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

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July 20. From Philadelphia, in the United States, 5l.

Aug. 20. From the neighbourhood of Mallow in Ireland 17s. 6d, and 2s.
6d.--Anonymously from a "Brother Christian and Well-wisher," through
his bankers in London, 100l.

Aug. 27. From Caistor 5s.--From Gumeracka, near Adelaide, Australia,
2l. 10s. From the same place 10s.--From Cheltenham 2s. 6d.--From
Frampton-on-Severn seven silver coins.

You see, esteemed reader, how much variety there is in the kind of
donations as well as in the amount, the places whence they are sent, and
the friends who send them. But all these donations come from the living
God. All come to us in answer to prayer, and are received by us as
answers to prayer; and with every donation, however small, we receive
thins a fresh encouragement, to continue in prayer, and have, as it
were, another earnest from our Heavenly Father, that at last He not only
will give larger sums, but the whole amount which is needed for the
Building Fund. Every one of these donations comes unsolicited. Ever
since the Orphan Work has been in operation, we have never asked any one
for anything. Be therefore, dear reader, encouraged by this, to make
trial for yourself, to prove the power of prayer, if you have never done
so before.

Dec. 31. This is the last day of another year. Two years and a half I
have new been day by day seeking the Lord's help in player for this
object. He has also been pleased to give us many proofs, that He is
remembering our requests, still as yet I have only 13,670l. 11s. 7 3/4 d.
in hand. Considerably more than double this sum will be needed. But, by
the grace of God, I am not discouraged. The Lord is able and willing to
help us. This is my comfort. In His own time the Almighty God will
manifest His power. In the meantime I desire to continue to wait upon
Him, and to receive every fresh donation, however small, as an earnest,
that in His own time He not only will give larger sums, but the whole
amount needed for this object.

Jan. 17, 1854. This day I received the promise, that there should be
paid to me, for the work of the Lord in my hands, 5,207l., to be
disposed of as I might consider best.

This large donation was shortly after paid to me, and was portioned out
thus: For the Building Fund 3000l.; for the support of the 300 Orphans
707l.; for foreign missions 500l.; for labourers in the Word in England,
Ireland and Scotland 500l.; for the gratuitous circulation of the Holy
Scriptures among the poor 200l.; for the gratuitous circulation of
Gospel Tracts 200l.; and for the various schools, supported or assisted
by the Funds of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, 100l.

Behold, esteemed reader, the goodness of God! Behold also the
recompense, which sooner or hater, the Lord gives to His children, who
wait upon Him and trust in Him Often it may appear that we wait upon the
Lord in vain; but, in His own time God will abundantly prove, that it
was not in vain. Go on therefore, Christian reader, to wait upon the
Lord. Continue to make known your requests to Him; but do also expect
help from Him. You honour God, by believing that He does hear your
prayers, and that He will answer them.

The joy which such answers to prayer give, cannot be described; and the
impetus which they thus afford to the spiritual life is exceedingly
great. The experience of this happiness I desire for all my Christian
readers. Nor is there anything to hinder any believer from having these
joys. If you believe indeed in the Lord Jesus for the salvation of your
soul, if you walk uprightly and do not regard iniquity in your heart, if
you continue to wait patiently, and believingly upon God; then answers
will surely be given to your prayers. You may not be called upon to
serve the Lord in the way the writer does, and therefore may never have
answers to prayer respecting such things as are recorded here; but in
your various circumstances, as to your family, your business, your
profession, your church position, your labour for the Lord inn army way,
you may have answers as distinct as any here recorded.

Should this, however, be read by any who are not believers in the Lord
Jesus, but any who are going on in the carelessness or
self-righteousness of their unrenewed hearts, then I would
affectionately and solemnly beseech such, first of all to be reconciled
to God by faith in the Lord Jesus. You are sinners. You deserve
punishment. If you do not see this, ask God to show it unto you. Let
this now be your first and especial prayer. Ask Him also to enlighten
you not merely concerning your state by nature, but especially to reveal
the Lord Jesus to your hearts. God sent Him, that He might bear the
punishment, due to us guilty sinners. God accepts the obedience and
sufferings of the Lord Jesus, in the room of those who depend upon Him
for the salvation of their souls; and the moment a sinner believes in
the Lord Jesus, he obtains the forgiveness of all his sins. When thus he
is reconciled to God, by faith in the Lord Jesus, and has obtained the
forgiveness of his sins, he has boldness to enter into the presence of
God, to make known his requests unto God; and the more he is enabled to
realize, that his sins are forgiven, and that God, for Christ's sake,
is well pleased with those who believe on Him, the more ready he will be
to come with all his wants, both temporal and spiritual, to his Heavenly
Father, that He may supply them. But as long as the consciousness of
unpardoned guilt remains, so long shall we be kept at a distance from
God, and especially also as it regards prayer. Therefore, dear reader,
if you are an unforgiven sinner, let your first and especial subject of
your prayer be, that God would be pleased to reveal to your heart the
Lord Jesus, His beloved Son.

March 5. To day it is twenty years since the Scriptural Knowledge
Institution for Home and Abroad made its beginning. When I look back
upon that day, with reference to this work, I desire with gratitude to
exclaim, What has God wrought! His name be magnified for it! I desire to
take courage from all His former goodness, and to go on in His service.

March 6. Received 131l. 1s. 3d., which being left at my disposal, I took
31l. 1s. 3d. for the Building Fund, and 100l. for the support of the
Orphans.--Through Bethesda boxes, as a thank-offering for the mercies
of the past month, 2s. 6d.

April 22. From London, six knives, nine silver forks, three silver table
spoons, three silver dessert spoons, three silver tea spoons, one silver
salt spoon, a silver pencil case, three penholders, one mounted in
silver and two in gold, and a penknife.

May. 3. Anonymously, through banker's in London, 100l.--May 8.
Through Bethesda homes, 2s. 6d., as "A thank-offering to the Lord for
the mercies of the past month."

Month after month, for some time past, 2s. 6d. has been given as "A
thank-offering for the mercies of the past month," I am delighted with
this. Not yearly only may the saints bring their offerings to the Lord,
as He may have prospered them, but monthly. Yea the Holy Ghost, by the
Apostle Paul, gives this exhortation to the believers of the Church at
Corinth, concerning offerings for the poor saints; "Upon the first day
of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath
prospered him." I Cor. xvi. 2. As the Lord had prospered them, so were
they not merely yearly, or monthly, but even weekly to contribute to the
support of the poor. We are strangers and pilgrims on the earth. The
time of our pilgrimage here is very uncertain. The opportunities which
the Lord gives us for His service are therefore readily to be embraced.
All here below is most uncertain. How long we may have the opportunity
to work for the Lord, who can tell? Therefore the present hour is to be
used with all our might. As an encouragement for all this, we have to
look to the return of our Lord Jesus.

May 26. 82l. 18s. 4d., being the proceeds arising from the sale of a
work published in English, and 14s. 3d., from the sale of a work
published in French, were given for the Building Fund.

Thus closes the period from May 26, 1853, to May 26, 1854. The whole
income for this object during the year was 5,285l. 7s. 5d., which,
together with the 12,531l. 12s. 0 1/4 d. in hand on May 26, 1853, made
the total of 17,816l. 12s. 5 1/4 d. in hand on May 26, 1854.

I add the following remarks, with reference to the intended Orphan House
for 700 Orphans, which appeared in the Report for 1854, and which are
here reprinted.

A. During this year the current expenses, for the various Objects of the
Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, amounted to
7,507l. 0s. 11 1/2 d., being 471l. 8s, 11d. more than during any previous
year; yet the Lord not only enabled me to meet them all, but to add the
sum of 5,285l. 7s, 5d. to the Building Fund.

B. There is yet a large sum required, before I shall be enabled to build
another house for 700 Orphans; nor have I now, any more than at the
first, any natural prospect of obtaining what is yet needed; but my hope
is in the living God. When I came to the conclusion that it was the will
of God I should build another Orphan House, I had not only no natural
prospect of obtaining the 35,000l. which would be needed for thus
object, but also no natural prospect of being able to provide for the
necessities of the 300 Orphans already under my care. Three years have
elapsed since then, and I have had all I needed for them, amounting to
about 10,500l., and 17,816l. 19s. 5 1/4 d. I have received for the
Building Fund. May I not well trust in the Lord, for what is yet needed
for the Building Fund? By His grace I will do so, and delight in doing
so; for I know that at last all my prayers will be turned into praises
concerning this part of the service.

C. There is one point which is particularly an encouragement to me, to
go on waiting upon the Lord for the remainder of the means, which are
required, viz.: applications for the admission of Orphans continue to be
made. On May 26, 1858, there were 480 Orphans waiting for admission.
Since then 181 more have been applied for, making in all 661. Of these,
however, thirty have been admitted during the past year into the New
Orphan-House, and twenty-nine have been otherwise provided for, so that
there are actually 602 waiting for admission. These children are from
three months old and upwards, and all bereaved of both parents by
death.

Supplies for the School --, Bible--, Missionary and Tract fund, sent
in answer to prayer, from May 26, 1853, to May 26, 1854.

On May 26, 1853, there was left in hand for these objects a balance of
67l. 17s. 7 3/4 d.

June 13. When I had very little in hand, comparatively, there being
about 30l. left, as little only had come in since May 26th, I received a
donation of 301l., of which I took 201l. for the support of the Orphans,
and 100l. for these objects. How much is there needed, to go on with all
these various objects, and to press into every open door, which the Lord
may set before me! How kind, therefore, of Him, to have sent me this
sum!

July 14. Only about 150l. had come in for these objects since June 18.
But though I had not much in hand, I sent out 65l. on the 11th, three
days since, for missionary objects, being assured that the sowing would
bring the reaping. On the very next day, July 12th, I received from
Chelsea 5l. and also 10s. From the north of Devon 10l. Anonymously 5l.
From Norwich, for foreign missions, 5l. The day after that, July 13th, I
received from the neighbourhood of Leeds 10l., and from Oakhill 1s. Now
today I received the 541l. 10s., spoken of under the Building Fund, of
which I took for these objects 100l.

July 15. Today the Lord has been pleased to give still more. I have
received 20l. for the Schools and 50l. for these various objects.

Sept. 15. During the last two days I sent out 85l. to brethren who
labour in the Word at home and abroad; and during the first half of this
month have already sent to them 174l. During the last two days, whilst
sending out almost the last pound in hand for missionary objects, I felt
quite comfortable in doing so, and said to myself: "The Lord can give mc
more." So it has been. This morning I have received from Weston Super
Mare, in a registered letter, 100l. with these words: "The enclosed
100l. for missionaries to the heathen, from H. E. H., Western Super
Mare, Sept, 14th." This is particularly refreshing to me, as I desired
still to send out during this month about 200l. to other brethren.

Oct. 15. During the last six weeks little only, comparatively, has been
received for these objects; but I have sent out much for missionary
objects, and for the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts. Thus
the funds for these various objects were this morning reduced to 29l.
15s. 6 1/4 d. Yet my heart desired to send out, before the close of this
month, a considerable amount to preachers of the Gospel, and to spend
further sums on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Gospel
Tracts. This my desire has been in a measure already granted, for I
received this morning 192l. 1s. Of this sum I took 100l. for these
objects, and the remainder for the current expenses for the Orphans. The
Lord be magnified for this kindness! There was also much need for fresh
supplies for the Orphans, when this donation was received. With more
than usual exercise of faith and patience have I had to wait upon God
for the last four weeks, during which time the income has been very
little and the outgoing very great.

Dec. 8. Today I received three autographs of King William IV., one of
Sir Robert Peel, and two of Lord Melbourne (with six postage stamps), to
be sold for the funds of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution.--See
what a variety of donations the Lord sends us for the support of the
work!

Dec. 11. For several years I have not been so poor for these objects, as
during the last six weeks. Day by day have I besought the Lord for more
means, and almost daily has He also sent in something; yet the income
has not been adequate to help the 56 brethren, whom I seek to assist as
preachers of the Word at home and abroad, in the measure I have desired.
I had reason to believe, that several were in need, but I had nothing to
send to them, and could only labour on in prayer, finding relief in the
knowledge that God could help them irrespective of my instrumentality,
and make this their trial of faith and patience a blessing to their
souls, even as I have found this season profitable to myself. But now at
the last the Lord has refreshed my spirit exceedingly, by a donation of
300l., left at my disposal; of which I have taken 150l. for these
objects, and 150l. for the Orphans, for whom also fresh supplies were
greatly needed, so much so, that we had not once been so poor since the
New Orphan-House was first opened.

Jan. 17, 1854. Received from an anonymous donor, through London bankers,
a Bank Post Bill for 50l. "for general purposes." I took of this amount
one half for these various objects, and the other half for the benefit
of the Orphans. This donation came at a time of great need.

But the Lord helped me still mere bountifully; for I received also, on
that day, the promise of the donation of 5,207l., spoken of already
under the Building Fund, and of which donation I took for these objects
altogether 1,500l. whereby I was so abundantly helped, that, with what
the Lord was pleased to send in besides for these objects, up to May 26,
1854, I was enabled to meet all their many and heavy expenses.

The following circumstance is so remarkable, that I give it at full
length as an illustration of the various ways, and the remarkable
manner, in which the Lord is pleased, in answer to prayer, to supply me
with means.

On Aug. 9th, 1853, I received a letter, from a Christian brother,
accompanied by an order for 88l. 2s. 6d. on his bankers, of which 3l.
2s, 6d. were the proceeds of an Orphan-Box in a meeting place of
believers, and 85l. from a poor widow, who had sold her little house,
being all her property, and who had put 90l., the total amount she had
received, into that Orphan-Box two months before, on June 9, 1853. In
this box the money remained till it was opened, and then the 90l., with
a few lines, without name, were found in it. As, however, the fact of
her intending to sell the house, and sending me the money, for the
Lord's work, had been known to the brother, who sent me the money, he
did not feel free to send it to me, without remonstrating with her
through two brethren, whom he sent with the money, offering it again to
her; for he knew her to be very poor, and feared that this might be an
act of excitement, and therefore be regretted afterwards. These brethren
could not prevail on her to receive back the money, but they did
persuade her to receive back 5l. of the amount, and then the brother,
referred to, felt no longer free to keep the money from me, but sent me
the 85l.

On the receipt of this I wrote at once to the poor Godly widow, offering
her the traveling expenses for coming to Bristol, that I might have
personal intercourse with her; for I feared lest this should be an act
of excitement, and the more so, as she had received back 5l. of the sum.
This sister in the Lord, a widow of about 60 years of age, came to
Bristol, and told me in all simplicity how ten years before, in the year
1843, she had purposed that, if ever she should come into the possession
of the little house in which she lived with her husband, she would sell
it, and give the proceeds to the Lord. About five years afterwards her
husband died, and she, having no children, nor any particular claim upon
her, then sought to dispose of her little property. However one
difficulty after the other prevented her being able to effect a sale. At
last she felt in particular difficulty on account of her inability to
pay the yearly ground rent of the house and garden, and she asked the
Lord to enable her to sell the property, in order that she might be able
to carry out her desire, which she had had for ten years. He now helped
her; the house was sold, the money paid, and she put the whole 90l. into
the Orphan Box for me, being assured that the Lord would direct me how
best the money might be used for Him.--I still questioned her again
and again to find out, whether it was not excitement which had led her
to act as she had done; but I not only saw that her mind had been fully
decided about this act for ten years before, but that she was also able
to answer from the word of God all the objections which I purposely
made, in order to probe her, whether she had intelligently and from
right motives acted in what she had done. At last, being fully satisfied
that it was not from impulse nor under excitement that she had given the
money, I stated to her something like this: "You are poor, about sixty
years old, and therefore decreasing in strength, may you not therefore
keep this money for yourself?" Her reply was: "God has always provided
for me, and I have no doubt He will do so in future also. I am able to
work and to earn my bread as well as others, and am willing to work as a
nurse, or in any other way." What could I say against this? This was
just what a child of God would say, and should say.--But the greatest
of all the difficulties about accepting the 85l. remained in my mind. It
was this. The house had been sold for 90l. The whole amount had been put
into the box, but, on the persuasion of the two brethren who were
requested to remonstrate with this widow, she had been induced to take
back 5l. out of the 90l. I therefore said to myself, might she not be
willing, after a time, to take back the whole 90l., how therefore can I
feel happy in accepting this money. On this account I particularly laid
stress upon this point, and now learned the circumstances under which
she had been induced to take back this 5l.

The two brethren who had called for the purpose of pointing out the
propriety of receiving back again the 90l., or part of it, told her that
Barnabas sold his land, but afterwards lived with others on that which
he and others had thrown into the common stock, and that therefore she
might receive at least part of the 90l. back again, if she would not
take the whole. She then said to herself that, "as a child of God she
might take the children's portion," and, as she had given to God this
90l., she might receive 5l. back again. She told me, that she considered
the brethren had shown her from the Holy Scriptures what she might do,
and therefore she had taken this 5l. I did not myself agree with the
judgment of those brethren who had said this (as there is no evidence
that Barnabas ever was supported out of the common stock, the proceeds
of the sale of houses and lands, out of which the poor were supported);
but I purposely said nothing to the widow, lest she should at once be
induced to give me this 5l. also. She had, however, this 5l. untouched,
and showed it to me; and before leaving she would make me take 1l. of it
for the benefit of the Orphans, which I did not refuse, as I had no
intention to keep the 85l. She also gave me a sixpence for the Orphans,
which some one had given her for herself, a few days before.

I now asked her, as this matter concerning the remaining of the 5l. was
satisfactorily explained, as far as it respected her own state of heart,
what she wished me to do with the money, in case I saw it right to keep
it. Her reply was, that she would leave that with me, and God would
direct me concerning it; but that, if she said any thing at all, she
should most like it to be used for the support of brethren who labour in
the Word without salary, and who hazard their lives for the name of
Christ. She wished me to have a part of the money; but this I flatly
refused, lest I should be evil spoken of in this matter. I then offered
to pay her traveling expenses, as she had come to me, which she would
not accept, as she did not stand in need of it. In conclusion I told
her, that I would now further pray respecting this matter, and consider
what to do concerning it. I then prayed with this dear Godly woman,
commended her to God, separated from her, and have not seen her since.

I waited from Aug. 9, 1853, to March 7, 1854, when I wrote to her,
offering her back again the whole 85l., or a part of it. On March 9,
1854, just seven months after I had received the money, amid just nine
months after she had actually given it, and ten years and nine months
after she had made the resolution to give her house and garden to God, I
heard from her, stating that she was of the same mind as she had been
for years. I, therefore, disposed of the money, to aid such foreign
missionary brethren as, according to the best my knowledge resembled
most the class of men whom she wished to assist.

The reasons, why I have so minutely dwelt upon this circumstance, are:
1, If, as a steward of the bounties of the children of God, I should be
blamed for receiving from a poor widow almost literally her all, it may
be seen in what manner I did so. To have refused, on March 9, 1854, also
would be going beyond what I should be warranted to do. 2, I desired
also to give a practical illustration, that I only desire donations in
God's way. It is not the money only, I desire; but money received, in
answer to prayer, in God's order. 3, This circumstance illustrates how
God helps me often in the most unexpected manner. 4, I have also related
this instance, as a fresh proof, that even in these last days the love
of Christ is of constraining power, and may work mightily, as in the
days of the Apostles. I have witnessed many such instances as this,
during the twenty years I have been occupied in this my service. Let us
give thanks to God for such cases, and seek for grace rather to imitate
such Godly men and women than think that they are going too far.

I cannot, however, dismiss this subject, without commending this poor
widow to the prayers of all who love our Lord Jesus, that she may be
kept humble, lest, thinking highly of herself, on account of what she
has been enabled to do, by the grace of God, she should not only lose
blessing in her own soul, but this circumstance should become a snare to
her. Pray also, believing Reader, that she may never be allowed to
regret what she has done for the Lord.

May 23. Yesterday I looked over the list of the 56 labourers in the
Word, whom I seek to assist, in order to see to whom it would be
desirable to send help; and, having drawn out a list, with the
respective amounts for each, I found that it would be desirable to send
out this week 327l., but I wanted at least 50l. more, to be able to
accomplish this. Accordingly I gave myself to prayer, if it might please
the Lord to send me the means. And now, this morning, in answer to
prayer, I received anonymously from bankers in London 100l., which the
donor desired to be applied for the current expenses for the Orphans,
and for labourers in the Gospel at Home and Abroad. I took therefore
50l. for the Orphans, and 50l. for home and foreign labourers.

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