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

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* * * * *

"Ever yours,

* * * *."

A day or two after the receipt of this letter, a parcel arrived,
containing the said Coverdale Bible, of A.D. 1535 and another book; the
latter to be sold for the benefit of the Orphans. It was only today that
I had an opportunity of disposing of the old Bible, which fetched 60l.,
together with other books, which had been given for the benefit of the
Orphans, which brought 10l. Of the 60l. I took 10l. for New Testaments
printed with large type for aged poor persons, and 50l. for the Building
Fund.

Oct. 2. Evening. Nothing has come in today for the Building Fund, and
very little during the last ten days. I have had just now again a long
season for prayer respecting this object. Through the support which I
receive from the Lord, I am not cast down, though only so little as yet
has come in. The work is His, and not mine; therefore am I able quietly
to leave it in His hands. Were I to look at what has come in hitherto,
much though it is, in one sense, it would take, after this rate, about
ten years, before I should have the sum needed; but this does not cast
me down; for, when the Lord's time is come I expect larger sums.
Further, there are peculiar natural obstacles in the way to my receiving
donations for this object; for it has now been for several months
reported that I have already Thirty Thousand Pounds in hand for the
Building Fund, though this day it is actually only 1,139l. 19s. 2 1/2 d.
Again and again this has been told me, and therefore, were I to look at
things naturally, I should have much reason to be cast down, as the
spread of such reports is calculated, humanly speaking, to keep persons
from contributing towards this object. Another class of persons, true
Christians, and liberal persons too, may be thinking, that the sum
required is so large that it is not likely I shall obtain it, and that
therefore their contributing towards this object would be useless. But
none of these things discourage me. God knows that I have not Thirty
Thousand Pounds in hand. God can influence the minds of His dear
children towards this intended Orphan-House, whatever their thoughts may
have been hitherto on the subject. I therefore seek to "let patience
have her perfect work," and go on in prayer, being fully assured, that
the Lord will not suffer me to be confounded. I am day by day looking
out for help, yea for large sums; and I know I shall have them, after
the Lord has exercised my faith and patience. Lord wilt Thou mercifully
continue to give unto Thy servant faith and patience!

Oct. 3. From the Forest of Dean 1l.

Oct. 4. From Old Aberdeen 5l.--From Dublin the work for an ottoman
and a piece of crochet work.

Oct. 5. Through Bethesda boxes 10s.--From Clifton 7s.--From H. S.
4d.

Oct. 7. From Wellington in Salop 5s. Evening. The trial of my faith and
patience continues still. Again very little has come in during the last
four days for the Building Fund. But my hope in God, by His help,
continues steadfast. I had just now again a long season for prayer,
having spent the whole evening alone for the purpose, and am assured
that, when God's time shall have come, it will be seen that, even
concerning this object, I do not wait upon Him in vain. There are
persons again and again asking me, When I am going to commence the
building; for, they think that I have all, or nearly all, the means
which are required. And there are others who ask me whether I still
purpose to build this Orphan-House. To Thee, my Heavenly Father, Thy
child turns under these circumstances. Thou knowest how small an amount
as yet Thy servant has, in comparison with what is needed; but Thou also
knowest that Thy servant did not act rashly and under excitement in this
matter, but waited upon Thee for six months in secret, before he spoke
about this his intention. Now, Lord, in Thy mercy, sustain Thy
servant's faith and patience, and, if it please Thee, speedily refresh
his heart by sending in larger sums, for which he is looking, and which
he confidently expects!

Oct. 8. Through the boxes at the New Orphan-House 2s. 6d., with Psalm
xxvii. 14. The words of the passage are these: "Wait on the Lord: be of
good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the
Lord." By God's grace I wait on the Lord, and am of good courage, and
He does strengthen my heart, in faith and patience to continue to wait
on Him, though only so little comes in, being assured that, when the
trial of faith and patience is over, He will make bare His arm, and send
in larger sums.

Oct. 28. Nothing at all has come in today for the Building Fund, and
about 70l. only during the last four weeks. Yet, by the grace of God, I
am supported, and have not the least questioning of soul whether I shall
have the means or not. I only look upon this delay, on the part of God,
in sending me larger sums, as an exercise of my patience and faith, and
am sure, that in His own time He will give more largely. Today I have
had again three long seasons for prayer respecting the work in my hands;
and the greater part of this evening have been in prayer, entreating and
beseeching the Lord to help me; and I am now again looking out for
means, as I do day by day.

Oct. 29. This morning I received a letter, containing a check for 50l.,
and these words:

"* * * * Oct. 27, 1851.

"My dear Sir,

I had much pleasure and blessing in perusing the Report you were kind
enough to send me some time ago, and am much obliged to you for it. Is
it not a privilege to be allowed to obtain future good out of present
expending? (Luke xvi. 9)' That when ye fail, etc.' I enclose a check
for 50l., of which I should wish 25l. to be used for the New
Orphan-House, that which you propose to build.

Yours, dear Sir,

Ever faithfully,

* * * * *"

The other 25l. being left to me, to be disposed of as I thought well, I
divided equally between the five objects of the Scriptural Knowledge
Institution for Home and Abroad.

By the same post I received also a donation of 10s., with the following
letter.

* * * *, Oct. 27, 1851.

"Dear Mr. Mueller,

I enclose you 10s. worth of postages, as a token of gratitude to the
Lord. I had 2l. due to me, and the party told me he would not pay it,
except I summoned him. I consulted the Scripture, and found, as a
Christian, I must not do that; so I put the case into the hand of the
'wonderful counsellor,' and told the Lord, if He would be pleased to
give me the 2l., I would give Him back half of it. Not long after I had
a message from the party, to say if I would fetch it, I should have the
2l.; so I went, and he paid me without an unpleasant word. I have sent
you one half of the pound (the other half I have designed for another
purpose). If you need it, you will please to take it for your own
personal use; if it is not needed any other way, I should like the
privilege of having a stone in the intended Orphan-House, &c."

I took this 10s. for the Building Fund. The donor is a poor working man.
-- This afternoon I received 50l. more from the neighbourhood of
London, with these words: "For the missionaries, and where else most
needed." I took, therefore, 25l. of it for missions, and the other 25l.
for the Building Fund.

Thus the Lord has been pleased this day to refresh my heart greatly in
sending these donations, and has given again a manifest proof that
yesterday I did not wait upon Him in vain. But I look out for more
abundant help, and for larger sums. I cannot help noticing here, that
this afternoon the Lord also refreshed my spirit through a donation of 6
pairs of new shoes, which a young man (whom about twelve years ago I
received as a very destitute Orphan, and who about five years ago was
apprenticed to a shoemaker, and who has lately finished his
apprenticeship), brought me for the Orphans, as a small token of his
gratitude, as he said. He had himself made the shoes, having bought the
leather with the little sums which he had earned in working overtime for
his master.

Such instances occur often. I see now, again and again, fruit resulting
from my labours in this service. It is not at all a rare thing that I
meet with respectable young women, or respectable young men, who, many
years ago, were placed, as very destitute Orphans, under my care, and
who are now a comfort and help to society, instead of being a pest,
which otherwise they might have been. But valuable and pleasant as this
is, I frequently meet with far more in them: I find them to be children
of the living God, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and see or
hear that they walk according to their profession. Thus, in the midst of
many difficulties, and with much that, for the present moment, is
discouraging, I see abundant fruit. Yet, if even only one soul were won
from among these Orphans, how abundantly would all labours, trials,
difficulties, and expenditure of money be made up; but, if I know of
scores of them already in heaven, and scores of them now on the road to
heaven, how can I but go on labouring, esteeming it a privilege to be
allowed of God to seek to win more and more of them for Him?
Considerations like these are a mighty impulse to me to go forward with
regard to the intended Orphan House.

Nov. 10. Today I received 200l., of which the donor kindly wished me to
keep 20l. for my own personal expenses, and to apply the rest as most
needed for the Lord's work in my hands. I took, therefore, 100l. for
the Building Fund, and 80l. for missionary objects, the circulation of
the Holy Scriptures and Gospel Tracts, and for the support of all the
various schools which are supported by the funds of the Scriptural
Knowledge. Institution. By this donation my heart has been greatly
refreshed for the following reasons:--lst. During the last twelve
days very little, comparatively, has come in. 2nd. The first four
objects of the Institution, for which I took the 80l., were lower as to
funds than they have been during the last ten months, as only 113l.
remained in hand. 3rd. I had been praying for supplies for my own
personal expenses, in order that I might be able to help in certain
cases of need, which were near my heart. This day week, Nov. 3rd, I
began particularly to pray about this object. On Nov. 7th there was 5l.
put anonymously into the letter box at my house, for my own personal
expenses. The note was signed "H." On the same evening I received 2l.
more. On Nov. 8th I received 1l. from Keswick. On Nov. 9th 1l. 14s. 6d.,
and today 20l. Though this is a digression from the immediate subject
before me, yet, as I write chiefly for the comfort and encouragement of
the children of God, and that their dependence upon God and their trust
in Him may more and more be increased, and also that unbelievers may see
the reality of the things of God, I take delight in mentioning these
cases, to show that He does not merely supply me, in answer to prayer,
with means for His work in which I am occupied, but that He also
bountifully supplies my own personal necessities, simply in answer to
prayer.

Nov. 19. Early this morning came, in the course of my reading through
the Holy Scriptures, Heb. v. and vi., and my heart was greatly
strengthened by Heb. vi. 15., "And so after he had patiently endured, he
obtained the promise." I have not once, even for one moment, been
allowed to doubt, either the power or the willingness of the Lord to
supply me with all that shall be needed for this other Orphan House,
since I came at first to the conclusion that it was His will I should
enlarge the work; yet I have often, very often, been led to ask, that He
would graciously be pleased to sustain my faith and patience to the end;
for great, very great, may yet be the exercises both of my faith and
patience, before. I have the desire of my heart granted.

Nov. 28. The following case will especially show in what a variety of
ways the Lord is pleased to supply me with means. Today I received from
an individual, hitherto an entire stranger to me, the letter which
follows:--

* * * *, London, Nov 27, 1851.

"My dear Brother,

I asked the Lord for help with regard to yourself and your work. The
other night a stranger called at my house, and left a parcel, declining
to give her name, saying, 'Take charge of this for Mr. George
Mueller.' The parcel contained 3l. 14s. 9d., two silver spoons, and
two silver thimbles; 4s. were added to pay the expenses. May the Lord
prosper you, my brother.

Yours affectionately,

* * * * *"

As it was not stated for what object the donation was intended, I took
the whole for the Building Fund.

Dec. 8. From A. Z. at Hull 3l. 5s., of which the donor kindly intends
5s. for my own personal expenses. Through this donor also 5s. besides.
Both these donations are remarkable. The donor who sent the 3l. 5s.,
some years ago, when in very poor circumstances, set apart from his
earnings 3/4 d. a-day for the Orphans. From that time God was pleased to
prosper him; and now he is able to send this 3l. 5s. at once. The donor
of the 5s. had about a year ago one of the Reports of the Scriptural
Knowledge Institution lent to him, when he was living in much sin, by
the brother who sent the 3l. 5s., and this Report was the means of his
conversion.

Dec. 28. This morning I received a donation of 200l., which, being left
at my disposal, I took one half for the Building Fund, and the other
half for the School, Bible, Tract and Missionary Objects.

Jan. 28, 1852. From Torquay 5s.--I received also this morning the
following registered letter, enclosing 50l.

"* * * * *Jan. 21, 1852.

"Dear Brother,

"Having this morning received a large present, I hasten to send you
50l., either towards building the New Orphan House, or for the
missionary servants of the Lord; as you may deem best.

" Yours very truly in Christ,

"* * * *"

I am especially labouring in prayer, day by day, that the Lord would be
pleased to furnish me with the means for building another Orphan House,
as the number of applications for destitute children, bereaved of both
parents, is increasing more and more: but I have also of late been
particularly praying to the Lord for means for missionary brethren, as
almost all I have in hand for them is expended. On this account I
purpose to take one half of this donation for the Building Fund, and the
other half for missionary objects.

March 17. Day by day I am waiting upon God for means. With full
confidence, both as to the power of the Lord to give me the means, and
likewise His willingness, I am enabled to continue to wait. But He is
pleased to exercise my faith and patience, and especially has this been
the case of late. Not more than 27l. 11s. has come in, during the last
four weeks, for the Building Fund. Yet, amidst it all, by the help of
God, my heart has been kept looking to the Lord, and expecting help from
Him. Now today my heart has been greatly refreshed by a donation of
999l. 13s. 5d., which, being left to my disposal for the work of God, I
took of it for the Building Fund 600l., for current expenses for the
Orphans 200l., and the remainder for the School, Bible, Tract, and
Missionary objects. I cannot describe to any one how refreshing this
donation is to my spirit. After having been for weeks, day by day,
waiting upon the Lord, and receiving so little, comparatively, either
for current expenses or for the Building Fund, this answer to many
prayers is exceedingly sweet to my spirit.

March 18. From Mallow in Ireland 5s.--From Torquay 5s.--From
Whitby 2l. 3s. 6d., of which 1l. is for the Building Fund, 1l. for
present use for the Orphans, and 3s. 6d. for ditto.--From Kingstanley
1l.--From Lichfield 4l. 15s., and 5s.

March 21. From Clifton 5l., with 3s. for present use for the Orphans.
-- Through Salem boxes 1s.

March 23. From Driffield 5l.--Received also further 500l., which,
being entirely left at my disposal, I took 100l. for the Building Fund,
200l. for current expenses for the Orphans, 50l. for the circulation of
the Holy Scriptures, 50l. for the circulation of Gospel Tracts, 50l. for
preachers of the Gospel in foreign lands, and 50l. for preachers of
the Gospel in England, Ireland, and Scotland.

May 16. From two Christian ladies at Clifton 10s.

May 19. From Bishopwearmouth 5l.

May 20. 149l. 8s. 11 1/2 d., being the proceeds arising from the sale of
a book in English, and 40l. 14s. from the sale of a book in French, were
given for the Building Fund; and 75l. 18s. 9d., being the balance of a
certain account, for present use for the Orphans.

To the donations received during this year, is to be added 64l. 10s. 6d.
received for interest; for as a steward of the money, with which I was
intrusted for the Building Fund, I felt it right to put out to interest
that which came in. Lastly, there remained in hand from the former
Building Fund the balance of 776l. 14s. 3 3/4 d., which I added to the
present Building Fund, so that on the evening of May 26th, 1852, I had
altogether 3530l. 9s. 0 1/4 d.

I add the following points, which were stated in the Report of 1852, and
which are here reprinted for the better information of the readers.

A. Looking at the comparatively small amount yet in hand towards the
accomplishment of my purpose, some of my readers may suppose that I am
on that account discouraged. My reply is, that I am not at all
discouraged, and that for the following reasons.

1. The many donations which the Lord has been pleased to send me during
the past year expressly for the Building Fund, have been a proof to me
that He condescends to listen to my supplications respecting this part
of the work, and to those of His dear children who help me with their
prayers; for many, I believe, labour with me in prayer.

2. The delay of the Lord in sending still larger sums, and more
speedily, than He has been pleased to do hitherto, I only consider to be
for the exercise of my faith and patience. Were the Lord displeased with
my intention, He would not have dealt with me as He has, and would not
have encouraged me to continue to wait upon Him, by the many donations
which were expressly given for this object, and some from most
unexpected quarters. This exercise of my faith and patience, however, I
believe to be intended not merely for my own individual profit; but
through me, also for the benefit of others. By God's gracious help and
support I will, therefore, continue to wait patiently, till He shall be
pleased more abundantly to send in the means, which I do not in the
least doubt life will do.

3. Even when intending to build the New Orphan-House on Ashley Down,
Bristol, (which was then an undertaking to me greater far than the
second Orphan House now contemplated), I had to wait two years and three
months, before I had all the means needed; and great, and many, and
varied indeed were the trials of my patience and faith, before that work
was accomplished; yet, at last, the Lord so abundantly helped me, and so
altogether carried me through all the difficulties, that the house was
built, fitted up, furnished, and inhabited, and several hundred pounds
remained over and above what was required. And now three years have
already elapsed since the house has been inhabited, and the three
hundred Orphans in it have no cause to speak of want, but only of
abundance. But as the work increases more and more, 1 am not surprised
that my trials of faith and patience should become sharper and sharper,
and should last longer and longer; but yet, by His help, will I hope in
God, whom I shall have to praise further still, and who will help me
further still, on the ground of the worthiness and merits of His holy
child Jesus, though I am most unworthy in myself to be helped.

4. One of the things, which especially encourages me to continue to wait
upon God, and to labour on in prayer Concerning this object, is the
great number of applications which continue to be made for the admission
of children who have been lawfully begotten, but who are by death
bereaved of both parents, and who are in very destitute circumstances.
There were 170 such children waiting for admission a year ago; since
then there have been 183 more applied for, making in all 353. Of these,
as during the last year but few vacancies have occurred, I have only
been able to receive twenty-seven, therefore 326 remain unprovided for.
This number would be far greater still, had not many persons been kept
from applying to me; for they considered it useless, as the number of
Orphans, waiting for admission, was already so great. Now when I
consider all the help which the Lord has been pleased to grant me in
this His service for so many years, and how He has carried me through
one difficulty after another, and when I see one case after another, of
the most pitiable Orphans (some less than one year old) brought before
me; how can I but labour on in prayer on their behalf, fully believing
that God, in His own time, will give me the means for this intended
second home for 700 more Orphans, though I know not when the money will
be sent, and whom He will honour to be the instruments, whether it will
come from many or from few comparatively, and whether more especially
from those donors whom God has used in former times, or whether He may
be pleased to put it into the heart of those to assist me in this
service, whose names I have never heard up to this time.

B. Up to the present I have taken no actual steps towards the erection
of the second Orphan-House, nor do I mean to do anything in the way of
purchasing the land, &c., until I have a sum in hand which may point out
that the Lord's time is come for taking such steps. At present I do
not allow my mind to be occupied with such points, but seek to go on
step by step, and therefore, in the first place, to wait upon God for a
greater amount of means than I have in hand at present; and when the
Lord shall have been pleased to grant me this, I doubt not that He will
also guide and direct me as to carrying out the desire which, I trust,
He has put into my heart, to be still more extensively used as the
Friend of the Orphan.

C. I state again that this second Orphan-House is only intended, as the
one already built, for children who have been lawfully begotten, who
have lost both parents by death, and who are in destitute circumstances;
this, however, being the case, children may be received from any place,
and the more destitute, the fewer patrons and friends they have to plead
their cause, the more likely they are to be received, as neither favour
nor partiality is shown in the admission of the children, but their
cases are considered in the order in which applications are made. I
state again here especially, that no sectarian views prompt me, or even
in the least influence me in the reception of children; I do not belong
to any sect, and am, therefore, not influenced by sectarianism in the
admission of Orphans; but from wheresoever they come, and to whatsoever
religions denomination the parents belonged, or with whatever body the
persons making application may be connected; and whether those who apply
never gave me one penny towards the work, or whether they gave much; it
makes no difference in the admission of the children. Now just as it has
been thus with regard to the admission of Orphans for more than sixteen
years past, so, when God shall be pleased to allow me to accomplish my
purpose concerning another Orphan-House, it is still intended to be the
same concerning that one also. The New Orphan-House on Ashley Down,
Bristol, is not say Orphan-House, not the Orphan-House of any party or
sect, but it is God's Orphan-House, and the Orphan-House for any and
every poor destitute Orphan who has lost both parents; provided, of
course, there be room in the establishment, and that there be nothing so
peculiar in the case of the children as to prevent their being received;
and exactly thus it is intended to be, God helping, with regard to the
Orphan-House for 700 Orphans, now in contemplation.

Supplies for the School--, Bible --, Missionary and Tract Fund, sent
in answer to prayer, from May 26, 1851, to May 26, 1852.

At no time during the past eighteen years did I begin a new period with
so much money in hand, as was the case at the commencement of this.
There was a balance of 809l. 10s. 6d. left for these objects. Long
before this balance was expended, however, the Lord was pleased to send
in further supplies; so that, during all the year, there did not come
before me one single instance in which, according to my judgment, it
would have been desirable to help forward Schools or Missionary objects,
or the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts, but I had always
the means in hand for doing so.

I will now notice a few of the more remarkable donations

On the third day already, after the accounts had been closed, May 29,
1851, I received a donation of 150l., of which I took one-half for the
current expenses for the Orphans, and the other half for these objects.
-- This was the first donation in this new period, and was a precious
encouragement to me in the work.

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