History of the Building of the Five New Orphan Houses, 1845–1870 (part 2 of 4)

(3) There must be a limit to my work and service. Answer: That is true, and if I were quite sure that the present state of the Institution were to be the limit, I would at once lay aside this thing; but I am not sure that I am come as yet to God's limit. All these sixteen years and ten months, the work has been constantly progressing, and the Lord has helped me continually; and now my mind is just in the same way exercised as when fifteen years ago I began the Orphan work, and as when thirteen years ago it was enlarged, and as when seven years and nine months since it was still further enlarged, and as when five years and two months since I was led to decide on building the New Orphan House. Under these circumstances, having been helped through all these difficulties, and seeing such a vast field of usefulness before me, and having so many applications for the admission of very destitute Orphans, I long to be used still further, and cannot say that as yet the Lord has brought me to His limit.

(4) Is it not like "tempting God," to think of building another Orphan House for seven hundred more Orphans? Answer: "Tempting God" means, according to the Holy Scriptures, to limit Him in any of His attributes; by His grace I do not wish to limit His power or His willingness to give to me, His poor servant, simply in answer to prayer, all the means, and every other help and blessing which I shall need, to build another large Orphan House.

(5) You will not got the means for building and fitting up so large an Orphan House; and, even if you did, how will you, at the same time, get the means for carrying on the work which already exists? Answer: Looking at the matter naturally, this is indeed a weighty objection.

The New Orphan House, with its 300 Orphans only, cost about fifteen thousand pounds to build and to fit up and furnish, and still the expenses are not all met even now. It will in all probability cost several hundred pounds yet. And this large sum was needed, though the style of the building is most simple, and though the field in which it was built was comparatively cheap. After this rate, a building to accommodate seven hundred Orphans, with the necessary ground attached to it for the cultivation of the vegetables used in the Institution, could not be less than thirty-five thousand pounds. Now, looking at it naturally, where is this great sum to come from? Though I looked at all my friends who have given hitherto, and several have done so very liberally, yet there is no natural prospect whatever of receiving this amount; especially if it be kept in mind that six or seven thousand pounds besides, every year, would be needed for carrying on that which is already in existence. I might, therefore, well tremble, looking at the matter naturally, and say, I shall never have the money for this intended Orphan House for 700 children; for where is this large sum of thirty-five thousand pounds to come from?

And even if I were to get the money, will not persons, in giving means for such a Building Fund, take it away from what they might have given me for carrying on the work which exists already? But whilst thus, naturally, there is no hope of succeeding, I am not in the least discouraged spiritually; for by faith in the living God I say this: He has the power to give me this thirty-five thousand pounds, and much more, were it needed: and He has the power, in the meantime, to give me also all the large sums required, week after week, for meeting the current expenses for the present state of the work. Moreover, I delight in the greatness of the difficulty, as respects the large sum needed for building and fitting up such an Establishment; for I desire to be most fully assured, from the very outset, that I go forward in this matter according to the Lord's bidding. If so, He will give me the means; if not, I shall not have them.

(6) Suppose now, you were even to succeed in getting this large Orphan House built, how will you be able to provide for 700 other Orphans? Answer: There is much weight in this objection, looking at it naturally. I am too much a man of business, and too much a person of calm, quiet, cool calculation, not to feel its force. And indeed, were I only to look at the thing naturally, I should at once be ready to own that I am going too far; for the increase of expenditure for the support of these 700 other Orphans could not be less than eight thousand pounds a year more, so that the current expenses of the Institution, reckoning its present state, and including those eight thousand pounds, would be about fifteen thousand pounds a year. Now, I am free to own, that I have no human prospect of obtaining such a sum year by year. But while matters stand thus, looking at them naturally, I see no difficulty at all in them spiritually. If according to the will of God I am enabled to go about this intended second Orphan House; and if, with His help, I shall be enabled to finish it, He will surely provide for those who are gathered together in it, as long as He shall enable me to trust in Him for supplies.

And here I look back upon the way in which the Lord has led me and dealt with me. When, about seventeen years ago, I took up, in dependence upon the living God for means, two Charity Schools, with which the Scriptural Knowledge Institution commenced (and this involved an expense of less than one hundred pounds a year), I had no certain prospect of being able to meet even that small sum; but God so helped me, that I had shortly six Charity Schools. He helped me then also, and enabled me to meet all their expenses. When, fifteen years ago, I began the Orphan work, which was connected with far heavier expenses, I had still less prospect, according to natural reason, of being able to meet them; but I trusted in God, and He helped me, and He not only enabled me to meet the current expenses for thirty Orphans in the first house rented for them, but also soon to open another for thirty-six more, and to meet all those expenses; for as I had begun in faith in the living God, and not by putting my trust in my brethren in Christ, so I was not confounded. After I had gone on some time with these Orphans in the two rented houses, about thirteen years ago the Lord was pleased greatly to encourage me and to increase my faith by a donation of £500 for the Orphans; for up to that period I had never received more than one hundred pounds at once. But this kind donor, a stranger to me up to that time, suggested to me the propriety of investing this sum and using only the interest of it, as I could not expect to have the Orphans supported continually in the way they had been till then; for that such Institutions must depend upon regular subscriptions or funded property, otherwise they could not go on. As, however, this was only a friendly hint, and no condition under which the money was given, I took this £500 towards fitting up a third house for the reception of thirty more Orphans. From that time the work has been increasing more and more, till it came to what it is at present.

Now, suppose I had said, seventeen years ago, looking at matters according to natural reason, "The two Charity Schools are enough, I must not go any further;" then the work would have stopped there. Or, if I had had a little more trust in my exertions or my friends, I might have taken at the utmost one or two steps further. Instead of this, however, I looked in no degree whatever at things according to my natural fallen reason, and trusted not in the circle of my Christian friends, but in the living God; the result has been, that there have been, since 1834, ten thousand souls under our instruction in the various Day Schools, Sunday Schools, and Adult Schools; several hundred Orphans have been brought up, and many of them from their very tenderest infancy; several hundred thousand Tracts and many thousand copies of the Word of God have been circulated; about forty preachers of the gospel at home and abroad have been, for several years, assisted in connection with the Institution; and a house has been built and fitted up for the accommodation of 300 destitute Orphans, each of whom has neither father nor mother. How blessed therefore it is to trust in God, and in Him alone, and not in circumstances nor friends! There is, however, one thing which I must record here, because it has taken place since I last wrote in my journal on this subject on January 2nd. It is this. On January 4th I received a donation of £3,000. Is not this a plain proof that God is both able and willing to help simply in answer to prayer? Is not human reason confounded by such instances? When I first began to write these exercises of my mind about another Orphan House, I knew not that I should receive a donation of £3,000, yet I was fully assured that God was able to support one thousand Orphans as easily as He did the thirty whom I first received in a rented house. Does He not, however, tell me by all this, Go forward, My servant, and I will help thee?

(7) But it might be said, Suppose you were able by prayer to obtain this large sum for building a house for seven hundred other Orphans; and suppose you were able to provide for them during your lifetime, what would become of this Institution after your death? Answer: I am quite familiar with this objection, having heard it many times as a reason against the way of obtaining the means for the Institution, simply by trusting in God, without any funded property, and without looking to regular subscribers; but my reply is this. My business is with all my might to serve my own generation; in doing so I shall best serve the next generation. Suppose this objection were a sound one, I ought never to have commenced the Orphan work at all, for fear of what might become of it after my death, and thus all the hundreds of destitute children without father and mother, whom the Lord has allowed me to care for, during the last fifteen years, would not have been taken up by me.

One word in conclusion on this subject: let every one take heed lest, in caring about what will become of the next generation, he forget to serve his own generation. The latter each one should seek to do with his might, and thus it should be with each succeeding generation; then, though we be dead, yet should we be speaking.

(8) The last objection which has occurred to my own mind is that by building another Orphan House, I should be in danger of being lifted up. Answer: I should be in danger of it indeed, and am in great danger, even were I not in the least degree to go forward. Yea, the tenth part of the honour which the Lord has condescended to bestow upon me, and the tenth part of the service with which He has been pleased to entrust me, would be enough, if I were left to myself, exceedingly to puff me up. I cannot say that hitherto the Lord has kept me humble; but I can say, that hitherto He has given me a hearty desire to give to Him all the glory, and to consider it a great condescension on His part that He has been pleased to use me as an instrument in His service. I do not see, therefore, that fear of being lifted up ought to keep me from going forward in this work; but that I have rather to beseech the Lord that He would be pleased to give me a lowly mind, and never suffer me to rob Him of the glory which is due to Him alone.

Reasons FOR establishing another Orphan House for Seven Hundred Orphans

(1) The many applications for the admission of destitute Orphans, which continue to be made, I consider as a call from God upon me, to do all that is in my power to provide a home and scriptural education for a still greater number of Orphans.

(2) The moral state of the Poor houses greatly influences me to go forward. When writing thus about the Poor houses, I do not wish it to be understood in the way of reproof; for I know not how these matters could be altered; but simply state the fact that thus it is.

(3) In this purpose I am the more confirmed, since it is a fact that the Orphan Houses already in existence in the kingdom are by no means sufficient to admit even the most deserving and distressing cases, and far less all that it would be well to provide for. Moreover, there is great difficulty connected with the admission of Orphans into most of the ordinary Orphan Establishments, on account of the votes which must be obtained, so that really needy persons have neither time nor money to obtain them. Does not the fact that there were six thousand young Orphans in the prisons of England about five years ago, call alone for an extension of Orphan Institutions? By God's help, I will do what I can, to keep poor Orphans from prison.

(4) In this purpose I am still further encouraged by the great help which the Lord has hitherto given me in this blessed service. When I look at the small beginning, and consider how the Lord has helped me now for more than fifteen years in the Orphan work; and when I consider how He has been pleased to help me through one great difficulty after another; and when I consider, especially, how, as with an unseen hand, almost against my will and former desires and thoughts, He has led me on from one step to another, and has enlarged the work more and more: I say, when I review all this, and compare with it my present exercise of mind, I find the great help, the uninterrupted help, which the Lord has given me for more than fifteen years, a great reason for going forward in this work. And this, trusting in Him, I am resolved to do.

(5) A further reason for going forward in this service I see in the experience which I have had in it. From the smallest commencement up to the present state of the establishment, with its 300 Orphans, all has gone through my own hands. In the work itself I obtained the experience. It has grown with the work. I have been the solo director of the work, under God, from its smallest commencement.

(6) The spiritual benefit of still more Orphans is another especial reason why I feel called to go forward. As this is the chief and primary aim concerning the dear Orphans, even the salvation of their souls through faith in the Lord Jesus, I long to be more extensively used than hitherto, even that I may have a thousand of them instead of three hundred under my care.

(7) But there is one point which weighs more strongly with me than even the last mentioned one. It is this. When I began the Orphan work more than fifteen years ago, it was for the definite and especial purpose, that, by means of it, the unconverted might see, through the answers of prayer that I received in connection with it, that there is verily reality in the things of God; and that the children of God might have their faith strengthened by means of it, and be encouraged in all simplicity to deal with God under every circumstance, and trust in Him at all times. But if this would be answered in a measure by the state in which the Orphan work has been informer times, and more so by what it has been since the erection of the New Orphan House, it would be still more so, by the blessing of God, by my going forward in it to a far greater degree than before. This point, even the glory of God in the manifestation of His readiness to hear prayer, has weighed especially and supremely with mo in purposing to enlarge the Orphan work. The reader is particularly requested to read what has been said on this subject in this Narrative from page 80 to 81.

(8) Lastly, I am peaceful and happy, spiritually, in the prospect of enlarging the work, as on former occasions when I had to do so. This weighs particularly with me as a reason for going forward. After all the calm, quiet, prayerful consideration of the subject for about eight weeks, I am peaceful and happy, spiritually, in the purpose of enlarging the field. This, after all the heart searching which I have had, and the daily prayer to be kept from delusion and mistake in this thing, and the betaking myself to the Word of God, would not be the case, I judge, had not the Lord purposed to condescend to use me more than ever in this service.

I, therefore, on the ground of the objections answered, and these eight reasons FOR enlarging the work, come to the conclusion that it is the will of the blessed God, that His poor and most unworthy servant should yet more extensively serve Him in this work, which he is quite willing to do.

Up to this day, January 25th, 1851, I have not spoken to one human being about it. As yet even my dear wife knows not about it. I purpose to keep the matter still for some time entirely to myself, dealing with God alone about it, in order that no outward excitement may be in the least degree a stimulus to me. I still pray to be kept from mistake and delusion in this thing, not that I think I am mistaken or deluded, quite the reverse; but yet I would distrust myself and cling to God, to be kept from mistakes and delusions.

January 31st. For several weeks past I have had no doubt that the Lord would have me to serve Him in the erection and fitting up of another Orphan House, for seven hundred Orphans, and I am quite decided on doing so, with His help, and I am now quiet about it, not because I have the least misgiving in my own mind, but because I know that it is most suitable that I should still for some time continue to deal quietly with God alone about it.

March 5th. Since I wrote the last paragraph my mind has not been once, during this time, even for a moment, in uncertainty as to what I ought to do. It is now about fifteen weeks since I have been specially praying about this subject, and three months since I began first to write on the subject in my journal, and about ten weeks since I have had any doubt as to what is the will of the Lord concerning this service. I believe that, altogether unworthy though I am of this great honour, He will condescend to use me further and more extensively than before in caring for destitute children who are bereaved of both parents. And this I purpose to do.

Before I made public my purpose, I gave the record of the exercises of my mind, on this subject, to a valued Christian friend to read, the only one who, besides my family, knew anything of my intention, before it came before the public. I did this particularly in order that, after waiting for several months in secret upon God for guidance and direction concerning it, I might also have the counsel of a prayerful, judicious, and cautious man of God. When this brother returned the manuscript, he spoke to me words of encouragement concerning this purpose, and gave me a half-sovereign towards the Building Fund for this house for 700 destitute Orphans. This was the first donation, which I received on May 13th, 1851, and which, I confess, was a great refreshment and encouragement to me, the more so as it came from so cautious a brother, and after I had been for several months, through secret prayer, assured that I should go forward.

On May 28th, my intention became publicly known, and in the evening of May 29th I received from a Christian lady a sovereign towards the Building Fund.

August 12th. Day by day I am waiting upon the Lord for means for this Object, and generally more than once a day am bowing my knees before God with reference to it. Moreover, of late I have been enabled, with increasing earnestness, to beseech the Lord, that He would be pleased to send in means for the Building Fund. My soul has been all along at peace, though only so little as yet, comparatively, has come in (in all £127 19s. 9d.); and though Satan has, in the most subtle way, sought to shake my confidence, and to lead me to question, whether, after all, I had not been mistaken concerning this whole matter. Yet, though he has aimed at this, to the praise of God I have to confess, that he has not been allowed to triumph. I have especially besought the Lord of late, that He would be pleased to refresh my spirit by sending in some large donation for this part of the work. Under these circumstances, I received this morning £500.

I was not in the least excited. I look out for means. Even at that very moment, when I received this donation, I was looking out for means, for large donations; and I should not have been surprised if £5,000, or more, had come in. The Lord be praised for this precious encouragement, which has still further quickened me for prayer!

September 10th. As yet the Lord delays sending in larger sums; but I am looking out for them, and am confidently expecting them. This delay is only for the trial of my faith; after He has tried it, He will help me.

September 13th. Patience and faith are still called for, and, by God's grace, my desire is to "let patience have her perfect work." Not one penny has come in to-day for the Building Fund, but five more Orphans have been applied for, so that now forty in less than one single month have been brought before me, all bereaved of both parents, and all very destitute. Under these circumstances, how can I but fervently labour in prayer that the Lord would be pleased to entrust me with means for building another Orphan House? The more I look at things according to natural appearances and prospects, the less likely is it that I should have the sum which is needed; but I have faith in God, and my expectation is from Him alone. From the beginning I depended upon Him only, concerning this proposed enlargement of the work, and therefore have not been disappointed, though as yet only the fortieth part of what is needed has come in (£882 18s. 7½d.). But how soon, how very soon, can the Lord alter the aspect of things. Even this very evening, while I am writing, He can give me many thousands of pounds. I continue therefore, to wait upon God, and seek to encourage my heart by His holy Word, and while He delays giving me answers, to be occupied in His blessed service. Of this, however, my soul has not the least doubt, that, when the Lord shall have been pleased to exercise my soul by the trial of faith and patience, He will make bare His arm, and send help.

September 19th. Received to-day a donation of £170, which the donor kindly allowed me to use for the work of the Lord in my hands as I pleased. I therefore took the whole of this donation for the Building Fund.

September 20th. About two months since I received a letter, of which I give as much as refers to the subject in hand:—

My dear Sir,

"I was once a book collector, and turned my attention to our old English Bibles, and, among other editions, perfected, almost sheet by sheet, our first English Coverdale Bible of 1535. It is a sad specimen of time, attention, and money mis-spent and mis-applied, and as I look upon you as the receiver of cast-off idols, whether watch chains, trinkets, or old Bibles, I have purposed for some time sending it to you.… Do with the proceeds as you see fit. I should be glad if a portion were converted into large printed Testaments for the aged, and should be thankful if that, which has been a cause of humbling to me, should be converted into the means, through your instrumentality, of raising others.

"Ever yours, ——."

A day or two after the receipt of this letter, a parcel arrived containing the said Coverdale Bible, of A.D. 1535, and another book; the latter to be sold for the benefit of the Orphans. It was only to-day that I had an opportunity of disposing of the old Bible, which fetched £60, together with other books, which had been given for the benefit of the Orphans, which brought £10. Of the £60 I took £10 for New Testaments printed with large type for aged poor persons, and £50 for the Building Fund.

October 7th. The trial of my faith and patience continues still. Very little has come in for the Building Fund. But my hope in God, by His help, continues steadfast. I had just now again a long season for prayer, having spent the whole evening alone for the purpose, and am assured that, when God's time shall have come, it will be seen that, even concerning this Object, I do not wait upon Him in vain. There are persons again and again asking me, When I am going to commence the building; for they think that I have all, or nearly all, the means which are required. And there are others who ask me, whether I still purpose to build this Orphan House. To Thee, my Heavenly Father, Thy child turns under these circumstances. Thou knowest how small an amount as yet Thy servant has, in comparison with what is needed; but Thou also knowest that Thy servant did not act rashly and under excitement in this matter, but waited upon Thee for six months in secret, before he spoke about this his intention. Now, Lord, in Thy mercy, sustain Thy servant's faith and patience, and, if it please Thee, speedily refresh his heart by sending in larger sums, for which he is looking, and which he confidently expects!

October 29th. This morning I received a letter, containing a cheque for £50, £25 being for the Building Fund.

November 10th. To-day I received £200, of which the donor kindly wished me to keep £20 for my own personal expenses, and to apply the rest as most needed for the Lord's work in my hands. I took, therefore, £100 for the Building Fund.

November 19th. Early this morning came, in the course of my reading through the Holy Scriptures, Heb. 5. and 6, and my heart was greatly strengthened by Heb. 6:15, "And so after he had PATIENTLY ENDURED, he obtained the promise." I have not once, even for one moment, been allowed to doubt, either the power or the willingness of the Lord to supply me with all that shall be needed for this other Orphan House, since I first came to the conclusion that it was His will I should enlarge the work; yet I have often, very often, been led to ask, that He would graciously be pleased to sustain my faith and patience to the end; for great, very great, may yet be the exercises both of my faith and patience, before I have the desire of my heart granted.

November 28th. The following case will especially show in what a variety of ways the Lord is pleased to supply me with means. To-day I received from an individual, hitherto an entire stranger to me, the letter which follows:—

My dear Brother,

"I asked the Lord for help with regard to yourself and your work. The other night a stranger called at my house, and left a parcel, declining to give her name, saying, 'Take charge of this for Mr. George Müller.' The parcel contained £3 14s. 9d., two silver spoons, and two silver thimbles; 4s. was added to pay the expenses. May the Lord prosper you, my brother.

"Yours affectionately, ——."

As it was not stated for what Object the donation was intended, I took the whole for the Building Fund.

December 28th. This morning I received £200, of which, being left at my disposal, I took one half for the Building Fund.

January 23rd. I received this morning a registered letter, enclosing £50. I purpose to take one half of this donation for the Building Fund, and the other half for Missionary Objects.

Greatly cheered by a large Donation

March 17th. To-day my heart has been greatly refreshed by a donation of £999 13s. 5d., which, being left to my disposal for the work of God, I took of it for the Building Fund £600. I cannot describe to any one how refreshing this donation is to my spirit. After having been for weeks, day by day, waiting upon the Lord, and receiving so little, comparatively, either for current expenses or for the Building Fund, this answer to many prayers is exceedingly sweet to my spirit.

One of the things which especially encourages me to continue to wait upon God, and to labour on in prayer concerning this Object, is the great number of applications made for the admission of children who have been lawfully begotten, but who are by death bereaved of both parents, and who are in very destitute circumstances. There were 170 such children waiting for admission a year ago; since then there have been 183 more applied for, making in all 353. Of these, as during the last year but few vacancies have occurred, I have only been able to receive twenty-seven, therefore 326 remain unprovided for.

June 18th. I received this day a donation of £200, of which the donor kindly wished me to keep £20 for my own personal expenses, and to use the £180 as might be most needed. I took of this sum £60 for the Building Fund.

June 22nd. To-day I was informed that there had been paid into the hands of my bankers £500. This sum is from a donor whom I have never seen, but whom God evidently has led, in answer to my daily supplications, and to those of my fellow-labourers, to help me in His service. This donation has exceedingly refreshed my spirit, and has led me to expect more and more help from God. As this £500 is left at my disposal, I took of it one third for the Building Fund.

August 6th. From an Irish friend £53, "As a small acknowledgment of the donor's gratitude to his Heavenly Father for enriching him with the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to his dear Redeemer for loving him, and giving Himself for him."

August 21st. I received to-day the following letter from Madras, enclosing a donation of £70 for the Building Fund:—

Dear Brother,

"Some time in the year 1842 or 1843, I met with 'The Lord's Dealings with George Müller,' and, after reading it, was moved to send you something; but at that time I had not the means. I had lent what little money I had, to a person who was unable to repay me, and I was nearly destitute. The good hand of God has been on me since, and I have often wondered whether George Müller was still in the flesh. Last December I saw in a friend's house the Twelfth Report, and, after reading it, resolved to cast a mite into the Lord's treasury towards building the Orphan House for seven hundred children; and may the God of Jacob, that has fed me all my life long unto this day, accept of it, as an acknowledgment of the thousandth part of the mercies I have received at His hands. I therefore enclose a bill of exchange, value seventy pounds."

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

Pause a few moments, dear reader. See how faith and prayer bring means from individuals whom we have never seen, whose very names we have never heard, and who live at a distance of more than ten thousand miles from us. Do you not see that it is not in vain, to make known our requests to the Lord, and to come to Him for everything? When it was first laid on my heart, to build a second Orphan House, could I have looked for this £70 from this Christian brother at Madras? Verily not, for I did not even know of his existence. Had I other friends, from whom to expect the large sum which will be needed to accomplish this? No; on the contrary, all human probability was against my ever receiving this large sum. But I had faith in God. I believed that He was able and willing to give me what was needed for this work; and solely in dependence upon Him I purposed to build another Orphan House. But now see how God has helped me further; for after I had received this donation of £70, I had still only £4,127 12s. 6¾d. in hand, in other words, only a little more than the ninth part of the sum which, as far as I am able to calculate, will be needed to accomplish my object.

September 8th. I have again and again found that, after a season during which very little has come in, and my faith has thus been tried, the Lord has generally the more bountifully helped afterwards. Thus it has been again this day. I have received a donation of £280 10s. 6d., of which the donor kindly wished me to take £20 10s. 6d. for my own personal expenses, and to use the £260 as the work of the Lord in my hands might require. I took of this sum one third for the Building Fund.

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

November 3rd. This evening I received a cheque for £300 for the Building Fund.

November 27th. Day by day I am waiting upon God, concerning this Object. I firmly believe that the Lord will give me all I require for the accomplishment of it, though I am utterly unworthy. I believe that I shall also have large sums, very large sums, when the Lord has been pleased sufficiently to exercise my faith and patience. To-day I received £250, the disposal of which was left to me. I took £125 for the Building Fund.

Gift of Eight Thousand One Hundred Pounds

January 4th. Day by day I have now been waiting upon God for means for the Building Fund for more than nineteen months, and almost daily I have received something in answer to prayer. These donations have been, for the most part, small, in comparison with the amount which will be required for the completion of this Object; nevertheless they have shown that the Lord, for the sake of His dear Son, listens to my supplications and to those of my fellow labourers and helpers in the work; and they have been precious encouragements to me to continue to wait upon God. I have been for many months assured that the Lord, in His own time, would give larger sums for this work; and for this I have been more and more earnestly entreating Him, during the last months. Now at last He has abundantly refreshed my spirit, and answered my request. I received to-day the promise, that, as the joint donation of several Christians, there should be paid to me a donation of eight thousand and one hundred pounds for the work of the Lord in my hands. Of this sum I purpose to take £6,000 for the Building Fund.

See how precious it is to wait upon God! See how those who do so, are not confounded! Their faith and patience may long and sharply be tried; but in the end it will most assuredly be seen, that those who honour God He will honour, and will not suffer them to be put to shame. The largeness of the donation, whilst it exceedingly refreshed my spirit, did not in the least surprise me; for I expect GREAT things from God.

March 14th. From Scotland £200, of which the donor kindly wished me to give £10 to Mr. Craik, to take £10 for my own personal expenses, and to use the £180 as most needed. I took, therefore, £100 for the Building Fund.

March 29th. For nearly three months the Lord has been pleased to exercise my patience by the comparatively small amount of means which has come in. Now, this evening, when I came home, I found that £300 had come in. This is a great refreshment to my spirit.—As the amount is left to my disposal as may be most needed, I have taken one half of it for the Building Fund.

May 14th. Received £260, of which I took £100 for the Building Fund.

June 28th. From Wakefield £40, with £5 for Mr. Craik, and £5 for my own personal expenses.—Also £220 from the West of England, of which the donor kindly wishes me to take £20 for my own private expenses, and to use the £200 as might be most needed. I have taken, therefore, £100 for the Building Fund.

July 14th. Received £541 10s., which being left to me as most needed, I took £341 10s. for the Building Fund.

July 15th. Received £110 from one who counts it an honour to have this sum to lay down at the feet of the Lord Jesus. I took of this amount £60 for the Building Fund.

I cannot help remarking here, that the Lord has used some of the most unlikely persons during the past twenty-two years, in providing me with means for His service. So it was particularly in the case of this brother in the Lord, from whom I received the last-mentioned donation of £110. I had not the least natural expectation of receiving this sum, when this brother, sitting before me at the New Orphan House, took out of his pocket a packet of Bank Notes, and gave to me this amount, reserving to himself, as his whole property in this world, a smaller sum than he gave to me, because of his joy in the Lord, and because of his being able to enter into the reality of his possessions in the world to come. I delight in dwelling upon such an instance, because, (1) It shows that there is grace, much grace, to be found among the saints even now; (2) It shows the variety of instrumentality which the Lord is pleased to employ, in supplying me with means for His service; and (3) Because it so manifestly proves that we do not wait upon Him in vain, when we make known our requests to Him for means.

December 31st. This is the last day of another year. Two years and a half I have now been day by day seeking the Lord's help in prayer 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 £13,670 11s. 7¾d. 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.

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

This large donation was shortly after paid to me, and of it I took for the Building Fund £3,000. The joy which such answers to prayer gave cannot be described.

Behold, esteemed reader, the goodness of God! Behold also the recompense which, sooner or later, 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.

December 30th. Only £426 16s. 4d. altogether came in for the Building Fund from May 26th up to the end of the year. My faith and patience were therefore tried; but, while they were tried, they were, by God's grace, sustained. Day by day I had been enabled from May 26th to December 31st, as well as during the three years previously, to bring this Object before the Lord in prayer; and day by day, by God's grace, my heart had been fully assured, without wavering, that He, in His own time, would not only give larger sums, but the whole amount required. I desired only His honour in the building of premises for 700 more destitute Orphans, bereaved of both parents; and as God, who cares infinitely more for poor Orphans than I do, did not consider the time to have come for the building of another house, I might well be quiet. My heart longed indeed to begin to build; for on December 31st, 1854, 714 were waiting for admission. But though it was so, I judged it was the will of God, that, by patiently waiting His own time, I should glorify Him.

January 8th. On this day I received from several Christian friends the promise that £5,700 should be paid to me for the work of the Lord in which I am engaged.—This donation was paid to me, in different instalments, by the middle of April. I took of this sum, for the Building Fund £3,400. Thus the Lord is hastening on the time when the building may be commenced. His name be magnified!

February 7th. From London £400, of which the donor kindly wished me to keep £20 for my family expenses, and to lay out the £380 for the Lord's work, as I might think best. I took therefore £100 for the Building Fund.

February 10th. Received £197 17s. 3d., of which the donor kindly wished me to take £20 for my own expenses, and the rest to be used as might be most needed for the Lord's work. I took, therefore, £57 17s. 3d. for the Building Fund.

March 28th. From one of the Orphans, formerly for many years under our care, but now in service, 10s., with the following letter:—

Dear Sir,

"Will you graciously accept this mite from one who thinks of you and yours with gratitude? It is indeed a very small sum. I regret that I have no more to bestow upon such a noble work. It will, perhaps, put a corner stone in the wall of the intended Orphan House. I think I should like to labour for the Lord in that blessed house, if it is His own will, and be the means in the Lord's hand of bringing many of the dear Orphans to know the truth as it is in Jesus. It was in the Orphan House in Wilson Street, 1846, that first the light of life dawned upon my benighted soul. It was there that I first learned to call God my Father. I have need, therefore, to love the Orphan House, not only as concerns temporal things, but especially as its being my spiritual birth-place. May the Lord reward you, dear Sir, for all you have done for me. I am sure He will.

"I am, dear Sir, yours most respectfully, ——."

When I had received the kind information, in January, respecting the donation of £5,700, which should be paid to me by several Christian friends, of which I was at liberty to take such portion for the Building Fund as I might deem desirable, I judged that, though I had not such an amount of means in hand as I considered necessary before being warranted to begin to build, yet that I might make enquiries respecting land. Accordingly, I applied in the beginning of February for the purchase of two fields which join the land on which the New Orphan House is built. On these two fields I had had my eye for years, and had purposed to endeavour to purchase them, whenever I might be in such a position as to means for the Building Fund, that it would be suitable to do so. I found, however, that according to the Will of the late owner of these fields, they could not be sold now. Thus my prospects were blighted. When I obtained this information, though naturally tried by it and disappointed, I said, by God's grace, to myself: "The Lord has something better to give me, instead of these two fields; "and thus my heart was kept in peace. But when now the matter was fully decided that I could not obtain those fields, which had appeared to me so desirable for the object, the question arose, what I was to do for the obtaining of land?

But there was in connection with this another point, which now came under consideration in addition to the particulars already mentioned. It was this. Though for four years past I had never had a doubt as to its being the will of God that I should build accommodation for 700 more Orphans; yet, at the same time, I had for a long time seen the desirability of having two houses, instead of one, for the 700 Orphans. This previously formed judgment of having two houses for 350 Orphans in each, or 400 in the one, and 300 in the other, led me now to see whether there could be another house built on each side of the present New Orphan House, and I judged, from measuring the ground, that there was no objection to this plan. I then called in the aid of architects, to survey the ground, and to make a rough plan of two* houses, one on each side, and it was found that it could be accomplished. Having arrived thus far, I soon saw, that we should not only save expense by this plan in various ways, but especially that thus the direction and inspection of the whole establishment would be much more easy and simple, as the buildings would be so near together.

The result, then, at which I have arrived at present is this, that, having seen what could be accomplished on the ground which we have already, I decided to build, without any further delay than was necessary for preparing the plans, at the south side of the New Orphan House, another house for 400 children. The plans are now ready, and in a very short time, God willing, i.e., as soon as all the necessary preliminary arrangements can be made, the building will commence, which I think will be in the early part of July of the present year, (i.e., 1855). Indeed, the first actual steps are already taken, since, on May 29th, the sinking of four wells for the new house was commenced.

December 5th. 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.

February 19th. Now at last the Lord has been pleased, in answer to many prayers, to give me to-day £3,000, which being left to my disposal for the work of the Lord, I took for the Building Fund £1,700.

March 18th. Received £4,000, which was left at my disposal as the work of the Lord might require it. I took of this sum £3,000 for the Building Fund.—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.

June 19th. Received £1,700, the disposal of which being left to me, I took for the Building Fund £283 6s. 8d.

July 5th. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £245.

January 20th. Received £500, the disposal of which was left to me. I divided, therefore, the amount equally between the Building Fund and the five different Objects.

February 21st. Received the following letter:—

Beloved Sir,

"I enclose you £10, as 'The fruit from seed sown.' I wish it appropriated for the support of the Orphans, unless the Building Fund still needs it, in which case half to each. In my deep humiliation last year, I consecrated a certain portion of my year's income to the Lord's service, and sent you £10 in anticipation of it, and the result is, that I have nearly £100 to devote to Him during the present year."

Let us ponder this letter, dear reader. The writer says, that the £10 sent is "The fruit from seed sown." Remember in connection with this that there is such a thing as sowing and reaping in this way, according to 2 Cor. 9:6. Teaching children; visiting from house to house, for the sake of benefiting persons naturally or spiritually; giving money, bread, clothes, etc., to the poor; using our money in any way for the Lord's honour and glory, is called, according to this passage, sowing; and, the recompense given by the Lord to him who sows, in time and eternity, is called reaping. The recompense may be, and generally is, more or less, given even in time; often tenfold, yea, a hundredfold, as the Lord repays even in temporal things, through raising up friends for us, or giving His manifest blessing upon our earthly vocation, etc. But suppose that, for some particular purposes, the Lord did not allow such reaping to take place here on earth, there will be, most assuredly, the reaping in the world to come. I have moved among children of God above 48 years [in 1874]; I have become acquainted with many thousands of them, and I have known very many, who sowed, and sowed bountifully, and I have not yet met with one single instance in which, even as to this life, the Lord has not acted according to His Word, so that as the sowing was, so was the reaping.

Mr. Cobb's remarkable document

The following deeply interesting particulars are recorded in the memoir of Mr. Cobb, a Boston merchant, which I judge so very valuable in illustrating what I have said above, that I insert them here.

At the age of twenty-three, Mr. Cobb drew up and subscribed the following remarkable document:—

"By the grace of God I will never be worth more than 50,000 dollars.

"By the grace of God I will give one fourth of the nett profits of my business to charitable and religious uses.

"If I am ever worth 20,000 dollars I will give one half of my nett profits; and if ever I am worth 30,000 dollars, I will give threefourths; and the whole after 50,000 dollars. So help me God, or give to a more faithful steward, and set me aside."

"To this covenant," says his memoir, "he adhered with conscientious fidelity. He distributed the profits of his business with an increasing ratio, from year to year, till he reached the point which he had fixed as a limit to his property, and then gave to the cause of God all the money which he earned. At one time, finding that his property had increased beyond 50,000 dollars, he at once devoted the surplus 7,500 dollars.

"On his death-bed he said to a friend, in allusion to the resolutions quoted above, 'by the grace of God—nothing else—by the grace of God I have been enabled, under the influence of these resolutions, to give away more than 40,000 dollars. How good the Lord Lord has been to me!' "

His last sickness and death were peaceful, yea, triumphant. "It is a glorious thing," said he, "to die. I have been active and busy in the world—I have enjoyed as much as any one—God has prospered me—I have everything to bind me here—I am happy in my family—I have property enough—but how small and mean does this world appear on a sick bed! Nothing can equal my enjoyment in the near view of heaven. My hope in Christ is worth infinitely more than all other things. The blood of Christ—the blood of Christ—none but Christ! Oh! how thankful I feel that God has provided a way that I, sinful as I am, may look forward with joy to another world, through His dear Son."

I have spent more than 46 years [1874] in service for the Lord. During this period, especially during the last 40 years, I have become acquainted with many thousands of believers, many hundreds of whom I have known intimately, as well as their private affairs. Moreover, many, very many, have honoured me with desiring my counsel and advice in their private and secret affairs. What have I learnt, among other points, by this? That "there is that scattereth and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendelh to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself" (Prov. 11:24, 25). Many instances have I seen in which the children of God scattered, and yet increased; yea, scattered much, and yet abundantly increased; but far more have I seen, in which they withheld more than was meet, but it did tend to poverty. With all the desire to get on, very many were not able to do so, just because they only lived to themselves, they withheld more than was meet, and it tended to make or keep them poor. Bad debts, unexpected and unaccountable loss of custom, heavy family afflictions, etc., took away the money, which they sought to keep for themselves, contrary to the will of God. (I speak here of the children of God, and not of the world. "Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth." The world is judged and condemned at the judgment day—1 Cor. 11:32).—Again it is written: "Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine" (Prov. 3:9, 10). There is nothing Jewish in these two passages. They are, as to the principles contained in them, deeply important for the believer under the present dispensation. If any man will do the Lord's will, contained in them, he shall know, by happy experience, that to apply them to the present dispensation is scriptural. The natural mind in many professed disciples of the Lord may put aside such passages; but be not you robbed, esteemed reader, of the blessings connected with acting according to them, which blessings I have myself known for many years, whilst seeking to practise them.

February 21st. From a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven, £98.—April 11th. From Staffordshire, £100.

Up to May 26th, 1857, the total income for the Building Fund was £31,817 1s. 11d.

The house, commenced in August, 1855, is shortly expected to be finished.

September 18th. I had just returned home from the newly-built house, where I had tried the efficiency of the gas apparatus with its 150 burners, when I found a cheque for £1,000 from a brother in the Lord, who desires to spend the whole of his large income for the Lord, laying up no treasure on earth, and spending very little upon his own necessities.

The donor writes that he considers it "profitable to invest a little in the Orphan Houses." Do all the readers understand the meaning of this? The donor has not received any interest from me, nor will he have any from me on this £1,000; and yet, I doubt not, this investment will be profitable to him. In such cases I have found that the Lord, even in this life, has taken notice of such deeds, and given ample repayment, often tenfold, twentyfold, yea, in not a few instances, even a hundredfold, according to that word: "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again" (Luke 6:38).