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

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Nov. 23. As yesterday's expenses had to be met out of what had come in
on the 21st, only 11s. 10d. having come in yesterday, and as the need of
today for housekeeping was 4l. 10s., we had not enough in hand. Our
precious universal remedy, prayer, was now again resorted to. About ten
minutes after, I received a Post-office order from Stafford for 2l.
About twelve o'clock this morning came in still further, by the sale
of some books and prints, given for the purpose, 3l. 1s., by the sale of
other articles 3l. 7s. 9d., by the sale of Reports 1s. 1d., by the sale
of ladies' bags 13s. 5d., and by the sale of stockings 2s. 6d. This
afternoon came in still further from Glasgow 5l. Thus the day, which
commenced when we had not enough in hand for its necessities, has ended
in comparative abundance, though there is still little in hand for
present use, as we need to provide for the rent of the houses and for
the purchase of oatmeal, and therefore put by a part of the money given
today. Yet we are brought to the close of another week, having been able
to meet all its expenses.

Nov. 24. This morning I received a letter from the neighbourhood of
Dublin, with four five pound Post-office orders. Thus the Lord has done
according to my expectation; for in our usual weekly prayer meeting last
evening at the Orphan-houses with the labourers in the work, I was
enabled to praise the Lord, that He would provide for the need of this
week also.

Dec. 2, Monday. During the last week the income had been again about
36l. But having had still many extra expenses, and, also to put by money
for the rents due on the next quarter-day, there was nothing left at the
close of the week. Yesterday came in 5s. 10d., 4d., 5s., 19s. 10d., and
1l. By this money we were able to meet the housekeeping expenses of this
day, being only 2l. 5s.; but, having 2l. to pay out, besides the current
expenses, and having understood that a brother in the Lord from
Birmingham, with two other strangers, had visited the Orphan-Houses, and
that money had been put into the boxes, they were opened, and 3l. 3s.
1d. was found in them. Thus I was able to send off the 2l. There came in
also this afternoon 10s. for work done by a young lady, and this
evening, by sale of Reports, 4s.

Dec. 3. As only 1l. 15s. was required for housekeeping today, we had
enough, by what had come in yesterday afternoon and evening, and I had
twopence left.

Dec. 4. The Lord has again, in the love and compassion of His fatherly
heart, multiplied "the handful of meal in the barrel, and the little oil
in the cruse." The twopence have been multiplied more than a thousand
fold. Yesterday came in from Clapton 2s. 6d., from the county of Dorset
10l., and from A. A. 10s., being (as the donor writes) "the produce of a
needless article of jewelery."

Dec. 7, Saturday. Only 2l. 10s. 10d. having come in during the last two
days (among which was a remarkable donation of 10s. from Calv, in the
kingdom of Wirtemberg), I had again, after I had paid out yesterday what
was required, only 2l. 10s. 3d. left, which I knew would not be half
enough for this day. Yesterday afternoon came in from Sherborne 6s. This
morning I had an unusually full assurance that the Lord would help us
this day again, though I knew that more than 8l. would be needed today,
towards which there was only 2l. 16s. 3d. in hand. I praised the Lord
repeatedly this morning beforehand for the help which He again would
grant this day. By the first delivery arrived 10s. from the neighborhood
of Kingsbridge. Thus we had 3l. 6s. 3d.; but for housekeeping we needed
5l. 10s., and for other expenses 3l. 1s. 5d. However, when the Orphan
came with the letter-bag, to fetch the money, I received in it a letter
from Bath, containing 5l. Thus we had enough, and more than enough, for
the momentary need, as to the house-keeping expenses. About twelve
o'clock came in the following sums besides: by sale of articles 4l.
5s. 8d., by sale of Reports 8d., by sale of stockings 2s. 2d., by sale
of ladies' bags 3s. 9d. This evening came in still further, from
Dublin, for Reports 1l. 2s., and 1l. as a donation, together with some
prints, some books, etc. for sale. Thus we had all we needed, to help us
to the close of the week, and were able to put by some money for the
weekly rents and other expenses, to be met on quarter day.

Dec. 9, Monday. Though we had been helped abundantly on Saturday, yet,
as some money needed to be put by, we had still nothing for the
beginning of this week. Yesterday came in for Reports 7s. 4d., and
anonymously was put into the Chapel-boxes 1s. and 2s. 6d. There was also
anonymously put into the Chapel-boxes a 50l. note, with these words:
"25l. for the Orphan-Houses, and 25l. for clothing and blankets for the
poor." Thus we are again most seasonably helped, and are now almost
entirely prepared to meet all the expenses coming upon us a few weeks
hence.

Jan. 18 1845, Saturday. Since Dec. 9th we had always supplies sent,
before the last money was given out; it was a season of rich abundance,
for there came in (including the 25l. last mentioned) about 140l. Now,
however, this evening, after all the expenses of the day had been met,
there was nothing remaining. But admire with me, dear reader, the
goodness of the Lord! This very evening He has again kindly supplied us
with means for the commencement of another week. The boxes at the
Orphan-Houses were opened (our need leading us to do so) in winch was
found 10l. 16s., one of them containing a ten pound note. Is it not,
dear reader, a precious thing to trust in the Lord? Are not ten pounds,
thus received out of the hands of our Heavenly Father,
as the result of faith in God, most precious? Will not
you also seek to trust in Him, and depend on Him alone in all your
everyday's concerns, and in all spiritual matters too? If you have not
done so, do make but trial of the preciousness of this way, and you will
see how pleasant and sweet it is; and if you have done so in a measure,
do so yet more and more, and you will never have cause to regret it.
But, perhaps, you are not a believer; if so, you cannot trust in God,
and go in all circumstances to Him, as to your Father, except you are
first reconciled to him through our Lord Jesus. What you have then to do
is, to learn that you are a lost, ruined, guilty sinner, deserving
nothing but punishment. But, at the same time, you have to remember that
God, in the greatness of His love to sinners, sent His own dear Son,
that He, in their room and stead, might bear the punishment due to them,
make an atonement for their sins, and fulfil the law of God in their
stead, in order that every one, who believes on Him, might obtain the
forgiveness of his sins, and be reckoned righteous before God. If you
believe in the Lord Jesus, i.e., if you receive Him as the one whom God
has declared Him to be, even the Son of God (as to His person), and the
Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world (as to His work), and
if you rest upon Him, trust in Him for the salvation of your soul, then
all your sins shall be forgiven. Though you have grown old in sin,
though your sins have been very many and very grievous, yet the blood of
Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin. Do but believe, and you shall be
saved. And when thus you are reconciled to God, through faith in His
dear Son, walk before Him as an obedient child, seek in child-like
simplicity to go to God for every thing, and do really treat God as your
father.

There arrived also this Saturday evening, from the Isle of Wight, a
small box, containing 14s. and many articles for sale.

Jan. 20, Monday. 3l. 11s, has come in besides the 11l. 10s., which came
in on Saturday evening; but as, in addition to the ordinary
house-keeping expenses, I had this afternoon to order material for
boys' clothes, all the money which had come in since Saturday evening
was now again gone. About an hour afterwards I found that two five-pound
notes had been put into one of the boxes at my house, and at the same
time I received a bank order for 16l. from a poor missionary brother,
who labours about 3,000 miles from Bristol~ in dependence upon the Lord
for his temporal supplies. Of this 16l. the sum of 12l. is to be
employed in sending him Bibles and New Testaments, and 4l. he gives to
the Orphans. What ways has not the Lord to help His children who trust
in Him! Who would suppose that a poor missionary would send 4l. for the
Orphans, from a distance of 3,000 miles? But rather must the ravens
again bring supplies, as in the days of Elijah, than that the children
of God, who trust in their Heavenly Father, should not have their need
supplied. --Thus the Lord has again given 14l. for the Orphans, when
all was gone.

Jan. 25, Saturday evening. We have been helped through the heavy
expenses of this week, without lacking any thing; but now we have
nothing left.--This evening, about ten o'clock, I received from
Barnstaple some articles for sale, and a Spanish dollar, two 1/4 of a
franc, and a sixpence; also 1l. and 2l. Also sixpence for Reports.

Jan. 27, Monday. Yesterday I received from F. E. B. 2s. 6d., from
"Friends to the Institution" 4l.; and 2s. 6d. was put into the
Chapel-boxes anonymously, ditto 10s., ditto 2s. 6d. Thus, by what came
in on Saturday evening and yesterday, I am able to meet this day's
demands, being 4l. 5s. 6d.--Evening. This afternoon I received from
Camerton 5l., of which 3l. is for the circulation of the Holy
Scriptures, and 2l. for the Orphans. Thus, as the money goes out, the
Lord kindly sends in supplies, and all without speaking to one human
being about our necessities, but making them known to Him only; yea,
determined, by His help and support, rather to endure many trials, in
order that through our difficulties the Church of Christ at large may be
comforted, and those who are weak in faith be strengthened, than to go
away from the door of our Heavenly Father to that of brethren.

Feb. 1, Saturday. We are brought to the close of another week, and have
been supplied with all we needed; but there is now again nothing left.

Feb. 2. When now again there was nothing left last evening in my hands
for the beginning of the coming week, there have been today, by two
different donors, two five-pound notes put into the Chapel-boxes, ditto
2s. 6d., ditto 2s. 6d., and also 2s. 6d. was given besides. Thus we are
again supplied fur the present. O Lord, fill my--heart with lively
gratitude for all Thy goodness! Lord help me, not only to trust in Thee
more and more, but also to love Thee more and more, seeing that Thou
dost condescend to use such a poor sinful servant!

Feb. 8, Saturday evening. Above 30l. has come in during this week; but
as there have been bought eight hundred weight of rice and eight bushels
of peas, besides meeting the regular housekeeping expenses, again only a
few shillings remain.

Feb. 10, Monday. Yesterday 2l. was sent to me, from a physician residing
in Bristol; anonymously was put into the boxes at Bethesda Chapel 2s.,
ditto 1l., and ditto 2s. 6d. Also by A. A. was given to me 7s. 2d. I was
thus able, with the few shillings that were left on Saturday evening, to
meet the expenses of this day, after which 7s. 10d. remained. This
morning I was kept, through pressure of engagements, from having prayer,
on account of the work, at the usual time; but at half-past two I united
with my beloved wife and her sister in prayer, and I asked the Lord,
among other blessings, also for means. As to the latter, we had answer
upon answer before the close of the day. For this afternoon 1l. 5s. 9d.
arrived from Stirling. This afternoon also five sovereigns were put into
the box in my room, which I happened to find out soon after. I received
also this evening 5s., which had yesterday been anonymously put into the
boxes at Salem Chapel. A poor brother likewise gave me 2s. Still further
came in 11s. 5d.

Feb. 11. This morning I received still further a donation of 2l. This
afternoon I received, as the profit of the sale of ladies' bags, 1l.,
and 2l. 17s. 4d. came in by sale of articles.

Feb. 12. After I had sent off this morning the money which was required
for the housekeeping of today, I had again only 16s. 2 1/2 d. left, being
only about one-fourth as much as is generally needed for one day, merely
for housekeeping, so that there was now again a fresh call for trusting
in the Lord. In the morning I met again, as usual, with my dear wife and
her sister, for prayer, to ask the Lord for many
blessings, in connexion with this work, and for means also. About one
hour after, I received a letter from Devonshire, containing an order for
22l., of which 10l. was for the Orphans, 2l. for a poor brother in
Bristol, and 10l. for myself.--Besides having thus a fresh proof of
the willingness of our Heavenly Father to answer our requests on behalf
of the Orphans, there is this, moreover, to be noticed. For many months
past the necessities of the poor saints among us have been particularly
laid upon my heart. The word of our Lord: "Ye have the poor with you
always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good," has again and again
stirred me up to prayer on their behalf, and thus it was again in
particular this morning. It was the coldest morning we have had the
whole winter. In my morning walk for prayer and meditation I thought how
well I was supplied with coals, nourishing food, and warm clothing, and
how many of the dear children of God might be in need; and I lifted up
my heart to God to give me more means for myself, that I might be able,
by actions, to show more abundant sympathy with the poor believers in
their need; and it was but three hours after when I received this 10l.
for myself. --This evening was left at the Infant Orphan-House an
anonymous letter, containing a sovereign for the Orphans, with the
letters C. T. D.

Feb. 15, Saturday evening. 6l. 1s. 4d. has come in since the 12th. All
the wants of this week have been richly supplied, but now there was
again scarcely anything left towards the coming week, when this evening,
just before I was going to our usual Saturday evening prayer meeting at
the Orphan-Houses, a bank post bill for 10l. came to hand, being the
gift of an aged clergyman. Thus we have a little for the next week, and
we have also been able to order two hundred weight of soap, which it was
very desirable to have, in order that there might be no need of using
new soap for washing.

Feb. 16. Today the Lord has given still more. Anonymously were put into
the Chapel-boxes the following sums: A twenty-pound note, a sovereign,
2s. 6d., and 6s. There was given also by A. A. 3s. 7d., and a lady from
Nottingham sent 5s. It was particularly kind of the Lord to send in this
rich supply, because soon again a ton and a half of oatmeal will need to
be ordered from Scotland, the rents need to be provided for, and I
desire soon to be able to give again some money to the labourers in the
Orphan-Houses for their own personal necessities.

March 4, Besides the 32l. 7s. 1d. that had come in on the 15th and 16th
of Feb., there came in up to this day 38l. 17s. 1d., so that there was
not any difficulty to meet all the demands. After I had met the expenses
for housekeeping yesterday, all our means were again gone, and there was
therefore nothing in hand towards the expenses of today. But the Lord
helped us again; for two five-pound notes were found in one of the boxes
at my house, whereby I am able to meet the need of this day, which is
3l.

Dear Reader! does your heart admire the hand of God in these instances?
Does your heart praise the Lord for His goodness to us? Does it, or does
it not? If not, then I beseech you to lay aside this account of His
dealings with us, and fall on your knees, and ask God to have mercy upon
you, and to soften your heart, that you may be sensible of His goodness
to us. Surely if you can read this account of His goodness, and it makes
no impression upon you, it is a sign that your heart is not in a right
state before God. I do not expect that all the readers will, as much as
I do, by the grace of God, see the hand of God in all these matters,
though I could wish that they did so, even a thousand times more than I
do; but yet all should adore God for His great goodness to us, and
should remember that what He does for us, in answering our poor
sin-mixed petitions, for the sake of His dear Son, He is willing to do
for them also.--Particularly notice, that the help never comes too
late. We may be poor, yea, very poor; yet the help comes at the right
time. We may have to wait upon the Lord, yea, even a long time; but at
last He helps. It may seem as if the Lord had forgotten us, by allowing
us to be poor, and very poor, and that week after week; but at last He
helps abundantly, and shows that only for the trial of our faith, both
for our own benefit and the benefit of those who might hear of His
dealings with us, has He allowed us to call so long upon Him. --By the
grace of God my heart is not troubled now, whether there be much or
little in hand. I am sure, that, in the best time and way, God will send
help; and thus it is not only with reference to temporal supplies, but
also as it regards other things that we may need, or when we may be in
peculiar difficulties in other respects. When boys need to be
apprenticed, or situations have to be found for the girls, and there are
difficulties in the way, as we never send them out, except to believing
masters and mistresses, my soul is yet at peace, because I betake myself
to my Heavenly Father. When there have been infectious diseases in the
Orphan-Houses, whereby, looking at it naturally, many children might be
taken away through death, my soul is at peace, because I cast this
burden upon the Lord, and He sustains me. When one or the other of my
fellow-labourers have left the work, and I needed their place supplied,
and knew of no suitable persons, I have been looking to God for help,
and that has kept my heart in peace, though this is no small difficulty,
as not only can no hirelings be engaged in this work, but also, in case,
the individual is a true child of God, there are yet so many things to
be considered as to fitness and call for the work. When all kinds of
lying reports have been spread about the work and about myself in
connexion with it (though they have been very much less than might have
been expected), I have committed my case to the Lord; and such things,
instead of casting me down, often have greatly cheered me, because they
have been a fresh proof to me, that God is at work, and that, therefore,
the devil is angry, and stirs up these lies. When I have had for months
to leave the work, as in the year 1838, for about four months, in
1843-4, for seven months, and in 1845, for three months, being called to
labour on the Continent, or being ill, as in 1838, my heart has been in
perfect peace, committing all the concerns of the whole Institution into
the hand of God, considering that it was not my work but His, and that,
therefore, I might be without carefulness about it. I seek to believe
more and more what God says about Himself in His holy word, and it is
this which gives this rest and peace to my heart, not only with
reference to all the various objects of the Scriptural Knowledge
Institution for Home and Abroad, but also about my own body and soul, my
dear wife and child, my other dear relations, the temporal supplies for
myself and family, my service in the Church in which I labour, now
consisting of more than 700 believers, and the state of the Church of
Christ at large.

March 8, Saturday. 11l. 17s. 1 3/4 d. more has come in since March 4th.
Thus I have been able fully to meet all the expenses during this week,
but now hare again only a few shillings left towards the necessities of
the coming week.--Late in the Evening.--After our prayer-meeting
this evening four sovereigns were given to me, two for the Orphans, and
two for the other objects. This is the beginning of the help which the
Lord surely will give during the coming week also.

March 11, Tuesday. Only 17s. 6d. had come in since Saturday evening, and
therefore, after the expenses of yesterday had been met, there remained
again only a few shillings in hand, on account of which my prayer was,
that the Lord would be pleased to send in something for this day. When I
came home last evening from the meeting, my dear wife told me, that
there was some money in the box in our parlour. I opened it, and found
it to contain five sovereigns. Thus we are supplied for today.

March 13. Yesterday I had sent off all the money, which was remaining in
my hands, to the Orphan-Houses for housekeeping. Also the boxes were
opened in the Orphan-Houses, but only 10 1/2 d. was found in them. We
were comfortably supplied yesterday with all that was required, but
there was no money at all in hand for today. When the letter-bag was
brought this morning for money, I found that the need for housekeeping
for today was 2l. 15s.; but there was nothing at all in hand. Therefore,
while the boy was waiting at my house, I disposed of some trinkets,
which had been sent a few days since, for 2l. 15s. 6d. Thus we had
enough, and 6d. over. There came in also 8d. by sale of Reports.--
Evening. This afternoon came in, by sale of articles, 17s. 6d., and by a
donation 1l.

March 14. The need of today is 2l. There was 1s. 4d. more needed than I
had in hand, when 5s. 6 1/2 d. came in from two Orphan-boxes. Thus we are
helped for this day.

March 15. Yesterday afternoon half-a-sovereign was brought to me. In the
evening 19s. 4d. came in by sale of articles. But this was not enough
for the need of today. While the Orphan boy was waiting for the money, I
received the following letter from Bath:--

"Beloved Brother in the Lord,

"My sister E. and myself feel it laid on our hearts to send a little for
your need at this time, thinking it must be increased by the severity of
the weather. We send the inclosed in much love, and thankfulness to the
Lord for permitting us to do it, half for the Orphans, and the rest to
be applied as seems good to you. Etc."

The letter contained two sovereigns, of which I took one for the
Orphans, and the other for the School fund. (The latter sovereign was
needed today towards the payment of the teachers in the Day-schools.)
Thus we had all that was needed today for the Orphans. This evening I
found a sixpence in the box in my room.

March 17, Monday. The sixpence which I took out of the box in my room on
Saturday evening was all there was in hand, when yesterday came in the
following donations:

A. A. 1l. 2s. 4 1/2 d., anonymously 6d., ditto 2s. 6d. When this morning
I had the bag sent from the Orphan-Houses, I found that the amount
needed for house-keeping was 2l. 5s.; but there was only 1l. 5s. 10 1/2
d. in hand. Immediately after, before the bag was fetched, one of my
fellow-labourers sent me 1l. for the Orphans, so that we had enough for
today, and 10 1/2 d. over. When now only 10 1/2 d. remained, I received
from Swansea a letter containing a franc and a half, with the words
"Jehovah Jireh."

March 18. "Jehovah Jireh" (i.e. the Lord will provide) has been again
verified in our experience. 10 1/2 d. remained in hand, and the need of
this day was 6l. 3s. But the Lord knew what we should need today, and he
helped accordingly. I opened the box in my room, and found a ten-pound
note in it. Thus we have more than is needed for the present moment.

March 19. Yesterday afternoon I had to pay out 3l. more, for one of the
apprentices. Thus the expenses of yesterday were altogether 9l. 3s. How
kind therefore of the Lord to have put it into the heart of the donor of
the ten-pound note to give that money just then. And now we had again
only 17s. 10 1/2 d. left towards the need of today, which is 3l. 5s. But
our most faithful Lord has been again mindful of us at this time also.
For there came in yesterday from a lady at Sheffield 1l., by sale of
Reports 8d., by the profit from the sale of ladies' bags 15s., and by
three donations from Bristol donors 12s. Thus there is again all we need
for today, and 6 1/2d. left. Immediately after I had written this in my
journal, the Lord began to increase again "the handful of meal in the
barrel." I received from Barnstaple 5s.

March 20. Yesterday morning, when I was going to send off the money to
the Orphan-Houses, I found 2s. 6d. in the letter bag, slipped in
anonymously. I found also 1l. 5s. in the boxes at my house. Thus we have
1l. 13s. 0 1/2 d. for the necessities of today, which I find is
sufficient.

March 21. All the money being spent, the boxes in the Orphan-Houses were
opened yesterday afternoon, in which were found a sovereign,
half-a-crown, and a penny. This is all we have for today.

March 22, Saturday. We were able to get through yesterday with the 1l.
2s. 7d. found in the boxes; but in this way our stores become much
reduced. Now, however, was Saturday before us with its heavy expenses,
and there was nothing yet to meet them, when I went last evening to our
public meeting, to minister in the word. However, my soul has been in
peace, by the grace of God, during all this week and the last, though
again and again we have had nothing. I have reminded the Lord repeatedly
during this week, that it is His commandment to His disciples to be
without anxiety, and that I am so, because it is His commandment that I
should be so, but that now He also, on His part, graciously would be
pleased to continue to help me, as He had done hitherto. And now observe
how the Lord again has helped! After the meeting last evening, between 8
and 9 o'clock, when I had nothing at all in hand, towards meeting the
necessities of this day, which I had every reason to believe would be
several pounds, one of the labourers in the Orphan-Houses gave to my
wife 5s., Miss E. N. sent 10s., and a sister in the Lord, who arrived
last evening from Hull, put the following letter into the hands of my
dear wife, addressed to me:--

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