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

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My dear Brother,

"Ever yours,

"* * * * *"

This donation and letter have exceedingly refreshed my spirit, and
quickened me yet further to prayer.

Pause a few moments dear Reader. See how faith and prayer bring means
from individuals whom we have never seen, whose very names we have never
heard of, and who live at a distance of more than Ten Thousand miles
from us. Do you not see that it is not in vain, to make known our
requests to the Lord, and to come to Him for everything? When it was
first laid on my heart, to build a second Orphan-House for 700 destitute
children, bereaved of both parents by death, simply in dependence upon
God alone for means, could I have looked for this 70l. from this
Christian brother at Madras? Verily not, for I did not even know of his
existence. Had I other friends, from whom to expect the large sum which
will be needed to accomplish this? No, on the contrary, all human
probability was against my ever receiving this large sum. But I had
faith in God. I believed that He was able and willing to give me what
was needed for this work; and solely in dependence upon Him I purposed
to build another Orphan-House. But now see bow God has helped me
further; for after I had received this donation of 70l., I had still
only 4,127l. 12s. 6 3/4 d. in hand, in other words, only a little more
than the ninth part of the sum which, as far as I am able to calculate,
will be needed to accomplish my object.

Aug. 30. During this month again fourteen destitute Orphans have been
applied for, none of whom we can receive, because the New Orphan-House
is full. There are now 356 Orphans already waiting for admission, from
six months old and upwards, each bereaved of both parents by death.

Sept. 8. During the last five days, only 2l. 14s. had come in for the
Building Fund, and only 9l. 1s. altogether for the current expenses for
the various objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. Such
seasons try my faith and patience; but, by the grace of God, they do not
discourage me. He helps me to continue in prayer, and to look for
answers, and for a time when He will help again bountifully. During the
past eighteen years and six months, which I have been occupied in this
service, I have again and again found, that, after a season, during
which very little has come in, and my faith has thus been tried, the
Lord has generally the more bountifully helped afterwards. Thus it has
been again this day. I have received a donation of 280l. 10s. 6d., of
which the donor kindly wished me to take 20l. 10s. 6d. for my own
personal expenses, and to use the 260l. as the work of the Lord in my
hands might require. I took of this sum one-third for the Building Fund,
one-third for the current expenses for the Orphans, and one-third for
the other Objects. Thus I had at once a four-fold answer to prayer; 1,
Means for my own personal expenses, about which I had been asking the
Lord; 2, Means for the Building Fund, for which I am day by day
labouring in prayer; 3, Means for the current expenses for the Orphans,
which were greatly needed; and 4, Means for the other Objects, which
were entirely exhausted.

Sept. 28. From Melbourne, in Australia, 50l., from a believer in the
Lord Jesus, whose name even I did not know up to the time that I
received this donation.--See, dear Reader, how the Lord helps me, in
answer to prayer. Do you not perceive that my fellow-labourers and
myself do not wait upon the Lord in vain? Be encouraged by this! Go for
yourself, with all your temporal and spiritual wants, to the Lord. Bring
also the necessities of your friends and relatives to the Lord. Only
make the trial, and you will perceive how able and willing He is to help
you. Should you, however, not at once, obtain answers to your prayers,
be not discouraged; but continue patiently, believingly, perseveringly
to wait upon God: and as assuredly as that, which you ask, would be for
your real good, and therefore for the honour of the Lord; and as
assuredly as you ask it solely on the ground of the worthiness of our
Lord Jesus, so assuredly you will at last obtain the blessing. I myself
have had to wait upon God concerning certain matters for years, before I
obtained answers to my prayers; but at last they came. At this very
time, I have still to renew my requests daily before God, respecting a
certain blessing for which I have besought Him for eleven years and a
half, and which I have as yet obtained only in part, but concerning
which I have no doubt that the full blessing will be granted in the end.
So also, when I was led to build the New Orphan-House, and waited upon
the Lord for means for it, it took two years and three months, whilst
day by day I brought this matter before Him, before I received the full
answer.--But to return to my journal. This donation of 50l. from
Melbourne, refreshed my spirit greatly, and quickened me yet further to
prayer.--On the same day I received from Sheffield 5l., and from
Tottenham 10l.

Oct. 31. Thirteen more Orphans have been applied for during this month.

Nov. 3. This evening I received a check for 300l. for the Building Fund.
-- I am continually looking out for help, and am sustained in waiting
upon God, and in being enabled daily, and generally several times every
day, to bring the matter about the Building Fund before Him. I know that
God hears me, on the ground of the worthiness of the Lord Jesus, and
that at last He will give me the full amount needed for accomplishing
this work. How the means are to come, I know not; but I know that God is
almighty, that the hearts of all are in His hands, and that, if He
pleaseth to influence persons, they will send help. In this donation of
300l., received this evening, I have seen afresh, how easily God can
send means. The donor, who sent it, was not even known to me by name
this day month; but, on Oct. 12th, he sent me 200l. for the Orphans, and
now 300l. for the Building Fund. Nothing had come in during the former
part of the day; still, I was looking out, and, when I returned from the
Orphan-House, found that this 300l. had arrived at my house. But I
expect far larger sums.

Nov. 11. From London three boxes and two parcels of books, containing
275 volumes in all, to be sold for the Building Fund.

Nov. 16. 50l.--From the neighbourhood of Stroud 10s.--From one of
the former Orphans 10s., being part of her first quarter's wages. Sent
as a token of gratitude.

Nov. 19. 200l., which, being left to my disposal, I took of it 100l. for
the Building Fund, 60l. for preachers of the Gospel at Home and Abroad,
20l. for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, and 20l. for the
circulation of Tracts.

Nov. 21. From Malta 5l.

Nov. 27. "From the neighbourhood of Leominster, as a thank-offering,"
2l. Day by day I am waiting upon God, concerning this object. I firmly
believe that the Lord will give me all I require for the accomplishment
of it though I am utterly unworthy. I believe that I shall also have
large sums, very large sums, when the Lord has been pleased sufficiently
to exercise my faith and patience. Today I received 250l., the disposal
of which was left to me. I took, therefore, 125l. for the Building Fund,
25l. for current expenses for the Orphans, 40/. for the home and foreign
labourers in the Word, whom I seek to assist, 20l. for gratuitous
circulation of the Holy Scriptures among very poor persons, 20l. for
gratuitous circulation of Gospel Tracts, and 20l. for all the various
Day schools, Sunday schools, and the Adult school, which the Scriptural
Knowledge Institution either assists or entirely supports.

Nov. 30. During this month, again 25 children, bereaved of both parents
by death, lawfully begotten, and in destitute circumstances, have been
applied for, not one of whom I have any prospect of being able to admit
until the Lord shall have been pleased to enable me to build another
Orphan-House. The many Orphans waiting for admission, whose number is
increasing every month, lead me to continue in earnest supplication,
that the Lord would be pleased to furnish me with means for the erection
of another Orphan-House. Nor do I doubt that He will help me.

Jan. 3. From the neighbourhood of Stroud 1l. 15s. 3d.--Anonymously
in a letter 8d.--From Newtown Limavady 1l.--Also 252l. 17s. 1d.,
which, being left to my disposal, I portioned out thus: 75l. for the
Orphans, 75l. for the School, Bible, Missionary and Tract Fund, and
102l. 17s. 1d. for the Building Fund.

Jan. 4. From London 2s. 6d.--Day by day I have now been waiting upon
God for means for the Building Fund for more than nineteen months, and
almost daily I have received something in answer to prayer. These
donations have been, for the most part, small, in comparison with the
amount which will be required for the completion of this object;
nevertheless they have shown that the Lord, for the sake of His dear
Son, listens to my supplications and to those of my fellow labourers and
helpers in the work; and they have been precious encouragements to me to
continue to wait upon God. I have been for many months assured that the
Lord, in His own time, would give larger sums for this work; and for
this I have been more and more earnestly entreating Him, during the last
months. Now at last He has abundantly refreshed my spirit, and answered
my request. I received today the promise, that, as the joint donation of
several Christians, there should be paid to me a donation of Eight
Thousand and One Hundred Pounds for the work of the Lord in my hands. Of
this sum I purpose to take 6,000l. for the Building Fund, 600l. for the
current expenses for the Orphans, and 1,500l. for the other objects of
the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad. [This joint
donation of several Christians was paid in four installments during
January, February, March, and April.]

It is impossible to describe the spiritual refreshment which my heart
received through this donation. Day by day, for nineteen months, I had
been looking out for more abundant help than I had had. I was fully
assured that God would help me with larger sums; yet the delay was long.
See how precious it is to wait upon God! See how those who do so, are
not confounded! Their faith and patience may long and sharply he tried;
but in the end it will most assuredly be seen, that those who honour God
He will honour, and will not suffer them to be put to shame. The
largeness of the donation, whilst it exceedingly refreshed my spirit,
did not in the least surprise me; for I expect great things from God. I
quote a paragraph from the Twelfth Report, page 27, where under Jan. 4,
1851, this will be found written: "I received this evening the sum of
Three Thousand Pounds, being the largest donation which I have had as
yet. I have had very many donations of 100l. and of 200l., several of
300l., one of 400l., several of 500l., some of from 600l.
to 900l., four of 1,000l., two of 2,000l., and
one of 2,050l., but never had more than this given to me at one time;
yet I have expected more than 2,050l. in one donation, and, accordingly,
it has pleased the Lord to give me 3,000l. this evening. I now write
again that I expect far larger sums still, in order that it may be yet
more and more manifest, that there is no happier, no easier, and no
better way for obtaining pecuniary means for the work of the Lord, than
the one in which I have been led." This, you perceive, dear Reader, was
written more than two years ago. Since then I have again received many
considerable donations, besides thousands of pounds in smaller sums. And
now the largest donation of 3,000l., was surpassed by the one of 8,100l.
Have I then been boasting in God in vain? Is it not manifest that it is
most precious, in every way, to depend upon God? Do I serve God for
nought? Is it not obvious that the principles on which I labour, are not
only applicable to the work of God on a small scale, but also, as I have
so many times affirmed during the past nineteen years, for the most
extensive operations for God? I delight to dwell upon this, if, by any
means, some of my beloved fellow believers might be allured to put their
whole trust in God for every thing; and if, by any means, some
unbelievers thereby might be made to see that God is verily the living
God now as ever, and might be stirred up to seek to be reconciled to Him
by putting their trust in the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, and
thus find in God a friend for time and eternity.

Feb. 19. Saturday Evening. The Lord has been pleased to send in the
means as sparingly this month, as He was pleased to send them in
abundantly during the last. But this is for the trial of my faith and
patience. While, however, these graces are exercised by the Lord, He
kindly sustains both. With unshaken confidence and joyful anticipation
am I, by the help of God, enabled to go forward day by day, looking on
to the day when I shall have the whole amount requisite for this object,
just as it was with reference to the building of the New Orphan House on
Ashley Down. I know that I shall not be confounded; for I trust in God,
and for the honour of His name proposed the building of this second
Orphan House. Yet my soul longs, to be able to declare to the Church of
Christ at large, that I have obtained an answer to this my oft repeated
request, which again and again, every day, is brought before Him, and in
which request my fellow labourers in the work join. Moreover, I long to
be able to show to an unbelieving world afresh, by this my petition
being granted, that verily there is reality in the things of God. And
lastly, I long to be able to commence the building of this second Orphan
House, because there are now 438 Orphans waiting for admission. I have
not yet received anything today for this object; but the Lord can even
now give me something this evening; but be that as it may, I know that,
when His time is come, and when my patience has been sufficiently
exercised, He will help me abundantly. That word respecting Abraham:
"And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise,"
(Hebrew vi, 15), has been repeatedly a precious word to me during the
last days, it having come of late in the course of my reading through
the New Testament.

Feb. 23. This evening, after another long season of prayer respecting
the work of God in my hands, and especially also, that it might please
the Lord to give me soon what I need for the Building Fund, so that I
may be enabled to take active steps in the erection of another Orphan
House, came in the course of my reading and meditation James I. This
forcibly reminded me of the close of November and the beginning of
December in 1845, when, whilst labouring for a season in the Word at
Sunderland, this portion also came in the course of my meditation on the
whole New Testament. James i, 4: "But let patience have her perfect
work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing," was then
particularly impressed on my mind as a portion which I should need to
keep before me. I was at that time, day by day, waiting upon the Lord
for means and every other help which might be needed in connexion with
the Orphan House, which I had purposed to build in dependence upon the
Lord for help. I had not the least doubt that God would help me through
all the difficulties connected with this work. I felt as sure that He
would enable me to accomplish this work, as if I had actually seen the
house before me, inhabited by Orphans; but I had reason to believe, at
the same time, that great and many and varied would be my trials of
faith and patience, before all would be accomplished. I had not at that
time one single shilling in hand towards this work, but often, even
then, whilst staying at Sunderland, and meditating on this first chapter
of the Epistle of James, did I praise God before hand, that He would
give me everything I should need in connexion with this intended Orphan
House. Now this evening, February 23, 1853, I am writing in that very
house, the New Orphan House, with its 300 Orphans, about which I was
then praying. Nearly four years it has been already inhabited by
Orphans. And I now say again, "Let patience have her perfect work," with
reference to the intended Orphan House for 700 more Orphans; but also,
at the same time, am I assured that the Lord will enable me to
accomplish this also.

March 14.--From Scotland 200l., of which the donor kindly wished me
to give 10l. to Mr. Craik, to take 10l. for my own personal expenses,
and to use the 180l. as most needed. I took, therefore, 100l. for the
Building Fund, and 80l. for the current expenses for the Orphans. This
donation has been a great refreshment to my spirit; for since Jan. 4th
only little, comparatively, has come in either for the Building Fund or
for the current expenses.

March 29. For nearly three months the Lord has been pleased to exercise
my patience by the comparatively small amount of means which has come
in. It was more an exercise of patience than of faith; for, during all
this time, we not only abounded, with regard to means for the current
expenses, through the large sums, which had come in at the beginning of
the year, but I had also even now considerable sums in hand, for the
current expenses of the various objects. Still, though not actually in
need of means, yet my spirit had been enabled to labour on in prayer for
means for the Building Fund in particular, and also for means for
current expenses, in order that it may become more and more manifest,
what a happy, easy, and successful way this is. Now, this evening, when
I came home, I found that 300l. had come in. This is a great refreshment
to my spirit.--As the amount is left to my disposal as may be most
needed, I have taken one half of it for the Building Fund, and the other
half for the current expenses for the Orphans. The other objects abound
at present with means, and even for the Orphans I have yet above 200l.
in hand.

April 20. Received from a most unexpected quarter 100l., which I took
half for the Building Fund, and half for the Orphans, as the other
objects were not in immediate need of means. This donation has much
refreshed my spirit.

May 14. Received 260l., of which I took 100l. for the Building Fund, and
160l. for the current expenses for the Orphans.

May 26. From Gloucester 5s.--Through the box at the Bible and Tract
Warehouse in Park Street, Bristol, 2l. 11s. 10d.--By sale of an old
gold watch, a few trinkets, some old silver coins, and some small pieces
of broken silver articles, 10l. 7s. 8d.--Also 80l. 15s. 11d., being
the proceeds arising from the sale of a work published in English and
2l. 10s., being the proceeds arising from the sale of a work published
in French; were given to the Building Fund.--To these sums is to be
added 334l. 16s. 9d., received during this period for interest; for I
felt it my duty, as has been stated before, to invest the money given to
me for the Building Fund until actually required.

Thus closes this period, from May 26, 1852, to May 26, 1853. All the
donations received during this period for the Building Fund, together
with the 3530l. 9s. 0 1/4 d. in hand, on May 26, 1852, made the total of
12,531l. 12s. 0 1/4 d. in hand on May 26, 1853.

The following paragraphs were printed in the Report of 1853, respecting
the intended Orphan House, which are here reprinted for the better
understanding of the subject.

A. Besides having the means to meet all the demands which came upon me
in connexion with the various objects of the Scriptural Knowledge
Institution for Home and Abroad; and besides enlarging almost all of
them considerably, so that the sum of 7035l. 12s. 0 1/2 d. altogether was
expended; I have been enabled to add, during the past twelvemonth,
9,001l. 3s. to the Building Fund. The total sum, which God has been
pleased to give to me, during the year, both for current expenses and
the Building Fund, amounts to 16,042l. 8s. 11d.

B. It is true that very much yet is needed for the Building Fund, before
I shall be enabled to accomplish the desire of my heart, in building
another House for 700 more Orphans. I may have also yet many trials of
faith and patience to pass through; but what the Lord has done for me
during the past 24 years in particular, and all His dealings with me in
connexion with the Scriptural Knowledge Institution; and all His help
afforded for building the New Orphan House on Ashley Down, Bristol,
which has been now already inhabited for four years encourage me to
continue to wait upon God. By His grace I am not tired of waiting upon
Him for means. Yea, I confess to His praise, that, the longer I live,
the more I am practically assured of the blessedness of waiting upon God
for every thing.

C. There is no decrease as to the application for the admission of
Orphans. This, in addition to all the help and support which the Lord
has granted to me for these many years in the work, and in addition to
the means received for the Building Fund during the past year,
encourages me greatly, to continue to wait upon God for help, to be
enabled to build another Orphan House for 700 Orphans. On May 26, 1852,
there were 326 Orphans waiting for admission. Since then there have been
184 Orphans applied for, making in all 510. Of these, as only few
vacancies have occurred during the past year, not more than 13 could be
received into the New Orphan House, and 17 besides, as I have been
informed by applicants, were otherwise provided for, so that 30 are to
be deducted from 510, which leaves 480 Orphans waiting for admission.
Many of these are very young, some even under one year old. But I have
the fullest reason to believe, that many persons are kept from applying
for the admission of Orphans, because there are already so many waiting,
else the number would be greater still. With such a number of poor
destitute Orphans before me, bereaved of both parents by death, how can
I but labour on in prayer for means, for the accomplishment of this
object; and I have not the least doubt that, after the Lord may have
been pleased to exercise my faith and patience yet somewhat more,
unworthy though I am of it, He will condescend to grant the request for
the whole amount of the means which are needed for the building of this
second Orphan House, in answer to the supplications which my
fellow-labourers and myself continually bring before Him.

D. It must not be supposed that I am discouraged, because two years have
elapsed since I first began to receive donations towards this object,
and as yet only 12,531l. l2s. 0 1/4 d. is in hand. I expected trials of
faith and patience, both for my own profit, and for the benefit of
others, who might hear of the Lord's dealings with me. I was not
without trials, yea, not without many trials of faith and patience, in
building the New Orphan House for 300 Orphans; nor did I obtain the
means then till after the lapse of two years and three months;
therefore, in seeking to build this house for 700 Orphans, I am not
surprised that I should have to wait patiently. But of this I have never
had a doubt that, after the Lord had sufficiently tried my faith and
patience, He would supply me with all I need. I therefore wait His time.
Moreover, the Lord, in a very short time, can give me all I need, it is
not necessary that twice or thrice as much time as has already elapsed
should have to pass away, before I am in a position to be warranted to
take active measures; yet, be this as it may, by the grace of God I am
content to wait His time.

E. Should it be asked, whether I intend to wait till I have the whole
sum of Thirty-Five Thousand Pounds, which will be needed; or whether I
purpose to begin the building before; my reply is this I do not purpose
to delay the beginning of the building till I have what is required for
fitting up and furnishing the house, which is included in that sum; for
I may well trust in the Lord for that amount whilst the House is being
built; but as I, on Scriptural grounds, neither for my own personal
expenses, nor for the work of God, go into debt, I should not begin
building, till I have sufficient to meet the amount of the contracts of
the builders, for which, together with the land, I consider not less
than 25,000l. would be needed, so that I have just half the amount
requisite for that.

Supplies for the School--, Bible--, Missionary and Tract Fund, sent in
answer to prayer, from May 26, 1852, to May 26, 1853.

On May 26, 1852, when the accounts were closed, there was left in hand
for these objects the balance of 45l. 5s. 7 1/2 d. Before this balance
was expended, I received, on May 27, 1852, from the neighbourhood of
Whitehaven, 2l. 10s. for missions. On May 29, from Belper 5s. 7d. for
missions. On May 30, through Bethesda boxes 2s. 6d. and 4d. for
missions. On June 7th, I received from Somersetshire. 10l.; and on the
same day I found that a Christian bookseller in London had, paid into
the hands of my bankers 34l. 14s. 4d., which he had been ordered to pay
to me, on behalf of a Christian gentleman, to whom this amount was due.
This sum I took for these objects. But the Lord helped still further.
June 8. 10l. from Y. Z.--June 13. From Y. Z. 33l. 3s. Through
Bethesda boxes for missions 1s. Ditto 1s. Through Salem boxes 1s. 8d.
From "P." 1s. Ditto 4d. --June. 15. From one engaged in the work 1l.
-- June 16. From Clifton 4d.--June 18. From W, W. 10l. "for
missionary brethren, labouring in dependence upon God for their temporal
supplies." Also 200l. came in, of which I took 60l. for these objects,
as stated with reference to this donation, in giving an account of the
donations for the Building Fund.--June 22. 500l. came in, as stated
under Building Fund, of which one-third or 166l. 13s. 4d. was taken for
these objects.

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