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

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5. At first we sometimes threw down the tracts to persons, out of the
carriage, when they were not near enough to have them handed to them.
This, however, we discontinued on the second or third day; for I judged,
that, as we would not throw down Bibles, Testaments, or smaller portions
of the Holy Scriptures, so these tracts also, filled with the truth of
God, and written for the honour of God, should not be thrown down; and
that we would rather not give them at all, than in this way. I purposely
notice this, as many Christians are in the habit of throwing tracts out
of a carriage, as I did at first. I might put them secretly in drawers,
or on the table, or under the table-cover in inns, or elsewhere, where
they afterwards might be found; but I could not feel any longer happy in
not treating them with all reverence, because they contain the truth of
God.

6. Perhaps the reader may ask: What has been the result of this labour
in Germany? My reply is: God only knows. The day of Christ will declare
it. Judging from the constant labour in prayer during 8 months before we
went the second time, and day by day while we were on the Continent, and
day by day for a long time after our return, I am warranted to expect
fruit, and I do expect it. I expect abundant fruit in the day of
Christ's appearing. In the meantime my comfort is, that 220,000 tracts
have been circulated, many of which through the providence of God found
their way not only into the darkest places of the Continent of Europe,
but went also to America and Australia. Further, the 4000 copies of my
Narrative in German, are almost all circulated. And again, the
publishing of my Narrative in German, led me to do the same in French,
which was accomplished about three years later. Further, these tracts
were reprinted at Hamburg and at Cologne, and are circulated by other
Christians; in addition to which, my having published them in Germany
led me to get them stereotyped in England, and they continue to be
circulated in many countries.

7. I only add, we continued our service in a similar way, after we had
left Cassel, from whence I wrote the last letter to the church in
Bristol; and in many respects it was the most interesting part of the
service.

December 31, 1845. There have been received into communion 53 during
this year, and 1055 since our coming to Bristol, which, with 68 whom we
found in fellowship, makes 1123. Of these, 115 have fallen asleep, 65
have been excluded, 57 left us, and 193 left Bristol; so that there are
only 693 brethren and sisters in fellowship at present.

During this year the Lord has been pleased to give to me:--

1. Through anonymous donations in money,
put up in paper and directed to
me, and placed in the boxes for the
poor saints and the rent,
at the two chapels L166 15 10 1/4

2. Through presents in money, from
believers in Bristol, not given
anonymously . . . . . . 102 18 11 1/2

3. Through presents in money, from believers,
not residing in Bristol . . 138 0 7

4. Through presents in provisions,
clothes, etc., worth to us at least .
. . 26 3 9

------

Altogether L433 19 1 3/4

To this is to be added, that my dear child had again during the whole of
this year her education free at a boarding school, as stated at the
close of the last year, whereby I saved about 50l. Also my traveling
expenses to and from Germany, and other expenses, connected with my
service in Germany, were paid out of the 500l. to which reference has
been made. Adding these two items to 433l., I had at least 500l.

Esteemed reader, what do you think of this? Is it not a pleasant thing,
in the end, even for this life, really to trust in God? Verily, thus I
have found it to be, and thus do I find it to be, the longer I live.
Only there must be real trust in God, and it must be more than merely
using words. If we trust in God, we look to Him alone, we deal with Him
alone, and we are satisfied with His knowing about our need. Two things
I add, as I write my experience and the Lord's dealings with me for
the profit of the saints.

1. During the last year I resolved, that, by God's help, I would seek
to be more than ever a channel for the Communication of God's
bounties, and to communicate to those in need, or to give to the work of
God. I acted according to the light which God gave me, and He
condescended to make me His steward in one way or another far more
abundantly than ever before. Would we wish to have means intrusted to us
by the Lord, or to succeed in our trade, business, profession, etc., we
must be truly desirous of being His stewards, and only His stewards.
Read what I have written at length on this subject within the last
twenty pages of the third part of this my Narrative; and, if you have
read it before, read it yet again.

2. In looking over my journal, I find that during this year also I was
more than once without a shilling, yea without a penny, though my income
was about 500l.

April 29, 1846. Today my beloved wife and myself had the inexpressibly
great joy of receiving a letter from our beloved daughter, while we are
staying in the Lord's service at Chippenham, in which she writes that
she has now found peace in the Lord Jesus. Thus our prayers are turned
into praises.

About 18 mouths before this I began especially to pray for the
conversion of my dear child, and the Lord soon after seems to have begun
to work in her heart. I knew little of her state of mind before
receiving her letter, for I did not wish to force anything upon her of a
spiritual character, but leave her to be attracted by the loveliness of
the things of God. After hearing from her in April, 1846, she was not
received at once to communion, but, being so young, I judged it
desirable to watch the work in her soul. Towards the end of the year,
however, my fellow-labourers being fully satisfied, she was baptized and
received into communion, when she was 14 years and 3 months old.

Supplies for the School-Bible--Missionary and Tract Fund, sent in
answer to prayer, from May 26, 1846, to May 26, 1848.

During no period, from the commencement of the operations of this
Institution up to May 26, 1846, was I intrusted by the Lord with such
large sums, as during the one to which this chapter refers. I had never
had more need of pecuniary supplies than during those two years, on
account of the many pressing calls; but, at the same time, I had the
exceeding great joy and privilege of being able to respond to them in
such a way as I had never before been allowed to do. These remarks apply
to all the various objects of the Institution, but especially to the
supplies for brethren who labour at Home and Abroad in word and
doctrine without being connected with any society, or without having
any regular salary for preaching the Word.

On May 26, 1846, after the accounts had been closed, a check for 100l.
was given to me, the application of which was left to my disposal. I put
half the amount to the fund for these objects, and half to the
Orphan-Fund, When the accounts were closed, there was 91l. 4s. 11 3/4 d.
in, and for these objects, to which this 50l. was added; therefore I
began this period with more means than I had had in hand at any time
previously at the beginning of a fresh period; and as was its beginning
so was the continuance. It has often struck me, that one especial reason
why, on the whole, I was allowed to have so little trial with regard to
means for the work during those two years, in comparison with former
times, may have been, that thereby the Lord would say that He was
willing to give what would be needed when once the New Orphan-House
should be built, though the expenses would be about two thousand five
hundred pounds a year more than they were before. Another reason also
may have been, because in many other ways trials of faith and patience
came upon me in connexion with the Institution during those two years,
that therefore the Lord may not have exercised me so much by the want of
pecuniary means as before. But especially also one reason, why the Lord
generally gave me so great an abundance during those two years, seems to
me this, that it might be seen, not only how He can help us day by day
when we are poor, but also how able and willing He is to cause us to
abound, when this is for His honour and for our profit.

June 4, 1846. To day was given to me, just when I rose from my knees,
after having asked the Lord for more means, especially for missionary
purposes, the sum of 150l., with the request to use of it 50l. for the
Orphans, 50l. for labourers in England; and 50l. for labourers abroad.

July 6. Besides several small donations which came in since June 4, I
received today 50l., of which one half is intended by the donor for the
Orphans, the other half for these objects.

July 16. Today I received One Hundred Pounds from a donor who had lost
about one half of his property, and who gives this donation as "A
thank-offering to God for having left to him as much as he has." I put
one half of this donation to the funds for these objects, and the other
half to the Orphan Fund.

Aug. 1. About 24l. more has come in since July 16th. During the last two
days I have sent 110l. to Foreign labourers, and 15l. to brethren who
labour in England; and having thus begun to reduce our Missionary Fund,
the Lord gives fresh supplies. The evening before last was sent to me
5l. from Ludlow. Today I received 5l. from Scarborough, of which 4l. is
for Missionary objects, and 1l. for the Orphans. Thus the Lord gives me
the desire of my heart, to help more and more the dear brethren who
labour in word and doctrine, either in this country or in foreign
lands.

From the commencement of this Institution on March 5th, 1834, it had
been my desire to employ part of the funds with which I might be
intrusted, in aiding missionary brethren in foreign lands, who are not
supported by any regular salary; and for several years I have likewise
had the desire to assist brethren, labouring in similar circumstances,
in Great Britain and Ireland. The Lord also had given me the great
privilege to assist such brethren more or less during the time that this
Institution had been in operation; but especially He began during the
two years, to which this chapter refers, to allow me to do so in a far
greater degree than before. I knew it to be a fact, that many brethren,
who preach the Word, without having any salary for doing so, or property
to live upon, were in need. Now it might be said that such brethren
ought to trust in God; that, if they preach Jesus as the only hope for
the salvation of sinners, they ought to set them a good example by
trusting themselves in God for the supply of their temporal necessities,
in order that unconverted persons thereby might be led to trust in the
Lord Jesus alone for the salvation of their souls. This is true, quite
true. Preachers of the precious good news of salvation to every sinner
who puts his trust in the merits of the Lord Jesus, ought indeed
themselves to depend upon God, their Lord and Father, for the supply of
their temporal necessities; but I also felt that I, as their brother,
ought to seek to help them as far as lay in me. To this I set myself
more than ever after the beginning of the year 1846, as I knew, that,
from particular causes, there was an especial call to help such
brethren; and as my own means would go but a little way, I gave myself
to more earnest prayer than ever for such brethren. The result was,
that, during the two years of this period, the Lord so answered my daily
supplications with regard to this particular, that I was honoured to
send nearly three times as much to Home and Foreign labourers, as during
any previous period of the same length. 1,559l. 11s. 6d. was spent in
this way, by which twenty-one brethren were assisted who laboured in
Foreign lands, and nineteen who laboured in Great Britain and Ireland.
Large as this sum is, in comparison with what I had been able to do in
this particular in former years, yet it is small, very small, in
comparison with what my heart desired to be able to do for these forty
brethren. It has frequently, yea almost always, so happened, that the
assistance which God has allowed me to send to such brethren, has come
to them at a time of great need. Sometimes they had no money at all
left. Sometimes even their last provisions were almost consumed, when I
sent them supplies. Some of them are fathers of large families, or have
sickly wives and children; some were once well off in this world, but
for Christ's sake have become poor; and some have had for Christ's
sake their all taken from them. Is it not an honour to help such
brethren? I could fill hundreds of pages by giving extracts from the
letters of the dear brethren to whom I have sent help, and they would be
greatly to the edification of the reader; but I do not feel free to do
so.--As I have not only been labouring for these brethren in prayer
that God would intrust me with means and allow me the privilege of
helping them, but as I also have asked God to direct me especially to
send to those who might be in particular need, in case I could not help
them all; and as I have sought by an encouraging word to strengthen
their hands in God; there is great reason to believe, that these dear
brethren have not only been helped by these pecuniary supplies in a
temporal point of view, but also that the fact, of God sending them help
in their extremity, has tended to refresh and strengthen their hearts,
and to lead them more and more to trust in Him.

Sep. 4. 38l. more has come in since Aug. 1st for these objects, and
today there was given to me 305l. 17s. 3d. for Home and Foreign
labourers, for present use for the Orphans, and for the other parts of
the work. Thus I have again the desire of my heart given to me in being
able to assist a number of dear brethren at home and abroad, to whom I
desired to send help. Of this sum I took 205l. 17s. 3d. for these
objects, and 100l. for the Orphans.

Sept. 9. Since the 4th I have sent out about 60l. already for brethren
who labour in England and Foreign lands. This morning I received from C.
W. 25l. more for missionary objects.

Oct. 22. This morning's post had brought no means. Whilst walking in
my little garden for meditation and prayer, I said to myself--"Though
the post has brought no means, yet the Lord can send even this day rich
supplies." It was not two minutes after this, when a letter was handed
to me, which had been brought that moment, containing two Fifty Pound
Notes and these words: "My little children, let us not love in word,
neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."---40l. for missionaries;
Demerara and others, dependant on God for supplies. 10l. for Home
missionaries, dependant on God for their support. 10l. for the Orphans.
10l. for the poor of Bethesda and Salem Church. 10l. for Mr. Mueller.
10l. for Mr. Craik. 5l. for Bibles and Testaments. 5l. for rent, &c. of
chapels."---Thus I had a fresh answer to my prayers, which had been
again brought before the Lord this morning, that He would enable me
still more to help the dear brethren who labour at home and abroad in
dependence upon Him for supplies.

Dec. 22. During the last two months about 70l. more has come in, chiefly
for Missionary purposes. Of these donations, about eighty in number, I
only mention that there was given on Nov. 5, the sum of 6l. 14s., being
the tenth part of profits arising from shares which a brother has in
coal mines. --Now today, Dec. 22, I received 175l. more for these
funds, which I took as a further precious answer to my supplications to
God, for help for home and foreign labourers, and for means to procure a
fresh stock of tracts.

March 7, 1847. Often of late have I besought the Lord that He would be
pleased to give me more means for those objects. For more than nine
months we have on the whole abounded more than at any time during the
thirteen years since this work first began; but now there was only 15l.
left for the support of six day schools, two Sunday schools, an adult
school, and the circulation of Bibles and Tracts. Often also of late had
I entreated the Lord that He would be pleased to condescend to use me
still further as a steward, in allowing me to send help to the many dear
brethren whom I know labouring at home and abroad without any salary,
the need of many of whom I knew. Under these circumstances I received
this morning 150l. with the following lines:

"Dear brother,

"I have pleasure in sending you 100l. on account of labourers in the
Lord's vineyard at home and abroad, and 50l. for other work in your
hands.

"Yours very affectionately,

"* *."

Thus my request was in a measure answered with regard to home and
foreign labourers, and by taking half of the 50l. for the schools and
the circulation of Bibles and Tracts, I had also something for these
objects. The other 25l. I put to the Orphan Fund.

March 12. The 100l. for home and foreign labourers was soon portioned
out. The difficulty was not to spend it, but how to make it do, so that
all, who seemed to me to need, might get a little. On this account I
prayed still further during the last four days for means for home and
foreign labourers, and now this morning, when I arose from my knees,
after having again asked the Lord about tills matter, I received a
letter in which C. W. sent me 30l. for missionaries.

April 5. I have been praying day by day, ever since I was able during
the last month to send about 130l. to home and foreign labourers, that
the Lord would be pleased soon again to give me means for them, on
account of their great need; indeed, all our means were so exhausted,
that I had only just enough, for tomorrow evening, to meet the weekly
expenses connected with the six day schools, when this morning I
received 125l. for these objects. What a precious help! How is my heart
refreshed by this seasonable answer to prayer!--Almost immediately
after this donation had been given to me, I received a letter from
Demerara about the great need among the brethren who labour there, by
which intelligence the seasonable help, just received, has become still
more precious to me.

Thirteen other small donations came in between April 5th and May 13th,
and on May 13th I received 100l. for missionary purposes.

On June 8th was given 100l. for missionary purposes.

June 30. For the whole period, since the accounts were last closed, more
than 13 months since, we have not been so poor with regard to these
funds as today. Last evening I paid out the last money to the brethren
who labour in the day schools, in giving them their weekly salary. Under
these circumstances a brother in the Lord, who resides about 200 miles
from this, and who had been staying in my house two days, gave me 30l.
to dispose of as I thought best, only that missionary brethren should be
remembered. I took therefore 15l. for Missions, and the other 15l. for
the School--Bible and Tract Fund. What a seasonable help!

July 16. Today was given to me, when now again the money received on
June 30th for the schools, &c., had been all but entirely expended (as
only little had come in since), the sum of 110l. for these objects.

Aug. 25. Great had been my desire to send fresh supplies to the home and
foreign labourers. Day by day had I been again praying for means for
them since July 16th. Now also I had nothing in hand for the Bible and
Tract Fund; and as to the schools, there was not nearly enough to pay
the weekly salaries to the teachers next Tuesday evening, when I
received this evening 120l. for these objects.

Aug. 26. This morning I received still further from C. W. 20l. for home
and foreign labourers.

Sept. 14. Day by day I am bringing before the Lord the necessities of
the home and foreign labourers, whom I seek to help, especially as I
found in what great need some brethren were, when a short time since
they received the help which the Lord allowed me to send them. Now this
afternoon 1 received from Norwich 5l. 6s. for missionary purposes, and
also 2 rings, a cornelian necklace., an amber necklace, and a pair of
amber bracelets.

Oct. 4. I have now been again praying much for many days for means for
home and foreign labourers as well as for means for the other objects,
having very little in hand, and having reason to believe that several of
the brethren whom I seek to help are in great need. This evening I
received from a brother, as the first fruits of his salary, a sovereign
for home and foreign labourers. I take this as an earnest out of the
hands of God that He will soon send me more.--Received also 5s.

Oct. S. This morning I received the following letter, at the very moment
while I was on my knees, waiting still further upon the Lord for help
for the various objects, and especially also for means for home and
foreign labourers.

"* * * *, Oct. 3, 1847.

"Beloved Brother,

"The enclosed sum of 30l. is in my hands, and it does not appear that the
Lord has need of it here, either for my own wants, or others under my
notice. It seems likely that He may have need of it for the help of
missionary labourers, who are depending on Himself. Would you kindly
dispense it, as you may see good, to any who are labouring in the Word
at home and abroad; or if you see other pressing need for it among the
saints or for the Orphans, use it rather for them, &c."

I took the whole of this donation for these objects, as evidently coming
in answer to prayer for them.

Oct. 12. The very great need of some of the dear brethren who labour in
the Word, and whom I seek to assist, had led me again day by day to
bring their cases before God. I also needed help for the School--,
Bible and Tract Fund. Now this evening the Lord has once more helped me
by a donation of 180l., of which I took 40l. for the Orphans, 100l. for
home and foreign labourers and 40l. for the School, Bible and Tract
Fund. How seasonable and how precious this help! How precious to me as
the fruit of many prayers, and how seasonable to many who are in need,
and who will be thus assisted! Moreover, I am just now in deep sorrow
and great trial, the cause of which I will not mention here; and thus
God Himself cheers and refreshes my heart, and tells me by this fresh
precious and manifest answer to prayer, that He is mindful of His poor
unworthy servant, and of the work in which he is engaged. There came in
five small donations besides today.

Dec. 30. When in the greatest need, so that I should not have been able
to pay the weekly salaries of the teachers of the day schools next
Tuesday, I received today from C. W. 10l., the disposal of which being
left to me, I took half of it for the school fund and half for the
Orphans.

Dec. 31. The year closes under the smiles of our Heavenly Father upon
this work, in giving us another proof that He is indeed mindful of our
need and attentive to our supplications. I received today 100l., to be
used as most needed. I took of it 50l. for these objects and 50l. for
the Orphans. I scarcely ever received a donation more seasonably; for
there are only means enough for next week for the teachers, Bibles and
tracts are needed, and I have been long waiting upon God for means for
home and foreign labourers. But this donation only furnishes me with
means for present necessities for the schools, and to order some tracts.
As to ordering Bibles and sending help to foreign and home labourers, I
must still further wait upon God.

Jan. 1, 1848. Today I received still further, for the benefit of the day
schools, the sum of 10l.

Jan. 6. Only 1l. 5s. has come in since the first. This evening 120l. was
given to me, of which the donor intends 20l. for home and foreign
labourers. The other 100l. was left at my disposal. I took therefore of
it 70l. for the Orphans, 10l. for the various schools, 10l. for the
circulation of the Holy Scriptures, and 10l. for the circulation of
tracts.

Feb. 10. There came in about 65l. more for missionary purposes during
the month, of January, and today was given to me a donation of 100l.,
the disposal of which being left to me, I took half of it for these
objects, and half for the Orphans, and thus I am able, after much
waiting upon God for it, to send a little more help to brethren who
labour in the Word.

April 13. This is only the second time, since May 26, 1846, that the
means for these objects have been completely exhausted, though we have
been two or three times besides brought very low in funds. The last
money there was in hand was spent in paying the weekly salaries of the
teachers the day before yesterday. There was therefore nothing for this
purpose for next week, nor were there any means for the circulation of
Bibles and tracts, and for aiding missionary efforts. Under these
circumstances prayer and faith were again resorted to. For my universal
remedy in need of any kind is, to make known my requests unto God, and
then I seek to believe that God has heard me for His dear Son's sake,
and I look out for answers to my petitions, and fully expect them. I had
also particularly requested four brethren, masters of the boys' day
schools, to help me with their prayers, as I should not be able to pay
them their weekly salary, next week, except the Lord were pleased to
send in means.--Thus situated, I received this morning, as the fruit
of many supplications, the sum of 90l., which was a great refreshment to
my spirit. It being left to me to use this money as needed, I put 50l.
of it to the funds for these objects, and 40l. to the Orphan-Fund. Thus
we are once more helped, and my heart is encouraged more and more to
trust in God.

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