Severe Trials in Early Orphan Work, 1838–1843 (part 5 of 6)

Worth being Poor

March 17th. This morning our poverty had become exceedingly great. I left my house a few minutes after seven to go to the Orphan Houses, to see whether there was money enough to take in the milk, which is brought about eight o'clock. On my way it was especially my request, that the Lord would be pleased to pity us, even "as a father pitieth his children," and that He would not lay more upon us than He would enable us to bear. I especially entreated Him that He would now be pleased to refresh our hearts by sending us help. I likewise reminded Him of the consequences that would result, both in reference to believers and unbelievers, if we should have to give up the work because of want of means, and that He therefore would not permit its coming to nought. I moreover again confessed before the Lord that I deserved not that He should continue to use me in this work any longer. While I was thus in prayer, about two minutes' walk from the Orphan Houses, I met a brother who was going at this early hour to his business. After having exchanged a few words with him, I went on; but he presently ran after me, and gave me £1 for the Orphans. Thus the Lord speedily answered my prayer. Truly, it is worth being poor and greatly tried in faith, for the sake of having day by day such precious proofs of the loving interest which our kind Father takes in everything that concerns us. And how should our Father do otherwise? He who has given us the greatest possible proof of His love which He could have done, in giving us His own Son, surely He will "with Him also freely give us all things." It is worth also being poor and greatly tried in faith, if but thereby the hearts of the children of God may be comforted and their faith strengthened; and if but those who do not know God, and who may read or hear of His dealings with us, should be led thereby to see, that faith in God is more than a mere notion, and that there is indeed reality in Christianity.

March 30th. From the 25th up to this day we were poor, with reference to the Orphans, but the Lord helped us. This morning a brother from Devonshire came to stay for a few days with me. He gave me two sovereigns for the Orphans, and told me the following facts in connection with them. Last year he portioned out a piece of ground, for the benefit of the Orphans. Having done so, all the members of the family were gathered together, and he asked with them the Lord's blessing upon the crop that was to be planted. This prayer was often repeated afterwards, while the crop was known to belong to the Orphans; and the ground yielded a good crop. The potatoes were to have been sent, but it was considered better to sell them for the benefit of the Orphans, and now this brother brought the produce. These two sovereigns came in most seasonably, as they were only just in time to supply the dinner and other necessaries of this day; for when I came with the brother from the railway station to my house, I found an Orphan boy waiting for money, and I had nothing in hand. This evening I received still further from a sister £1 1s. 5½d.

This morning we had not one single halfpenny left for our own necessities, when two brethren arrived to stay with us for some days, the one from Somersetshire and the other from the North of Devon. The brother from the North of Devon brought 12s. for my own use from Barnstaple, and also gave £1 to my dear wife this afternoon for our own need. Thus we were again supplied. My mind has been quite in peace on account of our need, and the only inconvenience that we had in this case was that our dinner was about half an hour later than usual. Such a thing, as far as I remember, scarcely ever occurred before, and has never occurred since; but suppose it had, it is well, in some little measure, to know from one's own experience the meaning of that word, "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need" (Philip. 4:12).

April 9th. Saturday. We needed more money than there was in hand, especially as it was Saturday, but the Lord was pleased particularly to try our faith. In the course of the morning there came, from some sisters in Dublin, 18 yards of calico, 34 yards of print, 43 balls of cotton, and a pair of worn lady's boots. This donation came most seasonably, as we had been mentioning repeatedly the need of calico and print in our prayers; and the sewing-cotton and the pair of boots came at once into use. Moreover, this donation was a sweet encouragement to me to continue waiting upon the Lord. Evening was now approaching, and no money had yet come in for provisions, etc., which would be needed on the Lord's day. About six o'clock I gave myself once more to prayer with my wife, and requested the Lord in my prayer that if the sister, who in love to Him has taken upon her the service of disposing of the articles which are given for sale, had any money in hand, He would be pleased to incline her heart to bring or send the money this evening. After this I sat down peaceably to read the Scriptures, being assured that this time also the Lord would stretch out His hand on our behalf. About half-past seven o'clock the sister to whom reference has just now been made, came and brought £1 10s. 4d., for articles which she had sold, stating that though she was unwell, yet she felt herself constrained not to delay bringing this money. Thus we had all that was needed, and 6s. more. When I arrived with the money at the Infants' Orphan House, about eight o'clock, I found my fellow-labourers in prayer, and while we still continued in prayer a sister sent a large basket of stale bread, being five brown loaves, seven bread cakes, and five French loaves.

April 12th. We were never in greater need than to-day, perhaps never in so much, when I received this morning £100 from the East Indies. It is impossible to describe the real joy in God it gave me. My prayer had been again this morning particularly, that our Father would pity us, and now at last send larger sums. I was not in the least surprised or excited when this donation came, for I took it as that which came in answer to prayer, and had been long looked for. As it was left to me to use the money as might be most needed, I took one half of it for the Orphan Fund, and the other half for the other Funds. We have thus also an answer to our prayer for oatmeal, new shoes, and for means to enable us to have the old shoes mended, means for replenishing somewhat our stores, money for some articles of clothing for the children, and also a little money for the sisters who labour in the Orphan Houses. How precious to look to the Lord! I was always sure He would at last send larger sums, therefore had my heart been kept in peace, though my faith had never been more tried than during the last months.

May 6th. Only £3 10s. 2½d. had been received since the 2nd, on which account there would have been only enough means in hand to provide for the breakfast to-morrow morning, when in this our fresh need £80 was sent by the same brother who has been spoken of under June 4th, 1841; also £6 from Great Malvern. The half of this £80 was put to the Orphan Fund, and the other half to the other Funds. The donation from Great Malvern was put to the Fund for the other Objects.

May 10th, 1842, to March 30th, 1843

May 10th. There has come in £6 15s. 10d. more since the 6th. To-day, in closing the accounts, we have left at the end of this period of seventeen months, in which we have been so often penniless, the sum of £16 18s. 10½d. for the Orphans, and £48 12s. 5¼d. for the other Objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution.

The time now seemed to us to have come, when, for the profit of the Church at large, the Lord's dealings with us, with reference to the various Objects of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, should be made known by publishing another Report. For, whilst we, on purpose, had delayed it at this time five months longer than during the previous years, and that during a period when we were in deeper poverty than during any previous time; yet, as from the commencement it had appeared to me important from time to time to make known the Lord's dealings with us, so I judged it profitable still, to seek to comfort, to encourage, to exhort, to instruct, and to warn the dear children of God by the printed accounts of the Lord's goodness to us.

Though our trials of faith during these seventeen months lasted longer, and were sharper than during any previous period, yet during all this time the Orphans had everything that was needful in the way of nourishing food, the necessary articles of clothing, etc. Indeed I would rather at once send the children back to their relatives than keep them without sufficient maintenance.

Remarks on Faith

I desire that all the children of God, who may read these details, may thereby be led to increased and more simple confidence in God for everything which they may need under any circumstances, and that these many answers to prayer may encourage them to pray, particularly as regards the conversion of their friends and relatives, their own progress in grace and knowledge, the state of the saints whom they may know personally, the state of the Church of God at large, and the success of the preaching of the gospel. Especially I affectionately warn them against being led away by the device of Satan, to think that these things are peculiar to me, and cannot be enjoyed by all the children of God; for though, as has been stated before, every believer is not called upon to establish Orphan Houses, Charity Schools, etc., and trust in the Lord for means, yet all believers are called upon, in the simple confidence of faith, to cast all their burdens upon Him, to trust in Him for everything, and not only to make everything a subject of prayer, but to expect answers to their petitions which they have asked according to His will, and in the name of the Lord Jesus.—Think not, dear reader, that I have the gift of faith, that is, the gift of which we read in 1 Cor. 12:9, and which is mentioned along with "the gifts of healing," "the working of miracles," "prophecy," and that on that account I am able to trust in the Lord. It is true that the faith, which I am enabled to exercise, is altogether God's own gift; it is true that He alone supports it, and that He alone can increase it; it is true that, moment by moment, I depend upon Him for it, and that, if I were only one moment left to myself, my faith would utterly fail; but it is not true that my faith is that gift of faith which is spoken of in 1 Cor. 12:9, for the following reasons.

(1) The faith which I am enabled to exercise with reference to the Orphan Houses and my own temporal necessities, is not that "faith "of which it is said in 1 Cor. 13:2 (evidently in allusion to the faith spoken of in 1 Cor. 12:9), "Though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity (love) I am nothing:" but it is the self-same faith which is found in every believer, and the growth of which I am most sensible of to myself; for, by little and little, it has been increasing for the last sixty-nine years. [In 1895.]

(2) This faith, which is exercised respecting the Orphan Houses and my own temporal necessities, shows itself in the same measure, for instance, concerning the following points: I have never been permitted to doubt during the last sixty-nine years that my sins are forgiven, that I am a child of God, that I am beloved of God, and that I shall be finally saved; because I am enabled, by the grace of God, to exercise faith in the Word of God, and believe what God says settles these matters (Gal. 3:26; Acts 10:43; Romans 10:9, 10; John 3:16, etc.).

Further, when my brother in the flesh, and my dear aged father died, and when concerning both of them I had no evidence whatever that they were saved (though I dare not say that they are lost, for I know it not); yet my soul was at peace, perfectly at peace, under this great trial, this exceedingly great trial, this trial which is one of the greatest, perhaps, which can befall a believer. And what was it that gave me peace? My soul laid hold on that word, "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? "This word, together with the whole character of God, as He has revealed Himself in His holy Word, settled all questionings. I believed what He has said concerning Himself, and I was at peace, and have been so ever since, concerning this matter.

Further, when the Lord took from me a beloved infant, my soul was at peace, perfectly at peace; I could only weep tears of joy when I did weep. And why? Because my soul laid hold in faith on that word: "Of such is the kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 19:14). Believing, therefore, as I did upon the ground of this word, my soul rejoiced, instead of mourning, that my infant was far happier with the Lord, than with me.

Further, when sometimes all has been dark, exceedingly dark, with reference to my service among the saints, judging from natural appearances; yea, when I should have been overwhelmed indeed in grief and despair, had I looked at things after the outward appearance: at such times I have sought to encourage myself in God, by laying hold in faith on His mighty power, His unchangeable love, and His infinite wisdom, and I have said to myself: God is able and willing to deliver me, if it be good for me; for it is written: "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Rom. 8:3.)

From my inmost soul I do ascribe it to God alone that He has enabled me to trust in Him, and that He has not suffered my confidence in Him to fail. But I thought it needful to make these remarks, lest any one should think that my depending upon God was a particular gift given to me, which other saints have no right to look for; or lest it should be thought that this my depending upon Him had only to do with the obtaining of MONEY by prayer and faith. By the grace of God I desire that my faith in God should extend towards EVERY thing, the smallest of my own temporal and spiritual concerns, and the smallest of the temporal and spiritual concerns of my family, towards the saints among whom I labour, the Church at large, everything that has to do with the temporal and spiritual prosperity of the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, etc. Dear reader, do not think that I have attained in faith (and how much less in other respects!) to that degree to which I might and ought to attain.

Lastly, let not Satan deceive you in making you think that you could not have the same faith, but that it is only for persons who are situated as I am. When I lose such a thing as a key, I ask the Lord to direct me to it, and I look for an answer to my prayer; when a person with whom I have made an appointment does not come at the fixed time, and I begin to be inconvenienced by it, I ask the Lord to be pleased to hasten him to me, and I look for an answer; when I do not understand a passage of the Word of God, I lift up my heart to the Lord, that He would be pleased, by His holy Spirit, to instruct me, and I expect to be taught, though I do not fix the time when, and the manner how, it should be; when I am going to minister in the Word, I seek help from the Lord, and while I, in the consciousness of natural inability as well as utter unworthiness, begin this His service, I am not cast down, but of good cheer, because I look for His assistance, and believe that He, for His dear Son's sake, will help me. Oh! I beseech you, do not think me an extraordinary believer, having privileges above other of God's dear children, which they cannot have; nor look on my way of acting as something that would not do for other believers. Make but trial! Do but stand still in the hour of trial, and you will see the help of God, if you trust in Him. But there is so often a forsaking the ways of the Lord in the hour of trial, and thus the food of faith, the means whereby our faith may be increased, is lost.

How Faith may be Strengthened

This leads me to the following important point. You ask, "How may I, a true believer, have my faith strengthened?" The answer is this:

I. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17). As the increase of faith is a good gift, it must come from God, and therefore He ought to be asked for this blessing.

II. The following means, however, ought to be used:—

(1) The careful reading of the Word of God, combined with meditation on it. Through reading of the Word of God, and especially through meditation on the Word of God, the believer becomes more and more acquainted with the nature and character of God, and thus sees more and more, besides His holiness and justice, what a kind, loving, gracious, merciful, mighty, wise, and faithful Being He is, and, therefore, in poverty, affliction of body, bereavement in his family, difficulty in his service, want of a situation or employment, he will repose upon the ability of God to help him, because he has not only learned from His Word that He is of almighty power and infinite wisdom, but he has also seen instance upon instance in the Holy Scriptures in which His almighty power and infinite wisdom have been actually exercised in helping and delivering His people; and he will repose upon the willingness of God to help him, because he has not only learned from the Scriptures what a kind, good, merciful, gracious, and faithful Being God is, but because he has also seen in the Word of God, how in a great variety of instances He has proved Himself to be so. And the consideration of this, if God has become known to us through prayer and meditation on His own Word, will lead us, in general at least, with a measure of confidence to rely upon Him: and thus meditation on the Word of God, will be one special means to strengthen our faith.

(2) As with reference to the growth of every grace of the Spirit, it is of the utmost importance that we seek to maintain an upright heart and a good conscience, and, therefore, do not knowingly and habitually indulge in those things which are contrary to the mind of God, so it is also particularly the case with reference to the growth in faith. How can I possibly continue to act in faith upon God, concerning anything, if I am habitually grieving Him, and seek to detract from the glory and honour of Him in whom I profess to trust, upon whom I profess to depend? All my confidence towards God, all my leaning upon Him in the hour of trial, will be gone, if I have a guilty conscience, and do not seek to put away this guilty conscience, but still continue to do things which are contrary to the mind of God. And if, in any particular instance, I cannot trust in God, because of the guilty conscience, then my faith is weakened by that instance of distrust; for faith with every fresh trial of it, either increases by trusting God, and thus getting help, or it decreases by not trusting Him; and then there is less and less power of looking simply and directly to Him, and a habit of self-dependence is begotten or encouraged. One or the other of these will always be the case in each particular instance. Either we trust in God, and in that case we neither trust in ourselves, nor in our fellow-men, nor in circumstances, nor in anything besides; or we DO trust in one or more of these, and in that case do NOT trust in God.

(3) If we, indeed, desire our faith to be strengthened, we should not shrink from opportunities where our faith may be tried, and, therefore, through the trial, be strengthened. In our natural state we dislike dealing with God alone. Through our natural alienation from God we shrink from Him, and from eternal realities. This cleaves to us, more or less, even after our regeneration. Hence it is, that more or less, even as believers, we have the same shrinking from standing with God alone,—from depending upon Him alone,—from looking to Him alone:—and yet this is the very position in which we ought to be, if we wish our faith to be strengthened. The more I am in a position to be tried in faith with reference to my body, my family, my service for the Lord, my business, etc., the more shall I have opportunity of seeing God's help and deliverance; and every fresh instance, in which He helps and delivers me, will tend towards the increase of my faith. On this account, therefore, the believer should not shrink from situations, positions, circumstances, in which his faith may be tried; but should cheerfully embrace them as opportunities where he may see the hand of God stretched out on his behalf, to help and deliver him, and whereby he may thus have his faith strengthened.

(4) The last important point for the strengthening of our faith is, that we let God work for us, when the hour of the trial of our faith comes, and do not work a deliverance of our own. Wherever God has given faith, it is given, among other reasons, for the very purpose of being tried. Yea, however weak our faith may be, God will try it; only with this restriction, that as in every way He leads on gently, gradually, patiently, so also with reference to the trial of our faith. At first our faith will be tried very little in comparison with what it may be afterwards; for God never lays more upon us than He is willing to enable us to bear. Now when the trial of faith comes, we are naturally inclined to distrust God, and to trust rather in ourselves, or in our friends, or in circumstances. We will rather work a deliverance of our own somehow or other, than simply look to God and wait for His help. But if we do not patiently wait for God's help, if we work a deliverance of our own, then at the next trial of our faith it will be thus again, we shall be again inclined to deliver ourselves; and thus, with every fresh instance of that kind, our faith will decrease; whilst, on the contrary, were we to stand still, in order to see the salvation of God, to see His hand stretched out on our behalf, trusting in Him alone, then our faith would be increased, and, with every fresh case in which the hand of God is stretched out on our behalf in the hour of the trial of our faith, our faith would be increased yet more. Would the believer, therefore, have his faith strengthened, he must, especially, give time to God, who tries his faith in order to prove to His child, in the end, how willing He is to help and deliver him, the moment it is good for him.

Journal resumed

[The expenditure for the Orphans from December 10th, 1840, to May 10th, 1842, was £1337 15s. 3d.]

May 11th, 1842. When the accounts were closed last evening, the balance in hand for the Orphans was £16 18s. 10½d., though the actual amount for use at present is only £6 8s. 10½d., as £10 10s. is put by for the rent.—With this £6 8s. 10½d. therefore we had to begin again the work, whilst there were 107 persons to be provided for with all they required.

June 6th. Monday. There was now no money at all in hand. I had therefore asked the Lord for fresh supplies, and since Saturday afternoon the following sums have come in: By sale of articles £1 4s., from an aged servant, ill in a mortal disease, £4.

This morning I received from A. B. £50, to be laid out as it might be most useful. I took the whole of this sum for the other Objects, as the disposal of it was left to me; by this I am enabled to order a fresh supply of tracts, some Bibles and Testaments, and to give something to the brethren and sisters who labour in the Day Schools, who are much in need of some supply. The stock of Bibles, as far as I remember, has not been smaller than it is now, for several years; there is likewise only a small quantity of tracts left, and the demand for them is great on the part of brethren who gratuitously circulate them. How kind, therefore, of the Lord to give us this supply! If our work be His work, He is sure to provide the means for it!

June 15th. As since the 12th only £1 13s. 6d. had come in, there was now again no money in hand for the need of to-morrow. I gave myself therefore to prayer. Immediately after I had risen from my knees, I was told that some money had been put into the box at my house; I found it to be a sovereign.

June 18th. Having had to meet the expenses of the funeral of a dear Orphan boy, who, after having been two years in fellowship with the saints, and walked consistently, had fallen asleep, all means were now again gone, when an Irish lady sent this morning £10, £8 for the Orphans, and £2 for my own use.

From July 13th to 19th the Lord sent in £22 5s. 10d., and on July 19th I left Bristol for a season, being able, through grace, to leave the work in His hands, and feeling assured that He would provide while I was absent from Bristol; and truly the Lord did not suffer me to be disappointed. For during the time of my absence, from July 19th to September 10th, whilst I was labouring at Barnstaple, and in the neighbourhood of Bideford, the Lord richly furnished us with means, though twice during that period we were quite poor.

From September 10th to 28th the Lord supplied our need richly. There came in altogether during these 18 days £92 19s. 4d.

October 1st. Yesterday afternoon £1 came in from Kensington, and this morning by sale of articles 2s. 6d., and 5s. was put into the box at my house. Thus we had, with what was left, something towards the necessities of this day, but not enough, as this is Saturday. As the Lord, however, had given me both yesterday and this morning prayer and faith with reference to the need, I was looking out for help, when at half-past ten this morning a small parcel was left anonymously at my house; it contained a £5 note, a gold chain, and an old 5s. piece, to be used for the Orphans. The Lord be praised who disposed the heart of the unknown donor at so seasonable an hour to send this donation! Half-an-hour after I had received the little parcel, I was called upon for money, and was thus able to supply the need of today, and have something left towards the beginning of the week; so that, whilst the day commenced without there being enough to meet its expenses, we received several pounds more than was needed.

October 11th. The Lord has kindly multiplied the 3s. 5d., which was all that was left after the necessities of yesterday were met. A brother in the Lord from Bath called yesterday at one of the Orphan Houses and gave £5 as a donation, besides 8s. 3d. for Reports. Also by a clergyman near Cirencester was sent 5s., and this morning came a Post Office Order for 10s. from Crediton, and 6d. was given by a sister in Bristol. My dear reader, pause and admire the hand of the Lord! Day after day He helps us! His help never fails, nor is it ever too late! We may be poor, very poor; but when the help is really needed, the Lord opens His bountiful hand and supplies our need! The help may come in a variety of ways, but it is certain! It may be that He allows us to wait long on Him, and pray very often, whilst He appears not to be mindful of us; yet in the end, in His own appointed and best time, the help comes. Dear reader, if you know the Lord, and you have not a similar experience, be it known to you, that you may have the same in your sphere of labour or service, though you may not be called by the Lord to establish Orphan Houses, or Day Schools, or Adult Schools, or Sunday Schools, or circulate Bibles and tracts in an extensive way. Make but trial of this way, and you will see how truly precious it is to wait upon the Lord for every thing, even for the bread which perishes. Should you, dear reader, not be reconciled with God through faith in the Lord Jesus, then you should know, that this precious privilege belongs to him who becomes a child of God by faith in the Lord Jesus, that he may come to his Heavenly Father for everything, and that his Father delights in giving him all he can need while here in the world.

October 15th. Saturday. Yesterday there arrived from Gloucestershire the following letter:—

My dear Brother,

"As I have no doubt on my own mind, but the Orphans are in present need, the enclosed £5 is sent by the constraining power of the Lord through me.

"Yours affectionately, ——."

The money came indeed in a time of need; for though we had about enough for yesterday's necessities, there was nothing for to-day's demands, which are £5 5s.

October 24th. Monday. The necessities of the 22nd, being Saturday, called for all the money that was left, about £3. Not one farthing was then remaining in my hands. And now observe, dear reader, how the Lord helped, and praise Him with me, that He always causes the stream to flow again, when there is need. On the same day on which the last money was given out, the day before yesterday, there was handed over to me £1 2s. 9d. for sale of articles. Yesterday I received through a sister, from an Indian gentleman and lady, two sovereigns, and one from herself, being the produce of a piece of work, which she had done for the benefit of the Orphans. A poor brother also gave me 3s. To-day I received the following anonymous note:—

Beloved Brother,

"The enclosed £35 was given to the Lord some time since. It was received for service done according to Eph. 6:7; and believing that laying up treasures for myself upon earth (having enough for my own necessities without it) would be disobedience to Matthew 6:19, I put it into your hands. You will kindly dispose of it as the Lord may direct you.

Yours in the Lord Jesus.

"You will oblige me by receiving £10 of the enclosed for your own need, or that of your family."

This money came in most seasonably.

The Lord inspecting the Stores

October 29th. The need of to-day is £5 5s. We should not have had enough, humanly speaking, had there not been sent yesterday afternoon £5 from Hull, as on the 26th and 28th only £3 5s. 5d. had come in; so that there was only £3 0s. 6½d. in hand when this £5 came. There came in still further to-day £1 12s. 4d. How kindly does the Lord, as it were, day by day inspect our stores! He, in general, does not supply our need for many months at once; in order both that He Himself may often have the joy of our calling upon Him for the supplies we need; and that He may give unto us the joy of obtaining our supplies day by day in answer to prayer; and that thus also other children of God may be encouraged to wait upon Him for all they may need.

November 16th. After the need of yesterday had been provided for, and I now again had nothing in hand, I received for Reports 1s., and from a believing clergyman £1.—When this morning, after I had been asking the Lord for means, the post brought none, I fell again on my knees, further beseeching Him to supply me with fresh means, as for several days little had come in. I especially also told Him, that, though the post was now in, yet He could in various ways send help. It was ONLY A FEW MINUTES AFTER, when brother C. B. brought me £1 3s. which just then had been given to him for the Orphans. About an hour afterwards two brethren called on me, the one from Wiltshire, the other from Essex; they stayed with me some time, and on leaving gave me £2 10s. for the Orphans. In the evening I saw still further that the Lord had not only not disregarded my prayers in the morning, but also that He was not confined to sending means by the post. A sister called on me, and brought me, for several purposes, twelve sovereigns, of which six are to be applied for the benefit of the Orphans.

November 29th. This morning I took a shilling out of an Orphan box at my house, which was all we had wherewith to commence the day. JUST AT THE MOMENT when the letter-bag was sent to me from the Orphan Houses, with the statement of what would be required for this day, I received a Post Office Order from Barnstaple for £1. Thus the Lord, in His faithful love, has sent a little, for which I had been waiting upon Him. Through His grace my heart is looking out for more, for I am sure He will never forsake us.

December 2nd. By the produce of six old silver coins, which I received last evening, and by 9s. 6d. which came in besides, we were able to meet the expenses of to-day; but now there were before us the heavy expenses of to-morrow, Saturday. In this our need there came in this evening from Lutterworth and its neighbourhood two donations, one of £5, and the other of £1. This afternoon a gentleman passed the Girls' Orphan House. The house door being opened, he rolled half-a-crown into the house. This half-crown came in when there was nothing at all in hand.

December 9th. There was again nothing at all in hand this morning to meet the expenses of the day. A little after ten o'clock an Orphan arrived from Northam, with whom there was sent for my own personal necessities 10s., and £2 2s. 4d. besides.

December 14th. There was now again only ONE PENNY in my hands this morning. About eleven o'clock I received a note enclosing 2s. and 10s.

December 15th. Only 2s. 3d., the contents of an Orphan box, £1 by sale of stockings, 2s. 1½d. from the boxes in the Orphan Houses, have come in. This, with 5s. which one of the labourers was able to give, supplied the need of to-day.

December 16th. Nothing has come in. All we had was 3s. 5d., which one of the labourers was able to give. At six o'clock this evening, our need being now very great, not only with reference to the Orphan Houses, but also the Day Schools, etc., I gave myself with two of the labourers to prayer. There needed some money to come in before eight o'clock to-morrow morning, as there was none to take in the milk for breakfast, to say nothing about the many other demands of to-morrow, being Saturday. Our hearts were at peace, while asking the Lord, and assured that our Father would supply our need. WE HAD SCARCELY RISEN FROM OUR KNEES, when I received a letter containing a sovereign for the Orphans, half of which was from a young East India officer, and the other half the produce of the sale of a piece of work, which the sister, who sent the money, had made for the benefit of the Orphans. She wrote: "I love to send these little gifts. They so often come in season." Truly, thus it was at this time.—About five minutes later I received from a brother the promise of £50 for the Orphans, to be given during the next week; and a quarter of an hour after that, about seven o'clock, a brother gave me a sovereign, which an Irish sister in the Lord had left this day, on her departure for Dublin, for the benefit of the Orphans. How sweet and precious to see thus so manifestly the willingness of the Lord to answer the prayers of His needy children!

December 19th. Yesterday there came in by the sale of ladies' bags £1, and in two donations £2. By this, making £5 7s. which came in since Saturday evening, we should have had enough for the ordinary household expenses of to-day; but as our stores of oatmeal, rice, peas, and Scotch barley are either entirely or nearly exhausted, and as some calico and other little articles are needed, and as especially the teachers in the Day Schools are greatly in need of pecuniary supplies, I had been especially entreating the Lord, that He would be pleased to send us larger supplies. I rose from my knees about halfpast ten this morning, and about a quarter to eleven I received a letter from A. B. with an order for £100, to be used as most needed in the work. Of this sum I took for the Orphans only £25, and for the other Funds £75 (in consideration of £50 having been promised to be paid this week for the Orphans); and thus we are in every way again most seasonably helped. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits!"

December 22nd. Though there had come in above £36 for the Orphans, during the last four days, yet as our stores needed to be replenished, and there had been several other expenses to be met, we were again to-day in need of further supplies, when I received the £50 for the Orphans, which had been promised during the last week. Thus I was able also to supply the labourers in the Orphan Houses with some money for their own personal need.

As to the supply of my temporal necessities, the Lord has been pleased to send me this year £329 16s.

January 21st. From December 22nd up to this day the Lord was pleased to send in the donations for the Orphans so, that there was always some money received, before all was expended.

February 4th. This morning a brother gave to me £1. Thus we have £1 7s.; but as this is not nearly enough for to-day, we have given ourselves still further to prayer, and are now looking for supplies. While I am writing this, the Orphan has brought the letter bag to fetch £2 15s., which is the need of to-day; I am therefore looking out for help to make up this sum.—I opened the boxes in my house, and found in them 3s. 6d. With this £1 10s. 6d. I had to send off the boy, and waited for further supplies—This afternoon there came in by sale of articles £1 4s. 7d. Thus we had enough, and one penny more than was needed, and we are brought to the close of another week. O Lord, how can Thy servant sufficiently praise Thee for condescending so to listen to his requests? His soul is amazed at Thy condescension, and yet not amazed when he considers that Thou doest it for the sake of Thy dear Son, in whom Thou dost continually look upon Thy servant!

February 11th. We had in hand £1 14s. towards the expenses of this day. But, as this was not enough, I asked the Lord still further for help, and, behold, this morning's post brought me a Post Office Order for £2 from Stafford, of which £1 7s. 6d. is for the Orphans. Thus we have £3 1s. 6d., which is quite enough for this day.

Admire with me, my dear reader, if you know the Lord, His seasonable help. Why does this Post Office Order not come a few days sooner or later? Because the Lord would help us by means of it, and therefore influences the donor just then, and not sooner or later, to send it. Surely, all who know the Lord, and who have no interest in disowning it, cannot but see His hand in a remarkable manner in this work.

That the Lord should use for so glorious a service one so vile, so unfaithful, so altogether unworthy of the least notice as I am, I can only ascribe to the riches of His condescending grace, in which He takes up the most unlikely instruments, that the honour may be manifestly His.

February 14th. Nothing was in hand when money was sent for, except 1s. 6d., which was sent up from the Orphan Houses, by the messenger who came for this day's supplies, and which had been received yesterday at the Infants' Orphan House. I opened the boxes at my house, and found 1s. in them. WHILE THE BOY WAS WAITING FOR THE MONEY, the sister who sells the articles which are given to be sold for the benefit of the Orphans, and who knows nothing about our present need, came and brought 12s. for some things which she had sold. With this 14s. 6d. we are able to supply the need of to-day, as nothing but some bread and milk requires to be purchased.

February 18th. This morning between seven and eight o'clock I took 8s. 9d., which came in last night, to the Orphan Houses, so that we were supplied for the breakfast. We had now to look to the Lord for several pounds, to meet the demands of this day, being Saturday. Between ten and eleven o'clock I again with my wife besought the Lord, entreating Him, that He would be pleased to help us, when a FEW MINUTES AFTER, in this our great need, I received by the first delivery a letter from Barnstaple containing £5 for the Orphans. How truly precious, to see thus so manifestly the hand of God day by day stretched out on our behalf!

February 23rd. This morning the bag was brought for money, but I had nothing in hand. WHILST THE BOY WHO BROUGHT THE LETTER BAG WAS WAITING, to receive the answer, the sister who disposes of the articles which are given for sale (and who was no more acquainted with the state of our funds than any other person) brought 11s. 4d.

A Donor's Mind deeply worked upon

February 24th. Nothing more came in, in the course of yesterday morning, but a little after four o'clock I received a letter from Jersey, containing a Post Office Order for £1 for the Orphans. The donor writes thus: "Herewith you will find a Post Office Order for £1, being this year's subscription. I had a desire to defer it to the 1st of June, but owing to my mind having been deeply worked on the present day, that this was the acceptable time, I make no scruple of availing myself of this evening's post, which I hope will be acceptable." How manifest is the hand of the Lord in this matter! He stirs up this donor, who lives at such a distance, to remember our need.

February 27th. Monday. Nothing at all has come in since Saturday. When therefore this day began, we had no means to provide what was needed. My comfort, however, was, that our Father knew that we were needy, and that kept me at this time also in peace. Between ten and eleven o'clock this morning I received £1 10s. from Guernsey. The brother who sent the money, writes, that he had delayed in sending it, and hoped that "this was the Lord's time," which indeed it is, for we are thus supplied for this day.

March 1st. There came in this morning by sale of some articles £1 5s. About dinner time a clergyman, who had had one of my Narratives lent to him by one of the labourers in the Orphan Houses, returned it with £1 10s. for the Orphans, from himself and his two sisters. Thus we were again provided with all we needed for to-day.—This evening the Lord helped still further. I received with Eccles. 9:10, £3. From sister M. B. there came £1, by knitting of the Infant Orphans 3s. 6d., and by two donations 6s.

A Gift of £500 from a poor Woman

March 8th. To-day we required £3 10s. to supply comfortably all that was needed in the Orphan Houses, but only £2 1s. 10d. was in hand. How kind therefore of the Lord to send me a large donation, whereby we were richly supplied! The particulars of it are these: On October 25th, 1842, I had a long conversation with a sister in the Lord, who opened her heart to me. On leaving me I told her (because I thought it might prove a comfort to her at some future time), that my house and my purse were hers, and that I should be glad if she would have one purse with me. This I said, I repeat, because I judged that at some future time it might prove a comfort to her in an hour of trial, having at the same time (to judge from a circumstance which had occurred two days before) every reason to believe that she had not £5 of her own. This sister, after I had said so, readily took me at my word, and said, I shall be glad of it, adding presently that she had £500. The moment I heard that, I drew back, and said, that had I known that she had any money, I should not have made her this offer, and then gave her my reason why I had supposed she had no property at all. She then assured me that she possessed £500, and that she had never seen it right to give up this money, else she would have done so; but that as God had put this sum into her hands without her seeking, she thought that it was a provision which the Lord had made for her. I replied scarcely anything to this; but she asked me to pray for her with reference to this matter. This whole conversation about the money occupied but very few minutes, and it all took place after the sister had risen to leave me.

After she was gone, I asked the Lord, to be pleased to make this dear sister so happy in Himself, and enable her so to realize her true riches and inheritance in the Lord Jesus, and the reality of her heavenly calling, that she might be constrained by the love of Christ, cheerfully to lay down this £500 at His feet. From that time I repeated this my request before the Lord daily, and often two, three, or four times a day; but not a single word or line passed between me and this sister on the subject, nor did I even see her; for I judged that it would be far better that she retained this money, than that by persuasion she should give it up, and afterwards perhaps regret the step she had taken, and thereby more dishonour than honour be brought on the name of the Lord. After I had thus for 24 days daily besought the Lord on behalf of this sister, I found her one day, on returning home, at my house, when she told me, that she wished to see me alone. She then said to me, that from the time she had last conversed with me, she had sought to ascertain the Lord's will with reference to the £500, and had examined the Scriptures, and prayed about it, and that she was now assured that it was the will of the Lord she should give up this money. After she had told me this I exhorted her well to count the cost, and to do nothing rashly lest she should regret the step she had taken, and to wait at least a fortnight longer before she carried out her intention. Thus we separated. On the 18th day after this conversation I received the following letter:

Dear Brother,

"I believe the Lord has not permitted you to grow weary of remembering me, but that He has still enabled you to bear me upon your heart in His presence. All is well with me, dear brother. Your petitions have been heard and answered; I am happy and at peace. The Lord has indeed manifested His tender care of, and His great love towards me in Jesus, in inclining my heart cheerfully to lay all, I have hitherto called my own, at His feet. It is a high privilege.

"I write in haste to ask you (as we have now one purse) to receive the money at a bank in Bristol; I will direct it to be sent in my name, to be delivered into your hands Etc."

As I desired to relate the whole circumstance only for the profit of the reader, and as I knew that the sister still had my letters on the subject in her possession, I wrote to her, requesting her to send them to me, at the time when I published the last account about the Orphan House, etc., and extracts of them were given in the Report, in so far as they might refer to the subject, or tend to edification. These extracts are here reprinted. My reply to the above was this:

"21, Paul Street, Kingsdown, Bristol,

Dec. 6th, 1842.

My dear Sister,

"Your letter found me in peace, and did not in the least surprise me. Dealing with God is a reality. Saints have power with Him through Jesus. It is now forty-two days since you first mentioned this matter to me. I cannot but admire the wisdom of God and His love to you in allowing me to speak to you as I did (i.e., offering her to have one purse with me, when I thought she had no earthly possessions at all), that thus this great privilege might be bestowed upon you, of giving up this little sum for Him. Since that hour I have daily prayed for you, and often thrice or more in the course of the day, that the Lord would make you so happy in Himself, and help you with such faith to lay hold on all which He has given you in Jesus, that you might be constrained by love, cheerfully to lay down this little sum at His feet. Thus I prayed again at six o'clock this morning for you. Nor have I had the least doubt from the commencement, that the Lord did hear my prayer; yea, so fully have I been assured that I had the petition, that again and again I have thanked Him that He had answered my prayer, before I saw you eighteen days since, and before your letter came I this morning. Moreover, I have been fully assured since you were last here, that He was carrying on His work in your soul with reference to this matter, and that no subtle suggestions of Satan, nor educational prejudices, nor misinterpretations of the Scriptures, would prevail; for I had asked the Lord, by His Spirit to overcome them in you, and that, if a brother's word should be needed, He would be pleased to incline your heart to write to me: and, as no letter came, I felt fully confident you were going forward in this matter in peace. When I had seen you this day six weeks, and learned about this little sum, I determined, never to say or write to you another word on the subject, but to leave you in the hands of the Lord. Thus I purposed again during the last eighteen days: for it was not the money given up, that I cared for in you, but the money given up unto the Lord, and from right motives. On this very account I advised you to wait one fortnight longer, though you had come to the conclusion; but now, having done so, and seeing that you are fully purposed in the Lord to be poor in this world indeed, that the more abundantly you may enjoy His riches, His inexhaustible riches, I change my advice. My word now, beloved sister, is this: 'Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might,' and 'If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.' Delay then no longer, even as also you have no desire to delay: and the Lord will bless you abundantly in doing so, inasmuch as you do it unto Him. As you desire to entrust me with this money, I do not refuse it, knowing many ways to lay it out for Him." Etc.