History of the Building of the Five New Orphan Houses, 1845–1870 (part 1 of 4)
CHAPTER XI
HISTORY OF THE BUILDING OF THE FIVE NEW ORPHAN HOUSES, 1845–
FOR nearly ten years I never had any desire to build an Orphan House. On the contrary, I decidedly preferred spending the means, which might come in, for present necessities. On October 30th, 1845, I received from a gentleman, who lived in the street where the four Orphan Houses were, a polite and friendly letter, in which he courteously stated to me that the inhabitants in the adjoining houses were in various ways inconvenienced by the Orphan Houses being in Wilson Street. He left to myself the judgment of the case.
This letter I received on Thursday morning, October 30th, 1845. Being very much occupied that week, I had scarcely anytime to consider the matter. On Monday morning, however, November 3rd, I set apart some hours for the prayerful consideration of the subject, and after I had besought the Lord to guide me to a right decision, I wrote down the reasons which appeared to me to make it desirable that the Orphans should be removed from Wilson Street, and also the reasons against removing. As far as they are suitable for being stated in print, they were these:
I. Reasons for removing from Wilson Street
(1) The neighbours feel themselves inconvenienced by the noise of the children in the play-hours. This complaint is neither without foundation, nor unjust. I should myself feel it trying to my head to live next door to the Orphan Houses, on that account. I therefore ought to do to others, as I should wish to be done by. This point had never before appeared to me in so serious a light.
(2) The greatness of the number of the inmates in the houses has several times prevented the drains from acting properly, and thus has a few times affected the water in one or two of the neighbours' houses.
(3) We have no proper play-grounds in Wilson Street. There is one play-ground, which, however, is only large enough for the children of one house at a time.
(4) We have no ground for cultivation, near the Orphan Houses. By removing from Wilson Street, and obtaining premises surrounded by land for cultivation, we should be able to procure a most important moral benefit for the children, by having the opportunity more fully than we now have, of training them in habits of industry, besides giving to the boys occupation which is more suitable for them than knitting, which is now the only employment they have, besides making their beds, cleaning the house, and attending to the cooking of their meals. Moreover, this would be occupation in the open air, which would bring their limbs into exercise.
(5) If we were to remove from Wilson Street, and obtain premises in the country, we might have all the washing done at home, which now, for want of room, can only be done in part. Thus the girls also would have more laborious work at home, a point of great importance for them, so that they would not feel so much the hardships connected with going out to service.
(6) The situation of Wilson Street is perhaps scarcely bracing enough for strengthening the constitution of the Orphans, most of whom, being the offspring of very diseased parents, require a very invigorating place of abode.
(7) The present situation is certainly not desirable for the teachers, especially as, when their hours of work are over, they have no garden or fields close to the house, to go immediately into for a little refreshment of body; and for some of them it is too far to go to fields, where they might have bracing air.
(8) In times of sickness we are too confined in the houses in Wilson Street.
(9) Even ordinarily, when there is no sickness, it would be desirable to have more room.
There are no premises to be had in Bristol, or in the immediate neighbourhood, where we could have these advantages; for I have been looking about in all directions for thin purpose during the last ten years. But suppose there were a large house to be had in one part of the city, and a second a mile off, and a third and a fourth in other directions, such houses, on account of our peculiar position in the work, would not do. For in seasons of need, the distance of the several houses would render it very inconvenient for the labourers to meet together for prayer, to divide the means that may be in hand, etc. Besides, when in seasons of other peculiar difficulties, connected with the work, I wished to meet all my fellow-labourers, there would arise great difficulty by their being divided in different parts of the city. It would also thus be very inconvenient to persons, who wish to see the work, to go from place to place, in order to have a view of all the Orphan Houses. But this is not all. The more I have considered the matter, the more am I now persuaded, that no ordinary large houses, built for private families, will do for charitable institutions of any considerable size, as no ordinary house furnishes the proper advantages of ventilation, a point so needful for the health of the inmates in a charitable institution. There seemed to me, therefore, to remain nothing but to build premises for the purpose.
II. Reasons for remaining in Wilson Street
(1) God hitherto has pointed out the spot most plainly.
(But though hitherto God has pointed out Wilson street as being the spot where this work should be carried on, may not now the time have come for removing?)
(2) Perhaps we might also rent Nos. 2, 5, and 7, in Wilson Street, and use two out of those three houses for Orphan Houses, and one of them for an infirmary in case of sickness.
(But then, I said to myself, would not the objection, which the neighbours on the opposite side of the street might make, on account of the noise of the children in their play-hours, etc., remain? Also the drains would be still more unsuitable, not being constructed for so many inmates; and to alter them would be a heavy expense. The play-ground would be still less sufficient, if two new houses were added. Lastly, there was no reason to think that we could rent Nos. 2, 5, and 7.)
(3) There are these three great objections against building: The considerable sum which is required, and which could be spent for present use upon the Orphans. The pilgrim character of the Christian seems lost in building. The time that it will necessarily take in making arrangements for it.
(Do not all these objections only hold good, I said to myself, if I were needlessly to set about building? If I could rent premises, which are really in every way suitable for the work, and I preferred building, then those objections would apply to the case; but when one is forced to it, it is no more than erecting a large building, because there may be 800 children of God in fellowship who have been hitherto renting a meeting-place, but for certain reasons are obliged to leave it, and cannot rent another. Such could not be accused of needlessly spending money in building instead of renting; nor could it be justly said that they have on that account given up the pilgrim character; nor would it be time wasted if some individuals were to make arrangements about the building of that meeting-place. Therefore these three objections just mentioned, which had been for ten years strongly in my own mind, were removed when once I saw plainly that nothing remained but to build.)
After I had spent a few hours in prayer and consideration over the subject, I began already to see that the Lord would lead me to build, and that His intentions were not only the benefit of the Orphans, and the better ordering of the whole work, but also the bearing still further testimony that He could and would provide large sums for those who need them and trust in Him for them; and besides, that He would enlarge the work so, that, if I did once build a house, it might be large enough to accommodate three hundred Orphans, with their teachers and other overseers and servants needful for the work. —Concerning this latter point, I think it important to remark, that during no period had the number of applications for the admission of Orphans been greater than just before I was led to think about building.
In the afternoon of November 3rd, 1845, I laid the matter before my fellow-labourers in the church (eight in number) to get their judgment, whether I ought not to leave Wilson Street, and to build. All judged that I ought to leave Wilson Street, and none saw reasons against building.
On November 4th my dear wife and I began to meet for prayer about this matter, and purposed to do so morning by morning. We asked God for clearer light concerning the particular points connected with the subject; and, being assured that it was His will that I should build, I began asking the Lord for means.
On November 7th I judged, having considered the matter more fully, that sufficiently large premises to furnish all needful accommodation for 300 children (from their earliest days up to 15 or 16 years old), together with a sufficiently large piece of ground in the neighbourhood of Bristol, for building the premises upon, and the remainder for cultivation by the spade, would cost at least ten thousand pounds. I was not discouraged by this, but trusted in the living God.
We continued meeting for prayer morning by morning for fifteen days, but not a single donation came in; yet my heart was not discouraged. The more I prayed the more assured I was, that the Lord would give the means. Yea, as fully assured was I that the Lord would do so, as if I had already seen the new premises actually before me. This assurance arose not from some vague, enthusiastic feeling, the mere excitement of the moment, but (1) from the reasons already related, and especially from the commandment contained in Philip. 4:5. For I saw that I should not act according to the mind of our Lord Jesus, if I did not, as soon as I could, remove the Orphans from Wilson Street, as it had been stated to me in the letter referred to, that their living there was an annoyance to some of the inhabitants in that street. (2) This assurance that I should build an Orphan House arose further, from the whole way in which the Lord has been pleased to lead me in connection with the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, since its beginning on March 5th, 1834, i.e. He has been leading me forward as by an unseen hand, and enlarging the work more and more from its commencement, and, generally, without my seeking after it, and bringing things so clearly before me, that I could not but see that I ought to go forward. (3) Lastly and chiefly, this my assurance, that I should build unto the Lord this house of mercy, arose also particularly from this, that, having strictly examined my heart as to the motives for doing so, I found that, as before God, I could say that my only motives were His honour and glory, and the welfare of the Church of Christ at large, the real temporal and spiritual welfare of destitute Orphans, and the welfare of all those who might take care of them, in the building to be erected. And finding that, after praying again and again about the matter, I still remained in perfect peace, I judged it assuredly to be the will of God that I should go forward.
On November 15th brother Chapman arrived, to labour for a little while in Bristol. I communicated to him my position with reference to having to remove the Orphans from Wilson Street, and I had his judgment also as to its being of God, that I should build. This dear brother's judgment greatly encouraged me. His visit was to me of great help in this particular, especially in stirring me up yet more, to bring everything, in connection with this matter, before God. He also laid it on my heart to seek direction from God with reference to the plan of the building. He said, "You must ask help from God to show you the plan, so that all may be according to the mind of God."
Receives the first £1,000 towards the Building Fund
December 9th. It was now 35 days that I had been praying for means; but nothing had been given to me. Now observe: on the 36th day, after having begun to pray, on December 10th, 1845, I received £1,000 towards the building of the Orphan House. This is the largest donation that I had received up to that time for the Scriptural Knowledge Institution; but when I received it I was as calm, as quiet, as if I had only received one shilling. For my heart was looking out for answers. Day by day I was expecting to receive answers to my prayers. Therefore, having faith concerning the matter, this donation did not in the least surprise me. Yea, if five thousand pounds, or ten thousand pounds, had been given to me, instead of one thousand pounds, it would not have surprised me.
December 13th. On the 39th day my sister-in-law, who had been for some weeks absent in London, and who had now returned to Bristol, told me that she had met a gentleman in London, who, having quite recently read with deep interest the Narrative of the Lord's dealings with me, wished to know as many particulars about the work in my hands as he could. Being told by my sister-in-law that I purposed to build an Orphan House, he, an architect, offered to make the plan, and superintend the building, gratuitously. Unsolicited he pressed this matter with deep and lively interest. The fact, that this offer comes unsolicited and from a Christian architect, shows especially the hand of God. This is the second proof that God will help me in this matter.
December 23rd. This is now the 50th day since I have come to the conclusion to build, and the 49th day since we have been daily waiting upon God for help. Nothing more has come in since December 10th, not even one penny. This morning I have been particularly encouraged by the consideration that the Lord has sent me the £1,000 and the promise from that pious architect, whom I have never seen, and of whose name I am as yet in ignorance, not to mock me, but as an earnest that He will give all that is needed.
It seems desirable that we should have a large piece of ground, of at least six or seven acres. This piece of ground must be in the vicinity of Bristol. (1) In order that the Orphan House may be accessible to me, as my place at present is fixed by my other work in Bristol. (2) That the labourers in the Institution and the Orphans may be able to attend our meetings, at least on the Lord's day. (3) That the inhabitants of Bristol may have the benefit of seeing with their own eyes this work of God, which is so manifestly His and not mine. (4) That strangers, who pass through Bristol, may have an easy access to it, for the same reason. But then, such a piece of ground, near Bristol, where there is just now an inordinate desire for building, in the way of speculation, would cost in all human probability between £2,000 and £3,000. Then the building itself, however plain, would not cost less than from £6,000 to £8,000, being for 300 Orphans, besides all their overseers, teachers, and assistants. In addition to this, the fitting up and furnishing the house for between 300 and 400 inmates, would not cost less than £1,500 more. This is indeed a large sum of money which I need; but my hope is in God. I have not sought after this thing. It has not begun with me. God has altogether unexpectedly, by means of the letter before mentioned, led me to it. Only the day before I received the letter, I had no more thought about building premises for the accommodation of the Orphans, than I had had during the ten previous years.—My special prayer is, that God would continue to me faith and patience. If He shall be pleased to help me, in faith and patience to continue to wait on Him, help will surely come.
December 24th. No further donation yet. But my hope in God is unshaken. He most assuredly will help.—I have on purpose not issued any circular in connection with this matter, in order that the hand of God may be the more manifest. To some persons, residing in or out of Bristol, I have spoken about my intention of building, when conversation led to it. Through this, if the Lord please, He can make it known to others, and thus send means for the Building Fund. There will be, no doubt, many trials connected with this enlargement of the field of labour, (for if with 130 Orphans there has been so much trial of faith, what is to be expected when the number is 300?) and therefore, I desire to see as clearly as daylight that God Himself is leading me onward.
December 29th. This is the 56th day since I came to the conclusion to build, and the 55th since I have been day by day waiting upon God concerning it. Only that one donation had come in till this evening, when I received £50. This donation is exceedingly precious to me, not only because I am sure it is most cheerfully given, nor even because of its largeness, but because it is another precious proof that God will bring about the matter, else He would not give me these earnests. All my business therefore is: to continue in faith and patience to wait upon God. My assurance has been more and more increasing that God will build for Himself a large Orphan House in this city, to show to the inhabitants, and to all who may read and hear about it, what a blessed thing it is to trust in Him.—Of late I have seen, by God's grace, more and more, how entirely unworthy I am of being used by God for this glorious and honourable service, and I can only say, "Lord, here is Thy servant, if Thou art pleased to use such a one as I am."
December 30th. This morning I came, in course of my reading, to the commencement of the book of Ezra. I was particularly refreshed by the two following points contained in the first chapter, in applying them to the building of the Orphan House: (1) Cyrus, an idolatrous king, was used by God to provide the means for building the temple at Jerusalem; how easy therefore for God to provide ten thousand pounds for the Orphan House, or even twenty or thirty thousand pounds, if needed. (2) The people were stirred up by God to help those who went up to Jerusalem. Thus it is a small matter for Him to put it into the hearts of His children to help me, in desiring to build this house of mercy unto His name.—This meditation I had before breakfast. After family prayer in the morning I had again my usual season for prayer about the building, and at this time it was particularly coupled with thanksgiving for the £50 received last evening, and with entreating blessings on the donor. I was now looking out for more, as I am doing day by day, when this afternoon I received from a person at Clevedon 2s. 6d., from her grandson 6d., and from the sister in the Lord, who brought the money, the change, which she did not wish back, being another 6d. These donations, though small, are nevertheless very precious to me, as I take them as further proofs out of the hands of God, that He will most assuredly bring this thing to pass. This evening I received £1,000 towards the Building Fund. When I received this donation I was as calm, yea as perfectly calm, as if I had received a single penny, because, by God's grace, I have faith in Him, and therefore am looking for answers to my prayers, and am sure that God will give every shilling that is needed.
January 6th. Received a little bag made of foreign seed, and a shellflower, to be sold for the Building Fund. The sister who sent these articles wrote to me, that the moment she heard of my intention of building an Orphan House, this text was before her mind: "Who art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain" (Zech. 4:7).
February 2nd. To-day I heard of suitable and cheap land on Ashley Down.
February 3rd. Saw the land. It is the most desirable of all I have seen. —There was anonymously put into an Orphan Box at my house a sovereign, in a piece of paper, on which was written, "The New Orphan House."
February 4th. This evening I called on the owner of the land on Ashley Down, about which I had heard on the 2nd, but he was not at home. As I, however, had been informed that I should find him at his house of business, I went there, but did not find him there either, as he had just before left. I might have called again at his residence, at a later hour, having been informed by one of the servants that he would be sure to be at home about eight o'clock; but I did not do so, judging that the hand of God was in my not finding him at either place: and I judged it best therefore not to force the matter, but to "let patience, have her perfect work."
Landowner lies awake, and its result
February 5th. Saw this morning the owner of the land. He told me that he awoke at three o'clock this morning and could not sleep again till five. While he was thus lying awake, his mind was all the time occupied about the piece of land, respecting which enquiry had been made of him for the building of an Orphan House, at my request; and he determined, that if I should apply for it, he would not only let me have it, but for £120 per acre, instead of £200, the price which he had previously asked for it. How good is the Lord! The agreement was made this morning, and I purchased a field of nearly seven acres, at £120 per acre.
Observe the hand of God in my not finding the owner at home last evening! The Lord meant to speak to His servant first about this matter, during a sleepless night, and to lead him fully to decide, before I had seen him.
Architect's Offer
February 8th. I wrote the day before yesterday to the architect, who has offered his help gratuitously.
February 11th. Received from a sister in the Lord £5. Received also from the architect the following reply to my letter:
My dear Sir,
"It will afford me a gratification, beyond what I can communicate by letter, to lend you a helping hand in the labour of love you are engaged in, and I shall esteem it a very great privilege being allowed to exercise my abilities as an architect and surveyor in the erection of the building you propose to erect for the Orphans. I really do mean what I say, and, if all is well, by the blessing of God, I will gratuitously furnish you with plans, elevations, and sections; with specification of the work, so that the cost may be accurately estimated. I will also make you an estimate and superintend the works for you gratuitously," etc.
February 12th. This afternoon a little parcel was brought to my house, containing ten sovereigns and a little slip of paper, on which was written:—
Dear Sir,
"I have sent you ten pounds for the New Orphan House. It is the Lord's doing. Seek not to know my name."
February 19th. The architect kindly came from London. He considers the ground to be most suitable as to situation, drainage, water, etc.—I received also to-day from a sister £5.
February 28th. To-day £500 which had been promised on the 15th, was paid 25 days sooner than promised.
June 4th. The total amount which had been given for the Building Fund, up to to-day, is £2,710 3s. 5½d. This is only a small part of what will be needed; but, by the grace of God, I am in perfect peace, being fully assured that God in His own time will send the whole sum which is required.
The house is intended to be built, so as to accommodate 140 Orphan girls above seven years of age, 80 Orphan boys above seven, and 80 male and female Orphans from their earliest days, till they are seven years old, together with all the overseers and teachers, etc., that may be needed.
The building will not commence till all the money which is required has been received.
July 4th. For about three months my faith and patience have been exceedingly tried about the field, which I have purchased for the building of the Orphan House, as the greatest difficulties arose about my possessing the land after all; but, by God's grace, my heart was kept in peace, being fully assured that, if the Lord were to take this piece of land from me, it would be only for the purpose of giving me a still better one; for our Heavenly Father never takes any earthly thing from His children except He means to give them something better instead. But in the midst of all this great trial of faith, I could not but think, judging from the way in which God so manifestly had given me this piece of land, that the difficulties were only allowed for the trial of my faith and patience. And thus it was. Last evening I received a letter by which all the difficulties were removed, and now, with the blessing of God, in a few days the conveyance will be made out.
Donation of £2,050
July 6th. The reason why, for several months, there had come in so little for the Building Fund, appeared to me this, that we did not need the money at present; and that, when it was needed, and when my faith and patience had been sufficiently tried, the Lord would send more means. And thus it has proved; for to-day was given to me the sum of two thousand and fifty pounds, of which two thousand pounds is for the Building Fund, and fifty pounds for present necessities. This is the largest donation I have yet had at one time for the work; but I expect still larger ones, in order that more and more it may be manifest to the children of God, that there is no happier, no easier, and no better way for the obtaining of pecuniary means or anything else in connection with the work of God, than to deal directly with the Lord Himself.
It is impossible to describe my joy in God when I received this donation. I was neither excited nor surprised; for I look out for answers to my prayers. I believe that God hears me. Yet my heart was so full of joy, that I could only sit before God, and admire Him, like David in 2 Samuel 7. At last I cast myself flat down upon my face, and burst forth in thanksgiving to God, and in surrendering my heart afresh to Him for His blessed service.
There came in still further to-day 2s. 6d.
July 10th. Received £120, of which £100 is intended by the donor for the Building Fund.
July 21st. This morning a gentleman from Devonshire, on his way to London, called on me. When he came I was in prayer, having, among other matters, brought also before the Lord the following points: (1) I had been asking Him for some supplies for my own temporal necessities, being in need. (2) I had asked Him for more means for the Building Fund, and besought Him to hasten the matter, on account of the inhabitants of Wilson Street, on account of the welfare of the children and those who have the oversight of them in the Orphan Houses, and lastly, that I might be able to admit more Orphans, the number of applications being so great. (3) I had also asked the Lord for means for present use for the Orphans, as the outgoings are so great. (4) I had asked for means for the other Objects.—When I saw this gentleman from Devonshire, he gave me £20, of which £10 is to be used for the Building Fund, £5 for present use for the Orphans, £2 for brother Craik and myself, and the remaining £3 which was left to my disposal, I applied to the other Objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. Thus I received, AT THE VERY MOMENT THAT I HAD BEEN ASKING GOD, FOUR answers to my prayers.
The Lord encourages me, day by day, to continue to wait on Him. His time is not yet come; but, when it is, all that is needed will be given. By God's grace my faith is unshaken. I am as certain that I shall have every shilling needed for the work, as if I had the money already in actual possession; and I am as certain that this house of mercy will be built, as if it were already standing before me.
October 18th. To-day the Lord has much refreshed my heart by sending £120.
October 19th. While I was this morning in the very act of praising the Lord for His goodness, in giving me yesterday the above-mentioned donation, and whilst I was again bringing my arguments before Him, why He would be pleased soon to give me the whole sum which is requisite, I received an order for £200, which was doubly precious, because it was accompanied by an affectionate and encouraging letter.
October 29th. This morning I had been again bringing the case of the Building before the Lord in prayer, entreating Him to hasten the matter, if it might be, when, the very instant I rose from my knees, there was handed to me a letter with an order for £300.
November 14th. This evening I received a small morocco case, containing a gold chain, a pair of gold ear-rings, and a gold brooch (being a set), with the following letter enclosed:—
Beloved Brother in Jesus,
"The contents of the accompanying casket being in my unconverted days a wedding gift from a very dear husband, has, as you may suppose, been hitherto preserved as beyond price. But since God, in His great mercy, revealed to my soul His exceeding riches in Christ, and gave to it more (oh, how much more!) than He has taken away, they seemed as the Babylonish garment or wedge of gold, which ought not to be in the Israelites' possession. I therefore give up that which the flesh would fain keep, and still prize; but which the spirit rejects, as unworthy a follower of Jesus. Accept then, dear Brother, those toys, once the pride of life, and the food of folly; and use them for the building of the Orphan House, in which I feel it a privilege to lay one stone; and may the Lord recompense you a hundred fold, yea, a thousand fold, in this your great labour of love, is the prayer of yours affectionately in the best of bonds.
"A SISTER AND A WIDOW."
The gift was precious to me as a proof of the continued readiness of my Heavenly Father to help me in this work; but doubly so, on account of the circumstances under which it was given, and on account of the state of mind in which the anonymous donor had given these ornaments.
November 19th. This morning, between five and six o'clock, I prayed again, among other points, about the Building Fund, and then had a long season for the reading of the Word of God. In the course of my reading I came to Mark 11:24, "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." The importance of the truth contained in this portion I have often felt and spoken about; but this morning I felt it again most particularly, and, applying it to the New Orphan House, said to the Lord: "Lord I believe that Thou wilt give me all I need for this work. I am sure that I shall have all, because I believe that I receive in answer to my prayer." Thus, with the heart full of peace concerning this work, I went on to the other part of the chapter, and to the next chapter. After family prayer I had again my usual season for prayer with regard to all the many parts of the work, and the various necessities thereof. Amidst all the many things I again made my requests about means for the Building. And now observe: about five minutes after I had risen from my knees, there was given to me a registered letter, containing a cheque for £300, of which £280 is for the Building Fund, £10 for my own personal expenses, and £10 for brother Craik. The Lord's holy name be praised for this precious encouragement, by which the Building Fund is now increased to more than six thousand pounds.
December 9th. It is now four hundred days since, day after day, I have been waiting upon God for help with regard to the building of the Orphan House; but as yet He keeps me still in the trial of faith and patience. He is still saying as it were, "Mine hour is not yet come." Yet He does sustain me in continuing to wait upon Him. By His grace my faith is not in the least shaken; but I am quite sure that He, in His own time, will give me everything which I need concerning this work. How I shall be supplied with the means which are yet requisite, and when, I know not; but I am sure that God will help me in His own time and way. In the meantime I have abundant reason to praise God, that I am not waiting on Him in vain; for since this day twelvemonth He has given me, in answer to prayer, a most suitable piece of ground, and £6,304 for the Building Fund, and about £2,700 for present use for the work, so that altogether I have received, since this day twelvemonth, solely in answer to prayer, the sum of nine thousand pounds. Surely, I am not waiting upon the Lord in vain! By His help, then, I am resolved to continue this course unto the end.
Gift of £1,000
December 22nd. To-day I have again a precious proof that continuing to wait upon the Lord is not in vain. During this month, comparatively little had come in for the Building Fund, yet, by God's grace, I have been enabled, as before, yea, even with more earnestness perhaps than before, to make known my requests unto God, being more and more convinced that I ought to seek by earnest prayer soon to be able to begin the building. In addition to this I had also especially besought the Lord to give me means for missionary brethren, and also for brethren who labour in the Word in various parts of England and Ireland; as all my means for them were now gone. I had also been waiting upon God for means to order a fresh stock of Tracts. I had lastly again and again besought the Lord to give me means for the poor saints in Bristol, of whom there are many, and whose need is now particularly great. Now to-day the Lord has granted me precious answers to my requests concerning these various Objects, for I received this morning one thousand pounds with these words: "I send you some money, part of which you can apply to the Orphans and the other Objects of your Institution, according to their need, and the rest you can put to the Building Fund. At the present price of provisions your expenses must be large for the Orphans. Please also take £25 for your own need." As I have about £80 in hand for the Orphans, I took nothing for present use for them, but took £175 for the other Objects, in order thus to be able to send some help to home and foreign labourers, and to order a fresh stock of Tracts; and £800 I took for the Building Fund. I should have taken less for the Building Fund, and more for present use, did it not appear to me the will of God, that with my might I ought to give myself to this part of the work.
January 25th. The season of the year is now approaching, when building may be begun. Therefore with increased earnestness I have given myself unto prayer, importuning the Lord that He would be pleased to appear on our behalf, and speedily send the remainder of the amount which is required, and I have increasingly, of late, felt that the time is drawing near, when the Lord will give me all that which is requisite for commencing the Building. All the various arguments which I have often brought before God, I brought also again this morning before Him. It is now 14 months and 3 weeks since day by day I have uttered my petitions to God on behalf of this work. I rose from my knees this morning in full confidence, not only that God could, but also would, send the means, and that soon. Never, during all these 14 months and 3 weeks, have I had the least doubt, that I should have all that which is requisite.
Great joy on receiving £2,000
Now, dear believing reader, rejoice and praise with me. An hour after I had prayed thus, there was given to me the sum of two thousand pounds for the Building Fund. Thus I have received altogether £9,285 3s. 9½d. towards this work.—I cannot describe the joy I had in God when I received this donation. It must be known from experience in order to be felt. I have had day by day to wait upon God for 447 days, before the sum reached the above amount. How great is the blessing which the soul obtains by trusting in God, and by waiting patiently. Is it not manifest how precious it is to carry on God's work in this way, even with regard to the obtaining of means? From December 10th, 1845, to January 25th, 1847, being thirteen months and a half, I have received, solely in answer to prayer, nine thousand two hundred and eighty-five pounds.
June 23rd. This day the Lord, in His great goodness, by a donation of one thousand pounds for the Building Fund, has again encouraged my heart abundantly to trust in Him for all that which I shall yet need, to meet the remainder of the expenses connected with the fitting up and furnishing the New Orphan House, etc.
July 5th. The work of building commenced.
January 23rd. I received £350, of which I put £200 to the Building Fund.
August 7th. From a sister in the Lord £200.
August 19th. It is this day a twelvemonth since the foundation stone of the New Orphan House was laid, and now the building is up, and almost entirely roofed in. Also part of the inside plastering is already done. How can my soul sufficiently magnify the Lord for all the help which He has been pleased to give, since this day twelvemonth!—As we are now so far advanced I have been increasingly entreating God, that He would be pleased to give me the means which are yet requisite for fitting up and furnishing the house; for even now I am completely depending upon Him for considerable sums, to accomplish this. But while much is still needed, I have never had, by God's grace, the least misgiving, as to His willingness to give me all I need; on the contrary, I have been assured that, when I actually required the money for the fittings and the furniture, it would come. And now this day the Lord has again proved to me, how willing He is to act according to my faith; for there was given to me this morning £887 under the kind condition that I should take of it £20 for my own personal expenses, and the rest for the Building Fund, or the present need of the various Objects of the Institution, as it appeared best to me. I took therefore £600 for the Building Fund. My soul does magnify the Lord for all His goodness and faithfulness!
November 9th. To-day the Lord has helped still more abundantly. I have received a donation of £1,000, to be used for the Building Fund and the present necessities of the work generally, as the various Objects of the Institution might require. Of this donation I took, therefore, £600 for the Building Fund. All these manifestations of the Lord's abundant help do not in the least surprise me. I expect help from Him. I know that He listens to my supplications, and that, for the sake of the Lord Jesus, He is willing to help me yet more and more, to the confounding of Satan and to the putting to shame of unbelief.
Funds for Furnishing
January 17th. The time is now drawing near, when further steps are to be taken to fit up and furnish the house, as more than two-thirds of the rooms are all but ready. Under these circumstances I have prayed the more earnestly, day by day, that the Lord would be pleased to give me the means which are yet needed; and as my heart has been assured from the beginning, and all through these three years and two months, since I first began to pray about this subject, that God would in every way help me in this work, so I have also been particularly satisfied that He would be pleased to provide the means which may be required to meet all the heavy expenses, which yet remain to be met. Now, to-day I have had again a precious answer to my daily supplications with reference to this work; for I received this evening £600, concerning which it was desired that brother Craik and myself should each take £50 for ourselves; the remaining £500 was left entirely to my disposal; yet an especial reference was made to the heavy expenses connected with fitting up and furnishing the New Orphan House, towards which I might, either in part, or entirely, take this sum.
More than the required Sum received
February 12th. The New Orphan House is now almost entirely finished. In six weeks, with the help of God, all will be completed. On this account I have been during the last-fortnight much occupied in making the necessary arrangements for fitting it up and furnishing it; but the more I have been occupied about this, the more I have seen how large a sum the whole of the fittings and the furniture will require; and this consideration has led me still more earnestly of late to entreat the Lord, that He would be pleased to give me the means which may yet be needed for the completion of the whole. Under these circumstances a brother in the Lord came to me this morning, and after a few minutes' conversation gave me two thousand pounds, concerning which sum be kindly gave me permission to use it for the fitting up and furnishing of the New Orphan House, or for anything else needed in connection with the Orphans. I have placed the whole of this sum, at least for the present, to the Building Fund.
Now, dear reader, place yourself in my position. Eleven hundred and ninety-five days it is since I began asking the Lord for means for the building. Day by day have I, by His grace, since that time, continued to bring this matter before Him. Without one moment's doubt, or misgiving, or wavering, have I been enabled to trust in God for the means. From the beginning, after I had once ascertained the will of God concerning this work, have I been assured that He would bring it about; yea, as sure have I been from the beginning that He would do so, as if I had already had all the means in hand for it, or as if the house had been acutally before me, occupied by the children. But though to faith even three years ago the whole work was accomplished, to sight there remained many and great difficulties to be overcome. Even at the commencement of this day there remained many difficulties, in the way of means, as well as in other respects; therefore I was on the point of giving myself again especially to prayer, at the very moment when I was informed that the donor of the above mentioned two thousand pounds had called to see me. Now I have the means, as far as I can see, which will enable me to meet all the expenses; and in all probability I shall have even several hundred pounds more than is needed. Thus the Lord shows that He can and will not only give as much as is absolutely needed for His work, but also that He can and will give abundantly. It is impossible to describe the real joy I had in God, when I received this sum. I was calm, not in the least excited, able to go on immediately with other work that came upon me at once after I had received the donation; but inexpressible was the delight which I had in God, who had thus given me the full answer to my thousands of prayers, during these eleven hundred and ninety-five days.
March 9th. The New Orphan House is now nearly ready. On this account we have to get in large, supplies for the children's clothes. Within the last few days I have ordered thousands of yards of material for this purpose, and thousands more will need to be ordered, besides providing a stock of many other things. For this large sums are needed. Under these circumstances I received to-day a donation of £300, to be used as it might be required. I took the whole of this donation for the Orphans, as the donor has kindly left the disposal of the money entirely to me. This donation, coming in just now, has been an exceedingly great refreshment to my spirit; for it is, at the commencement of the great increase of our expenses, in connection with the 300 Orphans, instead of 120, like an earnest from God, that He will supply us also with means when the demands for the 300 will be more than twice as great as they are now. Through this donation I have means to meet all the expenses which will be incurred in getting in for the new establishment the stores of provisions, soap, material for clothes, haberdashery, and of the many other articles of which it would be desirable to buy our supplies on wholesale terms. The Lord be praised for His kindness!
The total amount which came in for the Building Fund was £15,784 18s. 10d.
March 31st. After all the expenses had been met for the purchase of the land, the conveyance of the same, the enrolment of the trust deeds in Chancery, the building, fitting up and furnishing of the New Orphan House, there remained a balance of £776 14s. 3¾d., affording a manifest proof that the Lord can not only supply us with all we need in His service, simply in answer to prayer, but that He can also give us even more than we need. It will be seen how this balance was afterwards used.
[The Orphans were removed from Wilson Street to the New Orphan House on the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st of June, 1849.]
(2) BUILDING NO. 2 AND NO. 3. 1850–1861
Full account of the reasons which led me to the enlargement of the Orphan work, so that one thousand Orphans might be provided for.
Having written down at full length the exercises of my mind respecting this deeply important step, I give them here, in the form of a journal, as recorded at the time.
December 5th, 1850. The New Orphan House is now inhabited by 300 Orphans; and there are altogether 335 persons connected with it. My labour is abundant; the separation from my dear wife and child great, on account of my being the greater part of the day at the New Orphan House; sometimes also by night. But notwithstanding all this, I have again and again thought about labouring more than ever in serving poor Orphans. Within the last ten days this matter has much occupied my mind, and for the last five days I have had much prayer about it. It has passed through my mind to build another Orphan House, large enough for seven hundred Orphans, so that I might be able to care for one thousand altogether.
December 11th. During the last six days, since writing the above, I have been, day after day, waiting upon God concerning this matter. It has generally been more or less all the day on my heart. When I have been awake at night it has not been far from my thoughts. Yet all this without the least excitement. I am perfectly calm and quiet respecting it. My soul would be rejoiced to go forward in this service, could I be sure that the Lord would have me to do so; for then, notwithstanding the numberless difficulties, all would be well, and His name would be magnified.
On the other hand, were I assured that the Lord would have me to be satisfied with my present sphere of service, and that I should not pray about enlarging the work, by His grace I could, without an effort, cheerfully yield to it; for He has brought me into such a state of heart, that I only desire to please Him in this matter. Moreover, hitherto I have not spoken about this thing even to my beloved wife, the sharer of my joys, sorrows, and labours for more than twenty years; nor is it likely that I shall do so for some time to come: for I prefer quietly to wait on the Lord without conversing on this subject, in order that thus I may be kept the more easily, by His blessing, from being influenced by things from without. The burden of my prayer concerning this matter is, that the Lord would not allow me to make a mistake, and that He would teach me His will. As to outward things, I have had nothing to encourage me during these six days, but the very reverse; for the income has been unusually small. But all this would not weigh the least with me, could I be quite sure that the Lord would have me to go forward.
I therefore desire patiently to wait for the Lord's time, when He shall be pleased to shine on my path concerning this point.
December 26th. Fifteen days have elapsed since I wrote the preceding paragraph. Every day since then I have continued to pray about this matter, and that with a goodly measure of earnestness, by the help of God. There has passed scarcely an hour during these days, in which, whilst awake, this matter has not been more or less before me. But all without even a shadow of excitement. I converse with no one about it. Hitherto have I not even done so with my dear wife. From this I refrain still, and deal with God alone, in order that no outward influence, and no outward excitement, may keep me from attaining unto a clear discovery of His will. I have the fullest and most peaceful assurance, that He will clearly show me His will.
This evening I have had again an especially solemn season for prayer, to seek to know the will of God. But whilst I continue to entreat and beseech the Lord, that He would not allow me to be deluded in this business, I may say I have scarcely any doubt remaining on my mind as to what will be the issue, even that I should go forward in this matter. As this, however, is one of the most momentous steps that I have ever taken, I judge that I cannot go about this matter with too much caution, prayerfulness and deliberation. I am in no hurry about it. I could wait for years, by God's grace, were this His will, before even taking one single step towards this thing, or even speaking to any one about it, and, on the other hand, I would set to work to-morrow were the Lord to bid me do so. This calmness of mind, this having no will of my own in the matter, this only wishing to please my Heavenly Father in it, this only seeking His and not my honour in it; this state of heart. I say, is the fullest assurance to me that my heart is not under a fleshly excitement, and that, if I am helped thus to go on, I shall fully know the will of God.
But, while I write thus, I cannot but add at the same time, that I do crave the honour and the glorious privilege to be more and more used by the Lord. I have served Satan much in my younger years, and desire now with all my might to serve God, during the remaining days of my earthly pilgrimage. I am forty-five years and three months old. Every day decreases the number of days that I have to stay on earth. I therefore desire with all my might to work. There are vast multitudes of Orphans to be provided for. About five years ago, a brother in the Lord told me that he had seen in an official Report that there were at that time six thousand young Orphans in the prisons of England. My heart longs to be instrumental in preventing such young Orphans from having to go to prison. I desire that thus it may be yet more abundantly manifest that God is still the hearer and answerer of prayer, and that He is the living God now, as He ever was and ever will be, when He shall, simply in answer to prayer, have condescended to provide me with a house for 700 Orphans, and with means to support them. This last consideration is the most important point in my mind. The Lord's honour is the principal point with me in this whole matter; and just because that is the case, if He would be more glorified by my not going forward in this business, I should, by His grace, be perfectly content to give up all thoughts about another Orphan House. Surely in such a state of mind, obtained by the Holy Spirit, Thou, O my Heavenly Father, wilt not suffer Thy child to be mistaken, much less to be deluded! By the help of God I shall continue further, day by day, to wait upon Him in prayer concerning this thing, till He shall bid me act.
Guidance given in answer to Prayer
January 2nd. A week ago I wrote the preceding paragraph. During this week I have still been helped, day by day, and more than once every day, to seek the guidance of the Lord about another Orphan House. The burden of my prayer has still been, that He, in His great mercy, would keep me from making a mistake. During the last week the Book of Proverbs has come in the course of my Scripture reading, and my heart has been refreshed, in reference to this subject, by the following passages: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths" (Prov. 3:5, 6). By the grace of God I do acknowledge the Lord in my ways, and in this thing in particular; I have therefore the comfortable assurance that He will direct my paths concerning this part of my service, as to whether I shall be occupied in it or not. Further, "The integrity of the upright shall preserve them; but the perverseness of fools shall destroy them" (Prov. 11:3). By the grace of God I am upright in this business. My honest purpose is to get glory to God. Therefore I expect to be guided aright. Further, "Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established" (Prov. 16:3). I do commit my works unto the Lord, and therefore expect that my thoughts will be established. My heart is more and more coming to a calm, quiet, and settled assurance, that the Lord will condescend to use me yet further in the Orphan Work. Here, Lord, is Thy servant!
January 14th. Twelve days have passed away since I wrote the last paragraph. I have still, day by day, been enabled to wait upon the Lord with reference to enlarging the Orphan work, and have been, during the whole of this period also, in perfect peace, which is the result of seeking in this thing only the Lord's honour and the temporal and spiritual benefit of my fellow men. I have sought to let all the reasons against building another Orphan House, and all the reasons for doing so, pass before my mind; and now, for the sake of clearness and definiteness, write them down.
Reasons AGAINST establishing another Orphan House for Seven Hundred Orphans
(1) Would not this be going beyond my measure spiritually? according to that word: "For I say through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith" (Rom. 12:3). Answer: If the Lord were to leave me to myself, the tenth part of the difficulties and trials which befall me now in connection with the various Objects of the Institution would be enough to overwhelm mo; but, whilst He is pleased to sustain me, I am able day by day to pass on peacefully, and am carried through one difficulty after the other: and thus, by God's help, even with my present measure of faith, if continued to me, should be enabled to bear up under other difficulties and trials; but I look for an increase of faith with every fresh difficulty, through which the Lord is pleased to help me.
(2) Would it not be going beyond my measure naturally with reference to mental and bodily strength? Answer: Of all the objections against establishing another Orphan House, there is none that weighs more with me than this; I might say, it is the only real difficulty. This, however, too, I am enabled to put aside and to overcome thus: by husbanding my strength, by great order, by regular habits, by lightening the work as much as possible, and by using every help that I can, I have been enabled to get through a vast quantity of work. My immense correspondence of about 3,000 letters a year, I have been enabled lo accomplish without a secretary. The entire management and direction, and the whole vast correspondence of the Institution, has devolved upon myself alone these sixteen years and ten months, and I have been thinking, that, by seeking for an efficient secretary, an efficient clerk, and an inspector of the schools, I might, with God's help, accomplish yet more, though much of what I have been doing hitherto would need to be done by others.