Heavy Trials in the Orphan Work During the Last Thirteen Years of Mr. Müller's Life (part 3 of 5)

"I remain, Yours in Christ,

"One of your former Children on Ashley Down."

From a London physician £20.—August 18th. Legacy of the late Miss A. L. £460. The lady who left this legacy was an entire stranger to me. Received the following letter from Essex:

Dear Mr. Müller,

"Thank you very much for the Reports, more interesting and helpful than ever, because of the great trials of faith and patience, and the wonderful deliverances recorded. If for the further establishment of the great faith given to you such trials were needed, surely it must have been much more for our help and encouragement!"

August 29th. Received £10, with the following letter:—

Dear Sir,

"I have much pleasure in sending you a small donation for your Homes. Please use it for whatever branch you may think best. I wish it were 100 times as much. May God abundantly bless you, and cause that the present temporary (only temporary) straitness may show forth His praise, in some unlooked-for and especial manner! Our Sovereign God makes no mistakes. Philip. 4:19. Yours affectionately (though unknown to you),

"In the Master's service, ——."

Two points in this letter were spoken out of my own heart: "That the trial would be only temporary, and would tend to the praise of God." Will the readers be pleased to bear this in mind while reading?—August 30th. From Hereford £7 10s. towards the support of one Orphan for one year, and £10 towards paying the arrears of the salaries of the teachers. From the neighbourhood of Taunton £50. This evening, whilst reading in the Psalms, I came to Psalm 81:10, and remembered the work of the Holy Spirit in my heart, when reading this verse on December 5th, 1835, and the effect which this had, not only in leading me to found the Orphan Institution, but I thought also of the blessing which has thus been brought to tens of thousands of believers and unbelievers all over the world. Putting aside the Bible, therefore, I fell on my knees and asked God that He would graciously be pleased to repeat His former lovingkindness, and to supply me again more abundantly with means. Accordingly, in less than half an hour, I received £50 from a Bristol donor, and from Redland a large quantity of fish, in addition to £97 already received to-day as the result of much prayer. By the last delivery, at 9 p.m., I received £5 more also, and had thus £152 in all, this day, as the result of prayer.

September 2nd. From Westmoreland £100. To-day our income altogether was about £300, a plain proof that we do not wait on the Lord in vain; for every donation we receive is a direct answer to prayer.—September 3rd. Received £25 and the following letter from London:—

My dear Mr. Müller,

"It is with very deep regret and sorrow, that I learn there has lately been a deficit in the necessary means for the support of the Orphans that are committed by the Lord to your care. It would seem to be a time of great trial for all who are witnesses for the truth of the Scripture. The enemy is for a time triumphant, but the Lord knoweth all your need, and will in due time supply it. My dear wife joins with me in deep sympathy with you in this time of trouble.

"Believe me, very truly yours, ——."

Very many such kind sympathizing letters were received during the past year, and the Lord made use of them for our comfort and encouragement. It will be seen, as we go further on, to what extent the wishes of the writer of this letter were verified. A Christian brother, retired from business, brought £60 in gold. Thus, to-day, the income for the Orphans has been £149 19s. 10d., as the result of our waiting on God.—September 6th. More than £160, and valuable articles came in to-day for the various Objects of the Institution. Surely we do not wait upon the Lord in vain, though our trial of faith still continues, and though we still have to pray for larger sums.—September 14th. From Walsall £50.—September 15th. From Harrogate £100.—September 23rd. From Sunderland I received the following letter:—

Dear Sir,

"The record of your trial of faith during the last year has been helpful to me, for it has been a most trying year to me, and the adversary has often tempted me to think that my difficulties and disappointments were tokens of my Father's wrath, rather than the testing and chastening of His Love. Perhaps it may be His will that many, reading this year's Report, may be encouraged by seeing that the same trials of faith are accomplished, even in those whose labours in His cause the Lord has so abundantly acknowledged. May His grace still be sufficient for you.

"Yours very sincerely, ——,"

September 24th. From the neighbourhood of Torquay £50. From the neighbourhood of Rugeley £50.—September 26th. From a Bristol donor £50. From Christian Friends at Union Chapel, Portishead, £10.

October 6th. From a Bristol donor £50.—October 7th. From London £50.—October 10th. Received from Cheltenham £200, with the following letter:—

Dear Sir,

"My brother has requested me to forward to you the enclosed cheque for £200 for the Orphanage under your care. His late wife, some years ago, expressed a wish that he should provide by Will, that the amount mentioned should be paid over to you for the Institution, when he should himself have passed away to our Father's house; but as he is now advanced in age, being in his 88th year, he is anxious to get the matter settled at once. He will, therefore, I think, feel all the happier for having anticipated the time of payment, and carried out his wife's wishes during his own lifetime."

Observe, esteemed reader, the hand of God, how He helps us in answer to our constant waiting on Him in believing prayer. Thus we have not only received it sooner, but in our time of great need, and the legacy duty has been saved also. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £200.—October 13th. Received from a servant of the Lord Jesus the following letter:—

Beloved and esteemed Brother in Christ,

"I have much pleasure in sending you the enclosed cheque for 57 shillings on my 57th birthday, as a thankoffering to the Lord, to be used on behalf of the Orphans under your care. 'He knoweth the way that I take; when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold' (Job 23:10). With Christian love to yourself, Mrs. Müller, and Mr. Wright,

"I am, yours in Him whose name is 'Jehovah-Jireh,' ——."

The Lord sends such loving words as these, in order that we may be further encouraged to wait patiently His time for full deliverance from our trial, and that we may confidently expect still more abundant supplies.—October 18th. From one of the former Orphans £10, with the following letter:—

Dear Mr. Müller,

"I beg you will accept the enclosed cheque, with my very grateful thanks for all the care and kindness I received while in the dear Orphan House No. 2; it is now seven and a halt years since I left. God has cared for and protected me ever since. I look to Him at all times for support, and He has never failed me. I am about to enter a Nurses' Training School in Liverpool, and I beg your prayers, that my good health may continue, also that I may prove an efficient nurse. I visited Bristol last month, and was staying at the Lodge of Orphan House No. 4. Everything about the dear old Home seems sacred to me. Though the aces there were mostly changed, yet the teachers at No. 2 knew me, and kindly looked after my comfort. I do not forget you, dear Mr. Müller, and pray that you may be spared many years, to preside over the great work you have undertaken, With very much love and gratitude,

"I am, your grateful Orphan, ——."

Will the reader please to notice (1) that £10 was sent by one of the former Orphans, for the benefit of the Orphan Institution. (2) Notice the real affection with which the home of childhood continues to be looked on and revisited. This has been seen in many hundreds of instances, and often even twenty or thirty years after the Orphans have left. (3) But above all, we have the joy of knowing that thousands of former Orphans are now with the Lord, and thousands, we have reason to consider, are believers at the present time, walking in various parts of the world, to the honour of the Lord, whilst a great number have brought up their own children in the fear of God, and are living even as godly grandparents. (4) Not a few have become Preachers or Missionaries; and though this is only a small part of the fruit of our labours, in comparison with what the Lord will allow us to see in the day of Christ's appearing, nevertheless He has lengthened out my life in such a manner as to allow me in mental and physical vigour to see a goodly measure of the precious fruit of my labours among the Orphans during the past fifty-seven years and six months.—October 26th. The total income for the various branches of the Institution during the last week was only £200 4s. 5¾d., viz., about one-third only of our average expenses. Thus our trial continues; but the Lord sustains our faith and enables us, by His grace, without the least wavering, to look to Him and to expect full deliverance. In the midst of it all, He also refreshes our hearts, for during this week a legacy of £1,000, free of duty, was announced.

November 1st. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £300. Part of the legacy of the late Mr. W. C, of Newcastle, New South Wales, £450. This legacy was left more than two years since, but month after month the payment of it was delayed, and prayers by the score were brought before the Lord. All appeared, however, to be useless; but it only seemed to be in vain. I believed that our prayers would prevail, and now came the greater part of this legacy, left to me by a Christian man whose name I had never even heard, and who resided between 11,000 and 12,000 miles from Bristol. See, Christian reader, what it is to trust in God; really to depend on Him; and if you have never done so before, begin this blessed life at once, this unspeakably blessed life, of rolling all your burdens upon God, and of leaving them there. I have known the blessedness of this life, for many a long year, and even whilst yet in the body, it has brought the joys of heaven into my soul.—November 3rd. From Sussex £50.—November 8th. I received during the week £200 from a donor, who for many years had contributed about £10 per annum, and who is now very ill; this being probably his last contribution. Thus one after the other of our friends passes away, and not a few who contributed thousands, even many thousands, are gone to their eternal home; but the Lord, our never failing Friend, remains. In Him we trust, to Him alone we look, at all times; and thus our hearts are kept in peace, even in the darkest hours.—November 11th. From Scotland £100, with £5 for Mrs. Müller and myself. Received the following letter:—

My dear Mr. Müller,

"The incident connected with my sending. £100 to dear Mr. Wright in your absence, this time last year, has come very vividly to my memory this morning, and I feel led to send you a like sum to-day. Please to appropriate £60 as you see fit to the work of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, and accept £20 for your own use, and £20 for Mr. Wright. I am also daily seeking to be your helper by prayer.

"With Christian love, yours most truly, ——."

There came in to-day, by the first two deliveries, only about £8, but the Lord increased the income to more than £200 this day. I am never discouraged by very little only coming in, but say to myself, and also to my dear helpers, "More prayer, more patience, and more exercise of faith will bring greater blessing"; for thus I have invariably found it, since October, 1830, now sixty-three years ago, when I first began this life of entire dependence upon God for everything.

November 18th, Yesterday the income was very small. To-day the first three postal deliveries brought only £4 14s. 6d., though our daily average expenses are about £90. The reader will in consequence see that the heart can be kept in peace by real trust in God alone, and thus we have peace habitually; and even joy in God, for we expect brighter days of full deliverance from our present trials. In the middle of the day we received 200 pheasants, as a proof that God had not forgotten us in our time of need.—November 22nd. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £10. During the last five days the income had been very little, in comparison with our heavy expenses. To-day very little had come in by the first two deliveries; but my eyes continued looking to the Lord, and prayer was repeated again and again. At last God sent help. By the delivery at noon £500 was received, on account of the legacy of the late Mrs. H. U., £400 for the Orphans, and £100 for Missions.—November 23rd. Legacy of the late Mr. W. B., £85 4s. 9d. During the week ending to-day £624 4s. 0¼d. had come in for the support of the Orphans, and £105 8s.

4d. for the other Objects, £729 12s. 4¼d. in all. A remarkable week. Two legacies were paid, in answer to many, many, many prayers.—November 30th. The income for the week ending this day is £100 17s. 11½d. for the Orphans, and £15 6s. 5¾d. for the other Objects, total £116 4s. 5¼d. Day by day, during the past week, the income has been very small, and faith has thus again been greatly tried; but, by the grace of God, we are looking for deliverance to Him; and if it pleases the Lord to exercise our faith and patience longer, we desire grace to glorify Him by patient waiting, for more abundant supplies will surely come at last.

December 1st. From two China Inland Missionaries £10, with these words: "Although having a large family and heavy expenses, we are enabled, by God's grace, to continue the systematic laying by in store of the Lord's portion, which we seek wisely to administer as His stewards."—December 7th. Legacy of the late Mr. T. P. G., £300. During this week again our trial of faith had been great, as day by day only little came in, but at noon to-day the Lord at last was graciously pleased to refresh our hearts by sending us the payment of this legacy for £300.—December 15th. Received the following letter:—

Dear Sir,

"I enclose Postal Order for £1 for the Orphans. It is thirty years since I first read your books and Reports; and having begun to record in a book the dates and number of my special prayers at that time, as you advise, I see that very many gracious answers have been granted to me. Besides praying hundreds of times without entering the prayers, I find the number entered amounts to 11,105. A number of prayers agreed on with friends are in other books, not counted in the above. God bless you, for you have been a great blessing to me.

"I am, yours truly, ——."

December 20th. Received from Warwick the following letter:—

My dear Brother in Christ,

"The Lord impressed upon me last night to send you £5 for the Orphans, and this morning He has refreshed my memory. I hasten therefore in the path of obedience to comply with His wish. He tells me it is for the Orphans. I pray that yourself, your assistants, and your work may be more than ever sustained, and maintained in perfect efficiency, for Jesus' sake."

Notice the contents of this letter, esteemed reader. 1st. The Lord, who has the hearts of all His stewards in His hands, impressed it one night on the donor to send me £5. 2nd. In the morning He reminded him of this; 3rd. He tells him that the donation is for the benefit of the Orphans. But how did this happen? Because we pray continually that God would help us. We do not ask our fellow men for assistance, but continually appeal to our Heavenly Father for help, and we do not wait upon the Lord in vain. Notice, too, the last part of the letter: "I pray that yourself, your assistants, and your work may be more than ever sustained, and maintained in perfect efficiency." We have long prayed in the same way, and it will yet be seen that neither this kind anonymous donor, nor we, have prayed in vain.

December 21st. The income for the week ending to-day was £398 11s. 3¼d. for the Orphans, and £8 18s. 10d. for the other Objects. Our trial of faith and patience in looking for larger sums, even for thousands of pounds, has continued during this week also.—December 23rd. From Westmoreland £100.—December 24th. From a Bristol donor 29 boxes, containing sweets and Christmas cards for the Orphans. This donor for several years past has kindly sent a similar present for each of our Orphan boys and girls.—December 26th. Legacy of the late W. T., Esq., £1,000. Notice, 1st. The amount was left to me by an entire stranger. 2nd. It was left duty free, whereby £100 was saved. 3rd. The testator died only a short time since, and the legacy was paid so very soon. All this was the ordering of the Lord, who, in answer to our constant waiting upon Him, appointed it thus. Received on the same day £50 from a Missionary in India, with these words: "For the blessed work of our dear Brother in Christ, George Müller, laid at the Lord's feet by C. M. T., Missionary."—December 31st. Thus ended the, memorable year, 1892, in which our faith had been so greatly tried, but in which also the hand of the Lord had been stretched out again and again on our behalf.

On January 2nd we received from the neighbourhood of Melksham £35. From London £25. From Worcester £25.—January 3rd. From Geneva, Switzerland, £9 17s. 7d. From Leamington £20.—January 4th. From Westmoreland £40, with £10 for Mrs. Müller and myself. During the week ending to-day the Lord was pleased to send to us, as the result of our constant waiting upon Him, £721 19s. 11¾d. for the Orphans, and £152 5s. for the other Objects of the Institution.—January 24th. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £100.—January 30th. From Edinburgh I received the following letter:—

Dear and honoured Sir,

"I have much pleasure in sending herein a draft for £200 in aid of the Orphans under your charge on Ashley Down. I began about thirty years ago to send you annually £1; latterly, I have been enabled to increase it to £5; and now, by the 'good hand of God upon me,' I have the honour of sending you this sum instead of leaving it in my Will. I think it better and more scriptural to send it now, and thus to be my own executor."

February 1st. From "H. B. M. P." £50, with £1 for myself. From London, N. W., £10, with the words: "Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you." So we do, and that keeps our hearts in perfect peace.—February 2nd. From New Zealand £10, with these words:—

"Dear Sir, I beg to send you £10, as the Lord directs me."

Do you notice, esteemed reader, the reality of prayer? Here is an entire stranger to me, who resides between 11,000 and 12,000 miles from Bristol, directed by the Lord to send £10. How does this come? Will you ascribe it to anything else than to the power of prayer? I hope you will not.—February 11th. A letter to Mr. Wright, from Kent, with £52:—

Dear Sir,

"Please find cheque for £52. The £2 is my fee (meeting of the company), the £50 is in answer to prayer that I might be able to let some house, in order to send you £50 for the Orphans, in thankfulness to God."

See, dear reader, here is a house let, a circumstance which brings £50 to the Institution.

Monday morning, February 13th. By the first two deliveries came in only 2s. 6d. from England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, and £10 from the United States. Yesterday, being Sunday, we took in no letters; so this was the income for two days. See how faith continues to be exercised, for we need about £90 daily, on an average; therefore £180 should have been received. Under such circumstances, nothing but unshaken confidence in the power and love of God can keep the heart in peace. We cling to the Lord, go on praying ten or more times a day for further help, and confidently expect it. There came in afterwards, in the course of the day, £5 8s. 5d. But all was only little, in comparison with our need.—February 14th. The income to-day was £67 16s. 8d.—February 16th. To-day we received altogether £88.—February 17th. The first two deliveries of letters brought only £4. There is, therefore, again special exercise of faith; but, by the grace of God, we look with unshaken confidence to Him for help. In the course of the day came in about £12 more, £7 being received with 2 Cor. 9:15.—February 18th. To-day came in from Wales £100.—February 19th. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £50.—March 1st. The income during this week, ending today, was £92 8s. 8¾d. for the Orphans, and £9 11s. 2d. for the other Objects, being about the sixth part of our weekly expenses; but now the great trial of our faith was nearly brought to a close, as will presently be seen.

March 2nd. From Berkshire was received, in coupons and by a Dividend Warrant, £149 18s. 2d., and by various other donations our income altogether to-day amounted to £186.

Land Sold

March 4th. This very day God begins to answer our prayers, as we have received a very good offer for the land we have to sell, even £1,000 per acre. The beginning of the day was darker as to outward appearances than ever: but we trusted in God for help. The first three deliveries of letters brought us only £4, and the remaining three brought us so little, that the whole day's income was only £8 instead of £90, the amount we require every day to meet all our expenses. But God has now helped us. We have been able this evening to sell ten acres of land and two-fifths of an acre at £1,000 per acre, and shall receive £10,405 altogether for the whole of one field. The contract was signed at 8 o'clock this evening.—March 25th. Legacy of the late Mrs. M. A. C. £100. March 28th. There was paid £5,811 on account of the purchase of the land which was sold (£1,000 having been paid on the 7th), leaving £3,594 more to be paid on March 25th, 1894. Now the Lord has helped for the present to the full, as He did assist me in former days, when many times I received £5,000 at once, also £8,100 at one time, £9,000 at once, and even as much as £11,100 at one time. Thus, after much trial of faith and patience, the answer has come at last, and, by the grace of God, our faith and patience were sustained without wavering to the end. From a Bristol donor I received the same day £200.—April 5th. From the Isle of Wight £54, for the support of four Orphans for one year.—April 7th. Legacy of the late Mr. J. T. £190 9s. 4d.

May 3rd. During the week ending to-day £777 16s. 7¾d. came in for the support of the Orphans, and for the other Objects of the Institution £471 12s. 2d.; amounting to £1,249 8s. 9¾d. altogether. From Leyton £100.—May 9th. From a new donor £300.—May 10th. From a donor in the neighbourhood of Bristol £62 for the Orphans, with £2 for myself.—May 12th. From the neighbourhood of Birmingham £150.—May 19th. From Dewsbury £100.—May 20th. From Basle £30, from readers of The Volksbote.—May 26th. During this last week of our financial year of the Institution, we received for the support of the Orphans £343 10s. 1½d., and for the other Objects £435 8s. 2½d., in all £778 18s. 4d.

[The expenditure for the Orphans from May 26th, 1892, to May 26th, 1893, was £23,593 0s. 4¾d.]

May 26th, 1893, to May 26th, 1894

When the financial year of the Institution commenced, we had a balance of £2,386 19s. 8d. in hand.

June 6th. Legacy of the late Miss M. B., £100.—June 8th. Received the following letter from a former Matron at one of the Orphan Houses:—

Dear Mr. Müller,

"A week ago I had a letter from the first girl who was sent from New Orphan House No. 2 as a servant (thirty-four years since), and who has only lived in two places since she was sent out. In her last place she nursed her mistress through a painful illness before she died, and her master followed his wife some months after, leaving to E. H. £40 a year. His daughter wished her to live near, and furnished some comfortable rooms from the old home for her. I could not but wish that other girls might be encouraged to discharge their duties and have as good a reward as well as the approval of the Divine Master."

When I received E. H. into the Orphan Houses, it was simply relying upon God for help; for, humanly speaking, I saw nothing but trial before me regarding her; but, as it was a case of the greatest misery, I took her. Now, see! She gave me no trial at all, behaved well all the time she was at the Orphan Houses, sent me perhaps thirty or forty donations for the Orphans after she had left; spent thirty-four years in two situations only, and ended her time of service as just stated. May this instance greatly encourage labourers for the Lord, and make them trust in Him, instead of looking at things after the outward appearance; for had I done so, E. H. would never have been received by me.

June 14th. The total of the income during this week for the various Objects of the Institution was only £110 5s. 3½d., viz., only one-sixth of the average expenses for one week; but we continue to pray and hope in God.—June 21st. Day by day, during the whole week, the income has been very little; but the Lord lives, and He will help again more abundantly in His own time. For many years the income has not been so small. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £100.—June 28th. During the week, ending this day, it was found that the total income for the various Objects of the Institution had been £189 3s. 4¼d. only, viz., not the third part of its average expenses; but our hope is in God. Our balance in hand on May 27th has been decreased during the one past month £1,000 16s. 4¾d.

July 10th. From a former Orphan, now a commercial traveller for a very large house of business, £10, with the following letter:—

My dear Sir,

"Enclosed please find £10 as a thankoffering for our Heavenly Father's great goodness to me for another year. Kindly use the money as you may think best. Trusting you are quite well, and with best love,

"I remain, your ever grateful former Orphan, ——."

July 13th. Legacy of the late Mr. J. H. £45.—July 18th. Week after week the income has been very small up to yesterday, when the Lord began to answer prayer. To-day was received from "G.," Preston, £99 4s. 9d.—July 20th. From Yorkshire £40.—July 21st. From Kendal £25.—July 24th. From the neighbourhood of Bristol £150.—July 25th. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £500.—July 27th. From Sevenoaks £50.—July 29th. From a Lancashire donor £100.

August 2nd. Received £10 from a donor who has, "in the course of fifty years, given away more than £100,000 among God's devoted servants, in order to strengthen their hands in His work."

August 3rd. From the neighbourhood of Birmingham £150, from a donor who has kindly helped us again and again.—August 10th. I received £30 left by A. S. for the Orphans, and £10 for my own personal expenses. She was a former Orphan, was a believer in the Lord Jesus, and walked very consistently for about fifty years, to the end of her life.—August 17th. Received 10s., with the following letter:

Dear Sir,

"I have pleasure in forwarding you my annual contribution of 10s. for your Orphan Institution, and am thankful that the Lord has spared your life for so many years. I am also glad that He has sustained you amidst the numerous, and sometimes, I should think, very severe trials of your faith and patience, and made you a living witness in the 19th century to the Church, and even to all the world, that the God of the ancient Israelites, who supplied their needs for forty years in the wilderness, is still the living and true God.

"I believe your example led my friend and brother, Hudson Taylor, who is a native of this town, and whom I have known for nearly fifty years, to venture to China, trusting in the Lord alone for support, and has made him such a blessing to that vast country. I believe he and his coadjutors are laying the foundation of a widespread Christian Church in that Empire, and you have contributed largely towards it, for you have assisted them from time to time Mr. James Meadows, who is, next to Mr. Taylor, the oldest Missionary of the China Inland Mission, was introduced to him by me, and both the wives of Mr. Meadows were members of my class, and are now in heaven. The Lord has graciously spared him in that trying climate for thirty years. I count it one of the greatest honours of my life to have been associated with such a work, even in the humblest capacity. I thank you for having dared to set such an example of faith in God, which has already produced such splendid results, and the extent of its influence none but God can fully understand.

"Yours very truly, in Christ Jesus, ——."

August 19th. From Reading £20. From a London physician £20.—August 24th. Received the following letter, with a cheque for £50, when there was again but little money in hand, and when we were day by day waiting on the Lord for more:—

My dear Mr. Müller,

"I was so delighted, on reading your Report, to find that the cheque sent last year came just as you were pleading the promises. It was remarkable how it was laid on my heart to send it. I gave thanks to Him, whose steward I am, for thus so graciously directing me. Through His abundant goodness I am enabled to send the enclosed, which please to accept for the Orphan work with my wife's and my own best love."

August 27th. Week after week our income has been small, in comparison with the greatness of our expenses. Under these circumstances I fell again on my knees, asking for various blessings, and among others that even to-day, the Lord's day, when we take in no letters, He would be pleased to give me means for the Institution. And now, see what followed. After the meeting at Stokes' Croft Chapel, a gentleman, an entire stranger, came to me, with whom I conversed for a few minutes, and then he put a letter into my hand, saying it was for the Orphans. The letter contained these words:—

Dear Sir,

"Will you please apply the enclosed for the maintenance of the Orphans in your Homes?

"Yours respectfully,

"A PILGRIM."

The letter contained a £100 Bank of England Note. See, esteemed reader, the power of prayer and faith. Verily, as often it has been stated before, we do not wait upon the Lord in vain. Thousands of times I have found this within the past sixty-four years, and I expect to find it thus to the end of my earthly pilgrimage. And all, who are reconciled to God by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, will find it thus, more or less like myself, just as there is real trust in Him, and patient believing prayer.—August 31st. Received £1, with the following letter: —

My dear Mr. Müller,

"I was very glad indeed to get the new Report; for like many other persons, I felt much concerned when I read in the last one that God's dealings with you were leading you to consider whether it might not be His will that your work for Him should be curtailed. I thought, Can this be for the honour of God, who has sustained His own work, under your care, for all this long series of years, and made it to be an object lesson to thousands, and a source of blessing, probably, to hundreds of thousands? Praise be to God for this glorious fact! for it seems now, that the trial of your faith was intended for blessing, in order to show how 'Man's extremity is God's opportunity,' and for the strengthening of the faith of many real Christians who watch with interest His dealings with you. You certainly were not in debt, so long as you held valuable assets and had many unpaid legacies to look to. I rejoice, therefore, that God has enabled you to realize some of the property, and to obtain for it a satisfactory price. For many years I conscientiously gave a tenth of my income to the work of God, but now all that I have is His, and I give as He leads me. I am laying nothing by for sickness or old age, for I expect the speedy return of the Lord Jesus, and desire to lay up treasure in heaven. If He should delay His coming, I may not see old age; but, even if I do, the Lord will provide. I believe God is greatly honoured by a life of full trust in Him, and I see this more and more the older I grow. Etc."

September 7th. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £500. Through a remarkable providence of God, these donors came into the possession of £3,000, a short time since, and gave the whole of this amount in six donations of £500 each to the Institution, whereby for many weeks we were supplied with sufficient means for the Orphans, otherwise the income would not nearly have been sufficient for us. Thus God, in one way or another, continually helps us, and often in the most remarkable manner as to human appearance.—September 13th. Received from Birmingham 1s. from a minister, with the following letter:—

Dear Mr. Müller,

"Please accept 1s. for the Orphans. I wish it were much more, but I am very poor at present. Reading your Report just received, has opened my eyes to my error, and even sin, of not laying aside a proportion of my income for the Lord."

September 27th. Received 10s. from one of the former Orphans, with the following letter:—

Dear Mr. Müller,

"As to-morrow will be the anniversary of your birthday, I thought I should like to join the many hundreds of Orphans who will have the pleasure of asking you to accept their best wishes for that day. We may not be able to express all that we would wish for you, but the Lord knows all, and we can ask Him to pour out His blessings upon you and your work, and what He gives will be sure to be good and right: so we can leave our desires with Him and know that all will be well. Please accept many thanks for the Reports. It was cheering to find that the prospects were brighter than last year. Dark days are often needful, even for God's dear children, for they lead them nearer to Himself. Please to accept the enclosed 10s. as my mite towards the work. Fanny desires to join with me in grateful love and very best wishes for the anniversary of your birthday. Allow me to remain, dear Mr. Müller,

"Ever your grateful and affectionate Orphan, ——."

These two Christian Orphans have now been for more than twentyseven years in the same situation to which they were sent; both have continued in the ways of God, and were sent out as believers from the Orphan Houses.

October 4th. Legacy of the late Mr. T. W. W. £270. The testator was entirely unknown to me; but God spoke to him for us, and inclined him to leave me this legacy.—October 11th. Today a girl was sent out to service who had been seventeen years, two months, and two days in the Orphan Houses; for she was received when seven months old. The reader has to keep in mind, that we have the Orphans not for a few months only under our care, but, on an average, for eight or nine years; often, very often, for twelve or fifteen years, and as in this case for even more than seventeen years, because we receive these children from their earliest days.—October 19th. I saw yesterday the first Orphan whom I received fifty-seven years and seven months since. She is now a widow, and seventy one years of age.

An Orphanage in Japan

Received to-day the following letter:—

Dear Mr. Müller,

"Having had the pleasure of meeting you in Japan, in which country I have been living for the last seven years, I should like to see you again, and tell you something about the Orphanage, which Mr. Ishii is now carrying on in Okayama, which is really one of the results of your visit, and of the accounts which you gave, while you were in Tokyo, of the wonderful way God has provided for your own Orphans in Bristol. Etc."

Mr. Ishii, a Christian Japanese, acts now on the same principles as those on which I labour myself in the Orphan work; he has about 150 children under his care, and waits daily upon God for their support.

October 27th. To-day £500 was given by two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven. This donation came in when there was only £86 5s. 11d. in hand for the Orphans.

November 1st. From London 10s., as "A small thankoffering to God for innumerable mercies received during 48 years of a happy married life." From Omaha, U.S.A. £25.—November 4th. The income for the Orphans this day was £2 18s. 1d., instead of about twenty-five times as much.—November 6th. The income of to-day (Monday) should have been about £180 (as we did not take in any letters yesterday); but instead of £180, the first two deliveries brought in 5s. only. The reader will see from this how nothing but REAL trust in God can keep the heart in peace. In Him, however, we DO trust, and rely upon Him alone for help, whilst in the meantime we continue in prayer.—November 11th. From London £60. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £500. From Fort William £25.—November 13th. Received from Scotland £50, with the following letter from a City Missionary and his wife:—

Dear Mr. Müller,

"We have much pleasure in sending you £50 for the Orphans, or for Foreign Missions. For nearly forty years I have been a City Missionary. Our income has never been large, and we have always given much more than a tenth to the Lord's work; yet our little capital has increased to more than we think it right to possess, and Hebrews 13:5, 6, has lately much impressed us, to trust altogether in the Lord, and not in money laid by. Thanking God for your long and blessed life, and praying that He may bless you still,

"Yours in His love and service, ——."

Will the reader be pleased to ponder this letter. Here is a poor City Missionary, giving £50 at once. How much more, how very much more could be accomplished by the Church of God, if the disciples of the Lord Jesus were like this godly City Missionary! The money was taken for the Orphans, for it was needed ON THAT VERY DAY, and thus the hand of God was the more manifestly seen.—November 24th. Received £500 from two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven.—November 25th. From one of the former Orphans £5. Received from the United States of America, ten dollars, with this letter:—

Dear Sir,

"Please accept the enclosed as a widow's mite, to be used in the work you are doing for the Lord. I feel prompted by the Spirit to send it this morning, and, as I want to obey God in all things, I hope it will be accepted as coming from Him.

"Yours in Christ, ——."

How came it that the donor was prompted to send us the money? Because the living God is our Friend; to Him we go in our need, and He speaks for us in answer to our prayers. It is particularly to be noticed, likewise, that the income to-day was very small, and that this donation, therefore, came in very acceptably.

December 9th. All our money is gone.—December 11th. Monday. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £500.—December 15th. Received £300 on account of the residue of the legacy of the late Mrs. H.—December 16th. From a Bristol Manufacturer £25.—December 18th. From a father, mother, and daughter, £18 15s.—December 20th. From Tyndall's Park, from a former Orphan, £5.—December 21st. From Clifton £25. From Cardiff (in memoriam) £30. From Cambridge, from an old friend of the Institution, £52 18s.—December 29th. From the neighbourhood of Kendal £40, with £10 for Mrs. Müller and myself.

January 1st. Sixty donations for the Orphans were received to-day, of which I only mention £35 from the neighbourhood of Melksham; from Clifton £20; and from Biarritz, France, £10, with £10 for myself.—January 19th. Received from a widow in Liverpool £5, and a box containing 94 pairs of boots and shoes. She writes: "I should love to do more for your glorious work, but last year has been a financially bad one, and I cannot do what my heart would like to do for you. I have, however, done what I could." This widow, entering on business, trusted in God, and gave to the work of the Lord as He was pleased to prosper her; and so it came that she did as well as she did. May widows be encouraged by her example.—January 20th. From Chippenham £50. As "A thankoffering for the remarkable preservation of a dear daughter from a railway accident" 10s. 6d.—January 22nd. Received £100 from the Trustees of the late G. W., Esq. January 24th. From Yorkshire £1,000.—January 25th. On account of the legacy of the late Miss D. W. £550.—January 27th. From London £40.

February 5th. Received £2,235 18s. as the share of the residue of the estate of the late J. C., Esq., for the Orphans on Ashley Down. The late J. C., Esq., died four years ago last December. He had ordered in his Will that four years after his decease the residue of his property should be divided between five different Institutions. Now see, esteemed reader, how God so ordered it, that just now, in this our great need, this considerable sum should come to us.—February 6th. Legacy of the late Mr. R. R., £523 8s. 1d.—February 8th. Balance of the residue of the legacy of the late Miss E. H. £187 6s. 8d.—February 18th. Received the following letter from Scotland:—

Dear Sir,

"I received your Report a few days ago, and have been reading it with intense pleasure. You know not the blessing resulting from reading these Reports. Your financial difficulties and your peace of mind, during those trying times, have doubtless been blessed to other persons in similar circumstances, and your unwavering faith in God, accompanied by peace unbroken; what untold good the reading of your Narrative has been, and will be, to multitudes of people, He only knows. I have been brought into great and awful trials, partly because I would not, at the request of a partner, publish what I believed to be a lie; and other worldly things in business I declined to assent to. It is a fearful thing for a child of God to get into partnership with a man of the world. Do pray for me.

"Yours in Christ, ——."

February 22nd. Received the following letter:—

"I feel constrained to send you a cheque to-night, and therefore forward the same, for £2 2s., for the Orphans. Trade is generally bad throughout the country, and I wonder if you are feeling the effects of this very much. May the good Lord incline many person to help you who are able to do so.

"Yours faithfully, ——."

Notice, that the donor felt himself constrained to send this cheque. How came this? Because we pray to our Heavenly Father, and He speaks, accordingly, to the hearts of His stewards to help us. The donor writes further, also:—"Trade is generally bad throughout the country, and I wonder if you are feeling the effects of this very much." For forty years and upwards we have not had so few donations as for some time past; and yet we have been supplied, bountifully supplied, in answer to our constant believing supplications; for God has so ordered it in His providence that legacies (some left a considerable time since) have now been paid; and thus He has been pleased abundantly to make up the lack of donations. It is unspeakably blessed, to have in God a never-failing Helper and Friend.

March 2nd. Received the following letter from one of the former Orphans:—

Dear Sir,

"I am writing to you on behalf of two children, who, within the last week, have been left Orphans, by the death of their mother. Their father died about four years ago. They are in truly needy circumstances, and fit objects for your valuable and happy Homes. I speak thus of them from experience, as I was for eleven years a happy child at No. 1, and have left the Orphan Home now for thirtythree years. During that time, in God's good providence, I have become a happy wife, a mother, and recently a grandmother; but everything is as fresh in my mind as on the day I left, for I owe much, very much of my happiness to the wise training of those who were then my teachers.

"Believe me, Dear Sir, Yours in Christ, ——."

An Orphan Boy leads his Sister to Christ

March 7th. Received the following letter:—

Dear Sir,

"Pardon the liberty I am taking in writing to you. I feel I must thank you for your loving and fatherly care of my brother ——; and I cannot help thanking you, too, for teaching him to love the Saviour. Perhaps you will be pleased to hear, that four years ago he was the instrument in God's hand of leading me, his only sister, from darkness to light; and since then I have enjoyed God's salvation. Therefore, I am sure, you can understand the love there is between us. As he is nearly old enough to leave your care, if you would find him a place in Bristol as an apprentice, how grateful I shall be, because I am sure we should both feel being separated from each other exceedingly.

"I remain, dear Sir, ever yours in Christ, ——."

March 16th. Legacy of the late A. A., Esq., £79 2s. 10d. From Kidderminster £30.—March 22nd. Paid on account of balance of purchase-money for a field for building £800, and £177 14s. 7d. paid for interest on balance of purchase-money for land up to March 21st. —March 27th. Legacy of the late W. S. L., Esq., £100.

April 3rd. Received £2,794 as balance of purchase-money for land, and £4 11s. 10d. as interest on ditto from March 21st to April 3rd.—April 21st. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £193 1s. 0d.—April 25th. Balance of the legacy of the late Miss D. W., £196 15s. 11d. —April 28th. Legacy of the late Mrs. J. H., £89 5s. 10d. Will the reader please to observe how, after a season of great trial of faith and patience, which lasted more or less for several years, the Lord is now again supplying us bountifully with means. The appearance during those years of trial was many times, as if God had forsaken us, and as if He would never care any more about this Institution; but this was only the appearance, for He was as mindful of it as ever. It was only in order that our faith might be yet further strengthened that these trials were permitted; that by meekly enduring the affliction we might glorify God; and that tens of thousands of persons, by reading about all these things, might be benefited. During the time of our great trial my fellow-helpers and I sought the Lord day by day continually thanking Him for what He had been doing for us, and telling Him that we further confided in Him for help; and, in addition to all this, I constantly prayed in secret that the Lord would further supply our wants, and give us all the pecuniary means we need for this great Institution.—April 30th. Received £1,000 on account of the residue of the legacy of the late Miss E. A. D. I call once more upon the reader to notice how abundantly God of late has helped us through legacies while the income through donations has been comparatively small. Will the reader also remember what I have noticed before, that almost in every case these testators were entire strangers to me; for the names even of most of them I had never heard.

May 2nd. From the neighbourhood of Birmingham £150, from a donor who has kindly helped us again and again.—May 3rd. From an aged Christian £100, instead of leaving the amount as a legacy, whereby we save the legacy duty.—May 18th. From Taranaki, New Zealand, £5.—May 25th. From Yorkshire £125 for Foreign Missions and £125 for the Orphans. From two servants of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seek to lay up treasure in heaven, £500, namely, £250 for the School, Bible, and Foreign Mission Fund, and £250 for the Orphans.

[The expenditure for the Orphans from May 26th, 1893, to May 26th, 1894, was £23,480 1s. 9d.]

May 26th, 1894, to May 26th, 1895

When the financial year of the Institution commenced, we had a balance of £4,871 12s. 9½d. in hand.

June 1st. Legacy of the late Miss W. C, of Dublin, £500.—June 6th. Legacy of the late Miss E. U. £452 9s. 7d. The lady who kindly left this legacy, and the Dublin lady who left the £500, were both entire strangers to me, which makes the hand of God, in influencing them, the more manifest.—June 13th. From the neighbourhood of Market Drayton 10s., with this letter:—

Dear Mr. Müller,

"Please accept the enclosed 10s. for the dear Orphans under your care. Last Wednesday I lost my purse, containing £1 11s. I asked the Lord to restore it, and I would give 10s. to Mr. Müller. This morning it was brought to me. Etc."

June 21st. From two former Orphans £3 12s. 6d. for the support of one Orphan for three months. These two former Orphans, who are united in marriage, and who were both converted more than thirty years ago, have thus, for many years, supported an Orphan, sending their contribution quarterly for this purpose. All their own children are converted, two of them are engaged in setting forth the truth, and one of them is a Missionary among the heathen. See, dear reader, how God has blessed this work. This is just one instance out of thousands.—July 12th. Legacy of the late Miss M. A. M. B. H., £272 0s. 6d. The testatrix was an entire stranger to me.—July 17th. From "G.," Preston, £98 16s. 3d. The kind donor has repeatedly thus helped us, and often when we were in great need.—July 18th. Legacy of the late Mr. W. L. H., £93 4s. 6d.—July 28th. From the neighbourhood of Bristol £150.—July 28th. Day after day the trial of faith and patience regarding the income for the Institution continues. The last four deliveries of letters have brought one single donation of 10s. The new Report has been issued, hundreds of them have been sent to the donors, and yet so little is received. I mention this, because persons think that the Reports must surely bring us money. It is God, and God alone, who helps us, and not the Reports. "They that know Thy name, will put their trust in Thee" (Psalm 9:10). We know Him, and we will still put our trust in Him, though this trial of faith and patience should continue further.

August 1st. From Dundee £50.—August 2nd. On account of Miss E. A. D.'s legacy was paid £1,000.—August 6th. On account of the legacy of the late Miss E. A. D., £558 14s. 8d. The reader will observe how, after for some time comparatively little had been coming in, the Lord makes up for this, by sending now again larger sums,—August 17th. Legacy of the late Mrs. M. A. T., £360. Anonymously from Plymouth, eight Bank of England Notes, £40.—August 23rd. Received the following letter from one of the former Orphans, enclosing £20 2s., from Brooklyn, U.S.A.:—

Dear Mr. Müller,

"Enclosed please find £20 2s. for the Orphans, from one who left No. 3, Wilson Street, Bristol, more than fifty years ago; and, although I may never have the happiness of seeing you again on earth, may that be my blessed privilege in that better land, which is the sincere prayer of a most grateful Orphan, who desires your prayers."

September 4th. Received £50, with the following letter:—

Honoured and loved Mr. Müller,

"Having read the greater part of your Report of 1894, I write to express to you, that my too feeble and much tried faith is encouraged by it. For many years the remarkable answers to your prayers, and the prosperity in temporal as well as spiritual things, granted to you, was very striking, and was an evidence to many, whom other evidences failed to satisfy. And now, that you faithfully record diminished income, but not diminished seeking and expecting help from God, it appeals to me more, probably, in my circumstances, than a record of former prosperity would have done. Faith, when God seems to forsake, differs much from that in the light of His countenance; and I have long thought that Psalm 22:3 (following verses 1 and 2) is the highest praise in the Scriptures. I am thankful to be able to send you the enclosed £50, which please to apply as you think best.

"Yours with affectionate regard, by unsearchable mercy in our Lord Jesus Christ to a chief sinner, ——."

From the neighbourhood of Birmingham £150, from a donor who has very kindly helped us repeatedly in a similar way, and often when in great need.—September 7th. Received a gold Albert chain, with this letter:—

Dear Sir,

"I herewith enclose a gold Albert chain. I wore it myself, until the Lord drew me nearer to Himself, then the wants of poor Orphans and the now languishing and suffering works of Christ appeared before me: so I offer this idol unto Him, who claims my whole heart. Etc."

September 13th. Legacy of the late Mr. W. G., New Zealand, £185 13s. 8d.—September 26th. Legacy of the late Mrs. H., £1,000. This lady I never saw; but our Heavenly Father, by His Holy Spirit, influenced her in favour of the Orphan work, to leave to us this legacy.—September 29th. From Taunton £50. From Kidderminster £20.

October 1st. Legacy of the late Mr. G. G., £100.—October 17th. "From a steward" £200. This kind donor has helped us again and again; and if all the disciples of the Lord Jesus would consider themselves stewards for Him, as to their time, their talents, their physical and mental powers, their trade, their business, their profession, and their money and possessions, it would be seen that there is an abundance of means for the work of God in every department, even in the socalled poor Church of God.—November 8th. From "A Friend, Longhope," £50.—November 13th. Received from Ramsgate 5s., with these lines: "There is that scattereth and yet increaseth. There is that witholdeth more than is meet, and it tendeth to poverty." A true word of Scripture, which I have in both respects seen verified very many times.—November 20th. To-day was received a letter containing £1, in which the donor writes: "The Lord has prompted me to send it." We speak to our Heavenly Father in prayer, about the need of our work; and He speaks for us to His stewards.—November 22nd. From Huntly £5, with these words: "A thankoffering for the Orphans. 'My God shall supply all your need.' " Thus I have found it within the past sixty-nine years and six months.—November 28th. Legacy of the late F. E. G., Esq., £200.

December 4th. From the neighbourhood of Pontypridd £100.—December 21st. Legacy of the late Mr. G. H. S. £500. As share of the residue of the late Miss E. S. £97 16s. 8d.—December 26th. Received £100, with £50 for Missions. From a former Orphan at Newport, Monmouthshire, £5. As "A thankoffering on a golden wedding" £5.—December 29th. Received from a Dublin donor £100, with the following letter:—

Dear Mr. Müller,

"Once again I have the pleasure of sending you my annual donation towards the support of the Orphans under your care, and I cannot let the opportunity pass, without again thanking you that, through the reading of your Reports many years ago, I was led to become a systematic giver to the Lord's work. Beginning, as some of your donors had said they had done, by setting apart a fixed proportion of my income, even though in a small way; only, as recommended, by system. After a little while I saw I could increase, and so I went on, year by year increasing, till now I am enabled, by God's grace, to set apart all I make (after providing for the maintenance of my household) for this purpose. I used to think, that any one who thus acted, must of necessity stand head and shoulders above other Christians, and that ordinary mortals could not attain to such an experience; but I see now, it is a position that may be attained by any one who simply gives heed to the Lord's explicit command: 'Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.' I am a very plain, ordinary business man, with no qualifications to engage in active Christian work as others do, but making a few hundreds a year more than I require, to spend on self and family (though I live as well as any one in my station), and seeing that such work as yours, and Mission work in general, cannot be carried on without money, I thank God for entrusting me with the means, to help on such work in the world; and I am sure, I have much more pleasure than those who are scraping, and heap up money to leave it to their children, which, in nine cases out of ten, proves a curse and not a blessing to them. With very much Christian regard,