A Narrative of some of the Lord's Dealings with George Muller Volume IV Part 41

We remain,

Your's affectionately,

The Orphans on Ashley Down were to be benefited by the day of gladness in this G.o.dly family.--The G.o.dly principle, which brought this donation, refreshed my spirit above the money, and, I doubt not, will refresh other G.o.dly readers.--Let me here say, by the way, to believing parents, Seek to cherish in your children early the habit of being interested about the work of G.o.d and about cases of need and distress, and use them too at suitable times, and under suitable circ.u.mstances, as your almoners, and you will reap fruit from doing so.

Oct. 10. From Surrey 5s. and a gold chain.--From a shepherd in Australia, who had read my Narrative while tending his flock, 12s.-- See how the lady near London sends her gold chain, and the shepherd in Australia his 12s.--Thus the Lord, in the greatest variety of ways supplies me with means, for the greater part through entire strangers.

Thus I received one hundred pounds after another, anonymously, through London bankers, until a particular circ.u.mstance made known to me the name of the kind Christian donor, whom I have seen but once years ago, and who had, at the same time, sent me considerable donations with his name, whilst his bankers, anonymously, sent his still larger donations of many hundred pounds. I dwell upon this fact, that the reader may be led to own increasingly the hand of G.o.d in this work; for I desire that He may be honoured, that His hand may be recognised, and that attention may be drawn to Him, and not to me. It gives me no joy but sorrow, if persons admire me, in connexion with this work, as if I did anything great; as if I acted in a remarkable way. What is it that I do? I simply desire, through this work, to direct the attention of those who need it to the precious truth, that G.o.d is unchangeably the same, and that those who take Him at His word, as given to us in the Holy Scriptures, will find how unspeakably blessed it is, even for this life, to do so. To bring back to the written word of G.o.d those of His children, who practically have departed from it, and to sound again and again in the ears and consciences of the unbeliever that there is verily a living G.o.d who listens to the prayers of those who put their trust in Him, is, as I have often before stated, the great end of this work.

Oct. 11. To day I received, unsolicited, a kind and useful present of flannel and calico, to the amount of 10l., from the ladies const.i.tuting the Bristol Dorcas Society.

Oct. 18. "Articles forwarded by friends at a distance," an anonymous but most valuable donation, the particulars of which I am not at liberty to state.--The kind unknown donor or donors should, however, know, that very many pounds have been realized through the sale of these articles, and that they were almost all readily sold.

I cannot help noticing here, how much help the Lord has given us, in disposing of the articles, given for the benefit of the Orphans, and what a considerable sum has come to the funds of the Inst.i.tution through the fact that believers have been led to send their needless articles.

There came in by the sale of articles during the past year, for the Building Fund 21l. 16s. 7d., for missionary objects 15l. 6s. 4d., and for the support of the Orphans 426l. 14s. 9d.

Oct. 27. From Devons.h.i.+re 4l. "The proceeds of the sale of the Orphans pig." A young pig bought, fattened and sold for the benefit of the Orphans, and this 4l. was sent as the proceeds.

Nov. 3. From St. Leonard's-on-Sea 50l.

Nov. 4. A ring set with 5 brilliants.

Nov. 16. From Yate 10l. and also 5s.

Nov. 19. From New York 25l. From Bath 10l.

Flour is now 65s. per sack. When we began to bake in the New Orphan House, it was from 27s. to 32s. We bought at one time 20 sacks at 27s.

Now it is 65s. But the Lord provides us with all we need, though other provisions are also expensive, as well as flour.

Dec. 11. From the north of Devon a brooch, set with an emerald and 10 brilliants.--I took this as a further answer to my prayers, for gifts of diamonds, etc.

Jan. 4, 1856. 42l. 4s. 6d. with these words; "This is the answer of prayers, we have of late without ceasing offered up on behalf the Orphans."--This is one of the most remarkable donations received during the whole year. A brother and sister in the Lord, who labour for Him in seeking to win souls, whilst depending upon Him for all they need, gave themselves to prayer on behalf of the Orphans, and that which the Lord gave them towards the close of the yean 1855, in answer to prayer, enabled them to send this 42l. 4s. 6d. See, dear Reader, that the saints have power with G.o.d. This brother and sister have been greatly encouraged by this work, and now, even in the way of means, though they are poor themselves, this work reaps the fruit of their prayers. Be encouraged, then, for yourself to trust in G.o.d for all you may need.

Jan.30, 1l. 5s. from Stroud, as "a thank-offering for 25 years of family mercies."

Feb. 3. From Worcesters.h.i.+re 30l.

Feb. 0. From George Town, Demerara, 10 dollars.--From South Town 5l and also 5s.--From Liverpool 50l.

Feb. 9. From Adelaide, Australia, 2l. and also 10s.

Feb. 15. From Hornley, Staffords.h.i.+re, 20l.

April 5. Received 74l. 9s. 1d., which being left to my disposal for the Lord's work, I took the whole for the support of the Orphans.

April 9. From Worcesters.h.i.+re 50l.

April 19. 1l. from the Grand Duchy of Baden.

I have thus, out of more than 2000 donations, taken a few, to show in what way the Lord is pleased to supply me with means.

Miscellaneous points respecting the Scriptural Knowledge Inst.i.tution for Home and Abroad, with reference to the period from May 26, 1855, to May 26, 1856.

1, During this year 4 Day Schools in Bristol, with 203 children, were entirely supported by the funds of the Inst.i.tution; and nine Day Schools, in Devons.h.i.+re, Cornwall, Gloucesters.h.i.+re, Norfolk, Scotland, British Guiana and Africa, were a.s.sisted.--Further, one Sunday School in Bristol, with 158 children, was entirely supported, and eight others, in Gloucesters.h.i.+re, Devons.h.i.+re, Middles.e.x, Canada and British Guiana, were a.s.sisted.--Lastly, one Adult School in Bristol, with 158 Adult scholars, was entirely supported, and two other Adult Schools, in Kent and Norfolk, were a.s.sisted. The amount spent during this year, in connexion with these schools, was 348l. 5s. 11 d.; and the sum total expended during the last 22 years in connexion with the schools, either entirely, or in part, supported by the funds of this Inst.i.tution, amounts to 7552l. 18s. 7 d.--The number of children, who were under our care, merely in the Schools, entirely supported by this Inst.i.tution, from March 5, 1834, to May 20, 1856, was 6104 in the Day Schools, 2911 in the Sunday Schools, and 2611 persons in the Adult School. Thus, without reckoning the Orphans, 11,626 persons have been brought under habitual instruction in the things of G.o.d in these various Schools; besides the many thousands in the Schools in various parts of England, Ireland, Scotland, British Guiana, the East Indies, etc., which have been to a greater or lesser degree a.s.sisted.

2, During this year was expended on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, of the funds of this Inst.i.tution, 496l. 10s. 0d. There were circulated during this year 2175 Bibles, 1233 New Testaments, 119 copies of the Psalms, and 155 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures.-- There have been circulated since March 5, 1834, through the medium of this Inst.i.tution, 16,124 Bibles, 10,280 New Testaments, 307 copies of the Psalms, and 944 other small portions of the Holy Scriptures.--The sum total spent on the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, since March 5, 1834, is 3880l. 0s.1d.

3. During this year there were spent of the Funds of the Inst.i.tution for Missionary objects 2501l. 9s. 1d. By this sum, sixty one labourers in the word and doctrine, in various parts of the world, were to a greater or less degree a.s.sisted. The amount sent to each of these servants of the Lord is as follows.

To No. 1. Labouring in British Guiana (a European) 171l.

To No. 2. Ditto (Ditto) 110l.

To No. 3. Ditto (Ditto) 62l.

To No. 4. Ditto (Ditto) 58l.

To No. 5. Ditto (Ditto) 48l.

To No. 6. Ditto (Ditto) 33l.

To No. 7. Ditto (Ditto) 8l.

To No. 8 Ditto (A Native) 17l.

To No. 9 Ditto (Ditto) 14l.

To No. 10. Labouring in China (a European) 14l.

To No. 11. Labouring in the East Indies (a European) 60l.

To No. 12. Ditto (Ditto) 40l.

To No. 13. Ditto (Ditto) 25l.

To No 14. Ditto (a Native) 15l.

To No. 15 Labouring in Canada 90l.

To No. 16. Ditto 70l.

To No. 17. Labouring in Belgium 45l.

To No. 18. Labouring in Switzerland 30l.

To No. 19. Labouring in France 30l.

To No. 20. Labouring in Ireland 60l.