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

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Besides the two who died out of the 387, we were obliged to expel one
from the establishment. This boy was admitted on Oct. 4, 1849. He was
then not quite eight years old; but though so young, it was soon found
out that he was old in sin, for he was a confirmed liar, thief, &c. He
gloried in it among the other boys, and told them that he had belonged
to a juvenile gang of thieves, before he had been admitted into the
Orphan House, that he had often stolen from the ships iron, brass, &c.,
and sold it. We thought at first that he spoke thus merely in the way of
boasting, but it proved but too true, that he was experienced in such
matters; for twice he ran away from the Orphan House, carrying off
things belonging to the other children. Moreover, he could pick locks,
&c. We received him back twice, after having run away, hoping that, by
bearing with him, admonishing him, speaking to him privately, praying
with him, and using a variety of other means, he might be reclaimed; but
all in vain. At last, having borne with him, and tried him for five
years and four months, he was solemnly, with prayer, before the whole
establishment, expelled, if by any means this last painful remedy might
be blessed to him. Yet we follow even this poor young sinner with our
prayers, and hope that yet the Lord may show him his evil ways, and give
us even now joy concerning him, as we have had before in a similar
instance. This case afresh deeply impressed upon me the importance of
caring for Orphans from their earliest days; for this poor boy, when but
eight years old, was already greatly practiced in stealing.

One of the children, after having been five years and one month under
our care, was taken back by the relatives who had placed him with us, as
they were by that time able to provide for him. One of the girls was
sent out to learn a business, one as a junior teacher in a school, and
13 to take situations; and 21 boys were apprenticed. These 40 vacancies
thus occasioned, left at the end of the year only 297 children in the
New Orphan House. The total number of Orphans, under our care from April
1836, to May 26, 1855, was 597.

I notice further the following points respecting the New Orphan House.

1. Persons who desire to make application for the admission of Orphans,
are requested to write to me, and address the letter to my house, No.
23, Paul Street, Kingsdown, Bristol.

2. I again state, as it regards the funds, that the income for the
Orphans is kept distinct from that for the other objects. Donors may
therefore contribute for one or the other of the objects exclusively, or
have their donations equally divided among them all, just as it may
appear best to themselves. If any of the donors would wish to leave the
application of their donations to my discretion, as the work of God in
my hands more especially may call for it at the time, they are
requested, kindly to say so, when sending their donations.

3. The expenses for the Orphans, during this year, were 4304l. 4s. 7 1/2
d.

4. Without any one having been personally applied to for anything by me,
the sum of 74132l. 6s. 10 3/4 d. was given to me for the Orphans, as the
result of prayer to God, from the commencement of the work up to May 26,
1855, which sum includes the 15,055l 3s. 2 1/4 d. paid for the building,
fitting up, and furnishing of the present New Orphan House, the 23,059l.
17s. 8 1/4 d., in hand on the 20th May, 1855, for the Building Fund, and
the 116l. 17s. 8 1/2 d., the balance for the current expenses.--It may
also be interesting to the reader to know that the total sum, given for
the other objects, from the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1855,
amounted to 25,239l. 8s. 10 3/4 d.; and that which came in by the sale of
Bibles and Tracts, and by the payment of the children in the Day
Schools, from the commencement, amounted to 4531l. 12s. 10 3/4 d.--
Besides this, also a great variety and number of articles of clothing,
furniture, provisions, &c., were given for the use of the Orphans.

5. I have the joy of being able to state that we have great cause for
thankfulness, that, in the midst of many difficulties, our labours among
the Orphans continue to be blessed, and that, especially, again and
again instances now come before us in which those, who were formerly
under our care, declare themselves on the Lord's side.

6. Besides being able to meet the expenses for the Orphans and the other
Objects, amounting altogether to 7832l. 7s. 0 1/2 d. during this year, I
was able to add to the Building Fund 5242l. 18s. 3d. The total income
during the year was 13,054l. 14s. 4d.

7. The articles given for the benefit of the Orphans, are sold by Miss
Stevens, on the first floor of the Bible and Tract Warehouse of the
Scriptural Knowledge Institution, No. 34, Park Street, Bristol.

Matters connected with my own personal affairs, or the work of the Lord
in my hands, not immediately connected with the Scriptural Know/edge
Institution, from May 26, 1854, to May 26, 1855.

Dec. 31, 1854. During this year there have been received into fellowship
61.

The Lord has been pleased to give me during this year--

1. In provisions, clothes, etc., worth at least 8 14 0

2. In anonymous offerings in money, put up in paper and directed to me,
and put into the boxes for the poor saints
or the rent, at the chapels . . 191 1 11 1/2

3. In presents in money, from believers in
Bristol, not given anonymously. . 143 12 10

4. In money, from believers not residing
in Bristol . . . . . 854 2 7 1/2

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L697 11 5

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Some of my readers may be ready to exclaim, 697l. 11s. 5d.! What a large
sum! Not one out of a hundred ministers has such a large salary, nor one
out of twenty clergymen such a good living! Should you, esteemed reader,
say so, my reply is: Indeed mine is a happy way for the obtaining of my
temporal supplies; but if any one desires to go this way, he must--

1. Not merely say that he trusts in God, but must really do so. Often
individuals profess to trust in God, but they embrace every opportunity,
directly or indirectly, to expose their need, and thus seek to induce
persons to help them. I do not say it is wrong to make known our wants;
but I do say it ill agrees with trust in God, to expose our wants for
the sake of inducing persons to help us. God will take us at our word.
If we say we trust in Him, He will try whether we really do so, or only
profess to do so; and if indeed we trust in Him, we are satisfied to
stand with Him alone.

2. The individual who desires to go this way must be willing to be rich
or poor, as the Lord pleases. He must be willing to know what it is to
have an abundance or scarcely anything. He must be willing to leave this
world without any possessions.

3. He must be willing to take the money in God's way, not merely in
large sums but in small.--Again and again have I had a single
shilling given or sent to me. To have refused such tokens of Christian
love, would have been ungracious.

4. He must be willing to live as the Lord's steward.--If any one
were to begin this way of living, and did not communicate out of that
which the Lord gives to him, but hoard it up; or, if he would live up to
his income, as it is called, then the Lord, who influences the hearts of
His children, to help him with means, would soon cause those channels to
be dried up. How it came that my already good income still more
increased, so as to come to what it is, has been stated in the early
part of this volume; it was when I determined that, by God's help, His
poor and His work should more than ever partake of my means. From that
time the Lord was pleased more and more to intrust me with means for my
own purse. I request the reader carefully to read over once more all I
have said in the first volume of this Narrative, third part, from page
575 to 604, on Matthew 6, 19-21, on Matthew 6, 33, and on
"Stewardship."

Various reasons might have kept me from publishing these accounts; but I
have for my object in writing, the glory of God, and therefore delight
in thus showing what a loving master I serve, and how bountifully He
supplies my necessities; and I write for the comfort and encouragement
of my fellow believers, that they may be led to trust in God more and
more, and therefore I feel it due to them to state, how, even with
regard to this life, I am amply provided for, though that is not what I
seek after.

Further account respecting the intended Orphan Houses for Seven Hundred
Poor Children, bereaved of both parents by death, from May 26, 1855, to
May 26, 1856.

On May 20, 1855, I had in hand for this object 23,059l. 17s. 8 1/4 d., as
stated in the last chapter on this subject. I now relate how the Lord
was pleased to supply me further with means, but must confine myself,
for the sake of brevity, to some of the more remarkable donations.

June. 20. A silver medal "given to the donor for being engaged in the
taking of Java; but he desires to lay down his honour at the feet of the
Lord Jesus, and to have this medal used to lay a stone in the new
building."

Aug. 4. From S. S. 5l., with 5l. for the circulation of the Holy
Scriptures, 5l. for Missions, and 5l. and the following articles for the
support of the Orphans: A pair of gold mounted bracelets, a pair of jet
bracelets, an iron watch guard, a pair of iron bracelets and waist
buckle, a small gold seal, a ring, 2 pencil cases, a gold brooch, a
purse and some mock pearls and beads.

Aug. 22. From Devonshire 100l.

Nov. 21. From Ipswich 2l., "The property of a dear child now in
heaven."

Nov. 23. From London 50l., with 5l. for the circulation of Bibles and
Tracts, 5l. for the Schools, 10l. for Missions, 10l. for the Orphans,
10l. for Mr. Craik, and 10l. for my own expenses.

Dec. 5. This evening I had the kind offer, unsolicited, that all the
glass required, for about 300 large windows in the new house, which is
now being built, should be gratuitously supplied. It is worthy of notice
that the glass was not contracted for, this time, as in the case of the
house already built. This, no doubt, was under the ordering of our
Heavenly Father, who knew beforehand that this offer would be made.

Jan. 10, 1850. From Liverpool: A ring set with a brilliant, a gold
bracelet, a Maltese bracelet, a brooch, a Maltese silver clasp and belt,
a garnet ring, a pair of gold ear-rings, a box of whist markers, and
German cross and chain.

Feb. 19. Now at last the Lord has been pleased, in answer to many
prayers, to give me today 3000l., which being left to my disposal for
the work of the Lord, I took for the Building Fund 1700l., for the
support of the Orphans 300l., and for Missionary objects, the
circulation of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts, and the support of the
various Schools in connection with the Scriptural Knowledge Institution
1000l. How I feel at such times cannot be described, when in
answer to many prayers, the Lord is pleased to
open His bountiful hands, and to prove so abundantly how willing He is
to listen to the supplications of His children who put their trust in
Him, though it may be needful, for their own good and that of others,
that for a season He seem but little or not at all to regard their
supplications.

March 18. Received 4000l., which was left at my disposal as the work of
the Lord might require it. I took of this sum 3000l. for the Building
Fund, and 1000l. for Missions, the circulation of Bibles and Tracts, and
the various schools, supported by the Institution.--This donation is
the fruit of many prayers, and of much looking to the Lord for answers.
His holy name be magnified for it. I am thus drawing nearer and nearer
the time when I shall have obtained from the Lord everything needed for
this object. I have not had, from the beginning, by God's grace, one
moment's doubt, that in His own time, He would give me all that is
required.

May 26. By sale of a publication in French 3l.--By sale of a
publication in English 69l. 1s. 10d.--To these donations is to be
added 911l. 8s. 1d., received during this year for interest.

I add a few remarks.

A. Up to May 20, 1856, the total income for the Building Fund was
29,297l. 18s. 11 1/2 d., so that only about 5700l. more will be required,
as far as I am able to see, in order to accomplish to the full my
purpose respecting the accommodation for 700 more Orphans.

B. The house for 400 female Orphans, commenced in August, 1855, is
expected, with God's blessing to be ready by about Midsummer 1857 for
the reception of 400 Orphans.

C. As soon as my path is made plain, God willing, the other house for
300 Orphans will also be commenced; but I cannot state, at present, any
further particulars respecting this.

Supplies for the School--, Bible--, Missionary and Tract Fund, sent
in answer to prayer, from May 26, 1855, to May 26, 1856.

On May 26, 1855, when the accounts were closed, there was in hand 41l.
6s. 11 1/2 d. for these objects. On June 5, 1855, therefore only a few
days after the commencement of the new period, when only 1l. 0s. 6d.
altogether had come in for these objects, in 8 different donations, I
received 211l. 9s. 5d., of which the donor kindly wished me to retain
11l. 9s. 5d. for my own expenses, and to use the 200l. for the work of
the Lord, as might be needed. I took, therefore, 100l. for the support
of the Orphans, and 100l. for these objects, and had thus some means, to
go on with the work. This donation was a great refreshment and
encouragement to me, at the commencement of this new period.

July 12. Since June 5th little only, comparatively, has come in. All the
donations for these objects were under 5l. Today, however, the Lord, in
answer to many prayers, has sent me 200l., to be used as needed. I took
of this donation 100l. for the Orphans, and 100l. for these objects, and
have thus the means of being able to send some help to brethren who
labour in the Gospel.

Aug. 9. Having had heavy expenses the last ten days, in order to help
foreign labourers in the Gospel, and to procure supplies of Bibles,
Testaments, and Tracts, our means for these objects were now reduced to
7l. 7s. 10 1/2 d. Yet I desired far more to help brethren who labour in
the Word, as the greater party of them had not yet been supplied. I
therefore besought the Lord, that He would be pleased to send in means.
When I came home this evening from the New Orphan House, I found the
following letter, from the same believing farmer, whom the Lord has
several times used in previous years, to help me when in need.

"* * * * Aug. 8, 1855.

"Dear Brother in Christ,

"I feel stirred up to help you in the work in which you are engaged, and
therefore beg your acceptance of the enclosed Twenty Pounds, to be used
in any way you please, trusting God will direct you.

Yours affectionately in Christ,

"* * * *"

I took the whole amount for Missionary objects and the circulation of
Bibles and Tracts.

Aug. 25. The outgoings from these objects have been great, during this
month, and the income comparatively small. On this account the means
for these objects were reduced today to
a few shillings. As the opportunities for the gratuitous circulation of
the Holy Scriptures and Gospel Tracts, however, continued to be great,
and as I had been only able to send out about the third part as much to
labourers in the Gospel, as I could have desired, my prayer during this
week had been especially for means for this object. Now the Lord has
somewhat helped us. I have received today a donation of 203l. 14s., the
whole of which I took for these objects, as the application of it was
left with me. The Lord be magnified for this precious help! I shall be
able to send at least 150l. of this sum to labourers in the Gospel.--
About 3 hours, before this donation was received, I had been asking the
Lord, if He would not condescend to use me as an instrument, at this
time, in helping these brethren, He would kindly in some other way
supply them with means.

Sept. 1. From Dublin 5l. for missions.

Sept. 11. From C. W. 20l. for foreign labourers in the Gospel. A
precious help in answer to many prayers.

Sept. 20. Received 190l., of which I took 100l. for these objects, in
order to be able to send some help to brethren who labour in the Word,
and to have means for going on with the circulation of Bibles and
Tracts; and the remaining 90l. I took for the support of the Orphans.
Precious help, the fruit of many prayers!

Sept. 30. From Clerkenwell for missions 10l.

Oct. 13. 20l. from Austin Friars, London. I had been praying again and
again for more means for these objects, and had sent out 100l. within
the last few days to brethren who labour in the Word, but desired to
send out more.

Oct. 23. From London 20l.

Nov. 6th. Since Oct. 16th I had not been able to send any further help
to brethren who labour in the Word, much as I desired to do so, having
only means enough to meet the necessary demands for the Schools, and the
circulation of Bibles and Tracts, which amounted, from that time, to
about 120l. But I prayed daily for means for missionary objects and the
circulation of Bibles and Tracts. Today I received 180l., the whole of
which I have taken for these objects, as the disposal of it was left to
me, having great reason to believe that many labourers in the Gospel are
in need of help, and having still so many openings for the circulation
of the Holy Scriptures and Tracts. The Lord be magnified for this
precious answer to prayer!

Dec. 13. During November I was enabled to send 200l. to brethren who
labour in the Gospel at Home and Abroad, and also 197l. in October; but
during this month I have as yet been only able to send out 12l. My often
repeated prayer has been, that the Lord would give me the joy and
privilege of sending out a considerable sum during this month also. This
prayer was again repeated, when I rose this morning, and saw the windows
covered with ice; for I thought then of the needy brethren in this cold
weather, connected with the high price of provisions. It was not long
after, when I received 153l., to be used in the Lord's service, as
most needed. I took of this, 100l. for brethren labouring in the Gospel
at Home and Abroad, and 53l. for the support of the Orphans, and thus
have the joy of being able to send at least 100l. at once, waiting upon
the Lord for more.

Jan. 31, 1850. As the fruit of very many prayers, I have received today
100l., the whole of which I have put to these funds, the application of
the money being left with me; as there was nothing at all left now for
the circulation of Bibles and Tracts, and the various Schools, and as I
had often asked the Lord to allow me further the joy of sending help to
brethren who labour in the Word, to whom since Dec. 14th I had been able
to send scarcely anything.

From this time there were no further difficulty experienced with regard
to means, for these objects, as on Feb. 19th there was received the
donation of 3000l., and on March 18th the donation of 4000l., of each of
which, as stated before, I took 1000l. for the School--, Bible--,
Missionary--and Tract objects, whereby, together with what came in
besides, I was not only carried to the close of this period, but was
enabled to expend more on Missionary objects, and the circulation of the
Holy Scriptures and Tracts, than during any previous year, since the
Institution commenced in March, 1834. Let it be especially observed by
the Godly reader, that not only does this work continue to exist, after
more than 22 years, carried on solely through the power of prayer and
faith in the Living God; but also year by year its operations have been
extended. Unbelief is thus put to shame. It is plainly proved that the
work of God can be carried on simply by trust in God. If our work is
indeed the work of God, faith and prayer will be found efficient agents;
and if they are not efficient, we may well question, whether we do
indeed make use of them; or, if we do, whether the work, in which we are
occupied, is truly the work of God.

Notice here also, that not only was I enabled, simply through prayer and
faith, to procure means for a greater amount of operations than during
any year since March 1834; but, over and above all this, I was able to
add to the Building Fund during this year 6238l. 1s. 3 1/4 d., whilst the
income for the support of the Orphans was 4070l. 18s. 1 1/4 d., and the
income for the other objects 4279l. 6s. 6 1/4 d. The total amount,
therefore, which the Lord was pleased to send in during the past year,
was 14,588l. 5s. 10 3/4 d. Behold, dear Reader, how effectual this way is
for the obtaining of means; for the amount is large. Behold too, how
pleasant a way it is; for I have not to encounter unpleasant refusals,
in applying for money. Behold how cheap a way; for it involves none of
the heavy expenses, usually attendant on the collection of
contributions; for all I do is, to make known the work in which we are
engaged, by means of the Reports, which are for the most part sold for
the benefit of the Orphans, and they actually brought in during this
year, as the audited accounts show, a little more than they cost.

But, perhaps, you say, Yes, it is just these Reports, why there is
nothing at all remarkable in the matter. Our reply is: We do not pretend
to miracles. We have no desire even, that the work, in which we are
engaged, should be considered an extraordinary one, or even a remarkable
one. We are truly sorry that many persons, inconsiderately, look upon it
almost as a miraculous one. The principles on which we are acting are as
old as the Holy Scriptures. But they are forgotten by many; and they are
not held in living faith by others; and by some they are not known at
all; nay, they are denied even to be Scriptural by not a few, and are
considered as wild and fanatical. It is ascribed to my being a foreigner
that I succeed so well, or to the novelty of the thing, or to some
secret treasure to which I have access; but when all will not account
for the progress of the work, it is said, the Reports produce it all. My
reply to these different objections is: My being a foreigner, looked at
naturally, would be much more likely to hinder my being intrusted with
such large sums, than to induce donors to give. As to the novelty
procuring the money, the time is long gone by for novelty, for this is
June 1856, and the work commenced in March 1834. As to the secret
treasure to which I have access, there is more in this supposition than
the objectors are aware of; for surely God's treasury is
inexhaustible, and I have that (though that alone) to go to, and have
indeed drawn out of it, simply by prayer and faith, more than 113,000l.
since the beginning of the work. But now as to the last objection, that
the Reports are the means by which all the money is obtained: let us
consider this a little, for I do heartily desire that the Reader may not
lose the blessing, which this Institution is intended to convey to his
soul. My reply is: There is nothing unusual in writing Reports. This is
done by public Institutions generally, but the constant complaint is,
that Reports are not read. Our Reports are not extraordinary as to the
power of language, or as to striking appeals to feelings. They are
simple statements of facts. These Reports are not accompanied by
personal application for means; but they are simply sent to the donors,
or to any other individuals who wish to have or purchase them. If they
produce results, which Reports generally do not, I can only ascribe it
to the Lord.

I do not mean to say that God does not use the Reports as instruments in
procuring us means. They are written in order that I may thus give an
account of my stewardship, but particularly, in order that, by these
printed accounts of the work, the chief end of this Institution may be
answered, which is to raise another public testimony to an unbelieving
world, that in these last days the Living God is still the Living God,
listening to the prayers of His children, and helping those who put
their trust in Him; and in order that believers generally may be
benefited and especially be encouraged to trust in God for everything
they may need, and be stirred up to deal in greater simplicity with God
respecting everything connected with their own particular position and
circumstances; in short, that the children of God maybe brought to the
practical use of the Holy Scriptures, as the word of the Living God.--
But while these are the primary reasons for publishing these Reports, we
doubt not that the Lord has again and again used them as instruments in
leading persons to help us with their means. For as we continually stand
in need of considerable sums, and as even hundreds of pounds go but a
very little way, I entreat the Lord day by day, and generally several
times every day, to supply me with means, to speak to the hearts of His
dear children, and to constrain them by the love of Christ to help me
out of the means, with which He has intrusted them; and so it comes to
pass, I doubt not, that the Lord again and again works by His Spirit in
the hearts of those who have read or heard the Reports. But whether we
are supplied with means through the Reports or irrespective of them; in
either case it is God, who is working for us, and it is to this I wish
to direct the mind of the Reader.

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