum requisite.
Evening: From a sister from Norwich 2s. 6d. From a sister in the Lord in
Bristol 1s.

June. 6. Anonymously 5l. 0s. 1d., with these words: "Towards the
Building Fund of the proposed Orphan House 2l., for Brother Mueller 1l.
10s., for Brother Craik 1l. 10s."

June 7. Anonymously 1s. 6d.

June. 8. From a brother 5s.--From one of the Orphans formerly under
our care, a believer, a sovereign, of which she intends 5s. for the
Building Fund, 5s. for present use for the Orphans, 5s. for Brother
Craik, and 5s. for my own personal expenses. How sweet a donation!
Anonymously 1s. From "P." 1s. 6d.

June 11. Anonymously, from Sunderland 1l--A lady gave to my daughter
at my house 5l., but would not give her name.

June. 12. From Richmond 5l.

I have thus given minutely an account of the income during the first two
weeks, after my purpose had become known; but shall now only, for the
sake of brevity, refer to some of the donations.

June. 21. Twenty-four days have now passed away since I have been
enabled, day by day, to wait with a goodly measure of earnestness and in
faith upon the Lord for means; but as yet only a little above 28l. has
come in. But I am not discouraged. The less there comes in, the more
earnestly I pray, the more I look out for answers, and the more assured
I am that the Lord, in His own time, after He has tried my faith, will
send me larger sums, and, at last, all I need.

July 27. From a Christian gentleman in Clifton 20l. This donation has
much refreshed my spirit. I am, day by day, expecting help from the
Lord, in large and small sums as He pleases; but as He is trying my
faith, in that only so little as yet has come in, this donation has been
very precious.

Aug. 8. From a Christian lady in London 5l.--From Somersetshire 40l.

Aug. 12, Day by day I am waiting upon the Lord for means for this
object, and generally more than once a day am bowing my knees before God
with reference to it. Moreover, of late I have been enabled, with
increasing earnestness, to beseech the Lord, that He would be pleased
to send in means for the Building Fund. My soul has been all along at
peace, though only so little as yet, comparatively, has come in (in all
127l. 19s. 9d.) and though Satan has, in the most subtle way, sought to
shake my confidence, and to lead me to question, whether, after all, I
had not been mistaken concerning this whole matter. Yet, though he has
aimed after this, to the praise of God I have to confess, that he has
not been allowed to triumph. I have especially besought the Lord of
late, that He would be pleased to refresh my spirit by sending in some
large donation for this part of the work. Under these circumstances, I
received this morning the following letter with 500l.:

"* * * * August 8.

"My Dear Brother,

"Trusting that God has indeed called you to this work, viz., caring for
poor Orphans, and will not allow you to be deceived as to His will
regarding the increasing it, but will greatly use you for His own glory
and for blessing to many poor destitute children, it is my desire, and I
humbly thank our most gracious God and Father for the ability, to have
fellowship with you in this work, as far as He permits. Will you,
therefore, use the enclosed check for 500l. for the Orphans, towards the
present Establishment or the proposed new one, as you may judge best, or
taking any part thereof for one or the other. The Lord Jesus be your
counselor, your joy, your strength, your all.

"Affectionately yours,

"* * * *"

I took the whole amount for the Building Fund. I was not in the least
excited. I look out for means. Even at that very moment, when I received
this donation, I was looking out for means, for large donations; and I
should not have been surprised if 5,000l. had come in, or more. The Lord
be praised for this precious encouragement, which has still further
quickened me for prayer!

Aug. 14. From the neighbourhood of Leeds 10l.--From Essex 5l.

Aug. 15. Anonymously from Hull 5s.--From Cornwall a copy of "Greece"
for sale.

Aug. 19. From Shirehampton 5l.

Aug. 20. From Mirfield 2l. Also 150l. came in today which, being left at
my disposal by the donor, as most needed, I took the whole of this
amount for the Building Fund, having sufficient means in hand for the
current expenses of the various objects of the Scriptural Knowledge
Institution.

Aug. 30. From M. S. 30l., of which the donor desires 20l. to be used for
missionary objects, and 10l. for the Building Fund. The donor writes:
"My present inducement to remit this is, that God has lately prospered
me in business, and I had been putting by for this and a few other
similar purposes, intending to make bequests in my will, but am
convinced that this is the best course to pursue, if not the only
justifiable one, with what I can spare from my business and other
necessities."

Sept. 1. From a much afflicted sister seven dolls' bonnets for sale.
-- A picture in frame.

Sept. 2. From an individual living in Nicholas Street, Bristol, 1l.--
From a brother in the Lord, in Wandsworth Road, London, 5s., with 1l.
for present use for the Orphans, and 15s. for missionary purposes.--
From a poor Christian widow in London 1s., with 1s. for present use for
the Orphans.--I am day by day labouring in prayer for this object,
and with a goodly measure of fervency of spirit, by the grace of God;
and am day by day looking out for answers. These sums last recorded are
but small, yet they tell me that my Heavenly Father is not unmindful of
my supplications, and of those of His dear children who help me with
their prayers, and that, in His own time, He will send me more, and also
large sums. I magnify His holy name that He does not in the least allow
me to question either His power or His willingness to give me all that I
shall need; yea, my soul is as assured that I shall have this my request
fully granted, unworthy though I am of it, as if the whole amount were
already in my hand.

Sept. 4. From a Christian at Keswick 10s., and a lady through ditto 5s.

Sept. 5. From the neighbourhood of Keswick 1l.--From Hull 1l.--
From Shrewsbury 20l.

Sept. 10. As yet the Lord delays sending in larger sums; but I am
looking out for them, and am confidently expecting them. This delay is
only for the trial of my faith; after He has tried it, He will help me.
Applications for the admission of Orphans continue to be made. Within
the last ten days eighteen poor children, bereaved of both parents, have
been applied for; and since Aug. 15th, therefore in twenty-six days,
thirty-two altogether. My heart longs to be allowed of God to help poor
Orphans more extensively than ever. Whence the means are to come for the
building of this house for 700 Orphans, I know not; but still, by
God's help, my confidence in Him is not shaken. To Him it is a very
small matter to give me all I need for this work.

Sept. 11. From Ludgvan 10s. Evening. Only these ten shillings have come
in today, but three more Orphans have been applied for, making
thirty-five in less than a month. Does not the Lord tell me by this,
that He will provide another home for Orphans? I will therefore
patiently wait upon Him for the means, and after He has tried my faith
and patience, He will show Himself as the bearer and answerer of prayer.
Today came in the course of my reading John xiv. 13, 14, "And whatsoever
ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be
glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name I will do it."
I pleaded this word of promise, and look for answers, even for the
fulfilment of this promise. Nor do I doubt that the Lord Jesus will
fulfil this His promise in this my case.

Sept. 12. From Guildford 1l. 8s.--From Bath 1l.

Sept. 13. Patience and faith are still called for, and, by God's
grace, my desire is to "let patience have her perfect work," Not one
penny has come in today for the Building Fund, but five more Orphans
have been applied for, so that now forty in less than one single month
have been brought before me, all bereaved of both parents, and all very
destitute. Under these circumstances, how can I but fervently labour in
prayer that the Lord would be pleased to intrust me with means for
building another Orphan-House for 700 Orphans. The more I look at things
according to natural appearances and prospects, the less likely is it
that I should have the sum which is needed; but I have faith in God, and
my expectation is from Him alone. From the beginning I depended upon Him
only, concerning this proposed enlargement of the work, and therefore
have not been disappointed, though as yet only the fortieth part of what
is needed has come in (882l. 18s. 7 1/2 d). But how soon, how very soon
can the Lord alter the aspect of things. Even this very evening, while I
am writing, He can give me many thousand pounds. I continue therefore,
to wait upon God, and seek to encourage my heart by His holy word, and
while he delays giving me answers, to be occupied in His blessed
service. Of this, however, my soul has not the least doubt, that, when
the Lord shall have been pleased to exercise my soul by the trial of
faith and patience, He will make bare His arm, and send help. The fact
that the applications for the admission of destitute Orphans are so
many, does both quicken me to prayer, and is also a great encouragement
to me, that the Lord will give me the desire of my heart, to provide
another home for these destitute, fatherless and motherless children.

Sept. 19. Received today a donation of 170l., which the donor kindly
allowed me to use for the work of the Lord in my hands as I pleased. I
therefore took the whole of this donation for the Building Fund, having
at present sufficient means in hand for the current expenses of all, the
various objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, and feeling
called to give myself with my might to prepare for the Building of
another Orphan-House.

Sept. 20. About two months since I received a letter, of which I give as
much as refers to the subject in hand.

"My Dear Sir,

"I was once a book collector, and turned my attention to our old English
Bibles, and, among other editions, perfected, almost sheet by sheet, our
first English Coverdale Bible of 1535. It is a sad specimen of time,
attention, and money mis-spent and mis-applied, and as I look upon you
as the receiver of cast off idols, whether watch chains, trinkets, or
old Bibles, I have purposed for some time sending it to you. * * * * Do
with the proceeds as you see fit. I should be glad if a portion were
converted into large printed Testaments for the aged, and should be
thankful if that, which has been cause of humbling to me, should be
converted into the means, through your instrumentality, of raising
others.

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